diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_env_run_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/build_env_run_tests.yml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3c4c00 --- /dev/null +++ b/.github/workflows/build_env_run_tests.yml @@ -0,0 +1,32 @@ +name: build_env_run_tests +on: + push: + branches: [ main ] + pull_request: + branches: [ main ] + workflow_dispatch: # Allows running manually from Github's 'Actions' tab +jobs: + build_env_run_tests: + name: Build env and run tests + runs-on: ubuntu-latest + steps: + - name: Checkout repo + uses: actions/checkout@v3 + - name: Set up Python + uses: actions/setup-python@v4 + with: + python-version: 3.11 + - name: Set up environment + run: | + python -m venv env + source env/bin/activate + python -m pip install -e . + - name: Pytest with coverage report + run: | + python -m pytest -n auto --cov=nanogpt --cov-report=xml + - name: Upload test coverage report to codecov + uses: codecov/codecov-action@v3 + with: + token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }} + file: ./coverage.xml + verbose: true diff --git a/data/gifs/austen_combo.gif b/data/gifs/austen_combo.gif new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b50db04 Binary files /dev/null and b/data/gifs/austen_combo.gif differ diff --git a/data/gifs/shakespeare_combo.gif b/data/gifs/shakespeare_combo.gif new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a65666e Binary files /dev/null and b/data/gifs/shakespeare_combo.gif differ diff --git a/data/tiny_austen.txt b/data/tiny_austen.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4464aaf --- /dev/null +++ b/data/tiny_austen.txt @@ -0,0 +1,80050 @@ +CONTENTS: + +  PERSUASION + + NORTHANGER ABBEY + +  MANSFIELD PARK + +  EMMA + +  LADY SUSAN + +  LOVE AND FREINDSHIP AND OTHER EARLY WORKS + + PRIDE AND PREJUDICE + + SENSE AND SENSIBILITY + + + + + + + +PERSUASION + + +by Jane Austen + +(1818) + + + + +Chapter 1 + + +Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch Hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, +for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there +he found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed +one; there his faculties were roused into admiration and respect, by +contemplating the limited remnant of the earliest patents; there any +unwelcome sensations, arising from domestic affairs changed naturally +into pity and contempt as he turned over the almost endless creations +of the last century; and there, if every other leaf were powerless, he +could read his own history with an interest which never failed. This +was the page at which the favourite volume always opened: + + "ELLIOT OF KELLYNCH HALL. + +"Walter Elliot, born March 1, 1760, married, July 15, 1784, Elizabeth, +daughter of James Stevenson, Esq. of South Park, in the county of +Gloucester, by which lady (who died 1800) he has issue Elizabeth, born +June 1, 1785; Anne, born August 9, 1787; a still-born son, November 5, +1789; Mary, born November 20, 1791." + +Precisely such had the paragraph originally stood from the printer's +hands; but Sir Walter had improved it by adding, for the information of +himself and his family, these words, after the date of Mary's birth-- +"Married, December 16, 1810, Charles, son and heir of Charles Musgrove, +Esq. of Uppercross, in the county of Somerset," and by inserting most +accurately the day of the month on which he had lost his wife. + +Then followed the history and rise of the ancient and respectable +family, in the usual terms; how it had been first settled in Cheshire; +how mentioned in Dugdale, serving the office of high sheriff, +representing a borough in three successive parliaments, exertions of +loyalty, and dignity of baronet, in the first year of Charles II, with +all the Marys and Elizabeths they had married; forming altogether two +handsome duodecimo pages, and concluding with the arms and +motto:--"Principal seat, Kellynch Hall, in the county of Somerset," and +Sir Walter's handwriting again in this finale:-- + +"Heir presumptive, William Walter Elliot, Esq., great grandson of the +second Sir Walter." + +Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot's character; +vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably handsome in +his youth; and, at fifty-four, was still a very fine man. Few women +could think more of their personal appearance than he did, nor could +the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with the place he held +in society. He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to +the blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliot, who united +these gifts, was the constant object of his warmest respect and +devotion. + +His good looks and his rank had one fair claim on his attachment; since +to them he must have owed a wife of very superior character to any +thing deserved by his own. Lady Elliot had been an excellent woman, +sensible and amiable; whose judgement and conduct, if they might be +pardoned the youthful infatuation which made her Lady Elliot, had never +required indulgence afterwards.--She had humoured, or softened, or +concealed his failings, and promoted his real respectability for +seventeen years; and though not the very happiest being in the world +herself, had found enough in her duties, her friends, and her children, +to attach her to life, and make it no matter of indifference to her +when she was called on to quit them.--Three girls, the two eldest +sixteen and fourteen, was an awful legacy for a mother to bequeath, an +awful charge rather, to confide to the authority and guidance of a +conceited, silly father. She had, however, one very intimate friend, a +sensible, deserving woman, who had been brought, by strong attachment +to herself, to settle close by her, in the village of Kellynch; and on +her kindness and advice, Lady Elliot mainly relied for the best help +and maintenance of the good principles and instruction which she had +been anxiously giving her daughters. + +This friend, and Sir Walter, did not marry, whatever might have been +anticipated on that head by their acquaintance. Thirteen years had +passed away since Lady Elliot's death, and they were still near +neighbours and intimate friends, and one remained a widower, the other +a widow. + +That Lady Russell, of steady age and character, and extremely well +provided for, should have no thought of a second marriage, needs no +apology to the public, which is rather apt to be unreasonably +discontented when a woman does marry again, than when she does not; but +Sir Walter's continuing in singleness requires explanation. Be it +known then, that Sir Walter, like a good father, (having met with one +or two private disappointments in very unreasonable applications), +prided himself on remaining single for his dear daughters' sake. For +one daughter, his eldest, he would really have given up any thing, +which he had not been very much tempted to do. Elizabeth had +succeeded, at sixteen, to all that was possible, of her mother's rights +and consequence; and being very handsome, and very like himself, her +influence had always been great, and they had gone on together most +happily. His two other children were of very inferior value. Mary had +acquired a little artificial importance, by becoming Mrs Charles +Musgrove; but Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of +character, which must have placed her high with any people of real +understanding, was nobody with either father or sister; her word had no +weight, her convenience was always to give way--she was only Anne. + +To Lady Russell, indeed, she was a most dear and highly valued +god-daughter, favourite, and friend. Lady Russell loved them all; but +it was only in Anne that she could fancy the mother to revive again. + +A few years before, Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl, but her +bloom had vanished early; and as even in its height, her father had +found little to admire in her, (so totally different were her delicate +features and mild dark eyes from his own), there could be nothing in +them, now that she was faded and thin, to excite his esteem. He had +never indulged much hope, he had now none, of ever reading her name in +any other page of his favourite work. All equality of alliance must +rest with Elizabeth, for Mary had merely connected herself with an old +country family of respectability and large fortune, and had therefore +given all the honour and received none: Elizabeth would, one day or +other, marry suitably. + +It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than she +was ten years before; and, generally speaking, if there has been +neither ill health nor anxiety, it is a time of life at which scarcely +any charm is lost. It was so with Elizabeth, still the same handsome +Miss Elliot that she had begun to be thirteen years ago, and Sir Walter +might be excused, therefore, in forgetting her age, or, at least, be +deemed only half a fool, for thinking himself and Elizabeth as blooming +as ever, amidst the wreck of the good looks of everybody else; for he +could plainly see how old all the rest of his family and acquaintance +were growing. Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the +neighbourhood worsting, and the rapid increase of the crow's foot about +Lady Russell's temples had long been a distress to him. + +Elizabeth did not quite equal her father in personal contentment. +Thirteen years had seen her mistress of Kellynch Hall, presiding and +directing with a self-possession and decision which could never have +given the idea of her being younger than she was. For thirteen years +had she been doing the honours, and laying down the domestic law at +home, and leading the way to the chaise and four, and walking +immediately after Lady Russell out of all the drawing-rooms and +dining-rooms in the country. Thirteen winters' revolving frosts had +seen her opening every ball of credit which a scanty neighbourhood +afforded, and thirteen springs shewn their blossoms, as she travelled +up to London with her father, for a few weeks' annual enjoyment of the +great world. She had the remembrance of all this, she had the +consciousness of being nine-and-twenty to give her some regrets and +some apprehensions; she was fully satisfied of being still quite as +handsome as ever, but she felt her approach to the years of danger, and +would have rejoiced to be certain of being properly solicited by +baronet-blood within the next twelvemonth or two. Then might she again +take up the book of books with as much enjoyment as in her early youth, +but now she liked it not. Always to be presented with the date of her +own birth and see no marriage follow but that of a youngest sister, +made the book an evil; and more than once, when her father had left it +open on the table near her, had she closed it, with averted eyes, and +pushed it away. + +She had had a disappointment, moreover, which that book, and especially +the history of her own family, must ever present the remembrance of. +The heir presumptive, the very William Walter Elliot, Esq., whose +rights had been so generously supported by her father, had disappointed +her. + +She had, while a very young girl, as soon as she had known him to be, +in the event of her having no brother, the future baronet, meant to +marry him, and her father had always meant that she should. He had not +been known to them as a boy; but soon after Lady Elliot's death, Sir +Walter had sought the acquaintance, and though his overtures had not +been met with any warmth, he had persevered in seeking it, making +allowance for the modest drawing-back of youth; and, in one of their +spring excursions to London, when Elizabeth was in her first bloom, Mr +Elliot had been forced into the introduction. + +He was at that time a very young man, just engaged in the study of the +law; and Elizabeth found him extremely agreeable, and every plan in his +favour was confirmed. He was invited to Kellynch Hall; he was talked +of and expected all the rest of the year; but he never came. The +following spring he was seen again in town, found equally agreeable, +again encouraged, invited, and expected, and again he did not come; and +the next tidings were that he was married. Instead of pushing his +fortune in the line marked out for the heir of the house of Elliot, he +had purchased independence by uniting himself to a rich woman of +inferior birth. + +Sir Walter has resented it. As the head of the house, he felt that he +ought to have been consulted, especially after taking the young man so +publicly by the hand; "For they must have been seen together," he +observed, "once at Tattersall's, and twice in the lobby of the House of +Commons." His disapprobation was expressed, but apparently very little +regarded. Mr Elliot had attempted no apology, and shewn himself as +unsolicitous of being longer noticed by the family, as Sir Walter +considered him unworthy of it: all acquaintance between them had +ceased. + +This very awkward history of Mr Elliot was still, after an interval of +several years, felt with anger by Elizabeth, who had liked the man for +himself, and still more for being her father's heir, and whose strong +family pride could see only in him a proper match for Sir Walter +Elliot's eldest daughter. There was not a baronet from A to Z whom her +feelings could have so willingly acknowledged as an equal. Yet so +miserably had he conducted himself, that though she was at this present +time (the summer of 1814) wearing black ribbons for his wife, she could +not admit him to be worth thinking of again. The disgrace of his first +marriage might, perhaps, as there was no reason to suppose it +perpetuated by offspring, have been got over, had he not done worse; +but he had, as by the accustomary intervention of kind friends, they +had been informed, spoken most disrespectfully of them all, most +slightingly and contemptuously of the very blood he belonged to, and +the honours which were hereafter to be his own. This could not be +pardoned. + +Such were Elizabeth Elliot's sentiments and sensations; such the cares +to alloy, the agitations to vary, the sameness and the elegance, the +prosperity and the nothingness of her scene of life; such the feelings +to give interest to a long, uneventful residence in one country circle, +to fill the vacancies which there were no habits of utility abroad, no +talents or accomplishments for home, to occupy. + +But now, another occupation and solicitude of mind was beginning to be +added to these. Her father was growing distressed for money. She +knew, that when he now took up the Baronetage, it was to drive the +heavy bills of his tradespeople, and the unwelcome hints of Mr +Shepherd, his agent, from his thoughts. The Kellynch property was +good, but not equal to Sir Walter's apprehension of the state required +in its possessor. While Lady Elliot lived, there had been method, +moderation, and economy, which had just kept him within his income; but +with her had died all such right-mindedness, and from that period he +had been constantly exceeding it. It had not been possible for him to +spend less; he had done nothing but what Sir Walter Elliot was +imperiously called on to do; but blameless as he was, he was not only +growing dreadfully in debt, but was hearing of it so often, that it +became vain to attempt concealing it longer, even partially, from his +daughter. He had given her some hints of it the last spring in town; +he had gone so far even as to say, "Can we retrench? Does it occur to +you that there is any one article in which we can retrench?" and +Elizabeth, to do her justice, had, in the first ardour of female alarm, +set seriously to think what could be done, and had finally proposed +these two branches of economy, to cut off some unnecessary charities, +and to refrain from new furnishing the drawing-room; to which +expedients she afterwards added the happy thought of their taking no +present down to Anne, as had been the usual yearly custom. But these +measures, however good in themselves, were insufficient for the real +extent of the evil, the whole of which Sir Walter found himself obliged +to confess to her soon afterwards. Elizabeth had nothing to propose of +deeper efficacy. She felt herself ill-used and unfortunate, as did her +father; and they were neither of them able to devise any means of +lessening their expenses without compromising their dignity, or +relinquishing their comforts in a way not to be borne. + +There was only a small part of his estate that Sir Walter could dispose +of; but had every acre been alienable, it would have made no +difference. He had condescended to mortgage as far as he had the +power, but he would never condescend to sell. No; he would never +disgrace his name so far. The Kellynch estate should be transmitted +whole and entire, as he had received it. + +Their two confidential friends, Mr Shepherd, who lived in the +neighbouring market town, and Lady Russell, were called to advise them; +and both father and daughter seemed to expect that something should be +struck out by one or the other to remove their embarrassments and +reduce their expenditure, without involving the loss of any indulgence +of taste or pride. + + + +Chapter 2 + + +Mr Shepherd, a civil, cautious lawyer, who, whatever might be his hold +or his views on Sir Walter, would rather have the disagreeable prompted +by anybody else, excused himself from offering the slightest hint, and +only begged leave to recommend an implicit reference to the excellent +judgement of Lady Russell, from whose known good sense he fully +expected to have just such resolute measures advised as he meant to see +finally adopted. + +Lady Russell was most anxiously zealous on the subject, and gave it +much serious consideration. She was a woman rather of sound than of +quick abilities, whose difficulties in coming to any decision in this +instance were great, from the opposition of two leading principles. +She was of strict integrity herself, with a delicate sense of honour; +but she was as desirous of saving Sir Walter's feelings, as solicitous +for the credit of the family, as aristocratic in her ideas of what was +due to them, as anybody of sense and honesty could well be. She was a +benevolent, charitable, good woman, and capable of strong attachments, +most correct in her conduct, strict in her notions of decorum, and with +manners that were held a standard of good-breeding. She had a +cultivated mind, and was, generally speaking, rational and consistent; +but she had prejudices on the side of ancestry; she had a value for +rank and consequence, which blinded her a little to the faults of those +who possessed them. Herself the widow of only a knight, she gave the +dignity of a baronet all its due; and Sir Walter, independent of his +claims as an old acquaintance, an attentive neighbour, an obliging +landlord, the husband of her very dear friend, the father of Anne and +her sisters, was, as being Sir Walter, in her apprehension, entitled to +a great deal of compassion and consideration under his present +difficulties. + +They must retrench; that did not admit of a doubt. But she was very +anxious to have it done with the least possible pain to him and +Elizabeth. She drew up plans of economy, she made exact calculations, +and she did what nobody else thought of doing: she consulted Anne, who +never seemed considered by the others as having any interest in the +question. She consulted, and in a degree was influenced by her in +marking out the scheme of retrenchment which was at last submitted to +Sir Walter. Every emendation of Anne's had been on the side of honesty +against importance. She wanted more vigorous measures, a more complete +reformation, a quicker release from debt, a much higher tone of +indifference for everything but justice and equity. + +"If we can persuade your father to all this," said Lady Russell, +looking over her paper, "much may be done. If he will adopt these +regulations, in seven years he will be clear; and I hope we may be able +to convince him and Elizabeth, that Kellynch Hall has a respectability +in itself which cannot be affected by these reductions; and that the +true dignity of Sir Walter Elliot will be very far from lessened in the +eyes of sensible people, by acting like a man of principle. What will +he be doing, in fact, but what very many of our first families have +done, or ought to do? There will be nothing singular in his case; and +it is singularity which often makes the worst part of our suffering, as +it always does of our conduct. I have great hope of prevailing. We +must be serious and decided; for after all, the person who has +contracted debts must pay them; and though a great deal is due to the +feelings of the gentleman, and the head of a house, like your father, +there is still more due to the character of an honest man." + +This was the principle on which Anne wanted her father to be +proceeding, his friends to be urging him. She considered it as an act +of indispensable duty to clear away the claims of creditors with all +the expedition which the most comprehensive retrenchments could secure, +and saw no dignity in anything short of it. She wanted it to be +prescribed, and felt as a duty. She rated Lady Russell's influence +highly; and as to the severe degree of self-denial which her own +conscience prompted, she believed there might be little more difficulty +in persuading them to a complete, than to half a reformation. Her +knowledge of her father and Elizabeth inclined her to think that the +sacrifice of one pair of horses would be hardly less painful than of +both, and so on, through the whole list of Lady Russell's too gentle +reductions. + +How Anne's more rigid requisitions might have been taken is of little +consequence. Lady Russell's had no success at all: could not be put up +with, were not to be borne. "What! every comfort of life knocked off! +Journeys, London, servants, horses, table--contractions and +restrictions every where! To live no longer with the decencies even of +a private gentleman! No, he would sooner quit Kellynch Hall at once, +than remain in it on such disgraceful terms." + +"Quit Kellynch Hall." The hint was immediately taken up by Mr +Shepherd, whose interest was involved in the reality of Sir Walter's +retrenching, and who was perfectly persuaded that nothing would be done +without a change of abode. "Since the idea had been started in the +very quarter which ought to dictate, he had no scruple," he said, "in +confessing his judgement to be entirely on that side. It did not +appear to him that Sir Walter could materially alter his style of +living in a house which had such a character of hospitality and ancient +dignity to support. In any other place Sir Walter might judge for +himself; and would be looked up to, as regulating the modes of life in +whatever way he might choose to model his household." + +Sir Walter would quit Kellynch Hall; and after a very few days more of +doubt and indecision, the great question of whither he should go was +settled, and the first outline of this important change made out. + +There had been three alternatives, London, Bath, or another house in +the country. All Anne's wishes had been for the latter. A small house +in their own neighbourhood, where they might still have Lady Russell's +society, still be near Mary, and still have the pleasure of sometimes +seeing the lawns and groves of Kellynch, was the object of her +ambition. But the usual fate of Anne attended her, in having something +very opposite from her inclination fixed on. She disliked Bath, and +did not think it agreed with her; and Bath was to be her home. + +Sir Walter had at first thought more of London; but Mr Shepherd felt +that he could not be trusted in London, and had been skilful enough to +dissuade him from it, and make Bath preferred. It was a much safer +place for a gentleman in his predicament: he might there be important +at comparatively little expense. Two material advantages of Bath over +London had of course been given all their weight: its more convenient +distance from Kellynch, only fifty miles, and Lady Russell's spending +some part of every winter there; and to the very great satisfaction of +Lady Russell, whose first views on the projected change had been for +Bath, Sir Walter and Elizabeth were induced to believe that they should +lose neither consequence nor enjoyment by settling there. + +Lady Russell felt obliged to oppose her dear Anne's known wishes. It +would be too much to expect Sir Walter to descend into a small house in +his own neighbourhood. Anne herself would have found the +mortifications of it more than she foresaw, and to Sir Walter's +feelings they must have been dreadful. And with regard to Anne's +dislike of Bath, she considered it as a prejudice and mistake arising, +first, from the circumstance of her having been three years at school +there, after her mother's death; and secondly, from her happening to be +not in perfectly good spirits the only winter which she had afterwards +spent there with herself. + +Lady Russell was fond of Bath, in short, and disposed to think it must +suit them all; and as to her young friend's health, by passing all the +warm months with her at Kellynch Lodge, every danger would be avoided; +and it was in fact, a change which must do both health and spirits +good. Anne had been too little from home, too little seen. Her spirits +were not high. A larger society would improve them. She wanted her to +be more known. + +The undesirableness of any other house in the same neighbourhood for +Sir Walter was certainly much strengthened by one part, and a very +material part of the scheme, which had been happily engrafted on the +beginning. He was not only to quit his home, but to see it in the +hands of others; a trial of fortitude, which stronger heads than Sir +Walter's have found too much. Kellynch Hall was to be let. This, +however, was a profound secret, not to be breathed beyond their own +circle. + +Sir Walter could not have borne the degradation of being known to +design letting his house. Mr Shepherd had once mentioned the word +"advertise," but never dared approach it again. Sir Walter spurned the +idea of its being offered in any manner; forbad the slightest hint +being dropped of his having such an intention; and it was only on the +supposition of his being spontaneously solicited by some most +unexceptionable applicant, on his own terms, and as a great favour, +that he would let it at all. + +How quick come the reasons for approving what we like! Lady Russell +had another excellent one at hand, for being extremely glad that Sir +Walter and his family were to remove from the country. Elizabeth had +been lately forming an intimacy, which she wished to see interrupted. +It was with the daughter of Mr Shepherd, who had returned, after an +unprosperous marriage, to her father's house, with the additional +burden of two children. She was a clever young woman, who understood +the art of pleasing--the art of pleasing, at least, at Kellynch Hall; +and who had made herself so acceptable to Miss Elliot, as to have been +already staying there more than once, in spite of all that Lady +Russell, who thought it a friendship quite out of place, could hint of +caution and reserve. + +Lady Russell, indeed, had scarcely any influence with Elizabeth, and +seemed to love her, rather because she would love her, than because +Elizabeth deserved it. She had never received from her more than +outward attention, nothing beyond the observances of complaisance; had +never succeeded in any point which she wanted to carry, against +previous inclination. She had been repeatedly very earnest in trying +to get Anne included in the visit to London, sensibly open to all the +injustice and all the discredit of the selfish arrangements which shut +her out, and on many lesser occasions had endeavoured to give Elizabeth +the advantage of her own better judgement and experience; but always in +vain: Elizabeth would go her own way; and never had she pursued it in +more decided opposition to Lady Russell than in this selection of Mrs +Clay; turning from the society of so deserving a sister, to bestow her +affection and confidence on one who ought to have been nothing to her +but the object of distant civility. + +From situation, Mrs Clay was, in Lady Russell's estimate, a very +unequal, and in her character she believed a very dangerous companion; +and a removal that would leave Mrs Clay behind, and bring a choice of +more suitable intimates within Miss Elliot's reach, was therefore an +object of first-rate importance. + + + +Chapter 3 + + +"I must take leave to observe, Sir Walter," said Mr Shepherd one +morning at Kellynch Hall, as he laid down the newspaper, "that the +present juncture is much in our favour. This peace will be turning all +our rich naval officers ashore. They will be all wanting a home. +Could not be a better time, Sir Walter, for having a choice of tenants, +very responsible tenants. Many a noble fortune has been made during +the war. If a rich admiral were to come in our way, Sir Walter--" + +"He would be a very lucky man, Shepherd," replied Sir Walter; "that's +all I have to remark. A prize indeed would Kellynch Hall be to him; +rather the greatest prize of all, let him have taken ever so many +before; hey, Shepherd?" + +Mr Shepherd laughed, as he knew he must, at this wit, and then added-- + +"I presume to observe, Sir Walter, that, in the way of business, +gentlemen of the navy are well to deal with. I have had a little +knowledge of their methods of doing business; and I am free to confess +that they have very liberal notions, and are as likely to make +desirable tenants as any set of people one should meet with. +Therefore, Sir Walter, what I would take leave to suggest is, that if +in consequence of any rumours getting abroad of your intention; which +must be contemplated as a possible thing, because we know how difficult +it is to keep the actions and designs of one part of the world from the +notice and curiosity of the other; consequence has its tax; I, John +Shepherd, might conceal any family-matters that I chose, for nobody +would think it worth their while to observe me; but Sir Walter Elliot +has eyes upon him which it may be very difficult to elude; and +therefore, thus much I venture upon, that it will not greatly surprise +me if, with all our caution, some rumour of the truth should get +abroad; in the supposition of which, as I was going to observe, since +applications will unquestionably follow, I should think any from our +wealthy naval commanders particularly worth attending to; and beg leave +to add, that two hours will bring me over at any time, to save you the +trouble of replying." + +Sir Walter only nodded. But soon afterwards, rising and pacing the +room, he observed sarcastically-- + +"There are few among the gentlemen of the navy, I imagine, who would +not be surprised to find themselves in a house of this description." + +"They would look around them, no doubt, and bless their good fortune," +said Mrs Clay, for Mrs Clay was present: her father had driven her +over, nothing being of so much use to Mrs Clay's health as a drive to +Kellynch: "but I quite agree with my father in thinking a sailor might +be a very desirable tenant. I have known a good deal of the +profession; and besides their liberality, they are so neat and careful +in all their ways! These valuable pictures of yours, Sir Walter, if +you chose to leave them, would be perfectly safe. Everything in and +about the house would be taken such excellent care of! The gardens and +shrubberies would be kept in almost as high order as they are now. You +need not be afraid, Miss Elliot, of your own sweet flower gardens being +neglected." + +"As to all that," rejoined Sir Walter coolly, "supposing I were induced +to let my house, I have by no means made up my mind as to the +privileges to be annexed to it. I am not particularly disposed to +favour a tenant. The park would be open to him of course, and few navy +officers, or men of any other description, can have had such a range; +but what restrictions I might impose on the use of the +pleasure-grounds, is another thing. I am not fond of the idea of my +shrubberies being always approachable; and I should recommend Miss +Elliot to be on her guard with respect to her flower garden. I am very +little disposed to grant a tenant of Kellynch Hall any extraordinary +favour, I assure you, be he sailor or soldier." + +After a short pause, Mr Shepherd presumed to say-- + +"In all these cases, there are established usages which make everything +plain and easy between landlord and tenant. Your interest, Sir Walter, +is in pretty safe hands. Depend upon me for taking care that no tenant +has more than his just rights. I venture to hint, that Sir Walter +Elliot cannot be half so jealous for his own, as John Shepherd will be +for him." + +Here Anne spoke-- + +"The navy, I think, who have done so much for us, have at least an +equal claim with any other set of men, for all the comforts and all the +privileges which any home can give. Sailors work hard enough for their +comforts, we must all allow." + +"Very true, very true. What Miss Anne says, is very true," was Mr +Shepherd's rejoinder, and "Oh! certainly," was his daughter's; but Sir +Walter's remark was, soon afterwards-- + +"The profession has its utility, but I should be sorry to see any +friend of mine belonging to it." + +"Indeed!" was the reply, and with a look of surprise. + +"Yes; it is in two points offensive to me; I have two strong grounds of +objection to it. First, as being the means of bringing persons of +obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men to honours which +their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of; and secondly, as it +cuts up a man's youth and vigour most horribly; a sailor grows old +sooner than any other man. I have observed it all my life. A man is +in greater danger in the navy of being insulted by the rise of one +whose father, his father might have disdained to speak to, and of +becoming prematurely an object of disgust himself, than in any other +line. One day last spring, in town, I was in company with two men, +striking instances of what I am talking of; Lord St Ives, whose father +we all know to have been a country curate, without bread to eat; I was +to give place to Lord St Ives, and a certain Admiral Baldwin, the most +deplorable-looking personage you can imagine; his face the colour of +mahogany, rough and rugged to the last degree; all lines and wrinkles, +nine grey hairs of a side, and nothing but a dab of powder at top. 'In +the name of heaven, who is that old fellow?' said I to a friend of mine +who was standing near, (Sir Basil Morley). 'Old fellow!' cried Sir +Basil, 'it is Admiral Baldwin. What do you take his age to be?' +'Sixty,' said I, 'or perhaps sixty-two.' 'Forty,' replied Sir Basil, +'forty, and no more.' Picture to yourselves my amazement; I shall not +easily forget Admiral Baldwin. I never saw quite so wretched an +example of what a sea-faring life can do; but to a degree, I know it is +the same with them all: they are all knocked about, and exposed to +every climate, and every weather, till they are not fit to be seen. It +is a pity they are not knocked on the head at once, before they reach +Admiral Baldwin's age." + +"Nay, Sir Walter," cried Mrs Clay, "this is being severe indeed. Have +a little mercy on the poor men. We are not all born to be handsome. +The sea is no beautifier, certainly; sailors do grow old betimes; I +have observed it; they soon lose the look of youth. But then, is not +it the same with many other professions, perhaps most other? Soldiers, +in active service, are not at all better off: and even in the quieter +professions, there is a toil and a labour of the mind, if not of the +body, which seldom leaves a man's looks to the natural effect of time. +The lawyer plods, quite care-worn; the physician is up at all hours, +and travelling in all weather; and even the clergyman--" she stopt a +moment to consider what might do for the clergyman;--"and even the +clergyman, you know is obliged to go into infected rooms, and expose +his health and looks to all the injury of a poisonous atmosphere. In +fact, as I have long been convinced, though every profession is +necessary and honourable in its turn, it is only the lot of those who +are not obliged to follow any, who can live in a regular way, in the +country, choosing their own hours, following their own pursuits, and +living on their own property, without the torment of trying for more; +it is only their lot, I say, to hold the blessings of health and a good +appearance to the utmost: I know no other set of men but what lose +something of their personableness when they cease to be quite young." + +It seemed as if Mr Shepherd, in this anxiety to bespeak Sir Walter's +good will towards a naval officer as tenant, had been gifted with +foresight; for the very first application for the house was from an +Admiral Croft, with whom he shortly afterwards fell into company in +attending the quarter sessions at Taunton; and indeed, he had received +a hint of the Admiral from a London correspondent. By the report which +he hastened over to Kellynch to make, Admiral Croft was a native of +Somersetshire, who having acquired a very handsome fortune, was wishing +to settle in his own country, and had come down to Taunton in order to +look at some advertised places in that immediate neighbourhood, which, +however, had not suited him; that accidentally hearing--(it was just as +he had foretold, Mr Shepherd observed, Sir Walter's concerns could not +be kept a secret,)--accidentally hearing of the possibility of +Kellynch Hall being to let, and understanding his (Mr Shepherd's) +connection with the owner, he had introduced himself to him in order to +make particular inquiries, and had, in the course of a pretty long +conference, expressed as strong an inclination for the place as a man +who knew it only by description could feel; and given Mr Shepherd, in +his explicit account of himself, every proof of his being a most +responsible, eligible tenant. + +"And who is Admiral Croft?" was Sir Walter's cold suspicious inquiry. + +Mr Shepherd answered for his being of a gentleman's family, and +mentioned a place; and Anne, after the little pause which followed, +added-- + +"He is a rear admiral of the white. He was in the Trafalgar action, +and has been in the East Indies since; he was stationed there, I +believe, several years." + +"Then I take it for granted," observed Sir Walter, "that his face is +about as orange as the cuffs and capes of my livery." + +Mr Shepherd hastened to assure him, that Admiral Croft was a very hale, +hearty, well-looking man, a little weather-beaten, to be sure, but not +much, and quite the gentleman in all his notions and behaviour; not +likely to make the smallest difficulty about terms, only wanted a +comfortable home, and to get into it as soon as possible; knew he must +pay for his convenience; knew what rent a ready-furnished house of that +consequence might fetch; should not have been surprised if Sir Walter +had asked more; had inquired about the manor; would be glad of the +deputation, certainly, but made no great point of it; said he sometimes +took out a gun, but never killed; quite the gentleman. + +Mr Shepherd was eloquent on the subject; pointing out all the +circumstances of the Admiral's family, which made him peculiarly +desirable as a tenant. He was a married man, and without children; the +very state to be wished for. A house was never taken good care of, Mr +Shepherd observed, without a lady: he did not know, whether furniture +might not be in danger of suffering as much where there was no lady, as +where there were many children. A lady, without a family, was the very +best preserver of furniture in the world. He had seen Mrs Croft, too; +she was at Taunton with the admiral, and had been present almost all +the time they were talking the matter over. + +"And a very well-spoken, genteel, shrewd lady, she seemed to be," +continued he; "asked more questions about the house, and terms, and +taxes, than the Admiral himself, and seemed more conversant with +business; and moreover, Sir Walter, I found she was not quite +unconnected in this country, any more than her husband; that is to say, +she is sister to a gentleman who did live amongst us once; she told me +so herself: sister to the gentleman who lived a few years back at +Monkford. Bless me! what was his name? At this moment I cannot +recollect his name, though I have heard it so lately. Penelope, my +dear, can you help me to the name of the gentleman who lived at +Monkford: Mrs Croft's brother?" + +But Mrs Clay was talking so eagerly with Miss Elliot, that she did not +hear the appeal. + +"I have no conception whom you can mean, Shepherd; I remember no +gentleman resident at Monkford since the time of old Governor Trent." + +"Bless me! how very odd! I shall forget my own name soon, I suppose. +A name that I am so very well acquainted with; knew the gentleman so +well by sight; seen him a hundred times; came to consult me once, I +remember, about a trespass of one of his neighbours; farmer's man +breaking into his orchard; wall torn down; apples stolen; caught in the +fact; and afterwards, contrary to my judgement, submitted to an +amicable compromise. Very odd indeed!" + +After waiting another moment-- + +"You mean Mr Wentworth, I suppose?" said Anne. + +Mr Shepherd was all gratitude. + +"Wentworth was the very name! Mr Wentworth was the very man. He had +the curacy of Monkford, you know, Sir Walter, some time back, for two +or three years. Came there about the year ---5, I take it. You +remember him, I am sure." + +"Wentworth? Oh! ay,--Mr Wentworth, the curate of Monkford. You misled +me by the term gentleman. I thought you were speaking of some man of +property: Mr Wentworth was nobody, I remember; quite unconnected; +nothing to do with the Strafford family. One wonders how the names of +many of our nobility become so common." + +As Mr Shepherd perceived that this connexion of the Crofts did them no +service with Sir Walter, he mentioned it no more; returning, with all +his zeal, to dwell on the circumstances more indisputably in their +favour; their age, and number, and fortune; the high idea they had +formed of Kellynch Hall, and extreme solicitude for the advantage of +renting it; making it appear as if they ranked nothing beyond the +happiness of being the tenants of Sir Walter Elliot: an extraordinary +taste, certainly, could they have been supposed in the secret of Sir +Walter's estimate of the dues of a tenant. + +It succeeded, however; and though Sir Walter must ever look with an +evil eye on anyone intending to inhabit that house, and think them +infinitely too well off in being permitted to rent it on the highest +terms, he was talked into allowing Mr Shepherd to proceed in the +treaty, and authorising him to wait on Admiral Croft, who still +remained at Taunton, and fix a day for the house being seen. + +Sir Walter was not very wise; but still he had experience enough of the +world to feel, that a more unobjectionable tenant, in all essentials, +than Admiral Croft bid fair to be, could hardly offer. So far went his +understanding; and his vanity supplied a little additional soothing, in +the Admiral's situation in life, which was just high enough, and not +too high. "I have let my house to Admiral Croft," would sound +extremely well; very much better than to any mere Mr--; a Mr (save, +perhaps, some half dozen in the nation,) always needs a note of +explanation. An admiral speaks his own consequence, and, at the same +time, can never make a baronet look small. In all their dealings and +intercourse, Sir Walter Elliot must ever have the precedence. + +Nothing could be done without a reference to Elizabeth: but her +inclination was growing so strong for a removal, that she was happy to +have it fixed and expedited by a tenant at hand; and not a word to +suspend decision was uttered by her. + +Mr Shepherd was completely empowered to act; and no sooner had such an +end been reached, than Anne, who had been a most attentive listener to +the whole, left the room, to seek the comfort of cool air for her +flushed cheeks; and as she walked along a favourite grove, said, with a +gentle sigh, "A few months more, and he, perhaps, may be walking here." + + + +Chapter 4 + + +He was not Mr Wentworth, the former curate of Monkford, however +suspicious appearances may be, but a Captain Frederick Wentworth, his +brother, who being made commander in consequence of the action off St +Domingo, and not immediately employed, had come into Somersetshire, in +the summer of 1806; and having no parent living, found a home for half +a year at Monkford. He was, at that time, a remarkably fine young man, +with a great deal of intelligence, spirit, and brilliancy; and Anne an +extremely pretty girl, with gentleness, modesty, taste, and feeling. +Half the sum of attraction, on either side, might have been enough, for +he had nothing to do, and she had hardly anybody to love; but the +encounter of such lavish recommendations could not fail. They were +gradually acquainted, and when acquainted, rapidly and deeply in love. +It would be difficult to say which had seen highest perfection in the +other, or which had been the happiest: she, in receiving his +declarations and proposals, or he in having them accepted. + +A short period of exquisite felicity followed, and but a short one. +Troubles soon arose. Sir Walter, on being applied to, without actually +withholding his consent, or saying it should never be, gave it all the +negative of great astonishment, great coldness, great silence, and a +professed resolution of doing nothing for his daughter. He thought it +a very degrading alliance; and Lady Russell, though with more tempered +and pardonable pride, received it as a most unfortunate one. + +Anne Elliot, with all her claims of birth, beauty, and mind, to throw +herself away at nineteen; involve herself at nineteen in an engagement +with a young man, who had nothing but himself to recommend him, and no +hopes of attaining affluence, but in the chances of a most uncertain +profession, and no connexions to secure even his farther rise in the +profession, would be, indeed, a throwing away, which she grieved to +think of! Anne Elliot, so young; known to so few, to be snatched off +by a stranger without alliance or fortune; or rather sunk by him into a +state of most wearing, anxious, youth-killing dependence! It must not +be, if by any fair interference of friendship, any representations from +one who had almost a mother's love, and mother's rights, it would be +prevented. + +Captain Wentworth had no fortune. He had been lucky in his profession; +but spending freely, what had come freely, had realized nothing. But +he was confident that he should soon be rich: full of life and ardour, +he knew that he should soon have a ship, and soon be on a station that +would lead to everything he wanted. He had always been lucky; he knew +he should be so still. Such confidence, powerful in its own warmth, +and bewitching in the wit which often expressed it, must have been +enough for Anne; but Lady Russell saw it very differently. His +sanguine temper, and fearlessness of mind, operated very differently on +her. She saw in it but an aggravation of the evil. It only added a +dangerous character to himself. He was brilliant, he was headstrong. +Lady Russell had little taste for wit, and of anything approaching to +imprudence a horror. She deprecated the connexion in every light. + +Such opposition, as these feelings produced, was more than Anne could +combat. Young and gentle as she was, it might yet have been possible +to withstand her father's ill-will, though unsoftened by one kind word +or look on the part of her sister; but Lady Russell, whom she had +always loved and relied on, could not, with such steadiness of opinion, +and such tenderness of manner, be continually advising her in vain. +She was persuaded to believe the engagement a wrong thing: indiscreet, +improper, hardly capable of success, and not deserving it. But it was +not a merely selfish caution, under which she acted, in putting an end +to it. Had she not imagined herself consulting his good, even more +than her own, she could hardly have given him up. The belief of being +prudent, and self-denying, principally for his advantage, was her chief +consolation, under the misery of a parting, a final parting; and every +consolation was required, for she had to encounter all the additional +pain of opinions, on his side, totally unconvinced and unbending, and +of his feeling himself ill used by so forced a relinquishment. He had +left the country in consequence. + +A few months had seen the beginning and the end of their acquaintance; +but not with a few months ended Anne's share of suffering from it. Her +attachment and regrets had, for a long time, clouded every enjoyment of +youth, and an early loss of bloom and spirits had been their lasting +effect. + +More than seven years were gone since this little history of sorrowful +interest had reached its close; and time had softened down much, +perhaps nearly all of peculiar attachment to him, but she had been too +dependent on time alone; no aid had been given in change of place +(except in one visit to Bath soon after the rupture), or in any novelty +or enlargement of society. No one had ever come within the Kellynch +circle, who could bear a comparison with Frederick Wentworth, as he +stood in her memory. No second attachment, the only thoroughly +natural, happy, and sufficient cure, at her time of life, had been +possible to the nice tone of her mind, the fastidiousness of her taste, +in the small limits of the society around them. She had been +solicited, when about two-and-twenty, to change her name, by the young +man, who not long afterwards found a more willing mind in her younger +sister; and Lady Russell had lamented her refusal; for Charles Musgrove +was the eldest son of a man, whose landed property and general +importance were second in that country, only to Sir Walter's, and of +good character and appearance; and however Lady Russell might have +asked yet for something more, while Anne was nineteen, she would have +rejoiced to see her at twenty-two so respectably removed from the +partialities and injustice of her father's house, and settled so +permanently near herself. But in this case, Anne had left nothing for +advice to do; and though Lady Russell, as satisfied as ever with her +own discretion, never wished the past undone, she began now to have the +anxiety which borders on hopelessness for Anne's being tempted, by some +man of talents and independence, to enter a state for which she held +her to be peculiarly fitted by her warm affections and domestic habits. + +They knew not each other's opinion, either its constancy or its change, +on the one leading point of Anne's conduct, for the subject was never +alluded to; but Anne, at seven-and-twenty, thought very differently +from what she had been made to think at nineteen. She did not blame +Lady Russell, she did not blame herself for having been guided by her; +but she felt that were any young person, in similar circumstances, to +apply to her for counsel, they would never receive any of such certain +immediate wretchedness, such uncertain future good. She was persuaded +that under every disadvantage of disapprobation at home, and every +anxiety attending his profession, all their probable fears, delays, and +disappointments, she should yet have been a happier woman in +maintaining the engagement, than she had been in the sacrifice of it; +and this, she fully believed, had the usual share, had even more than +the usual share of all such solicitudes and suspense been theirs, +without reference to the actual results of their case, which, as it +happened, would have bestowed earlier prosperity than could be +reasonably calculated on. All his sanguine expectations, all his +confidence had been justified. His genius and ardour had seemed to +foresee and to command his prosperous path. He had, very soon after +their engagement ceased, got employ: and all that he had told her would +follow, had taken place. He had distinguished himself, and early +gained the other step in rank, and must now, by successive captures, +have made a handsome fortune. She had only navy lists and newspapers +for her authority, but she could not doubt his being rich; and, in +favour of his constancy, she had no reason to believe him married. + +How eloquent could Anne Elliot have been! how eloquent, at least, were +her wishes on the side of early warm attachment, and a cheerful +confidence in futurity, against that over-anxious caution which seems +to insult exertion and distrust Providence! She had been forced into +prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the +natural sequel of an unnatural beginning. + +With all these circumstances, recollections and feelings, she could not +hear that Captain Wentworth's sister was likely to live at Kellynch +without a revival of former pain; and many a stroll, and many a sigh, +were necessary to dispel the agitation of the idea. She often told +herself it was folly, before she could harden her nerves sufficiently +to feel the continual discussion of the Crofts and their business no +evil. She was assisted, however, by that perfect indifference and +apparent unconsciousness, among the only three of her own friends in +the secret of the past, which seemed almost to deny any recollection of +it. She could do justice to the superiority of Lady Russell's motives +in this, over those of her father and Elizabeth; she could honour all +the better feelings of her calmness; but the general air of oblivion +among them was highly important from whatever it sprung; and in the +event of Admiral Croft's really taking Kellynch Hall, she rejoiced anew +over the conviction which had always been most grateful to her, of the +past being known to those three only among her connexions, by whom no +syllable, she believed, would ever be whispered, and in the trust that +among his, the brother only with whom he had been residing, had +received any information of their short-lived engagement. That brother +had been long removed from the country and being a sensible man, and, +moreover, a single man at the time, she had a fond dependence on no +human creature's having heard of it from him. + +The sister, Mrs Croft, had then been out of England, accompanying her +husband on a foreign station, and her own sister, Mary, had been at +school while it all occurred; and never admitted by the pride of some, +and the delicacy of others, to the smallest knowledge of it afterwards. + +With these supports, she hoped that the acquaintance between herself +and the Crofts, which, with Lady Russell, still resident in Kellynch, +and Mary fixed only three miles off, must be anticipated, need not +involve any particular awkwardness. + + + +Chapter 5 + + +On the morning appointed for Admiral and Mrs Croft's seeing Kellynch +Hall, Anne found it most natural to take her almost daily walk to Lady +Russell's, and keep out of the way till all was over; when she found it +most natural to be sorry that she had missed the opportunity of seeing +them. + +This meeting of the two parties proved highly satisfactory, and decided +the whole business at once. Each lady was previously well disposed for +an agreement, and saw nothing, therefore, but good manners in the +other; and with regard to the gentlemen, there was such an hearty good +humour, such an open, trusting liberality on the Admiral's side, as +could not but influence Sir Walter, who had besides been flattered into +his very best and most polished behaviour by Mr Shepherd's assurances +of his being known, by report, to the Admiral, as a model of good +breeding. + +The house and grounds, and furniture, were approved, the Crofts were +approved, terms, time, every thing, and every body, was right; and Mr +Shepherd's clerks were set to work, without there having been a single +preliminary difference to modify of all that "This indenture sheweth." + +Sir Walter, without hesitation, declared the Admiral to be the +best-looking sailor he had ever met with, and went so far as to say, +that if his own man might have had the arranging of his hair, he should +not be ashamed of being seen with him any where; and the Admiral, with +sympathetic cordiality, observed to his wife as they drove back through +the park, "I thought we should soon come to a deal, my dear, in spite +of what they told us at Taunton. The Baronet will never set the Thames +on fire, but there seems to be no harm in him."--reciprocal +compliments, which would have been esteemed about equal. + +The Crofts were to have possession at Michaelmas; and as Sir Walter +proposed removing to Bath in the course of the preceding month, there +was no time to be lost in making every dependent arrangement. + +Lady Russell, convinced that Anne would not be allowed to be of any +use, or any importance, in the choice of the house which they were +going to secure, was very unwilling to have her hurried away so soon, +and wanted to make it possible for her to stay behind till she might +convey her to Bath herself after Christmas; but having engagements of +her own which must take her from Kellynch for several weeks, she was +unable to give the full invitation she wished, and Anne though dreading +the possible heats of September in all the white glare of Bath, and +grieving to forego all the influence so sweet and so sad of the +autumnal months in the country, did not think that, everything +considered, she wished to remain. It would be most right, and most +wise, and, therefore must involve least suffering to go with the others. + +Something occurred, however, to give her a different duty. Mary, often +a little unwell, and always thinking a great deal of her own +complaints, and always in the habit of claiming Anne when anything was +the matter, was indisposed; and foreseeing that she should not have a +day's health all the autumn, entreated, or rather required her, for it +was hardly entreaty, to come to Uppercross Cottage, and bear her +company as long as she should want her, instead of going to Bath. + +"I cannot possibly do without Anne," was Mary's reasoning; and +Elizabeth's reply was, "Then I am sure Anne had better stay, for nobody +will want her in Bath." + +To be claimed as a good, though in an improper style, is at least +better than being rejected as no good at all; and Anne, glad to be +thought of some use, glad to have anything marked out as a duty, and +certainly not sorry to have the scene of it in the country, and her own +dear country, readily agreed to stay. + +This invitation of Mary's removed all Lady Russell's difficulties, and +it was consequently soon settled that Anne should not go to Bath till +Lady Russell took her, and that all the intervening time should be +divided between Uppercross Cottage and Kellynch Lodge. + +So far all was perfectly right; but Lady Russell was almost startled by +the wrong of one part of the Kellynch Hall plan, when it burst on her, +which was, Mrs Clay's being engaged to go to Bath with Sir Walter and +Elizabeth, as a most important and valuable assistant to the latter in +all the business before her. Lady Russell was extremely sorry that +such a measure should have been resorted to at all, wondered, grieved, +and feared; and the affront it contained to Anne, in Mrs Clay's being +of so much use, while Anne could be of none, was a very sore +aggravation. + +Anne herself was become hardened to such affronts; but she felt the +imprudence of the arrangement quite as keenly as Lady Russell. With a +great deal of quiet observation, and a knowledge, which she often +wished less, of her father's character, she was sensible that results +the most serious to his family from the intimacy were more than +possible. She did not imagine that her father had at present an idea +of the kind. Mrs Clay had freckles, and a projecting tooth, and a +clumsy wrist, which he was continually making severe remarks upon, in +her absence; but she was young, and certainly altogether well-looking, +and possessed, in an acute mind and assiduous pleasing manners, +infinitely more dangerous attractions than any merely personal might +have been. Anne was so impressed by the degree of their danger, that +she could not excuse herself from trying to make it perceptible to her +sister. She had little hope of success; but Elizabeth, who in the +event of such a reverse would be so much more to be pitied than +herself, should never, she thought, have reason to reproach her for +giving no warning. + +She spoke, and seemed only to offend. Elizabeth could not conceive how +such an absurd suspicion should occur to her, and indignantly answered +for each party's perfectly knowing their situation. + +"Mrs Clay," said she, warmly, "never forgets who she is; and as I am +rather better acquainted with her sentiments than you can be, I can +assure you, that upon the subject of marriage they are particularly +nice, and that she reprobates all inequality of condition and rank more +strongly than most people. And as to my father, I really should not +have thought that he, who has kept himself single so long for our +sakes, need be suspected now. If Mrs Clay were a very beautiful woman, +I grant you, it might be wrong to have her so much with me; not that +anything in the world, I am sure, would induce my father to make a +degrading match, but he might be rendered unhappy. But poor Mrs Clay +who, with all her merits, can never have been reckoned tolerably +pretty, I really think poor Mrs Clay may be staying here in perfect +safety. One would imagine you had never heard my father speak of her +personal misfortunes, though I know you must fifty times. That tooth +of her's and those freckles. Freckles do not disgust me so very much +as they do him. I have known a face not materially disfigured by a +few, but he abominates them. You must have heard him notice Mrs Clay's +freckles." + +"There is hardly any personal defect," replied Anne, "which an +agreeable manner might not gradually reconcile one to." + +"I think very differently," answered Elizabeth, shortly; "an agreeable +manner may set off handsome features, but can never alter plain ones. +However, at any rate, as I have a great deal more at stake on this +point than anybody else can have, I think it rather unnecessary in you +to be advising me." + +Anne had done; glad that it was over, and not absolutely hopeless of +doing good. Elizabeth, though resenting the suspicion, might yet be +made observant by it. + +The last office of the four carriage-horses was to draw Sir Walter, +Miss Elliot, and Mrs Clay to Bath. The party drove off in very good +spirits; Sir Walter prepared with condescending bows for all the +afflicted tenantry and cottagers who might have had a hint to show +themselves, and Anne walked up at the same time, in a sort of desolate +tranquillity, to the Lodge, where she was to spend the first week. + +Her friend was not in better spirits than herself. Lady Russell felt +this break-up of the family exceedingly. Their respectability was as +dear to her as her own, and a daily intercourse had become precious by +habit. It was painful to look upon their deserted grounds, and still +worse to anticipate the new hands they were to fall into; and to escape +the solitariness and the melancholy of so altered a village, and be out +of the way when Admiral and Mrs Croft first arrived, she had determined +to make her own absence from home begin when she must give up Anne. +Accordingly their removal was made together, and Anne was set down at +Uppercross Cottage, in the first stage of Lady Russell's journey. + +Uppercross was a moderate-sized village, which a few years back had +been completely in the old English style, containing only two houses +superior in appearance to those of the yeomen and labourers; the +mansion of the squire, with its high walls, great gates, and old trees, +substantial and unmodernized, and the compact, tight parsonage, +enclosed in its own neat garden, with a vine and a pear-tree trained +round its casements; but upon the marriage of the young 'squire, it had +received the improvement of a farm-house elevated into a cottage, for +his residence, and Uppercross Cottage, with its veranda, French +windows, and other prettiness, was quite as likely to catch the +traveller's eye as the more consistent and considerable aspect and +premises of the Great House, about a quarter of a mile farther on. + +Here Anne had often been staying. She knew the ways of Uppercross as +well as those of Kellynch. The two families were so continually +meeting, so much in the habit of running in and out of each other's +house at all hours, that it was rather a surprise to her to find Mary +alone; but being alone, her being unwell and out of spirits was almost +a matter of course. Though better endowed than the elder sister, Mary +had not Anne's understanding nor temper. While well, and happy, and +properly attended to, she had great good humour and excellent spirits; +but any indisposition sunk her completely. She had no resources for +solitude; and inheriting a considerable share of the Elliot +self-importance, was very prone to add to every other distress that of +fancying herself neglected and ill-used. In person, she was inferior to +both sisters, and had, even in her bloom, only reached the dignity of +being "a fine girl." She was now lying on the faded sofa of the pretty +little drawing-room, the once elegant furniture of which had been +gradually growing shabby, under the influence of four summers and two +children; and, on Anne's appearing, greeted her with-- + +"So, you are come at last! I began to think I should never see you. I +am so ill I can hardly speak. I have not seen a creature the whole +morning!" + +"I am sorry to find you unwell," replied Anne. "You sent me such a +good account of yourself on Thursday!" + +"Yes, I made the best of it; I always do: but I was very far from well +at the time; and I do not think I ever was so ill in my life as I have +been all this morning: very unfit to be left alone, I am sure. +Suppose I were to be seized of a sudden in some dreadful way, and not +able to ring the bell! So, Lady Russell would not get out. I do not +think she has been in this house three times this summer." + +Anne said what was proper, and enquired after her husband. "Oh! +Charles is out shooting. I have not seen him since seven o'clock. He +would go, though I told him how ill I was. He said he should not stay +out long; but he has never come back, and now it is almost one. I +assure you, I have not seen a soul this whole long morning." + +"You have had your little boys with you?" + +"Yes, as long as I could bear their noise; but they are so unmanageable +that they do me more harm than good. Little Charles does not mind a +word I say, and Walter is growing quite as bad." + +"Well, you will soon be better now," replied Anne, cheerfully. "You +know I always cure you when I come. How are your neighbours at the +Great House?" + +"I can give you no account of them. I have not seen one of them +to-day, except Mr Musgrove, who just stopped and spoke through the +window, but without getting off his horse; and though I told him how +ill I was, not one of them have been near me. It did not happen to +suit the Miss Musgroves, I suppose, and they never put themselves out +of their way." + +"You will see them yet, perhaps, before the morning is gone. It is +early." + +"I never want them, I assure you. They talk and laugh a great deal too +much for me. Oh! Anne, I am so very unwell! It was quite unkind of +you not to come on Thursday." + +"My dear Mary, recollect what a comfortable account you sent me of +yourself! You wrote in the cheerfullest manner, and said you were +perfectly well, and in no hurry for me; and that being the case, you +must be aware that my wish would be to remain with Lady Russell to the +last: and besides what I felt on her account, I have really been so +busy, have had so much to do, that I could not very conveniently have +left Kellynch sooner." + +"Dear me! what can you possibly have to do?" + +"A great many things, I assure you. More than I can recollect in a +moment; but I can tell you some. I have been making a duplicate of the +catalogue of my father's books and pictures. I have been several times +in the garden with Mackenzie, trying to understand, and make him +understand, which of Elizabeth's plants are for Lady Russell. I have +had all my own little concerns to arrange, books and music to divide, +and all my trunks to repack, from not having understood in time what +was intended as to the waggons: and one thing I have had to do, Mary, +of a more trying nature: going to almost every house in the parish, as +a sort of take-leave. I was told that they wished it. But all these +things took up a great deal of time." + +"Oh! well!" and after a moment's pause, "but you have never asked me +one word about our dinner at the Pooles yesterday." + +"Did you go then? I have made no enquiries, because I concluded you +must have been obliged to give up the party." + +"Oh yes! I went. I was very well yesterday; nothing at all the matter +with me till this morning. It would have been strange if I had not +gone." + +"I am very glad you were well enough, and I hope you had a pleasant +party." + +"Nothing remarkable. One always knows beforehand what the dinner will +be, and who will be there; and it is so very uncomfortable not having a +carriage of one's own. Mr and Mrs Musgrove took me, and we were so +crowded! They are both so very large, and take up so much room; and Mr +Musgrove always sits forward. So, there was I, crowded into the back +seat with Henrietta and Louise; and I think it very likely that my +illness to-day may be owing to it." + +A little further perseverance in patience and forced cheerfulness on +Anne's side produced nearly a cure on Mary's. She could soon sit +upright on the sofa, and began to hope she might be able to leave it by +dinner-time. Then, forgetting to think of it, she was at the other end +of the room, beautifying a nosegay; then, she ate her cold meat; and +then she was well enough to propose a little walk. + +"Where shall we go?" said she, when they were ready. "I suppose you +will not like to call at the Great House before they have been to see +you?" + +"I have not the smallest objection on that account," replied Anne. "I +should never think of standing on such ceremony with people I know so +well as Mrs and the Miss Musgroves." + +"Oh! but they ought to call upon you as soon as possible. They ought +to feel what is due to you as my sister. However, we may as well go +and sit with them a little while, and when we have that over, we can +enjoy our walk." + +Anne had always thought such a style of intercourse highly imprudent; +but she had ceased to endeavour to check it, from believing that, +though there were on each side continual subjects of offence, neither +family could now do without it. To the Great House accordingly they +went, to sit the full half hour in the old-fashioned square parlour, +with a small carpet and shining floor, to which the present daughters +of the house were gradually giving the proper air of confusion by a +grand piano-forte and a harp, flower-stands and little tables placed in +every direction. Oh! could the originals of the portraits against the +wainscot, could the gentlemen in brown velvet and the ladies in blue +satin have seen what was going on, have been conscious of such an +overthrow of all order and neatness! The portraits themselves seemed +to be staring in astonishment. + +The Musgroves, like their houses, were in a state of alteration, +perhaps of improvement. The father and mother were in the old English +style, and the young people in the new. Mr and Mrs Musgrove were a +very good sort of people; friendly and hospitable, not much educated, +and not at all elegant. Their children had more modern minds and +manners. There was a numerous family; but the only two grown up, +excepting Charles, were Henrietta and Louisa, young ladies of nineteen +and twenty, who had brought from school at Exeter all the usual stock +of accomplishments, and were now like thousands of other young ladies, +living to be fashionable, happy, and merry. Their dress had every +advantage, their faces were rather pretty, their spirits extremely +good, their manner unembarrassed and pleasant; they were of consequence +at home, and favourites abroad. Anne always contemplated them as some +of the happiest creatures of her acquaintance; but still, saved as we +all are, by some comfortable feeling of superiority from wishing for +the possibility of exchange, she would not have given up her own more +elegant and cultivated mind for all their enjoyments; and envied them +nothing but that seemingly perfect good understanding and agreement +together, that good-humoured mutual affection, of which she had known +so little herself with either of her sisters. + +They were received with great cordiality. Nothing seemed amiss on the +side of the Great House family, which was generally, as Anne very well +knew, the least to blame. The half hour was chatted away pleasantly +enough; and she was not at all surprised at the end of it, to have +their walking party joined by both the Miss Musgroves, at Mary's +particular invitation. + + + +Chapter 6 + + +Anne had not wanted this visit to Uppercross, to learn that a removal +from one set of people to another, though at a distance of only three +miles, will often include a total change of conversation, opinion, and +idea. She had never been staying there before, without being struck by +it, or without wishing that other Elliots could have her advantage in +seeing how unknown, or unconsidered there, were the affairs which at +Kellynch Hall were treated as of such general publicity and pervading +interest; yet, with all this experience, she believed she must now +submit to feel that another lesson, in the art of knowing our own +nothingness beyond our own circle, was become necessary for her; for +certainly, coming as she did, with a heart full of the subject which +had been completely occupying both houses in Kellynch for many weeks, +she had expected rather more curiosity and sympathy than she found in +the separate but very similar remark of Mr and Mrs Musgrove: "So, Miss +Anne, Sir Walter and your sister are gone; and what part of Bath do you +think they will settle in?" and this, without much waiting for an +answer; or in the young ladies' addition of, "I hope we shall be in +Bath in the winter; but remember, papa, if we do go, we must be in a +good situation: none of your Queen Squares for us!" or in the anxious +supplement from Mary, of--"Upon my word, I shall be pretty well off, +when you are all gone away to be happy at Bath!" + +She could only resolve to avoid such self-delusion in future, and think +with heightened gratitude of the extraordinary blessing of having one +such truly sympathising friend as Lady Russell. + +The Mr Musgroves had their own game to guard, and to destroy, their own +horses, dogs, and newspapers to engage them, and the females were fully +occupied in all the other common subjects of housekeeping, neighbours, +dress, dancing, and music. She acknowledged it to be very fitting, +that every little social commonwealth should dictate its own matters of +discourse; and hoped, ere long, to become a not unworthy member of the +one she was now transplanted into. With the prospect of spending at +least two months at Uppercross, it was highly incumbent on her to +clothe her imagination, her memory, and all her ideas in as much of +Uppercross as possible. + +She had no dread of these two months. Mary was not so repulsive and +unsisterly as Elizabeth, nor so inaccessible to all influence of hers; +neither was there anything among the other component parts of the +cottage inimical to comfort. She was always on friendly terms with her +brother-in-law; and in the children, who loved her nearly as well, and +respected her a great deal more than their mother, she had an object of +interest, amusement, and wholesome exertion. + +Charles Musgrove was civil and agreeable; in sense and temper he was +undoubtedly superior to his wife, but not of powers, or conversation, +or grace, to make the past, as they were connected together, at all a +dangerous contemplation; though, at the same time, Anne could believe, +with Lady Russell, that a more equal match might have greatly improved +him; and that a woman of real understanding might have given more +consequence to his character, and more usefulness, rationality, and +elegance to his habits and pursuits. As it was, he did nothing with +much zeal, but sport; and his time was otherwise trifled away, without +benefit from books or anything else. He had very good spirits, which +never seemed much affected by his wife's occasional lowness, bore with +her unreasonableness sometimes to Anne's admiration, and upon the +whole, though there was very often a little disagreement (in which she +had sometimes more share than she wished, being appealed to by both +parties), they might pass for a happy couple. They were always +perfectly agreed in the want of more money, and a strong inclination +for a handsome present from his father; but here, as on most topics, he +had the superiority, for while Mary thought it a great shame that such +a present was not made, he always contended for his father's having +many other uses for his money, and a right to spend it as he liked. + +As to the management of their children, his theory was much better than +his wife's, and his practice not so bad. "I could manage them very +well, if it were not for Mary's interference," was what Anne often +heard him say, and had a good deal of faith in; but when listening in +turn to Mary's reproach of "Charles spoils the children so that I +cannot get them into any order," she never had the smallest temptation +to say, "Very true." + +One of the least agreeable circumstances of her residence there was her +being treated with too much confidence by all parties, and being too +much in the secret of the complaints of each house. Known to have some +influence with her sister, she was continually requested, or at least +receiving hints to exert it, beyond what was practicable. "I wish you +could persuade Mary not to be always fancying herself ill," was +Charles's language; and, in an unhappy mood, thus spoke Mary: "I do +believe if Charles were to see me dying, he would not think there was +anything the matter with me. I am sure, Anne, if you would, you might +persuade him that I really am very ill--a great deal worse than I ever +own." + +Mary's declaration was, "I hate sending the children to the Great +House, though their grandmamma is always wanting to see them, for she +humours and indulges them to such a degree, and gives them so much +trash and sweet things, that they are sure to come back sick and cross +for the rest of the day." And Mrs Musgrove took the first opportunity +of being alone with Anne, to say, "Oh! Miss Anne, I cannot help wishing +Mrs Charles had a little of your method with those children. They are +quite different creatures with you! But to be sure, in general they +are so spoilt! It is a pity you cannot put your sister in the way of +managing them. They are as fine healthy children as ever were seen, +poor little dears! without partiality; but Mrs Charles knows no more +how they should be treated--! Bless me! how troublesome they are +sometimes. I assure you, Miss Anne, it prevents my wishing to see them +at our house so often as I otherwise should. I believe Mrs Charles is +not quite pleased with my not inviting them oftener; but you know it is +very bad to have children with one that one is obligated to be checking +every moment; "don't do this," and "don't do that;" or that one can +only keep in tolerable order by more cake than is good for them." + +She had this communication, moreover, from Mary. "Mrs Musgrove thinks +all her servants so steady, that it would be high treason to call it in +question; but I am sure, without exaggeration, that her upper +house-maid and laundry-maid, instead of being in their business, are +gadding about the village, all day long. I meet them wherever I go; +and I declare, I never go twice into my nursery without seeing +something of them. If Jemima were not the trustiest, steadiest +creature in the world, it would be enough to spoil her; for she tells +me, they are always tempting her to take a walk with them." And on Mrs +Musgrove's side, it was, "I make a rule of never interfering in any of +my daughter-in-law's concerns, for I know it would not do; but I shall +tell you, Miss Anne, because you may be able to set things to rights, +that I have no very good opinion of Mrs Charles's nursery-maid: I hear +strange stories of her; she is always upon the gad; and from my own +knowledge, I can declare, she is such a fine-dressing lady, that she is +enough to ruin any servants she comes near. Mrs Charles quite swears +by her, I know; but I just give you this hint, that you may be upon the +watch; because, if you see anything amiss, you need not be afraid of +mentioning it." + +Again, it was Mary's complaint, that Mrs Musgrove was very apt not to +give her the precedence that was her due, when they dined at the Great +House with other families; and she did not see any reason why she was +to be considered so much at home as to lose her place. And one day +when Anne was walking with only the Musgroves, one of them after +talking of rank, people of rank, and jealousy of rank, said, "I have no +scruple of observing to you, how nonsensical some persons are about +their place, because all the world knows how easy and indifferent you +are about it; but I wish anybody could give Mary a hint that it would +be a great deal better if she were not so very tenacious, especially if +she would not be always putting herself forward to take place of mamma. +Nobody doubts her right to have precedence of mamma, but it would be +more becoming in her not to be always insisting on it. It is not that +mamma cares about it the least in the world, but I know it is taken +notice of by many persons." + +How was Anne to set all these matters to rights? She could do little +more than listen patiently, soften every grievance, and excuse each to +the other; give them all hints of the forbearance necessary between +such near neighbours, and make those hints broadest which were meant +for her sister's benefit. + +In all other respects, her visit began and proceeded very well. Her +own spirits improved by change of place and subject, by being removed +three miles from Kellynch; Mary's ailments lessened by having a +constant companion, and their daily intercourse with the other family, +since there was neither superior affection, confidence, nor employment +in the cottage, to be interrupted by it, was rather an advantage. It +was certainly carried nearly as far as possible, for they met every +morning, and hardly ever spent an evening asunder; but she believed +they should not have done so well without the sight of Mr and Mrs +Musgrove's respectable forms in the usual places, or without the +talking, laughing, and singing of their daughters. + +She played a great deal better than either of the Miss Musgroves, but +having no voice, no knowledge of the harp, and no fond parents, to sit +by and fancy themselves delighted, her performance was little thought +of, only out of civility, or to refresh the others, as she was well +aware. She knew that when she played she was giving pleasure only to +herself; but this was no new sensation. Excepting one short period of +her life, she had never, since the age of fourteen, never since the +loss of her dear mother, known the happiness of being listened to, or +encouraged by any just appreciation or real taste. In music she had +been always used to feel alone in the world; and Mr and Mrs Musgrove's +fond partiality for their own daughters' performance, and total +indifference to any other person's, gave her much more pleasure for +their sakes, than mortification for her own. + +The party at the Great House was sometimes increased by other company. +The neighbourhood was not large, but the Musgroves were visited by +everybody, and had more dinner-parties, and more callers, more visitors +by invitation and by chance, than any other family. There were more +completely popular. + +The girls were wild for dancing; and the evenings ended, occasionally, +in an unpremeditated little ball. There was a family of cousins within +a walk of Uppercross, in less affluent circumstances, who depended on +the Musgroves for all their pleasures: they would come at any time, +and help play at anything, or dance anywhere; and Anne, very much +preferring the office of musician to a more active post, played country +dances to them by the hour together; a kindness which always +recommended her musical powers to the notice of Mr and Mrs Musgrove +more than anything else, and often drew this compliment;--"Well done, +Miss Anne! very well done indeed! Lord bless me! how those little +fingers of yours fly about!" + +So passed the first three weeks. Michaelmas came; and now Anne's heart +must be in Kellynch again. A beloved home made over to others; all the +precious rooms and furniture, groves, and prospects, beginning to own +other eyes and other limbs! She could not think of much else on the +29th of September; and she had this sympathetic touch in the evening +from Mary, who, on having occasion to note down the day of the month, +exclaimed, "Dear me, is not this the day the Crofts were to come to +Kellynch? I am glad I did not think of it before. How low it makes +me!" + +The Crofts took possession with true naval alertness, and were to be +visited. Mary deplored the necessity for herself. "Nobody knew how +much she should suffer. She should put it off as long as she could;" +but was not easy till she had talked Charles into driving her over on +an early day, and was in a very animated, comfortable state of +imaginary agitation, when she came back. Anne had very sincerely +rejoiced in there being no means of her going. She wished, however to +see the Crofts, and was glad to be within when the visit was returned. +They came: the master of the house was not at home, but the two +sisters were together; and as it chanced that Mrs Croft fell to the +share of Anne, while the Admiral sat by Mary, and made himself very +agreeable by his good-humoured notice of her little boys, she was well +able to watch for a likeness, and if it failed her in the features, to +catch it in the voice, or in the turn of sentiment and expression. + +Mrs Croft, though neither tall nor fat, had a squareness, uprightness, +and vigour of form, which gave importance to her person. She had +bright dark eyes, good teeth, and altogether an agreeable face; though +her reddened and weather-beaten complexion, the consequence of her +having been almost as much at sea as her husband, made her seem to have +lived some years longer in the world than her real eight-and-thirty. +Her manners were open, easy, and decided, like one who had no distrust +of herself, and no doubts of what to do; without any approach to +coarseness, however, or any want of good humour. Anne gave her credit, +indeed, for feelings of great consideration towards herself, in all +that related to Kellynch, and it pleased her: especially, as she had +satisfied herself in the very first half minute, in the instant even of +introduction, that there was not the smallest symptom of any knowledge +or suspicion on Mrs Croft's side, to give a bias of any sort. She was +quite easy on that head, and consequently full of strength and courage, +till for a moment electrified by Mrs Croft's suddenly saying,-- + +"It was you, and not your sister, I find, that my brother had the +pleasure of being acquainted with, when he was in this country." + +Anne hoped she had outlived the age of blushing; but the age of emotion +she certainly had not. + +"Perhaps you may not have heard that he is married?" added Mrs Croft. + +She could now answer as she ought; and was happy to feel, when Mrs +Croft's next words explained it to be Mr Wentworth of whom she spoke, +that she had said nothing which might not do for either brother. She +immediately felt how reasonable it was, that Mrs Croft should be +thinking and speaking of Edward, and not of Frederick; and with shame +at her own forgetfulness applied herself to the knowledge of their +former neighbour's present state with proper interest. + +The rest was all tranquillity; till, just as they were moving, she +heard the Admiral say to Mary-- + +"We are expecting a brother of Mrs Croft's here soon; I dare say you +know him by name." + +He was cut short by the eager attacks of the little boys, clinging to +him like an old friend, and declaring he should not go; and being too +much engrossed by proposals of carrying them away in his coat pockets, +&c., to have another moment for finishing or recollecting what he had +begun, Anne was left to persuade herself, as well as she could, that +the same brother must still be in question. She could not, however, +reach such a degree of certainty, as not to be anxious to hear whether +anything had been said on the subject at the other house, where the +Crofts had previously been calling. + +The folks of the Great House were to spend the evening of this day at +the Cottage; and it being now too late in the year for such visits to +be made on foot, the coach was beginning to be listened for, when the +youngest Miss Musgrove walked in. That she was coming to apologize, +and that they should have to spend the evening by themselves, was the +first black idea; and Mary was quite ready to be affronted, when Louisa +made all right by saying, that she only came on foot, to leave more +room for the harp, which was bringing in the carriage. + +"And I will tell you our reason," she added, "and all about it. I am +come on to give you notice, that papa and mamma are out of spirits this +evening, especially mamma; she is thinking so much of poor Richard! +And we agreed it would be best to have the harp, for it seems to amuse +her more than the piano-forte. I will tell you why she is out of +spirits. When the Crofts called this morning, (they called here +afterwards, did not they?), they happened to say, that her brother, +Captain Wentworth, is just returned to England, or paid off, or +something, and is coming to see them almost directly; and most +unluckily it came into mamma's head, when they were gone, that +Wentworth, or something very like it, was the name of poor Richard's +captain at one time; I do not know when or where, but a great while +before he died, poor fellow! And upon looking over his letters and +things, she found it was so, and is perfectly sure that this must be +the very man, and her head is quite full of it, and of poor Richard! +So we must be as merry as we can, that she may not be dwelling upon +such gloomy things." + +The real circumstances of this pathetic piece of family history were, +that the Musgroves had had the ill fortune of a very troublesome, +hopeless son; and the good fortune to lose him before he reached his +twentieth year; that he had been sent to sea because he was stupid and +unmanageable on shore; that he had been very little cared for at any +time by his family, though quite as much as he deserved; seldom heard +of, and scarcely at all regretted, when the intelligence of his death +abroad had worked its way to Uppercross, two years before. + +He had, in fact, though his sisters were now doing all they could for +him, by calling him "poor Richard," been nothing better than a +thick-headed, unfeeling, unprofitable Dick Musgrove, who had never done +anything to entitle himself to more than the abbreviation of his name, +living or dead. + +He had been several years at sea, and had, in the course of those +removals to which all midshipmen are liable, and especially such +midshipmen as every captain wishes to get rid of, been six months on +board Captain Frederick Wentworth's frigate, the Laconia; and from the +Laconia he had, under the influence of his captain, written the only +two letters which his father and mother had ever received from him +during the whole of his absence; that is to say, the only two +disinterested letters; all the rest had been mere applications for +money. + +In each letter he had spoken well of his captain; but yet, so little +were they in the habit of attending to such matters, so unobservant and +incurious were they as to the names of men or ships, that it had made +scarcely any impression at the time; and that Mrs Musgrove should have +been suddenly struck, this very day, with a recollection of the name of +Wentworth, as connected with her son, seemed one of those extraordinary +bursts of mind which do sometimes occur. + +She had gone to her letters, and found it all as she supposed; and the +re-perusal of these letters, after so long an interval, her poor son +gone for ever, and all the strength of his faults forgotten, had +affected her spirits exceedingly, and thrown her into greater grief for +him than she had known on first hearing of his death. Mr Musgrove was, +in a lesser degree, affected likewise; and when they reached the +cottage, they were evidently in want, first, of being listened to anew +on this subject, and afterwards, of all the relief which cheerful +companions could give them. + +To hear them talking so much of Captain Wentworth, repeating his name +so often, puzzling over past years, and at last ascertaining that it +might, that it probably would, turn out to be the very same Captain +Wentworth whom they recollected meeting, once or twice, after their +coming back from Clifton--a very fine young man--but they could not say +whether it was seven or eight years ago, was a new sort of trial to +Anne's nerves. She found, however, that it was one to which she must +inure herself. Since he actually was expected in the country, she must +teach herself to be insensible on such points. And not only did it +appear that he was expected, and speedily, but the Musgroves, in their +warm gratitude for the kindness he had shewn poor Dick, and very high +respect for his character, stamped as it was by poor Dick's having been +six months under his care, and mentioning him in strong, though not +perfectly well-spelt praise, as "a fine dashing felow, only two +perticular about the schoolmaster," were bent on introducing +themselves, and seeking his acquaintance, as soon as they could hear of +his arrival. + +The resolution of doing so helped to form the comfort of their evening. + + + +Chapter 7 + + +A very few days more, and Captain Wentworth was known to be at +Kellynch, and Mr Musgrove had called on him, and come back warm in his +praise, and he was engaged with the Crofts to dine at Uppercross, by +the end of another week. It had been a great disappointment to Mr +Musgrove to find that no earlier day could be fixed, so impatient was +he to shew his gratitude, by seeing Captain Wentworth under his own +roof, and welcoming him to all that was strongest and best in his +cellars. But a week must pass; only a week, in Anne's reckoning, and +then, she supposed, they must meet; and soon she began to wish that she +could feel secure even for a week. + +Captain Wentworth made a very early return to Mr Musgrove's civility, +and she was all but calling there in the same half hour. She and Mary +were actually setting forward for the Great House, where, as she +afterwards learnt, they must inevitably have found him, when they were +stopped by the eldest boy's being at that moment brought home in +consequence of a bad fall. The child's situation put the visit +entirely aside; but she could not hear of her escape with indifference, +even in the midst of the serious anxiety which they afterwards felt on +his account. + +His collar-bone was found to be dislocated, and such injury received in +the back, as roused the most alarming ideas. It was an afternoon of +distress, and Anne had every thing to do at once; the apothecary to +send for, the father to have pursued and informed, the mother to +support and keep from hysterics, the servants to control, the youngest +child to banish, and the poor suffering one to attend and soothe; +besides sending, as soon as she recollected it, proper notice to the +other house, which brought her an accession rather of frightened, +enquiring companions, than of very useful assistants. + +Her brother's return was the first comfort; he could take best care of +his wife; and the second blessing was the arrival of the apothecary. +Till he came and had examined the child, their apprehensions were the +worse for being vague; they suspected great injury, but knew not where; +but now the collar-bone was soon replaced, and though Mr Robinson felt +and felt, and rubbed, and looked grave, and spoke low words both to the +father and the aunt, still they were all to hope the best, and to be +able to part and eat their dinner in tolerable ease of mind; and then +it was, just before they parted, that the two young aunts were able so +far to digress from their nephew's state, as to give the information of +Captain Wentworth's visit; staying five minutes behind their father and +mother, to endeavour to express how perfectly delighted they were with +him, how much handsomer, how infinitely more agreeable they thought him +than any individual among their male acquaintance, who had been at all +a favourite before. How glad they had been to hear papa invite him to +stay dinner, how sorry when he said it was quite out of his power, and +how glad again when he had promised in reply to papa and mamma's +farther pressing invitations to come and dine with them on the +morrow--actually on the morrow; and he had promised it in so pleasant a +manner, as if he felt all the motive of their attention just as he +ought. And in short, he had looked and said everything with such +exquisite grace, that they could assure them all, their heads were both +turned by him; and off they ran, quite as full of glee as of love, and +apparently more full of Captain Wentworth than of little Charles. + +The same story and the same raptures were repeated, when the two girls +came with their father, through the gloom of the evening, to make +enquiries; and Mr Musgrove, no longer under the first uneasiness about +his heir, could add his confirmation and praise, and hope there would +be now no occasion for putting Captain Wentworth off, and only be sorry +to think that the cottage party, probably, would not like to leave the +little boy, to give him the meeting. "Oh no; as to leaving the little +boy," both father and mother were in much too strong and recent alarm +to bear the thought; and Anne, in the joy of the escape, could not help +adding her warm protestations to theirs. + +Charles Musgrove, indeed, afterwards, shewed more of inclination; "the +child was going on so well, and he wished so much to be introduced to +Captain Wentworth, that, perhaps, he might join them in the evening; he +would not dine from home, but he might walk in for half an hour." But +in this he was eagerly opposed by his wife, with "Oh! no, indeed, +Charles, I cannot bear to have you go away. Only think if anything +should happen?" + +The child had a good night, and was going on well the next day. It +must be a work of time to ascertain that no injury had been done to the +spine; but Mr Robinson found nothing to increase alarm, and Charles +Musgrove began, consequently, to feel no necessity for longer +confinement. The child was to be kept in bed and amused as quietly as +possible; but what was there for a father to do? This was quite a +female case, and it would be highly absurd in him, who could be of no +use at home, to shut himself up. His father very much wished him to +meet Captain Wentworth, and there being no sufficient reason against +it, he ought to go; and it ended in his making a bold, public +declaration, when he came in from shooting, of his meaning to dress +directly, and dine at the other house. + +"Nothing can be going on better than the child," said he; "so I told my +father, just now, that I would come, and he thought me quite right. +Your sister being with you, my love, I have no scruple at all. You +would not like to leave him yourself, but you see I can be of no use. +Anne will send for me if anything is the matter." + +Husbands and wives generally understand when opposition will be vain. +Mary knew, from Charles's manner of speaking, that he was quite +determined on going, and that it would be of no use to teaze him. She +said nothing, therefore, till he was out of the room, but as soon as +there was only Anne to hear-- + +"So you and I are to be left to shift by ourselves, with this poor sick +child; and not a creature coming near us all the evening! I knew how +it would be. This is always my luck. If there is anything +disagreeable going on men are always sure to get out of it, and Charles +is as bad as any of them. Very unfeeling! I must say it is very +unfeeling of him to be running away from his poor little boy. Talks of +his being going on so well! How does he know that he is going on well, +or that there may not be a sudden change half an hour hence? I did not +think Charles would have been so unfeeling. So here he is to go away +and enjoy himself, and because I am the poor mother, I am not to be +allowed to stir; and yet, I am sure, I am more unfit than anybody else +to be about the child. My being the mother is the very reason why my +feelings should not be tried. I am not at all equal to it. You saw +how hysterical I was yesterday." + +"But that was only the effect of the suddenness of your alarm--of the +shock. You will not be hysterical again. I dare say we shall have +nothing to distress us. I perfectly understand Mr Robinson's +directions, and have no fears; and indeed, Mary, I cannot wonder at +your husband. Nursing does not belong to a man; it is not his +province. A sick child is always the mother's property: her own +feelings generally make it so." + +"I hope I am as fond of my child as any mother, but I do not know that +I am of any more use in the sick-room than Charles, for I cannot be +always scolding and teazing the poor child when it is ill; and you saw, +this morning, that if I told him to keep quiet, he was sure to begin +kicking about. I have not nerves for the sort of thing." + +"But, could you be comfortable yourself, to be spending the whole +evening away from the poor boy?" + +"Yes; you see his papa can, and why should not I? Jemima is so +careful; and she could send us word every hour how he was. I really +think Charles might as well have told his father we would all come. I +am not more alarmed about little Charles now than he is. I was +dreadfully alarmed yesterday, but the case is very different to-day." + +"Well, if you do not think it too late to give notice for yourself, +suppose you were to go, as well as your husband. Leave little Charles +to my care. Mr and Mrs Musgrove cannot think it wrong while I remain +with him." + +"Are you serious?" cried Mary, her eyes brightening. "Dear me! that's +a very good thought, very good, indeed. To be sure, I may just as well +go as not, for I am of no use at home--am I? and it only harasses me. +You, who have not a mother's feelings, are a great deal the properest +person. You can make little Charles do anything; he always minds you +at a word. It will be a great deal better than leaving him only with +Jemima. Oh! I shall certainly go; I am sure I ought if I can, quite as +much as Charles, for they want me excessively to be acquainted with +Captain Wentworth, and I know you do not mind being left alone. An +excellent thought of yours, indeed, Anne. I will go and tell Charles, +and get ready directly. You can send for us, you know, at a moment's +notice, if anything is the matter; but I dare say there will be nothing +to alarm you. I should not go, you may be sure, if I did not feel +quite at ease about my dear child." + +The next moment she was tapping at her husband's dressing-room door, +and as Anne followed her up stairs, she was in time for the whole +conversation, which began with Mary's saying, in a tone of great +exultation-- + +"I mean to go with you, Charles, for I am of no more use at home than +you are. If I were to shut myself up for ever with the child, I should +not be able to persuade him to do anything he did not like. Anne will +stay; Anne undertakes to stay at home and take care of him. It is +Anne's own proposal, and so I shall go with you, which will be a great +deal better, for I have not dined at the other house since Tuesday." + +"This is very kind of Anne," was her husband's answer, "and I should be +very glad to have you go; but it seems rather hard that she should be +left at home by herself, to nurse our sick child." + +Anne was now at hand to take up her own cause, and the sincerity of her +manner being soon sufficient to convince him, where conviction was at +least very agreeable, he had no farther scruples as to her being left +to dine alone, though he still wanted her to join them in the evening, +when the child might be at rest for the night, and kindly urged her to +let him come and fetch her, but she was quite unpersuadable; and this +being the case, she had ere long the pleasure of seeing them set off +together in high spirits. They were gone, she hoped, to be happy, +however oddly constructed such happiness might seem; as for herself, +she was left with as many sensations of comfort, as were, perhaps, ever +likely to be hers. She knew herself to be of the first utility to the +child; and what was it to her if Frederick Wentworth were only half a +mile distant, making himself agreeable to others? + +She would have liked to know how he felt as to a meeting. Perhaps +indifferent, if indifference could exist under such circumstances. He +must be either indifferent or unwilling. Had he wished ever to see her +again, he need not have waited till this time; he would have done what +she could not but believe that in his place she should have done long +ago, when events had been early giving him the independence which alone +had been wanting. + +Her brother and sister came back delighted with their new acquaintance, +and their visit in general. There had been music, singing, talking, +laughing, all that was most agreeable; charming manners in Captain +Wentworth, no shyness or reserve; they seemed all to know each other +perfectly, and he was coming the very next morning to shoot with +Charles. He was to come to breakfast, but not at the Cottage, though +that had been proposed at first; but then he had been pressed to come +to the Great House instead, and he seemed afraid of being in Mrs +Charles Musgrove's way, on account of the child, and therefore, +somehow, they hardly knew how, it ended in Charles's being to meet him +to breakfast at his father's. + +Anne understood it. He wished to avoid seeing her. He had inquired +after her, she found, slightly, as might suit a former slight +acquaintance, seeming to acknowledge such as she had acknowledged, +actuated, perhaps, by the same view of escaping introduction when they +were to meet. + +The morning hours of the Cottage were always later than those of the +other house, and on the morrow the difference was so great that Mary +and Anne were not more than beginning breakfast when Charles came in to +say that they were just setting off, that he was come for his dogs, +that his sisters were following with Captain Wentworth; his sisters +meaning to visit Mary and the child, and Captain Wentworth proposing +also to wait on her for a few minutes if not inconvenient; and though +Charles had answered for the child's being in no such state as could +make it inconvenient, Captain Wentworth would not be satisfied without +his running on to give notice. + +Mary, very much gratified by this attention, was delighted to receive +him, while a thousand feelings rushed on Anne, of which this was the +most consoling, that it would soon be over. And it was soon over. In +two minutes after Charles's preparation, the others appeared; they were +in the drawing-room. Her eye half met Captain Wentworth's, a bow, a +curtsey passed; she heard his voice; he talked to Mary, said all that +was right, said something to the Miss Musgroves, enough to mark an easy +footing; the room seemed full, full of persons and voices, but a few +minutes ended it. Charles shewed himself at the window, all was ready, +their visitor had bowed and was gone, the Miss Musgroves were gone too, +suddenly resolving to walk to the end of the village with the +sportsmen: the room was cleared, and Anne might finish her breakfast +as she could. + +"It is over! it is over!" she repeated to herself again and again, in +nervous gratitude. "The worst is over!" + +Mary talked, but she could not attend. She had seen him. They had +met. They had been once more in the same room. + +Soon, however, she began to reason with herself, and try to be feeling +less. Eight years, almost eight years had passed, since all had been +given up. How absurd to be resuming the agitation which such an +interval had banished into distance and indistinctness! What might not +eight years do? Events of every description, changes, alienations, +removals--all, all must be comprised in it, and oblivion of the past-- +how natural, how certain too! It included nearly a third part of her +own life. + +Alas! with all her reasoning, she found, that to retentive feelings +eight years may be little more than nothing. + +Now, how were his sentiments to be read? Was this like wishing to +avoid her? And the next moment she was hating herself for the folly +which asked the question. + +On one other question which perhaps her utmost wisdom might not have +prevented, she was soon spared all suspense; for, after the Miss +Musgroves had returned and finished their visit at the Cottage she had +this spontaneous information from Mary:-- + +"Captain Wentworth is not very gallant by you, Anne, though he was so +attentive to me. Henrietta asked him what he thought of you, when they +went away, and he said, 'You were so altered he should not have known +you again.'" + +Mary had no feelings to make her respect her sister's in a common way, +but she was perfectly unsuspicious of being inflicting any peculiar +wound. + +"Altered beyond his knowledge." Anne fully submitted, in silent, deep +mortification. Doubtless it was so, and she could take no revenge, for +he was not altered, or not for the worse. She had already acknowledged +it to herself, and she could not think differently, let him think of +her as he would. No: the years which had destroyed her youth and +bloom had only given him a more glowing, manly, open look, in no +respect lessening his personal advantages. She had seen the same +Frederick Wentworth. + +"So altered that he should not have known her again!" These were words +which could not but dwell with her. Yet she soon began to rejoice that +she had heard them. They were of sobering tendency; they allayed +agitation; they composed, and consequently must make her happier. + +Frederick Wentworth had used such words, or something like them, but +without an idea that they would be carried round to her. He had +thought her wretchedly altered, and in the first moment of appeal, had +spoken as he felt. He had not forgiven Anne Elliot. She had used him +ill, deserted and disappointed him; and worse, she had shewn a +feebleness of character in doing so, which his own decided, confident +temper could not endure. She had given him up to oblige others. It +had been the effect of over-persuasion. It had been weakness and +timidity. + +He had been most warmly attached to her, and had never seen a woman +since whom he thought her equal; but, except from some natural +sensation of curiosity, he had no desire of meeting her again. Her +power with him was gone for ever. + +It was now his object to marry. He was rich, and being turned on +shore, fully intended to settle as soon as he could be properly +tempted; actually looking round, ready to fall in love with all the +speed which a clear head and a quick taste could allow. He had a heart +for either of the Miss Musgroves, if they could catch it; a heart, in +short, for any pleasing young woman who came in his way, excepting Anne +Elliot. This was his only secret exception, when he said to his +sister, in answer to her suppositions:-- + +"Yes, here I am, Sophia, quite ready to make a foolish match. Anybody +between fifteen and thirty may have me for asking. A little beauty, +and a few smiles, and a few compliments to the navy, and I am a lost +man. Should not this be enough for a sailor, who has had no society +among women to make him nice?" + +He said it, she knew, to be contradicted. His bright proud eye spoke +the conviction that he was nice; and Anne Elliot was not out of his +thoughts, when he more seriously described the woman he should wish to +meet with. "A strong mind, with sweetness of manner," made the first +and the last of the description. + +"That is the woman I want," said he. "Something a little inferior I +shall of course put up with, but it must not be much. If I am a fool, +I shall be a fool indeed, for I have thought on the subject more than +most men." + + + +Chapter 8 + + +From this time Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot were repeatedly in the +same circle. They were soon dining in company together at Mr +Musgrove's, for the little boy's state could no longer supply his aunt +with a pretence for absenting herself; and this was but the beginning +of other dinings and other meetings. + +Whether former feelings were to be renewed must be brought to the +proof; former times must undoubtedly be brought to the recollection of +each; they could not but be reverted to; the year of their engagement +could not but be named by him, in the little narratives or descriptions +which conversation called forth. His profession qualified him, his +disposition lead him, to talk; and "That was in the year six;" "That +happened before I went to sea in the year six," occurred in the course +of the first evening they spent together: and though his voice did not +falter, and though she had no reason to suppose his eye wandering +towards her while he spoke, Anne felt the utter impossibility, from her +knowledge of his mind, that he could be unvisited by remembrance any +more than herself. There must be the same immediate association of +thought, though she was very far from conceiving it to be of equal pain. + +They had no conversation together, no intercourse but what the +commonest civility required. Once so much to each other! Now nothing! +There had been a time, when of all the large party now filling the +drawing-room at Uppercross, they would have found it most difficult to +cease to speak to one another. With the exception, perhaps, of Admiral +and Mrs Croft, who seemed particularly attached and happy, (Anne could +allow no other exceptions even among the married couples), there could +have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so +in unison, no countenances so beloved. Now they were as strangers; +nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It +was a perpetual estrangement. + +When he talked, she heard the same voice, and discerned the same mind. +There was a very general ignorance of all naval matters throughout the +party; and he was very much questioned, and especially by the two Miss +Musgroves, who seemed hardly to have any eyes but for him, as to the +manner of living on board, daily regulations, food, hours, &c., and +their surprise at his accounts, at learning the degree of accommodation +and arrangement which was practicable, drew from him some pleasant +ridicule, which reminded Anne of the early days when she too had been +ignorant, and she too had been accused of supposing sailors to be +living on board without anything to eat, or any cook to dress it if +there were, or any servant to wait, or any knife and fork to use. + +From thus listening and thinking, she was roused by a whisper of Mrs +Musgrove's who, overcome by fond regrets, could not help saying-- + +"Ah! Miss Anne, if it had pleased Heaven to spare my poor son, I dare +say he would have been just such another by this time." + +Anne suppressed a smile, and listened kindly, while Mrs Musgrove +relieved her heart a little more; and for a few minutes, therefore, +could not keep pace with the conversation of the others. + +When she could let her attention take its natural course again, she +found the Miss Musgroves just fetching the Navy List (their own navy +list, the first that had ever been at Uppercross), and sitting down +together to pore over it, with the professed view of finding out the +ships that Captain Wentworth had commanded. + +"Your first was the Asp, I remember; we will look for the Asp." + +"You will not find her there. Quite worn out and broken up. I was the +last man who commanded her. Hardly fit for service then. Reported fit +for home service for a year or two, and so I was sent off to the West +Indies." + +The girls looked all amazement. + +"The Admiralty," he continued, "entertain themselves now and then, with +sending a few hundred men to sea, in a ship not fit to be employed. +But they have a great many to provide for; and among the thousands that +may just as well go to the bottom as not, it is impossible for them to +distinguish the very set who may be least missed." + +"Phoo! phoo!" cried the Admiral, "what stuff these young fellows talk! +Never was a better sloop than the Asp in her day. For an old built +sloop, you would not see her equal. Lucky fellow to get her! He knows +there must have been twenty better men than himself applying for her at +the same time. Lucky fellow to get anything so soon, with no more +interest than his." + +"I felt my luck, Admiral, I assure you;" replied Captain Wentworth, +seriously. "I was as well satisfied with my appointment as you can +desire. It was a great object with me at that time to be at sea; a +very great object, I wanted to be doing something." + +"To be sure you did. What should a young fellow like you do ashore for +half a year together? If a man had not a wife, he soon wants to be +afloat again." + +"But, Captain Wentworth," cried Louisa, "how vexed you must have been +when you came to the Asp, to see what an old thing they had given you." + +"I knew pretty well what she was before that day;" said he, smiling. +"I had no more discoveries to make than you would have as to the +fashion and strength of any old pelisse, which you had seen lent about +among half your acquaintance ever since you could remember, and which +at last, on some very wet day, is lent to yourself. Ah! she was a dear +old Asp to me. She did all that I wanted. I knew she would. I knew +that we should either go to the bottom together, or that she would be +the making of me; and I never had two days of foul weather all the time +I was at sea in her; and after taking privateers enough to be very +entertaining, I had the good luck in my passage home the next autumn, +to fall in with the very French frigate I wanted. I brought her into +Plymouth; and here another instance of luck. We had not been six hours +in the Sound, when a gale came on, which lasted four days and nights, +and which would have done for poor old Asp in half the time; our touch +with the Great Nation not having much improved our condition. +Four-and-twenty hours later, and I should only have been a gallant +Captain Wentworth, in a small paragraph at one corner of the +newspapers; and being lost in only a sloop, nobody would have thought +about me." Anne's shudderings were to herself alone; but the Miss +Musgroves could be as open as they were sincere, in their exclamations +of pity and horror. + +"And so then, I suppose," said Mrs Musgrove, in a low voice, as if +thinking aloud, "so then he went away to the Laconia, and there he met +with our poor boy. Charles, my dear," (beckoning him to her), "do ask +Captain Wentworth where it was he first met with your poor brother. I +always forgot." + +"It was at Gibraltar, mother, I know. Dick had been left ill at +Gibraltar, with a recommendation from his former captain to Captain +Wentworth." + +"Oh! but, Charles, tell Captain Wentworth, he need not be afraid of +mentioning poor Dick before me, for it would be rather a pleasure to +hear him talked of by such a good friend." + +Charles, being somewhat more mindful of the probabilities of the case, +only nodded in reply, and walked away. + +The girls were now hunting for the Laconia; and Captain Wentworth could +not deny himself the pleasure of taking the precious volume into his +own hands to save them the trouble, and once more read aloud the little +statement of her name and rate, and present non-commissioned class, +observing over it that she too had been one of the best friends man +ever had. + +"Ah! those were pleasant days when I had the Laconia! How fast I made +money in her. A friend of mine and I had such a lovely cruise together +off the Western Islands. Poor Harville, sister! You know how much he +wanted money: worse than myself. He had a wife. Excellent fellow. I +shall never forget his happiness. He felt it all, so much for her +sake. I wished for him again the next summer, when I had still the +same luck in the Mediterranean." + +"And I am sure, Sir," said Mrs Musgrove, "it was a lucky day for us, +when you were put captain into that ship. We shall never forget what +you did." + +Her feelings made her speak low; and Captain Wentworth, hearing only in +part, and probably not having Dick Musgrove at all near his thoughts, +looked rather in suspense, and as if waiting for more. + +"My brother," whispered one of the girls; "mamma is thinking of poor +Richard." + +"Poor dear fellow!" continued Mrs Musgrove; "he was grown so steady, +and such an excellent correspondent, while he was under your care! Ah! +it would have been a happy thing, if he had never left you. I assure +you, Captain Wentworth, we are very sorry he ever left you." + +There was a momentary expression in Captain Wentworth's face at this +speech, a certain glance of his bright eye, and curl of his handsome +mouth, which convinced Anne, that instead of sharing in Mrs Musgrove's +kind wishes, as to her son, he had probably been at some pains to get +rid of him; but it was too transient an indulgence of self-amusement to +be detected by any who understood him less than herself; in another +moment he was perfectly collected and serious, and almost instantly +afterwards coming up to the sofa, on which she and Mrs Musgrove were +sitting, took a place by the latter, and entered into conversation with +her, in a low voice, about her son, doing it with so much sympathy and +natural grace, as shewed the kindest consideration for all that was +real and unabsurd in the parent's feelings. + +They were actually on the same sofa, for Mrs Musgrove had most readily +made room for him; they were divided only by Mrs Musgrove. It was no +insignificant barrier, indeed. Mrs Musgrove was of a comfortable, +substantial size, infinitely more fitted by nature to express good +cheer and good humour, than tenderness and sentiment; and while the +agitations of Anne's slender form, and pensive face, may be considered +as very completely screened, Captain Wentworth should be allowed some +credit for the self-command with which he attended to her large fat +sighings over the destiny of a son, whom alive nobody had cared for. + +Personal size and mental sorrow have certainly no necessary +proportions. A large bulky figure has as good a right to be in deep +affliction, as the most graceful set of limbs in the world. But, fair +or not fair, there are unbecoming conjunctions, which reason will +patronize in vain--which taste cannot tolerate--which ridicule will +seize. + +The Admiral, after taking two or three refreshing turns about the room +with his hands behind him, being called to order by his wife, now came +up to Captain Wentworth, and without any observation of what he might +be interrupting, thinking only of his own thoughts, began with-- + +"If you had been a week later at Lisbon, last spring, Frederick, you +would have been asked to give a passage to Lady Mary Grierson and her +daughters." + +"Should I? I am glad I was not a week later then." + +The Admiral abused him for his want of gallantry. He defended himself; +though professing that he would never willingly admit any ladies on +board a ship of his, excepting for a ball, or a visit, which a few +hours might comprehend. + +"But, if I know myself," said he, "this is from no want of gallantry +towards them. It is rather from feeling how impossible it is, with all +one's efforts, and all one's sacrifices, to make the accommodations on +board such as women ought to have. There can be no want of gallantry, +Admiral, in rating the claims of women to every personal comfort high, +and this is what I do. I hate to hear of women on board, or to see +them on board; and no ship under my command shall ever convey a family +of ladies anywhere, if I can help it." + +This brought his sister upon him. + +"Oh! Frederick! But I cannot believe it of you.--All idle +refinement!--Women may be as comfortable on board, as in the best house +in England. I believe I have lived as much on board as most women, and +I know nothing superior to the accommodations of a man-of-war. I +declare I have not a comfort or an indulgence about me, even at +Kellynch Hall," (with a kind bow to Anne), "beyond what I always had in +most of the ships I have lived in; and they have been five altogether." + +"Nothing to the purpose," replied her brother. "You were living with +your husband, and were the only woman on board." + +"But you, yourself, brought Mrs Harville, her sister, her cousin, and +three children, round from Portsmouth to Plymouth. Where was this +superfine, extraordinary sort of gallantry of yours then?" + +"All merged in my friendship, Sophia. I would assist any brother +officer's wife that I could, and I would bring anything of Harville's +from the world's end, if he wanted it. But do not imagine that I did +not feel it an evil in itself." + +"Depend upon it, they were all perfectly comfortable." + +"I might not like them the better for that perhaps. Such a number of +women and children have no right to be comfortable on board." + +"My dear Frederick, you are talking quite idly. Pray, what would +become of us poor sailors' wives, who often want to be conveyed to one +port or another, after our husbands, if everybody had your feelings?" + +"My feelings, you see, did not prevent my taking Mrs Harville and all +her family to Plymouth." + +"But I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman, and as if +women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of +us expect to be in smooth water all our days." + +"Ah! my dear," said the Admiral, "when he had got a wife, he will sing +a different tune. When he is married, if we have the good luck to live +to another war, we shall see him do as you and I, and a great many +others, have done. We shall have him very thankful to anybody that +will bring him his wife." + +"Ay, that we shall." + +"Now I have done," cried Captain Wentworth. "When once married people +begin to attack me with,--'Oh! you will think very differently, when +you are married.' I can only say, 'No, I shall not;' and then they say +again, 'Yes, you will,' and there is an end of it." + +He got up and moved away. + +"What a great traveller you must have been, ma'am!" said Mrs Musgrove +to Mrs Croft. + +"Pretty well, ma'am in the fifteen years of my marriage; though many +women have done more. I have crossed the Atlantic four times, and have +been once to the East Indies, and back again, and only once; besides +being in different places about home: Cork, and Lisbon, and Gibraltar. +But I never went beyond the Streights, and never was in the West +Indies. We do not call Bermuda or Bahama, you know, the West Indies." + +Mrs Musgrove had not a word to say in dissent; she could not accuse +herself of having ever called them anything in the whole course of her +life. + +"And I do assure you, ma'am," pursued Mrs Croft, "that nothing can +exceed the accommodations of a man-of-war; I speak, you know, of the +higher rates. When you come to a frigate, of course, you are more +confined; though any reasonable woman may be perfectly happy in one of +them; and I can safely say, that the happiest part of my life has been +spent on board a ship. While we were together, you know, there was +nothing to be feared. Thank God! I have always been blessed with +excellent health, and no climate disagrees with me. A little +disordered always the first twenty-four hours of going to sea, but +never knew what sickness was afterwards. The only time I ever really +suffered in body or mind, the only time that I ever fancied myself +unwell, or had any ideas of danger, was the winter that I passed by +myself at Deal, when the Admiral (Captain Croft then) was in the North +Seas. I lived in perpetual fright at that time, and had all manner of +imaginary complaints from not knowing what to do with myself, or when I +should hear from him next; but as long as we could be together, nothing +ever ailed me, and I never met with the smallest inconvenience." + +"Aye, to be sure. Yes, indeed, oh yes! I am quite of your opinion, +Mrs Croft," was Mrs Musgrove's hearty answer. "There is nothing so bad +as a separation. I am quite of your opinion. I know what it is, for +Mr Musgrove always attends the assizes, and I am so glad when they are +over, and he is safe back again." + +The evening ended with dancing. On its being proposed, Anne offered +her services, as usual; and though her eyes would sometimes fill with +tears as she sat at the instrument, she was extremely glad to be +employed, and desired nothing in return but to be unobserved. + +It was a merry, joyous party, and no one seemed in higher spirits than +Captain Wentworth. She felt that he had every thing to elevate him +which general attention and deference, and especially the attention of +all the young women, could do. The Miss Hayters, the females of the +family of cousins already mentioned, were apparently admitted to the +honour of being in love with him; and as for Henrietta and Louisa, they +both seemed so entirely occupied by him, that nothing but the continued +appearance of the most perfect good-will between themselves could have +made it credible that they were not decided rivals. If he were a +little spoilt by such universal, such eager admiration, who could +wonder? + +These were some of the thoughts which occupied Anne, while her fingers +were mechanically at work, proceeding for half an hour together, +equally without error, and without consciousness. Once she felt that +he was looking at herself, observing her altered features, perhaps, +trying to trace in them the ruins of the face which had once charmed +him; and once she knew that he must have spoken of her; she was hardly +aware of it, till she heard the answer; but then she was sure of his +having asked his partner whether Miss Elliot never danced? The answer +was, "Oh, no; never; she has quite given up dancing. She had rather +play. She is never tired of playing." Once, too, he spoke to her. +She had left the instrument on the dancing being over, and he had sat +down to try to make out an air which he wished to give the Miss +Musgroves an idea of. Unintentionally she returned to that part of the +room; he saw her, and, instantly rising, said, with studied politeness-- + +"I beg your pardon, madam, this is your seat;" and though she +immediately drew back with a decided negative, he was not to be induced +to sit down again. + +Anne did not wish for more of such looks and speeches. His cold +politeness, his ceremonious grace, were worse than anything. + + + +Chapter 9 + + +Captain Wentworth was come to Kellynch as to a home, to stay as long as +he liked, being as thoroughly the object of the Admiral's fraternal +kindness as of his wife's. He had intended, on first arriving, to +proceed very soon into Shropshire, and visit the brother settled in +that country, but the attractions of Uppercross induced him to put this +off. There was so much of friendliness, and of flattery, and of +everything most bewitching in his reception there; the old were so +hospitable, the young so agreeable, that he could not but resolve to +remain where he was, and take all the charms and perfections of +Edward's wife upon credit a little longer. + +It was soon Uppercross with him almost every day. The Musgroves could +hardly be more ready to invite than he to come, particularly in the +morning, when he had no companion at home, for the Admiral and Mrs +Croft were generally out of doors together, interesting themselves in +their new possessions, their grass, and their sheep, and dawdling about +in a way not endurable to a third person, or driving out in a gig, +lately added to their establishment. + +Hitherto there had been but one opinion of Captain Wentworth among the +Musgroves and their dependencies. It was unvarying, warm admiration +everywhere; but this intimate footing was not more than established, +when a certain Charles Hayter returned among them, to be a good deal +disturbed by it, and to think Captain Wentworth very much in the way. + +Charles Hayter was the eldest of all the cousins, and a very amiable, +pleasing young man, between whom and Henrietta there had been a +considerable appearance of attachment previous to Captain Wentworth's +introduction. He was in orders; and having a curacy in the +neighbourhood, where residence was not required, lived at his father's +house, only two miles from Uppercross. A short absence from home had +left his fair one unguarded by his attentions at this critical period, +and when he came back he had the pain of finding very altered manners, +and of seeing Captain Wentworth. + +Mrs Musgrove and Mrs Hayter were sisters. They had each had money, but +their marriages had made a material difference in their degree of +consequence. Mr Hayter had some property of his own, but it was +insignificant compared with Mr Musgrove's; and while the Musgroves were +in the first class of society in the country, the young Hayters would, +from their parents' inferior, retired, and unpolished way of living, +and their own defective education, have been hardly in any class at +all, but for their connexion with Uppercross, this eldest son of course +excepted, who had chosen to be a scholar and a gentleman, and who was +very superior in cultivation and manners to all the rest. + +The two families had always been on excellent terms, there being no +pride on one side, and no envy on the other, and only such a +consciousness of superiority in the Miss Musgroves, as made them +pleased to improve their cousins. Charles's attentions to Henrietta +had been observed by her father and mother without any disapprobation. +"It would not be a great match for her; but if Henrietta liked him,"-- +and Henrietta did seem to like him. + +Henrietta fully thought so herself, before Captain Wentworth came; but +from that time Cousin Charles had been very much forgotten. + +Which of the two sisters was preferred by Captain Wentworth was as yet +quite doubtful, as far as Anne's observation reached. Henrietta was +perhaps the prettiest, Louisa had the higher spirits; and she knew not +now, whether the more gentle or the more lively character were most +likely to attract him. + +Mr and Mrs Musgrove, either from seeing little, or from an entire +confidence in the discretion of both their daughters, and of all the +young men who came near them, seemed to leave everything to take its +chance. There was not the smallest appearance of solicitude or remark +about them in the Mansion-house; but it was different at the Cottage: +the young couple there were more disposed to speculate and wonder; and +Captain Wentworth had not been above four or five times in the Miss +Musgroves' company, and Charles Hayter had but just reappeared, when +Anne had to listen to the opinions of her brother and sister, as to +which was the one liked best. Charles gave it for Louisa, Mary for +Henrietta, but quite agreeing that to have him marry either could be +extremely delightful. + +Charles "had never seen a pleasanter man in his life; and from what he +had once heard Captain Wentworth himself say, was very sure that he had +not made less than twenty thousand pounds by the war. Here was a +fortune at once; besides which, there would be the chance of what might +be done in any future war; and he was sure Captain Wentworth was as +likely a man to distinguish himself as any officer in the navy. Oh! it +would be a capital match for either of his sisters." + +"Upon my word it would," replied Mary. "Dear me! If he should rise to +any very great honours! If he should ever be made a baronet! 'Lady +Wentworth' sounds very well. That would be a noble thing, indeed, for +Henrietta! She would take place of me then, and Henrietta would not +dislike that. Sir Frederick and Lady Wentworth! It would be but a new +creation, however, and I never think much of your new creations." + +It suited Mary best to think Henrietta the one preferred on the very +account of Charles Hayter, whose pretensions she wished to see put an +end to. She looked down very decidedly upon the Hayters, and thought +it would be quite a misfortune to have the existing connection between +the families renewed--very sad for herself and her children. + +"You know," said she, "I cannot think him at all a fit match for +Henrietta; and considering the alliances which the Musgroves have made, +she has no right to throw herself away. I do not think any young woman +has a right to make a choice that may be disagreeable and inconvenient +to the principal part of her family, and be giving bad connections to +those who have not been used to them. And, pray, who is Charles +Hayter? Nothing but a country curate. A most improper match for Miss +Musgrove of Uppercross." + +Her husband, however, would not agree with her here; for besides having +a regard for his cousin, Charles Hayter was an eldest son, and he saw +things as an eldest son himself. + +"Now you are talking nonsense, Mary," was therefore his answer. "It +would not be a great match for Henrietta, but Charles has a very fair +chance, through the Spicers, of getting something from the Bishop in +the course of a year or two; and you will please to remember, that he +is the eldest son; whenever my uncle dies, he steps into very pretty +property. The estate at Winthrop is not less than two hundred and +fifty acres, besides the farm near Taunton, which is some of the best +land in the country. I grant you, that any of them but Charles would +be a very shocking match for Henrietta, and indeed it could not be; he +is the only one that could be possible; but he is a very good-natured, +good sort of a fellow; and whenever Winthrop comes into his hands, he +will make a different sort of place of it, and live in a very different +sort of way; and with that property, he will never be a contemptible +man--good, freehold property. No, no; Henrietta might do worse than +marry Charles Hayter; and if she has him, and Louisa can get Captain +Wentworth, I shall be very well satisfied." + +"Charles may say what he pleases," cried Mary to Anne, as soon as he +was out of the room, "but it would be shocking to have Henrietta marry +Charles Hayter; a very bad thing for her, and still worse for me; and +therefore it is very much to be wished that Captain Wentworth may soon +put him quite out of her head, and I have very little doubt that he +has. She took hardly any notice of Charles Hayter yesterday. I wish +you had been there to see her behaviour. And as to Captain Wentworth's +liking Louisa as well as Henrietta, it is nonsense to say so; for he +certainly does like Henrietta a great deal the best. But Charles is so +positive! I wish you had been with us yesterday, for then you might +have decided between us; and I am sure you would have thought as I did, +unless you had been determined to give it against me." + +A dinner at Mr Musgrove's had been the occasion when all these things +should have been seen by Anne; but she had staid at home, under the +mixed plea of a headache of her own, and some return of indisposition +in little Charles. She had thought only of avoiding Captain Wentworth; +but an escape from being appealed to as umpire was now added to the +advantages of a quiet evening. + +As to Captain Wentworth's views, she deemed it of more consequence that +he should know his own mind early enough not to be endangering the +happiness of either sister, or impeaching his own honour, than that he +should prefer Henrietta to Louisa, or Louisa to Henrietta. Either of +them would, in all probability, make him an affectionate, good-humoured +wife. With regard to Charles Hayter, she had delicacy which must be +pained by any lightness of conduct in a well-meaning young woman, and a +heart to sympathize in any of the sufferings it occasioned; but if +Henrietta found herself mistaken in the nature of her feelings, the +alternation could not be understood too soon. + +Charles Hayter had met with much to disquiet and mortify him in his +cousin's behaviour. She had too old a regard for him to be so wholly +estranged as might in two meetings extinguish every past hope, and +leave him nothing to do but to keep away from Uppercross: but there +was such a change as became very alarming, when such a man as Captain +Wentworth was to be regarded as the probable cause. He had been absent +only two Sundays, and when they parted, had left her interested, even +to the height of his wishes, in his prospect of soon quitting his +present curacy, and obtaining that of Uppercross instead. It had then +seemed the object nearest her heart, that Dr Shirley, the rector, who +for more than forty years had been zealously discharging all the duties +of his office, but was now growing too infirm for many of them, should +be quite fixed on engaging a curate; should make his curacy quite as +good as he could afford, and should give Charles Hayter the promise of +it. The advantage of his having to come only to Uppercross, instead of +going six miles another way; of his having, in every respect, a better +curacy; of his belonging to their dear Dr Shirley, and of dear, good Dr +Shirley's being relieved from the duty which he could no longer get +through without most injurious fatigue, had been a great deal, even to +Louisa, but had been almost everything to Henrietta. When he came +back, alas! the zeal of the business was gone by. Louisa could not +listen at all to his account of a conversation which he had just held +with Dr Shirley: she was at a window, looking out for Captain +Wentworth; and even Henrietta had at best only a divided attention to +give, and seemed to have forgotten all the former doubt and solicitude +of the negotiation. + +"Well, I am very glad indeed: but I always thought you would have it; +I always thought you sure. It did not appear to me that--in short, you +know, Dr Shirley must have a curate, and you had secured his promise. +Is he coming, Louisa?" + +One morning, very soon after the dinner at the Musgroves, at which Anne +had not been present, Captain Wentworth walked into the drawing-room at +the Cottage, where were only herself and the little invalid Charles, +who was lying on the sofa. + +The surprise of finding himself almost alone with Anne Elliot, deprived +his manners of their usual composure: he started, and could only say, +"I thought the Miss Musgroves had been here: Mrs Musgrove told me I +should find them here," before he walked to the window to recollect +himself, and feel how he ought to behave. + +"They are up stairs with my sister: they will be down in a few +moments, I dare say," had been Anne's reply, in all the confusion that +was natural; and if the child had not called her to come and do +something for him, she would have been out of the room the next moment, +and released Captain Wentworth as well as herself. + +He continued at the window; and after calmly and politely saying, "I +hope the little boy is better," was silent. + +She was obliged to kneel down by the sofa, and remain there to satisfy +her patient; and thus they continued a few minutes, when, to her very +great satisfaction, she heard some other person crossing the little +vestibule. She hoped, on turning her head, to see the master of the +house; but it proved to be one much less calculated for making matters +easy--Charles Hayter, probably not at all better pleased by the sight +of Captain Wentworth than Captain Wentworth had been by the sight of +Anne. + +She only attempted to say, "How do you do? Will you not sit down? The +others will be here presently." + +Captain Wentworth, however, came from his window, apparently not +ill-disposed for conversation; but Charles Hayter soon put an end to +his attempts by seating himself near the table, and taking up the +newspaper; and Captain Wentworth returned to his window. + +Another minute brought another addition. The younger boy, a remarkable +stout, forward child, of two years old, having got the door opened for +him by some one without, made his determined appearance among them, and +went straight to the sofa to see what was going on, and put in his +claim to anything good that might be giving away. + +There being nothing to eat, he could only have some play; and as his +aunt would not let him tease his sick brother, he began to fasten +himself upon her, as she knelt, in such a way that, busy as she was +about Charles, she could not shake him off. She spoke to him, ordered, +entreated, and insisted in vain. Once she did contrive to push him +away, but the boy had the greater pleasure in getting upon her back +again directly. + +"Walter," said she, "get down this moment. You are extremely +troublesome. I am very angry with you." + +"Walter," cried Charles Hayter, "why do you not do as you are bid? Do +not you hear your aunt speak? Come to me, Walter, come to cousin +Charles." + +But not a bit did Walter stir. + +In another moment, however, she found herself in the state of being +released from him; some one was taking him from her, though he had bent +down her head so much, that his little sturdy hands were unfastened +from around her neck, and he was resolutely borne away, before she knew +that Captain Wentworth had done it. + +Her sensations on the discovery made her perfectly speechless. She +could not even thank him. She could only hang over little Charles, +with most disordered feelings. His kindness in stepping forward to her +relief, the manner, the silence in which it had passed, the little +particulars of the circumstance, with the conviction soon forced on her +by the noise he was studiously making with the child, that he meant to +avoid hearing her thanks, and rather sought to testify that her +conversation was the last of his wants, produced such a confusion of +varying, but very painful agitation, as she could not recover from, +till enabled by the entrance of Mary and the Miss Musgroves to make +over her little patient to their cares, and leave the room. She could +not stay. It might have been an opportunity of watching the loves and +jealousies of the four--they were now altogether; but she could stay +for none of it. It was evident that Charles Hayter was not well +inclined towards Captain Wentworth. She had a strong impression of his +having said, in a vext tone of voice, after Captain Wentworth's +interference, "You ought to have minded me, Walter; I told you not to +teaze your aunt;" and could comprehend his regretting that Captain +Wentworth should do what he ought to have done himself. But neither +Charles Hayter's feelings, nor anybody's feelings, could interest her, +till she had a little better arranged her own. She was ashamed of +herself, quite ashamed of being so nervous, so overcome by such a +trifle; but so it was, and it required a long application of solitude +and reflection to recover her. + + + +Chapter 10 + + +Other opportunities of making her observations could not fail to occur. +Anne had soon been in company with all the four together often enough +to have an opinion, though too wise to acknowledge as much at home, +where she knew it would have satisfied neither husband nor wife; for +while she considered Louisa to be rather the favourite, she could not +but think, as far as she might dare to judge from memory and +experience, that Captain Wentworth was not in love with either. They +were more in love with him; yet there it was not love. It was a little +fever of admiration; but it might, probably must, end in love with +some. Charles Hayter seemed aware of being slighted, and yet Henrietta +had sometimes the air of being divided between them. Anne longed for +the power of representing to them all what they were about, and of +pointing out some of the evils they were exposing themselves to. She +did not attribute guile to any. It was the highest satisfaction to her +to believe Captain Wentworth not in the least aware of the pain he was +occasioning. There was no triumph, no pitiful triumph in his manner. +He had, probably, never heard, and never thought of any claims of +Charles Hayter. He was only wrong in accepting the attentions (for +accepting must be the word) of two young women at once. + +After a short struggle, however, Charles Hayter seemed to quit the +field. Three days had passed without his coming once to Uppercross; a +most decided change. He had even refused one regular invitation to +dinner; and having been found on the occasion by Mr Musgrove with some +large books before him, Mr and Mrs Musgrove were sure all could not be +right, and talked, with grave faces, of his studying himself to death. +It was Mary's hope and belief that he had received a positive dismissal +from Henrietta, and her husband lived under the constant dependence of +seeing him to-morrow. Anne could only feel that Charles Hayter was +wise. + +One morning, about this time Charles Musgrove and Captain Wentworth +being gone a-shooting together, as the sisters in the Cottage were +sitting quietly at work, they were visited at the window by the sisters +from the Mansion-house. + +It was a very fine November day, and the Miss Musgroves came through +the little grounds, and stopped for no other purpose than to say, that +they were going to take a long walk, and therefore concluded Mary could +not like to go with them; and when Mary immediately replied, with some +jealousy at not being supposed a good walker, "Oh, yes, I should like +to join you very much, I am very fond of a long walk;" Anne felt +persuaded, by the looks of the two girls, that it was precisely what +they did not wish, and admired again the sort of necessity which the +family habits seemed to produce, of everything being to be +communicated, and everything being to be done together, however +undesired and inconvenient. She tried to dissuade Mary from going, but +in vain; and that being the case, thought it best to accept the Miss +Musgroves' much more cordial invitation to herself to go likewise, as +she might be useful in turning back with her sister, and lessening the +interference in any plan of their own. + +"I cannot imagine why they should suppose I should not like a long +walk," said Mary, as she went up stairs. "Everybody is always +supposing that I am not a good walker; and yet they would not have been +pleased, if we had refused to join them. When people come in this +manner on purpose to ask us, how can one say no?" + +Just as they were setting off, the gentlemen returned. They had taken +out a young dog, who had spoilt their sport, and sent them back early. +Their time and strength, and spirits, were, therefore, exactly ready +for this walk, and they entered into it with pleasure. Could Anne have +foreseen such a junction, she would have staid at home; but, from some +feelings of interest and curiosity, she fancied now that it was too +late to retract, and the whole six set forward together in the +direction chosen by the Miss Musgroves, who evidently considered the +walk as under their guidance. + +Anne's object was, not to be in the way of anybody; and where the +narrow paths across the fields made many separations necessary, to keep +with her brother and sister. Her pleasure in the walk must arise from +the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year +upon the tawny leaves, and withered hedges, and from repeating to +herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of +autumn, that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind +of taste and tenderness, that season which had drawn from every poet, +worthy of being read, some attempt at description, or some lines of +feeling. She occupied her mind as much as possible in such like +musings and quotations; but it was not possible, that when within reach +of Captain Wentworth's conversation with either of the Miss Musgroves, +she should not try to hear it; yet she caught little very remarkable. +It was mere lively chat, such as any young persons, on an intimate +footing, might fall into. He was more engaged with Louisa than with +Henrietta. Louisa certainly put more forward for his notice than her +sister. This distinction appeared to increase, and there was one +speech of Louisa's which struck her. After one of the many praises of +the day, which were continually bursting forth, Captain Wentworth +added:-- + +"What glorious weather for the Admiral and my sister! They meant to +take a long drive this morning; perhaps we may hail them from some of +these hills. They talked of coming into this side of the country. I +wonder whereabouts they will upset to-day. Oh! it does happen very +often, I assure you; but my sister makes nothing of it; she would as +lieve be tossed out as not." + +"Ah! You make the most of it, I know," cried Louisa, "but if it were +really so, I should do just the same in her place. If I loved a man, +as she loves the Admiral, I would always be with him, nothing should +ever separate us, and I would rather be overturned by him, than driven +safely by anybody else." + +It was spoken with enthusiasm. + +"Had you?" cried he, catching the same tone; "I honour you!" And there +was silence between them for a little while. + +Anne could not immediately fall into a quotation again. The sweet +scenes of autumn were for a while put by, unless some tender sonnet, +fraught with the apt analogy of the declining year, with declining +happiness, and the images of youth and hope, and spring, all gone +together, blessed her memory. She roused herself to say, as they +struck by order into another path, "Is not this one of the ways to +Winthrop?" But nobody heard, or, at least, nobody answered her. + +Winthrop, however, or its environs--for young men are, sometimes to be +met with, strolling about near home--was their destination; and after +another half mile of gradual ascent through large enclosures, where the +ploughs at work, and the fresh made path spoke the farmer counteracting +the sweets of poetical despondence, and meaning to have spring again, +they gained the summit of the most considerable hill, which parted +Uppercross and Winthrop, and soon commanded a full view of the latter, +at the foot of the hill on the other side. + +Winthrop, without beauty and without dignity, was stretched before them +an indifferent house, standing low, and hemmed in by the barns and +buildings of a farm-yard. + +Mary exclaimed, "Bless me! here is Winthrop. I declare I had no idea! +Well now, I think we had better turn back; I am excessively tired." + +Henrietta, conscious and ashamed, and seeing no cousin Charles walking +along any path, or leaning against any gate, was ready to do as Mary +wished; but "No!" said Charles Musgrove, and "No, no!" cried Louisa +more eagerly, and taking her sister aside, seemed to be arguing the +matter warmly. + +Charles, in the meanwhile, was very decidedly declaring his resolution +of calling on his aunt, now that he was so near; and very evidently, +though more fearfully, trying to induce his wife to go too. But this +was one of the points on which the lady shewed her strength; and when +he recommended the advantage of resting herself a quarter of an hour at +Winthrop, as she felt so tired, she resolutely answered, "Oh! no, +indeed! walking up that hill again would do her more harm than any +sitting down could do her good;" and, in short, her look and manner +declared, that go she would not. + +After a little succession of these sort of debates and consultations, +it was settled between Charles and his two sisters, that he and +Henrietta should just run down for a few minutes, to see their aunt and +cousins, while the rest of the party waited for them at the top of the +hill. Louisa seemed the principal arranger of the plan; and, as she +went a little way with them, down the hill, still talking to Henrietta, +Mary took the opportunity of looking scornfully around her, and saying +to Captain Wentworth-- + +"It is very unpleasant, having such connexions! But, I assure you, I +have never been in the house above twice in my life." + +She received no other answer, than an artificial, assenting smile, +followed by a contemptuous glance, as he turned away, which Anne +perfectly knew the meaning of. + +The brow of the hill, where they remained, was a cheerful spot: Louisa +returned; and Mary, finding a comfortable seat for herself on the step +of a stile, was very well satisfied so long as the others all stood +about her; but when Louisa drew Captain Wentworth away, to try for a +gleaning of nuts in an adjoining hedge-row, and they were gone by +degrees quite out of sight and sound, Mary was happy no longer; she +quarrelled with her own seat, was sure Louisa had got a much better +somewhere, and nothing could prevent her from going to look for a +better also. She turned through the same gate, but could not see them. +Anne found a nice seat for her, on a dry sunny bank, under the +hedge-row, in which she had no doubt of their still being, in some spot +or other. Mary sat down for a moment, but it would not do; she was +sure Louisa had found a better seat somewhere else, and she would go on +till she overtook her. + +Anne, really tired herself, was glad to sit down; and she very soon +heard Captain Wentworth and Louisa in the hedge-row, behind her, as if +making their way back along the rough, wild sort of channel, down the +centre. They were speaking as they drew near. Louisa's voice was the +first distinguished. She seemed to be in the middle of some eager +speech. What Anne first heard was-- + +"And so, I made her go. I could not bear that she should be frightened +from the visit by such nonsense. What! would I be turned back from +doing a thing that I had determined to do, and that I knew to be right, +by the airs and interference of such a person, or of any person I may +say? No, I have no idea of being so easily persuaded. When I have +made up my mind, I have made it; and Henrietta seemed entirely to have +made up hers to call at Winthrop to-day; and yet, she was as near +giving it up, out of nonsensical complaisance!" + +"She would have turned back then, but for you?" + +"She would indeed. I am almost ashamed to say it." + +"Happy for her, to have such a mind as yours at hand! After the hints +you gave just now, which did but confirm my own observations, the last +time I was in company with him, I need not affect to have no +comprehension of what is going on. I see that more than a mere dutiful +morning visit to your aunt was in question; and woe betide him, and her +too, when it comes to things of consequence, when they are placed in +circumstances requiring fortitude and strength of mind, if she have not +resolution enough to resist idle interference in such a trifle as this. +Your sister is an amiable creature; but yours is the character of +decision and firmness, I see. If you value her conduct or happiness, +infuse as much of your own spirit into her as you can. But this, no +doubt, you have been always doing. It is the worst evil of too +yielding and indecisive a character, that no influence over it can be +depended on. You are never sure of a good impression being durable; +everybody may sway it. Let those who would be happy be firm. Here is +a nut," said he, catching one down from an upper bough, "to exemplify: +a beautiful glossy nut, which, blessed with original strength, has +outlived all the storms of autumn. Not a puncture, not a weak spot +anywhere. This nut," he continued, with playful solemnity, "while so +many of his brethren have fallen and been trodden under foot, is still +in possession of all the happiness that a hazel nut can be supposed +capable of." Then returning to his former earnest tone--"My first +wish for all whom I am interested in, is that they should be firm. If +Louisa Musgrove would be beautiful and happy in her November of life, +she will cherish all her present powers of mind." + +He had done, and was unanswered. It would have surprised Anne if +Louisa could have readily answered such a speech: words of such +interest, spoken with such serious warmth! She could imagine what +Louisa was feeling. For herself, she feared to move, lest she should +be seen. While she remained, a bush of low rambling holly protected +her, and they were moving on. Before they were beyond her hearing, +however, Louisa spoke again. + +"Mary is good-natured enough in many respects," said she; "but she does +sometimes provoke me excessively, by her nonsense and pride--the Elliot +pride. She has a great deal too much of the Elliot pride. We do so +wish that Charles had married Anne instead. I suppose you know he +wanted to marry Anne?" + +After a moment's pause, Captain Wentworth said-- + +"Do you mean that she refused him?" + +"Oh! yes; certainly." + +"When did that happen?" + +"I do not exactly know, for Henrietta and I were at school at the time; +but I believe about a year before he married Mary. I wish she had +accepted him. We should all have liked her a great deal better; and +papa and mamma always think it was her great friend Lady Russell's +doing, that she did not. They think Charles might not be learned and +bookish enough to please Lady Russell, and that therefore, she +persuaded Anne to refuse him." + +The sounds were retreating, and Anne distinguished no more. Her own +emotions still kept her fixed. She had much to recover from, before +she could move. The listener's proverbial fate was not absolutely +hers; she had heard no evil of herself, but she had heard a great deal +of very painful import. She saw how her own character was considered +by Captain Wentworth, and there had been just that degree of feeling +and curiosity about her in his manner which must give her extreme +agitation. + +As soon as she could, she went after Mary, and having found, and walked +back with her to their former station, by the stile, felt some comfort +in their whole party being immediately afterwards collected, and once +more in motion together. Her spirits wanted the solitude and silence +which only numbers could give. + +Charles and Henrietta returned, bringing, as may be conjectured, +Charles Hayter with them. The minutiae of the business Anne could not +attempt to understand; even Captain Wentworth did not seem admitted to +perfect confidence here; but that there had been a withdrawing on the +gentleman's side, and a relenting on the lady's, and that they were now +very glad to be together again, did not admit a doubt. Henrietta +looked a little ashamed, but very well pleased;--Charles Hayter +exceedingly happy: and they were devoted to each other almost from the +first instant of their all setting forward for Uppercross. + +Everything now marked out Louisa for Captain Wentworth; nothing could +be plainer; and where many divisions were necessary, or even where they +were not, they walked side by side nearly as much as the other two. In +a long strip of meadow land, where there was ample space for all, they +were thus divided, forming three distinct parties; and to that party of +the three which boasted least animation, and least complaisance, Anne +necessarily belonged. She joined Charles and Mary, and was tired +enough to be very glad of Charles's other arm; but Charles, though in +very good humour with her, was out of temper with his wife. Mary had +shewn herself disobliging to him, and was now to reap the consequence, +which consequence was his dropping her arm almost every moment to cut +off the heads of some nettles in the hedge with his switch; and when +Mary began to complain of it, and lament her being ill-used, according +to custom, in being on the hedge side, while Anne was never incommoded +on the other, he dropped the arms of both to hunt after a weasel which +he had a momentary glance of, and they could hardly get him along at +all. + +This long meadow bordered a lane, which their footpath, at the end of +it was to cross, and when the party had all reached the gate of exit, +the carriage advancing in the same direction, which had been some time +heard, was just coming up, and proved to be Admiral Croft's gig. He +and his wife had taken their intended drive, and were returning home. +Upon hearing how long a walk the young people had engaged in, they +kindly offered a seat to any lady who might be particularly tired; it +would save her a full mile, and they were going through Uppercross. +The invitation was general, and generally declined. The Miss Musgroves +were not at all tired, and Mary was either offended, by not being asked +before any of the others, or what Louisa called the Elliot pride could +not endure to make a third in a one horse chaise. + +The walking party had crossed the lane, and were surmounting an +opposite stile, and the Admiral was putting his horse in motion again, +when Captain Wentworth cleared the hedge in a moment to say something +to his sister. The something might be guessed by its effects. + +"Miss Elliot, I am sure you are tired," cried Mrs Croft. "Do let us +have the pleasure of taking you home. Here is excellent room for +three, I assure you. If we were all like you, I believe we might sit +four. You must, indeed, you must." + +Anne was still in the lane; and though instinctively beginning to +decline, she was not allowed to proceed. The Admiral's kind urgency +came in support of his wife's; they would not be refused; they +compressed themselves into the smallest possible space to leave her a +corner, and Captain Wentworth, without saying a word, turned to her, +and quietly obliged her to be assisted into the carriage. + +Yes; he had done it. She was in the carriage, and felt that he had +placed her there, that his will and his hands had done it, that she +owed it to his perception of her fatigue, and his resolution to give +her rest. She was very much affected by the view of his disposition +towards her, which all these things made apparent. This little +circumstance seemed the completion of all that had gone before. She +understood him. He could not forgive her, but he could not be +unfeeling. Though condemning her for the past, and considering it with +high and unjust resentment, though perfectly careless of her, and +though becoming attached to another, still he could not see her suffer, +without the desire of giving her relief. It was a remainder of former +sentiment; it was an impulse of pure, though unacknowledged friendship; +it was a proof of his own warm and amiable heart, which she could not +contemplate without emotions so compounded of pleasure and pain, that +she knew not which prevailed. + +Her answers to the kindness and the remarks of her companions were at +first unconsciously given. They had travelled half their way along the +rough lane, before she was quite awake to what they said. She then +found them talking of "Frederick." + +"He certainly means to have one or other of those two girls, Sophy," +said the Admiral; "but there is no saying which. He has been running +after them, too, long enough, one would think, to make up his mind. +Ay, this comes of the peace. If it were war now, he would have settled +it long ago. We sailors, Miss Elliot, cannot afford to make long +courtships in time of war. How many days was it, my dear, between the +first time of my seeing you and our sitting down together in our +lodgings at North Yarmouth?" + +"We had better not talk about it, my dear," replied Mrs Croft, +pleasantly; "for if Miss Elliot were to hear how soon we came to an +understanding, she would never be persuaded that we could be happy +together. I had known you by character, however, long before." + +"Well, and I had heard of you as a very pretty girl, and what were we +to wait for besides? I do not like having such things so long in hand. +I wish Frederick would spread a little more canvass, and bring us home +one of these young ladies to Kellynch. Then there would always be +company for them. And very nice young ladies they both are; I hardly +know one from the other." + +"Very good humoured, unaffected girls, indeed," said Mrs Croft, in a +tone of calmer praise, such as made Anne suspect that her keener powers +might not consider either of them as quite worthy of her brother; "and +a very respectable family. One could not be connected with better +people. My dear Admiral, that post! we shall certainly take that +post." + +But by coolly giving the reins a better direction herself they happily +passed the danger; and by once afterwards judiciously putting out her +hand they neither fell into a rut, nor ran foul of a dung-cart; and +Anne, with some amusement at their style of driving, which she imagined +no bad representation of the general guidance of their affairs, found +herself safely deposited by them at the Cottage. + + + +Chapter 11 + + +The time now approached for Lady Russell's return: the day was even +fixed; and Anne, being engaged to join her as soon as she was +resettled, was looking forward to an early removal to Kellynch, and +beginning to think how her own comfort was likely to be affected by it. + +It would place her in the same village with Captain Wentworth, within +half a mile of him; they would have to frequent the same church, and +there must be intercourse between the two families. This was against +her; but on the other hand, he spent so much of his time at Uppercross, +that in removing thence she might be considered rather as leaving him +behind, than as going towards him; and, upon the whole, she believed +she must, on this interesting question, be the gainer, almost as +certainly as in her change of domestic society, in leaving poor Mary +for Lady Russell. + +She wished it might be possible for her to avoid ever seeing Captain +Wentworth at the Hall: those rooms had witnessed former meetings which +would be brought too painfully before her; but she was yet more anxious +for the possibility of Lady Russell and Captain Wentworth never meeting +anywhere. They did not like each other, and no renewal of acquaintance +now could do any good; and were Lady Russell to see them together, she +might think that he had too much self-possession, and she too little. + +These points formed her chief solicitude in anticipating her removal +from Uppercross, where she felt she had been stationed quite long +enough. Her usefulness to little Charles would always give some +sweetness to the memory of her two months' visit there, but he was +gaining strength apace, and she had nothing else to stay for. + +The conclusion of her visit, however, was diversified in a way which +she had not at all imagined. Captain Wentworth, after being unseen and +unheard of at Uppercross for two whole days, appeared again among them +to justify himself by a relation of what had kept him away. + +A letter from his friend, Captain Harville, having found him out at +last, had brought intelligence of Captain Harville's being settled with +his family at Lyme for the winter; of their being therefore, quite +unknowingly, within twenty miles of each other. Captain Harville had +never been in good health since a severe wound which he received two +years before, and Captain Wentworth's anxiety to see him had determined +him to go immediately to Lyme. He had been there for four-and-twenty +hours. His acquittal was complete, his friendship warmly honoured, a +lively interest excited for his friend, and his description of the fine +country about Lyme so feelingly attended to by the party, that an +earnest desire to see Lyme themselves, and a project for going thither +was the consequence. + +The young people were all wild to see Lyme. Captain Wentworth talked +of going there again himself, it was only seventeen miles from +Uppercross; though November, the weather was by no means bad; and, in +short, Louisa, who was the most eager of the eager, having formed the +resolution to go, and besides the pleasure of doing as she liked, being +now armed with the idea of merit in maintaining her own way, bore down +all the wishes of her father and mother for putting it off till summer; +and to Lyme they were to go--Charles, Mary, Anne, Henrietta, Louisa, +and Captain Wentworth. + +The first heedless scheme had been to go in the morning and return at +night; but to this Mr Musgrove, for the sake of his horses, would not +consent; and when it came to be rationally considered, a day in the +middle of November would not leave much time for seeing a new place, +after deducting seven hours, as the nature of the country required, for +going and returning. They were, consequently, to stay the night there, +and not to be expected back till the next day's dinner. This was felt +to be a considerable amendment; and though they all met at the Great +House at rather an early breakfast hour, and set off very punctually, +it was so much past noon before the two carriages, Mr Musgrove's coach +containing the four ladies, and Charles's curricle, in which he drove +Captain Wentworth, were descending the long hill into Lyme, and +entering upon the still steeper street of the town itself, that it was +very evident they would not have more than time for looking about them, +before the light and warmth of the day were gone. + +After securing accommodations, and ordering a dinner at one of the +inns, the next thing to be done was unquestionably to walk directly +down to the sea. They were come too late in the year for any amusement +or variety which Lyme, as a public place, might offer. The rooms were +shut up, the lodgers almost all gone, scarcely any family but of the +residents left; and, as there is nothing to admire in the buildings +themselves, the remarkable situation of the town, the principal street +almost hurrying into the water, the walk to the Cobb, skirting round +the pleasant little bay, which, in the season, is animated with bathing +machines and company; the Cobb itself, its old wonders and new +improvements, with the very beautiful line of cliffs stretching out to +the east of the town, are what the stranger's eye will seek; and a very +strange stranger it must be, who does not see charms in the immediate +environs of Lyme, to make him wish to know it better. The scenes in +its neighbourhood, Charmouth, with its high grounds and extensive +sweeps of country, and still more, its sweet, retired bay, backed by +dark cliffs, where fragments of low rock among the sands, make it the +happiest spot for watching the flow of the tide, for sitting in +unwearied contemplation; the woody varieties of the cheerful village of +Up Lyme; and, above all, Pinny, with its green chasms between romantic +rocks, where the scattered forest trees and orchards of luxuriant +growth, declare that many a generation must have passed away since the +first partial falling of the cliff prepared the ground for such a +state, where a scene so wonderful and so lovely is exhibited, as may +more than equal any of the resembling scenes of the far-famed Isle of +Wight: these places must be visited, and visited again, to make the +worth of Lyme understood. + +The party from Uppercross passing down by the now deserted and +melancholy looking rooms, and still descending, soon found themselves +on the sea-shore; and lingering only, as all must linger and gaze on a +first return to the sea, who ever deserved to look on it at all, +proceeded towards the Cobb, equally their object in itself and on +Captain Wentworth's account: for in a small house, near the foot of an +old pier of unknown date, were the Harvilles settled. Captain +Wentworth turned in to call on his friend; the others walked on, and he +was to join them on the Cobb. + +They were by no means tired of wondering and admiring; and not even +Louisa seemed to feel that they had parted with Captain Wentworth long, +when they saw him coming after them, with three companions, all well +known already, by description, to be Captain and Mrs Harville, and a +Captain Benwick, who was staying with them. + +Captain Benwick had some time ago been first lieutenant of the Laconia; +and the account which Captain Wentworth had given of him, on his return +from Lyme before, his warm praise of him as an excellent young man and +an officer, whom he had always valued highly, which must have stamped +him well in the esteem of every listener, had been followed by a little +history of his private life, which rendered him perfectly interesting +in the eyes of all the ladies. He had been engaged to Captain +Harville's sister, and was now mourning her loss. They had been a year +or two waiting for fortune and promotion. Fortune came, his +prize-money as lieutenant being great; promotion, too, came at last; +but Fanny Harville did not live to know it. She had died the preceding +summer while he was at sea. Captain Wentworth believed it impossible +for man to be more attached to woman than poor Benwick had been to +Fanny Harville, or to be more deeply afflicted under the dreadful +change. He considered his disposition as of the sort which must suffer +heavily, uniting very strong feelings with quiet, serious, and retiring +manners, and a decided taste for reading, and sedentary pursuits. To +finish the interest of the story, the friendship between him and the +Harvilles seemed, if possible, augmented by the event which closed all +their views of alliance, and Captain Benwick was now living with them +entirely. Captain Harville had taken his present house for half a +year; his taste, and his health, and his fortune, all directing him to +a residence inexpensive, and by the sea; and the grandeur of the +country, and the retirement of Lyme in the winter, appeared exactly +adapted to Captain Benwick's state of mind. The sympathy and good-will +excited towards Captain Benwick was very great. + +"And yet," said Anne to herself, as they now moved forward to meet the +party, "he has not, perhaps, a more sorrowing heart than I have. I +cannot believe his prospects so blighted for ever. He is younger than +I am; younger in feeling, if not in fact; younger as a man. He will +rally again, and be happy with another." + +They all met, and were introduced. Captain Harville was a tall, dark +man, with a sensible, benevolent countenance; a little lame; and from +strong features and want of health, looking much older than Captain +Wentworth. Captain Benwick looked, and was, the youngest of the three, +and, compared with either of them, a little man. He had a pleasing +face and a melancholy air, just as he ought to have, and drew back from +conversation. + +Captain Harville, though not equalling Captain Wentworth in manners, +was a perfect gentleman, unaffected, warm, and obliging. Mrs Harville, +a degree less polished than her husband, seemed, however, to have the +same good feelings; and nothing could be more pleasant than their +desire of considering the whole party as friends of their own, because +the friends of Captain Wentworth, or more kindly hospitable than their +entreaties for their all promising to dine with them. The dinner, +already ordered at the inn, was at last, though unwillingly, accepted +as a excuse; but they seemed almost hurt that Captain Wentworth should +have brought any such party to Lyme, without considering it as a thing +of course that they should dine with them. + +There was so much attachment to Captain Wentworth in all this, and such +a bewitching charm in a degree of hospitality so uncommon, so unlike +the usual style of give-and-take invitations, and dinners of formality +and display, that Anne felt her spirits not likely to be benefited by +an increasing acquaintance among his brother-officers. "These would +have been all my friends," was her thought; and she had to struggle +against a great tendency to lowness. + +On quitting the Cobb, they all went in-doors with their new friends, +and found rooms so small as none but those who invite from the heart +could think capable of accommodating so many. Anne had a moment's +astonishment on the subject herself; but it was soon lost in the +pleasanter feelings which sprang from the sight of all the ingenious +contrivances and nice arrangements of Captain Harville, to turn the +actual space to the best account, to supply the deficiencies of +lodging-house furniture, and defend the windows and doors against the +winter storms to be expected. The varieties in the fitting-up of the +rooms, where the common necessaries provided by the owner, in the +common indifferent plight, were contrasted with some few articles of a +rare species of wood, excellently worked up, and with something curious +and valuable from all the distant countries Captain Harville had +visited, were more than amusing to Anne; connected as it all was with +his profession, the fruit of its labours, the effect of its influence +on his habits, the picture of repose and domestic happiness it +presented, made it to her a something more, or less, than gratification. + +Captain Harville was no reader; but he had contrived excellent +accommodations, and fashioned very pretty shelves, for a tolerable +collection of well-bound volumes, the property of Captain Benwick. His +lameness prevented him from taking much exercise; but a mind of +usefulness and ingenuity seemed to furnish him with constant employment +within. He drew, he varnished, he carpentered, he glued; he made toys +for the children; he fashioned new netting-needles and pins with +improvements; and if everything else was done, sat down to his large +fishing-net at one corner of the room. + +Anne thought she left great happiness behind her when they quitted the +house; and Louisa, by whom she found herself walking, burst forth into +raptures of admiration and delight on the character of the navy; their +friendliness, their brotherliness, their openness, their uprightness; +protesting that she was convinced of sailors having more worth and +warmth than any other set of men in England; that they only knew how to +live, and they only deserved to be respected and loved. + +They went back to dress and dine; and so well had the scheme answered +already, that nothing was found amiss; though its being "so entirely +out of season," and the "no thoroughfare of Lyme," and the "no +expectation of company," had brought many apologies from the heads of +the inn. + +Anne found herself by this time growing so much more hardened to being +in Captain Wentworth's company than she had at first imagined could +ever be, that the sitting down to the same table with him now, and the +interchange of the common civilities attending on it (they never got +beyond), was become a mere nothing. + +The nights were too dark for the ladies to meet again till the morrow, +but Captain Harville had promised them a visit in the evening; and he +came, bringing his friend also, which was more than had been expected, +it having been agreed that Captain Benwick had all the appearance of +being oppressed by the presence of so many strangers. He ventured +among them again, however, though his spirits certainly did not seem +fit for the mirth of the party in general. + +While Captains Wentworth and Harville led the talk on one side of the +room, and by recurring to former days, supplied anecdotes in abundance +to occupy and entertain the others, it fell to Anne's lot to be placed +rather apart with Captain Benwick; and a very good impulse of her +nature obliged her to begin an acquaintance with him. He was shy, and +disposed to abstraction; but the engaging mildness of her countenance, +and gentleness of her manners, soon had their effect; and Anne was well +repaid the first trouble of exertion. He was evidently a young man of +considerable taste in reading, though principally in poetry; and +besides the persuasion of having given him at least an evening's +indulgence in the discussion of subjects, which his usual companions +had probably no concern in, she had the hope of being of real use to +him in some suggestions as to the duty and benefit of struggling +against affliction, which had naturally grown out of their +conversation. For, though shy, he did not seem reserved; it had rather +the appearance of feelings glad to burst their usual restraints; and +having talked of poetry, the richness of the present age, and gone +through a brief comparison of opinion as to the first-rate poets, +trying to ascertain whether Marmion or The Lady of the Lake were to be +preferred, and how ranked the Giaour and The Bride of Abydos; and +moreover, how the Giaour was to be pronounced, he showed himself so +intimately acquainted with all the tenderest songs of the one poet, and +all the impassioned descriptions of hopeless agony of the other; he +repeated, with such tremulous feeling, the various lines which imaged a +broken heart, or a mind destroyed by wretchedness, and looked so +entirely as if he meant to be understood, that she ventured to hope he +did not always read only poetry, and to say, that she thought it was +the misfortune of poetry to be seldom safely enjoyed by those who +enjoyed it completely; and that the strong feelings which alone could +estimate it truly were the very feelings which ought to taste it but +sparingly. + +His looks shewing him not pained, but pleased with this allusion to his +situation, she was emboldened to go on; and feeling in herself the +right of seniority of mind, she ventured to recommend a larger +allowance of prose in his daily study; and on being requested to +particularize, mentioned such works of our best moralists, such +collections of the finest letters, such memoirs of characters of worth +and suffering, as occurred to her at the moment as calculated to rouse +and fortify the mind by the highest precepts, and the strongest +examples of moral and religious endurances. + +Captain Benwick listened attentively, and seemed grateful for the +interest implied; and though with a shake of the head, and sighs which +declared his little faith in the efficacy of any books on grief like +his, noted down the names of those she recommended, and promised to +procure and read them. + +When the evening was over, Anne could not but be amused at the idea of +her coming to Lyme to preach patience and resignation to a young man +whom she had never seen before; nor could she help fearing, on more +serious reflection, that, like many other great moralists and +preachers, she had been eloquent on a point in which her own conduct +would ill bear examination. + + + +Chapter 12 + + +Anne and Henrietta, finding themselves the earliest of the party the +next morning, agreed to stroll down to the sea before breakfast. They +went to the sands, to watch the flowing of the tide, which a fine +south-easterly breeze was bringing in with all the grandeur which so +flat a shore admitted. They praised the morning; gloried in the sea; +sympathized in the delight of the fresh-feeling breeze--and were +silent; till Henrietta suddenly began again with-- + +"Oh! yes,--I am quite convinced that, with very few exceptions, the +sea-air always does good. There can be no doubt of its having been of +the greatest service to Dr Shirley, after his illness, last spring +twelve-month. He declares himself, that coming to Lyme for a month, +did him more good than all the medicine he took; and, that being by the +sea, always makes him feel young again. Now, I cannot help thinking it +a pity that he does not live entirely by the sea. I do think he had +better leave Uppercross entirely, and fix at Lyme. Do not you, Anne? +Do not you agree with me, that it is the best thing he could do, both +for himself and Mrs Shirley? She has cousins here, you know, and many +acquaintance, which would make it cheerful for her, and I am sure she +would be glad to get to a place where she could have medical attendance +at hand, in case of his having another seizure. Indeed I think it +quite melancholy to have such excellent people as Dr and Mrs Shirley, +who have been doing good all their lives, wearing out their last days +in a place like Uppercross, where, excepting our family, they seem shut +out from all the world. I wish his friends would propose it to him. I +really think they ought. And, as to procuring a dispensation, there +could be no difficulty at his time of life, and with his character. My +only doubt is, whether anything could persuade him to leave his parish. +He is so very strict and scrupulous in his notions; over-scrupulous I +must say. Do not you think, Anne, it is being over-scrupulous? Do not +you think it is quite a mistaken point of conscience, when a clergyman +sacrifices his health for the sake of duties, which may be just as well +performed by another person? And at Lyme too, only seventeen miles +off, he would be near enough to hear, if people thought there was +anything to complain of." + +Anne smiled more than once to herself during this speech, and entered +into the subject, as ready to do good by entering into the feelings of +a young lady as of a young man, though here it was good of a lower +standard, for what could be offered but general acquiescence? She said +all that was reasonable and proper on the business; felt the claims of +Dr Shirley to repose as she ought; saw how very desirable it was that +he should have some active, respectable young man, as a resident +curate, and was even courteous enough to hint at the advantage of such +resident curate's being married. + +"I wish," said Henrietta, very well pleased with her companion, "I wish +Lady Russell lived at Uppercross, and were intimate with Dr Shirley. I +have always heard of Lady Russell as a woman of the greatest influence +with everybody! I always look upon her as able to persuade a person to +anything! I am afraid of her, as I have told you before, quite afraid +of her, because she is so very clever; but I respect her amazingly, and +wish we had such a neighbour at Uppercross." + +Anne was amused by Henrietta's manner of being grateful, and amused +also that the course of events and the new interests of Henrietta's +views should have placed her friend at all in favour with any of the +Musgrove family; she had only time, however, for a general answer, and +a wish that such another woman were at Uppercross, before all subjects +suddenly ceased, on seeing Louisa and Captain Wentworth coming towards +them. They came also for a stroll till breakfast was likely to be +ready; but Louisa recollecting, immediately afterwards that she had +something to procure at a shop, invited them all to go back with her +into the town. They were all at her disposal. + +When they came to the steps, leading upwards from the beach, a +gentleman, at the same moment preparing to come down, politely drew +back, and stopped to give them way. They ascended and passed him; and +as they passed, Anne's face caught his eye, and he looked at her with a +degree of earnest admiration, which she could not be insensible of. +She was looking remarkably well; her very regular, very pretty +features, having the bloom and freshness of youth restored by the fine +wind which had been blowing on her complexion, and by the animation of +eye which it had also produced. It was evident that the gentleman, +(completely a gentleman in manner) admired her exceedingly. Captain +Wentworth looked round at her instantly in a way which shewed his +noticing of it. He gave her a momentary glance, a glance of +brightness, which seemed to say, "That man is struck with you, and even +I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again." + +After attending Louisa through her business, and loitering about a +little longer, they returned to the inn; and Anne, in passing +afterwards quickly from her own chamber to their dining-room, had +nearly run against the very same gentleman, as he came out of an +adjoining apartment. She had before conjectured him to be a stranger +like themselves, and determined that a well-looking groom, who was +strolling about near the two inns as they came back, should be his +servant. Both master and man being in mourning assisted the idea. It +was now proved that he belonged to the same inn as themselves; and this +second meeting, short as it was, also proved again by the gentleman's +looks, that he thought hers very lovely, and by the readiness and +propriety of his apologies, that he was a man of exceedingly good +manners. He seemed about thirty, and though not handsome, had an +agreeable person. Anne felt that she should like to know who he was. + +They had nearly done breakfast, when the sound of a carriage, (almost +the first they had heard since entering Lyme) drew half the party to +the window. It was a gentleman's carriage, a curricle, but only coming +round from the stable-yard to the front door; somebody must be going +away. It was driven by a servant in mourning. + +The word curricle made Charles Musgrove jump up that he might compare +it with his own; the servant in mourning roused Anne's curiosity, and +the whole six were collected to look, by the time the owner of the +curricle was to be seen issuing from the door amidst the bows and +civilities of the household, and taking his seat, to drive off. + +"Ah!" cried Captain Wentworth, instantly, and with half a glance at +Anne, "it is the very man we passed." + +The Miss Musgroves agreed to it; and having all kindly watched him as +far up the hill as they could, they returned to the breakfast table. +The waiter came into the room soon afterwards. + +"Pray," said Captain Wentworth, immediately, "can you tell us the name +of the gentleman who is just gone away?" + +"Yes, Sir, a Mr Elliot, a gentleman of large fortune, came in last +night from Sidmouth. Dare say you heard the carriage, sir, while you +were at dinner; and going on now for Crewkherne, in his way to Bath and +London." + +"Elliot!" Many had looked on each other, and many had repeated the +name, before all this had been got through, even by the smart rapidity +of a waiter. + +"Bless me!" cried Mary; "it must be our cousin; it must be our Mr +Elliot, it must, indeed! Charles, Anne, must not it? In mourning, you +see, just as our Mr Elliot must be. How very extraordinary! In the +very same inn with us! Anne, must not it be our Mr Elliot? my +father's next heir? Pray sir," turning to the waiter, "did not you +hear, did not his servant say whether he belonged to the Kellynch +family?" + +"No, ma'am, he did not mention no particular family; but he said his +master was a very rich gentleman, and would be a baronight some day." + +"There! you see!" cried Mary in an ecstasy, "just as I said! Heir to +Sir Walter Elliot! I was sure that would come out, if it was so. +Depend upon it, that is a circumstance which his servants take care to +publish, wherever he goes. But, Anne, only conceive how extraordinary! +I wish I had looked at him more. I wish we had been aware in time, who +it was, that he might have been introduced to us. What a pity that we +should not have been introduced to each other! Do you think he had the +Elliot countenance? I hardly looked at him, I was looking at the +horses; but I think he had something of the Elliot countenance, I +wonder the arms did not strike me! Oh! the great-coat was hanging over +the panel, and hid the arms, so it did; otherwise, I am sure, I should +have observed them, and the livery too; if the servant had not been in +mourning, one should have known him by the livery." + +"Putting all these very extraordinary circumstances together," said +Captain Wentworth, "we must consider it to be the arrangement of +Providence, that you should not be introduced to your cousin." + +When she could command Mary's attention, Anne quietly tried to convince +her that their father and Mr Elliot had not, for many years, been on +such terms as to make the power of attempting an introduction at all +desirable. + +At the same time, however, it was a secret gratification to herself to +have seen her cousin, and to know that the future owner of Kellynch was +undoubtedly a gentleman, and had an air of good sense. She would not, +upon any account, mention her having met with him the second time; +luckily Mary did not much attend to their having passed close by him in +their earlier walk, but she would have felt quite ill-used by Anne's +having actually run against him in the passage, and received his very +polite excuses, while she had never been near him at all; no, that +cousinly little interview must remain a perfect secret. + +"Of course," said Mary, "you will mention our seeing Mr Elliot, the +next time you write to Bath. I think my father certainly ought to hear +of it; do mention all about him." + +Anne avoided a direct reply, but it was just the circumstance which she +considered as not merely unnecessary to be communicated, but as what +ought to be suppressed. The offence which had been given her father, +many years back, she knew; Elizabeth's particular share in it she +suspected; and that Mr Elliot's idea always produced irritation in both +was beyond a doubt. Mary never wrote to Bath herself; all the toil of +keeping up a slow and unsatisfactory correspondence with Elizabeth fell +on Anne. + +Breakfast had not been long over, when they were joined by Captain and +Mrs Harville and Captain Benwick; with whom they had appointed to take +their last walk about Lyme. They ought to be setting off for +Uppercross by one, and in the mean while were to be all together, and +out of doors as long as they could. + +Anne found Captain Benwick getting near her, as soon as they were all +fairly in the street. Their conversation the preceding evening did not +disincline him to seek her again; and they walked together some time, +talking as before of Mr Scott and Lord Byron, and still as unable as +before, and as unable as any other two readers, to think exactly alike +of the merits of either, till something occasioned an almost general +change amongst their party, and instead of Captain Benwick, she had +Captain Harville by her side. + +"Miss Elliot," said he, speaking rather low, "you have done a good deed +in making that poor fellow talk so much. I wish he could have such +company oftener. It is bad for him, I know, to be shut up as he is; +but what can we do? We cannot part." + +"No," said Anne, "that I can easily believe to be impossible; but in +time, perhaps--we know what time does in every case of affliction, and +you must remember, Captain Harville, that your friend may yet be called +a young mourner--only last summer, I understand." + +"Ay, true enough," (with a deep sigh) "only June." + +"And not known to him, perhaps, so soon." + +"Not till the first week of August, when he came home from the Cape, +just made into the Grappler. I was at Plymouth dreading to hear of +him; he sent in letters, but the Grappler was under orders for +Portsmouth. There the news must follow him, but who was to tell it? +not I. I would as soon have been run up to the yard-arm. Nobody could +do it, but that good fellow" (pointing to Captain Wentworth.) "The +Laconia had come into Plymouth the week before; no danger of her being +sent to sea again. He stood his chance for the rest; wrote up for +leave of absence, but without waiting the return, travelled night and +day till he got to Portsmouth, rowed off to the Grappler that instant, +and never left the poor fellow for a week. That's what he did, and +nobody else could have saved poor James. You may think, Miss Elliot, +whether he is dear to us!" + +Anne did think on the question with perfect decision, and said as much +in reply as her own feeling could accomplish, or as his seemed able to +bear, for he was too much affected to renew the subject, and when he +spoke again, it was of something totally different. + +Mrs Harville's giving it as her opinion that her husband would have +quite walking enough by the time he reached home, determined the +direction of all the party in what was to be their last walk; they +would accompany them to their door, and then return and set off +themselves. By all their calculations there was just time for this; +but as they drew near the Cobb, there was such a general wish to walk +along it once more, all were so inclined, and Louisa soon grew so +determined, that the difference of a quarter of an hour, it was found, +would be no difference at all; so with all the kind leave-taking, and +all the kind interchange of invitations and promises which may be +imagined, they parted from Captain and Mrs Harville at their own door, +and still accompanied by Captain Benwick, who seemed to cling to them +to the last, proceeded to make the proper adieus to the Cobb. + +Anne found Captain Benwick again drawing near her. Lord Byron's "dark +blue seas" could not fail of being brought forward by their present +view, and she gladly gave him all her attention as long as attention +was possible. It was soon drawn, perforce another way. + +There was too much wind to make the high part of the new Cobb pleasant +for the ladies, and they agreed to get down the steps to the lower, and +all were contented to pass quietly and carefully down the steep flight, +excepting Louisa; she must be jumped down them by Captain Wentworth. +In all their walks, he had had to jump her from the stiles; the +sensation was delightful to her. The hardness of the pavement for her +feet, made him less willing upon the present occasion; he did it, +however. She was safely down, and instantly, to show her enjoyment, +ran up the steps to be jumped down again. He advised her against it, +thought the jar too great; but no, he reasoned and talked in vain, she +smiled and said, "I am determined I will:" he put out his hands; she +was too precipitate by half a second, she fell on the pavement on the +Lower Cobb, and was taken up lifeless! There was no wound, no blood, +no visible bruise; but her eyes were closed, she breathed not, her face +was like death. The horror of the moment to all who stood around! + +Captain Wentworth, who had caught her up, knelt with her in his arms, +looking on her with a face as pallid as her own, in an agony of +silence. "She is dead! she is dead!" screamed Mary, catching hold of +her husband, and contributing with his own horror to make him +immoveable; and in another moment, Henrietta, sinking under the +conviction, lost her senses too, and would have fallen on the steps, +but for Captain Benwick and Anne, who caught and supported her between +them. + +"Is there no one to help me?" were the first words which burst from +Captain Wentworth, in a tone of despair, and as if all his own strength +were gone. + +"Go to him, go to him," cried Anne, "for heaven's sake go to him. I +can support her myself. Leave me, and go to him. Rub her hands, rub +her temples; here are salts; take them, take them." + +Captain Benwick obeyed, and Charles at the same moment, disengaging +himself from his wife, they were both with him; and Louisa was raised +up and supported more firmly between them, and everything was done that +Anne had prompted, but in vain; while Captain Wentworth, staggering +against the wall for his support, exclaimed in the bitterest agony-- + +"Oh God! her father and mother!" + +"A surgeon!" said Anne. + +He caught the word; it seemed to rouse him at once, and saying only-- +"True, true, a surgeon this instant," was darting away, when Anne +eagerly suggested-- + +"Captain Benwick, would not it be better for Captain Benwick? He knows +where a surgeon is to be found." + +Every one capable of thinking felt the advantage of the idea, and in a +moment (it was all done in rapid moments) Captain Benwick had resigned +the poor corpse-like figure entirely to the brother's care, and was +off for the town with the utmost rapidity. + +As to the wretched party left behind, it could scarcely be said which +of the three, who were completely rational, was suffering most: Captain +Wentworth, Anne, or Charles, who, really a very affectionate brother, +hung over Louisa with sobs of grief, and could only turn his eyes from +one sister, to see the other in a state as insensible, or to witness +the hysterical agitations of his wife, calling on him for help which he +could not give. + +Anne, attending with all the strength and zeal, and thought, which +instinct supplied, to Henrietta, still tried, at intervals, to suggest +comfort to the others, tried to quiet Mary, to animate Charles, to +assuage the feelings of Captain Wentworth. Both seemed to look to her +for directions. + +"Anne, Anne," cried Charles, "What is to be done next? What, in +heaven's name, is to be done next?" + +Captain Wentworth's eyes were also turned towards her. + +"Had not she better be carried to the inn? Yes, I am sure: carry her +gently to the inn." + +"Yes, yes, to the inn," repeated Captain Wentworth, comparatively +collected, and eager to be doing something. "I will carry her myself. +Musgrove, take care of the others." + +By this time the report of the accident had spread among the workmen +and boatmen about the Cobb, and many were collected near them, to be +useful if wanted, at any rate, to enjoy the sight of a dead young lady, +nay, two dead young ladies, for it proved twice as fine as the first +report. To some of the best-looking of these good people Henrietta was +consigned, for, though partially revived, she was quite helpless; and +in this manner, Anne walking by her side, and Charles attending to his +wife, they set forward, treading back with feelings unutterable, the +ground, which so lately, so very lately, and so light of heart, they +had passed along. + +They were not off the Cobb, before the Harvilles met them. Captain +Benwick had been seen flying by their house, with a countenance which +showed something to be wrong; and they had set off immediately, +informed and directed as they passed, towards the spot. Shocked as +Captain Harville was, he brought senses and nerves that could be +instantly useful; and a look between him and his wife decided what was +to be done. She must be taken to their house; all must go to their +house; and await the surgeon's arrival there. They would not listen to +scruples: he was obeyed; they were all beneath his roof; and while +Louisa, under Mrs Harville's direction, was conveyed up stairs, and +given possession of her own bed, assistance, cordials, restoratives +were supplied by her husband to all who needed them. + +Louisa had once opened her eyes, but soon closed them again, without +apparent consciousness. This had been a proof of life, however, of +service to her sister; and Henrietta, though perfectly incapable of +being in the same room with Louisa, was kept, by the agitation of hope +and fear, from a return of her own insensibility. Mary, too, was +growing calmer. + +The surgeon was with them almost before it had seemed possible. They +were sick with horror, while he examined; but he was not hopeless. The +head had received a severe contusion, but he had seen greater injuries +recovered from: he was by no means hopeless; he spoke cheerfully. + +That he did not regard it as a desperate case, that he did not say a +few hours must end it, was at first felt, beyond the hope of most; and +the ecstasy of such a reprieve, the rejoicing, deep and silent, after a +few fervent ejaculations of gratitude to Heaven had been offered, may +be conceived. + +The tone, the look, with which "Thank God!" was uttered by Captain +Wentworth, Anne was sure could never be forgotten by her; nor the sight +of him afterwards, as he sat near a table, leaning over it with folded +arms and face concealed, as if overpowered by the various feelings of +his soul, and trying by prayer and reflection to calm them. + +Louisa's limbs had escaped. There was no injury but to the head. + +It now became necessary for the party to consider what was best to be +done, as to their general situation. They were now able to speak to +each other and consult. That Louisa must remain where she was, however +distressing to her friends to be involving the Harvilles in such +trouble, did not admit a doubt. Her removal was impossible. The +Harvilles silenced all scruples; and, as much as they could, all +gratitude. They had looked forward and arranged everything before the +others began to reflect. Captain Benwick must give up his room to +them, and get another bed elsewhere; and the whole was settled. They +were only concerned that the house could accommodate no more; and yet +perhaps, by "putting the children away in the maid's room, or swinging +a cot somewhere," they could hardly bear to think of not finding room +for two or three besides, supposing they might wish to stay; though, +with regard to any attendance on Miss Musgrove, there need not be the +least uneasiness in leaving her to Mrs Harville's care entirely. Mrs +Harville was a very experienced nurse, and her nursery-maid, who had +lived with her long, and gone about with her everywhere, was just such +another. Between these two, she could want no possible attendance by +day or night. And all this was said with a truth and sincerity of +feeling irresistible. + +Charles, Henrietta, and Captain Wentworth were the three in +consultation, and for a little while it was only an interchange of +perplexity and terror. "Uppercross, the necessity of some one's going +to Uppercross; the news to be conveyed; how it could be broken to Mr +and Mrs Musgrove; the lateness of the morning; an hour already gone +since they ought to have been off; the impossibility of being in +tolerable time." At first, they were capable of nothing more to the +purpose than such exclamations; but, after a while, Captain Wentworth, +exerting himself, said-- + +"We must be decided, and without the loss of another minute. Every +minute is valuable. Some one must resolve on being off for Uppercross +instantly. Musgrove, either you or I must go." + +Charles agreed, but declared his resolution of not going away. He +would be as little incumbrance as possible to Captain and Mrs Harville; +but as to leaving his sister in such a state, he neither ought, nor +would. So far it was decided; and Henrietta at first declared the +same. She, however, was soon persuaded to think differently. The +usefulness of her staying! She who had not been able to remain in +Louisa's room, or to look at her, without sufferings which made her +worse than helpless! She was forced to acknowledge that she could do +no good, yet was still unwilling to be away, till, touched by the +thought of her father and mother, she gave it up; she consented, she +was anxious to be at home. + +The plan had reached this point, when Anne, coming quietly down from +Louisa's room, could not but hear what followed, for the parlour door +was open. + +"Then it is settled, Musgrove," cried Captain Wentworth, "that you +stay, and that I take care of your sister home. But as to the rest, as +to the others, if one stays to assist Mrs Harville, I think it need be +only one. Mrs Charles Musgrove will, of course, wish to get back to +her children; but if Anne will stay, no one so proper, so capable as +Anne." + +She paused a moment to recover from the emotion of hearing herself so +spoken of. The other two warmly agreed with what he said, and she then +appeared. + +"You will stay, I am sure; you will stay and nurse her;" cried he, +turning to her and speaking with a glow, and yet a gentleness, which +seemed almost restoring the past. She coloured deeply, and he +recollected himself and moved away. She expressed herself most +willing, ready, happy to remain. "It was what she had been thinking +of, and wishing to be allowed to do. A bed on the floor in Louisa's +room would be sufficient for her, if Mrs Harville would but think so." + +One thing more, and all seemed arranged. Though it was rather +desirable that Mr and Mrs Musgrove should be previously alarmed by some +share of delay; yet the time required by the Uppercross horses to take +them back, would be a dreadful extension of suspense; and Captain +Wentworth proposed, and Charles Musgrove agreed, that it would be much +better for him to take a chaise from the inn, and leave Mr Musgrove's +carriage and horses to be sent home the next morning early, when there +would be the farther advantage of sending an account of Louisa's night. + +Captain Wentworth now hurried off to get everything ready on his part, +and to be soon followed by the two ladies. When the plan was made +known to Mary, however, there was an end of all peace in it. She was +so wretched and so vehement, complained so much of injustice in being +expected to go away instead of Anne; Anne, who was nothing to Louisa, +while she was her sister, and had the best right to stay in Henrietta's +stead! Why was not she to be as useful as Anne? And to go home +without Charles, too, without her husband! No, it was too unkind. And +in short, she said more than her husband could long withstand, and as +none of the others could oppose when he gave way, there was no help for +it; the change of Mary for Anne was inevitable. + +Anne had never submitted more reluctantly to the jealous and +ill-judging claims of Mary; but so it must be, and they set off for the +town, Charles taking care of his sister, and Captain Benwick attending +to her. She gave a moment's recollection, as they hurried along, to +the little circumstances which the same spots had witnessed earlier in +the morning. There she had listened to Henrietta's schemes for Dr +Shirley's leaving Uppercross; farther on, she had first seen Mr Elliot; +a moment seemed all that could now be given to any one but Louisa, or +those who were wrapt up in her welfare. + +Captain Benwick was most considerately attentive to her; and, united as +they all seemed by the distress of the day, she felt an increasing +degree of good-will towards him, and a pleasure even in thinking that +it might, perhaps, be the occasion of continuing their acquaintance. + +Captain Wentworth was on the watch for them, and a chaise and four in +waiting, stationed for their convenience in the lowest part of the +street; but his evident surprise and vexation at the substitution of +one sister for the other, the change in his countenance, the +astonishment, the expressions begun and suppressed, with which Charles +was listened to, made but a mortifying reception of Anne; or must at +least convince her that she was valued only as she could be useful to +Louisa. + +She endeavoured to be composed, and to be just. Without emulating the +feelings of an Emma towards her Henry, she would have attended on +Louisa with a zeal above the common claims of regard, for his sake; and +she hoped he would not long be so unjust as to suppose she would shrink +unnecessarily from the office of a friend. + +In the mean while she was in the carriage. He had handed them both in, +and placed himself between them; and in this manner, under these +circumstances, full of astonishment and emotion to Anne, she quitted +Lyme. How the long stage would pass; how it was to affect their +manners; what was to be their sort of intercourse, she could not +foresee. It was all quite natural, however. He was devoted to +Henrietta; always turning towards her; and when he spoke at all, always +with the view of supporting her hopes and raising her spirits. In +general, his voice and manner were studiously calm. To spare Henrietta +from agitation seemed the governing principle. Once only, when she had +been grieving over the last ill-judged, ill-fated walk to the Cobb, +bitterly lamenting that it ever had been thought of, he burst forth, as +if wholly overcome-- + +"Don't talk of it, don't talk of it," he cried. "Oh God! that I had +not given way to her at the fatal moment! Had I done as I ought! But +so eager and so resolute! Dear, sweet Louisa!" + +Anne wondered whether it ever occurred to him now, to question the +justness of his own previous opinion as to the universal felicity and +advantage of firmness of character; and whether it might not strike him +that, like all other qualities of the mind, it should have its +proportions and limits. She thought it could scarcely escape him to +feel that a persuadable temper might sometimes be as much in favour of +happiness as a very resolute character. + +They got on fast. Anne was astonished to recognise the same hills and +the same objects so soon. Their actual speed, heightened by some dread +of the conclusion, made the road appear but half as long as on the day +before. It was growing quite dusk, however, before they were in the +neighbourhood of Uppercross, and there had been total silence among +them for some time, Henrietta leaning back in the corner, with a shawl +over her face, giving the hope of her having cried herself to sleep; +when, as they were going up their last hill, Anne found herself all at +once addressed by Captain Wentworth. In a low, cautious voice, he +said:-- + +"I have been considering what we had best do. She must not appear at +first. She could not stand it. I have been thinking whether you had +not better remain in the carriage with her, while I go in and break it +to Mr and Mrs Musgrove. Do you think this is a good plan?" + +She did: he was satisfied, and said no more. But the remembrance of +the appeal remained a pleasure to her, as a proof of friendship, and of +deference for her judgement, a great pleasure; and when it became a +sort of parting proof, its value did not lessen. + +When the distressing communication at Uppercross was over, and he had +seen the father and mother quite as composed as could be hoped, and the +daughter all the better for being with them, he announced his intention +of returning in the same carriage to Lyme; and when the horses were +baited, he was off. + +(End of volume one.) + + + +Chapter 13 + + +The remainder of Anne's time at Uppercross, comprehending only two +days, was spent entirely at the Mansion House; and she had the +satisfaction of knowing herself extremely useful there, both as an +immediate companion, and as assisting in all those arrangements for the +future, which, in Mr and Mrs Musgrove's distressed state of spirits, +would have been difficulties. + +They had an early account from Lyme the next morning. Louisa was much +the same. No symptoms worse than before had appeared. Charles came a +few hours afterwards, to bring a later and more particular account. He +was tolerably cheerful. A speedy cure must not be hoped, but +everything was going on as well as the nature of the case admitted. In +speaking of the Harvilles, he seemed unable to satisfy his own sense of +their kindness, especially of Mrs Harville's exertions as a nurse. +"She really left nothing for Mary to do. He and Mary had been +persuaded to go early to their inn last night. Mary had been +hysterical again this morning. When he came away, she was going to +walk out with Captain Benwick, which, he hoped, would do her good. He +almost wished she had been prevailed on to come home the day before; +but the truth was, that Mrs Harville left nothing for anybody to do." + +Charles was to return to Lyme the same afternoon, and his father had at +first half a mind to go with him, but the ladies could not consent. It +would be going only to multiply trouble to the others, and increase his +own distress; and a much better scheme followed and was acted upon. A +chaise was sent for from Crewkherne, and Charles conveyed back a far +more useful person in the old nursery-maid of the family, one who +having brought up all the children, and seen the very last, the +lingering and long-petted Master Harry, sent to school after his +brothers, was now living in her deserted nursery to mend stockings and +dress all the blains and bruises she could get near her, and who, +consequently, was only too happy in being allowed to go and help nurse +dear Miss Louisa. Vague wishes of getting Sarah thither, had occurred +before to Mrs Musgrove and Henrietta; but without Anne, it would hardly +have been resolved on, and found practicable so soon. + +They were indebted, the next day, to Charles Hayter, for all the minute +knowledge of Louisa, which it was so essential to obtain every +twenty-four hours. He made it his business to go to Lyme, and his +account was still encouraging. The intervals of sense and +consciousness were believed to be stronger. Every report agreed in +Captain Wentworth's appearing fixed in Lyme. + +Anne was to leave them on the morrow, an event which they all dreaded. +"What should they do without her? They were wretched comforters for +one another." And so much was said in this way, that Anne thought she +could not do better than impart among them the general inclination to +which she was privy, and persuaded them all to go to Lyme at once. She +had little difficulty; it was soon determined that they would go; go +to-morrow, fix themselves at the inn, or get into lodgings, as it +suited, and there remain till dear Louisa could be moved. They must be +taking off some trouble from the good people she was with; they might +at least relieve Mrs Harville from the care of her own children; and in +short, they were so happy in the decision, that Anne was delighted with +what she had done, and felt that she could not spend her last morning +at Uppercross better than in assisting their preparations, and sending +them off at an early hour, though her being left to the solitary range +of the house was the consequence. + +She was the last, excepting the little boys at the cottage, she was the +very last, the only remaining one of all that had filled and animated +both houses, of all that had given Uppercross its cheerful character. +A few days had made a change indeed! + +If Louisa recovered, it would all be well again. More than former +happiness would be restored. There could not be a doubt, to her mind +there was none, of what would follow her recovery. A few months hence, +and the room now so deserted, occupied but by her silent, pensive self, +might be filled again with all that was happy and gay, all that was +glowing and bright in prosperous love, all that was most unlike Anne +Elliot! + +An hour's complete leisure for such reflections as these, on a dark +November day, a small thick rain almost blotting out the very few +objects ever to be discerned from the windows, was enough to make the +sound of Lady Russell's carriage exceedingly welcome; and yet, though +desirous to be gone, she could not quit the Mansion House, or look an +adieu to the Cottage, with its black, dripping and comfortless veranda, +or even notice through the misty glasses the last humble tenements of +the village, without a saddened heart. Scenes had passed in Uppercross +which made it precious. It stood the record of many sensations of +pain, once severe, but now softened; and of some instances of relenting +feeling, some breathings of friendship and reconciliation, which could +never be looked for again, and which could never cease to be dear. She +left it all behind her, all but the recollection that such things had +been. + +Anne had never entered Kellynch since her quitting Lady Russell's house +in September. It had not been necessary, and the few occasions of its +being possible for her to go to the Hall she had contrived to evade and +escape from. Her first return was to resume her place in the modern +and elegant apartments of the Lodge, and to gladden the eyes of its +mistress. + +There was some anxiety mixed with Lady Russell's joy in meeting her. +She knew who had been frequenting Uppercross. But happily, either Anne +was improved in plumpness and looks, or Lady Russell fancied her so; +and Anne, in receiving her compliments on the occasion, had the +amusement of connecting them with the silent admiration of her cousin, +and of hoping that she was to be blessed with a second spring of youth +and beauty. + +When they came to converse, she was soon sensible of some mental +change. The subjects of which her heart had been full on leaving +Kellynch, and which she had felt slighted, and been compelled to +smother among the Musgroves, were now become but of secondary interest. +She had lately lost sight even of her father and sister and Bath. +Their concerns had been sunk under those of Uppercross; and when Lady +Russell reverted to their former hopes and fears, and spoke her +satisfaction in the house in Camden Place, which had been taken, and +her regret that Mrs Clay should still be with them, Anne would have +been ashamed to have it known how much more she was thinking of Lyme +and Louisa Musgrove, and all her acquaintance there; how much more +interesting to her was the home and the friendship of the Harvilles and +Captain Benwick, than her own father's house in Camden Place, or her +own sister's intimacy with Mrs Clay. She was actually forced to exert +herself to meet Lady Russell with anything like the appearance of equal +solicitude, on topics which had by nature the first claim on her. + +There was a little awkwardness at first in their discourse on another +subject. They must speak of the accident at Lyme. Lady Russell had +not been arrived five minutes the day before, when a full account of +the whole had burst on her; but still it must be talked of, she must +make enquiries, she must regret the imprudence, lament the result, and +Captain Wentworth's name must be mentioned by both. Anne was conscious +of not doing it so well as Lady Russell. She could not speak the name, +and look straight forward to Lady Russell's eye, till she had adopted +the expedient of telling her briefly what she thought of the attachment +between him and Louisa. When this was told, his name distressed her no +longer. + +Lady Russell had only to listen composedly, and wish them happy, but +internally her heart revelled in angry pleasure, in pleased contempt, +that the man who at twenty-three had seemed to understand somewhat of +the value of an Anne Elliot, should, eight years afterwards, be charmed +by a Louisa Musgrove. + +The first three or four days passed most quietly, with no circumstance +to mark them excepting the receipt of a note or two from Lyme, which +found their way to Anne, she could not tell how, and brought a rather +improving account of Louisa. At the end of that period, Lady Russell's +politeness could repose no longer, and the fainter self-threatenings of +the past became in a decided tone, "I must call on Mrs Croft; I really +must call upon her soon. Anne, have you courage to go with me, and pay +a visit in that house? It will be some trial to us both." + +Anne did not shrink from it; on the contrary, she truly felt as she +said, in observing-- + +"I think you are very likely to suffer the most of the two; your +feelings are less reconciled to the change than mine. By remaining in +the neighbourhood, I am become inured to it." + +She could have said more on the subject; for she had in fact so high an +opinion of the Crofts, and considered her father so very fortunate in +his tenants, felt the parish to be so sure of a good example, and the +poor of the best attention and relief, that however sorry and ashamed +for the necessity of the removal, she could not but in conscience feel +that they were gone who deserved not to stay, and that Kellynch Hall +had passed into better hands than its owners'. These convictions must +unquestionably have their own pain, and severe was its kind; but they +precluded that pain which Lady Russell would suffer in entering the +house again, and returning through the well-known apartments. + +In such moments Anne had no power of saying to herself, "These rooms +ought to belong only to us. Oh, how fallen in their destination! How +unworthily occupied! An ancient family to be so driven away! +Strangers filling their place!" No, except when she thought of her +mother, and remembered where she had been used to sit and preside, she +had no sigh of that description to heave. + +Mrs Croft always met her with a kindness which gave her the pleasure of +fancying herself a favourite, and on the present occasion, receiving +her in that house, there was particular attention. + +The sad accident at Lyme was soon the prevailing topic, and on +comparing their latest accounts of the invalid, it appeared that each +lady dated her intelligence from the same hour of yestermorn; that +Captain Wentworth had been in Kellynch yesterday (the first time since +the accident), had brought Anne the last note, which she had not been +able to trace the exact steps of; had staid a few hours and then +returned again to Lyme, and without any present intention of quitting +it any more. He had enquired after her, she found, particularly; had +expressed his hope of Miss Elliot's not being the worse for her +exertions, and had spoken of those exertions as great. This was +handsome, and gave her more pleasure than almost anything else could +have done. + +As to the sad catastrophe itself, it could be canvassed only in one +style by a couple of steady, sensible women, whose judgements had to +work on ascertained events; and it was perfectly decided that it had +been the consequence of much thoughtlessness and much imprudence; that +its effects were most alarming, and that it was frightful to think, how +long Miss Musgrove's recovery might yet be doubtful, and how liable she +would still remain to suffer from the concussion hereafter! The +Admiral wound it up summarily by exclaiming-- + +"Ay, a very bad business indeed. A new sort of way this, for a young +fellow to be making love, by breaking his mistress's head, is not it, +Miss Elliot? This is breaking a head and giving a plaster, truly!" + +Admiral Croft's manners were not quite of the tone to suit Lady +Russell, but they delighted Anne. His goodness of heart and simplicity +of character were irresistible. + +"Now, this must be very bad for you," said he, suddenly rousing from a +little reverie, "to be coming and finding us here. I had not +recollected it before, I declare, but it must be very bad. But now, do +not stand upon ceremony. Get up and go over all the rooms in the house +if you like it." + +"Another time, Sir, I thank you, not now." + +"Well, whenever it suits you. You can slip in from the shrubbery at +any time; and there you will find we keep our umbrellas hanging up by +that door. A good place is not it? But," (checking himself), "you +will not think it a good place, for yours were always kept in the +butler's room. Ay, so it always is, I believe. One man's ways may be +as good as another's, but we all like our own best. And so you must +judge for yourself, whether it would be better for you to go about the +house or not." + +Anne, finding she might decline it, did so, very gratefully. + +"We have made very few changes either," continued the Admiral, after +thinking a moment. "Very few. We told you about the laundry-door, at +Uppercross. That has been a very great improvement. The wonder was, +how any family upon earth could bear with the inconvenience of its +opening as it did, so long! You will tell Sir Walter what we have +done, and that Mr Shepherd thinks it the greatest improvement the house +ever had. Indeed, I must do ourselves the justice to say, that the few +alterations we have made have been all very much for the better. My +wife should have the credit of them, however. I have done very little +besides sending away some of the large looking-glasses from my +dressing-room, which was your father's. A very good man, and very much +the gentleman I am sure: but I should think, Miss Elliot," (looking +with serious reflection), "I should think he must be rather a dressy +man for his time of life. Such a number of looking-glasses! oh Lord! +there was no getting away from one's self. So I got Sophy to lend me a +hand, and we soon shifted their quarters; and now I am quite snug, with +my little shaving glass in one corner, and another great thing that I +never go near." + +Anne, amused in spite of herself, was rather distressed for an answer, +and the Admiral, fearing he might not have been civil enough, took up +the subject again, to say-- + +"The next time you write to your good father, Miss Elliot, pray give +him my compliments and Mrs Croft's, and say that we are settled here +quite to our liking, and have no fault at all to find with the place. +The breakfast-room chimney smokes a little, I grant you, but it is only +when the wind is due north and blows hard, which may not happen three +times a winter. And take it altogether, now that we have been into +most of the houses hereabouts and can judge, there is not one that we +like better than this. Pray say so, with my compliments. He will be +glad to hear it." + +Lady Russell and Mrs Croft were very well pleased with each other: but +the acquaintance which this visit began was fated not to proceed far at +present; for when it was returned, the Crofts announced themselves to +be going away for a few weeks, to visit their connexions in the north +of the county, and probably might not be at home again before Lady +Russell would be removing to Bath. + +So ended all danger to Anne of meeting Captain Wentworth at Kellynch +Hall, or of seeing him in company with her friend. Everything was safe +enough, and she smiled over the many anxious feelings she had wasted on +the subject. + + + +Chapter 14 + + +Though Charles and Mary had remained at Lyme much longer after Mr and +Mrs Musgrove's going than Anne conceived they could have been at all +wanted, they were yet the first of the family to be at home again; and +as soon as possible after their return to Uppercross they drove over to +the Lodge. They had left Louisa beginning to sit up; but her head, +though clear, was exceedingly weak, and her nerves susceptible to the +highest extreme of tenderness; and though she might be pronounced to be +altogether doing very well, it was still impossible to say when she +might be able to bear the removal home; and her father and mother, who +must return in time to receive their younger children for the Christmas +holidays, had hardly a hope of being allowed to bring her with them. + +They had been all in lodgings together. Mrs Musgrove had got Mrs +Harville's children away as much as she could, every possible supply +from Uppercross had been furnished, to lighten the inconvenience to the +Harvilles, while the Harvilles had been wanting them to come to dinner +every day; and in short, it seemed to have been only a struggle on each +side as to which should be most disinterested and hospitable. + +Mary had had her evils; but upon the whole, as was evident by her +staying so long, she had found more to enjoy than to suffer. Charles +Hayter had been at Lyme oftener than suited her; and when they dined +with the Harvilles there had been only a maid-servant to wait, and at +first Mrs Harville had always given Mrs Musgrove precedence; but then, +she had received so very handsome an apology from her on finding out +whose daughter she was, and there had been so much going on every day, +there had been so many walks between their lodgings and the Harvilles, +and she had got books from the library, and changed them so often, that +the balance had certainly been much in favour of Lyme. She had been +taken to Charmouth too, and she had bathed, and she had gone to church, +and there were a great many more people to look at in the church at +Lyme than at Uppercross; and all this, joined to the sense of being so +very useful, had made really an agreeable fortnight. + +Anne enquired after Captain Benwick, Mary's face was clouded directly. +Charles laughed. + +"Oh! Captain Benwick is very well, I believe, but he is a very odd +young man. I do not know what he would be at. We asked him to come +home with us for a day or two: Charles undertook to give him some +shooting, and he seemed quite delighted, and, for my part, I thought it +was all settled; when behold! on Tuesday night, he made a very awkward +sort of excuse; 'he never shot' and he had 'been quite misunderstood,' +and he had promised this and he had promised that, and the end of it +was, I found, that he did not mean to come. I suppose he was afraid of +finding it dull; but upon my word I should have thought we were lively +enough at the Cottage for such a heart-broken man as Captain Benwick." + +Charles laughed again and said, "Now Mary, you know very well how it +really was. It was all your doing," (turning to Anne.) "He fancied +that if he went with us, he should find you close by: he fancied +everybody to be living in Uppercross; and when he discovered that Lady +Russell lived three miles off, his heart failed him, and he had not +courage to come. That is the fact, upon my honour, Mary knows it is." + +But Mary did not give into it very graciously, whether from not +considering Captain Benwick entitled by birth and situation to be in +love with an Elliot, or from not wanting to believe Anne a greater +attraction to Uppercross than herself, must be left to be guessed. +Anne's good-will, however, was not to be lessened by what she heard. +She boldly acknowledged herself flattered, and continued her enquiries. + +"Oh! he talks of you," cried Charles, "in such terms--" Mary +interrupted him. "I declare, Charles, I never heard him mention Anne +twice all the time I was there. I declare, Anne, he never talks of you +at all." + +"No," admitted Charles, "I do not know that he ever does, in a general +way; but however, it is a very clear thing that he admires you +exceedingly. His head is full of some books that he is reading upon +your recommendation, and he wants to talk to you about them; he has +found out something or other in one of them which he thinks--oh! I +cannot pretend to remember it, but it was something very fine--I +overheard him telling Henrietta all about it; and then 'Miss Elliot' +was spoken of in the highest terms! Now Mary, I declare it was so, I +heard it myself, and you were in the other room. 'Elegance, sweetness, +beauty.' Oh! there was no end of Miss Elliot's charms." + +"And I am sure," cried Mary, warmly, "it was a very little to his +credit, if he did. Miss Harville only died last June. Such a heart is +very little worth having; is it, Lady Russell? I am sure you will +agree with me." + +"I must see Captain Benwick before I decide," said Lady Russell, +smiling. + +"And that you are very likely to do very soon, I can tell you, ma'am," +said Charles. "Though he had not nerves for coming away with us, and +setting off again afterwards to pay a formal visit here, he will make +his way over to Kellynch one day by himself, you may depend on it. I +told him the distance and the road, and I told him of the church's +being so very well worth seeing; for as he has a taste for those sort +of things, I thought that would be a good excuse, and he listened with +all his understanding and soul; and I am sure from his manner that you +will have him calling here soon. So, I give you notice, Lady Russell." + +"Any acquaintance of Anne's will always be welcome to me," was Lady +Russell's kind answer. + +"Oh! as to being Anne's acquaintance," said Mary, "I think he is rather +my acquaintance, for I have been seeing him every day this last +fortnight." + +"Well, as your joint acquaintance, then, I shall be very happy to see +Captain Benwick." + +"You will not find anything very agreeable in him, I assure you, ma'am. +He is one of the dullest young men that ever lived. He has walked with +me, sometimes, from one end of the sands to the other, without saying a +word. He is not at all a well-bred young man. I am sure you will not +like him." + +"There we differ, Mary," said Anne. "I think Lady Russell would like +him. I think she would be so much pleased with his mind, that she +would very soon see no deficiency in his manner." + +"So do I, Anne," said Charles. "I am sure Lady Russell would like him. +He is just Lady Russell's sort. Give him a book, and he will read all +day long." + +"Yes, that he will!" exclaimed Mary, tauntingly. "He will sit poring +over his book, and not know when a person speaks to him, or when one +drop's one's scissors, or anything that happens. Do you think Lady +Russell would like that?" + +Lady Russell could not help laughing. "Upon my word," said she, "I +should not have supposed that my opinion of any one could have admitted +of such difference of conjecture, steady and matter of fact as I may +call myself. I have really a curiosity to see the person who can give +occasion to such directly opposite notions. I wish he may be induced +to call here. And when he does, Mary, you may depend upon hearing my +opinion; but I am determined not to judge him beforehand." + +"You will not like him, I will answer for it." + +Lady Russell began talking of something else. Mary spoke with +animation of their meeting with, or rather missing, Mr Elliot so +extraordinarily. + +"He is a man," said Lady Russell, "whom I have no wish to see. His +declining to be on cordial terms with the head of his family, has left +a very strong impression in his disfavour with me." + +This decision checked Mary's eagerness, and stopped her short in the +midst of the Elliot countenance. + +With regard to Captain Wentworth, though Anne hazarded no enquiries, +there was voluntary communication sufficient. His spirits had been +greatly recovering lately as might be expected. As Louisa improved, he +had improved, and he was now quite a different creature from what he +had been the first week. He had not seen Louisa; and was so extremely +fearful of any ill consequence to her from an interview, that he did +not press for it at all; and, on the contrary, seemed to have a plan of +going away for a week or ten days, till her head was stronger. He had +talked of going down to Plymouth for a week, and wanted to persuade +Captain Benwick to go with him; but, as Charles maintained to the last, +Captain Benwick seemed much more disposed to ride over to Kellynch. + +There can be no doubt that Lady Russell and Anne were both occasionally +thinking of Captain Benwick, from this time. Lady Russell could not +hear the door-bell without feeling that it might be his herald; nor +could Anne return from any stroll of solitary indulgence in her +father's grounds, or any visit of charity in the village, without +wondering whether she might see him or hear of him. Captain Benwick +came not, however. He was either less disposed for it than Charles had +imagined, or he was too shy; and after giving him a week's indulgence, +Lady Russell determined him to be unworthy of the interest which he had +been beginning to excite. + +The Musgroves came back to receive their happy boys and girls from +school, bringing with them Mrs Harville's little children, to improve +the noise of Uppercross, and lessen that of Lyme. Henrietta remained +with Louisa; but all the rest of the family were again in their usual +quarters. + +Lady Russell and Anne paid their compliments to them once, when Anne +could not but feel that Uppercross was already quite alive again. +Though neither Henrietta, nor Louisa, nor Charles Hayter, nor Captain +Wentworth were there, the room presented as strong a contrast as could +be wished to the last state she had seen it in. + +Immediately surrounding Mrs Musgrove were the little Harvilles, whom +she was sedulously guarding from the tyranny of the two children from +the Cottage, expressly arrived to amuse them. On one side was a table +occupied by some chattering girls, cutting up silk and gold paper; and +on the other were tressels and trays, bending under the weight of brawn +and cold pies, where riotous boys were holding high revel; the whole +completed by a roaring Christmas fire, which seemed determined to be +heard, in spite of all the noise of the others. Charles and Mary also +came in, of course, during their visit, and Mr Musgrove made a point of +paying his respects to Lady Russell, and sat down close to her for ten +minutes, talking with a very raised voice, but from the clamour of the +children on his knees, generally in vain. It was a fine family-piece. + +Anne, judging from her own temperament, would have deemed such a +domestic hurricane a bad restorative of the nerves, which Louisa's +illness must have so greatly shaken. But Mrs Musgrove, who got Anne +near her on purpose to thank her most cordially, again and again, for +all her attentions to them, concluded a short recapitulation of what +she had suffered herself by observing, with a happy glance round the +room, that after all she had gone through, nothing was so likely to do +her good as a little quiet cheerfulness at home. + +Louisa was now recovering apace. Her mother could even think of her +being able to join their party at home, before her brothers and sisters +went to school again. The Harvilles had promised to come with her and +stay at Uppercross, whenever she returned. Captain Wentworth was gone, +for the present, to see his brother in Shropshire. + +"I hope I shall remember, in future," said Lady Russell, as soon as +they were reseated in the carriage, "not to call at Uppercross in the +Christmas holidays." + +Everybody has their taste in noises as well as in other matters; and +sounds are quite innoxious, or most distressing, by their sort rather +than their quantity. When Lady Russell not long afterwards, was +entering Bath on a wet afternoon, and driving through the long course +of streets from the Old Bridge to Camden Place, amidst the dash of +other carriages, the heavy rumble of carts and drays, the bawling of +newspapermen, muffin-men and milkmen, and the ceaseless clink of +pattens, she made no complaint. No, these were noises which belonged +to the winter pleasures; her spirits rose under their influence; and +like Mrs Musgrove, she was feeling, though not saying, that after being +long in the country, nothing could be so good for her as a little quiet +cheerfulness. + +Anne did not share these feelings. She persisted in a very determined, +though very silent disinclination for Bath; caught the first dim view +of the extensive buildings, smoking in rain, without any wish of seeing +them better; felt their progress through the streets to be, however +disagreeable, yet too rapid; for who would be glad to see her when she +arrived? And looked back, with fond regret, to the bustles of +Uppercross and the seclusion of Kellynch. + +Elizabeth's last letter had communicated a piece of news of some +interest. Mr Elliot was in Bath. He had called in Camden Place; had +called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive. If +Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves, had been taking +much pains to seek the acquaintance, and proclaim the value of the +connection, as he had formerly taken pains to shew neglect. This was +very wonderful if it were true; and Lady Russell was in a state of very +agreeable curiosity and perplexity about Mr Elliot, already recanting +the sentiment she had so lately expressed to Mary, of his being "a man +whom she had no wish to see." She had a great wish to see him. If he +really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be +forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree. + +Anne was not animated to an equal pitch by the circumstance, but she +felt that she would rather see Mr Elliot again than not, which was more +than she could say for many other persons in Bath. + +She was put down in Camden Place; and Lady Russell then drove to her +own lodgings, in Rivers Street. + + + +Chapter 15 + + +Sir Walter had taken a very good house in Camden Place, a lofty +dignified situation, such as becomes a man of consequence; and both he +and Elizabeth were settled there, much to their satisfaction. + +Anne entered it with a sinking heart, anticipating an imprisonment of +many months, and anxiously saying to herself, "Oh! when shall I leave +you again?" A degree of unexpected cordiality, however, in the welcome +she received, did her good. Her father and sister were glad to see +her, for the sake of shewing her the house and furniture, and met her +with kindness. Her making a fourth, when they sat down to dinner, was +noticed as an advantage. + +Mrs Clay was very pleasant, and very smiling, but her courtesies and +smiles were more a matter of course. Anne had always felt that she +would pretend what was proper on her arrival, but the complaisance of +the others was unlooked for. They were evidently in excellent spirits, +and she was soon to listen to the causes. They had no inclination to +listen to her. After laying out for some compliments of being deeply +regretted in their old neighbourhood, which Anne could not pay, they +had only a few faint enquiries to make, before the talk must be all +their own. Uppercross excited no interest, Kellynch very little: it +was all Bath. + +They had the pleasure of assuring her that Bath more than answered +their expectations in every respect. Their house was undoubtedly the +best in Camden Place; their drawing-rooms had many decided advantages +over all the others which they had either seen or heard of, and the +superiority was not less in the style of the fitting-up, or the taste +of the furniture. Their acquaintance was exceedingly sought after. +Everybody was wanting to visit them. They had drawn back from many +introductions, and still were perpetually having cards left by people +of whom they knew nothing. + +Here were funds of enjoyment. Could Anne wonder that her father and +sister were happy? She might not wonder, but she must sigh that her +father should feel no degradation in his change, should see nothing to +regret in the duties and dignity of the resident landholder, should +find so much to be vain of in the littlenesses of a town; and she must +sigh, and smile, and wonder too, as Elizabeth threw open the +folding-doors and walked with exultation from one drawing-room to the +other, boasting of their space; at the possibility of that woman, who +had been mistress of Kellynch Hall, finding extent to be proud of +between two walls, perhaps thirty feet asunder. + +But this was not all which they had to make them happy. They had Mr +Elliot too. Anne had a great deal to hear of Mr Elliot. He was not +only pardoned, they were delighted with him. He had been in Bath about +a fortnight; (he had passed through Bath in November, in his way to +London, when the intelligence of Sir Walter's being settled there had +of course reached him, though only twenty-four hours in the place, but +he had not been able to avail himself of it;) but he had now been a +fortnight in Bath, and his first object on arriving, had been to leave +his card in Camden Place, following it up by such assiduous endeavours +to meet, and when they did meet, by such great openness of conduct, +such readiness to apologize for the past, such solicitude to be +received as a relation again, that their former good understanding was +completely re-established. + +They had not a fault to find in him. He had explained away all the +appearance of neglect on his own side. It had originated in +misapprehension entirely. He had never had an idea of throwing himself +off; he had feared that he was thrown off, but knew not why, and +delicacy had kept him silent. Upon the hint of having spoken +disrespectfully or carelessly of the family and the family honours, he +was quite indignant. He, who had ever boasted of being an Elliot, and +whose feelings, as to connection, were only too strict to suit the +unfeudal tone of the present day. He was astonished, indeed, but his +character and general conduct must refute it. He could refer Sir +Walter to all who knew him; and certainly, the pains he had been taking +on this, the first opportunity of reconciliation, to be restored to the +footing of a relation and heir-presumptive, was a strong proof of his +opinions on the subject. + +The circumstances of his marriage, too, were found to admit of much +extenuation. This was an article not to be entered on by himself; but +a very intimate friend of his, a Colonel Wallis, a highly respectable +man, perfectly the gentleman, (and not an ill-looking man, Sir Walter +added), who was living in very good style in Marlborough Buildings, and +had, at his own particular request, been admitted to their acquaintance +through Mr Elliot, had mentioned one or two things relative to the +marriage, which made a material difference in the discredit of it. + +Colonel Wallis had known Mr Elliot long, had been well acquainted also +with his wife, had perfectly understood the whole story. She was +certainly not a woman of family, but well educated, accomplished, rich, +and excessively in love with his friend. There had been the charm. +She had sought him. Without that attraction, not all her money would +have tempted Elliot, and Sir Walter was, moreover, assured of her +having been a very fine woman. Here was a great deal to soften the +business. A very fine woman with a large fortune, in love with him! +Sir Walter seemed to admit it as complete apology; and though Elizabeth +could not see the circumstance in quite so favourable a light, she +allowed it be a great extenuation. + +Mr Elliot had called repeatedly, had dined with them once, evidently +delighted by the distinction of being asked, for they gave no dinners +in general; delighted, in short, by every proof of cousinly notice, and +placing his whole happiness in being on intimate terms in Camden Place. + +Anne listened, but without quite understanding it. Allowances, large +allowances, she knew, must be made for the ideas of those who spoke. +She heard it all under embellishment. All that sounded extravagant or +irrational in the progress of the reconciliation might have no origin +but in the language of the relators. Still, however, she had the +sensation of there being something more than immediately appeared, in +Mr Elliot's wishing, after an interval of so many years, to be well +received by them. In a worldly view, he had nothing to gain by being +on terms with Sir Walter; nothing to risk by a state of variance. In +all probability he was already the richer of the two, and the Kellynch +estate would as surely be his hereafter as the title. A sensible man, +and he had looked like a very sensible man, why should it be an object +to him? She could only offer one solution; it was, perhaps, for +Elizabeth's sake. There might really have been a liking formerly, +though convenience and accident had drawn him a different way; and now +that he could afford to please himself, he might mean to pay his +addresses to her. Elizabeth was certainly very handsome, with +well-bred, elegant manners, and her character might never have been +penetrated by Mr Elliot, knowing her but in public, and when very young +himself. How her temper and understanding might bear the investigation +of his present keener time of life was another concern and rather a +fearful one. Most earnestly did she wish that he might not be too +nice, or too observant if Elizabeth were his object; and that Elizabeth +was disposed to believe herself so, and that her friend Mrs Clay was +encouraging the idea, seemed apparent by a glance or two between them, +while Mr Elliot's frequent visits were talked of. + +Anne mentioned the glimpses she had had of him at Lyme, but without +being much attended to. "Oh! yes, perhaps, it had been Mr Elliot. +They did not know. It might be him, perhaps." They could not listen +to her description of him. They were describing him themselves; Sir +Walter especially. He did justice to his very gentlemanlike +appearance, his air of elegance and fashion, his good shaped face, his +sensible eye; but, at the same time, "must lament his being very much +under-hung, a defect which time seemed to have increased; nor could he +pretend to say that ten years had not altered almost every feature for +the worse. Mr Elliot appeared to think that he (Sir Walter) was +looking exactly as he had done when they last parted;" but Sir Walter +had "not been able to return the compliment entirely, which had +embarrassed him. He did not mean to complain, however. Mr Elliot was +better to look at than most men, and he had no objection to being seen +with him anywhere." + +Mr Elliot, and his friends in Marlborough Buildings, were talked of the +whole evening. "Colonel Wallis had been so impatient to be introduced +to them! and Mr Elliot so anxious that he should!" and there was a Mrs +Wallis, at present known only to them by description, as she was in +daily expectation of her confinement; but Mr Elliot spoke of her as "a +most charming woman, quite worthy of being known in Camden Place," and +as soon as she recovered they were to be acquainted. Sir Walter +thought much of Mrs Wallis; she was said to be an excessively pretty +woman, beautiful. "He longed to see her. He hoped she might make some +amends for the many very plain faces he was continually passing in the +streets. The worst of Bath was the number of its plain women. He did +not mean to say that there were no pretty women, but the number of the +plain was out of all proportion. He had frequently observed, as he +walked, that one handsome face would be followed by thirty, or +five-and-thirty frights; and once, as he had stood in a shop on Bond +Street, he had counted eighty-seven women go by, one after another, +without there being a tolerable face among them. It had been a frosty +morning, to be sure, a sharp frost, which hardly one woman in a +thousand could stand the test of. But still, there certainly were a +dreadful multitude of ugly women in Bath; and as for the men! they +were infinitely worse. Such scarecrows as the streets were full of! +It was evident how little the women were used to the sight of anything +tolerable, by the effect which a man of decent appearance produced. He +had never walked anywhere arm-in-arm with Colonel Wallis (who was a +fine military figure, though sandy-haired) without observing that every +woman's eye was upon him; every woman's eye was sure to be upon Colonel +Wallis." Modest Sir Walter! He was not allowed to escape, however. +His daughter and Mrs Clay united in hinting that Colonel Wallis's +companion might have as good a figure as Colonel Wallis, and certainly +was not sandy-haired. + +"How is Mary looking?" said Sir Walter, in the height of his good +humour. "The last time I saw her she had a red nose, but I hope that +may not happen every day." + +"Oh! no, that must have been quite accidental. In general she has been +in very good health and very good looks since Michaelmas." + +"If I thought it would not tempt her to go out in sharp winds, and grow +coarse, I would send her a new hat and pelisse." + +Anne was considering whether she should venture to suggest that a gown, +or a cap, would not be liable to any such misuse, when a knock at the +door suspended everything. "A knock at the door! and so late! It was +ten o'clock. Could it be Mr Elliot? They knew he was to dine in +Lansdown Crescent. It was possible that he might stop in his way home +to ask them how they did. They could think of no one else. Mrs Clay +decidedly thought it Mr Elliot's knock." Mrs Clay was right. With all +the state which a butler and foot-boy could give, Mr Elliot was ushered +into the room. + +It was the same, the very same man, with no difference but of dress. +Anne drew a little back, while the others received his compliments, and +her sister his apologies for calling at so unusual an hour, but "he +could not be so near without wishing to know that neither she nor her +friend had taken cold the day before," &c. &c; which was all as +politely done, and as politely taken, as possible, but her part must +follow then. Sir Walter talked of his youngest daughter; "Mr Elliot +must give him leave to present him to his youngest daughter" (there was +no occasion for remembering Mary); and Anne, smiling and blushing, very +becomingly shewed to Mr Elliot the pretty features which he had by no +means forgotten, and instantly saw, with amusement at his little start +of surprise, that he had not been at all aware of who she was. He +looked completely astonished, but not more astonished than pleased; his +eyes brightened! and with the most perfect alacrity he welcomed the +relationship, alluded to the past, and entreated to be received as an +acquaintance already. He was quite as good-looking as he had appeared +at Lyme, his countenance improved by speaking, and his manners were so +exactly what they ought to be, so polished, so easy, so particularly +agreeable, that she could compare them in excellence to only one +person's manners. They were not the same, but they were, perhaps, +equally good. + +He sat down with them, and improved their conversation very much. +There could be no doubt of his being a sensible man. Ten minutes were +enough to certify that. His tone, his expressions, his choice of +subject, his knowing where to stop; it was all the operation of a +sensible, discerning mind. As soon as he could, he began to talk to +her of Lyme, wanting to compare opinions respecting the place, but +especially wanting to speak of the circumstance of their happening to +be guests in the same inn at the same time; to give his own route, +understand something of hers, and regret that he should have lost such +an opportunity of paying his respects to her. She gave him a short +account of her party and business at Lyme. His regret increased as he +listened. He had spent his whole solitary evening in the room +adjoining theirs; had heard voices, mirth continually; thought they +must be a most delightful set of people, longed to be with them, but +certainly without the smallest suspicion of his possessing the shadow +of a right to introduce himself. If he had but asked who the party +were! The name of Musgrove would have told him enough. "Well, it +would serve to cure him of an absurd practice of never asking a +question at an inn, which he had adopted, when quite a young man, on +the principal of its being very ungenteel to be curious. + +"The notions of a young man of one or two and twenty," said he, "as to +what is necessary in manners to make him quite the thing, are more +absurd, I believe, than those of any other set of beings in the world. +The folly of the means they often employ is only to be equalled by the +folly of what they have in view." + +But he must not be addressing his reflections to Anne alone: he knew +it; he was soon diffused again among the others, and it was only at +intervals that he could return to Lyme. + +His enquiries, however, produced at length an account of the scene she +had been engaged in there, soon after his leaving the place. Having +alluded to "an accident," he must hear the whole. When he questioned, +Sir Walter and Elizabeth began to question also, but the difference in +their manner of doing it could not be unfelt. She could only compare +Mr Elliot to Lady Russell, in the wish of really comprehending what had +passed, and in the degree of concern for what she must have suffered in +witnessing it. + +He staid an hour with them. The elegant little clock on the mantel-piece +had struck "eleven with its silver sounds," and the watchman was +beginning to be heard at a distance telling the same tale, before Mr +Elliot or any of them seemed to feel that he had been there long. + +Anne could not have supposed it possible that her first evening in +Camden Place could have passed so well! + + + +Chapter 16 + + +There was one point which Anne, on returning to her family, would have +been more thankful to ascertain even than Mr Elliot's being in love +with Elizabeth, which was, her father's not being in love with Mrs +Clay; and she was very far from easy about it, when she had been at +home a few hours. On going down to breakfast the next morning, she +found there had just been a decent pretence on the lady's side of +meaning to leave them. She could imagine Mrs Clay to have said, that +"now Miss Anne was come, she could not suppose herself at all wanted;" +for Elizabeth was replying in a sort of whisper, "That must not be any +reason, indeed. I assure you I feel it none. She is nothing to me, +compared with you;" and she was in full time to hear her father say, +"My dear madam, this must not be. As yet, you have seen nothing of +Bath. You have been here only to be useful. You must not run away +from us now. You must stay to be acquainted with Mrs Wallis, the +beautiful Mrs Wallis. To your fine mind, I well know the sight of +beauty is a real gratification." + +He spoke and looked so much in earnest, that Anne was not surprised to +see Mrs Clay stealing a glance at Elizabeth and herself. Her +countenance, perhaps, might express some watchfulness; but the praise +of the fine mind did not appear to excite a thought in her sister. The +lady could not but yield to such joint entreaties, and promise to stay. + +In the course of the same morning, Anne and her father chancing to be +alone together, he began to compliment her on her improved looks; he +thought her "less thin in her person, in her cheeks; her skin, her +complexion, greatly improved; clearer, fresher. Had she been using any +thing in particular?" "No, nothing." "Merely Gowland," he supposed. +"No, nothing at all." "Ha! he was surprised at that;" and added, +"certainly you cannot do better than to continue as you are; you cannot +be better than well; or I should recommend Gowland, the constant use of +Gowland, during the spring months. Mrs Clay has been using it at my +recommendation, and you see what it has done for her. You see how it +has carried away her freckles." + +If Elizabeth could but have heard this! Such personal praise might +have struck her, especially as it did not appear to Anne that the +freckles were at all lessened. But everything must take its chance. +The evil of a marriage would be much diminished, if Elizabeth were also +to marry. As for herself, she might always command a home with Lady +Russell. + +Lady Russell's composed mind and polite manners were put to some trial +on this point, in her intercourse in Camden Place. The sight of Mrs +Clay in such favour, and of Anne so overlooked, was a perpetual +provocation to her there; and vexed her as much when she was away, as a +person in Bath who drinks the water, gets all the new publications, and +has a very large acquaintance, has time to be vexed. + +As Mr Elliot became known to her, she grew more charitable, or more +indifferent, towards the others. His manners were an immediate +recommendation; and on conversing with him she found the solid so fully +supporting the superficial, that she was at first, as she told Anne, +almost ready to exclaim, "Can this be Mr Elliot?" and could not +seriously picture to herself a more agreeable or estimable man. +Everything united in him; good understanding, correct opinions, +knowledge of the world, and a warm heart. He had strong feelings of +family attachment and family honour, without pride or weakness; he +lived with the liberality of a man of fortune, without display; he +judged for himself in everything essential, without defying public +opinion in any point of worldly decorum. He was steady, observant, +moderate, candid; never run away with by spirits or by selfishness, +which fancied itself strong feeling; and yet, with a sensibility to +what was amiable and lovely, and a value for all the felicities of +domestic life, which characters of fancied enthusiasm and violent +agitation seldom really possess. She was sure that he had not been +happy in marriage. Colonel Wallis said it, and Lady Russell saw it; +but it had been no unhappiness to sour his mind, nor (she began pretty +soon to suspect) to prevent his thinking of a second choice. Her +satisfaction in Mr Elliot outweighed all the plague of Mrs Clay. + +It was now some years since Anne had begun to learn that she and her +excellent friend could sometimes think differently; and it did not +surprise her, therefore, that Lady Russell should see nothing +suspicious or inconsistent, nothing to require more motives than +appeared, in Mr Elliot's great desire of a reconciliation. In Lady +Russell's view, it was perfectly natural that Mr Elliot, at a mature +time of life, should feel it a most desirable object, and what would +very generally recommend him among all sensible people, to be on good +terms with the head of his family; the simplest process in the world of +time upon a head naturally clear, and only erring in the heyday of +youth. Anne presumed, however, still to smile about it, and at last to +mention "Elizabeth." Lady Russell listened, and looked, and made only +this cautious reply:--"Elizabeth! very well; time will explain." + +It was a reference to the future, which Anne, after a little +observation, felt she must submit to. She could determine nothing at +present. In that house Elizabeth must be first; and she was in the +habit of such general observance as "Miss Elliot," that any +particularity of attention seemed almost impossible. Mr Elliot, too, +it must be remembered, had not been a widower seven months. A little +delay on his side might be very excusable. In fact, Anne could never +see the crape round his hat, without fearing that she was the +inexcusable one, in attributing to him such imaginations; for though +his marriage had not been very happy, still it had existed so many +years that she could not comprehend a very rapid recovery from the +awful impression of its being dissolved. + +However it might end, he was without any question their pleasantest +acquaintance in Bath: she saw nobody equal to him; and it was a great +indulgence now and then to talk to him about Lyme, which he seemed to +have as lively a wish to see again, and to see more of, as herself. +They went through the particulars of their first meeting a great many +times. He gave her to understand that he had looked at her with some +earnestness. She knew it well; and she remembered another person's +look also. + +They did not always think alike. His value for rank and connexion she +perceived was greater than hers. It was not merely complaisance, it +must be a liking to the cause, which made him enter warmly into her +father and sister's solicitudes on a subject which she thought unworthy +to excite them. The Bath paper one morning announced the arrival of +the Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple, and her daughter, the Honourable +Miss Carteret; and all the comfort of No. --, Camden Place, was swept +away for many days; for the Dalrymples (in Anne's opinion, most +unfortunately) were cousins of the Elliots; and the agony was how to +introduce themselves properly. + +Anne had never seen her father and sister before in contact with +nobility, and she must acknowledge herself disappointed. She had hoped +better things from their high ideas of their own situation in life, and +was reduced to form a wish which she had never foreseen; a wish that +they had more pride; for "our cousins Lady Dalrymple and Miss +Carteret;" "our cousins, the Dalrymples," sounded in her ears all day +long. + +Sir Walter had once been in company with the late viscount, but had +never seen any of the rest of the family; and the difficulties of the +case arose from there having been a suspension of all intercourse by +letters of ceremony, ever since the death of that said late viscount, +when, in consequence of a dangerous illness of Sir Walter's at the same +time, there had been an unlucky omission at Kellynch. No letter of +condolence had been sent to Ireland. The neglect had been visited on +the head of the sinner; for when poor Lady Elliot died herself, no +letter of condolence was received at Kellynch, and, consequently, there +was but too much reason to apprehend that the Dalrymples considered the +relationship as closed. How to have this anxious business set to +rights, and be admitted as cousins again, was the question: and it was +a question which, in a more rational manner, neither Lady Russell nor +Mr Elliot thought unimportant. "Family connexions were always worth +preserving, good company always worth seeking; Lady Dalrymple had taken +a house, for three months, in Laura Place, and would be living in +style. She had been at Bath the year before, and Lady Russell had +heard her spoken of as a charming woman. It was very desirable that +the connexion should be renewed, if it could be done, without any +compromise of propriety on the side of the Elliots." + +Sir Walter, however, would choose his own means, and at last wrote a +very fine letter of ample explanation, regret, and entreaty, to his +right honourable cousin. Neither Lady Russell nor Mr Elliot could +admire the letter; but it did all that was wanted, in bringing three +lines of scrawl from the Dowager Viscountess. "She was very much +honoured, and should be happy in their acquaintance." The toils of the +business were over, the sweets began. They visited in Laura Place, +they had the cards of Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple, and the Honourable +Miss Carteret, to be arranged wherever they might be most visible: and +"Our cousins in Laura Place,"--"Our cousin, Lady Dalrymple and Miss +Carteret," were talked of to everybody. + +Anne was ashamed. Had Lady Dalrymple and her daughter even been very +agreeable, she would still have been ashamed of the agitation they +created, but they were nothing. There was no superiority of manner, +accomplishment, or understanding. Lady Dalrymple had acquired the name +of "a charming woman," because she had a smile and a civil answer for +everybody. Miss Carteret, with still less to say, was so plain and so +awkward, that she would never have been tolerated in Camden Place but +for her birth. + +Lady Russell confessed she had expected something better; but yet "it +was an acquaintance worth having;" and when Anne ventured to speak her +opinion of them to Mr Elliot, he agreed to their being nothing in +themselves, but still maintained that, as a family connexion, as good +company, as those who would collect good company around them, they had +their value. Anne smiled and said, + +"My idea of good company, Mr Elliot, is the company of clever, +well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is +what I call good company." + +"You are mistaken," said he gently, "that is not good company; that is +the best. Good company requires only birth, education, and manners, +and with regard to education is not very nice. Birth and good manners +are essential; but a little learning is by no means a dangerous thing +in good company; on the contrary, it will do very well. My cousin Anne +shakes her head. She is not satisfied. She is fastidious. My dear +cousin" (sitting down by her), "you have a better right to be +fastidious than almost any other woman I know; but will it answer? +Will it make you happy? Will it not be wiser to accept the society of +those good ladies in Laura Place, and enjoy all the advantages of the +connexion as far as possible? You may depend upon it, that they will +move in the first set in Bath this winter, and as rank is rank, your +being known to be related to them will have its use in fixing your +family (our family let me say) in that degree of consideration which we +must all wish for." + +"Yes," sighed Anne, "we shall, indeed, be known to be related to them!" +then recollecting herself, and not wishing to be answered, she added, +"I certainly do think there has been by far too much trouble taken to +procure the acquaintance. I suppose" (smiling) "I have more pride than +any of you; but I confess it does vex me, that we should be so +solicitous to have the relationship acknowledged, which we may be very +sure is a matter of perfect indifference to them." + +"Pardon me, dear cousin, you are unjust in your own claims. In London, +perhaps, in your present quiet style of living, it might be as you say: +but in Bath; Sir Walter Elliot and his family will always be worth +knowing: always acceptable as acquaintance." + +"Well," said Anne, "I certainly am proud, too proud to enjoy a welcome +which depends so entirely upon place." + +"I love your indignation," said he; "it is very natural. But here you +are in Bath, and the object is to be established here with all the +credit and dignity which ought to belong to Sir Walter Elliot. You +talk of being proud; I am called proud, I know, and I shall not wish to +believe myself otherwise; for our pride, if investigated, would have +the same object, I have no doubt, though the kind may seem a little +different. In one point, I am sure, my dear cousin," (he continued, +speaking lower, though there was no one else in the room) "in one +point, I am sure, we must feel alike. We must feel that every addition +to your father's society, among his equals or superiors, may be of use +in diverting his thoughts from those who are beneath him." + +He looked, as he spoke, to the seat which Mrs Clay had been lately +occupying: a sufficient explanation of what he particularly meant; and +though Anne could not believe in their having the same sort of pride, +she was pleased with him for not liking Mrs Clay; and her conscience +admitted that his wishing to promote her father's getting great +acquaintance was more than excusable in the view of defeating her. + + + +Chapter 17 + + +While Sir Walter and Elizabeth were assiduously pushing their good +fortune in Laura Place, Anne was renewing an acquaintance of a very +different description. + +She had called on her former governess, and had heard from her of there +being an old school-fellow in Bath, who had the two strong claims on +her attention of past kindness and present suffering. Miss Hamilton, +now Mrs Smith, had shewn her kindness in one of those periods of her +life when it had been most valuable. Anne had gone unhappy to school, +grieving for the loss of a mother whom she had dearly loved, feeling +her separation from home, and suffering as a girl of fourteen, of +strong sensibility and not high spirits, must suffer at such a time; +and Miss Hamilton, three years older than herself, but still from the +want of near relations and a settled home, remaining another year at +school, had been useful and good to her in a way which had considerably +lessened her misery, and could never be remembered with indifference. + +Miss Hamilton had left school, had married not long afterwards, was +said to have married a man of fortune, and this was all that Anne had +known of her, till now that their governess's account brought her +situation forward in a more decided but very different form. + +She was a widow and poor. Her husband had been extravagant; and at his +death, about two years before, had left his affairs dreadfully +involved. She had had difficulties of every sort to contend with, and +in addition to these distresses had been afflicted with a severe +rheumatic fever, which, finally settling in her legs, had made her for +the present a cripple. She had come to Bath on that account, and was +now in lodgings near the hot baths, living in a very humble way, unable +even to afford herself the comfort of a servant, and of course almost +excluded from society. + +Their mutual friend answered for the satisfaction which a visit from +Miss Elliot would give Mrs Smith, and Anne therefore lost no time in +going. She mentioned nothing of what she had heard, or what she +intended, at home. It would excite no proper interest there. She only +consulted Lady Russell, who entered thoroughly into her sentiments, and +was most happy to convey her as near to Mrs Smith's lodgings in +Westgate Buildings, as Anne chose to be taken. + +The visit was paid, their acquaintance re-established, their interest +in each other more than re-kindled. The first ten minutes had its +awkwardness and its emotion. Twelve years were gone since they had +parted, and each presented a somewhat different person from what the +other had imagined. Twelve years had changed Anne from the blooming, +silent, unformed girl of fifteen, to the elegant little woman of +seven-and-twenty, with every beauty except bloom, and with manners as +consciously right as they were invariably gentle; and twelve years had +transformed the fine-looking, well-grown Miss Hamilton, in all the glow +of health and confidence of superiority, into a poor, infirm, helpless +widow, receiving the visit of her former protegee as a favour; but all +that was uncomfortable in the meeting had soon passed away, and left +only the interesting charm of remembering former partialities and +talking over old times. + +Anne found in Mrs Smith the good sense and agreeable manners which she +had almost ventured to depend on, and a disposition to converse and be +cheerful beyond her expectation. Neither the dissipations of the +past--and she had lived very much in the world--nor the restrictions of +the present, neither sickness nor sorrow seemed to have closed her +heart or ruined her spirits. + +In the course of a second visit she talked with great openness, and +Anne's astonishment increased. She could scarcely imagine a more +cheerless situation in itself than Mrs Smith's. She had been very fond +of her husband: she had buried him. She had been used to affluence: +it was gone. She had no child to connect her with life and happiness +again, no relations to assist in the arrangement of perplexed affairs, +no health to make all the rest supportable. Her accommodations were +limited to a noisy parlour, and a dark bedroom behind, with no +possibility of moving from one to the other without assistance, which +there was only one servant in the house to afford, and she never +quitted the house but to be conveyed into the warm bath. Yet, in spite +of all this, Anne had reason to believe that she had moments only of +languor and depression, to hours of occupation and enjoyment. How +could it be? She watched, observed, reflected, and finally determined +that this was not a case of fortitude or of resignation only. A +submissive spirit might be patient, a strong understanding would supply +resolution, but here was something more; here was that elasticity of +mind, that disposition to be comforted, that power of turning readily +from evil to good, and of finding employment which carried her out of +herself, which was from nature alone. It was the choicest gift of +Heaven; and Anne viewed her friend as one of those instances in which, +by a merciful appointment, it seems designed to counterbalance almost +every other want. + +There had been a time, Mrs Smith told her, when her spirits had nearly +failed. She could not call herself an invalid now, compared with her +state on first reaching Bath. Then she had, indeed, been a pitiable +object; for she had caught cold on the journey, and had hardly taken +possession of her lodgings before she was again confined to her bed and +suffering under severe and constant pain; and all this among strangers, +with the absolute necessity of having a regular nurse, and finances at +that moment particularly unfit to meet any extraordinary expense. She +had weathered it, however, and could truly say that it had done her +good. It had increased her comforts by making her feel herself to be +in good hands. She had seen too much of the world, to expect sudden or +disinterested attachment anywhere, but her illness had proved to her +that her landlady had a character to preserve, and would not use her +ill; and she had been particularly fortunate in her nurse, as a sister +of her landlady, a nurse by profession, and who had always a home in +that house when unemployed, chanced to be at liberty just in time to +attend her. "And she," said Mrs Smith, "besides nursing me most +admirably, has really proved an invaluable acquaintance. As soon as I +could use my hands she taught me to knit, which has been a great +amusement; and she put me in the way of making these little +thread-cases, pin-cushions and card-racks, which you always find me so +busy about, and which supply me with the means of doing a little good +to one or two very poor families in this neighbourhood. She had a +large acquaintance, of course professionally, among those who can +afford to buy, and she disposes of my merchandise. She always takes +the right time for applying. Everybody's heart is open, you know, when +they have recently escaped from severe pain, or are recovering the +blessing of health, and Nurse Rooke thoroughly understands when to +speak. She is a shrewd, intelligent, sensible woman. Hers is a line +for seeing human nature; and she has a fund of good sense and +observation, which, as a companion, make her infinitely superior to +thousands of those who having only received 'the best education in the +world,' know nothing worth attending to. Call it gossip, if you will, +but when Nurse Rooke has half an hour's leisure to bestow on me, she is +sure to have something to relate that is entertaining and profitable: +something that makes one know one's species better. One likes to hear +what is going on, to be au fait as to the newest modes of being +trifling and silly. To me, who live so much alone, her conversation, I +assure you, is a treat." + +Anne, far from wishing to cavil at the pleasure, replied, "I can easily +believe it. Women of that class have great opportunities, and if they +are intelligent may be well worth listening to. Such varieties of +human nature as they are in the habit of witnessing! And it is not +merely in its follies, that they are well read; for they see it +occasionally under every circumstance that can be most interesting or +affecting. What instances must pass before them of ardent, +disinterested, self-denying attachment, of heroism, fortitude, +patience, resignation: of all the conflicts and all the sacrifices +that ennoble us most. A sick chamber may often furnish the worth of +volumes." + +"Yes," said Mrs Smith more doubtingly, "sometimes it may, though I fear +its lessons are not often in the elevated style you describe. Here and +there, human nature may be great in times of trial; but generally +speaking, it is its weakness and not its strength that appears in a +sick chamber: it is selfishness and impatience rather than generosity +and fortitude, that one hears of. There is so little real friendship +in the world! and unfortunately" (speaking low and tremulously) "there +are so many who forget to think seriously till it is almost too late." + +Anne saw the misery of such feelings. The husband had not been what he +ought, and the wife had been led among that part of mankind which made +her think worse of the world than she hoped it deserved. It was but a +passing emotion however with Mrs Smith; she shook it off, and soon +added in a different tone-- + +"I do not suppose the situation my friend Mrs Rooke is in at present, +will furnish much either to interest or edify me. She is only nursing +Mrs Wallis of Marlborough Buildings; a mere pretty, silly, expensive, +fashionable woman, I believe; and of course will have nothing to report +but of lace and finery. I mean to make my profit of Mrs Wallis, +however. She has plenty of money, and I intend she shall buy all the +high-priced things I have in hand now." + +Anne had called several times on her friend, before the existence of +such a person was known in Camden Place. At last, it became necessary +to speak of her. Sir Walter, Elizabeth and Mrs Clay, returned one +morning from Laura Place, with a sudden invitation from Lady Dalrymple +for the same evening, and Anne was already engaged, to spend that +evening in Westgate Buildings. She was not sorry for the excuse. They +were only asked, she was sure, because Lady Dalrymple being kept at +home by a bad cold, was glad to make use of the relationship which had +been so pressed on her; and she declined on her own account with great +alacrity--"She was engaged to spend the evening with an old +schoolfellow." They were not much interested in anything relative to +Anne; but still there were questions enough asked, to make it +understood what this old schoolfellow was; and Elizabeth was +disdainful, and Sir Walter severe. + +"Westgate Buildings!" said he, "and who is Miss Anne Elliot to be +visiting in Westgate Buildings? A Mrs Smith. A widow Mrs Smith; and +who was her husband? One of five thousand Mr Smiths whose names are to +be met with everywhere. And what is her attraction? That she is old +and sickly. Upon my word, Miss Anne Elliot, you have the most +extraordinary taste! Everything that revolts other people, low +company, paltry rooms, foul air, disgusting associations are inviting +to you. But surely you may put off this old lady till to-morrow: she +is not so near her end, I presume, but that she may hope to see another +day. What is her age? Forty?" + +"No, sir, she is not one-and-thirty; but I do not think I can put off +my engagement, because it is the only evening for some time which will +at once suit her and myself. She goes into the warm bath to-morrow, +and for the rest of the week, you know, we are engaged." + +"But what does Lady Russell think of this acquaintance?" asked +Elizabeth. + +"She sees nothing to blame in it," replied Anne; "on the contrary, she +approves it, and has generally taken me when I have called on Mrs +Smith." + +"Westgate Buildings must have been rather surprised by the appearance +of a carriage drawn up near its pavement," observed Sir Walter. "Sir +Henry Russell's widow, indeed, has no honours to distinguish her arms, +but still it is a handsome equipage, and no doubt is well known to +convey a Miss Elliot. A widow Mrs Smith lodging in Westgate Buildings! +A poor widow barely able to live, between thirty and forty; a mere Mrs +Smith, an every-day Mrs Smith, of all people and all names in the +world, to be the chosen friend of Miss Anne Elliot, and to be preferred +by her to her own family connections among the nobility of England and +Ireland! Mrs Smith! Such a name!" + +Mrs Clay, who had been present while all this passed, now thought it +advisable to leave the room, and Anne could have said much, and did +long to say a little in defence of her friend's not very dissimilar +claims to theirs, but her sense of personal respect to her father +prevented her. She made no reply. She left it to himself to +recollect, that Mrs Smith was not the only widow in Bath between thirty +and forty, with little to live on, and no surname of dignity. + +Anne kept her appointment; the others kept theirs, and of course she +heard the next morning that they had had a delightful evening. She had +been the only one of the set absent, for Sir Walter and Elizabeth had +not only been quite at her ladyship's service themselves, but had +actually been happy to be employed by her in collecting others, and had +been at the trouble of inviting both Lady Russell and Mr Elliot; and Mr +Elliot had made a point of leaving Colonel Wallis early, and Lady +Russell had fresh arranged all her evening engagements in order to wait +on her. Anne had the whole history of all that such an evening could +supply from Lady Russell. To her, its greatest interest must be, in +having been very much talked of between her friend and Mr Elliot; in +having been wished for, regretted, and at the same time honoured for +staying away in such a cause. Her kind, compassionate visits to this +old schoolfellow, sick and reduced, seemed to have quite delighted Mr +Elliot. He thought her a most extraordinary young woman; in her +temper, manners, mind, a model of female excellence. He could meet +even Lady Russell in a discussion of her merits; and Anne could not be +given to understand so much by her friend, could not know herself to be +so highly rated by a sensible man, without many of those agreeable +sensations which her friend meant to create. + +Lady Russell was now perfectly decided in her opinion of Mr Elliot. +She was as much convinced of his meaning to gain Anne in time as of his +deserving her, and was beginning to calculate the number of weeks which +would free him from all the remaining restraints of widowhood, and +leave him at liberty to exert his most open powers of pleasing. She +would not speak to Anne with half the certainty she felt on the +subject, she would venture on little more than hints of what might be +hereafter, of a possible attachment on his side, of the desirableness +of the alliance, supposing such attachment to be real and returned. +Anne heard her, and made no violent exclamations; she only smiled, +blushed, and gently shook her head. + +"I am no match-maker, as you well know," said Lady Russell, "being much +too well aware of the uncertainty of all human events and calculations. +I only mean that if Mr Elliot should some time hence pay his addresses +to you, and if you should be disposed to accept him, I think there +would be every possibility of your being happy together. A most +suitable connection everybody must consider it, but I think it might be +a very happy one." + +"Mr Elliot is an exceedingly agreeable man, and in many respects I +think highly of him," said Anne; "but we should not suit." + +Lady Russell let this pass, and only said in rejoinder, "I own that to +be able to regard you as the future mistress of Kellynch, the future +Lady Elliot, to look forward and see you occupying your dear mother's +place, succeeding to all her rights, and all her popularity, as well as +to all her virtues, would be the highest possible gratification to me. +You are your mother's self in countenance and disposition; and if I +might be allowed to fancy you such as she was, in situation and name, +and home, presiding and blessing in the same spot, and only superior to +her in being more highly valued! My dearest Anne, it would give me +more delight than is often felt at my time of life!" + +Anne was obliged to turn away, to rise, to walk to a distant table, +and, leaning there in pretended employment, try to subdue the feelings +this picture excited. For a few moments her imagination and her heart +were bewitched. The idea of becoming what her mother had been; of +having the precious name of "Lady Elliot" first revived in herself; of +being restored to Kellynch, calling it her home again, her home for +ever, was a charm which she could not immediately resist. Lady Russell +said not another word, willing to leave the matter to its own +operation; and believing that, could Mr Elliot at that moment with +propriety have spoken for himself!--she believed, in short, what Anne +did not believe. The same image of Mr Elliot speaking for himself +brought Anne to composure again. The charm of Kellynch and of "Lady +Elliot" all faded away. She never could accept him. And it was not +only that her feelings were still adverse to any man save one; her +judgement, on a serious consideration of the possibilities of such a +case was against Mr Elliot. + +Though they had now been acquainted a month, she could not be satisfied +that she really knew his character. That he was a sensible man, an +agreeable man, that he talked well, professed good opinions, seemed to +judge properly and as a man of principle, this was all clear enough. +He certainly knew what was right, nor could she fix on any one article +of moral duty evidently transgressed; but yet she would have been +afraid to answer for his conduct. She distrusted the past, if not the +present. The names which occasionally dropt of former associates, the +allusions to former practices and pursuits, suggested suspicions not +favourable of what he had been. She saw that there had been bad +habits; that Sunday travelling had been a common thing; that there had +been a period of his life (and probably not a short one) when he had +been, at least, careless in all serious matters; and, though he might +now think very differently, who could answer for the true sentiments of +a clever, cautious man, grown old enough to appreciate a fair +character? How could it ever be ascertained that his mind was truly +cleansed? + +Mr Elliot was rational, discreet, polished, but he was not open. There +was never any burst of feeling, any warmth of indignation or delight, +at the evil or good of others. This, to Anne, was a decided +imperfection. Her early impressions were incurable. She prized the +frank, the open-hearted, the eager character beyond all others. Warmth +and enthusiasm did captivate her still. She felt that she could so +much more depend upon the sincerity of those who sometimes looked or +said a careless or a hasty thing, than of those whose presence of mind +never varied, whose tongue never slipped. + +Mr Elliot was too generally agreeable. Various as were the tempers in +her father's house, he pleased them all. He endured too well, stood +too well with every body. He had spoken to her with some degree of +openness of Mrs Clay; had appeared completely to see what Mrs Clay was +about, and to hold her in contempt; and yet Mrs Clay found him as +agreeable as any body. + +Lady Russell saw either less or more than her young friend, for she saw +nothing to excite distrust. She could not imagine a man more exactly +what he ought to be than Mr Elliot; nor did she ever enjoy a sweeter +feeling than the hope of seeing him receive the hand of her beloved +Anne in Kellynch church, in the course of the following autumn. + + + +Chapter 18 + + +It was the beginning of February; and Anne, having been a month in +Bath, was growing very eager for news from Uppercross and Lyme. She +wanted to hear much more than Mary had communicated. It was three +weeks since she had heard at all. She only knew that Henrietta was at +home again; and that Louisa, though considered to be recovering fast, +was still in Lyme; and she was thinking of them all very intently one +evening, when a thicker letter than usual from Mary was delivered to +her; and, to quicken the pleasure and surprise, with Admiral and Mrs +Croft's compliments. + +The Crofts must be in Bath! A circumstance to interest her. They were +people whom her heart turned to very naturally. + +"What is this?" cried Sir Walter. "The Crofts have arrived in Bath? +The Crofts who rent Kellynch? What have they brought you?" + +"A letter from Uppercross Cottage, Sir." + +"Oh! those letters are convenient passports. They secure an +introduction. I should have visited Admiral Croft, however, at any +rate. I know what is due to my tenant." + +Anne could listen no longer; she could not even have told how the poor +Admiral's complexion escaped; her letter engrossed her. It had been +begun several days back. + + +"February 1st. + +"My dear Anne,--I make no apology for my silence, because I know how +little people think of letters in such a place as Bath. You must be a +great deal too happy to care for Uppercross, which, as you well know, +affords little to write about. We have had a very dull Christmas; Mr +and Mrs Musgrove have not had one dinner party all the holidays. I do +not reckon the Hayters as anybody. The holidays, however, are over at +last: I believe no children ever had such long ones. I am sure I had +not. The house was cleared yesterday, except of the little Harvilles; +but you will be surprised to hear they have never gone home. Mrs +Harville must be an odd mother to part with them so long. I do not +understand it. They are not at all nice children, in my opinion; but +Mrs Musgrove seems to like them quite as well, if not better, than her +grandchildren. What dreadful weather we have had! It may not be felt +in Bath, with your nice pavements; but in the country it is of some +consequence. I have not had a creature call on me since the second +week in January, except Charles Hayter, who had been calling much +oftener than was welcome. Between ourselves, I think it a great pity +Henrietta did not remain at Lyme as long as Louisa; it would have kept +her a little out of his way. The carriage is gone to-day, to bring +Louisa and the Harvilles to-morrow. We are not asked to dine with +them, however, till the day after, Mrs Musgrove is so afraid of her +being fatigued by the journey, which is not very likely, considering +the care that will be taken of her; and it would be much more +convenient to me to dine there to-morrow. I am glad you find Mr Elliot +so agreeable, and wish I could be acquainted with him too; but I have +my usual luck: I am always out of the way when any thing desirable is +going on; always the last of my family to be noticed. What an immense +time Mrs Clay has been staying with Elizabeth! Does she never mean to +go away? But perhaps if she were to leave the room vacant, we might +not be invited. Let me know what you think of this. I do not expect +my children to be asked, you know. I can leave them at the Great House +very well, for a month or six weeks. I have this moment heard that the +Crofts are going to Bath almost immediately; they think the Admiral +gouty. Charles heard it quite by chance; they have not had the +civility to give me any notice, or of offering to take anything. I do +not think they improve at all as neighbours. We see nothing of them, +and this is really an instance of gross inattention. Charles joins me +in love, and everything proper. Yours affectionately, + +"Mary M---. + +"I am sorry to say that I am very far from well; and Jemima has just +told me that the butcher says there is a bad sore-throat very much +about. I dare say I shall catch it; and my sore-throats, you know, are +always worse than anybody's." + + +So ended the first part, which had been afterwards put into an +envelope, containing nearly as much more. + + +"I kept my letter open, that I might send you word how Louisa bore her +journey, and now I am extremely glad I did, having a great deal to add. +In the first place, I had a note from Mrs Croft yesterday, offering to +convey anything to you; a very kind, friendly note indeed, addressed to +me, just as it ought; I shall therefore be able to make my letter as +long as I like. The Admiral does not seem very ill, and I sincerely +hope Bath will do him all the good he wants. I shall be truly glad to +have them back again. Our neighbourhood cannot spare such a pleasant +family. But now for Louisa. I have something to communicate that will +astonish you not a little. She and the Harvilles came on Tuesday very +safely, and in the evening we went to ask her how she did, when we were +rather surprised not to find Captain Benwick of the party, for he had +been invited as well as the Harvilles; and what do you think was the +reason? Neither more nor less than his being in love with Louisa, and +not choosing to venture to Uppercross till he had had an answer from Mr +Musgrove; for it was all settled between him and her before she came +away, and he had written to her father by Captain Harville. True, upon +my honour! Are not you astonished? I shall be surprised at least if +you ever received a hint of it, for I never did. Mrs Musgrove protests +solemnly that she knew nothing of the matter. We are all very well +pleased, however, for though it is not equal to her marrying Captain +Wentworth, it is infinitely better than Charles Hayter; and Mr Musgrove +has written his consent, and Captain Benwick is expected to-day. Mrs +Harville says her husband feels a good deal on his poor sister's +account; but, however, Louisa is a great favourite with both. Indeed, +Mrs Harville and I quite agree that we love her the better for having +nursed her. Charles wonders what Captain Wentworth will say; but if +you remember, I never thought him attached to Louisa; I never could see +anything of it. And this is the end, you see, of Captain Benwick's +being supposed to be an admirer of yours. How Charles could take such +a thing into his head was always incomprehensible to me. I hope he +will be more agreeable now. Certainly not a great match for Louisa +Musgrove, but a million times better than marrying among the Hayters." + + +Mary need not have feared her sister's being in any degree prepared for +the news. She had never in her life been more astonished. Captain +Benwick and Louisa Musgrove! It was almost too wonderful for belief, +and it was with the greatest effort that she could remain in the room, +preserve an air of calmness, and answer the common questions of the +moment. Happily for her, they were not many. Sir Walter wanted to +know whether the Crofts travelled with four horses, and whether they +were likely to be situated in such a part of Bath as it might suit Miss +Elliot and himself to visit in; but had little curiosity beyond. + +"How is Mary?" said Elizabeth; and without waiting for an answer, "And +pray what brings the Crofts to Bath?" + +"They come on the Admiral's account. He is thought to be gouty." + +"Gout and decrepitude!" said Sir Walter. "Poor old gentleman." + +"Have they any acquaintance here?" asked Elizabeth. + +"I do not know; but I can hardly suppose that, at Admiral Croft's time +of life, and in his profession, he should not have many acquaintance in +such a place as this." + +"I suspect," said Sir Walter coolly, "that Admiral Croft will be best +known in Bath as the renter of Kellynch Hall. Elizabeth, may we +venture to present him and his wife in Laura Place?" + +"Oh, no! I think not. Situated as we are with Lady Dalrymple, cousins, +we ought to be very careful not to embarrass her with acquaintance she +might not approve. If we were not related, it would not signify; but +as cousins, she would feel scrupulous as to any proposal of ours. We +had better leave the Crofts to find their own level. There are several +odd-looking men walking about here, who, I am told, are sailors. The +Crofts will associate with them." + +This was Sir Walter and Elizabeth's share of interest in the letter; +when Mrs Clay had paid her tribute of more decent attention, in an +enquiry after Mrs Charles Musgrove, and her fine little boys, Anne was +at liberty. + +In her own room, she tried to comprehend it. Well might Charles wonder +how Captain Wentworth would feel! Perhaps he had quitted the field, +had given Louisa up, had ceased to love, had found he did not love her. +She could not endure the idea of treachery or levity, or anything akin +to ill usage between him and his friend. She could not endure that +such a friendship as theirs should be severed unfairly. + +Captain Benwick and Louisa Musgrove! The high-spirited, joyous-talking +Louisa Musgrove, and the dejected, thinking, feeling, reading, Captain +Benwick, seemed each of them everything that would not suit the other. +Their minds most dissimilar! Where could have been the attraction? +The answer soon presented itself. It had been in situation. They had +been thrown together several weeks; they had been living in the same +small family party: since Henrietta's coming away, they must have been +depending almost entirely on each other, and Louisa, just recovering +from illness, had been in an interesting state, and Captain Benwick was +not inconsolable. That was a point which Anne had not been able to +avoid suspecting before; and instead of drawing the same conclusion as +Mary, from the present course of events, they served only to confirm +the idea of his having felt some dawning of tenderness toward herself. +She did not mean, however, to derive much more from it to gratify her +vanity, than Mary might have allowed. She was persuaded that any +tolerably pleasing young woman who had listened and seemed to feel for +him would have received the same compliment. He had an affectionate +heart. He must love somebody. + +She saw no reason against their being happy. Louisa had fine naval +fervour to begin with, and they would soon grow more alike. He would +gain cheerfulness, and she would learn to be an enthusiast for Scott +and Lord Byron; nay, that was probably learnt already; of course they +had fallen in love over poetry. The idea of Louisa Musgrove turned +into a person of literary taste, and sentimental reflection was +amusing, but she had no doubt of its being so. The day at Lyme, the +fall from the Cobb, might influence her health, her nerves, her +courage, her character to the end of her life, as thoroughly as it +appeared to have influenced her fate. + +The conclusion of the whole was, that if the woman who had been +sensible of Captain Wentworth's merits could be allowed to prefer +another man, there was nothing in the engagement to excite lasting +wonder; and if Captain Wentworth lost no friend by it, certainly +nothing to be regretted. No, it was not regret which made Anne's heart +beat in spite of herself, and brought the colour into her cheeks when +she thought of Captain Wentworth unshackled and free. She had some +feelings which she was ashamed to investigate. They were too much like +joy, senseless joy! + +She longed to see the Crofts; but when the meeting took place, it was +evident that no rumour of the news had yet reached them. The visit of +ceremony was paid and returned; and Louisa Musgrove was mentioned, and +Captain Benwick, too, without even half a smile. + +The Crofts had placed themselves in lodgings in Gay Street, perfectly +to Sir Walter's satisfaction. He was not at all ashamed of the +acquaintance, and did, in fact, think and talk a great deal more about +the Admiral, than the Admiral ever thought or talked about him. + +The Crofts knew quite as many people in Bath as they wished for, and +considered their intercourse with the Elliots as a mere matter of form, +and not in the least likely to afford them any pleasure. They brought +with them their country habit of being almost always together. He was +ordered to walk to keep off the gout, and Mrs Croft seemed to go shares +with him in everything, and to walk for her life to do him good. Anne +saw them wherever she went. Lady Russell took her out in her carriage +almost every morning, and she never failed to think of them, and never +failed to see them. Knowing their feelings as she did, it was a most +attractive picture of happiness to her. She always watched them as +long as she could, delighted to fancy she understood what they might be +talking of, as they walked along in happy independence, or equally +delighted to see the Admiral's hearty shake of the hand when he +encountered an old friend, and observe their eagerness of conversation +when occasionally forming into a little knot of the navy, Mrs Croft +looking as intelligent and keen as any of the officers around her. + +Anne was too much engaged with Lady Russell to be often walking +herself; but it so happened that one morning, about a week or ten days +after the Croft's arrival, it suited her best to leave her friend, or +her friend's carriage, in the lower part of the town, and return alone +to Camden Place, and in walking up Milsom Street she had the good +fortune to meet with the Admiral. He was standing by himself at a +printshop window, with his hands behind him, in earnest contemplation +of some print, and she not only might have passed him unseen, but was +obliged to touch as well as address him before she could catch his +notice. When he did perceive and acknowledge her, however, it was done +with all his usual frankness and good humour. "Ha! is it you? Thank +you, thank you. This is treating me like a friend. Here I am, you +see, staring at a picture. I can never get by this shop without +stopping. But what a thing here is, by way of a boat! Do look at it. +Did you ever see the like? What queer fellows your fine painters must +be, to think that anybody would venture their lives in such a shapeless +old cockleshell as that? And yet here are two gentlemen stuck up in it +mightily at their ease, and looking about them at the rocks and +mountains, as if they were not to be upset the next moment, which they +certainly must be. I wonder where that boat was built!" (laughing +heartily); "I would not venture over a horsepond in it. Well," +(turning away), "now, where are you bound? Can I go anywhere for you, +or with you? Can I be of any use?" + +"None, I thank you, unless you will give me the pleasure of your +company the little way our road lies together. I am going home." + + +"That I will, with all my heart, and farther, too. Yes, yes we will +have a snug walk together, and I have something to tell you as we go +along. There, take my arm; that's right; I do not feel comfortable if +I have not a woman there. Lord! what a boat it is!" taking a last look +at the picture, as they began to be in motion. + +"Did you say that you had something to tell me, sir?" + +"Yes, I have, presently. But here comes a friend, Captain Brigden; I +shall only say, 'How d'ye do?' as we pass, however. I shall not stop. +'How d'ye do?' Brigden stares to see anybody with me but my wife. +She, poor soul, is tied by the leg. She has a blister on one of her +heels, as large as a three-shilling piece. If you look across the +street, you will see Admiral Brand coming down and his brother. Shabby +fellows, both of them! I am glad they are not on this side of the way. +Sophy cannot bear them. They played me a pitiful trick once: got away +with some of my best men. I will tell you the whole story another +time. There comes old Sir Archibald Drew and his grandson. Look, he +sees us; he kisses his hand to you; he takes you for my wife. Ah! the +peace has come too soon for that younker. Poor old Sir Archibald! How +do you like Bath, Miss Elliot? It suits us very well. We are always +meeting with some old friend or other; the streets full of them every +morning; sure to have plenty of chat; and then we get away from them +all, and shut ourselves in our lodgings, and draw in our chairs, and +are snug as if we were at Kellynch, ay, or as we used to be even at +North Yarmouth and Deal. We do not like our lodgings here the worse, I +can tell you, for putting us in mind of those we first had at North +Yarmouth. The wind blows through one of the cupboards just in the same +way." + +When they were got a little farther, Anne ventured to press again for +what he had to communicate. She hoped when clear of Milsom Street to +have her curiosity gratified; but she was still obliged to wait, for +the Admiral had made up his mind not to begin till they had gained the +greater space and quiet of Belmont; and as she was not really Mrs +Croft, she must let him have his own way. As soon as they were fairly +ascending Belmont, he began-- + +"Well, now you shall hear something that will surprise you. But first +of all, you must tell me the name of the young lady I am going to talk +about. That young lady, you know, that we have all been so concerned +for. The Miss Musgrove, that all this has been happening to. Her +Christian name: I always forget her Christian name." + +Anne had been ashamed to appear to comprehend so soon as she really +did; but now she could safely suggest the name of "Louisa." + +"Ay, ay, Miss Louisa Musgrove, that is the name. I wish young ladies +had not such a number of fine Christian names. I should never be out +if they were all Sophys, or something of that sort. Well, this Miss +Louisa, we all thought, you know, was to marry Frederick. He was +courting her week after week. The only wonder was, what they could be +waiting for, till the business at Lyme came; then, indeed, it was clear +enough that they must wait till her brain was set to right. But even +then there was something odd in their way of going on. Instead of +staying at Lyme, he went off to Plymouth, and then he went off to see +Edward. When we came back from Minehead he was gone down to Edward's, +and there he has been ever since. We have seen nothing of him since +November. Even Sophy could not understand it. But now, the matter has +taken the strangest turn of all; for this young lady, the same Miss +Musgrove, instead of being to marry Frederick, is to marry James +Benwick. You know James Benwick." + +"A little. I am a little acquainted with Captain Benwick." + +"Well, she is to marry him. Nay, most likely they are married already, +for I do not know what they should wait for." + +"I thought Captain Benwick a very pleasing young man," said Anne, "and +I understand that he bears an excellent character." + +"Oh! yes, yes, there is not a word to be said against James Benwick. +He is only a commander, it is true, made last summer, and these are bad +times for getting on, but he has not another fault that I know of. An +excellent, good-hearted fellow, I assure you; a very active, zealous +officer too, which is more than you would think for, perhaps, for that +soft sort of manner does not do him justice." + +"Indeed you are mistaken there, sir; I should never augur want of +spirit from Captain Benwick's manners. I thought them particularly +pleasing, and I will answer for it, they would generally please." + +"Well, well, ladies are the best judges; but James Benwick is rather +too piano for me; and though very likely it is all our partiality, +Sophy and I cannot help thinking Frederick's manners better than his. +There is something about Frederick more to our taste." + +Anne was caught. She had only meant to oppose the too common idea of +spirit and gentleness being incompatible with each other, not at all to +represent Captain Benwick's manners as the very best that could +possibly be; and, after a little hesitation, she was beginning to say, +"I was not entering into any comparison of the two friends," but the +Admiral interrupted her with-- + +"And the thing is certainly true. It is not a mere bit of gossip. We +have it from Frederick himself. His sister had a letter from him +yesterday, in which he tells us of it, and he had just had it in a +letter from Harville, written upon the spot, from Uppercross. I fancy +they are all at Uppercross." + +This was an opportunity which Anne could not resist; she said, +therefore, "I hope, Admiral, I hope there is nothing in the style of +Captain Wentworth's letter to make you and Mrs Croft particularly +uneasy. It did seem, last autumn, as if there were an attachment +between him and Louisa Musgrove; but I hope it may be understood to +have worn out on each side equally, and without violence. I hope his +letter does not breathe the spirit of an ill-used man." + +"Not at all, not at all; there is not an oath or a murmur from +beginning to end." + +Anne looked down to hide her smile. + +"No, no; Frederick is not a man to whine and complain; he has too much +spirit for that. If the girl likes another man better, it is very fit +she should have him." + +"Certainly. But what I mean is, that I hope there is nothing in +Captain Wentworth's manner of writing to make you suppose he thinks +himself ill-used by his friend, which might appear, you know, without +its being absolutely said. I should be very sorry that such a +friendship as has subsisted between him and Captain Benwick should be +destroyed, or even wounded, by a circumstance of this sort." + +"Yes, yes, I understand you. But there is nothing at all of that +nature in the letter. He does not give the least fling at Benwick; +does not so much as say, 'I wonder at it, I have a reason of my own for +wondering at it.' No, you would not guess, from his way of writing, +that he had ever thought of this Miss (what's her name?) for himself. +He very handsomely hopes they will be happy together; and there is +nothing very unforgiving in that, I think." + +Anne did not receive the perfect conviction which the Admiral meant to +convey, but it would have been useless to press the enquiry farther. +She therefore satisfied herself with common-place remarks or quiet +attention, and the Admiral had it all his own way. + +"Poor Frederick!" said he at last. "Now he must begin all over again +with somebody else. I think we must get him to Bath. Sophy must +write, and beg him to come to Bath. Here are pretty girls enough, I am +sure. It would be of no use to go to Uppercross again, for that other +Miss Musgrove, I find, is bespoke by her cousin, the young parson. Do +not you think, Miss Elliot, we had better try to get him to Bath?" + + + +Chapter 19 + + +While Admiral Croft was taking this walk with Anne, and expressing his +wish of getting Captain Wentworth to Bath, Captain Wentworth was +already on his way thither. Before Mrs Croft had written, he was +arrived, and the very next time Anne walked out, she saw him. + +Mr Elliot was attending his two cousins and Mrs Clay. They were in +Milsom Street. It began to rain, not much, but enough to make shelter +desirable for women, and quite enough to make it very desirable for +Miss Elliot to have the advantage of being conveyed home in Lady +Dalrymple's carriage, which was seen waiting at a little distance; she, +Anne, and Mrs Clay, therefore, turned into Molland's, while Mr Elliot +stepped to Lady Dalrymple, to request her assistance. He soon joined +them again, successful, of course; Lady Dalrymple would be most happy +to take them home, and would call for them in a few minutes. + +Her ladyship's carriage was a barouche, and did not hold more than four +with any comfort. Miss Carteret was with her mother; consequently it +was not reasonable to expect accommodation for all the three Camden +Place ladies. There could be no doubt as to Miss Elliot. Whoever +suffered inconvenience, she must suffer none, but it occupied a little +time to settle the point of civility between the other two. The rain +was a mere trifle, and Anne was most sincere in preferring a walk with +Mr Elliot. But the rain was also a mere trifle to Mrs Clay; she would +hardly allow it even to drop at all, and her boots were so thick! much +thicker than Miss Anne's; and, in short, her civility rendered her +quite as anxious to be left to walk with Mr Elliot as Anne could be, +and it was discussed between them with a generosity so polite and so +determined, that the others were obliged to settle it for them; Miss +Elliot maintaining that Mrs Clay had a little cold already, and Mr +Elliot deciding on appeal, that his cousin Anne's boots were rather the +thickest. + +It was fixed accordingly, that Mrs Clay should be of the party in the +carriage; and they had just reached this point, when Anne, as she sat +near the window, descried, most decidedly and distinctly, Captain +Wentworth walking down the street. + +Her start was perceptible only to herself; but she instantly felt that +she was the greatest simpleton in the world, the most unaccountable and +absurd! For a few minutes she saw nothing before her; it was all +confusion. She was lost, and when she had scolded back her senses, she +found the others still waiting for the carriage, and Mr Elliot (always +obliging) just setting off for Union Street on a commission of Mrs +Clay's. + +She now felt a great inclination to go to the outer door; she wanted to +see if it rained. Why was she to suspect herself of another motive? +Captain Wentworth must be out of sight. She left her seat, she would +go; one half of her should not be always so much wiser than the other +half, or always suspecting the other of being worse than it was. She +would see if it rained. She was sent back, however, in a moment by the +entrance of Captain Wentworth himself, among a party of gentlemen and +ladies, evidently his acquaintance, and whom he must have joined a +little below Milsom Street. He was more obviously struck and confused +by the sight of her than she had ever observed before; he looked quite +red. For the first time, since their renewed acquaintance, she felt +that she was betraying the least sensibility of the two. She had the +advantage of him in the preparation of the last few moments. All the +overpowering, blinding, bewildering, first effects of strong surprise +were over with her. Still, however, she had enough to feel! It was +agitation, pain, pleasure, a something between delight and misery. + +He spoke to her, and then turned away. The character of his manner was +embarrassment. She could not have called it either cold or friendly, +or anything so certainly as embarrassed. + +After a short interval, however, he came towards her, and spoke again. +Mutual enquiries on common subjects passed: neither of them, probably, +much the wiser for what they heard, and Anne continuing fully sensible +of his being less at ease than formerly. They had by dint of being so +very much together, got to speak to each other with a considerable +portion of apparent indifference and calmness; but he could not do it +now. Time had changed him, or Louisa had changed him. There was +consciousness of some sort or other. He looked very well, not as if he +had been suffering in health or spirits, and he talked of Uppercross, +of the Musgroves, nay, even of Louisa, and had even a momentary look of +his own arch significance as he named her; but yet it was Captain +Wentworth not comfortable, not easy, not able to feign that he was. + +It did not surprise, but it grieved Anne to observe that Elizabeth +would not know him. She saw that he saw Elizabeth, that Elizabeth saw +him, that there was complete internal recognition on each side; she was +convinced that he was ready to be acknowledged as an acquaintance, +expecting it, and she had the pain of seeing her sister turn away with +unalterable coldness. + +Lady Dalrymple's carriage, for which Miss Elliot was growing very +impatient, now drew up; the servant came in to announce it. It was +beginning to rain again, and altogether there was a delay, and a +bustle, and a talking, which must make all the little crowd in the shop +understand that Lady Dalrymple was calling to convey Miss Elliot. At +last Miss Elliot and her friend, unattended but by the servant, (for +there was no cousin returned), were walking off; and Captain Wentworth, +watching them, turned again to Anne, and by manner, rather than words, +was offering his services to her. + +"I am much obliged to you," was her answer, "but I am not going with +them. The carriage would not accommodate so many. I walk: I prefer +walking." + +"But it rains." + +"Oh! very little, Nothing that I regard." + +After a moment's pause he said: "Though I came only yesterday, I have +equipped myself properly for Bath already, you see," (pointing to a new +umbrella); "I wish you would make use of it, if you are determined to +walk; though I think it would be more prudent to let me get you a +chair." + +She was very much obliged to him, but declined it all, repeating her +conviction, that the rain would come to nothing at present, and adding, +"I am only waiting for Mr Elliot. He will be here in a moment, I am +sure." + +She had hardly spoken the words when Mr Elliot walked in. Captain +Wentworth recollected him perfectly. There was no difference between +him and the man who had stood on the steps at Lyme, admiring Anne as +she passed, except in the air and look and manner of the privileged +relation and friend. He came in with eagerness, appeared to see and +think only of her, apologised for his stay, was grieved to have kept +her waiting, and anxious to get her away without further loss of time +and before the rain increased; and in another moment they walked off +together, her arm under his, a gentle and embarrassed glance, and a +"Good morning to you!" being all that she had time for, as she passed +away. + +As soon as they were out of sight, the ladies of Captain Wentworth's +party began talking of them. + +"Mr Elliot does not dislike his cousin, I fancy?" + +"Oh! no, that is clear enough. One can guess what will happen there. +He is always with them; half lives in the family, I believe. What a +very good-looking man!" + +"Yes, and Miss Atkinson, who dined with him once at the Wallises, says +he is the most agreeable man she ever was in company with." + +"She is pretty, I think; Anne Elliot; very pretty, when one comes to +look at her. It is not the fashion to say so, but I confess I admire +her more than her sister." + +"Oh! so do I." + +"And so do I. No comparison. But the men are all wild after Miss +Elliot. Anne is too delicate for them." + +Anne would have been particularly obliged to her cousin, if he would +have walked by her side all the way to Camden Place, without saying a +word. She had never found it so difficult to listen to him, though +nothing could exceed his solicitude and care, and though his subjects +were principally such as were wont to be always interesting: praise, +warm, just, and discriminating, of Lady Russell, and insinuations +highly rational against Mrs Clay. But just now she could think only of +Captain Wentworth. She could not understand his present feelings, +whether he were really suffering much from disappointment or not; and +till that point were settled, she could not be quite herself. + +She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! alas! she must +confess to herself that she was not wise yet. + +Another circumstance very essential for her to know, was how long he +meant to be in Bath; he had not mentioned it, or she could not +recollect it. He might be only passing through. But it was more +probable that he should be come to stay. In that case, so liable as +every body was to meet every body in Bath, Lady Russell would in all +likelihood see him somewhere. Would she recollect him? How would it +all be? + +She had already been obliged to tell Lady Russell that Louisa Musgrove +was to marry Captain Benwick. It had cost her something to encounter +Lady Russell's surprise; and now, if she were by any chance to be +thrown into company with Captain Wentworth, her imperfect knowledge of +the matter might add another shade of prejudice against him. + +The following morning Anne was out with her friend, and for the first +hour, in an incessant and fearful sort of watch for him in vain; but at +last, in returning down Pulteney Street, she distinguished him on the +right hand pavement at such a distance as to have him in view the +greater part of the street. There were many other men about him, many +groups walking the same way, but there was no mistaking him. She +looked instinctively at Lady Russell; but not from any mad idea of her +recognising him so soon as she did herself. No, it was not to be +supposed that Lady Russell would perceive him till they were nearly +opposite. She looked at her however, from time to time, anxiously; and +when the moment approached which must point him out, though not daring +to look again (for her own countenance she knew was unfit to be seen), +she was yet perfectly conscious of Lady Russell's eyes being turned +exactly in the direction for him--of her being, in short, intently +observing him. She could thoroughly comprehend the sort of fascination +he must possess over Lady Russell's mind, the difficulty it must be for +her to withdraw her eyes, the astonishment she must be feeling that +eight or nine years should have passed over him, and in foreign climes +and in active service too, without robbing him of one personal grace! + +At last, Lady Russell drew back her head. "Now, how would she speak of +him?" + +"You will wonder," said she, "what has been fixing my eye so long; but +I was looking after some window-curtains, which Lady Alicia and Mrs +Frankland were telling me of last night. They described the +drawing-room window-curtains of one of the houses on this side of the +way, and this part of the street, as being the handsomest and best hung +of any in Bath, but could not recollect the exact number, and I have +been trying to find out which it could be; but I confess I can see no +curtains hereabouts that answer their description." + +Anne sighed and blushed and smiled, in pity and disdain, either at her +friend or herself. The part which provoked her most, was that in all +this waste of foresight and caution, she should have lost the right +moment for seeing whether he saw them. + +A day or two passed without producing anything. The theatre or the +rooms, where he was most likely to be, were not fashionable enough for +the Elliots, whose evening amusements were solely in the elegant +stupidity of private parties, in which they were getting more and more +engaged; and Anne, wearied of such a state of stagnation, sick of +knowing nothing, and fancying herself stronger because her strength was +not tried, was quite impatient for the concert evening. It was a +concert for the benefit of a person patronised by Lady Dalrymple. Of +course they must attend. It was really expected to be a good one, and +Captain Wentworth was very fond of music. If she could only have a few +minutes conversation with him again, she fancied she should be +satisfied; and as to the power of addressing him, she felt all over +courage if the opportunity occurred. Elizabeth had turned from him, +Lady Russell overlooked him; her nerves were strengthened by these +circumstances; she felt that she owed him attention. + +She had once partly promised Mrs Smith to spend the evening with her; +but in a short hurried call she excused herself and put it off, with +the more decided promise of a longer visit on the morrow. Mrs Smith +gave a most good-humoured acquiescence. + +"By all means," said she; "only tell me all about it, when you do come. +Who is your party?" + +Anne named them all. Mrs Smith made no reply; but when she was leaving +her said, and with an expression half serious, half arch, "Well, I +heartily wish your concert may answer; and do not fail me to-morrow if +you can come; for I begin to have a foreboding that I may not have many +more visits from you." + +Anne was startled and confused; but after standing in a moment's +suspense, was obliged, and not sorry to be obliged, to hurry away. + + + +Chapter 20 + + +Sir Walter, his two daughters, and Mrs Clay, were the earliest of all +their party at the rooms in the evening; and as Lady Dalrymple must be +waited for, they took their station by one of the fires in the Octagon +Room. But hardly were they so settled, when the door opened again, and +Captain Wentworth walked in alone. Anne was the nearest to him, and +making yet a little advance, she instantly spoke. He was preparing +only to bow and pass on, but her gentle "How do you do?" brought him +out of the straight line to stand near her, and make enquiries in +return, in spite of the formidable father and sister in the back +ground. Their being in the back ground was a support to Anne; she knew +nothing of their looks, and felt equal to everything which she believed +right to be done. + +While they were speaking, a whispering between her father and Elizabeth +caught her ear. She could not distinguish, but she must guess the +subject; and on Captain Wentworth's making a distant bow, she +comprehended that her father had judged so well as to give him that +simple acknowledgement of acquaintance, and she was just in time by a +side glance to see a slight curtsey from Elizabeth herself. This, +though late, and reluctant, and ungracious, was yet better than +nothing, and her spirits improved. + +After talking, however, of the weather, and Bath, and the concert, +their conversation began to flag, and so little was said at last, that +she was expecting him to go every moment, but he did not; he seemed in +no hurry to leave her; and presently with renewed spirit, with a little +smile, a little glow, he said-- + +"I have hardly seen you since our day at Lyme. I am afraid you must +have suffered from the shock, and the more from its not overpowering +you at the time." + +She assured him that she had not. + +"It was a frightful hour," said he, "a frightful day!" and he passed +his hand across his eyes, as if the remembrance were still too painful, +but in a moment, half smiling again, added, "The day has produced some +effects however; has had some consequences which must be considered as +the very reverse of frightful. When you had the presence of mind to +suggest that Benwick would be the properest person to fetch a surgeon, +you could have little idea of his being eventually one of those most +concerned in her recovery." + +"Certainly I could have none. But it appears--I should hope it would +be a very happy match. There are on both sides good principles and +good temper." + +"Yes," said he, looking not exactly forward; "but there, I think, ends +the resemblance. With all my soul I wish them happy, and rejoice over +every circumstance in favour of it. They have no difficulties to +contend with at home, no opposition, no caprice, no delays. The +Musgroves are behaving like themselves, most honourably and kindly, +only anxious with true parental hearts to promote their daughter's +comfort. All this is much, very much in favour of their happiness; +more than perhaps--" + +He stopped. A sudden recollection seemed to occur, and to give him +some taste of that emotion which was reddening Anne's cheeks and fixing +her eyes on the ground. After clearing his throat, however, he +proceeded thus-- + +"I confess that I do think there is a disparity, too great a disparity, +and in a point no less essential than mind. I regard Louisa Musgrove +as a very amiable, sweet-tempered girl, and not deficient in +understanding, but Benwick is something more. He is a clever man, a +reading man; and I confess, that I do consider his attaching himself to +her with some surprise. Had it been the effect of gratitude, had he +learnt to love her, because he believed her to be preferring him, it +would have been another thing. But I have no reason to suppose it so. +It seems, on the contrary, to have been a perfectly spontaneous, +untaught feeling on his side, and this surprises me. A man like him, +in his situation! with a heart pierced, wounded, almost broken! Fanny +Harville was a very superior creature, and his attachment to her was +indeed attachment. A man does not recover from such a devotion of the +heart to such a woman. He ought not; he does not." + +Either from the consciousness, however, that his friend had recovered, +or from other consciousness, he went no farther; and Anne who, in spite +of the agitated voice in which the latter part had been uttered, and in +spite of all the various noises of the room, the almost ceaseless slam +of the door, and ceaseless buzz of persons walking through, had +distinguished every word, was struck, gratified, confused, and +beginning to breathe very quick, and feel an hundred things in a +moment. It was impossible for her to enter on such a subject; and yet, +after a pause, feeling the necessity of speaking, and having not the +smallest wish for a total change, she only deviated so far as to say-- + +"You were a good while at Lyme, I think?" + +"About a fortnight. I could not leave it till Louisa's doing well was +quite ascertained. I had been too deeply concerned in the mischief to +be soon at peace. It had been my doing, solely mine. She would not +have been obstinate if I had not been weak. The country round Lyme is +very fine. I walked and rode a great deal; and the more I saw, the +more I found to admire." + +"I should very much like to see Lyme again," said Anne. + +"Indeed! I should not have supposed that you could have found anything +in Lyme to inspire such a feeling. The horror and distress you were +involved in, the stretch of mind, the wear of spirits! I should have +thought your last impressions of Lyme must have been strong disgust." + +"The last hours were certainly very painful," replied Anne; "but when +pain is over, the remembrance of it often becomes a pleasure. One does +not love a place the less for having suffered in it, unless it has been +all suffering, nothing but suffering, which was by no means the case at +Lyme. We were only in anxiety and distress during the last two hours, +and previously there had been a great deal of enjoyment. So much +novelty and beauty! I have travelled so little, that every fresh place +would be interesting to me; but there is real beauty at Lyme; and in +short" (with a faint blush at some recollections), "altogether my +impressions of the place are very agreeable." + +As she ceased, the entrance door opened again, and the very party +appeared for whom they were waiting. "Lady Dalrymple, Lady Dalrymple," +was the rejoicing sound; and with all the eagerness compatible with +anxious elegance, Sir Walter and his two ladies stepped forward to meet +her. Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret, escorted by Mr Elliot and +Colonel Wallis, who had happened to arrive nearly at the same instant, +advanced into the room. The others joined them, and it was a group in +which Anne found herself also necessarily included. She was divided +from Captain Wentworth. Their interesting, almost too interesting +conversation must be broken up for a time, but slight was the penance +compared with the happiness which brought it on! She had learnt, in +the last ten minutes, more of his feelings towards Louisa, more of all +his feelings than she dared to think of; and she gave herself up to the +demands of the party, to the needful civilities of the moment, with +exquisite, though agitated sensations. She was in good humour with +all. She had received ideas which disposed her to be courteous and +kind to all, and to pity every one, as being less happy than herself. + +The delightful emotions were a little subdued, when on stepping back +from the group, to be joined again by Captain Wentworth, she saw that +he was gone. She was just in time to see him turn into the Concert +Room. He was gone; he had disappeared, she felt a moment's regret. +But "they should meet again. He would look for her, he would find her +out before the evening were over, and at present, perhaps, it was as +well to be asunder. She was in need of a little interval for +recollection." + +Upon Lady Russell's appearance soon afterwards, the whole party was +collected, and all that remained was to marshal themselves, and proceed +into the Concert Room; and be of all the consequence in their power, +draw as many eyes, excite as many whispers, and disturb as many people +as they could. + +Very, very happy were both Elizabeth and Anne Elliot as they walked in. +Elizabeth arm in arm with Miss Carteret, and looking on the broad back +of the dowager Viscountess Dalrymple before her, had nothing to wish +for which did not seem within her reach; and Anne--but it would be an +insult to the nature of Anne's felicity, to draw any comparison between +it and her sister's; the origin of one all selfish vanity, of the other +all generous attachment. + +Anne saw nothing, thought nothing of the brilliancy of the room. Her +happiness was from within. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks glowed; +but she knew nothing about it. She was thinking only of the last half +hour, and as they passed to their seats, her mind took a hasty range +over it. His choice of subjects, his expressions, and still more his +manner and look, had been such as she could see in only one light. His +opinion of Louisa Musgrove's inferiority, an opinion which he had +seemed solicitous to give, his wonder at Captain Benwick, his feelings +as to a first, strong attachment; sentences begun which he could not +finish, his half averted eyes and more than half expressive glance, +all, all declared that he had a heart returning to her at least; that +anger, resentment, avoidance, were no more; and that they were +succeeded, not merely by friendship and regard, but by the tenderness +of the past. Yes, some share of the tenderness of the past. She could +not contemplate the change as implying less. He must love her. + +These were thoughts, with their attendant visions, which occupied and +flurried her too much to leave her any power of observation; and she +passed along the room without having a glimpse of him, without even +trying to discern him. When their places were determined on, and they +were all properly arranged, she looked round to see if he should happen +to be in the same part of the room, but he was not; her eye could not +reach him; and the concert being just opening, she must consent for a +time to be happy in a humbler way. + +The party was divided and disposed of on two contiguous benches: Anne +was among those on the foremost, and Mr Elliot had manoeuvred so well, +with the assistance of his friend Colonel Wallis, as to have a seat by +her. Miss Elliot, surrounded by her cousins, and the principal object +of Colonel Wallis's gallantry, was quite contented. + +Anne's mind was in a most favourable state for the entertainment of the +evening; it was just occupation enough: she had feelings for the +tender, spirits for the gay, attention for the scientific, and patience +for the wearisome; and had never liked a concert better, at least +during the first act. Towards the close of it, in the interval +succeeding an Italian song, she explained the words of the song to Mr +Elliot. They had a concert bill between them. + +"This," said she, "is nearly the sense, or rather the meaning of the +words, for certainly the sense of an Italian love-song must not be +talked of, but it is as nearly the meaning as I can give; for I do not +pretend to understand the language. I am a very poor Italian scholar." + +"Yes, yes, I see you are. I see you know nothing of the matter. You +have only knowledge enough of the language to translate at sight these +inverted, transposed, curtailed Italian lines, into clear, +comprehensible, elegant English. You need not say anything more of +your ignorance. Here is complete proof." + +"I will not oppose such kind politeness; but I should be sorry to be +examined by a real proficient." + +"I have not had the pleasure of visiting in Camden Place so long," +replied he, "without knowing something of Miss Anne Elliot; and I do +regard her as one who is too modest for the world in general to be +aware of half her accomplishments, and too highly accomplished for +modesty to be natural in any other woman." + +"For shame! for shame! this is too much flattery. I forget what we are +to have next," turning to the bill. + +"Perhaps," said Mr Elliot, speaking low, "I have had a longer +acquaintance with your character than you are aware of." + +"Indeed! How so? You can have been acquainted with it only since I +came to Bath, excepting as you might hear me previously spoken of in my +own family." + +"I knew you by report long before you came to Bath. I had heard you +described by those who knew you intimately. I have been acquainted +with you by character many years. Your person, your disposition, +accomplishments, manner; they were all present to me." + +Mr Elliot was not disappointed in the interest he hoped to raise. No +one can withstand the charm of such a mystery. To have been described +long ago to a recent acquaintance, by nameless people, is irresistible; +and Anne was all curiosity. She wondered, and questioned him eagerly; +but in vain. He delighted in being asked, but he would not tell. + +"No, no, some time or other, perhaps, but not now. He would mention no +names now; but such, he could assure her, had been the fact. He had +many years ago received such a description of Miss Anne Elliot as had +inspired him with the highest idea of her merit, and excited the +warmest curiosity to know her." + +Anne could think of no one so likely to have spoken with partiality of +her many years ago as the Mr Wentworth of Monkford, Captain Wentworth's +brother. He might have been in Mr Elliot's company, but she had not +courage to ask the question. + +"The name of Anne Elliot," said he, "has long had an interesting sound +to me. Very long has it possessed a charm over my fancy; and, if I +dared, I would breathe my wishes that the name might never change." + +Such, she believed, were his words; but scarcely had she received their +sound, than her attention was caught by other sounds immediately behind +her, which rendered every thing else trivial. Her father and Lady +Dalrymple were speaking. + +"A well-looking man," said Sir Walter, "a very well-looking man." + +"A very fine young man indeed!" said Lady Dalrymple. "More air than +one often sees in Bath. Irish, I dare say." + +"No, I just know his name. A bowing acquaintance. Wentworth; Captain +Wentworth of the navy. His sister married my tenant in Somersetshire, +the Croft, who rents Kellynch." + +Before Sir Walter had reached this point, Anne's eyes had caught the +right direction, and distinguished Captain Wentworth standing among a +cluster of men at a little distance. As her eyes fell on him, his +seemed to be withdrawn from her. It had that appearance. It seemed as +if she had been one moment too late; and as long as she dared observe, +he did not look again: but the performance was recommencing, and she +was forced to seem to restore her attention to the orchestra and look +straight forward. + +When she could give another glance, he had moved away. He could not +have come nearer to her if he would; she was so surrounded and shut in: +but she would rather have caught his eye. + +Mr Elliot's speech, too, distressed her. She had no longer any +inclination to talk to him. She wished him not so near her. + +The first act was over. Now she hoped for some beneficial change; and, +after a period of nothing-saying amongst the party, some of them did +decide on going in quest of tea. Anne was one of the few who did not +choose to move. She remained in her seat, and so did Lady Russell; but +she had the pleasure of getting rid of Mr Elliot; and she did not mean, +whatever she might feel on Lady Russell's account, to shrink from +conversation with Captain Wentworth, if he gave her the opportunity. +She was persuaded by Lady Russell's countenance that she had seen him. + +He did not come however. Anne sometimes fancied she discerned him at a +distance, but he never came. The anxious interval wore away +unproductively. The others returned, the room filled again, benches +were reclaimed and repossessed, and another hour of pleasure or of +penance was to be sat out, another hour of music was to give delight or +the gapes, as real or affected taste for it prevailed. To Anne, it +chiefly wore the prospect of an hour of agitation. She could not quit +that room in peace without seeing Captain Wentworth once more, without +the interchange of one friendly look. + +In re-settling themselves there were now many changes, the result of +which was favourable for her. Colonel Wallis declined sitting down +again, and Mr Elliot was invited by Elizabeth and Miss Carteret, in a +manner not to be refused, to sit between them; and by some other +removals, and a little scheming of her own, Anne was enabled to place +herself much nearer the end of the bench than she had been before, much +more within reach of a passer-by. She could not do so, without +comparing herself with Miss Larolles, the inimitable Miss Larolles; but +still she did it, and not with much happier effect; though by what +seemed prosperity in the shape of an early abdication in her next +neighbours, she found herself at the very end of the bench before the +concert closed. + +Such was her situation, with a vacant space at hand, when Captain +Wentworth was again in sight. She saw him not far off. He saw her +too; yet he looked grave, and seemed irresolute, and only by very slow +degrees came at last near enough to speak to her. She felt that +something must be the matter. The change was indubitable. The +difference between his present air and what it had been in the Octagon +Room was strikingly great. Why was it? She thought of her father, of +Lady Russell. Could there have been any unpleasant glances? He began +by speaking of the concert gravely, more like the Captain Wentworth of +Uppercross; owned himself disappointed, had expected singing; and in +short, must confess that he should not be sorry when it was over. Anne +replied, and spoke in defence of the performance so well, and yet in +allowance for his feelings so pleasantly, that his countenance +improved, and he replied again with almost a smile. They talked for a +few minutes more; the improvement held; he even looked down towards the +bench, as if he saw a place on it well worth occupying; when at that +moment a touch on her shoulder obliged Anne to turn round. It came +from Mr Elliot. He begged her pardon, but she must be applied to, to +explain Italian again. Miss Carteret was very anxious to have a +general idea of what was next to be sung. Anne could not refuse; but +never had she sacrificed to politeness with a more suffering spirit. + +A few minutes, though as few as possible, were inevitably consumed; and +when her own mistress again, when able to turn and look as she had done +before, she found herself accosted by Captain Wentworth, in a reserved +yet hurried sort of farewell. "He must wish her good night; he was +going; he should get home as fast as he could." + +"Is not this song worth staying for?" said Anne, suddenly struck by an +idea which made her yet more anxious to be encouraging. + +"No!" he replied impressively, "there is nothing worth my staying for;" +and he was gone directly. + +Jealousy of Mr Elliot! It was the only intelligible motive. Captain +Wentworth jealous of her affection! Could she have believed it a week +ago; three hours ago! For a moment the gratification was exquisite. +But, alas! there were very different thoughts to succeed. How was such +jealousy to be quieted? How was the truth to reach him? How, in all +the peculiar disadvantages of their respective situations, would he +ever learn of her real sentiments? It was misery to think of Mr +Elliot's attentions. Their evil was incalculable. + + + +Chapter 21 + + +Anne recollected with pleasure the next morning her promise of going to +Mrs Smith, meaning that it should engage her from home at the time when +Mr Elliot would be most likely to call; for to avoid Mr Elliot was +almost a first object. + +She felt a great deal of good-will towards him. In spite of the +mischief of his attentions, she owed him gratitude and regard, perhaps +compassion. She could not help thinking much of the extraordinary +circumstances attending their acquaintance, of the right which he +seemed to have to interest her, by everything in situation, by his own +sentiments, by his early prepossession. It was altogether very +extraordinary; flattering, but painful. There was much to regret. How +she might have felt had there been no Captain Wentworth in the case, +was not worth enquiry; for there was a Captain Wentworth; and be the +conclusion of the present suspense good or bad, her affection would be +his for ever. Their union, she believed, could not divide her more +from other men, than their final separation. + +Prettier musings of high-wrought love and eternal constancy, could +never have passed along the streets of Bath, than Anne was sporting +with from Camden Place to Westgate Buildings. It was almost enough to +spread purification and perfume all the way. + +She was sure of a pleasant reception; and her friend seemed this +morning particularly obliged to her for coming, seemed hardly to have +expected her, though it had been an appointment. + +An account of the concert was immediately claimed; and Anne's +recollections of the concert were quite happy enough to animate her +features and make her rejoice to talk of it. All that she could tell +she told most gladly, but the all was little for one who had been +there, and unsatisfactory for such an enquirer as Mrs Smith, who had +already heard, through the short cut of a laundress and a waiter, +rather more of the general success and produce of the evening than Anne +could relate, and who now asked in vain for several particulars of the +company. Everybody of any consequence or notoriety in Bath was well +know by name to Mrs Smith. + +"The little Durands were there, I conclude," said she, "with their +mouths open to catch the music, like unfledged sparrows ready to be +fed. They never miss a concert." + +"Yes; I did not see them myself, but I heard Mr Elliot say they were in +the room." + +"The Ibbotsons, were they there? and the two new beauties, with the +tall Irish officer, who is talked of for one of them." + +"I do not know. I do not think they were." + +"Old Lady Mary Maclean? I need not ask after her. She never misses, I +know; and you must have seen her. She must have been in your own +circle; for as you went with Lady Dalrymple, you were in the seats of +grandeur, round the orchestra, of course." + +"No, that was what I dreaded. It would have been very unpleasant to me +in every respect. But happily Lady Dalrymple always chooses to be +farther off; and we were exceedingly well placed, that is, for hearing; +I must not say for seeing, because I appear to have seen very little." + +"Oh! you saw enough for your own amusement. I can understand. There +is a sort of domestic enjoyment to be known even in a crowd, and this +you had. You were a large party in yourselves, and you wanted nothing +beyond." + +"But I ought to have looked about me more," said Anne, conscious while +she spoke that there had in fact been no want of looking about, that +the object only had been deficient. + +"No, no; you were better employed. You need not tell me that you had a +pleasant evening. I see it in your eye. I perfectly see how the hours +passed: that you had always something agreeable to listen to. In the +intervals of the concert it was conversation." + +Anne half smiled and said, "Do you see that in my eye?" + +"Yes, I do. Your countenance perfectly informs me that you were in +company last night with the person whom you think the most agreeable in +the world, the person who interests you at this present time more than +all the rest of the world put together." + +A blush overspread Anne's cheeks. She could say nothing. + +"And such being the case," continued Mrs Smith, after a short pause, "I +hope you believe that I do know how to value your kindness in coming to +me this morning. It is really very good of you to come and sit with +me, when you must have so many pleasanter demands upon your time." + +Anne heard nothing of this. She was still in the astonishment and +confusion excited by her friend's penetration, unable to imagine how +any report of Captain Wentworth could have reached her. After another +short silence-- + +"Pray," said Mrs Smith, "is Mr Elliot aware of your acquaintance with +me? Does he know that I am in Bath?" + +"Mr Elliot!" repeated Anne, looking up surprised. A moment's +reflection shewed her the mistake she had been under. She caught it +instantaneously; and recovering her courage with the feeling of safety, +soon added, more composedly, "Are you acquainted with Mr Elliot?" + +"I have been a good deal acquainted with him," replied Mrs Smith, +gravely, "but it seems worn out now. It is a great while since we met." + +"I was not at all aware of this. You never mentioned it before. Had I +known it, I would have had the pleasure of talking to him about you." + +"To confess the truth," said Mrs Smith, assuming her usual air of +cheerfulness, "that is exactly the pleasure I want you to have. I want +you to talk about me to Mr Elliot. I want your interest with him. He +can be of essential service to me; and if you would have the goodness, +my dear Miss Elliot, to make it an object to yourself, of course it is +done." + +"I should be extremely happy; I hope you cannot doubt my willingness to +be of even the slightest use to you," replied Anne; "but I suspect that +you are considering me as having a higher claim on Mr Elliot, a greater +right to influence him, than is really the case. I am sure you have, +somehow or other, imbibed such a notion. You must consider me only as +Mr Elliot's relation. If in that light there is anything which you +suppose his cousin might fairly ask of him, I beg you would not +hesitate to employ me." + +Mrs Smith gave her a penetrating glance, and then, smiling, said-- + +"I have been a little premature, I perceive; I beg your pardon. I +ought to have waited for official information, But now, my dear Miss +Elliot, as an old friend, do give me a hint as to when I may speak. +Next week? To be sure by next week I may be allowed to think it all +settled, and build my own selfish schemes on Mr Elliot's good fortune." + +"No," replied Anne, "nor next week, nor next, nor next. I assure you +that nothing of the sort you are thinking of will be settled any week. +I am not going to marry Mr Elliot. I should like to know why you +imagine I am?" + +Mrs Smith looked at her again, looked earnestly, smiled, shook her +head, and exclaimed-- + +"Now, how I do wish I understood you! How I do wish I knew what you +were at! I have a great idea that you do not design to be cruel, when +the right moment occurs. Till it does come, you know, we women never +mean to have anybody. It is a thing of course among us, that every man +is refused, till he offers. But why should you be cruel? Let me plead +for my--present friend I cannot call him, but for my former friend. +Where can you look for a more suitable match? Where could you expect a +more gentlemanlike, agreeable man? Let me recommend Mr Elliot. I am +sure you hear nothing but good of him from Colonel Wallis; and who can +know him better than Colonel Wallis?" + +"My dear Mrs Smith, Mr Elliot's wife has not been dead much above half +a year. He ought not to be supposed to be paying his addresses to any +one." + +"Oh! if these are your only objections," cried Mrs Smith, archly, "Mr +Elliot is safe, and I shall give myself no more trouble about him. Do +not forget me when you are married, that's all. Let him know me to be +a friend of yours, and then he will think little of the trouble +required, which it is very natural for him now, with so many affairs +and engagements of his own, to avoid and get rid of as he can; very +natural, perhaps. Ninety-nine out of a hundred would do the same. Of +course, he cannot be aware of the importance to me. Well, my dear Miss +Elliot, I hope and trust you will be very happy. Mr Elliot has sense +to understand the value of such a woman. Your peace will not be +shipwrecked as mine has been. You are safe in all worldly matters, and +safe in his character. He will not be led astray; he will not be +misled by others to his ruin." + +"No," said Anne, "I can readily believe all that of my cousin. He +seems to have a calm decided temper, not at all open to dangerous +impressions. I consider him with great respect. I have no reason, +from any thing that has fallen within my observation, to do otherwise. +But I have not known him long; and he is not a man, I think, to be +known intimately soon. Will not this manner of speaking of him, Mrs +Smith, convince you that he is nothing to me? Surely this must be calm +enough. And, upon my word, he is nothing to me. Should he ever +propose to me (which I have very little reason to imagine he has any +thought of doing), I shall not accept him. I assure you I shall not. +I assure you, Mr Elliot had not the share which you have been +supposing, in whatever pleasure the concert of last night might afford: +not Mr Elliot; it is not Mr Elliot that--" + +She stopped, regretting with a deep blush that she had implied so much; +but less would hardly have been sufficient. Mrs Smith would hardly +have believed so soon in Mr Elliot's failure, but from the perception +of there being a somebody else. As it was, she instantly submitted, +and with all the semblance of seeing nothing beyond; and Anne, eager to +escape farther notice, was impatient to know why Mrs Smith should have +fancied she was to marry Mr Elliot; where she could have received the +idea, or from whom she could have heard it. + +"Do tell me how it first came into your head." + +"It first came into my head," replied Mrs Smith, "upon finding how much +you were together, and feeling it to be the most probable thing in the +world to be wished for by everybody belonging to either of you; and you +may depend upon it that all your acquaintance have disposed of you in +the same way. But I never heard it spoken of till two days ago." + +"And has it indeed been spoken of?" + +"Did you observe the woman who opened the door to you when you called +yesterday?" + +"No. Was not it Mrs Speed, as usual, or the maid? I observed no one +in particular." + +"It was my friend Mrs Rooke; Nurse Rooke; who, by-the-bye, had a great +curiosity to see you, and was delighted to be in the way to let you in. +She came away from Marlborough Buildings only on Sunday; and she it was +who told me you were to marry Mr Elliot. She had had it from Mrs +Wallis herself, which did not seem bad authority. She sat an hour with +me on Monday evening, and gave me the whole history." "The whole +history," repeated Anne, laughing. "She could not make a very long +history, I think, of one such little article of unfounded news." + +Mrs Smith said nothing. + +"But," continued Anne, presently, "though there is no truth in my +having this claim on Mr Elliot, I should be extremely happy to be of +use to you in any way that I could. Shall I mention to him your being +in Bath? Shall I take any message?" + +"No, I thank you: no, certainly not. In the warmth of the moment, and +under a mistaken impression, I might, perhaps, have endeavoured to +interest you in some circumstances; but not now. No, I thank you, I +have nothing to trouble you with." + +"I think you spoke of having known Mr Elliot many years?" + +"I did." + +"Not before he was married, I suppose?" + +"Yes; he was not married when I knew him first." + +"And--were you much acquainted?" + +"Intimately." + +"Indeed! Then do tell me what he was at that time of life. I have a +great curiosity to know what Mr Elliot was as a very young man. Was he +at all such as he appears now?" + +"I have not seen Mr Elliot these three years," was Mrs Smith's answer, +given so gravely that it was impossible to pursue the subject farther; +and Anne felt that she had gained nothing but an increase of curiosity. +They were both silent: Mrs Smith very thoughtful. At last-- + +"I beg your pardon, my dear Miss Elliot," she cried, in her natural +tone of cordiality, "I beg your pardon for the short answers I have +been giving you, but I have been uncertain what I ought to do. I have +been doubting and considering as to what I ought to tell you. There +were many things to be taken into the account. One hates to be +officious, to be giving bad impressions, making mischief. Even the +smooth surface of family-union seems worth preserving, though there may +be nothing durable beneath. However, I have determined; I think I am +right; I think you ought to be made acquainted with Mr Elliot's real +character. Though I fully believe that, at present, you have not the +smallest intention of accepting him, there is no saying what may +happen. You might, some time or other, be differently affected towards +him. Hear the truth, therefore, now, while you are unprejudiced. Mr +Elliot is a man without heart or conscience; a designing, wary, +cold-blooded being, who thinks only of himself; whom for his own +interest or ease, would be guilty of any cruelty, or any treachery, +that could be perpetrated without risk of his general character. He +has no feeling for others. Those whom he has been the chief cause of +leading into ruin, he can neglect and desert without the smallest +compunction. He is totally beyond the reach of any sentiment of +justice or compassion. Oh! he is black at heart, hollow and black!" + +Anne's astonished air, and exclamation of wonder, made her pause, and +in a calmer manner, she added, + +"My expressions startle you. You must allow for an injured, angry +woman. But I will try to command myself. I will not abuse him. I +will only tell you what I have found him. Facts shall speak. He was +the intimate friend of my dear husband, who trusted and loved him, and +thought him as good as himself. The intimacy had been formed before +our marriage. I found them most intimate friends; and I, too, became +excessively pleased with Mr Elliot, and entertained the highest opinion +of him. At nineteen, you know, one does not think very seriously; but +Mr Elliot appeared to me quite as good as others, and much more +agreeable than most others, and we were almost always together. We +were principally in town, living in very good style. He was then the +inferior in circumstances; he was then the poor one; he had chambers in +the Temple, and it was as much as he could do to support the appearance +of a gentleman. He had always a home with us whenever he chose it; he +was always welcome; he was like a brother. My poor Charles, who had +the finest, most generous spirit in the world, would have divided his +last farthing with him; and I know that his purse was open to him; I +know that he often assisted him." + +"This must have been about that very period of Mr Elliot's life," said +Anne, "which has always excited my particular curiosity. It must have +been about the same time that he became known to my father and sister. +I never knew him myself; I only heard of him; but there was a something +in his conduct then, with regard to my father and sister, and +afterwards in the circumstances of his marriage, which I never could +quite reconcile with present times. It seemed to announce a different +sort of man." + +"I know it all, I know it all," cried Mrs Smith. "He had been +introduced to Sir Walter and your sister before I was acquainted with +him, but I heard him speak of them for ever. I know he was invited and +encouraged, and I know he did not choose to go. I can satisfy you, +perhaps, on points which you would little expect; and as to his +marriage, I knew all about it at the time. I was privy to all the fors +and againsts; I was the friend to whom he confided his hopes and plans; +and though I did not know his wife previously, her inferior situation +in society, indeed, rendered that impossible, yet I knew her all her +life afterwards, or at least till within the last two years of her +life, and can answer any question you may wish to put." + +"Nay," said Anne, "I have no particular enquiry to make about her. I +have always understood they were not a happy couple. But I should like +to know why, at that time of his life, he should slight my father's +acquaintance as he did. My father was certainly disposed to take very +kind and proper notice of him. Why did Mr Elliot draw back?" + +"Mr Elliot," replied Mrs Smith, "at that period of his life, had one +object in view: to make his fortune, and by a rather quicker process +than the law. He was determined to make it by marriage. He was +determined, at least, not to mar it by an imprudent marriage; and I +know it was his belief (whether justly or not, of course I cannot +decide), that your father and sister, in their civilities and +invitations, were designing a match between the heir and the young +lady, and it was impossible that such a match should have answered his +ideas of wealth and independence. That was his motive for drawing +back, I can assure you. He told me the whole story. He had no +concealments with me. It was curious, that having just left you behind +me in Bath, my first and principal acquaintance on marrying should be +your cousin; and that, through him, I should be continually hearing of +your father and sister. He described one Miss Elliot, and I thought +very affectionately of the other." + +"Perhaps," cried Anne, struck by a sudden idea, "you sometimes spoke of +me to Mr Elliot?" + +"To be sure I did; very often. I used to boast of my own Anne Elliot, +and vouch for your being a very different creature from--" + +She checked herself just in time. + +"This accounts for something which Mr Elliot said last night," cried +Anne. "This explains it. I found he had been used to hear of me. I +could not comprehend how. What wild imaginations one forms where dear +self is concerned! How sure to be mistaken! But I beg your pardon; I +have interrupted you. Mr Elliot married then completely for money? +The circumstances, probably, which first opened your eyes to his +character." + +Mrs Smith hesitated a little here. "Oh! those things are too common. +When one lives in the world, a man or woman's marrying for money is too +common to strike one as it ought. I was very young, and associated +only with the young, and we were a thoughtless, gay set, without any +strict rules of conduct. We lived for enjoyment. I think differently +now; time and sickness and sorrow have given me other notions; but at +that period I must own I saw nothing reprehensible in what Mr Elliot +was doing. 'To do the best for himself,' passed as a duty." + +"But was not she a very low woman?" + +"Yes; which I objected to, but he would not regard. Money, money, was +all that he wanted. Her father was a grazier, her grandfather had been +a butcher, but that was all nothing. She was a fine woman, had had a +decent education, was brought forward by some cousins, thrown by chance +into Mr Elliot's company, and fell in love with him; and not a +difficulty or a scruple was there on his side, with respect to her +birth. All his caution was spent in being secured of the real amount +of her fortune, before he committed himself. Depend upon it, whatever +esteem Mr Elliot may have for his own situation in life now, as a young +man he had not the smallest value for it. His chance for the Kellynch +estate was something, but all the honour of the family he held as cheap +as dirt. I have often heard him declare, that if baronetcies were +saleable, anybody should have his for fifty pounds, arms and motto, +name and livery included; but I will not pretend to repeat half that I +used to hear him say on that subject. It would not be fair; and yet +you ought to have proof, for what is all this but assertion, and you +shall have proof." + +"Indeed, my dear Mrs Smith, I want none," cried Anne. "You have +asserted nothing contradictory to what Mr Elliot appeared to be some +years ago. This is all in confirmation, rather, of what we used to +hear and believe. I am more curious to know why he should be so +different now." + +"But for my satisfaction, if you will have the goodness to ring for +Mary; stay: I am sure you will have the still greater goodness of +going yourself into my bedroom, and bringing me the small inlaid box +which you will find on the upper shelf of the closet." + +Anne, seeing her friend to be earnestly bent on it, did as she was +desired. The box was brought and placed before her, and Mrs Smith, +sighing over it as she unlocked it, said-- + +"This is full of papers belonging to him, to my husband; a small +portion only of what I had to look over when I lost him. The letter I +am looking for was one written by Mr Elliot to him before our marriage, +and happened to be saved; why, one can hardly imagine. But he was +careless and immethodical, like other men, about those things; and when +I came to examine his papers, I found it with others still more +trivial, from different people scattered here and there, while many +letters and memorandums of real importance had been destroyed. Here it +is; I would not burn it, because being even then very little satisfied +with Mr Elliot, I was determined to preserve every document of former +intimacy. I have now another motive for being glad that I can produce +it." + +This was the letter, directed to "Charles Smith, Esq. Tunbridge Wells," +and dated from London, as far back as July, 1803:-- + +"Dear Smith,--I have received yours. Your kindness almost overpowers +me. I wish nature had made such hearts as yours more common, but I +have lived three-and-twenty years in the world, and have seen none like +it. At present, believe me, I have no need of your services, being in +cash again. Give me joy: I have got rid of Sir Walter and Miss. They +are gone back to Kellynch, and almost made me swear to visit them this +summer; but my first visit to Kellynch will be with a surveyor, to tell +me how to bring it with best advantage to the hammer. The baronet, +nevertheless, is not unlikely to marry again; he is quite fool enough. +If he does, however, they will leave me in peace, which may be a decent +equivalent for the reversion. He is worse than last year. + +"I wish I had any name but Elliot. I am sick of it. The name of +Walter I can drop, thank God! and I desire you will never insult me +with my second W. again, meaning, for the rest of my life, to be only +yours truly,--Wm. Elliot." + +Such a letter could not be read without putting Anne in a glow; and Mrs +Smith, observing the high colour in her face, said-- + +"The language, I know, is highly disrespectful. Though I have forgot +the exact terms, I have a perfect impression of the general meaning. +But it shows you the man. Mark his professions to my poor husband. +Can any thing be stronger?" + +Anne could not immediately get over the shock and mortification of +finding such words applied to her father. She was obliged to recollect +that her seeing the letter was a violation of the laws of honour, that +no one ought to be judged or to be known by such testimonies, that no +private correspondence could bear the eye of others, before she could +recover calmness enough to return the letter which she had been +meditating over, and say-- + +"Thank you. This is full proof undoubtedly; proof of every thing you +were saying. But why be acquainted with us now?" + +"I can explain this too," cried Mrs Smith, smiling. + +"Can you really?" + +"Yes. I have shewn you Mr Elliot as he was a dozen years ago, and I +will shew him as he is now. I cannot produce written proof again, but +I can give as authentic oral testimony as you can desire, of what he is +now wanting, and what he is now doing. He is no hypocrite now. He +truly wants to marry you. His present attentions to your family are +very sincere: quite from the heart. I will give you my authority: his +friend Colonel Wallis." + +"Colonel Wallis! you are acquainted with him?" + +"No. It does not come to me in quite so direct a line as that; it +takes a bend or two, but nothing of consequence. The stream is as good +as at first; the little rubbish it collects in the turnings is easily +moved away. Mr Elliot talks unreservedly to Colonel Wallis of his +views on you, which said Colonel Wallis, I imagine to be, in himself, a +sensible, careful, discerning sort of character; but Colonel Wallis has +a very pretty silly wife, to whom he tells things which he had better +not, and he repeats it all to her. She in the overflowing spirits of +her recovery, repeats it all to her nurse; and the nurse knowing my +acquaintance with you, very naturally brings it all to me. On Monday +evening, my good friend Mrs Rooke let me thus much into the secrets of +Marlborough Buildings. When I talked of a whole history, therefore, +you see I was not romancing so much as you supposed." + +"My dear Mrs Smith, your authority is deficient. This will not do. Mr +Elliot's having any views on me will not in the least account for the +efforts he made towards a reconciliation with my father. That was all +prior to my coming to Bath. I found them on the most friendly terms +when I arrived." + +"I know you did; I know it all perfectly, but--" + +"Indeed, Mrs Smith, we must not expect to get real information in such +a line. Facts or opinions which are to pass through the hands of so +many, to be misconceived by folly in one, and ignorance in another, can +hardly have much truth left." + +"Only give me a hearing. You will soon be able to judge of the general +credit due, by listening to some particulars which you can yourself +immediately contradict or confirm. Nobody supposes that you were his +first inducement. He had seen you indeed, before he came to Bath, and +admired you, but without knowing it to be you. So says my historian, +at least. Is this true? Did he see you last summer or autumn, +'somewhere down in the west,' to use her own words, without knowing it +to be you?" + +"He certainly did. So far it is very true. At Lyme. I happened to be +at Lyme." + +"Well," continued Mrs Smith, triumphantly, "grant my friend the credit +due to the establishment of the first point asserted. He saw you then +at Lyme, and liked you so well as to be exceedingly pleased to meet +with you again in Camden Place, as Miss Anne Elliot, and from that +moment, I have no doubt, had a double motive in his visits there. But +there was another, and an earlier, which I will now explain. If there +is anything in my story which you know to be either false or +improbable, stop me. My account states, that your sister's friend, the +lady now staying with you, whom I have heard you mention, came to Bath +with Miss Elliot and Sir Walter as long ago as September (in short when +they first came themselves), and has been staying there ever since; +that she is a clever, insinuating, handsome woman, poor and plausible, +and altogether such in situation and manner, as to give a general idea, +among Sir Walter's acquaintance, of her meaning to be Lady Elliot, and +as general a surprise that Miss Elliot should be apparently, blind to +the danger." + +Here Mrs Smith paused a moment; but Anne had not a word to say, and she +continued-- + +"This was the light in which it appeared to those who knew the family, +long before you returned to it; and Colonel Wallis had his eye upon +your father enough to be sensible of it, though he did not then visit +in Camden Place; but his regard for Mr Elliot gave him an interest in +watching all that was going on there, and when Mr Elliot came to Bath +for a day or two, as he happened to do a little before Christmas, +Colonel Wallis made him acquainted with the appearance of things, and +the reports beginning to prevail. Now you are to understand, that time +had worked a very material change in Mr Elliot's opinions as to the +value of a baronetcy. Upon all points of blood and connexion he is a +completely altered man. Having long had as much money as he could +spend, nothing to wish for on the side of avarice or indulgence, he has +been gradually learning to pin his happiness upon the consequence he is +heir to. I thought it coming on before our acquaintance ceased, but it +is now a confirmed feeling. He cannot bear the idea of not being Sir +William. You may guess, therefore, that the news he heard from his +friend could not be very agreeable, and you may guess what it produced; +the resolution of coming back to Bath as soon as possible, and of +fixing himself here for a time, with the view of renewing his former +acquaintance, and recovering such a footing in the family as might give +him the means of ascertaining the degree of his danger, and of +circumventing the lady if he found it material. This was agreed upon +between the two friends as the only thing to be done; and Colonel +Wallis was to assist in every way that he could. He was to be +introduced, and Mrs Wallis was to be introduced, and everybody was to +be introduced. Mr Elliot came back accordingly; and on application was +forgiven, as you know, and re-admitted into the family; and there it +was his constant object, and his only object (till your arrival added +another motive), to watch Sir Walter and Mrs Clay. He omitted no +opportunity of being with them, threw himself in their way, called at +all hours; but I need not be particular on this subject. You can +imagine what an artful man would do; and with this guide, perhaps, may +recollect what you have seen him do." + +"Yes," said Anne, "you tell me nothing which does not accord with what +I have known, or could imagine. There is always something offensive in +the details of cunning. The manoeuvres of selfishness and duplicity +must ever be revolting, but I have heard nothing which really surprises +me. I know those who would be shocked by such a representation of Mr +Elliot, who would have difficulty in believing it; but I have never +been satisfied. I have always wanted some other motive for his conduct +than appeared. I should like to know his present opinion, as to the +probability of the event he has been in dread of; whether he considers +the danger to be lessening or not." + +"Lessening, I understand," replied Mrs Smith. "He thinks Mrs Clay +afraid of him, aware that he sees through her, and not daring to +proceed as she might do in his absence. But since he must be absent +some time or other, I do not perceive how he can ever be secure while +she holds her present influence. Mrs Wallis has an amusing idea, as +nurse tells me, that it is to be put into the marriage articles when +you and Mr Elliot marry, that your father is not to marry Mrs Clay. A +scheme, worthy of Mrs Wallis's understanding, by all accounts; but my +sensible nurse Rooke sees the absurdity of it. 'Why, to be sure, +ma'am,' said she, 'it would not prevent his marrying anybody else.' +And, indeed, to own the truth, I do not think nurse, in her heart, is a +very strenuous opposer of Sir Walter's making a second match. She must +be allowed to be a favourer of matrimony, you know; and (since self +will intrude) who can say that she may not have some flying visions of +attending the next Lady Elliot, through Mrs Wallis's recommendation?" + +"I am very glad to know all this," said Anne, after a little +thoughtfulness. "It will be more painful to me in some respects to be +in company with him, but I shall know better what to do. My line of +conduct will be more direct. Mr Elliot is evidently a disingenuous, +artificial, worldly man, who has never had any better principle to +guide him than selfishness." + +But Mr Elliot was not done with. Mrs Smith had been carried away from +her first direction, and Anne had forgotten, in the interest of her own +family concerns, how much had been originally implied against him; but +her attention was now called to the explanation of those first hints, +and she listened to a recital which, if it did not perfectly justify +the unqualified bitterness of Mrs Smith, proved him to have been very +unfeeling in his conduct towards her; very deficient both in justice +and compassion. + +She learned that (the intimacy between them continuing unimpaired by Mr +Elliot's marriage) they had been as before always together, and Mr +Elliot had led his friend into expenses much beyond his fortune. Mrs +Smith did not want to take blame to herself, and was most tender of +throwing any on her husband; but Anne could collect that their income +had never been equal to their style of living, and that from the first +there had been a great deal of general and joint extravagance. From +his wife's account of him she could discern Mr Smith to have been a man +of warm feelings, easy temper, careless habits, and not strong +understanding, much more amiable than his friend, and very unlike him, +led by him, and probably despised by him. Mr Elliot, raised by his +marriage to great affluence, and disposed to every gratification of +pleasure and vanity which could be commanded without involving himself, +(for with all his self-indulgence he had become a prudent man), and +beginning to be rich, just as his friend ought to have found himself to +be poor, seemed to have had no concern at all for that friend's +probable finances, but, on the contrary, had been prompting and +encouraging expenses which could end only in ruin; and the Smiths +accordingly had been ruined. + +The husband had died just in time to be spared the full knowledge of +it. They had previously known embarrassments enough to try the +friendship of their friends, and to prove that Mr Elliot's had better +not be tried; but it was not till his death that the wretched state of +his affairs was fully known. With a confidence in Mr Elliot's regard, +more creditable to his feelings than his judgement, Mr Smith had +appointed him the executor of his will; but Mr Elliot would not act, +and the difficulties and distress which this refusal had heaped on her, +in addition to the inevitable sufferings of her situation, had been +such as could not be related without anguish of spirit, or listened to +without corresponding indignation. + +Anne was shewn some letters of his on the occasion, answers to urgent +applications from Mrs Smith, which all breathed the same stern +resolution of not engaging in a fruitless trouble, and, under a cold +civility, the same hard-hearted indifference to any of the evils it +might bring on her. It was a dreadful picture of ingratitude and +inhumanity; and Anne felt, at some moments, that no flagrant open crime +could have been worse. She had a great deal to listen to; all the +particulars of past sad scenes, all the minutiae of distress upon +distress, which in former conversations had been merely hinted at, were +dwelt on now with a natural indulgence. Anne could perfectly +comprehend the exquisite relief, and was only the more inclined to +wonder at the composure of her friend's usual state of mind. + +There was one circumstance in the history of her grievances of +particular irritation. She had good reason to believe that some +property of her husband in the West Indies, which had been for many +years under a sort of sequestration for the payment of its own +incumbrances, might be recoverable by proper measures; and this +property, though not large, would be enough to make her comparatively +rich. But there was nobody to stir in it. Mr Elliot would do nothing, +and she could do nothing herself, equally disabled from personal +exertion by her state of bodily weakness, and from employing others by +her want of money. She had no natural connexions to assist her even +with their counsel, and she could not afford to purchase the assistance +of the law. This was a cruel aggravation of actually straitened means. +To feel that she ought to be in better circumstances, that a little +trouble in the right place might do it, and to fear that delay might be +even weakening her claims, was hard to bear. + +It was on this point that she had hoped to engage Anne's good offices +with Mr Elliot. She had previously, in the anticipation of their +marriage, been very apprehensive of losing her friend by it; but on +being assured that he could have made no attempt of that nature, since +he did not even know her to be in Bath, it immediately occurred, that +something might be done in her favour by the influence of the woman he +loved, and she had been hastily preparing to interest Anne's feelings, +as far as the observances due to Mr Elliot's character would allow, +when Anne's refutation of the supposed engagement changed the face of +everything; and while it took from her the new-formed hope of +succeeding in the object of her first anxiety, left her at least the +comfort of telling the whole story her own way. + +After listening to this full description of Mr Elliot, Anne could not +but express some surprise at Mrs Smith's having spoken of him so +favourably in the beginning of their conversation. "She had seemed to +recommend and praise him!" + +"My dear," was Mrs Smith's reply, "there was nothing else to be done. +I considered your marrying him as certain, though he might not yet have +made the offer, and I could no more speak the truth of him, than if he +had been your husband. My heart bled for you, as I talked of +happiness; and yet he is sensible, he is agreeable, and with such a +woman as you, it was not absolutely hopeless. He was very unkind to +his first wife. They were wretched together. But she was too ignorant +and giddy for respect, and he had never loved her. I was willing to +hope that you must fare better." + +Anne could just acknowledge within herself such a possibility of having +been induced to marry him, as made her shudder at the idea of the +misery which must have followed. It was just possible that she might +have been persuaded by Lady Russell! And under such a supposition, +which would have been most miserable, when time had disclosed all, too +late? + +It was very desirable that Lady Russell should be no longer deceived; +and one of the concluding arrangements of this important conference, +which carried them through the greater part of the morning, was, that +Anne had full liberty to communicate to her friend everything relative +to Mrs Smith, in which his conduct was involved. + + + +Chapter 22 + + +Anne went home to think over all that she had heard. In one point, her +feelings were relieved by this knowledge of Mr Elliot. There was no +longer anything of tenderness due to him. He stood as opposed to +Captain Wentworth, in all his own unwelcome obtrusiveness; and the evil +of his attentions last night, the irremediable mischief he might have +done, was considered with sensations unqualified, unperplexed. Pity +for him was all over. But this was the only point of relief. In every +other respect, in looking around her, or penetrating forward, she saw +more to distrust and to apprehend. She was concerned for the +disappointment and pain Lady Russell would be feeling; for the +mortifications which must be hanging over her father and sister, and +had all the distress of foreseeing many evils, without knowing how to +avert any one of them. She was most thankful for her own knowledge of +him. She had never considered herself as entitled to reward for not +slighting an old friend like Mrs Smith, but here was a reward indeed +springing from it! Mrs Smith had been able to tell her what no one +else could have done. Could the knowledge have been extended through +her family? But this was a vain idea. She must talk to Lady Russell, +tell her, consult with her, and having done her best, wait the event +with as much composure as possible; and after all, her greatest want of +composure would be in that quarter of the mind which could not be +opened to Lady Russell; in that flow of anxieties and fears which must +be all to herself. + + +She found, on reaching home, that she had, as she intended, escaped +seeing Mr Elliot; that he had called and paid them a long morning +visit; but hardly had she congratulated herself, and felt safe, when +she heard that he was coming again in the evening. + +"I had not the smallest intention of asking him," said Elizabeth, with +affected carelessness, "but he gave so many hints; so Mrs Clay says, at +least." + +"Indeed, I do say it. I never saw anybody in my life spell harder for +an invitation. Poor man! I was really in pain for him; for your +hard-hearted sister, Miss Anne, seems bent on cruelty." + +"Oh!" cried Elizabeth, "I have been rather too much used to the game to +be soon overcome by a gentleman's hints. However, when I found how +excessively he was regretting that he should miss my father this +morning, I gave way immediately, for I would never really omit an +opportunity of bring him and Sir Walter together. They appear to so +much advantage in company with each other. Each behaving so +pleasantly. Mr Elliot looking up with so much respect." + +"Quite delightful!" cried Mrs Clay, not daring, however, to turn her +eyes towards Anne. "Exactly like father and son! Dear Miss Elliot, +may I not say father and son?" + +"Oh! I lay no embargo on any body's words. If you will have such +ideas! But, upon my word, I am scarcely sensible of his attentions +being beyond those of other men." + +"My dear Miss Elliot!" exclaimed Mrs Clay, lifting her hands and eyes, +and sinking all the rest of her astonishment in a convenient silence. + +"Well, my dear Penelope, you need not be so alarmed about him. I did +invite him, you know. I sent him away with smiles. When I found he +was really going to his friends at Thornberry Park for the whole day +to-morrow, I had compassion on him." + +Anne admired the good acting of the friend, in being able to shew such +pleasure as she did, in the expectation and in the actual arrival of +the very person whose presence must really be interfering with her +prime object. It was impossible but that Mrs Clay must hate the sight +of Mr Elliot; and yet she could assume a most obliging, placid look, +and appear quite satisfied with the curtailed license of devoting +herself only half as much to Sir Walter as she would have done +otherwise. + +To Anne herself it was most distressing to see Mr Elliot enter the +room; and quite painful to have him approach and speak to her. She had +been used before to feel that he could not be always quite sincere, but +now she saw insincerity in everything. His attentive deference to her +father, contrasted with his former language, was odious; and when she +thought of his cruel conduct towards Mrs Smith, she could hardly bear +the sight of his present smiles and mildness, or the sound of his +artificial good sentiments. + +She meant to avoid any such alteration of manners as might provoke a +remonstrance on his side. It was a great object to her to escape all +enquiry or eclat; but it was her intention to be as decidedly cool to +him as might be compatible with their relationship; and to retrace, as +quietly as she could, the few steps of unnecessary intimacy she had +been gradually led along. She was accordingly more guarded, and more +cool, than she had been the night before. + +He wanted to animate her curiosity again as to how and where he could +have heard her formerly praised; wanted very much to be gratified by +more solicitation; but the charm was broken: he found that the heat and +animation of a public room was necessary to kindle his modest cousin's +vanity; he found, at least, that it was not to be done now, by any of +those attempts which he could hazard among the too-commanding claims of +the others. He little surmised that it was a subject acting now +exactly against his interest, bringing immediately to her thoughts all +those parts of his conduct which were least excusable. + +She had some satisfaction in finding that he was really going out of +Bath the next morning, going early, and that he would be gone the +greater part of two days. He was invited again to Camden Place the +very evening of his return; but from Thursday to Saturday evening his +absence was certain. It was bad enough that a Mrs Clay should be +always before her; but that a deeper hypocrite should be added to their +party, seemed the destruction of everything like peace and comfort. It +was so humiliating to reflect on the constant deception practised on +her father and Elizabeth; to consider the various sources of +mortification preparing for them! Mrs Clay's selfishness was not so +complicate nor so revolting as his; and Anne would have compounded for +the marriage at once, with all its evils, to be clear of Mr Elliot's +subtleties in endeavouring to prevent it. + +On Friday morning she meant to go very early to Lady Russell, and +accomplish the necessary communication; and she would have gone +directly after breakfast, but that Mrs Clay was also going out on some +obliging purpose of saving her sister trouble, which determined her to +wait till she might be safe from such a companion. She saw Mrs Clay +fairly off, therefore, before she began to talk of spending the morning +in Rivers Street. + +"Very well," said Elizabeth, "I have nothing to send but my love. Oh! +you may as well take back that tiresome book she would lend me, and +pretend I have read it through. I really cannot be plaguing myself for +ever with all the new poems and states of the nation that come out. +Lady Russell quite bores one with her new publications. You need not +tell her so, but I thought her dress hideous the other night. I used +to think she had some taste in dress, but I was ashamed of her at the +concert. Something so formal and arrange in her air! and she sits so +upright! My best love, of course." + +"And mine," added Sir Walter. "Kindest regards. And you may say, that +I mean to call upon her soon. Make a civil message; but I shall only +leave my card. Morning visits are never fair by women at her time of +life, who make themselves up so little. If she would only wear rouge +she would not be afraid of being seen; but last time I called, I +observed the blinds were let down immediately." + +While her father spoke, there was a knock at the door. Who could it +be? Anne, remembering the preconcerted visits, at all hours, of Mr +Elliot, would have expected him, but for his known engagement seven +miles off. After the usual period of suspense, the usual sounds of +approach were heard, and "Mr and Mrs Charles Musgrove" were ushered +into the room. + +Surprise was the strongest emotion raised by their appearance; but Anne +was really glad to see them; and the others were not so sorry but that +they could put on a decent air of welcome; and as soon as it became +clear that these, their nearest relations, were not arrived with any +views of accommodation in that house, Sir Walter and Elizabeth were +able to rise in cordiality, and do the honours of it very well. They +were come to Bath for a few days with Mrs Musgrove, and were at the +White Hart. So much was pretty soon understood; but till Sir Walter +and Elizabeth were walking Mary into the other drawing-room, and +regaling themselves with her admiration, Anne could not draw upon +Charles's brain for a regular history of their coming, or an +explanation of some smiling hints of particular business, which had +been ostentatiously dropped by Mary, as well as of some apparent +confusion as to whom their party consisted of. + +She then found that it consisted of Mrs Musgrove, Henrietta, and +Captain Harville, beside their two selves. He gave her a very plain, +intelligible account of the whole; a narration in which she saw a great +deal of most characteristic proceeding. The scheme had received its +first impulse by Captain Harville's wanting to come to Bath on +business. He had begun to talk of it a week ago; and by way of doing +something, as shooting was over, Charles had proposed coming with him, +and Mrs Harville had seemed to like the idea of it very much, as an +advantage to her husband; but Mary could not bear to be left, and had +made herself so unhappy about it, that for a day or two everything +seemed to be in suspense, or at an end. But then, it had been taken up +by his father and mother. His mother had some old friends in Bath whom +she wanted to see; it was thought a good opportunity for Henrietta to +come and buy wedding-clothes for herself and her sister; and, in short, +it ended in being his mother's party, that everything might be +comfortable and easy to Captain Harville; and he and Mary were included +in it by way of general convenience. They had arrived late the night +before. Mrs Harville, her children, and Captain Benwick, remained with +Mr Musgrove and Louisa at Uppercross. + +Anne's only surprise was, that affairs should be in forwardness enough +for Henrietta's wedding-clothes to be talked of. She had imagined such +difficulties of fortune to exist there as must prevent the marriage +from being near at hand; but she learned from Charles that, very +recently, (since Mary's last letter to herself), Charles Hayter had +been applied to by a friend to hold a living for a youth who could not +possibly claim it under many years; and that on the strength of his +present income, with almost a certainty of something more permanent +long before the term in question, the two families had consented to the +young people's wishes, and that their marriage was likely to take place +in a few months, quite as soon as Louisa's. "And a very good living it +was," Charles added: "only five-and-twenty miles from Uppercross, and +in a very fine country: fine part of Dorsetshire. In the centre of +some of the best preserves in the kingdom, surrounded by three great +proprietors, each more careful and jealous than the other; and to two +of the three at least, Charles Hayter might get a special +recommendation. Not that he will value it as he ought," he observed, +"Charles is too cool about sporting. That's the worst of him." + +"I am extremely glad, indeed," cried Anne, "particularly glad that this +should happen; and that of two sisters, who both deserve equally well, +and who have always been such good friends, the pleasant prospect of +one should not be dimming those of the other--that they should be so +equal in their prosperity and comfort. I hope your father and mother +are quite happy with regard to both." + +"Oh! yes. My father would be well pleased if the gentlemen were +richer, but he has no other fault to find. Money, you know, coming +down with money--two daughters at once--it cannot be a very agreeable +operation, and it streightens him as to many things. However, I do not +mean to say they have not a right to it. It is very fit they should +have daughters' shares; and I am sure he has always been a very kind, +liberal father to me. Mary does not above half like Henrietta's match. +She never did, you know. But she does not do him justice, nor think +enough about Winthrop. I cannot make her attend to the value of the +property. It is a very fair match, as times go; and I have liked +Charles Hayter all my life, and I shall not leave off now." + +"Such excellent parents as Mr and Mrs Musgrove," exclaimed Anne, +"should be happy in their children's marriages. They do everything to +confer happiness, I am sure. What a blessing to young people to be in +such hands! Your father and mother seem so totally free from all those +ambitious feelings which have led to so much misconduct and misery, +both in young and old. I hope you think Louisa perfectly recovered +now?" + +He answered rather hesitatingly, "Yes, I believe I do; very much +recovered; but she is altered; there is no running or jumping about, no +laughing or dancing; it is quite different. If one happens only to +shut the door a little hard, she starts and wriggles like a young +dab-chick in the water; and Benwick sits at her elbow, reading verses, +or whispering to her, all day long." + +Anne could not help laughing. "That cannot be much to your taste, I +know," said she; "but I do believe him to be an excellent young man." + +"To be sure he is. Nobody doubts it; and I hope you do not think I am +so illiberal as to want every man to have the same objects and +pleasures as myself. I have a great value for Benwick; and when one +can but get him to talk, he has plenty to say. His reading has done +him no harm, for he has fought as well as read. He is a brave fellow. +I got more acquainted with him last Monday than ever I did before. We +had a famous set-to at rat-hunting all the morning in my father's great +barns; and he played his part so well that I have liked him the better +ever since." + +Here they were interrupted by the absolute necessity of Charles's +following the others to admire mirrors and china; but Anne had heard +enough to understand the present state of Uppercross, and rejoice in +its happiness; and though she sighed as she rejoiced, her sigh had none +of the ill-will of envy in it. She would certainly have risen to their +blessings if she could, but she did not want to lessen theirs. + +The visit passed off altogether in high good humour. Mary was in +excellent spirits, enjoying the gaiety and the change, and so well +satisfied with the journey in her mother-in-law's carriage with four +horses, and with her own complete independence of Camden Place, that +she was exactly in a temper to admire everything as she ought, and +enter most readily into all the superiorities of the house, as they +were detailed to her. She had no demands on her father or sister, and +her consequence was just enough increased by their handsome +drawing-rooms. + +Elizabeth was, for a short time, suffering a good deal. She felt that +Mrs Musgrove and all her party ought to be asked to dine with them; but +she could not bear to have the difference of style, the reduction of +servants, which a dinner must betray, witnessed by those who had been +always so inferior to the Elliots of Kellynch. It was a struggle +between propriety and vanity; but vanity got the better, and then +Elizabeth was happy again. These were her internal persuasions: "Old +fashioned notions; country hospitality; we do not profess to give +dinners; few people in Bath do; Lady Alicia never does; did not even +ask her own sister's family, though they were here a month: and I dare +say it would be very inconvenient to Mrs Musgrove; put her quite out of +her way. I am sure she would rather not come; she cannot feel easy +with us. I will ask them all for an evening; that will be much better; +that will be a novelty and a treat. They have not seen two such +drawing rooms before. They will be delighted to come to-morrow +evening. It shall be a regular party, small, but most elegant." And +this satisfied Elizabeth: and when the invitation was given to the two +present, and promised for the absent, Mary was as completely satisfied. +She was particularly asked to meet Mr Elliot, and be introduced to Lady +Dalrymple and Miss Carteret, who were fortunately already engaged to +come; and she could not have received a more gratifying attention. +Miss Elliot was to have the honour of calling on Mrs Musgrove in the +course of the morning; and Anne walked off with Charles and Mary, to go +and see her and Henrietta directly. + +Her plan of sitting with Lady Russell must give way for the present. +They all three called in Rivers Street for a couple of minutes; but +Anne convinced herself that a day's delay of the intended communication +could be of no consequence, and hastened forward to the White Hart, to +see again the friends and companions of the last autumn, with an +eagerness of good-will which many associations contributed to form. + +They found Mrs Musgrove and her daughter within, and by themselves, and +Anne had the kindest welcome from each. Henrietta was exactly in that +state of recently-improved views, of fresh-formed happiness, which made +her full of regard and interest for everybody she had ever liked before +at all; and Mrs Musgrove's real affection had been won by her +usefulness when they were in distress. It was a heartiness, and a +warmth, and a sincerity which Anne delighted in the more, from the sad +want of such blessings at home. She was entreated to give them as much +of her time as possible, invited for every day and all day long, or +rather claimed as part of the family; and, in return, she naturally +fell into all her wonted ways of attention and assistance, and on +Charles's leaving them together, was listening to Mrs Musgrove's +history of Louisa, and to Henrietta's of herself, giving opinions on +business, and recommendations to shops; with intervals of every help +which Mary required, from altering her ribbon to settling her accounts; +from finding her keys, and assorting her trinkets, to trying to +convince her that she was not ill-used by anybody; which Mary, well +amused as she generally was, in her station at a window overlooking the +entrance to the Pump Room, could not but have her moments of imagining. + +A morning of thorough confusion was to be expected. A large party in +an hotel ensured a quick-changing, unsettled scene. One five minutes +brought a note, the next a parcel; and Anne had not been there half an +hour, when their dining-room, spacious as it was, seemed more than half +filled: a party of steady old friends were seated around Mrs Musgrove, +and Charles came back with Captains Harville and Wentworth. The +appearance of the latter could not be more than the surprise of the +moment. It was impossible for her to have forgotten to feel that this +arrival of their common friends must be soon bringing them together +again. Their last meeting had been most important in opening his +feelings; she had derived from it a delightful conviction; but she +feared from his looks, that the same unfortunate persuasion, which had +hastened him away from the Concert Room, still governed. He did not +seem to want to be near enough for conversation. + +She tried to be calm, and leave things to take their course, and tried +to dwell much on this argument of rational dependence:--"Surely, if +there be constant attachment on each side, our hearts must understand +each other ere long. We are not boy and girl, to be captiously +irritable, misled by every moment's inadvertence, and wantonly playing +with our own happiness." And yet, a few minutes afterwards, she felt +as if their being in company with each other, under their present +circumstances, could only be exposing them to inadvertencies and +misconstructions of the most mischievous kind. + +"Anne," cried Mary, still at her window, "there is Mrs Clay, I am sure, +standing under the colonnade, and a gentleman with her. I saw them +turn the corner from Bath Street just now. They seemed deep in talk. +Who is it? Come, and tell me. Good heavens! I recollect. It is Mr +Elliot himself." + +"No," cried Anne, quickly, "it cannot be Mr Elliot, I assure you. He +was to leave Bath at nine this morning, and does not come back till +to-morrow." + +As she spoke, she felt that Captain Wentworth was looking at her, the +consciousness of which vexed and embarrassed her, and made her regret +that she had said so much, simple as it was. + +Mary, resenting that she should be supposed not to know her own cousin, +began talking very warmly about the family features, and protesting +still more positively that it was Mr Elliot, calling again upon Anne to +come and look for herself, but Anne did not mean to stir, and tried to +be cool and unconcerned. Her distress returned, however, on perceiving +smiles and intelligent glances pass between two or three of the lady +visitors, as if they believed themselves quite in the secret. It was +evident that the report concerning her had spread, and a short pause +succeeded, which seemed to ensure that it would now spread farther. + +"Do come, Anne" cried Mary, "come and look yourself. You will be too +late if you do not make haste. They are parting; they are shaking +hands. He is turning away. Not know Mr Elliot, indeed! You seem to +have forgot all about Lyme." + +To pacify Mary, and perhaps screen her own embarrassment, Anne did move +quietly to the window. She was just in time to ascertain that it +really was Mr Elliot, which she had never believed, before he +disappeared on one side, as Mrs Clay walked quickly off on the other; +and checking the surprise which she could not but feel at such an +appearance of friendly conference between two persons of totally +opposite interest, she calmly said, "Yes, it is Mr Elliot, certainly. +He has changed his hour of going, I suppose, that is all, or I may be +mistaken, I might not attend;" and walked back to her chair, +recomposed, and with the comfortable hope of having acquitted herself +well. + +The visitors took their leave; and Charles, having civilly seen them +off, and then made a face at them, and abused them for coming, began +with-- + +"Well, mother, I have done something for you that you will like. I +have been to the theatre, and secured a box for to-morrow night. A'n't +I a good boy? I know you love a play; and there is room for us all. +It holds nine. I have engaged Captain Wentworth. Anne will not be +sorry to join us, I am sure. We all like a play. Have not I done +well, mother?" + +Mrs Musgrove was good humouredly beginning to express her perfect +readiness for the play, if Henrietta and all the others liked it, when +Mary eagerly interrupted her by exclaiming-- + +"Good heavens, Charles! how can you think of such a thing? Take a box +for to-morrow night! Have you forgot that we are engaged to Camden +Place to-morrow night? and that we were most particularly asked to meet +Lady Dalrymple and her daughter, and Mr Elliot, and all the principal +family connexions, on purpose to be introduced to them? How can you be +so forgetful?" + +"Phoo! phoo!" replied Charles, "what's an evening party? Never worth +remembering. Your father might have asked us to dinner, I think, if he +had wanted to see us. You may do as you like, but I shall go to the +play." + +"Oh! Charles, I declare it will be too abominable if you do, when you +promised to go." + +"No, I did not promise. I only smirked and bowed, and said the word +'happy.' There was no promise." + +"But you must go, Charles. It would be unpardonable to fail. We were +asked on purpose to be introduced. There was always such a great +connexion between the Dalrymples and ourselves. Nothing ever happened +on either side that was not announced immediately. We are quite near +relations, you know; and Mr Elliot too, whom you ought so particularly +to be acquainted with! Every attention is due to Mr Elliot. Consider, +my father's heir: the future representative of the family." + +"Don't talk to me about heirs and representatives," cried Charles. "I +am not one of those who neglect the reigning power to bow to the rising +sun. If I would not go for the sake of your father, I should think it +scandalous to go for the sake of his heir. What is Mr Elliot to me?" +The careless expression was life to Anne, who saw that Captain +Wentworth was all attention, looking and listening with his whole soul; +and that the last words brought his enquiring eyes from Charles to +herself. + +Charles and Mary still talked on in the same style; he, half serious +and half jesting, maintaining the scheme for the play, and she, +invariably serious, most warmly opposing it, and not omitting to make +it known that, however determined to go to Camden Place herself, she +should not think herself very well used, if they went to the play +without her. Mrs Musgrove interposed. + +"We had better put it off. Charles, you had much better go back and +change the box for Tuesday. It would be a pity to be divided, and we +should be losing Miss Anne, too, if there is a party at her father's; +and I am sure neither Henrietta nor I should care at all for the play, +if Miss Anne could not be with us." + +Anne felt truly obliged to her for such kindness; and quite as much so +for the opportunity it gave her of decidedly saying-- + +"If it depended only on my inclination, ma'am, the party at home +(excepting on Mary's account) would not be the smallest impediment. I +have no pleasure in the sort of meeting, and should be too happy to +change it for a play, and with you. But, it had better not be +attempted, perhaps." She had spoken it; but she trembled when it was +done, conscious that her words were listened to, and daring not even to +try to observe their effect. + +It was soon generally agreed that Tuesday should be the day; Charles +only reserving the advantage of still teasing his wife, by persisting +that he would go to the play to-morrow if nobody else would. + +Captain Wentworth left his seat, and walked to the fire-place; probably +for the sake of walking away from it soon afterwards, and taking a +station, with less bare-faced design, by Anne. + +"You have not been long enough in Bath," said he, "to enjoy the evening +parties of the place." + +"Oh! no. The usual character of them has nothing for me. I am no +card-player." + +"You were not formerly, I know. You did not use to like cards; but +time makes many changes." + +"I am not yet so much changed," cried Anne, and stopped, fearing she +hardly knew what misconstruction. After waiting a few moments he said, +and as if it were the result of immediate feeling, "It is a period, +indeed! Eight years and a half is a period." + +Whether he would have proceeded farther was left to Anne's imagination +to ponder over in a calmer hour; for while still hearing the sounds he +had uttered, she was startled to other subjects by Henrietta, eager to +make use of the present leisure for getting out, and calling on her +companions to lose no time, lest somebody else should come in. + +They were obliged to move. Anne talked of being perfectly ready, and +tried to look it; but she felt that could Henrietta have known the +regret and reluctance of her heart in quitting that chair, in preparing +to quit the room, she would have found, in all her own sensations for +her cousin, in the very security of his affection, wherewith to pity +her. + +Their preparations, however, were stopped short. Alarming sounds were +heard; other visitors approached, and the door was thrown open for Sir +Walter and Miss Elliot, whose entrance seemed to give a general chill. +Anne felt an instant oppression, and wherever she looked saw symptoms +of the same. The comfort, the freedom, the gaiety of the room was +over, hushed into cold composure, determined silence, or insipid talk, +to meet the heartless elegance of her father and sister. How +mortifying to feel that it was so! + +Her jealous eye was satisfied in one particular. Captain Wentworth was +acknowledged again by each, by Elizabeth more graciously than before. +She even addressed him once, and looked at him more than once. +Elizabeth was, in fact, revolving a great measure. The sequel +explained it. After the waste of a few minutes in saying the proper +nothings, she began to give the invitation which was to comprise all +the remaining dues of the Musgroves. "To-morrow evening, to meet a few +friends: no formal party." It was all said very gracefully, and the +cards with which she had provided herself, the "Miss Elliot at home," +were laid on the table, with a courteous, comprehensive smile to all, +and one smile and one card more decidedly for Captain Wentworth. The +truth was, that Elizabeth had been long enough in Bath to understand +the importance of a man of such an air and appearance as his. The past +was nothing. The present was that Captain Wentworth would move about +well in her drawing-room. The card was pointedly given, and Sir Walter +and Elizabeth arose and disappeared. + +The interruption had been short, though severe, and ease and animation +returned to most of those they left as the door shut them out, but not +to Anne. She could think only of the invitation she had with such +astonishment witnessed, and of the manner in which it had been +received; a manner of doubtful meaning, of surprise rather than +gratification, of polite acknowledgement rather than acceptance. She +knew him; she saw disdain in his eye, and could not venture to believe +that he had determined to accept such an offering, as an atonement for +all the insolence of the past. Her spirits sank. He held the card in +his hand after they were gone, as if deeply considering it. + +"Only think of Elizabeth's including everybody!" whispered Mary very +audibly. "I do not wonder Captain Wentworth is delighted! You see he +cannot put the card out of his hand." + +Anne caught his eye, saw his cheeks glow, and his mouth form itself +into a momentary expression of contempt, and turned away, that she +might neither see nor hear more to vex her. + +The party separated. The gentlemen had their own pursuits, the ladies +proceeded on their own business, and they met no more while Anne +belonged to them. She was earnestly begged to return and dine, and +give them all the rest of the day, but her spirits had been so long +exerted that at present she felt unequal to more, and fit only for +home, where she might be sure of being as silent as she chose. + +Promising to be with them the whole of the following morning, +therefore, she closed the fatigues of the present by a toilsome walk to +Camden Place, there to spend the evening chiefly in listening to the +busy arrangements of Elizabeth and Mrs Clay for the morrow's party, the +frequent enumeration of the persons invited, and the continually +improving detail of all the embellishments which were to make it the +most completely elegant of its kind in Bath, while harassing herself +with the never-ending question, of whether Captain Wentworth would come +or not? They were reckoning him as certain, but with her it was a +gnawing solicitude never appeased for five minutes together. She +generally thought he would come, because she generally thought he +ought; but it was a case which she could not so shape into any positive +act of duty or discretion, as inevitably to defy the suggestions of +very opposite feelings. + +She only roused herself from the broodings of this restless agitation, +to let Mrs Clay know that she had been seen with Mr Elliot three hours +after his being supposed to be out of Bath, for having watched in vain +for some intimation of the interview from the lady herself, she +determined to mention it, and it seemed to her there was guilt in Mrs +Clay's face as she listened. It was transient: cleared away in an +instant; but Anne could imagine she read there the consciousness of +having, by some complication of mutual trick, or some overbearing +authority of his, been obliged to attend (perhaps for half an hour) to +his lectures and restrictions on her designs on Sir Walter. She +exclaimed, however, with a very tolerable imitation of nature:-- + +"Oh! dear! very true. Only think, Miss Elliot, to my great surprise I +met with Mr Elliot in Bath Street. I was never more astonished. He +turned back and walked with me to the Pump Yard. He had been prevented +setting off for Thornberry, but I really forget by what; for I was in a +hurry, and could not much attend, and I can only answer for his being +determined not to be delayed in his return. He wanted to know how +early he might be admitted to-morrow. He was full of 'to-morrow,' and +it is very evident that I have been full of it too, ever since I +entered the house, and learnt the extension of your plan and all that +had happened, or my seeing him could never have gone so entirely out of +my head." + + + +Chapter 23 + + +One day only had passed since Anne's conversation with Mrs Smith; but a +keener interest had succeeded, and she was now so little touched by Mr +Elliot's conduct, except by its effects in one quarter, that it became +a matter of course the next morning, still to defer her explanatory +visit in Rivers Street. She had promised to be with the Musgroves from +breakfast to dinner. Her faith was plighted, and Mr Elliot's +character, like the Sultaness Scheherazade's head, must live another +day. + +She could not keep her appointment punctually, however; the weather was +unfavourable, and she had grieved over the rain on her friends' +account, and felt it very much on her own, before she was able to +attempt the walk. When she reached the White Hart, and made her way to +the proper apartment, she found herself neither arriving quite in time, +nor the first to arrive. The party before her were, Mrs Musgrove, +talking to Mrs Croft, and Captain Harville to Captain Wentworth; and +she immediately heard that Mary and Henrietta, too impatient to wait, +had gone out the moment it had cleared, but would be back again soon, +and that the strictest injunctions had been left with Mrs Musgrove to +keep her there till they returned. She had only to submit, sit down, +be outwardly composed, and feel herself plunged at once in all the +agitations which she had merely laid her account of tasting a little +before the morning closed. There was no delay, no waste of time. She +was deep in the happiness of such misery, or the misery of such +happiness, instantly. Two minutes after her entering the room, Captain +Wentworth said-- + +"We will write the letter we were talking of, Harville, now, if you +will give me materials." + +Materials were at hand, on a separate table; he went to it, and nearly +turning his back to them all, was engrossed by writing. + +Mrs Musgrove was giving Mrs Croft the history of her eldest daughter's +engagement, and just in that inconvenient tone of voice which was +perfectly audible while it pretended to be a whisper. Anne felt that +she did not belong to the conversation, and yet, as Captain Harville +seemed thoughtful and not disposed to talk, she could not avoid hearing +many undesirable particulars; such as, "how Mr Musgrove and my brother +Hayter had met again and again to talk it over; what my brother Hayter +had said one day, and what Mr Musgrove had proposed the next, and what +had occurred to my sister Hayter, and what the young people had wished, +and what I said at first I never could consent to, but was afterwards +persuaded to think might do very well," and a great deal in the same +style of open-hearted communication: minutiae which, even with every +advantage of taste and delicacy, which good Mrs Musgrove could not +give, could be properly interesting only to the principals. Mrs Croft +was attending with great good-humour, and whenever she spoke at all, it +was very sensibly. Anne hoped the gentlemen might each be too much +self-occupied to hear. + +"And so, ma'am, all these thing considered," said Mrs Musgrove, in her +powerful whisper, "though we could have wished it different, yet, +altogether, we did not think it fair to stand out any longer, for +Charles Hayter was quite wild about it, and Henrietta was pretty near +as bad; and so we thought they had better marry at once, and make the +best of it, as many others have done before them. At any rate, said I, +it will be better than a long engagement." + +"That is precisely what I was going to observe," cried Mrs Croft. "I +would rather have young people settle on a small income at once, and +have to struggle with a few difficulties together, than be involved in +a long engagement. I always think that no mutual--" + +"Oh! dear Mrs Croft," cried Mrs Musgrove, unable to let her finish her +speech, "there is nothing I so abominate for young people as a long +engagement. It is what I always protested against for my children. It +is all very well, I used to say, for young people to be engaged, if +there is a certainty of their being able to marry in six months, or +even in twelve; but a long engagement--" + +"Yes, dear ma'am," said Mrs Croft, "or an uncertain engagement, an +engagement which may be long. To begin without knowing that at such a +time there will be the means of marrying, I hold to be very unsafe and +unwise, and what I think all parents should prevent as far as they can." + +Anne found an unexpected interest here. She felt its application to +herself, felt it in a nervous thrill all over her; and at the same +moment that her eyes instinctively glanced towards the distant table, +Captain Wentworth's pen ceased to move, his head was raised, pausing, +listening, and he turned round the next instant to give a look, one +quick, conscious look at her. + +The two ladies continued to talk, to re-urge the same admitted truths, +and enforce them with such examples of the ill effect of a contrary +practice as had fallen within their observation, but Anne heard nothing +distinctly; it was only a buzz of words in her ear, her mind was in +confusion. + +Captain Harville, who had in truth been hearing none of it, now left +his seat, and moved to a window, and Anne seeming to watch him, though +it was from thorough absence of mind, became gradually sensible that he +was inviting her to join him where he stood. He looked at her with a +smile, and a little motion of the head, which expressed, "Come to me, I +have something to say;" and the unaffected, easy kindness of manner +which denoted the feelings of an older acquaintance than he really was, +strongly enforced the invitation. She roused herself and went to him. +The window at which he stood was at the other end of the room from +where the two ladies were sitting, and though nearer to Captain +Wentworth's table, not very near. As she joined him, Captain +Harville's countenance re-assumed the serious, thoughtful expression +which seemed its natural character. + +"Look here," said he, unfolding a parcel in his hand, and displaying a +small miniature painting, "do you know who that is?" + +"Certainly: Captain Benwick." + +"Yes, and you may guess who it is for. But," (in a deep tone,) "it was +not done for her. Miss Elliot, do you remember our walking together at +Lyme, and grieving for him? I little thought then--but no matter. +This was drawn at the Cape. He met with a clever young German artist +at the Cape, and in compliance with a promise to my poor sister, sat to +him, and was bringing it home for her; and I have now the charge of +getting it properly set for another! It was a commission to me! But +who else was there to employ? I hope I can allow for him. I am not +sorry, indeed, to make it over to another. He undertakes it;" (looking +towards Captain Wentworth,) "he is writing about it now." And with a +quivering lip he wound up the whole by adding, "Poor Fanny! she would +not have forgotten him so soon!" + +"No," replied Anne, in a low, feeling voice. "That I can easily +believe." + +"It was not in her nature. She doted on him." + +"It would not be the nature of any woman who truly loved." + +Captain Harville smiled, as much as to say, "Do you claim that for your +sex?" and she answered the question, smiling also, "Yes. We certainly +do not forget you as soon as you forget us. It is, perhaps, our fate +rather than our merit. We cannot help ourselves. We live at home, +quiet, confined, and our feelings prey upon us. You are forced on +exertion. You have always a profession, pursuits, business of some +sort or other, to take you back into the world immediately, and +continual occupation and change soon weaken impressions." + +"Granting your assertion that the world does all this so soon for men +(which, however, I do not think I shall grant), it does not apply to +Benwick. He has not been forced upon any exertion. The peace turned +him on shore at the very moment, and he has been living with us, in our +little family circle, ever since." + +"True," said Anne, "very true; I did not recollect; but what shall we +say now, Captain Harville? If the change be not from outward +circumstances, it must be from within; it must be nature, man's nature, +which has done the business for Captain Benwick." + +"No, no, it is not man's nature. I will not allow it to be more man's +nature than woman's to be inconstant and forget those they do love, or +have loved. I believe the reverse. I believe in a true analogy +between our bodily frames and our mental; and that as our bodies are +the strongest, so are our feelings; capable of bearing most rough +usage, and riding out the heaviest weather." + +"Your feelings may be the strongest," replied Anne, "but the same +spirit of analogy will authorise me to assert that ours are the most +tender. Man is more robust than woman, but he is not longer lived; +which exactly explains my view of the nature of their attachments. +Nay, it would be too hard upon you, if it were otherwise. You have +difficulties, and privations, and dangers enough to struggle with. You +are always labouring and toiling, exposed to every risk and hardship. +Your home, country, friends, all quitted. Neither time, nor health, +nor life, to be called your own. It would be hard, indeed" (with a +faltering voice), "if woman's feelings were to be added to all this." + +"We shall never agree upon this question," Captain Harville was +beginning to say, when a slight noise called their attention to Captain +Wentworth's hitherto perfectly quiet division of the room. It was +nothing more than that his pen had fallen down; but Anne was startled +at finding him nearer than she had supposed, and half inclined to +suspect that the pen had only fallen because he had been occupied by +them, striving to catch sounds, which yet she did not think he could +have caught. + +"Have you finished your letter?" said Captain Harville. + +"Not quite, a few lines more. I shall have done in five minutes." + +"There is no hurry on my side. I am only ready whenever you are. I am +in very good anchorage here," (smiling at Anne,) "well supplied, and +want for nothing. No hurry for a signal at all. Well, Miss Elliot," +(lowering his voice,) "as I was saying we shall never agree, I suppose, +upon this point. No man and woman, would, probably. But let me +observe that all histories are against you--all stories, prose and +verse. If I had such a memory as Benwick, I could bring you fifty +quotations in a moment on my side the argument, and I do not think I +ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon +woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's +fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men." + +"Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in +books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. +Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been +in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything." + +"But how shall we prove anything?" + +"We never shall. We never can expect to prove any thing upon such a +point. It is a difference of opinion which does not admit of proof. +We each begin, probably, with a little bias towards our own sex; and +upon that bias build every circumstance in favour of it which has +occurred within our own circle; many of which circumstances (perhaps +those very cases which strike us the most) may be precisely such as +cannot be brought forward without betraying a confidence, or in some +respect saying what should not be said." + +"Ah!" cried Captain Harville, in a tone of strong feeling, "if I could +but make you comprehend what a man suffers when he takes a last look at +his wife and children, and watches the boat that he has sent them off +in, as long as it is in sight, and then turns away and says, 'God knows +whether we ever meet again!' And then, if I could convey to you the +glow of his soul when he does see them again; when, coming back after a +twelvemonth's absence, perhaps, and obliged to put into another port, +he calculates how soon it be possible to get them there, pretending to +deceive himself, and saying, 'They cannot be here till such a day,' but +all the while hoping for them twelve hours sooner, and seeing them +arrive at last, as if Heaven had given them wings, by many hours sooner +still! If I could explain to you all this, and all that a man can bear +and do, and glories to do, for the sake of these treasures of his +existence! I speak, you know, only of such men as have hearts!" +pressing his own with emotion. + +"Oh!" cried Anne eagerly, "I hope I do justice to all that is felt by +you, and by those who resemble you. God forbid that I should +undervalue the warm and faithful feelings of any of my +fellow-creatures! I should deserve utter contempt if I dared to +suppose that true attachment and constancy were known only by woman. +No, I believe you capable of everything great and good in your married +lives. I believe you equal to every important exertion, and to every +domestic forbearance, so long as--if I may be allowed the +expression--so long as you have an object. I mean while the woman you +love lives, and lives for you. All the privilege I claim for my own +sex (it is not a very enviable one; you need not covet it), is that of +loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone." + +She could not immediately have uttered another sentence; her heart was +too full, her breath too much oppressed. + +"You are a good soul," cried Captain Harville, putting his hand on her +arm, quite affectionately. "There is no quarrelling with you. And +when I think of Benwick, my tongue is tied." + +Their attention was called towards the others. Mrs Croft was taking +leave. + +"Here, Frederick, you and I part company, I believe," said she. "I am +going home, and you have an engagement with your friend. To-night we +may have the pleasure of all meeting again at your party," (turning to +Anne.) "We had your sister's card yesterday, and I understood +Frederick had a card too, though I did not see it; and you are +disengaged, Frederick, are you not, as well as ourselves?" + +Captain Wentworth was folding up a letter in great haste, and either +could not or would not answer fully. + +"Yes," said he, "very true; here we separate, but Harville and I shall +soon be after you; that is, Harville, if you are ready, I am in half a +minute. I know you will not be sorry to be off. I shall be at your +service in half a minute." + +Mrs Croft left them, and Captain Wentworth, having sealed his letter +with great rapidity, was indeed ready, and had even a hurried, agitated +air, which shewed impatience to be gone. Anne knew not how to +understand it. She had the kindest "Good morning, God bless you!" from +Captain Harville, but from him not a word, nor a look! He had passed +out of the room without a look! + +She had only time, however, to move closer to the table where he had +been writing, when footsteps were heard returning; the door opened, it +was himself. He begged their pardon, but he had forgotten his gloves, +and instantly crossing the room to the writing table, he drew out a +letter from under the scattered paper, placed it before Anne with eyes +of glowing entreaty fixed on her for a time, and hastily collecting his +gloves, was again out of the room, almost before Mrs Musgrove was aware +of his being in it: the work of an instant! + +The revolution which one instant had made in Anne, was almost beyond +expression. The letter, with a direction hardly legible, to "Miss A. +E.--," was evidently the one which he had been folding so hastily. +While supposed to be writing only to Captain Benwick, he had been also +addressing her! On the contents of that letter depended all which this +world could do for her. Anything was possible, anything might be +defied rather than suspense. Mrs Musgrove had little arrangements of +her own at her own table; to their protection she must trust, and +sinking into the chair which he had occupied, succeeding to the very +spot where he had leaned and written, her eyes devoured the following +words: + + +"I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means +as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half +hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are +gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your +own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare +not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an +earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, +weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have +brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not +seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not +waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think +you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant +hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can +distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. +Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do +believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe +it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in F. W. + +"I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow +your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look, will be enough to +decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never." + + +Such a letter was not to be soon recovered from. Half an hour's +solitude and reflection might have tranquillized her; but the ten +minutes only which now passed before she was interrupted, with all the +restraints of her situation, could do nothing towards tranquillity. +Every moment rather brought fresh agitation. It was overpowering +happiness. And before she was beyond the first stage of full +sensation, Charles, Mary, and Henrietta all came in. + +The absolute necessity of seeming like herself produced then an +immediate struggle; but after a while she could do no more. She began +not to understand a word they said, and was obliged to plead +indisposition and excuse herself. They could then see that she looked +very ill, were shocked and concerned, and would not stir without her +for the world. This was dreadful. Would they only have gone away, and +left her in the quiet possession of that room it would have been her +cure; but to have them all standing or waiting around her was +distracting, and in desperation, she said she would go home. + +"By all means, my dear," cried Mrs Musgrove, "go home directly, and +take care of yourself, that you may be fit for the evening. I wish +Sarah was here to doctor you, but I am no doctor myself. Charles, ring +and order a chair. She must not walk." + +But the chair would never do. Worse than all! To lose the possibility +of speaking two words to Captain Wentworth in the course of her quiet, +solitary progress up the town (and she felt almost certain of meeting +him) could not be borne. The chair was earnestly protested against, +and Mrs Musgrove, who thought only of one sort of illness, having +assured herself with some anxiety, that there had been no fall in the +case; that Anne had not at any time lately slipped down, and got a blow +on her head; that she was perfectly convinced of having had no fall; +could part with her cheerfully, and depend on finding her better at +night. + +Anxious to omit no possible precaution, Anne struggled, and said-- + +"I am afraid, ma'am, that it is not perfectly understood. Pray be so +good as to mention to the other gentlemen that we hope to see your +whole party this evening. I am afraid there had been some mistake; and +I wish you particularly to assure Captain Harville and Captain +Wentworth, that we hope to see them both." + +"Oh! my dear, it is quite understood, I give you my word. Captain +Harville has no thought but of going." + +"Do you think so? But I am afraid; and I should be so very sorry. +Will you promise me to mention it, when you see them again? You will +see them both this morning, I dare say. Do promise me." + +"To be sure I will, if you wish it. Charles, if you see Captain +Harville anywhere, remember to give Miss Anne's message. But indeed, +my dear, you need not be uneasy. Captain Harville holds himself quite +engaged, I'll answer for it; and Captain Wentworth the same, I dare +say." + +Anne could do no more; but her heart prophesied some mischance to damp +the perfection of her felicity. It could not be very lasting, however. +Even if he did not come to Camden Place himself, it would be in her +power to send an intelligible sentence by Captain Harville. Another +momentary vexation occurred. Charles, in his real concern and good +nature, would go home with her; there was no preventing him. This was +almost cruel. But she could not be long ungrateful; he was sacrificing +an engagement at a gunsmith's, to be of use to her; and she set off +with him, with no feeling but gratitude apparent. + +They were on Union Street, when a quicker step behind, a something of +familiar sound, gave her two moments' preparation for the sight of +Captain Wentworth. He joined them; but, as if irresolute whether to +join or to pass on, said nothing, only looked. Anne could command +herself enough to receive that look, and not repulsively. The cheeks +which had been pale now glowed, and the movements which had hesitated +were decided. He walked by her side. Presently, struck by a sudden +thought, Charles said-- + +"Captain Wentworth, which way are you going? Only to Gay Street, or +farther up the town?" + +"I hardly know," replied Captain Wentworth, surprised. + +"Are you going as high as Belmont? Are you going near Camden Place? +Because, if you are, I shall have no scruple in asking you to take my +place, and give Anne your arm to her father's door. She is rather done +for this morning, and must not go so far without help, and I ought to +be at that fellow's in the Market Place. He promised me the sight of a +capital gun he is just going to send off; said he would keep it +unpacked to the last possible moment, that I might see it; and if I do +not turn back now, I have no chance. By his description, a good deal +like the second size double-barrel of mine, which you shot with one day +round Winthrop." + +There could not be an objection. There could be only the most proper +alacrity, a most obliging compliance for public view; and smiles reined +in and spirits dancing in private rapture. In half a minute Charles +was at the bottom of Union Street again, and the other two proceeding +together: and soon words enough had passed between them to decide +their direction towards the comparatively quiet and retired gravel +walk, where the power of conversation would make the present hour a +blessing indeed, and prepare it for all the immortality which the +happiest recollections of their own future lives could bestow. There +they exchanged again those feelings and those promises which had once +before seemed to secure everything, but which had been followed by so +many, many years of division and estrangement. There they returned +again into the past, more exquisitely happy, perhaps, in their +re-union, than when it had been first projected; more tender, more +tried, more fixed in a knowledge of each other's character, truth, and +attachment; more equal to act, more justified in acting. And there, as +they slowly paced the gradual ascent, heedless of every group around +them, seeing neither sauntering politicians, bustling housekeepers, +flirting girls, nor nursery-maids and children, they could indulge in +those retrospections and acknowledgements, and especially in those +explanations of what had directly preceded the present moment, which +were so poignant and so ceaseless in interest. All the little +variations of the last week were gone through; and of yesterday and +today there could scarcely be an end. + +She had not mistaken him. Jealousy of Mr Elliot had been the retarding +weight, the doubt, the torment. That had begun to operate in the very +hour of first meeting her in Bath; that had returned, after a short +suspension, to ruin the concert; and that had influenced him in +everything he had said and done, or omitted to say and do, in the last +four-and-twenty hours. It had been gradually yielding to the better +hopes which her looks, or words, or actions occasionally encouraged; it +had been vanquished at last by those sentiments and those tones which +had reached him while she talked with Captain Harville; and under the +irresistible governance of which he had seized a sheet of paper, and +poured out his feelings. + +Of what he had then written, nothing was to be retracted or qualified. +He persisted in having loved none but her. She had never been +supplanted. He never even believed himself to see her equal. Thus +much indeed he was obliged to acknowledge: that he had been constant +unconsciously, nay unintentionally; that he had meant to forget her, +and believed it to be done. He had imagined himself indifferent, when +he had only been angry; and he had been unjust to her merits, because +he had been a sufferer from them. Her character was now fixed on his +mind as perfection itself, maintaining the loveliest medium of +fortitude and gentleness; but he was obliged to acknowledge that only +at Uppercross had he learnt to do her justice, and only at Lyme had he +begun to understand himself. At Lyme, he had received lessons of more +than one sort. The passing admiration of Mr Elliot had at least roused +him, and the scenes on the Cobb and at Captain Harville's had fixed her +superiority. + +In his preceding attempts to attach himself to Louisa Musgrove (the +attempts of angry pride), he protested that he had for ever felt it to +be impossible; that he had not cared, could not care, for Louisa; +though till that day, till the leisure for reflection which followed +it, he had not understood the perfect excellence of the mind with which +Louisa's could so ill bear a comparison, or the perfect unrivalled hold +it possessed over his own. There, he had learnt to distinguish between +the steadiness of principle and the obstinacy of self-will, between the +darings of heedlessness and the resolution of a collected mind. There +he had seen everything to exalt in his estimation the woman he had +lost; and there begun to deplore the pride, the folly, the madness of +resentment, which had kept him from trying to regain her when thrown in +his way. + +From that period his penance had become severe. He had no sooner been +free from the horror and remorse attending the first few days of +Louisa's accident, no sooner begun to feel himself alive again, than he +had begun to feel himself, though alive, not at liberty. + +"I found," said he, "that I was considered by Harville an engaged man! +That neither Harville nor his wife entertained a doubt of our mutual +attachment. I was startled and shocked. To a degree, I could +contradict this instantly; but, when I began to reflect that others +might have felt the same--her own family, nay, perhaps herself--I was +no longer at my own disposal. I was hers in honour if she wished it. +I had been unguarded. I had not thought seriously on this subject +before. I had not considered that my excessive intimacy must have its +danger of ill consequence in many ways; and that I had no right to be +trying whether I could attach myself to either of the girls, at the +risk of raising even an unpleasant report, were there no other ill +effects. I had been grossly wrong, and must abide the consequences." + +He found too late, in short, that he had entangled himself; and that +precisely as he became fully satisfied of his not caring for Louisa at +all, he must regard himself as bound to her, if her sentiments for him +were what the Harvilles supposed. It determined him to leave Lyme, and +await her complete recovery elsewhere. He would gladly weaken, by any +fair means, whatever feelings or speculations concerning him might +exist; and he went, therefore, to his brother's, meaning after a while +to return to Kellynch, and act as circumstances might require. + +"I was six weeks with Edward," said he, "and saw him happy. I could +have no other pleasure. I deserved none. He enquired after you very +particularly; asked even if you were personally altered, little +suspecting that to my eye you could never alter." + +Anne smiled, and let it pass. It was too pleasing a blunder for a +reproach. It is something for a woman to be assured, in her +eight-and-twentieth year, that she has not lost one charm of earlier +youth; but the value of such homage was inexpressibly increased to +Anne, by comparing it with former words, and feeling it to be the +result, not the cause of a revival of his warm attachment. + +He had remained in Shropshire, lamenting the blindness of his own +pride, and the blunders of his own calculations, till at once released +from Louisa by the astonishing and felicitous intelligence of her +engagement with Benwick. + +"Here," said he, "ended the worst of my state; for now I could at least +put myself in the way of happiness; I could exert myself; I could do +something. But to be waiting so long in inaction, and waiting only for +evil, had been dreadful. Within the first five minutes I said, 'I will +be at Bath on Wednesday,' and I was. Was it unpardonable to think it +worth my while to come? and to arrive with some degree of hope? You +were single. It was possible that you might retain the feelings of the +past, as I did; and one encouragement happened to be mine. I could +never doubt that you would be loved and sought by others, but I knew to +a certainty that you had refused one man, at least, of better +pretensions than myself; and I could not help often saying, 'Was this +for me?'" + +Their first meeting in Milsom Street afforded much to be said, but the +concert still more. That evening seemed to be made up of exquisite +moments. The moment of her stepping forward in the Octagon Room to +speak to him: the moment of Mr Elliot's appearing and tearing her +away, and one or two subsequent moments, marked by returning hope or +increasing despondency, were dwelt on with energy. + +"To see you," cried he, "in the midst of those who could not be my +well-wishers; to see your cousin close by you, conversing and smiling, +and feel all the horrible eligibilities and proprieties of the match! +To consider it as the certain wish of every being who could hope to +influence you! Even if your own feelings were reluctant or +indifferent, to consider what powerful supports would be his! Was it +not enough to make the fool of me which I appeared? How could I look +on without agony? Was not the very sight of the friend who sat behind +you, was not the recollection of what had been, the knowledge of her +influence, the indelible, immoveable impression of what persuasion had +once done--was it not all against me?" + +"You should have distinguished," replied Anne. "You should not have +suspected me now; the case is so different, and my age is so different. +If I was wrong in yielding to persuasion once, remember that it was to +persuasion exerted on the side of safety, not of risk. When I yielded, +I thought it was to duty, but no duty could be called in aid here. In +marrying a man indifferent to me, all risk would have been incurred, +and all duty violated." + +"Perhaps I ought to have reasoned thus," he replied, "but I could not. +I could not derive benefit from the late knowledge I had acquired of +your character. I could not bring it into play; it was overwhelmed, +buried, lost in those earlier feelings which I had been smarting under +year after year. I could think of you only as one who had yielded, who +had given me up, who had been influenced by any one rather than by me. +I saw you with the very person who had guided you in that year of +misery. I had no reason to believe her of less authority now. The +force of habit was to be added." + +"I should have thought," said Anne, "that my manner to yourself might +have spared you much or all of this." + +"No, no! your manner might be only the ease which your engagement to +another man would give. I left you in this belief; and yet, I was +determined to see you again. My spirits rallied with the morning, and +I felt that I had still a motive for remaining here." + +At last Anne was at home again, and happier than any one in that house +could have conceived. All the surprise and suspense, and every other +painful part of the morning dissipated by this conversation, she +re-entered the house so happy as to be obliged to find an alloy in some +momentary apprehensions of its being impossible to last. An interval +of meditation, serious and grateful, was the best corrective of +everything dangerous in such high-wrought felicity; and she went to her +room, and grew steadfast and fearless in the thankfulness of her +enjoyment. + +The evening came, the drawing-rooms were lighted up, the company +assembled. It was but a card party, it was but a mixture of those who +had never met before, and those who met too often; a commonplace +business, too numerous for intimacy, too small for variety; but Anne +had never found an evening shorter. Glowing and lovely in sensibility +and happiness, and more generally admired than she thought about or +cared for, she had cheerful or forbearing feelings for every creature +around her. Mr Elliot was there; she avoided, but she could pity him. +The Wallises, she had amusement in understanding them. Lady Dalrymple +and Miss Carteret--they would soon be innoxious cousins to her. She +cared not for Mrs Clay, and had nothing to blush for in the public +manners of her father and sister. With the Musgroves, there was the +happy chat of perfect ease; with Captain Harville, the kind-hearted +intercourse of brother and sister; with Lady Russell, attempts at +conversation, which a delicious consciousness cut short; with Admiral +and Mrs Croft, everything of peculiar cordiality and fervent interest, +which the same consciousness sought to conceal; and with Captain +Wentworth, some moments of communications continually occurring, and +always the hope of more, and always the knowledge of his being there. + +It was in one of these short meetings, each apparently occupied in +admiring a fine display of greenhouse plants, that she said-- + +"I have been thinking over the past, and trying impartially to judge of +the right and wrong, I mean with regard to myself; and I must believe +that I was right, much as I suffered from it, that I was perfectly +right in being guided by the friend whom you will love better than you +do now. To me, she was in the place of a parent. Do not mistake me, +however. I am not saying that she did not err in her advice. It was, +perhaps, one of those cases in which advice is good or bad only as the +event decides; and for myself, I certainly never should, in any +circumstance of tolerable similarity, give such advice. But I mean, +that I was right in submitting to her, and that if I had done +otherwise, I should have suffered more in continuing the engagement +than I did even in giving it up, because I should have suffered in my +conscience. I have now, as far as such a sentiment is allowable in +human nature, nothing to reproach myself with; and if I mistake not, a +strong sense of duty is no bad part of a woman's portion." + +He looked at her, looked at Lady Russell, and looking again at her, +replied, as if in cool deliberation-- + +"Not yet. But there are hopes of her being forgiven in time. I trust +to being in charity with her soon. But I too have been thinking over +the past, and a question has suggested itself, whether there may not +have been one person more my enemy even than that lady? My own self. +Tell me if, when I returned to England in the year eight, with a few +thousand pounds, and was posted into the Laconia, if I had then written +to you, would you have answered my letter? Would you, in short, have +renewed the engagement then?" + +"Would I!" was all her answer; but the accent was decisive enough. + +"Good God!" he cried, "you would! It is not that I did not think of +it, or desire it, as what could alone crown all my other success; but I +was proud, too proud to ask again. I did not understand you. I shut +my eyes, and would not understand you, or do you justice. This is a +recollection which ought to make me forgive every one sooner than +myself. Six years of separation and suffering might have been spared. +It is a sort of pain, too, which is new to me. I have been used to the +gratification of believing myself to earn every blessing that I +enjoyed. I have valued myself on honourable toils and just rewards. +Like other great men under reverses," he added, with a smile. "I must +endeavour to subdue my mind to my fortune. I must learn to brook being +happier than I deserve." + + + +Chapter 24 + + +Who can be in doubt of what followed? When any two young people take +it into their heads to marry, they are pretty sure by perseverance to +carry their point, be they ever so poor, or ever so imprudent, or ever +so little likely to be necessary to each other's ultimate comfort. +This may be bad morality to conclude with, but I believe it to be +truth; and if such parties succeed, how should a Captain Wentworth and +an Anne Elliot, with the advantage of maturity of mind, consciousness +of right, and one independent fortune between them, fail of bearing +down every opposition? They might in fact, have borne down a great +deal more than they met with, for there was little to distress them +beyond the want of graciousness and warmth. Sir Walter made no +objection, and Elizabeth did nothing worse than look cold and +unconcerned. Captain Wentworth, with five-and-twenty thousand pounds, +and as high in his profession as merit and activity could place him, +was no longer nobody. He was now esteemed quite worthy to address the +daughter of a foolish, spendthrift baronet, who had not had principle +or sense enough to maintain himself in the situation in which +Providence had placed him, and who could give his daughter at present +but a small part of the share of ten thousand pounds which must be hers +hereafter. + +Sir Walter, indeed, though he had no affection for Anne, and no vanity +flattered, to make him really happy on the occasion, was very far from +thinking it a bad match for her. On the contrary, when he saw more of +Captain Wentworth, saw him repeatedly by daylight, and eyed him well, +he was very much struck by his personal claims, and felt that his +superiority of appearance might be not unfairly balanced against her +superiority of rank; and all this, assisted by his well-sounding name, +enabled Sir Walter at last to prepare his pen, with a very good grace, +for the insertion of the marriage in the volume of honour. + +The only one among them, whose opposition of feeling could excite any +serious anxiety was Lady Russell. Anne knew that Lady Russell must be +suffering some pain in understanding and relinquishing Mr Elliot, and +be making some struggles to become truly acquainted with, and do +justice to Captain Wentworth. This however was what Lady Russell had +now to do. She must learn to feel that she had been mistaken with +regard to both; that she had been unfairly influenced by appearances in +each; that because Captain Wentworth's manners had not suited her own +ideas, she had been too quick in suspecting them to indicate a +character of dangerous impetuosity; and that because Mr Elliot's +manners had precisely pleased her in their propriety and correctness, +their general politeness and suavity, she had been too quick in +receiving them as the certain result of the most correct opinions and +well-regulated mind. There was nothing less for Lady Russell to do, +than to admit that she had been pretty completely wrong, and to take up +a new set of opinions and of hopes. + +There is a quickness of perception in some, a nicety in the discernment +of character, a natural penetration, in short, which no experience in +others can equal, and Lady Russell had been less gifted in this part of +understanding than her young friend. But she was a very good woman, +and if her second object was to be sensible and well-judging, her first +was to see Anne happy. She loved Anne better than she loved her own +abilities; and when the awkwardness of the beginning was over, found +little hardship in attaching herself as a mother to the man who was +securing the happiness of her other child. + +Of all the family, Mary was probably the one most immediately gratified +by the circumstance. It was creditable to have a sister married, and +she might flatter herself with having been greatly instrumental to the +connexion, by keeping Anne with her in the autumn; and as her own +sister must be better than her husband's sisters, it was very agreeable +that Captain Wentworth should be a richer man than either Captain +Benwick or Charles Hayter. She had something to suffer, perhaps, when +they came into contact again, in seeing Anne restored to the rights of +seniority, and the mistress of a very pretty landaulette; but she had a +future to look forward to, of powerful consolation. Anne had no +Uppercross Hall before her, no landed estate, no headship of a family; +and if they could but keep Captain Wentworth from being made a baronet, +she would not change situations with Anne. + +It would be well for the eldest sister if she were equally satisfied +with her situation, for a change is not very probable there. She had +soon the mortification of seeing Mr Elliot withdraw, and no one of +proper condition has since presented himself to raise even the +unfounded hopes which sunk with him. + +The news of his cousins Anne's engagement burst on Mr Elliot most +unexpectedly. It deranged his best plan of domestic happiness, his +best hope of keeping Sir Walter single by the watchfulness which a +son-in-law's rights would have given. But, though discomfited and +disappointed, he could still do something for his own interest and his +own enjoyment. He soon quitted Bath; and on Mrs Clay's quitting it +soon afterwards, and being next heard of as established under his +protection in London, it was evident how double a game he had been +playing, and how determined he was to save himself from being cut out +by one artful woman, at least. + +Mrs Clay's affections had overpowered her interest, and she had +sacrificed, for the young man's sake, the possibility of scheming +longer for Sir Walter. She has abilities, however, as well as +affections; and it is now a doubtful point whether his cunning, or +hers, may finally carry the day; whether, after preventing her from +being the wife of Sir Walter, he may not be wheedled and caressed at +last into making her the wife of Sir William. + +It cannot be doubted that Sir Walter and Elizabeth were shocked and +mortified by the loss of their companion, and the discovery of their +deception in her. They had their great cousins, to be sure, to resort +to for comfort; but they must long feel that to flatter and follow +others, without being flattered and followed in turn, is but a state of +half enjoyment. + +Anne, satisfied at a very early period of Lady Russell's meaning to +love Captain Wentworth as she ought, had no other alloy to the +happiness of her prospects than what arose from the consciousness of +having no relations to bestow on him which a man of sense could value. +There she felt her own inferiority very keenly. The disproportion in +their fortune was nothing; it did not give her a moment's regret; but +to have no family to receive and estimate him properly, nothing of +respectability, of harmony, of good will to offer in return for all the +worth and all the prompt welcome which met her in his brothers and +sisters, was a source of as lively pain as her mind could well be +sensible of under circumstances of otherwise strong felicity. She had +but two friends in the world to add to his list, Lady Russell and Mrs +Smith. To those, however, he was very well disposed to attach himself. +Lady Russell, in spite of all her former transgressions, he could now +value from his heart. While he was not obliged to say that he believed +her to have been right in originally dividing them, he was ready to say +almost everything else in her favour, and as for Mrs Smith, she had +claims of various kinds to recommend her quickly and permanently. + +Her recent good offices by Anne had been enough in themselves, and +their marriage, instead of depriving her of one friend, secured her +two. She was their earliest visitor in their settled life; and Captain +Wentworth, by putting her in the way of recovering her husband's +property in the West Indies, by writing for her, acting for her, and +seeing her through all the petty difficulties of the case with the +activity and exertion of a fearless man and a determined friend, fully +requited the services which she had rendered, or ever meant to render, +to his wife. + +Mrs Smith's enjoyments were not spoiled by this improvement of income, +with some improvement of health, and the acquisition of such friends to +be often with, for her cheerfulness and mental alacrity did not fail +her; and while these prime supplies of good remained, she might have +bid defiance even to greater accessions of worldly prosperity. She +might have been absolutely rich and perfectly healthy, and yet be +happy. Her spring of felicity was in the glow of her spirits, as her +friend Anne's was in the warmth of her heart. Anne was tenderness +itself, and she had the full worth of it in Captain Wentworth's +affection. His profession was all that could ever make her friends +wish that tenderness less, the dread of a future war all that could dim +her sunshine. She gloried in being a sailor's wife, but she must pay +the tax of quick alarm for belonging to that profession which is, if +possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in its +national importance. + + + +Finis + + + + + + + + +NORTHANGER ABBEY + + +by Jane Austen (1803) + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT BY THE AUTHORESS, TO NORTHANGER ABBEY + +THIS little work was finished in the year 1803, and intended for +immediate publication. It was disposed of to a bookseller, it was even +advertised, and why the business proceeded no farther, the author +has never been able to learn. That any bookseller should think it +worth-while to purchase what he did not think it worth-while to publish +seems extraordinary. But with this, neither the author nor the public +have any other concern than as some observation is necessary upon those +parts of the work which thirteen years have made comparatively obsolete. +The public are entreated to bear in mind that thirteen years have passed +since it was finished, many more since it was begun, and that during +that period, places, manners, books, and opinions have undergone +considerable changes. + + + +CHAPTER 1 + + +No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have +supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character +of her father and mother, her own person and disposition, were +all equally against her. Her father was a clergyman, without being +neglected, or poor, and a very respectable man, though his name +was Richard--and he had never been handsome. He had a considerable +independence besides two good livings--and he was not in the least +addicted to locking up his daughters. Her mother was a woman of useful +plain sense, with a good temper, and, what is more remarkable, with a +good constitution. She had three sons before Catherine was born; and +instead of dying in bringing the latter into the world, as anybody might +expect, she still lived on--lived to have six children more--to see them +growing up around her, and to enjoy excellent health herself. A family +of ten children will be always called a fine family, where there are +heads and arms and legs enough for the number; but the Morlands had +little other right to the word, for they were in general very plain, and +Catherine, for many years of her life, as plain as any. She had a thin +awkward figure, a sallow skin without colour, dark lank hair, and strong +features--so much for her person; and not less unpropitious for heroism +seemed her mind. She was fond of all boy's plays, and greatly preferred +cricket not merely to dolls, but to the more heroic enjoyments of +infancy, nursing a dormouse, feeding a canary-bird, or watering a +rose-bush. Indeed she had no taste for a garden; and if she gathered +flowers at all, it was chiefly for the pleasure of mischief--at least +so it was conjectured from her always preferring those which she was +forbidden to take. Such were her propensities--her abilities were quite +as extraordinary. She never could learn or understand anything +before she was taught; and sometimes not even then, for she was often +inattentive, and occasionally stupid. Her mother was three months in +teaching her only to repeat the "Beggar's Petition"; and after all, her +next sister, Sally, could say it better than she did. Not that Catherine +was always stupid--by no means; she learnt the fable of "The Hare and +Many Friends" as quickly as any girl in England. Her mother wished her +to learn music; and Catherine was sure she should like it, for she was +very fond of tinkling the keys of the old forlorn spinnet; so, at eight +years old she began. She learnt a year, and could not bear it; and Mrs. +Morland, who did not insist on her daughters being accomplished in +spite of incapacity or distaste, allowed her to leave off. The day which +dismissed the music-master was one of the happiest of Catherine's life. +Her taste for drawing was not superior; though whenever she could obtain +the outside of a letter from her mother or seize upon any other odd +piece of paper, she did what she could in that way, by drawing houses +and trees, hens and chickens, all very much like one another. Writing +and accounts she was taught by her father; French by her mother: her +proficiency in either was not remarkable, and she shirked her lessons in +both whenever she could. What a strange, unaccountable character!--for +with all these symptoms of profligacy at ten years old, she had neither +a bad heart nor a bad temper, was seldom stubborn, scarcely ever +quarrelsome, and very kind to the little ones, with few interruptions +of tyranny; she was moreover noisy and wild, hated confinement and +cleanliness, and loved nothing so well in the world as rolling down the +green slope at the back of the house. + +Such was Catherine Morland at ten. At fifteen, appearances were mending; +she began to curl her hair and long for balls; her complexion improved, +her features were softened by plumpness and colour, her eyes gained more +animation, and her figure more consequence. Her love of dirt gave way to +an inclination for finery, and she grew clean as she grew smart; she had +now the pleasure of sometimes hearing her father and mother remark +on her personal improvement. "Catherine grows quite a good-looking +girl--she is almost pretty today," were words which caught her ears now +and then; and how welcome were the sounds! To look almost pretty is an +acquisition of higher delight to a girl who has been looking plain the +first fifteen years of her life than a beauty from her cradle can ever +receive. + +Mrs. Morland was a very good woman, and wished to see her children +everything they ought to be; but her time was so much occupied in +lying-in and teaching the little ones, that her elder daughters were +inevitably left to shift for themselves; and it was not very wonderful +that Catherine, who had by nature nothing heroic about her, should +prefer cricket, baseball, riding on horseback, and running about +the country at the age of fourteen, to books--or at least books of +information--for, provided that nothing like useful knowledge could be +gained from them, provided they were all story and no reflection, she +had never any objection to books at all. But from fifteen to seventeen +she was in training for a heroine; she read all such works as heroines +must read to supply their memories with those quotations which are so +serviceable and so soothing in the vicissitudes of their eventful lives. + +From Pope, she learnt to censure those who + + "bear about the mockery of woe." + + +From Gray, that + + "Many a flower is born to blush unseen, + "And waste its fragrance on the desert air." + + +From Thompson, that-- + + "It is a delightful task + "To teach the young idea how to shoot." + + +And from Shakespeare she gained a great store of information--amongst +the rest, that-- + + "Trifles light as air, + "Are, to the jealous, confirmation strong, + "As proofs of Holy Writ." + + +That + + "The poor beetle, which we tread upon, + "In corporal sufferance feels a pang as great + "As when a giant dies." + + +And that a young woman in love always looks-- + + "like Patience on a monument + "Smiling at Grief." + + +So far her improvement was sufficient--and in many other points she came +on exceedingly well; for though she could not write sonnets, she brought +herself to read them; and though there seemed no chance of her throwing +a whole party into raptures by a prelude on the pianoforte, of her own +composition, she could listen to other people's performance with very +little fatigue. Her greatest deficiency was in the pencil--she had no +notion of drawing--not enough even to attempt a sketch of her lover's +profile, that she might be detected in the design. There she fell +miserably short of the true heroic height. At present she did not know +her own poverty, for she had no lover to portray. She had reached the +age of seventeen, without having seen one amiable youth who could call +forth her sensibility, without having inspired one real passion, and +without having excited even any admiration but what was very moderate +and very transient. This was strange indeed! But strange things may be +generally accounted for if their cause be fairly searched out. There was +not one lord in the neighbourhood; no--not even a baronet. There was not +one family among their acquaintance who had reared and supported a boy +accidentally found at their door--not one young man whose origin +was unknown. Her father had no ward, and the squire of the parish no +children. + +But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty +surrounding families cannot prevent her. Something must and will happen +to throw a hero in her way. + +Mr. Allen, who owned the chief of the property about Fullerton, the +village in Wiltshire where the Morlands lived, was ordered to Bath +for the benefit of a gouty constitution--and his lady, a good-humoured +woman, fond of Miss Morland, and probably aware that if adventures will +not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad, +invited her to go with them. Mr. and Mrs. Morland were all compliance, +and Catherine all happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER 2 + + +In addition to what has been already said of Catherine Morland's +personal and mental endowments, when about to be launched into all the +difficulties and dangers of a six weeks' residence in Bath, it may be +stated, for the reader's more certain information, lest the following +pages should otherwise fail of giving any idea of what her character is +meant to be, that her heart was affectionate; her disposition cheerful +and open, without conceit or affectation of any kind--her manners just +removed from the awkwardness and shyness of a girl; her person pleasing, +and, when in good looks, pretty--and her mind about as ignorant and +uninformed as the female mind at seventeen usually is. + +When the hour of departure drew near, the maternal anxiety of Mrs. +Morland will be naturally supposed to be most severe. A thousand +alarming presentiments of evil to her beloved Catherine from this +terrific separation must oppress her heart with sadness, and drown her +in tears for the last day or two of their being together; and advice of +the most important and applicable nature must of course flow from her +wise lips in their parting conference in her closet. Cautions against +the violence of such noblemen and baronets as delight in forcing young +ladies away to some remote farm-house, must, at such a moment, relieve +the fulness of her heart. Who would not think so? But Mrs. Morland knew +so little of lords and baronets, that she entertained no notion of their +general mischievousness, and was wholly unsuspicious of danger to her +daughter from their machinations. Her cautions were confined to the +following points. "I beg, Catherine, you will always wrap yourself up +very warm about the throat, when you come from the rooms at night; and +I wish you would try to keep some account of the money you spend; I will +give you this little book on purpose." + +Sally, or rather Sarah (for what young lady of common gentility will +reach the age of sixteen without altering her name as far as she can?), +must from situation be at this time the intimate friend and confidante +of her sister. It is remarkable, however, that she neither insisted +on Catherine's writing by every post, nor exacted her promise of +transmitting the character of every new acquaintance, nor a detail +of every interesting conversation that Bath might produce. Everything +indeed relative to this important journey was done, on the part of the +Morlands, with a degree of moderation and composure, which seemed +rather consistent with the common feelings of common life, than with the +refined susceptibilities, the tender emotions which the first separation +of a heroine from her family ought always to excite. Her father, instead +of giving her an unlimited order on his banker, or even putting an +hundred pounds bank-bill into her hands, gave her only ten guineas, and +promised her more when she wanted it. + +Under these unpromising auspices, the parting took place, and the +journey began. It was performed with suitable quietness and uneventful +safety. Neither robbers nor tempests befriended them, nor one lucky +overturn to introduce them to the hero. Nothing more alarming occurred +than a fear, on Mrs. Allen's side, of having once left her clogs behind +her at an inn, and that fortunately proved to be groundless. + +They arrived at Bath. Catherine was all eager delight--her eyes were +here, there, everywhere, as they approached its fine and striking +environs, and afterwards drove through those streets which conducted +them to the hotel. She was come to be happy, and she felt happy already. + +They were soon settled in comfortable lodgings in Pulteney Street. + +It is now expedient to give some description of Mrs. Allen, that the +reader may be able to judge in what manner her actions will hereafter +tend to promote the general distress of the work, and how she will, +probably, contribute to reduce poor Catherine to all the desperate +wretchedness of which a last volume is capable--whether by her +imprudence, vulgarity, or jealousy--whether by intercepting her letters, +ruining her character, or turning her out of doors. + +Mrs. Allen was one of that numerous class of females, whose society can +raise no other emotion than surprise at there being any men in the world +who could like them well enough to marry them. She had neither beauty, +genius, accomplishment, nor manner. The air of a gentlewoman, a great +deal of quiet, inactive good temper, and a trifling turn of mind +were all that could account for her being the choice of a sensible, +intelligent man like Mr. Allen. In one respect she was admirably fitted +to introduce a young lady into public, being as fond of going everywhere +and seeing everything herself as any young lady could be. Dress was +her passion. She had a most harmless delight in being fine; and our +heroine's entree into life could not take place till after three or four +days had been spent in learning what was mostly worn, and her chaperone +was provided with a dress of the newest fashion. Catherine too made +some purchases herself, and when all these matters were arranged, the +important evening came which was to usher her into the Upper Rooms. Her +hair was cut and dressed by the best hand, her clothes put on with care, +and both Mrs. Allen and her maid declared she looked quite as she should +do. With such encouragement, Catherine hoped at least to pass uncensured +through the crowd. As for admiration, it was always very welcome when it +came, but she did not depend on it. + +Mrs. Allen was so long in dressing that they did not enter the ballroom +till late. The season was full, the room crowded, and the two ladies +squeezed in as well as they could. As for Mr. Allen, he repaired +directly to the card-room, and left them to enjoy a mob by themselves. +With more care for the safety of her new gown than for the comfort of +her protegee, Mrs. Allen made her way through the throng of men by +the door, as swiftly as the necessary caution would allow; Catherine, +however, kept close at her side, and linked her arm too firmly within +her friend's to be torn asunder by any common effort of a struggling +assembly. But to her utter amazement she found that to proceed along the +room was by no means the way to disengage themselves from the crowd; it +seemed rather to increase as they went on, whereas she had imagined that +when once fairly within the door, they should easily find seats and be +able to watch the dances with perfect convenience. But this was far from +being the case, and though by unwearied diligence they gained even the +top of the room, their situation was just the same; they saw nothing +of the dancers but the high feathers of some of the ladies. Still they +moved on--something better was yet in view; and by a continued exertion +of strength and ingenuity they found themselves at last in the passage +behind the highest bench. Here there was something less of crowd than +below; and hence Miss Morland had a comprehensive view of all the +company beneath her, and of all the dangers of her late passage through +them. It was a splendid sight, and she began, for the first time that +evening, to feel herself at a ball: she longed to dance, but she had +not an acquaintance in the room. Mrs. Allen did all that she could do +in such a case by saying very placidly, every now and then, "I wish you +could dance, my dear--I wish you could get a partner." For some time +her young friend felt obliged to her for these wishes; but they were +repeated so often, and proved so totally ineffectual, that Catherine +grew tired at last, and would thank her no more. + +They were not long able, however, to enjoy the repose of the eminence +they had so laboriously gained. Everybody was shortly in motion for +tea, and they must squeeze out like the rest. Catherine began to feel +something of disappointment--she was tired of being continually pressed +against by people, the generality of whose faces possessed nothing to +interest, and with all of whom she was so wholly unacquainted that she +could not relieve the irksomeness of imprisonment by the exchange of a +syllable with any of her fellow captives; and when at last arrived in +the tea-room, she felt yet more the awkwardness of having no party to +join, no acquaintance to claim, no gentleman to assist them. They saw +nothing of Mr. Allen; and after looking about them in vain for a more +eligible situation, were obliged to sit down at the end of a table, at +which a large party were already placed, without having anything to do +there, or anybody to speak to, except each other. + +Mrs. Allen congratulated herself, as soon as they were seated, on having +preserved her gown from injury. "It would have been very shocking to +have it torn," said she, "would not it? It is such a delicate muslin. +For my part I have not seen anything I like so well in the whole room, I +assure you." + +"How uncomfortable it is," whispered Catherine, "not to have a single +acquaintance here!" + +"Yes, my dear," replied Mrs. Allen, with perfect serenity, "it is very +uncomfortable indeed." + +"What shall we do? The gentlemen and ladies at this table look as if +they wondered why we came here--we seem forcing ourselves into their +party." + +"Aye, so we do. That is very disagreeable. I wish we had a large +acquaintance here." + +"I wish we had any--it would be somebody to go to." + +"Very true, my dear; and if we knew anybody we would join them directly. +The Skinners were here last year--I wish they were here now." + +"Had not we better go away as it is? Here are no tea-things for us, you +see." + +"No more there are, indeed. How very provoking! But I think we had +better sit still, for one gets so tumbled in such a crowd! How is my +head, my dear? Somebody gave me a push that has hurt it, I am afraid." + +"No, indeed, it looks very nice. But, dear Mrs. Allen, are you sure +there is nobody you know in all this multitude of people? I think you +must know somebody." + +"I don't, upon my word--I wish I did. I wish I had a large acquaintance +here with all my heart, and then I should get you a partner. I should be +so glad to have you dance. There goes a strange-looking woman! What an +odd gown she has got on! How old-fashioned it is! Look at the back." + +After some time they received an offer of tea from one of their +neighbours; it was thankfully accepted, and this introduced a light +conversation with the gentleman who offered it, which was the only time +that anybody spoke to them during the evening, till they were discovered +and joined by Mr. Allen when the dance was over. + +"Well, Miss Morland," said he, directly, "I hope you have had an +agreeable ball." + +"Very agreeable indeed," she replied, vainly endeavouring to hide a +great yawn. + +"I wish she had been able to dance," said his wife; "I wish we could +have got a partner for her. I have been saying how glad I should be if +the Skinners were here this winter instead of last; or if the Parrys had +come, as they talked of once, she might have danced with George Parry. I +am so sorry she has not had a partner!" + +"We shall do better another evening I hope," was Mr. Allen's +consolation. + +The company began to disperse when the dancing was over--enough to leave +space for the remainder to walk about in some comfort; and now was the +time for a heroine, who had not yet played a very distinguished part +in the events of the evening, to be noticed and admired. Every five +minutes, by removing some of the crowd, gave greater openings for her +charms. She was now seen by many young men who had not been near her +before. Not one, however, started with rapturous wonder on beholding +her, no whisper of eager inquiry ran round the room, nor was she once +called a divinity by anybody. Yet Catherine was in very good looks, and +had the company only seen her three years before, they would now have +thought her exceedingly handsome. + +She was looked at, however, and with some admiration; for, in her own +hearing, two gentlemen pronounced her to be a pretty girl. Such words +had their due effect; she immediately thought the evening pleasanter +than she had found it before--her humble vanity was contented--she +felt more obliged to the two young men for this simple praise than a +true-quality heroine would have been for fifteen sonnets in celebration +of her charms, and went to her chair in good humour with everybody, and +perfectly satisfied with her share of public attention. + + + + +CHAPTER 3 + + +Every morning now brought its regular duties--shops were to be visited; +some new part of the town to be looked at; and the pump-room to be +attended, where they paraded up and down for an hour, looking at +everybody and speaking to no one. The wish of a numerous acquaintance +in Bath was still uppermost with Mrs. Allen, and she repeated it after +every fresh proof, which every morning brought, of her knowing nobody at +all. + +They made their appearance in the Lower Rooms; and here fortune was more +favourable to our heroine. The master of the ceremonies introduced to +her a very gentlemanlike young man as a partner; his name was Tilney. +He seemed to be about four or five and twenty, was rather tall, had a +pleasing countenance, a very intelligent and lively eye, and, if not +quite handsome, was very near it. His address was good, and Catherine +felt herself in high luck. There was little leisure for speaking +while they danced; but when they were seated at tea, she found him as +agreeable as she had already given him credit for being. He talked with +fluency and spirit--and there was an archness and pleasantry in his +manner which interested, though it was hardly understood by her. After +chatting some time on such matters as naturally arose from the objects +around them, he suddenly addressed her with--"I have hitherto been very +remiss, madam, in the proper attentions of a partner here; I have not +yet asked you how long you have been in Bath; whether you were ever here +before; whether you have been at the Upper Rooms, the theatre, and +the concert; and how you like the place altogether. I have been +very negligent--but are you now at leisure to satisfy me in these +particulars? If you are I will begin directly." + +"You need not give yourself that trouble, sir." + +"No trouble, I assure you, madam." Then forming his features into a set +smile, and affectedly softening his voice, he added, with a simpering +air, "Have you been long in Bath, madam?" + +"About a week, sir," replied Catherine, trying not to laugh. + +"Really!" with affected astonishment. + +"Why should you be surprised, sir?" + +"Why, indeed!" said he, in his natural tone. "But some emotion must +appear to be raised by your reply, and surprise is more easily assumed, +and not less reasonable than any other. Now let us go on. Were you never +here before, madam?" + +"Never, sir." + +"Indeed! Have you yet honoured the Upper Rooms?" + +"Yes, sir, I was there last Monday." + +"Have you been to the theatre?" + +"Yes, sir, I was at the play on Tuesday." + +"To the concert?" + +"Yes, sir, on Wednesday." + +"And are you altogether pleased with Bath?" + +"Yes--I like it very well." + +"Now I must give one smirk, and then we may be rational again." +Catherine turned away her head, not knowing whether she might venture to +laugh. "I see what you think of me," said he gravely--"I shall make but +a poor figure in your journal tomorrow." + +"My journal!" + +"Yes, I know exactly what you will say: Friday, went to the Lower +Rooms; wore my sprigged muslin robe with blue trimmings--plain black +shoes--appeared to much advantage; but was strangely harassed by a +queer, half-witted man, who would make me dance with him, and distressed +me by his nonsense." + +"Indeed I shall say no such thing." + +"Shall I tell you what you ought to say?" + +"If you please." + +"I danced with a very agreeable young man, introduced by Mr. King; had +a great deal of conversation with him--seems a most extraordinary +genius--hope I may know more of him. That, madam, is what I wish you to +say." + +"But, perhaps, I keep no journal." + +"Perhaps you are not sitting in this room, and I am not sitting by +you. These are points in which a doubt is equally possible. Not keep a +journal! How are your absent cousins to understand the tenour of your +life in Bath without one? How are the civilities and compliments of +every day to be related as they ought to be, unless noted down every +evening in a journal? How are your various dresses to be remembered, +and the particular state of your complexion, and curl of your hair to be +described in all their diversities, without having constant recourse to +a journal? My dear madam, I am not so ignorant of young ladies' ways as +you wish to believe me; it is this delightful habit of journaling which +largely contributes to form the easy style of writing for which ladies +are so generally celebrated. Everybody allows that the talent of writing +agreeable letters is peculiarly female. Nature may have done something, +but I am sure it must be essentially assisted by the practice of keeping +a journal." + +"I have sometimes thought," said Catherine, doubtingly, "whether ladies +do write so much better letters than gentlemen! That is--I should not +think the superiority was always on our side." + +"As far as I have had opportunity of judging, it appears to me that the +usual style of letter-writing among women is faultless, except in three +particulars." + +"And what are they?" + +"A general deficiency of subject, a total inattention to stops, and a +very frequent ignorance of grammar." + +"Upon my word! I need not have been afraid of disclaiming the +compliment. You do not think too highly of us in that way." + +"I should no more lay it down as a general rule that women write better +letters than men, than that they sing better duets, or draw better +landscapes. In every power, of which taste is the foundation, excellence +is pretty fairly divided between the sexes." + +They were interrupted by Mrs. Allen: "My dear Catherine," said she, "do +take this pin out of my sleeve; I am afraid it has torn a hole already; +I shall be quite sorry if it has, for this is a favourite gown, though +it cost but nine shillings a yard." + +"That is exactly what I should have guessed it, madam," said Mr. Tilney, +looking at the muslin. + +"Do you understand muslins, sir?" + +"Particularly well; I always buy my own cravats, and am allowed to be an +excellent judge; and my sister has often trusted me in the choice of a +gown. I bought one for her the other day, and it was pronounced to be a +prodigious bargain by every lady who saw it. I gave but five shillings a +yard for it, and a true Indian muslin." + +Mrs. Allen was quite struck by his genius. "Men commonly take so little +notice of those things," said she; "I can never get Mr. Allen to know +one of my gowns from another. You must be a great comfort to your +sister, sir." + +"I hope I am, madam." + +"And pray, sir, what do you think of Miss Morland's gown?" + +"It is very pretty, madam," said he, gravely examining it; "but I do not +think it will wash well; I am afraid it will fray." + +"How can you," said Catherine, laughing, "be so--" She had almost said +"strange." + +"I am quite of your opinion, sir," replied Mrs. Allen; "and so I told +Miss Morland when she bought it." + +"But then you know, madam, muslin always turns to some account or other; +Miss Morland will get enough out of it for a handkerchief, or a cap, or +a cloak. Muslin can never be said to be wasted. I have heard my sister +say so forty times, when she has been extravagant in buying more than +she wanted, or careless in cutting it to pieces." + +"Bath is a charming place, sir; there are so many good shops here. We +are sadly off in the country; not but what we have very good shops in +Salisbury, but it is so far to go--eight miles is a long way; Mr. Allen +says it is nine, measured nine; but I am sure it cannot be more than +eight; and it is such a fag--I come back tired to death. Now, here one +can step out of doors and get a thing in five minutes." + +Mr. Tilney was polite enough to seem interested in what she said; and +she kept him on the subject of muslins till the dancing recommenced. +Catherine feared, as she listened to their discourse, that he indulged +himself a little too much with the foibles of others. "What are you +thinking of so earnestly?" said he, as they walked back to the ballroom; +"not of your partner, I hope, for, by that shake of the head, your +meditations are not satisfactory." + +Catherine coloured, and said, "I was not thinking of anything." + +"That is artful and deep, to be sure; but I had rather be told at once +that you will not tell me." + +"Well then, I will not." + +"Thank you; for now we shall soon be acquainted, as I am authorized to +tease you on this subject whenever we meet, and nothing in the world +advances intimacy so much." + +They danced again; and, when the assembly closed, parted, on the +lady's side at least, with a strong inclination for continuing the +acquaintance. Whether she thought of him so much, while she drank her +warm wine and water, and prepared herself for bed, as to dream of him +when there, cannot be ascertained; but I hope it was no more than in +a slight slumber, or a morning doze at most; for if it be true, as a +celebrated writer has maintained, that no young lady can be justified +in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared,* it must be +very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the +gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her. How proper Mr. Tilney +might be as a dreamer or a lover had not yet perhaps entered Mr. Allen's +head, but that he was not objectionable as a common acquaintance for +his young charge he was on inquiry satisfied; for he had early in the +evening taken pains to know who her partner was, and had been assured +of Mr. Tilney's being a clergyman, and of a very respectable family in +Gloucestershire. + + + + +CHAPTER 4 + + +With more than usual eagerness did Catherine hasten to the pump-room the +next day, secure within herself of seeing Mr. Tilney there before the +morning were over, and ready to meet him with a smile; but no smile +was demanded--Mr. Tilney did not appear. Every creature in Bath, +except himself, was to be seen in the room at different periods of the +fashionable hours; crowds of people were every moment passing in and +out, up the steps and down; people whom nobody cared about, and nobody +wanted to see; and he only was absent. "What a delightful place Bath +is," said Mrs. Allen as they sat down near the great clock, after +parading the room till they were tired; "and how pleasant it would be if +we had any acquaintance here." + +This sentiment had been uttered so often in vain that Mrs. Allen had no +particular reason to hope it would be followed with more advantage now; +but we are told to "despair of nothing we would attain," as "unwearied +diligence our point would gain"; and the unwearied diligence with which +she had every day wished for the same thing was at length to have its +just reward, for hardly had she been seated ten minutes before a lady of +about her own age, who was sitting by her, and had been looking at her +attentively for several minutes, addressed her with great complaisance +in these words: "I think, madam, I cannot be mistaken; it is a long time +since I had the pleasure of seeing you, but is not your name Allen?" +This question answered, as it readily was, the stranger pronounced hers +to be Thorpe; and Mrs. Allen immediately recognized the features of +a former schoolfellow and intimate, whom she had seen only once since +their respective marriages, and that many years ago. Their joy on this +meeting was very great, as well it might, since they had been contented +to know nothing of each other for the last fifteen years. Compliments +on good looks now passed; and, after observing how time had slipped away +since they were last together, how little they had thought of meeting in +Bath, and what a pleasure it was to see an old friend, they proceeded to +make inquiries and give intelligence as to their families, sisters, and +cousins, talking both together, far more ready to give than to receive +information, and each hearing very little of what the other said. Mrs. +Thorpe, however, had one great advantage as a talker, over Mrs. Allen, +in a family of children; and when she expatiated on the talents of her +sons, and the beauty of her daughters, when she related their different +situations and views--that John was at Oxford, Edward at Merchant +Taylors', and William at sea--and all of them more beloved and respected +in their different station than any other three beings ever were, Mrs. +Allen had no similar information to give, no similar triumphs to press +on the unwilling and unbelieving ear of her friend, and was forced to +sit and appear to listen to all these maternal effusions, consoling +herself, however, with the discovery, which her keen eye soon made, that +the lace on Mrs. Thorpe's pelisse was not half so handsome as that on +her own. + +"Here come my dear girls," cried Mrs. Thorpe, pointing at three +smart-looking females who, arm in arm, were then moving towards her. "My +dear Mrs. Allen, I long to introduce them; they will be so delighted +to see you: the tallest is Isabella, my eldest; is not she a fine young +woman? The others are very much admired too, but I believe Isabella is +the handsomest." + +The Miss Thorpes were introduced; and Miss Morland, who had been for a +short time forgotten, was introduced likewise. The name seemed to strike +them all; and, after speaking to her with great civility, the eldest +young lady observed aloud to the rest, "How excessively like her brother +Miss Morland is!" + +"The very picture of him indeed!" cried the mother--and "I should have +known her anywhere for his sister!" was repeated by them all, two or +three times over. For a moment Catherine was surprised; but Mrs. Thorpe +and her daughters had scarcely begun the history of their acquaintance +with Mr. James Morland, before she remembered that her eldest brother +had lately formed an intimacy with a young man of his own college, of +the name of Thorpe; and that he had spent the last week of the Christmas +vacation with his family, near London. + +The whole being explained, many obliging things were said by the Miss +Thorpes of their wish of being better acquainted with her; of being +considered as already friends, through the friendship of their brothers, +etc., which Catherine heard with pleasure, and answered with all the +pretty expressions she could command; and, as the first proof of amity, +she was soon invited to accept an arm of the eldest Miss Thorpe, and +take a turn with her about the room. Catherine was delighted with this +extension of her Bath acquaintance, and almost forgot Mr. Tilney while +she talked to Miss Thorpe. Friendship is certainly the finest balm for +the pangs of disappointed love. + +Their conversation turned upon those subjects, of which the free +discussion has generally much to do in perfecting a sudden intimacy +between two young ladies: such as dress, balls, flirtations, and +quizzes. Miss Thorpe, however, being four years older than Miss Morland, +and at least four years better informed, had a very decided advantage in +discussing such points; she could compare the balls of Bath with those +of Tunbridge, its fashions with the fashions of London; could rectify +the opinions of her new friend in many articles of tasteful attire; +could discover a flirtation between any gentleman and lady who only +smiled on each other; and point out a quiz through the thickness of a +crowd. These powers received due admiration from Catherine, to whom they +were entirely new; and the respect which they naturally inspired might +have been too great for familiarity, had not the easy gaiety of Miss +Thorpe's manners, and her frequent expressions of delight on this +acquaintance with her, softened down every feeling of awe, and left +nothing but tender affection. Their increasing attachment was not to be +satisfied with half a dozen turns in the pump-room, but required, when +they all quitted it together, that Miss Thorpe should accompany Miss +Morland to the very door of Mr. Allen's house; and that they should +there part with a most affectionate and lengthened shake of hands, after +learning, to their mutual relief, that they should see each other across +the theatre at night, and say their prayers in the same chapel the next +morning. Catherine then ran directly upstairs, and watched Miss Thorpe's +progress down the street from the drawing-room window; admired the +graceful spirit of her walk, the fashionable air of her figure and +dress; and felt grateful, as well she might, for the chance which had +procured her such a friend. + +Mrs. Thorpe was a widow, and not a very rich one; she was a +good-humoured, well-meaning woman, and a very indulgent mother. Her +eldest daughter had great personal beauty, and the younger ones, by +pretending to be as handsome as their sister, imitating her air, and +dressing in the same style, did very well. + +This brief account of the family is intended to supersede the necessity +of a long and minute detail from Mrs. Thorpe herself, of her past +adventures and sufferings, which might otherwise be expected to occupy +the three or four following chapters; in which the worthlessness of +lords and attorneys might be set forth, and conversations, which had +passed twenty years before, be minutely repeated. + + + + +CHAPTER 5 + + +Catherine was not so much engaged at the theatre that evening, in +returning the nods and smiles of Miss Thorpe, though they certainly +claimed much of her leisure, as to forget to look with an inquiring eye +for Mr. Tilney in every box which her eye could reach; but she looked in +vain. Mr. Tilney was no fonder of the play than the pump-room. She hoped +to be more fortunate the next day; and when her wishes for fine weather +were answered by seeing a beautiful morning, she hardly felt a doubt of +it; for a fine Sunday in Bath empties every house of its inhabitants, +and all the world appears on such an occasion to walk about and tell +their acquaintance what a charming day it is. + +As soon as divine service was over, the Thorpes and Allens eagerly +joined each other; and after staying long enough in the pump-room to +discover that the crowd was insupportable, and that there was not +a genteel face to be seen, which everybody discovers every Sunday +throughout the season, they hastened away to the Crescent, to breathe +the fresh air of better company. Here Catherine and Isabella, arm +in arm, again tasted the sweets of friendship in an unreserved +conversation; they talked much, and with much enjoyment; but again +was Catherine disappointed in her hope of reseeing her partner. He was +nowhere to be met with; every search for him was equally unsuccessful, +in morning lounges or evening assemblies; neither at the Upper nor Lower +Rooms, at dressed or undressed balls, was he perceivable; nor among the +walkers, the horsemen, or the curricle-drivers of the morning. His name +was not in the pump-room book, and curiosity could do no more. He must +be gone from Bath. Yet he had not mentioned that his stay would be so +short! This sort of mysteriousness, which is always so becoming in a +hero, threw a fresh grace in Catherine's imagination around his person +and manners, and increased her anxiety to know more of him. From the +Thorpes she could learn nothing, for they had been only two days in Bath +before they met with Mrs. Allen. It was a subject, however, in which +she often indulged with her fair friend, from whom she received every +possible encouragement to continue to think of him; and his impression +on her fancy was not suffered therefore to weaken. Isabella was very +sure that he must be a charming young man, and was equally sure that he +must have been delighted with her dear Catherine, and would therefore +shortly return. She liked him the better for being a clergyman, "for she +must confess herself very partial to the profession"; and something like +a sigh escaped her as she said it. Perhaps Catherine was wrong in not +demanding the cause of that gentle emotion--but she was not experienced +enough in the finesse of love, or the duties of friendship, to know when +delicate raillery was properly called for, or when a confidence should +be forced. + +Mrs. Allen was now quite happy--quite satisfied with Bath. She had found +some acquaintance, had been so lucky too as to find in them the family +of a most worthy old friend; and, as the completion of good fortune, had +found these friends by no means so expensively dressed as herself. Her +daily expressions were no longer, "I wish we had some acquaintance in +Bath!" They were changed into, "How glad I am we have met with Mrs. +Thorpe!" and she was as eager in promoting the intercourse of the two +families, as her young charge and Isabella themselves could be; never +satisfied with the day unless she spent the chief of it by the side of +Mrs. Thorpe, in what they called conversation, but in which there was +scarcely ever any exchange of opinion, and not often any resemblance of +subject, for Mrs. Thorpe talked chiefly of her children, and Mrs. Allen +of her gowns. + +The progress of the friendship between Catherine and Isabella was quick +as its beginning had been warm, and they passed so rapidly through every +gradation of increasing tenderness that there was shortly no fresh proof +of it to be given to their friends or themselves. They called each other +by their Christian name, were always arm in arm when they walked, pinned +up each other's train for the dance, and were not to be divided in the +set; and if a rainy morning deprived them of other enjoyments, they +were still resolute in meeting in defiance of wet and dirt, and shut +themselves up, to read novels together. Yes, novels; for I will not +adopt that ungenerous and impolitic custom so common with novel-writers, +of degrading by their contemptuous censure the very performances, to the +number of which they are themselves adding--joining with their greatest +enemies in bestowing the harshest epithets on such works, and scarcely +ever permitting them to be read by their own heroine, who, if she +accidentally take up a novel, is sure to turn over its insipid pages +with disgust. Alas! If the heroine of one novel be not patronized by the +heroine of another, from whom can she expect protection and regard? I +cannot approve of it. Let us leave it to the reviewers to abuse such +effusions of fancy at their leisure, and over every new novel to talk in +threadbare strains of the trash with which the press now groans. Let us +not desert one another; we are an injured body. Although our productions +have afforded more extensive and unaffected pleasure than those of any +other literary corporation in the world, no species of composition has +been so much decried. From pride, ignorance, or fashion, our foes +are almost as many as our readers. And while the abilities of the +nine-hundredth abridger of the History of England, or of the man who +collects and publishes in a volume some dozen lines of Milton, Pope, and +Prior, with a paper from the Spectator, and a chapter from Sterne, +are eulogized by a thousand pens--there seems almost a general wish of +decrying the capacity and undervaluing the labour of the novelist, and +of slighting the performances which have only genius, wit, and taste to +recommend them. "I am no novel-reader--I seldom look into novels--Do not +imagine that I often read novels--It is really very well for a novel." +Such is the common cant. "And what are you reading, Miss--?" "Oh! It is +only a novel!" replies the young lady, while she lays down her book +with affected indifference, or momentary shame. "It is only Cecilia, or +Camilla, or Belinda"; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest +powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge +of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the +liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the +best-chosen language. Now, had the same young lady been engaged with a +volume of the Spectator, instead of such a work, how proudly would she +have produced the book, and told its name; though the chances must be +against her being occupied by any part of that voluminous publication, +of which either the matter or manner would not disgust a young person of +taste: the substance of its papers so often consisting in the statement +of improbable circumstances, unnatural characters, and topics of +conversation which no longer concern anyone living; and their language, +too, frequently so coarse as to give no very favourable idea of the age +that could endure it. + + + + +CHAPTER 6 + + +The following conversation, which took place between the two friends in +the pump-room one morning, after an acquaintance of eight or nine +days, is given as a specimen of their very warm attachment, and of the +delicacy, discretion, originality of thought, and literary taste which +marked the reasonableness of that attachment. + +They met by appointment; and as Isabella had arrived nearly five +minutes before her friend, her first address naturally was, "My dearest +creature, what can have made you so late? I have been waiting for you at +least this age!" + +"Have you, indeed! I am very sorry for it; but really I thought I was in +very good time. It is but just one. I hope you have not been here long?" + +"Oh! These ten ages at least. I am sure I have been here this half hour. +But now, let us go and sit down at the other end of the room, and enjoy +ourselves. I have an hundred things to say to you. In the first place, +I was so afraid it would rain this morning, just as I wanted to set off; +it looked very showery, and that would have thrown me into agonies! Do +you know, I saw the prettiest hat you can imagine, in a shop window in +Milsom Street just now--very like yours, only with coquelicot ribbons +instead of green; I quite longed for it. But, my dearest Catherine, what +have you been doing with yourself all this morning? Have you gone on +with Udolpho?" + +"Yes, I have been reading it ever since I woke; and I am got to the +black veil." + +"Are you, indeed? How delightful! Oh! I would not tell you what is +behind the black veil for the world! Are not you wild to know?" + +"Oh! Yes, quite; what can it be? But do not tell me--I would not be +told upon any account. I know it must be a skeleton, I am sure it is +Laurentina's skeleton. Oh! I am delighted with the book! I should like +to spend my whole life in reading it. I assure you, if it had not been +to meet you, I would not have come away from it for all the world." + +"Dear creature! How much I am obliged to you; and when you have finished +Udolpho, we will read the Italian together; and I have made out a list +of ten or twelve more of the same kind for you." + +"Have you, indeed! How glad I am! What are they all?" + +"I will read you their names directly; here they are, in my pocketbook. +Castle of Wolfenbach, Clermont, Mysterious Warnings, Necromancer of the +Black Forest, Midnight Bell, Orphan of the Rhine, and Horrid Mysteries. +Those will last us some time." + +"Yes, pretty well; but are they all horrid, are you sure they are all +horrid?" + +"Yes, quite sure; for a particular friend of mine, a Miss Andrews, a +sweet girl, one of the sweetest creatures in the world, has read every +one of them. I wish you knew Miss Andrews, you would be delighted with +her. She is netting herself the sweetest cloak you can conceive. I think +her as beautiful as an angel, and I am so vexed with the men for not +admiring her! I scold them all amazingly about it." + +"Scold them! Do you scold them for not admiring her?" + +"Yes, that I do. There is nothing I would not do for those who are +really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is +not my nature. My attachments are always excessively strong. I told +Captain Hunt at one of our assemblies this winter that if he was to +tease me all night, I would not dance with him, unless he would allow +Miss Andrews to be as beautiful as an angel. The men think us incapable +of real friendship, you know, and I am determined to show them the +difference. Now, if I were to hear anybody speak slightingly of you, I +should fire up in a moment: but that is not at all likely, for you are +just the kind of girl to be a great favourite with the men." + +"Oh, dear!" cried Catherine, colouring. "How can you say so?" + +"I know you very well; you have so much animation, which is exactly +what Miss Andrews wants, for I must confess there is something amazingly +insipid about her. Oh! I must tell you, that just after we parted +yesterday, I saw a young man looking at you so earnestly--I am sure he +is in love with you." Catherine coloured, and disclaimed again. Isabella +laughed. "It is very true, upon my honour, but I see how it is; you are +indifferent to everybody's admiration, except that of one gentleman, +who shall be nameless. Nay, I cannot blame you"--speaking more +seriously--"your feelings are easily understood. Where the heart is +really attached, I know very well how little one can be pleased with the +attention of anybody else. Everything is so insipid, so uninteresting, +that does not relate to the beloved object! I can perfectly comprehend +your feelings." + +"But you should not persuade me that I think so very much about Mr. +Tilney, for perhaps I may never see him again." + +"Not see him again! My dearest creature, do not talk of it. I am sure +you would be miserable if you thought so!" + +"No, indeed, I should not. I do not pretend to say that I was not very +much pleased with him; but while I have Udolpho to read, I feel as if +nobody could make me miserable. Oh! The dreadful black veil! My dear +Isabella, I am sure there must be Laurentina's skeleton behind it." + +"It is so odd to me, that you should never have read Udolpho before; but +I suppose Mrs. Morland objects to novels." + +"No, she does not. She very often reads Sir Charles Grandison herself; +but new books do not fall in our way." + +"Sir Charles Grandison! That is an amazing horrid book, is it not? I +remember Miss Andrews could not get through the first volume." + +"It is not like Udolpho at all; but yet I think it is very +entertaining." + +"Do you indeed! You surprise me; I thought it had not been readable. +But, my dearest Catherine, have you settled what to wear on your head +tonight? I am determined at all events to be dressed exactly like you. +The men take notice of that sometimes, you know." + +"But it does not signify if they do," said Catherine, very innocently. + +"Signify! Oh, heavens! I make it a rule never to mind what they say. +They are very often amazingly impertinent if you do not treat them with +spirit, and make them keep their distance." + +"Are they? Well, I never observed that. They always behave very well to +me." + +"Oh! They give themselves such airs. They are the most conceited +creatures in the world, and think themselves of so much importance! +By the by, though I have thought of it a hundred times, I have always +forgot to ask you what is your favourite complexion in a man. Do you +like them best dark or fair?" + +"I hardly know. I never much thought about it. Something between both, I +think. Brown--not fair, and--and not very dark." + +"Very well, Catherine. That is exactly he. I have not forgot your +description of Mr. Tilney--'a brown skin, with dark eyes, and rather +dark hair.' Well, my taste is different. I prefer light eyes, and as to +complexion--do you know--I like a sallow better than any other. You must +not betray me, if you should ever meet with one of your acquaintance +answering that description." + +"Betray you! What do you mean?" + +"Nay, do not distress me. I believe I have said too much. Let us drop +the subject." + +Catherine, in some amazement, complied, and after remaining a few +moments silent, was on the point of reverting to what interested her +at that time rather more than anything else in the world, Laurentina's +skeleton, when her friend prevented her, by saying, "For heaven's sake! +Let us move away from this end of the room. Do you know, there are two +odious young men who have been staring at me this half hour. They really +put me quite out of countenance. Let us go and look at the arrivals. +They will hardly follow us there." + +Away they walked to the book; and while Isabella examined the names, it +was Catherine's employment to watch the proceedings of these alarming +young men. + +"They are not coming this way, are they? I hope they are not so +impertinent as to follow us. Pray let me know if they are coming. I am +determined I will not look up." + +In a few moments Catherine, with unaffected pleasure, assured her +that she need not be longer uneasy, as the gentlemen had just left the +pump-room. + +"And which way are they gone?" said Isabella, turning hastily round. +"One was a very good-looking young man." + +"They went towards the church-yard." + +"Well, I am amazingly glad I have got rid of them! And now, what say you +to going to Edgar's Buildings with me, and looking at my new hat? You +said you should like to see it." + +Catherine readily agreed. "Only," she added, "perhaps we may overtake +the two young men." + +"Oh! Never mind that. If we make haste, we shall pass by them presently, +and I am dying to show you my hat." + +"But if we only wait a few minutes, there will be no danger of our +seeing them at all." + +"I shall not pay them any such compliment, I assure you. I have no +notion of treating men with such respect. That is the way to spoil +them." + +Catherine had nothing to oppose against such reasoning; and therefore, +to show the independence of Miss Thorpe, and her resolution of humbling +the sex, they set off immediately as fast as they could walk, in pursuit +of the two young men. + + + + +CHAPTER 7 + + +Half a minute conducted them through the pump-yard to the archway, +opposite Union Passage; but here they were stopped. Everybody acquainted +with Bath may remember the difficulties of crossing Cheap Street at +this point; it is indeed a street of so impertinent a nature, so +unfortunately connected with the great London and Oxford roads, and the +principal inn of the city, that a day never passes in which parties of +ladies, however important their business, whether in quest of pastry, +millinery, or even (as in the present case) of young men, are not +detained on one side or other by carriages, horsemen, or carts. This +evil had been felt and lamented, at least three times a day, by Isabella +since her residence in Bath; and she was now fated to feel and lament it +once more, for at the very moment of coming opposite to Union Passage, +and within view of the two gentlemen who were proceeding through the +crowds, and threading the gutters of that interesting alley, they +were prevented crossing by the approach of a gig, driven along on bad +pavement by a most knowing-looking coachman with all the vehemence that +could most fitly endanger the lives of himself, his companion, and his +horse. + +"Oh, these odious gigs!" said Isabella, looking up. "How I detest them." +But this detestation, though so just, was of short duration, for she +looked again and exclaimed, "Delightful! Mr. Morland and my brother!" + +"Good heaven! 'Tis James!" was uttered at the same moment by Catherine; +and, on catching the young men's eyes, the horse was immediately checked +with a violence which almost threw him on his haunches, and the servant +having now scampered up, the gentlemen jumped out, and the equipage was +delivered to his care. + +Catherine, by whom this meeting was wholly unexpected, received her +brother with the liveliest pleasure; and he, being of a very amiable +disposition, and sincerely attached to her, gave every proof on his +side of equal satisfaction, which he could have leisure to do, while the +bright eyes of Miss Thorpe were incessantly challenging his notice; +and to her his devoirs were speedily paid, with a mixture of joy and +embarrassment which might have informed Catherine, had she been more +expert in the development of other people's feelings, and less simply +engrossed by her own, that her brother thought her friend quite as +pretty as she could do herself. + +John Thorpe, who in the meantime had been giving orders about the +horses, soon joined them, and from him she directly received the amends +which were her due; for while he slightly and carelessly touched the +hand of Isabella, on her he bestowed a whole scrape and half a short +bow. He was a stout young man of middling height, who, with a plain face +and ungraceful form, seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore +the dress of a groom, and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy +where he ought to be civil, and impudent where he might be allowed to be +easy. He took out his watch: "How long do you think we have been running +it from Tetbury, Miss Morland?" + +"I do not know the distance." Her brother told her that it was +twenty-three miles. + +"Three and twenty!" cried Thorpe. "Five and twenty if it is an inch." +Morland remonstrated, pleaded the authority of road-books, innkeepers, +and milestones; but his friend disregarded them all; he had a surer test +of distance. "I know it must be five and twenty," said he, "by the time +we have been doing it. It is now half after one; we drove out of the +inn-yard at Tetbury as the town clock struck eleven; and I defy any man +in England to make my horse go less than ten miles an hour in harness; +that makes it exactly twenty-five." + +"You have lost an hour," said Morland; "it was only ten o'clock when we +came from Tetbury." + +"Ten o'clock! It was eleven, upon my soul! I counted every stroke. This +brother of yours would persuade me out of my senses, Miss Morland; do +but look at my horse; did you ever see an animal so made for speed in +your life?" (The servant had just mounted the carriage and was driving +off.) "Such true blood! Three hours and and a half indeed coming only +three and twenty miles! Look at that creature, and suppose it possible +if you can." + +"He does look very hot, to be sure." + +"Hot! He had not turned a hair till we came to Walcot Church; but look +at his forehand; look at his loins; only see how he moves; that horse +cannot go less than ten miles an hour: tie his legs and he will get on. +What do you think of my gig, Miss Morland? A neat one, is not it? +Well hung; town-built; I have not had it a month. It was built for a +Christchurch man, a friend of mine, a very good sort of fellow; he ran +it a few weeks, till, I believe, it was convenient to have done with it. +I happened just then to be looking out for some light thing of the kind, +though I had pretty well determined on a curricle too; but I chanced to +meet him on Magdalen Bridge, as he was driving into Oxford, last term: +'Ah! Thorpe,' said he, 'do you happen to want such a little thing as +this? It is a capital one of the kind, but I am cursed tired of it.' +'Oh! D--,' said I; 'I am your man; what do you ask?' And how much do you +think he did, Miss Morland?" + +"I am sure I cannot guess at all." + +"Curricle-hung, you see; seat, trunk, sword-case, splashing-board, +lamps, silver moulding, all you see complete; the iron-work as good +as new, or better. He asked fifty guineas; I closed with him directly, +threw down the money, and the carriage was mine." + +"And I am sure," said Catherine, "I know so little of such things that I +cannot judge whether it was cheap or dear." + +"Neither one nor t'other; I might have got it for less, I dare say; but +I hate haggling, and poor Freeman wanted cash." + +"That was very good-natured of you," said Catherine, quite pleased. + +"Oh! D---- it, when one has the means of doing a kind thing by a friend, +I hate to be pitiful." + +An inquiry now took place into the intended movements of the young +ladies; and, on finding whither they were going, it was decided that +the gentlemen should accompany them to Edgar's Buildings, and pay their +respects to Mrs. Thorpe. James and Isabella led the way; and so +well satisfied was the latter with her lot, so contentedly was she +endeavouring to ensure a pleasant walk to him who brought the double +recommendation of being her brother's friend, and her friend's brother, +so pure and uncoquettish were her feelings, that, though they overtook +and passed the two offending young men in Milsom Street, she was so far +from seeking to attract their notice, that she looked back at them only +three times. + +John Thorpe kept of course with Catherine, and, after a few minutes' +silence, renewed the conversation about his gig. "You will find, +however, Miss Morland, it would be reckoned a cheap thing by some +people, for I might have sold it for ten guineas more the next day; +Jackson, of Oriel, bid me sixty at once; Morland was with me at the +time." + +"Yes," said Morland, who overheard this; "but you forget that your horse +was included." + +"My horse! Oh, d---- it! I would not sell my horse for a hundred. Are +you fond of an open carriage, Miss Morland?" + +"Yes, very; I have hardly ever an opportunity of being in one; but I am +particularly fond of it." + +"I am glad of it; I will drive you out in mine every day." + +"Thank you," said Catherine, in some distress, from a doubt of the +propriety of accepting such an offer. + +"I will drive you up Lansdown Hill tomorrow." + +"Thank you; but will not your horse want rest?" + +"Rest! He has only come three and twenty miles today; all nonsense; +nothing ruins horses so much as rest; nothing knocks them up so soon. +No, no; I shall exercise mine at the average of four hours every day +while I am here." + +"Shall you indeed!" said Catherine very seriously. "That will be forty +miles a day." + +"Forty! Aye, fifty, for what I care. Well, I will drive you up Lansdown +tomorrow; mind, I am engaged." + +"How delightful that will be!" cried Isabella, turning round. "My +dearest Catherine, I quite envy you; but I am afraid, brother, you will +not have room for a third." + +"A third indeed! No, no; I did not come to Bath to drive my sisters +about; that would be a good joke, faith! Morland must take care of you." + +This brought on a dialogue of civilities between the other two; but +Catherine heard neither the particulars nor the result. Her companion's +discourse now sunk from its hitherto animated pitch to nothing more than +a short decisive sentence of praise or condemnation on the face of every +woman they met; and Catherine, after listening and agreeing as long as +she could, with all the civility and deference of the youthful female +mind, fearful of hazarding an opinion of its own in opposition to that +of a self-assured man, especially where the beauty of her own sex is +concerned, ventured at length to vary the subject by a question which +had been long uppermost in her thoughts; it was, "Have you ever read +Udolpho, Mr. Thorpe?" + +"Udolpho! Oh, Lord! Not I; I never read novels; I have something else to +do." + +Catherine, humbled and ashamed, was going to apologize for her question, +but he prevented her by saying, "Novels are all so full of nonsense +and stuff; there has not been a tolerably decent one come out since +Tom Jones, except The Monk; I read that t'other day; but as for all the +others, they are the stupidest things in creation." + +"I think you must like Udolpho, if you were to read it; it is so very +interesting." + +"Not I, faith! No, if I read any, it shall be Mrs. Radcliffe's; her +novels are amusing enough; they are worth reading; some fun and nature +in them." + +"Udolpho was written by Mrs. Radcliffe," said Catherine, with some +hesitation, from the fear of mortifying him. + +"No sure; was it? Aye, I remember, so it was; I was thinking of that +other stupid book, written by that woman they make such a fuss about, +she who married the French emigrant." + +"I suppose you mean Camilla?" + +"Yes, that's the book; such unnatural stuff! An old man playing at +see-saw, I took up the first volume once and looked it over, but I soon +found it would not do; indeed I guessed what sort of stuff it must be +before I saw it: as soon as I heard she had married an emigrant, I was +sure I should never be able to get through it." + +"I have never read it." + +"You had no loss, I assure you; it is the horridest nonsense you can +imagine; there is nothing in the world in it but an old man's playing at +see-saw and learning Latin; upon my soul there is not." + +This critique, the justness of which was unfortunately lost on poor +Catherine, brought them to the door of Mrs. Thorpe's lodgings, and the +feelings of the discerning and unprejudiced reader of Camilla gave way +to the feelings of the dutiful and affectionate son, as they met Mrs. +Thorpe, who had descried them from above, in the passage. "Ah, Mother! +How do you do?" said he, giving her a hearty shake of the hand. "Where +did you get that quiz of a hat? It makes you look like an old witch. +Here is Morland and I come to stay a few days with you, so you must look +out for a couple of good beds somewhere near." And this address seemed +to satisfy all the fondest wishes of the mother's heart, for she +received him with the most delighted and exulting affection. On his +two younger sisters he then bestowed an equal portion of his fraternal +tenderness, for he asked each of them how they did, and observed that +they both looked very ugly. + +These manners did not please Catherine; but he was James's friend +and Isabella's brother; and her judgment was further bought off by +Isabella's assuring her, when they withdrew to see the new hat, that +John thought her the most charming girl in the world, and by John's +engaging her before they parted to dance with him that evening. Had she +been older or vainer, such attacks might have done little; but, where +youth and diffidence are united, it requires uncommon steadiness of +reason to resist the attraction of being called the most charming girl +in the world, and of being so very early engaged as a partner; and the +consequence was that, when the two Morlands, after sitting an hour with +the Thorpes, set off to walk together to Mr. Allen's, and James, as +the door was closed on them, said, "Well, Catherine, how do you like my +friend Thorpe?" instead of answering, as she probably would have done, +had there been no friendship and no flattery in the case, "I do not like +him at all," she directly replied, "I like him very much; he seems very +agreeable." + +"He is as good-natured a fellow as ever lived; a little of a rattle; but +that will recommend him to your sex, I believe: and how do you like the +rest of the family?" + +"Very, very much indeed: Isabella particularly." + +"I am very glad to hear you say so; she is just the kind of young woman +I could wish to see you attached to; she has so much good sense, and is +so thoroughly unaffected and amiable; I always wanted you to know her; +and she seems very fond of you. She said the highest things in your +praise that could possibly be; and the praise of such a girl as Miss +Thorpe even you, Catherine," taking her hand with affection, "may be +proud of." + +"Indeed I am," she replied; "I love her exceedingly, and am delighted +to find that you like her too. You hardly mentioned anything of her when +you wrote to me after your visit there." + +"Because I thought I should soon see you myself. I hope you will be a +great deal together while you are in Bath. She is a most amiable girl; +such a superior understanding! How fond all the family are of her; she +is evidently the general favourite; and how much she must be admired in +such a place as this--is not she?" + +"Yes, very much indeed, I fancy; Mr. Allen thinks her the prettiest girl +in Bath." + +"I dare say he does; and I do not know any man who is a better judge of +beauty than Mr. Allen. I need not ask you whether you are happy here, my +dear Catherine; with such a companion and friend as Isabella Thorpe, it +would be impossible for you to be otherwise; and the Allens, I am sure, +are very kind to you?" + +"Yes, very kind; I never was so happy before; and now you are come it +will be more delightful than ever; how good it is of you to come so far +on purpose to see me." + +James accepted this tribute of gratitude, and qualified his conscience +for accepting it too, by saying with perfect sincerity, "Indeed, +Catherine, I love you dearly." + +Inquiries and communications concerning brothers and sisters, the +situation of some, the growth of the rest, and other family matters now +passed between them, and continued, with only one small digression +on James's part, in praise of Miss Thorpe, till they reached Pulteney +Street, where he was welcomed with great kindness by Mr. and Mrs. Allen, +invited by the former to dine with them, and summoned by the latter +to guess the price and weigh the merits of a new muff and tippet. +A pre-engagement in Edgar's Buildings prevented his accepting the +invitation of one friend, and obliged him to hurry away as soon as he +had satisfied the demands of the other. The time of the two parties +uniting in the Octagon Room being correctly adjusted, Catherine was then +left to the luxury of a raised, restless, and frightened imagination +over the pages of Udolpho, lost from all worldly concerns of dressing +and dinner, incapable of soothing Mrs. Allen's fears on the delay of an +expected dressmaker, and having only one minute in sixty to bestow even +on the reflection of her own felicity, in being already engaged for the +evening. + + + + +CHAPTER 8 + + +In spite of Udolpho and the dressmaker, however, the party from Pulteney +Street reached the Upper Rooms in very good time. The Thorpes and James +Morland were there only two minutes before them; and Isabella having +gone through the usual ceremonial of meeting her friend with the most +smiling and affectionate haste, of admiring the set of her gown, and +envying the curl of her hair, they followed their chaperones, arm in +arm, into the ballroom, whispering to each other whenever a thought +occurred, and supplying the place of many ideas by a squeeze of the hand +or a smile of affection. + +The dancing began within a few minutes after they were seated; and +James, who had been engaged quite as long as his sister, was very +importunate with Isabella to stand up; but John was gone into the +card-room to speak to a friend, and nothing, she declared, should induce +her to join the set before her dear Catherine could join it too. "I +assure you," said she, "I would not stand up without your dear sister +for all the world; for if I did we should certainly be separated the +whole evening." Catherine accepted this kindness with gratitude, and +they continued as they were for three minutes longer, when Isabella, who +had been talking to James on the other side of her, turned again to his +sister and whispered, "My dear creature, I am afraid I must leave you, +your brother is so amazingly impatient to begin; I know you will not +mind my going away, and I dare say John will be back in a moment, +and then you may easily find me out." Catherine, though a little +disappointed, had too much good nature to make any opposition, and the +others rising up, Isabella had only time to press her friend's hand and +say, "Good-bye, my dear love," before they hurried off. The younger +Miss Thorpes being also dancing, Catherine was left to the mercy of Mrs. +Thorpe and Mrs. Allen, between whom she now remained. She could not help +being vexed at the non-appearance of Mr. Thorpe, for she not only longed +to be dancing, but was likewise aware that, as the real dignity of her +situation could not be known, she was sharing with the scores of other +young ladies still sitting down all the discredit of wanting a partner. +To be disgraced in the eye of the world, to wear the appearance of +infamy while her heart is all purity, her actions all innocence, and the +misconduct of another the true source of her debasement, is one of those +circumstances which peculiarly belong to the heroine's life, and her +fortitude under it what particularly dignifies her character. Catherine +had fortitude too; she suffered, but no murmur passed her lips. + +From this state of humiliation, she was roused, at the end of ten +minutes, to a pleasanter feeling, by seeing, not Mr. Thorpe, but Mr. +Tilney, within three yards of the place where they sat; he seemed to be +moving that way, but he did not see her, and therefore the smile and the +blush, which his sudden reappearance raised in Catherine, passed away +without sullying her heroic importance. He looked as handsome and as +lively as ever, and was talking with interest to a fashionable and +pleasing-looking young woman, who leant on his arm, and whom Catherine +immediately guessed to be his sister; thus unthinkingly throwing away +a fair opportunity of considering him lost to her forever, by being +married already. But guided only by what was simple and probable, it +had never entered her head that Mr. Tilney could be married; he had not +behaved, he had not talked, like the married men to whom she had been +used; he had never mentioned a wife, and he had acknowledged a sister. +From these circumstances sprang the instant conclusion of his sister's +now being by his side; and therefore, instead of turning of a deathlike +paleness and falling in a fit on Mrs. Allen's bosom, Catherine sat +erect, in the perfect use of her senses, and with cheeks only a little +redder than usual. + +Mr. Tilney and his companion, who continued, though slowly, to approach, +were immediately preceded by a lady, an acquaintance of Mrs. Thorpe; and +this lady stopping to speak to her, they, as belonging to her, stopped +likewise, and Catherine, catching Mr. Tilney's eye, instantly received +from him the smiling tribute of recognition. She returned it with +pleasure, and then advancing still nearer, he spoke both to her and Mrs. +Allen, by whom he was very civilly acknowledged. "I am very happy to see +you again, sir, indeed; I was afraid you had left Bath." He thanked her +for her fears, and said that he had quitted it for a week, on the very +morning after his having had the pleasure of seeing her. + +"Well, sir, and I dare say you are not sorry to be back again, for it +is just the place for young people--and indeed for everybody else too. +I tell Mr. Allen, when he talks of being sick of it, that I am sure he +should not complain, for it is so very agreeable a place, that it is +much better to be here than at home at this dull time of year. I tell +him he is quite in luck to be sent here for his health." + +"And I hope, madam, that Mr. Allen will be obliged to like the place, +from finding it of service to him." + +"Thank you, sir. I have no doubt that he will. A neighbour of ours, +Dr. Skinner, was here for his health last winter, and came away quite +stout." + +"That circumstance must give great encouragement." + +"Yes, sir--and Dr. Skinner and his family were here three months; so I +tell Mr. Allen he must not be in a hurry to get away." + +Here they were interrupted by a request from Mrs. Thorpe to Mrs. Allen, +that she would move a little to accommodate Mrs. Hughes and Miss Tilney +with seats, as they had agreed to join their party. This was accordingly +done, Mr. Tilney still continuing standing before them; and after a +few minutes' consideration, he asked Catherine to dance with him. This +compliment, delightful as it was, produced severe mortification to the +lady; and in giving her denial, she expressed her sorrow on the occasion +so very much as if she really felt it that had Thorpe, who joined her +just afterwards, been half a minute earlier, he might have thought her +sufferings rather too acute. The very easy manner in which he then told +her that he had kept her waiting did not by any means reconcile her more +to her lot; nor did the particulars which he entered into while they +were standing up, of the horses and dogs of the friend whom he had just +left, and of a proposed exchange of terriers between them, interest her +so much as to prevent her looking very often towards that part of the +room where she had left Mr. Tilney. Of her dear Isabella, to whom she +particularly longed to point out that gentleman, she could see nothing. +They were in different sets. She was separated from all her party, and +away from all her acquaintance; one mortification succeeded another, +and from the whole she deduced this useful lesson, that to go previously +engaged to a ball does not necessarily increase either the dignity or +enjoyment of a young lady. From such a moralizing strain as this, she +was suddenly roused by a touch on the shoulder, and turning round, +perceived Mrs. Hughes directly behind her, attended by Miss Tilney and +a gentleman. "I beg your pardon, Miss Morland," said she, "for this +liberty--but I cannot anyhow get to Miss Thorpe, and Mrs. Thorpe said +she was sure you would not have the least objection to letting in this +young lady by you." Mrs. Hughes could not have applied to any creature +in the room more happy to oblige her than Catherine. The young ladies +were introduced to each other, Miss Tilney expressing a proper sense of +such goodness, Miss Morland with the real delicacy of a generous mind +making light of the obligation; and Mrs. Hughes, satisfied with having +so respectably settled her young charge, returned to her party. + +Miss Tilney had a good figure, a pretty face, and a very agreeable +countenance; and her air, though it had not all the decided pretension, +the resolute stylishness of Miss Thorpe's, had more real elegance. Her +manners showed good sense and good breeding; they were neither shy nor +affectedly open; and she seemed capable of being young, attractive, and +at a ball without wanting to fix the attention of every man near her, +and without exaggerated feelings of ecstatic delight or inconceivable +vexation on every little trifling occurrence. Catherine, interested at +once by her appearance and her relationship to Mr. Tilney, was desirous +of being acquainted with her, and readily talked therefore whenever she +could think of anything to say, and had courage and leisure for saying +it. But the hindrance thrown in the way of a very speedy intimacy, by +the frequent want of one or more of these requisites, prevented their +doing more than going through the first rudiments of an acquaintance, by +informing themselves how well the other liked Bath, how much she admired +its buildings and surrounding country, whether she drew, or played, or +sang, and whether she was fond of riding on horseback. + +The two dances were scarcely concluded before Catherine found her arm +gently seized by her faithful Isabella, who in great spirits exclaimed, +"At last I have got you. My dearest creature, I have been looking for +you this hour. What could induce you to come into this set, when you +knew I was in the other? I have been quite wretched without you." + +"My dear Isabella, how was it possible for me to get at you? I could not +even see where you were." + +"So I told your brother all the time--but he would not believe me. Do go +and see for her, Mr. Morland, said I--but all in vain--he would not stir +an inch. Was not it so, Mr. Morland? But you men are all so immoderately +lazy! I have been scolding him to such a degree, my dear Catherine, you +would be quite amazed. You know I never stand upon ceremony with such +people." + +"Look at that young lady with the white beads round her head," whispered +Catherine, detaching her friend from James. "It is Mr. Tilney's sister." + +"Oh! Heavens! You don't say so! Let me look at her this moment. What a +delightful girl! I never saw anything half so beautiful! But where is +her all-conquering brother? Is he in the room? Point him out to me this +instant, if he is. I die to see him. Mr. Morland, you are not to listen. +We are not talking about you." + +"But what is all this whispering about? What is going on?" + +"There now, I knew how it would be. You men have such restless +curiosity! Talk of the curiosity of women, indeed! 'Tis nothing. But be +satisfied, for you are not to know anything at all of the matter." + +"And is that likely to satisfy me, do you think?" + +"Well, I declare I never knew anything like you. What can it signify to +you, what we are talking of. Perhaps we are talking about you; therefore +I would advise you not to listen, or you may happen to hear something +not very agreeable." + +In this commonplace chatter, which lasted some time, the original +subject seemed entirely forgotten; and though Catherine was very well +pleased to have it dropped for a while, she could not avoid a little +suspicion at the total suspension of all Isabella's impatient desire to +see Mr. Tilney. When the orchestra struck up a fresh dance, James would +have led his fair partner away, but she resisted. "I tell you, Mr. +Morland," she cried, "I would not do such a thing for all the world. +How can you be so teasing; only conceive, my dear Catherine, what your +brother wants me to do. He wants me to dance with him again, though +I tell him that it is a most improper thing, and entirely against the +rules. It would make us the talk of the place, if we were not to change +partners." + +"Upon my honour," said James, "in these public assemblies, it is as +often done as not." + +"Nonsense, how can you say so? But when you men have a point to carry, +you never stick at anything. My sweet Catherine, do support me; persuade +your brother how impossible it is. Tell him that it would quite shock +you to see me do such a thing; now would not it?" + +"No, not at all; but if you think it wrong, you had much better change." + +"There," cried Isabella, "you hear what your sister says, and yet you +will not mind her. Well, remember that it is not my fault, if we set all +the old ladies in Bath in a bustle. Come along, my dearest Catherine, +for heaven's sake, and stand by me." And off they went, to regain +their former place. John Thorpe, in the meanwhile, had walked away; and +Catherine, ever willing to give Mr. Tilney an opportunity of repeating +the agreeable request which had already flattered her once, made her +way to Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe as fast as she could, in the hope +of finding him still with them--a hope which, when it proved to be +fruitless, she felt to have been highly unreasonable. "Well, my dear," +said Mrs. Thorpe, impatient for praise of her son, "I hope you have had +an agreeable partner." + +"Very agreeable, madam." + +"I am glad of it. John has charming spirits, has not he?" + +"Did you meet Mr. Tilney, my dear?" said Mrs. Allen. + +"No, where is he?" + +"He was with us just now, and said he was so tired of lounging about, +that he was resolved to go and dance; so I thought perhaps he would ask +you, if he met with you." + +"Where can he be?" said Catherine, looking round; but she had not looked +round long before she saw him leading a young lady to the dance. + +"Ah! He has got a partner; I wish he had asked you," said Mrs. Allen; +and after a short silence, she added, "he is a very agreeable young +man." + +"Indeed he is, Mrs. Allen," said Mrs. Thorpe, smiling complacently; "I +must say it, though I am his mother, that there is not a more agreeable +young man in the world." + +This inapplicable answer might have been too much for the comprehension +of many; but it did not puzzle Mrs. Allen, for after only a moment's +consideration, she said, in a whisper to Catherine, "I dare say she +thought I was speaking of her son." + +Catherine was disappointed and vexed. She seemed to have missed by so +little the very object she had had in view; and this persuasion did not +incline her to a very gracious reply, when John Thorpe came up to her +soon afterwards and said, "Well, Miss Morland, I suppose you and I are +to stand up and jig it together again." + +"Oh, no; I am much obliged to you, our two dances are over; and, +besides, I am tired, and do not mean to dance any more." + +"Do not you? Then let us walk about and quiz people. Come along with +me, and I will show you the four greatest quizzers in the room; my two +younger sisters and their partners. I have been laughing at them this +half hour." + +Again Catherine excused herself; and at last he walked off to quiz his +sisters by himself. The rest of the evening she found very dull; Mr. +Tilney was drawn away from their party at tea, to attend that of his +partner; Miss Tilney, though belonging to it, did not sit near her, and +James and Isabella were so much engaged in conversing together that the +latter had no leisure to bestow more on her friend than one smile, one +squeeze, and one "dearest Catherine." + + + + +CHAPTER 9 + + +The progress of Catherine's unhappiness from the events of the evening +was as follows. It appeared first in a general dissatisfaction with +everybody about her, while she remained in the rooms, which speedily +brought on considerable weariness and a violent desire to go home. This, +on arriving in Pulteney Street, took the direction of extraordinary +hunger, and when that was appeased, changed into an earnest longing to +be in bed; such was the extreme point of her distress; for when there +she immediately fell into a sound sleep which lasted nine hours, and +from which she awoke perfectly revived, in excellent spirits, with fresh +hopes and fresh schemes. The first wish of her heart was to improve her +acquaintance with Miss Tilney, and almost her first resolution, to seek +her for that purpose, in the pump-room at noon. In the pump-room, one +so newly arrived in Bath must be met with, and that building she had +already found so favourable for the discovery of female excellence, +and the completion of female intimacy, so admirably adapted for secret +discourses and unlimited confidence, that she was most reasonably +encouraged to expect another friend from within its walls. Her plan +for the morning thus settled, she sat quietly down to her book after +breakfast, resolving to remain in the same place and the same employment +till the clock struck one; and from habitude very little incommoded by +the remarks and ejaculations of Mrs. Allen, whose vacancy of mind and +incapacity for thinking were such, that as she never talked a great +deal, so she could never be entirely silent; and, therefore, while she +sat at her work, if she lost her needle or broke her thread, if she +heard a carriage in the street, or saw a speck upon her gown, she must +observe it aloud, whether there were anyone at leisure to answer her or +not. At about half past twelve, a remarkably loud rap drew her in haste +to the window, and scarcely had she time to inform Catherine of there +being two open carriages at the door, in the first only a servant, +her brother driving Miss Thorpe in the second, before John Thorpe came +running upstairs, calling out, "Well, Miss Morland, here I am. Have +you been waiting long? We could not come before; the old devil of a +coachmaker was such an eternity finding out a thing fit to be got into, +and now it is ten thousand to one but they break down before we are out +of the street. How do you do, Mrs. Allen? A famous ball last night, was +not it? Come, Miss Morland, be quick, for the others are in a confounded +hurry to be off. They want to get their tumble over." + +"What do you mean?" said Catherine. "Where are you all going to?" + +"Going to? Why, you have not forgot our engagement! Did not we agree +together to take a drive this morning? What a head you have! We are +going up Claverton Down." + +"Something was said about it, I remember," said Catherine, looking at +Mrs. Allen for her opinion; "but really I did not expect you." + +"Not expect me! That's a good one! And what a dust you would have made, +if I had not come." + +Catherine's silent appeal to her friend, meanwhile, was entirely thrown +away, for Mrs. Allen, not being at all in the habit of conveying any +expression herself by a look, was not aware of its being ever intended +by anybody else; and Catherine, whose desire of seeing Miss Tilney again +could at that moment bear a short delay in favour of a drive, and who +thought there could be no impropriety in her going with Mr. Thorpe, as +Isabella was going at the same time with James, was therefore obliged to +speak plainer. "Well, ma'am, what do you say to it? Can you spare me for +an hour or two? Shall I go?" + +"Do just as you please, my dear," replied Mrs. Allen, with the most +placid indifference. Catherine took the advice, and ran off to get +ready. In a very few minutes she reappeared, having scarcely allowed +the two others time enough to get through a few short sentences in her +praise, after Thorpe had procured Mrs. Allen's admiration of his gig; +and then receiving her friend's parting good wishes, they both hurried +downstairs. "My dearest creature," cried Isabella, to whom the duty +of friendship immediately called her before she could get into the +carriage, "you have been at least three hours getting ready. I was +afraid you were ill. What a delightful ball we had last night. I have a +thousand things to say to you; but make haste and get in, for I long to +be off." + +Catherine followed her orders and turned away, but not too soon to hear +her friend exclaim aloud to James, "What a sweet girl she is! I quite +dote on her." + +"You will not be frightened, Miss Morland," said Thorpe, as he handed +her in, "if my horse should dance about a little at first setting off. +He will, most likely, give a plunge or two, and perhaps take the rest +for a minute; but he will soon know his master. He is full of spirits, +playful as can be, but there is no vice in him." + +Catherine did not think the portrait a very inviting one, but it was too +late to retreat, and she was too young to own herself frightened; so, +resigning herself to her fate, and trusting to the animal's boasted +knowledge of its owner, she sat peaceably down, and saw Thorpe sit down +by her. Everything being then arranged, the servant who stood at the +horse's head was bid in an important voice "to let him go," and off they +went in the quietest manner imaginable, without a plunge or a caper, or +anything like one. Catherine, delighted at so happy an escape, spoke +her pleasure aloud with grateful surprise; and her companion immediately +made the matter perfectly simple by assuring her that it was entirely +owing to the peculiarly judicious manner in which he had then held the +reins, and the singular discernment and dexterity with which he had +directed his whip. Catherine, though she could not help wondering that +with such perfect command of his horse, he should think it necessary to +alarm her with a relation of its tricks, congratulated herself sincerely +on being under the care of so excellent a coachman; and perceiving that +the animal continued to go on in the same quiet manner, without +showing the smallest propensity towards any unpleasant vivacity, and +(considering its inevitable pace was ten miles an hour) by no means +alarmingly fast, gave herself up to all the enjoyment of air and +exercise of the most invigorating kind, in a fine mild day of February, +with the consciousness of safety. A silence of several minutes succeeded +their first short dialogue; it was broken by Thorpe's saying very +abruptly, "Old Allen is as rich as a Jew--is not he?" Catherine did not +understand him--and he repeated his question, adding in explanation, +"Old Allen, the man you are with." + +"Oh! Mr. Allen, you mean. Yes, I believe, he is very rich." + +"And no children at all?" + +"No--not any." + +"A famous thing for his next heirs. He is your godfather, is not he?" + +"My godfather! No." + +"But you are always very much with them." + +"Yes, very much." + +"Aye, that is what I meant. He seems a good kind of old fellow enough, +and has lived very well in his time, I dare say; he is not gouty for +nothing. Does he drink his bottle a day now?" + +"His bottle a day! No. Why should you think of such a thing? He is a +very temperate man, and you could not fancy him in liquor last night?" + +"Lord help you! You women are always thinking of men's being in liquor. +Why, you do not suppose a man is overset by a bottle? I am sure of +this--that if everybody was to drink their bottle a day, there would not +be half the disorders in the world there are now. It would be a famous +good thing for us all." + +"I cannot believe it." + +"Oh! Lord, it would be the saving of thousands. There is not the +hundredth part of the wine consumed in this kingdom that there ought to +be. Our foggy climate wants help." + +"And yet I have heard that there is a great deal of wine drunk in +Oxford." + +"Oxford! There is no drinking at Oxford now, I assure you. Nobody drinks +there. You would hardly meet with a man who goes beyond his four pints +at the utmost. Now, for instance, it was reckoned a remarkable thing, at +the last party in my rooms, that upon an average we cleared about five +pints a head. It was looked upon as something out of the common way. +Mine is famous good stuff, to be sure. You would not often meet with +anything like it in Oxford--and that may account for it. But this will +just give you a notion of the general rate of drinking there." + +"Yes, it does give a notion," said Catherine warmly, "and that is, that +you all drink a great deal more wine than I thought you did. However, I +am sure James does not drink so much." + +This declaration brought on a loud and overpowering reply, of which +no part was very distinct, except the frequent exclamations, amounting +almost to oaths, which adorned it, and Catherine was left, when it +ended, with rather a strengthened belief of there being a great deal +of wine drunk in Oxford, and the same happy conviction of her brother's +comparative sobriety. + +Thorpe's ideas then all reverted to the merits of his own equipage, and +she was called on to admire the spirit and freedom with which his horse +moved along, and the ease which his paces, as well as the excellence of +the springs, gave the motion of the carriage. She followed him in all +his admiration as well as she could. To go before or beyond him was +impossible. His knowledge and her ignorance of the subject, his rapidity +of expression, and her diffidence of herself put that out of her power; +she could strike out nothing new in commendation, but she readily echoed +whatever he chose to assert, and it was finally settled between them +without any difficulty that his equipage was altogether the most +complete of its kind in England, his carriage the neatest, his horse the +best goer, and himself the best coachman. "You do not really think, +Mr. Thorpe," said Catherine, venturing after some time to consider the +matter as entirely decided, and to offer some little variation on the +subject, "that James's gig will break down?" + +"Break down! Oh! Lord! Did you ever see such a little tittuppy thing in +your life? There is not a sound piece of iron about it. The wheels have +been fairly worn out these ten years at least--and as for the body! Upon +my soul, you might shake it to pieces yourself with a touch. It is the +most devilish little rickety business I ever beheld! Thank God! we +have got a better. I would not be bound to go two miles in it for fifty +thousand pounds." + +"Good heavens!" cried Catherine, quite frightened. "Then pray let us +turn back; they will certainly meet with an accident if we go on. Do let +us turn back, Mr. Thorpe; stop and speak to my brother, and tell him how +very unsafe it is." + +"Unsafe! Oh, lord! What is there in that? They will only get a roll if +it does break down; and there is plenty of dirt; it will be excellent +falling. Oh, curse it! The carriage is safe enough, if a man knows how +to drive it; a thing of that sort in good hands will last above twenty +years after it is fairly worn out. Lord bless you! I would undertake for +five pounds to drive it to York and back again, without losing a nail." + +Catherine listened with astonishment; she knew not how to reconcile two +such very different accounts of the same thing; for she had not been +brought up to understand the propensities of a rattle, nor to know to +how many idle assertions and impudent falsehoods the excess of vanity +will lead. Her own family were plain, matter-of-fact people who seldom +aimed at wit of any kind; her father, at the utmost, being contented +with a pun, and her mother with a proverb; they were not in the habit +therefore of telling lies to increase their importance, or of asserting +at one moment what they would contradict the next. She reflected on the +affair for some time in much perplexity, and was more than once on the +point of requesting from Mr. Thorpe a clearer insight into his real +opinion on the subject; but she checked herself, because it appeared to +her that he did not excel in giving those clearer insights, in making +those things plain which he had before made ambiguous; and, joining to +this, the consideration that he would not really suffer his sister and +his friend to be exposed to a danger from which he might easily preserve +them, she concluded at last that he must know the carriage to be in fact +perfectly safe, and therefore would alarm herself no longer. By him +the whole matter seemed entirely forgotten; and all the rest of his +conversation, or rather talk, began and ended with himself and his own +concerns. He told her of horses which he had bought for a trifle and +sold for incredible sums; of racing matches, in which his judgment had +infallibly foretold the winner; of shooting parties, in which he had +killed more birds (though without having one good shot) than all his +companions together; and described to her some famous day's sport, with +the fox-hounds, in which his foresight and skill in directing the dogs +had repaired the mistakes of the most experienced huntsman, and in which +the boldness of his riding, though it had never endangered his own life +for a moment, had been constantly leading others into difficulties, +which he calmly concluded had broken the necks of many. + +Little as Catherine was in the habit of judging for herself, and unfixed +as were her general notions of what men ought to be, she could not +entirely repress a doubt, while she bore with the effusions of his +endless conceit, of his being altogether completely agreeable. It was a +bold surmise, for he was Isabella's brother; and she had been assured by +James that his manners would recommend him to all her sex; but in spite +of this, the extreme weariness of his company, which crept over her +before they had been out an hour, and which continued unceasingly to +increase till they stopped in Pulteney Street again, induced her, in +some small degree, to resist such high authority, and to distrust his +powers of giving universal pleasure. + +When they arrived at Mrs. Allen's door, the astonishment of Isabella was +hardly to be expressed, on finding that it was too late in the day for +them to attend her friend into the house: "Past three o'clock!" It was +inconceivable, incredible, impossible! And she would neither believe her +own watch, nor her brother's, nor the servant's; she would believe no +assurance of it founded on reason or reality, till Morland produced his +watch, and ascertained the fact; to have doubted a moment longer then +would have been equally inconceivable, incredible, and impossible; and +she could only protest, over and over again, that no two hours and a +half had ever gone off so swiftly before, as Catherine was called on to +confirm; Catherine could not tell a falsehood even to please Isabella; +but the latter was spared the misery of her friend's dissenting voice, +by not waiting for her answer. Her own feelings entirely engrossed +her; her wretchedness was most acute on finding herself obliged to go +directly home. It was ages since she had had a moment's conversation +with her dearest Catherine; and, though she had such thousands of things +to say to her, it appeared as if they were never to be together again; +so, with smiles of most exquisite misery, and the laughing eye of utter +despondency, she bade her friend adieu and went on. + +Catherine found Mrs. Allen just returned from all the busy idleness of +the morning, and was immediately greeted with, "Well, my dear, here +you are," a truth which she had no greater inclination than power to +dispute; "and I hope you have had a pleasant airing?" + +"Yes, ma'am, I thank you; we could not have had a nicer day." + +"So Mrs. Thorpe said; she was vastly pleased at your all going." + +"You have seen Mrs. Thorpe, then?" + +"Yes, I went to the pump-room as soon as you were gone, and there I met +her, and we had a great deal of talk together. She says there was hardly +any veal to be got at market this morning, it is so uncommonly scarce." + +"Did you see anybody else of our acquaintance?" + +"Yes; we agreed to take a turn in the Crescent, and there we met Mrs. +Hughes, and Mr. and Miss Tilney walking with her." + +"Did you indeed? And did they speak to you?" + +"Yes, we walked along the Crescent together for half an hour. They seem +very agreeable people. Miss Tilney was in a very pretty spotted +muslin, and I fancy, by what I can learn, that she always dresses very +handsomely. Mrs. Hughes talked to me a great deal about the family." + +"And what did she tell you of them?" + +"Oh! A vast deal indeed; she hardly talked of anything else." + +"Did she tell you what part of Gloucestershire they come from?" + +"Yes, she did; but I cannot recollect now. But they are very good kind +of people, and very rich. Mrs. Tilney was a Miss Drummond, and she +and Mrs. Hughes were schoolfellows; and Miss Drummond had a very large +fortune; and, when she married, her father gave her twenty thousand +pounds, and five hundred to buy wedding-clothes. Mrs. Hughes saw all the +clothes after they came from the warehouse." + +"And are Mr. and Mrs. Tilney in Bath?" + +"Yes, I fancy they are, but I am not quite certain. Upon recollection, +however, I have a notion they are both dead; at least the mother is; +yes, I am sure Mrs. Tilney is dead, because Mrs. Hughes told me there +was a very beautiful set of pearls that Mr. Drummond gave his daughter +on her wedding-day and that Miss Tilney has got now, for they were put +by for her when her mother died." + +"And is Mr. Tilney, my partner, the only son?" + +"I cannot be quite positive about that, my dear; I have some idea he is; +but, however, he is a very fine young man, Mrs. Hughes says, and likely +to do very well." + +Catherine inquired no further; she had heard enough to feel that +Mrs. Allen had no real intelligence to give, and that she was most +particularly unfortunate herself in having missed such a meeting with +both brother and sister. Could she have foreseen such a circumstance, +nothing should have persuaded her to go out with the others; and, as +it was, she could only lament her ill luck, and think over what she had +lost, till it was clear to her that the drive had by no means been very +pleasant and that John Thorpe himself was quite disagreeable. + + + + +CHAPTER 10 + + +The Allens, Thorpes, and Morlands all met in the evening at the +theatre; and, as Catherine and Isabella sat together, there was then an +opportunity for the latter to utter some few of the many thousand +things which had been collecting within her for communication in the +immeasurable length of time which had divided them. "Oh, heavens! +My beloved Catherine, have I got you at last?" was her address on +Catherine's entering the box and sitting by her. "Now, Mr. Morland," for +he was close to her on the other side, "I shall not speak another word +to you all the rest of the evening; so I charge you not to expect it. My +sweetest Catherine, how have you been this long age? But I need not ask +you, for you look delightfully. You really have done your hair in a +more heavenly style than ever; you mischievous creature, do you want to +attract everybody? I assure you, my brother is quite in love with you +already; and as for Mr. Tilney--but that is a settled thing--even your +modesty cannot doubt his attachment now; his coming back to Bath makes +it too plain. Oh! What would not I give to see him! I really am quite +wild with impatience. My mother says he is the most delightful young man +in the world; she saw him this morning, you know; you must introduce him +to me. Is he in the house now? Look about, for heaven's sake! I assure +you, I can hardly exist till I see him." + +"No," said Catherine, "he is not here; I cannot see him anywhere." + +"Oh, horrid! Am I never to be acquainted with him? How do you like my +gown? I think it does not look amiss; the sleeves were entirely my own +thought. Do you know, I get so immoderately sick of Bath; your brother +and I were agreeing this morning that, though it is vastly well to be +here for a few weeks, we would not live here for millions. We soon found +out that our tastes were exactly alike in preferring the country to +every other place; really, our opinions were so exactly the same, it was +quite ridiculous! There was not a single point in which we differed; I +would not have had you by for the world; you are such a sly thing, I am +sure you would have made some droll remark or other about it." + +"No, indeed I should not." + +"Oh, yes you would indeed; I know you better than you know yourself. You +would have told us that we seemed born for each other, or some nonsense +of that kind, which would have distressed me beyond conception; my +cheeks would have been as red as your roses; I would not have had you by +for the world." + +"Indeed you do me injustice; I would not have made so improper a remark +upon any account; and besides, I am sure it would never have entered my +head." + +Isabella smiled incredulously and talked the rest of the evening to +James. + +Catherine's resolution of endeavouring to meet Miss Tilney again +continued in full force the next morning; and till the usual moment of +going to the pump-room, she felt some alarm from the dread of a second +prevention. But nothing of that kind occurred, no visitors appeared to +delay them, and they all three set off in good time for the pump-room, +where the ordinary course of events and conversation took place; Mr. +Allen, after drinking his glass of water, joined some gentlemen to +talk over the politics of the day and compare the accounts of their +newspapers; and the ladies walked about together, noticing every new +face, and almost every new bonnet in the room. The female part of the +Thorpe family, attended by James Morland, appeared among the crowd in +less than a quarter of an hour, and Catherine immediately took her +usual place by the side of her friend. James, who was now in constant +attendance, maintained a similar position, and separating themselves +from the rest of their party, they walked in that manner for some +time, till Catherine began to doubt the happiness of a situation which, +confining her entirely to her friend and brother, gave her very +little share in the notice of either. They were always engaged in +some sentimental discussion or lively dispute, but their sentiment was +conveyed in such whispering voices, and their vivacity attended with +so much laughter, that though Catherine's supporting opinion was not +unfrequently called for by one or the other, she was never able to give +any, from not having heard a word of the subject. At length however +she was empowered to disengage herself from her friend, by the avowed +necessity of speaking to Miss Tilney, whom she most joyfully saw just +entering the room with Mrs. Hughes, and whom she instantly joined, with +a firmer determination to be acquainted, than she might have had courage +to command, had she not been urged by the disappointment of the day +before. Miss Tilney met her with great civility, returned her advances +with equal goodwill, and they continued talking together as long as +both parties remained in the room; and though in all probability not +an observation was made, nor an expression used by either which had not +been made and used some thousands of times before, under that roof, in +every Bath season, yet the merit of their being spoken with simplicity +and truth, and without personal conceit, might be something uncommon. + +"How well your brother dances!" was an artless exclamation of +Catherine's towards the close of their conversation, which at once +surprised and amused her companion. + +"Henry!" she replied with a smile. "Yes, he does dance very well." + +"He must have thought it very odd to hear me say I was engaged the other +evening, when he saw me sitting down. But I really had been engaged +the whole day to Mr. Thorpe." Miss Tilney could only bow. "You cannot +think," added Catherine after a moment's silence, "how surprised I was +to see him again. I felt so sure of his being quite gone away." + +"When Henry had the pleasure of seeing you before, he was in Bath but +for a couple of days. He came only to engage lodgings for us." + +"That never occurred to me; and of course, not seeing him anywhere, I +thought he must be gone. Was not the young lady he danced with on Monday +a Miss Smith?" + +"Yes, an acquaintance of Mrs. Hughes." + +"I dare say she was very glad to dance. Do you think her pretty?" + +"Not very." + +"He never comes to the pump-room, I suppose?" + +"Yes, sometimes; but he has rid out this morning with my father." + +Mrs. Hughes now joined them, and asked Miss Tilney if she was ready to +go. "I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again soon," said +Catherine. "Shall you be at the cotillion ball tomorrow?" + +"Perhaps we--Yes, I think we certainly shall." + +"I am glad of it, for we shall all be there." This civility was duly +returned; and they parted--on Miss Tilney's side with some knowledge +of her new acquaintance's feelings, and on Catherine's, without the +smallest consciousness of having explained them. + +She went home very happy. The morning had answered all her hopes, and +the evening of the following day was now the object of expectation, +the future good. What gown and what head-dress she should wear on the +occasion became her chief concern. She cannot be justified in it. Dress +is at all times a frivolous distinction, and excessive solicitude about +it often destroys its own aim. Catherine knew all this very well; her +great aunt had read her a lecture on the subject only the Christmas +before; and yet she lay awake ten minutes on Wednesday night debating +between her spotted and her tamboured muslin, and nothing but the +shortness of the time prevented her buying a new one for the evening. +This would have been an error in judgment, great though not uncommon, +from which one of the other sex rather than her own, a brother rather +than a great aunt, might have warned her, for man only can be aware of +the insensibility of man towards a new gown. It would be mortifying to +the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little +the heart of man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire; +how little it is biased by the texture of their muslin, and how +unsusceptible of peculiar tenderness towards the spotted, the sprigged, +the mull, or the jackonet. Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. +No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for +it. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former, and a something of +shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the latter. But not +one of these grave reflections troubled the tranquillity of Catherine. + +She entered the rooms on Thursday evening with feelings very different +from what had attended her thither the Monday before. She had then been +exulting in her engagement to Thorpe, and was now chiefly anxious to +avoid his sight, lest he should engage her again; for though she could +not, dared not expect that Mr. Tilney should ask her a third time to +dance, her wishes, hopes, and plans all centred in nothing less. Every +young lady may feel for my heroine in this critical moment, for every +young lady has at some time or other known the same agitation. All have +been, or at least all have believed themselves to be, in danger from the +pursuit of someone whom they wished to avoid; and all have been anxious +for the attentions of someone whom they wished to please. As soon as +they were joined by the Thorpes, Catherine's agony began; she fidgeted +about if John Thorpe came towards her, hid herself as much as possible +from his view, and when he spoke to her pretended not to hear him. The +cotillions were over, the country-dancing beginning, and she saw nothing +of the Tilneys. + +"Do not be frightened, my dear Catherine," whispered Isabella, "but I am +really going to dance with your brother again. I declare positively it +is quite shocking. I tell him he ought to be ashamed of himself, but you +and John must keep us in countenance. Make haste, my dear creature, and +come to us. John is just walked off, but he will be back in a moment." + +Catherine had neither time nor inclination to answer. The others walked +away, John Thorpe was still in view, and she gave herself up for lost. +That she might not appear, however, to observe or expect him, she kept +her eyes intently fixed on her fan; and a self-condemnation for her +folly, in supposing that among such a crowd they should even meet with +the Tilneys in any reasonable time, had just passed through her mind, +when she suddenly found herself addressed and again solicited to dance, +by Mr. Tilney himself. With what sparkling eyes and ready motion she +granted his request, and with how pleasing a flutter of heart she went +with him to the set, may be easily imagined. To escape, and, as +she believed, so narrowly escape John Thorpe, and to be asked, so +immediately on his joining her, asked by Mr. Tilney, as if he had sought +her on purpose!--it did not appear to her that life could supply any +greater felicity. + +Scarcely had they worked themselves into the quiet possession of a +place, however, when her attention was claimed by John Thorpe, who stood +behind her. "Heyday, Miss Morland!" said he. "What is the meaning of +this? I thought you and I were to dance together." + +"I wonder you should think so, for you never asked me." + +"That is a good one, by Jove! I asked you as soon as I came into the +room, and I was just going to ask you again, but when I turned round, +you were gone! This is a cursed shabby trick! I only came for the sake +of dancing with you, and I firmly believe you were engaged to me ever +since Monday. Yes; I remember, I asked you while you were waiting in the +lobby for your cloak. And here have I been telling all my acquaintance +that I was going to dance with the prettiest girl in the room; and +when they see you standing up with somebody else, they will quiz me +famously." + +"Oh, no; they will never think of me, after such a description as that." + +"By heavens, if they do not, I will kick them out of the room for +blockheads. What chap have you there?" Catherine satisfied his +curiosity. "Tilney," he repeated. "Hum--I do not know him. A good figure +of a man; well put together. Does he want a horse? Here is a friend +of mine, Sam Fletcher, has got one to sell that would suit anybody. A +famous clever animal for the road--only forty guineas. I had fifty minds +to buy it myself, for it is one of my maxims always to buy a good horse +when I meet with one; but it would not answer my purpose, it would not +do for the field. I would give any money for a real good hunter. I +have three now, the best that ever were backed. I would not take +eight hundred guineas for them. Fletcher and I mean to get a house in +Leicestershire, against the next season. It is so d--uncomfortable, +living at an inn." + +This was the last sentence by which he could weary Catherine's +attention, for he was just then borne off by the resistless pressure of +a long string of passing ladies. Her partner now drew near, and said, +"That gentleman would have put me out of patience, had he stayed with +you half a minute longer. He has no business to withdraw the attention +of my partner from me. We have entered into a contract of mutual +agreeableness for the space of an evening, and all our agreeableness +belongs solely to each other for that time. Nobody can fasten themselves +on the notice of one, without injuring the rights of the other. +I consider a country-dance as an emblem of marriage. Fidelity and +complaisance are the principal duties of both; and those men who do not +choose to dance or marry themselves, have no business with the partners +or wives of their neighbours." + +"But they are such very different things!" + +"--That you think they cannot be compared together." + +"To be sure not. People that marry can never part, but must go and keep +house together. People that dance only stand opposite each other in a +long room for half an hour." + +"And such is your definition of matrimony and dancing. Taken in that +light certainly, their resemblance is not striking; but I think I could +place them in such a view. You will allow, that in both, man has the +advantage of choice, woman only the power of refusal; that in both, +it is an engagement between man and woman, formed for the advantage of +each; and that when once entered into, they belong exclusively to each +other till the moment of its dissolution; that it is their duty, each +to endeavour to give the other no cause for wishing that he or she had +bestowed themselves elsewhere, and their best interest to keep their own +imaginations from wandering towards the perfections of their neighbours, +or fancying that they should have been better off with anyone else. You +will allow all this?" + +"Yes, to be sure, as you state it, all this sounds very well; but still +they are so very different. I cannot look upon them at all in the same +light, nor think the same duties belong to them." + +"In one respect, there certainly is a difference. In marriage, the man +is supposed to provide for the support of the woman, the woman to make +the home agreeable to the man; he is to purvey, and she is to smile. +But in dancing, their duties are exactly changed; the agreeableness, the +compliance are expected from him, while she furnishes the fan and the +lavender water. That, I suppose, was the difference of duties which +struck you, as rendering the conditions incapable of comparison." + +"No, indeed, I never thought of that." + +"Then I am quite at a loss. One thing, however, I must observe. This +disposition on your side is rather alarming. You totally disallow any +similarity in the obligations; and may I not thence infer that your +notions of the duties of the dancing state are not so strict as your +partner might wish? Have I not reason to fear that if the gentleman who +spoke to you just now were to return, or if any other gentleman were to +address you, there would be nothing to restrain you from conversing with +him as long as you chose?" + +"Mr. Thorpe is such a very particular friend of my brother's, that if he +talks to me, I must talk to him again; but there are hardly three young +men in the room besides him that I have any acquaintance with." + +"And is that to be my only security? Alas, alas!" + +"Nay, I am sure you cannot have a better; for if I do not know anybody, +it is impossible for me to talk to them; and, besides, I do not want to +talk to anybody." + +"Now you have given me a security worth having; and I shall proceed +with courage. Do you find Bath as agreeable as when I had the honour of +making the inquiry before?" + +"Yes, quite--more so, indeed." + +"More so! Take care, or you will forget to be tired of it at the proper +time. You ought to be tired at the end of six weeks." + +"I do not think I should be tired, if I were to stay here six months." + +"Bath, compared with London, has little variety, and so everybody finds +out every year. 'For six weeks, I allow Bath is pleasant enough; but +beyond that, it is the most tiresome place in the world.' You would be +told so by people of all descriptions, who come regularly every winter, +lengthen their six weeks into ten or twelve, and go away at last because +they can afford to stay no longer." + +"Well, other people must judge for themselves, and those who go to +London may think nothing of Bath. But I, who live in a small retired +village in the country, can never find greater sameness in such a place +as this than in my own home; for here are a variety of amusements, a +variety of things to be seen and done all day long, which I can know +nothing of there." + +"You are not fond of the country." + +"Yes, I am. I have always lived there, and always been very happy. But +certainly there is much more sameness in a country life than in a Bath +life. One day in the country is exactly like another." + +"But then you spend your time so much more rationally in the country." + +"Do I?" + +"Do you not?" + +"I do not believe there is much difference." + +"Here you are in pursuit only of amusement all day long." + +"And so I am at home--only I do not find so much of it. I walk about +here, and so I do there; but here I see a variety of people in every +street, and there I can only go and call on Mrs. Allen." + +Mr. Tilney was very much amused. + +"Only go and call on Mrs. Allen!" he repeated. "What a picture of +intellectual poverty! However, when you sink into this abyss again, you +will have more to say. You will be able to talk of Bath, and of all that +you did here." + +"Oh! Yes. I shall never be in want of something to talk of again to Mrs. +Allen, or anybody else. I really believe I shall always be talking of +Bath, when I am at home again--I do like it so very much. If I could but +have Papa and Mamma, and the rest of them here, I suppose I should be +too happy! James's coming (my eldest brother) is quite delightful--and +especially as it turns out that the very family we are just got so +intimate with are his intimate friends already. Oh! Who can ever be +tired of Bath?" + +"Not those who bring such fresh feelings of every sort to it as you do. +But papas and mammas, and brothers, and intimate friends are a good deal +gone by, to most of the frequenters of Bath--and the honest relish of +balls and plays, and everyday sights, is past with them." Here +their conversation closed, the demands of the dance becoming now too +importunate for a divided attention. + +Soon after their reaching the bottom of the set, Catherine perceived +herself to be earnestly regarded by a gentleman who stood among the +lookers-on, immediately behind her partner. He was a very handsome man, +of a commanding aspect, past the bloom, but not past the vigour of +life; and with his eye still directed towards her, she saw him presently +address Mr. Tilney in a familiar whisper. Confused by his notice, and +blushing from the fear of its being excited by something wrong in +her appearance, she turned away her head. But while she did so, the +gentleman retreated, and her partner, coming nearer, said, "I see that +you guess what I have just been asked. That gentleman knows your name, +and you have a right to know his. It is General Tilney, my father." + +Catherine's answer was only "Oh!"--but it was an "Oh!" expressing +everything needful: attention to his words, and perfect reliance on +their truth. With real interest and strong admiration did her eye now +follow the general, as he moved through the crowd, and "How handsome a +family they are!" was her secret remark. + +In chatting with Miss Tilney before the evening concluded, a new source +of felicity arose to her. She had never taken a country walk since +her arrival in Bath. Miss Tilney, to whom all the commonly frequented +environs were familiar, spoke of them in terms which made her all +eagerness to know them too; and on her openly fearing that she might +find nobody to go with her, it was proposed by the brother and sister +that they should join in a walk, some morning or other. "I shall like +it," she cried, "beyond anything in the world; and do not let us put +it off--let us go tomorrow." This was readily agreed to, with only a +proviso of Miss Tilney's, that it did not rain, which Catherine was sure +it would not. At twelve o'clock, they were to call for her in Pulteney +Street; and "Remember--twelve o'clock," was her parting speech to +her new friend. Of her other, her older, her more established friend, +Isabella, of whose fidelity and worth she had enjoyed a fortnight's +experience, she scarcely saw anything during the evening. Yet, though +longing to make her acquainted with her happiness, she cheerfully +submitted to the wish of Mr. Allen, which took them rather early away, +and her spirits danced within her, as she danced in her chair all the +way home. + + + + +CHAPTER 11 + + +The morrow brought a very sober-looking morning, the sun making only +a few efforts to appear, and Catherine augured from it everything most +favourable to her wishes. A bright morning so early in the year, +she allowed, would generally turn to rain, but a cloudy one foretold +improvement as the day advanced. She applied to Mr. Allen for +confirmation of her hopes, but Mr. Allen, not having his own skies and +barometer about him, declined giving any absolute promise of sunshine. +She applied to Mrs. Allen, and Mrs. Allen's opinion was more positive. +"She had no doubt in the world of its being a very fine day, if the +clouds would only go off, and the sun keep out." + +At about eleven o'clock, however, a few specks of small rain upon the +windows caught Catherine's watchful eye, and "Oh! dear, I do believe it +will be wet," broke from her in a most desponding tone. + +"I thought how it would be," said Mrs. Allen. + +"No walk for me today," sighed Catherine; "but perhaps it may come to +nothing, or it may hold up before twelve." + +"Perhaps it may, but then, my dear, it will be so dirty." + +"Oh! That will not signify; I never mind dirt." + +"No," replied her friend very placidly, "I know you never mind dirt." + +After a short pause, "It comes on faster and faster!" said Catherine, as +she stood watching at a window. + +"So it does indeed. If it keeps raining, the streets will be very wet." + +"There are four umbrellas up already. How I hate the sight of an +umbrella!" + +"They are disagreeable things to carry. I would much rather take a chair +at any time." + +"It was such a nice-looking morning! I felt so convinced it would be +dry!" + +"Anybody would have thought so indeed. There will be very few people in +the pump-room, if it rains all the morning. I hope Mr. Allen will put +on his greatcoat when he goes, but I dare say he will not, for he had +rather do anything in the world than walk out in a greatcoat; I wonder +he should dislike it, it must be so comfortable." + +The rain continued--fast, though not heavy. Catherine went every five +minutes to the clock, threatening on each return that, if it still +kept on raining another five minutes, she would give up the matter as +hopeless. The clock struck twelve, and it still rained. "You will not be +able to go, my dear." + +"I do not quite despair yet. I shall not give it up till a quarter after +twelve. This is just the time of day for it to clear up, and I do think +it looks a little lighter. There, it is twenty minutes after twelve, and +now I shall give it up entirely. Oh! That we had such weather here +as they had at Udolpho, or at least in Tuscany and the south of +France!--the night that poor St. Aubin died!--such beautiful weather!" + +At half past twelve, when Catherine's anxious attention to the weather +was over and she could no longer claim any merit from its amendment, the +sky began voluntarily to clear. A gleam of sunshine took her quite by +surprise; she looked round; the clouds were parting, and she instantly +returned to the window to watch over and encourage the happy appearance. +Ten minutes more made it certain that a bright afternoon would succeed, +and justified the opinion of Mrs. Allen, who had "always thought it +would clear up." But whether Catherine might still expect her friends, +whether there had not been too much rain for Miss Tilney to venture, +must yet be a question. + +It was too dirty for Mrs. Allen to accompany her husband to the +pump-room; he accordingly set off by himself, and Catherine had barely +watched him down the street when her notice was claimed by the approach +of the same two open carriages, containing the same three people that +had surprised her so much a few mornings back. + +"Isabella, my brother, and Mr. Thorpe, I declare! They are coming for +me perhaps--but I shall not go--I cannot go indeed, for you know Miss +Tilney may still call." Mrs. Allen agreed to it. John Thorpe was soon +with them, and his voice was with them yet sooner, for on the stairs he +was calling out to Miss Morland to be quick. "Make haste! Make haste!" +as he threw open the door. "Put on your hat this moment--there is no +time to be lost--we are going to Bristol. How d'ye do, Mrs. Allen?" + +"To Bristol! Is not that a great way off? But, however, I cannot go with +you today, because I am engaged; I expect some friends every moment." +This was of course vehemently talked down as no reason at all; Mrs. +Allen was called on to second him, and the two others walked in, to give +their assistance. "My sweetest Catherine, is not this delightful? We +shall have a most heavenly drive. You are to thank your brother and me +for the scheme; it darted into our heads at breakfast-time, I verily +believe at the same instant; and we should have been off two hours ago +if it had not been for this detestable rain. But it does not signify, +the nights are moonlight, and we shall do delightfully. Oh! I am in such +ecstasies at the thoughts of a little country air and quiet! So much +better than going to the Lower Rooms. We shall drive directly to Clifton +and dine there; and, as soon as dinner is over, if there is time for it, +go on to Kingsweston." + +"I doubt our being able to do so much," said Morland. + +"You croaking fellow!" cried Thorpe. "We shall be able to do ten times +more. Kingsweston! Aye, and Blaize Castle too, and anything else we can +hear of; but here is your sister says she will not go." + +"Blaize Castle!" cried Catherine. "What is that'?" + +"The finest place in England--worth going fifty miles at any time to +see." + +"What, is it really a castle, an old castle?" + +"The oldest in the kingdom." + +"But is it like what one reads of?" + +"Exactly--the very same." + +"But now really--are there towers and long galleries?" + +"By dozens." + +"Then I should like to see it; but I cannot--I cannot go. + +"Not go! My beloved creature, what do you mean'?" + +"I cannot go, because"--looking down as she spoke, fearful of Isabella's +smile--"I expect Miss Tilney and her brother to call on me to take a +country walk. They promised to come at twelve, only it rained; but now, +as it is so fine, I dare say they will be here soon." + +"Not they indeed," cried Thorpe; "for, as we turned into Broad Street, I +saw them--does he not drive a phaeton with bright chestnuts?" + +"I do not know indeed." + +"Yes, I know he does; I saw him. You are talking of the man you danced +with last night, are not you?" + +"Yes. + +"Well, I saw him at that moment turn up the Lansdown Road, driving a +smart-looking girl." + +"Did you indeed?" + +"Did upon my soul; knew him again directly, and he seemed to have got +some very pretty cattle too." + +"It is very odd! But I suppose they thought it would be too dirty for a +walk." + +"And well they might, for I never saw so much dirt in my life. Walk! +You could no more walk than you could fly! It has not been so dirty the +whole winter; it is ankle-deep everywhere." + +Isabella corroborated it: "My dearest Catherine, you cannot form an idea +of the dirt; come, you must go; you cannot refuse going now." + +"I should like to see the castle; but may we go all over it? May we go +up every staircase, and into every suite of rooms?" + +"Yes, yes, every hole and corner." + +"But then, if they should only be gone out for an hour till it is dryer, +and call by and by?" + +"Make yourself easy, there is no danger of that, for I heard Tilney +hallooing to a man who was just passing by on horseback, that they were +going as far as Wick Rocks." + +"Then I will. Shall I go, Mrs. Allen?" + +"Just as you please, my dear." + +"Mrs. Allen, you must persuade her to go," was the general cry. Mrs. +Allen was not inattentive to it: "Well, my dear," said she, "suppose you +go." And in two minutes they were off. + +Catherine's feelings, as she got into the carriage, were in a very +unsettled state; divided between regret for the loss of one great +pleasure, and the hope of soon enjoying another, almost its equal in +degree, however unlike in kind. She could not think the Tilneys had +acted quite well by her, in so readily giving up their engagement, +without sending her any message of excuse. It was now but an hour later +than the time fixed on for the beginning of their walk; and, in spite of +what she had heard of the prodigious accumulation of dirt in the course +of that hour, she could not from her own observation help thinking that +they might have gone with very little inconvenience. To feel herself +slighted by them was very painful. On the other hand, the delight of +exploring an edifice like Udolpho, as her fancy represented Blaize +Castle to be, was such a counterpoise of good as might console her for +almost anything. + +They passed briskly down Pulteney Street, and through Laura Place, +without the exchange of many words. Thorpe talked to his horse, and she +meditated, by turns, on broken promises and broken arches, phaetons +and false hangings, Tilneys and trap-doors. As they entered Argyle +Buildings, however, she was roused by this address from her companion, +"Who is that girl who looked at you so hard as she went by?" + +"Who? Where?" + +"On the right-hand pavement--she must be almost out of sight now." +Catherine looked round and saw Miss Tilney leaning on her brother's arm, +walking slowly down the street. She saw them both looking back at her. +"Stop, stop, Mr. Thorpe," she impatiently cried; "it is Miss Tilney; it +is indeed. How could you tell me they were gone? Stop, stop, I will +get out this moment and go to them." But to what purpose did she speak? +Thorpe only lashed his horse into a brisker trot; the Tilneys, who had +soon ceased to look after her, were in a moment out of sight round the +corner of Laura Place, and in another moment she was herself whisked +into the marketplace. Still, however, and during the length of another +street, she entreated him to stop. "Pray, pray stop, Mr. Thorpe. I +cannot go on. I will not go on. I must go back to Miss Tilney." But Mr. +Thorpe only laughed, smacked his whip, encouraged his horse, made odd +noises, and drove on; and Catherine, angry and vexed as she was, having +no power of getting away, was obliged to give up the point and submit. +Her reproaches, however, were not spared. "How could you deceive me so, +Mr. Thorpe? How could you say that you saw them driving up the Lansdown +Road? I would not have had it happen so for the world. They must think +it so strange, so rude of me! To go by them, too, without saying a word! +You do not know how vexed I am; I shall have no pleasure at Clifton, nor +in anything else. I had rather, ten thousand times rather, get out now, +and walk back to them. How could you say you saw them driving out in a +phaeton?" Thorpe defended himself very stoutly, declared he had never +seen two men so much alike in his life, and would hardly give up the +point of its having been Tilney himself. + +Their drive, even when this subject was over, was not likely to be very +agreeable. Catherine's complaisance was no longer what it had been in +their former airing. She listened reluctantly, and her replies were +short. Blaize Castle remained her only comfort; towards that, she still +looked at intervals with pleasure; though rather than be disappointed of +the promised walk, and especially rather than be thought ill of by the +Tilneys, she would willingly have given up all the happiness which its +walls could supply--the happiness of a progress through a long suite of +lofty rooms, exhibiting the remains of magnificent furniture, though +now for many years deserted--the happiness of being stopped in their way +along narrow, winding vaults, by a low, grated door; or even of having +their lamp, their only lamp, extinguished by a sudden gust of wind, and +of being left in total darkness. In the meanwhile, they proceeded on +their journey without any mischance, and were within view of the town +of Keynsham, when a halloo from Morland, who was behind them, made his +friend pull up, to know what was the matter. The others then came close +enough for conversation, and Morland said, "We had better go back, +Thorpe; it is too late to go on today; your sister thinks so as well as +I. We have been exactly an hour coming from Pulteney Street, very little +more than seven miles; and, I suppose, we have at least eight more to +go. It will never do. We set out a great deal too late. We had much +better put it off till another day, and turn round." + +"It is all one to me," replied Thorpe rather angrily; and instantly +turning his horse, they were on their way back to Bath. + +"If your brother had not got such a d--beast to drive," said he soon +afterwards, "we might have done it very well. My horse would have +trotted to Clifton within the hour, if left to himself, and I have +almost broke my arm with pulling him in to that cursed broken-winded +jade's pace. Morland is a fool for not keeping a horse and gig of his +own." + +"No, he is not," said Catherine warmly, "for I am sure he could not +afford it." + +"And why cannot he afford it?" + +"Because he has not money enough." + +"And whose fault is that?" + +"Nobody's, that I know of." Thorpe then said something in the loud, +incoherent way to which he had often recourse, about its being a +d--thing to be miserly; and that if people who rolled in money could not +afford things, he did not know who could, which Catherine did not even +endeavour to understand. Disappointed of what was to have been the +consolation for her first disappointment, she was less and less disposed +either to be agreeable herself or to find her companion so; and they +returned to Pulteney Street without her speaking twenty words. + +As she entered the house, the footman told her that a gentleman and lady +had called and inquired for her a few minutes after her setting off; +that, when he told them she was gone out with Mr. Thorpe, the lady had +asked whether any message had been left for her; and on his saying no, +had felt for a card, but said she had none about her, and went away. +Pondering over these heart-rending tidings, Catherine walked slowly +upstairs. At the head of them she was met by Mr. Allen, who, on hearing +the reason of their speedy return, said, "I am glad your brother had so +much sense; I am glad you are come back. It was a strange, wild scheme." + +They all spent the evening together at Thorpe's. Catherine was disturbed +and out of spirits; but Isabella seemed to find a pool of commerce, in +the fate of which she shared, by private partnership with Morland, a +very good equivalent for the quiet and country air of an inn at Clifton. +Her satisfaction, too, in not being at the Lower Rooms was spoken more +than once. "How I pity the poor creatures that are going there! How glad +I am that I am not amongst them! I wonder whether it will be a full ball +or not! They have not begun dancing yet. I would not be there for +all the world. It is so delightful to have an evening now and then +to oneself. I dare say it will not be a very good ball. I know the +Mitchells will not be there. I am sure I pity everybody that is. But I +dare say, Mr. Morland, you long to be at it, do not you? I am sure you +do. Well, pray do not let anybody here be a restraint on you. I dare say +we could do very well without you; but you men think yourselves of such +consequence." + +Catherine could almost have accused Isabella of being wanting in +tenderness towards herself and her sorrows, so very little did they +appear to dwell on her mind, and so very inadequate was the comfort she +offered. "Do not be so dull, my dearest creature," she whispered. "You +will quite break my heart. It was amazingly shocking, to be sure; but +the Tilneys were entirely to blame. Why were not they more punctual? +It was dirty, indeed, but what did that signify? I am sure John and I +should not have minded it. I never mind going through anything, where a +friend is concerned; that is my disposition, and John is just the same; +he has amazing strong feelings. Good heavens! What a delightful hand you +have got! Kings, I vow! I never was so happy in my life! I would fifty +times rather you should have them than myself." + +And now I may dismiss my heroine to the sleepless couch, which is the +true heroine's portion; to a pillow strewed with thorns and wet with +tears. And lucky may she think herself, if she get another good night's +rest in the course of the next three months. + + + + +CHAPTER 12 + + +"Mrs. Allen," said Catherine the next morning, "will there be any harm +in my calling on Miss Tilney today? I shall not be easy till I have +explained everything." + +"Go, by all means, my dear; only put on a white gown; Miss Tilney always +wears white." + +Catherine cheerfully complied, and being properly equipped, was more +impatient than ever to be at the pump-room, that she might inform +herself of General Tilney's lodgings, for though she believed they were +in Milsom Street, she was not certain of the house, and Mrs. Allen's +wavering convictions only made it more doubtful. To Milsom Street she +was directed, and having made herself perfect in the number, hastened +away with eager steps and a beating heart to pay her visit, explain her +conduct, and be forgiven; tripping lightly through the church-yard, and +resolutely turning away her eyes, that she might not be obliged to +see her beloved Isabella and her dear family, who, she had reason to +believe, were in a shop hard by. She reached the house without any +impediment, looked at the number, knocked at the door, and inquired for +Miss Tilney. The man believed Miss Tilney to be at home, but was not +quite certain. Would she be pleased to send up her name? She gave her +card. In a few minutes the servant returned, and with a look which did +not quite confirm his words, said he had been mistaken, for that Miss +Tilney was walked out. Catherine, with a blush of mortification, left +the house. She felt almost persuaded that Miss Tilney was at home, and +too much offended to admit her; and as she retired down the street, +could not withhold one glance at the drawing-room windows, in +expectation of seeing her there, but no one appeared at them. At the +bottom of the street, however, she looked back again, and then, not at a +window, but issuing from the door, she saw Miss Tilney herself. She was +followed by a gentleman, whom Catherine believed to be her father, +and they turned up towards Edgar's Buildings. Catherine, in deep +mortification, proceeded on her way. She could almost be angry herself +at such angry incivility; but she checked the resentful sensation; she +remembered her own ignorance. She knew not how such an offence as hers +might be classed by the laws of worldly politeness, to what a degree +of unforgivingness it might with propriety lead, nor to what rigours of +rudeness in return it might justly make her amenable. + +Dejected and humbled, she had even some thoughts of not going with the +others to the theatre that night; but it must be confessed that they +were not of long continuance, for she soon recollected, in the first +place, that she was without any excuse for staying at home; and, in the +second, that it was a play she wanted very much to see. To the theatre +accordingly they all went; no Tilneys appeared to plague or please her; +she feared that, amongst the many perfections of the family, a fondness +for plays was not to be ranked; but perhaps it was because they were +habituated to the finer performances of the London stage, which she +knew, on Isabella's authority, rendered everything else of the kind +"quite horrid." She was not deceived in her own expectation of pleasure; +the comedy so well suspended her care that no one, observing her during +the first four acts, would have supposed she had any wretchedness about +her. On the beginning of the fifth, however, the sudden view of Mr. +Henry Tilney and his father, joining a party in the opposite box, +recalled her to anxiety and distress. The stage could no longer excite +genuine merriment--no longer keep her whole attention. Every other look +upon an average was directed towards the opposite box; and, for the +space of two entire scenes, did she thus watch Henry Tilney, without +being once able to catch his eye. No longer could he be suspected of +indifference for a play; his notice was never withdrawn from the stage +during two whole scenes. At length, however, he did look towards her, +and he bowed--but such a bow! No smile, no continued observance attended +it; his eyes were immediately returned to their former direction. +Catherine was restlessly miserable; she could almost have run round to +the box in which he sat and forced him to hear her explanation. Feelings +rather natural than heroic possessed her; instead of considering her +own dignity injured by this ready condemnation--instead of proudly +resolving, in conscious innocence, to show her resentment towards him +who could harbour a doubt of it, to leave to him all the trouble +of seeking an explanation, and to enlighten him on the past only by +avoiding his sight, or flirting with somebody else--she took to herself +all the shame of misconduct, or at least of its appearance, and was only +eager for an opportunity of explaining its cause. + +The play concluded--the curtain fell--Henry Tilney was no longer to be +seen where he had hitherto sat, but his father remained, and perhaps he +might be now coming round to their box. She was right; in a few minutes +he appeared, and, making his way through the then thinning rows, spoke +with like calm politeness to Mrs. Allen and her friend. Not with such +calmness was he answered by the latter: "Oh! Mr. Tilney, I have been +quite wild to speak to you, and make my apologies. You must have thought +me so rude; but indeed it was not my own fault, was it, Mrs. Allen? +Did not they tell me that Mr. Tilney and his sister were gone out in a +phaeton together? And then what could I do? But I had ten thousand times +rather have been with you; now had not I, Mrs. Allen?" + +"My dear, you tumble my gown," was Mrs. Allen's reply. + +Her assurance, however, standing sole as it did, was not thrown away; it +brought a more cordial, more natural smile into his countenance, and +he replied in a tone which retained only a little affected reserve: +"We were much obliged to you at any rate for wishing us a pleasant walk +after our passing you in Argyle Street: you were so kind as to look back +on purpose." + +"But indeed I did not wish you a pleasant walk; I never thought of such +a thing; but I begged Mr. Thorpe so earnestly to stop; I called out to +him as soon as ever I saw you; now, Mrs. Allen, did not--Oh! You were +not there; but indeed I did; and, if Mr. Thorpe would only have stopped, +I would have jumped out and run after you." + +Is there a Henry in the world who could be insensible to such a +declaration? Henry Tilney at least was not. With a yet sweeter smile, he +said everything that need be said of his sister's concern, regret, and +dependence on Catherine's honour. "Oh! Do not say Miss Tilney was not +angry," cried Catherine, "because I know she was; for she would not see +me this morning when I called; I saw her walk out of the house the next +minute after my leaving it; I was hurt, but I was not affronted. Perhaps +you did not know I had been there." + +"I was not within at the time; but I heard of it from Eleanor, and she +has been wishing ever since to see you, to explain the reason of such +incivility; but perhaps I can do it as well. It was nothing more than +that my father--they were just preparing to walk out, and he being +hurried for time, and not caring to have it put off--made a point of her +being denied. That was all, I do assure you. She was very much vexed, +and meant to make her apology as soon as possible." + +Catherine's mind was greatly eased by this information, yet a something +of solicitude remained, from which sprang the following question, +thoroughly artless in itself, though rather distressing to the +gentleman: "But, Mr. Tilney, why were you less generous than your +sister? If she felt such confidence in my good intentions, and could +suppose it to be only a mistake, why should you be so ready to take +offence?" + +"Me! I take offence!" + +"Nay, I am sure by your look, when you came into the box, you were +angry." + +"I angry! I could have no right." + +"Well, nobody would have thought you had no right who saw your face." He +replied by asking her to make room for him, and talking of the play. + +He remained with them some time, and was only too agreeable for +Catherine to be contented when he went away. Before they parted, +however, it was agreed that the projected walk should be taken as soon +as possible; and, setting aside the misery of his quitting their box, +she was, upon the whole, left one of the happiest creatures in the +world. + +While talking to each other, she had observed with some surprise that +John Thorpe, who was never in the same part of the house for ten minutes +together, was engaged in conversation with General Tilney; and she felt +something more than surprise when she thought she could perceive herself +the object of their attention and discourse. What could they have to say +of her? She feared General Tilney did not like her appearance: she found +it was implied in his preventing her admittance to his daughter, rather +than postpone his own walk a few minutes. "How came Mr. Thorpe to know +your father?" was her anxious inquiry, as she pointed them out to her +companion. He knew nothing about it; but his father, like every military +man, had a very large acquaintance. + +When the entertainment was over, Thorpe came to assist them in getting +out. Catherine was the immediate object of his gallantry; and, while +they waited in the lobby for a chair, he prevented the inquiry which had +travelled from her heart almost to the tip of her tongue, by asking, in +a consequential manner, whether she had seen him talking with General +Tilney: "He is a fine old fellow, upon my soul! Stout, active--looks +as young as his son. I have a great regard for him, I assure you: a +gentleman-like, good sort of fellow as ever lived." + +"But how came you to know him?" + +"Know him! There are few people much about town that I do not know. I +have met him forever at the Bedford; and I knew his face again today the +moment he came into the billiard-room. One of the best players we have, +by the by; and we had a little touch together, though I was almost +afraid of him at first: the odds were five to four against me; and, if +I had not made one of the cleanest strokes that perhaps ever was made in +this world--I took his ball exactly--but I could not make you understand +it without a table; however, I did beat him. A very fine fellow; as rich +as a Jew. I should like to dine with him; I dare say he gives famous +dinners. But what do you think we have been talking of? You. Yes, by +heavens! And the general thinks you the finest girl in Bath." + +"Oh! Nonsense! How can you say so?" + +"And what do you think I said?"--lowering his voice--"well done, +general, said I; I am quite of your mind." + +Here Catherine, who was much less gratified by his admiration than by +General Tilney's, was not sorry to be called away by Mr. Allen. Thorpe, +however, would see her to her chair, and, till she entered it, continued +the same kind of delicate flattery, in spite of her entreating him to +have done. + +That General Tilney, instead of disliking, should admire her, was very +delightful; and she joyfully thought that there was not one of the +family whom she need now fear to meet. The evening had done more, much +more, for her than could have been expected. + + + + +CHAPTER 13 + + +Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have now +passed in review before the reader; the events of each day, its hopes +and fears, mortifications and pleasures, have been separately stated, +and the pangs of Sunday only now remain to be described, and close the +week. The Clifton scheme had been deferred, not relinquished, and on +the afternoon's crescent of this day, it was brought forward again. In a +private consultation between Isabella and James, the former of whom had +particularly set her heart upon going, and the latter no less anxiously +placed his upon pleasing her, it was agreed that, provided the weather +were fair, the party should take place on the following morning; and +they were to set off very early, in order to be at home in good time. +The affair thus determined, and Thorpe's approbation secured, Catherine +only remained to be apprised of it. She had left them for a few minutes +to speak to Miss Tilney. In that interval the plan was completed, and as +soon as she came again, her agreement was demanded; but instead of the +gay acquiescence expected by Isabella, Catherine looked grave, was very +sorry, but could not go. The engagement which ought to have kept her +from joining in the former attempt would make it impossible for her to +accompany them now. She had that moment settled with Miss Tilney to take +their proposed walk tomorrow; it was quite determined, and she would +not, upon any account, retract. But that she must and should retract +was instantly the eager cry of both the Thorpes; they must go to Clifton +tomorrow, they would not go without her, it would be nothing to put off +a mere walk for one day longer, and they would not hear of a refusal. +Catherine was distressed, but not subdued. "Do not urge me, Isabella. I +am engaged to Miss Tilney. I cannot go." This availed nothing. The same +arguments assailed her again; she must go, she should go, and they would +not hear of a refusal. "It would be so easy to tell Miss Tilney that you +had just been reminded of a prior engagement, and must only beg to put +off the walk till Tuesday." + +"No, it would not be easy. I could not do it. There has been no prior +engagement." But Isabella became only more and more urgent, calling +on her in the most affectionate manner, addressing her by the most +endearing names. She was sure her dearest, sweetest Catherine would not +seriously refuse such a trifling request to a friend who loved her so +dearly. She knew her beloved Catherine to have so feeling a heart, so +sweet a temper, to be so easily persuaded by those she loved. But all +in vain; Catherine felt herself to be in the right, and though pained +by such tender, such flattering supplication, could not allow it to +influence her. Isabella then tried another method. She reproached her +with having more affection for Miss Tilney, though she had known her so +little a while, than for her best and oldest friends, with being grown +cold and indifferent, in short, towards herself. "I cannot help being +jealous, Catherine, when I see myself slighted for strangers, I, who +love you so excessively! When once my affections are placed, it is not +in the power of anything to change them. But I believe my feelings are +stronger than anybody's; I am sure they are too strong for my own peace; +and to see myself supplanted in your friendship by strangers does cut me +to the quick, I own. These Tilneys seem to swallow up everything else." + +Catherine thought this reproach equally strange and unkind. Was it the +part of a friend thus to expose her feelings to the notice of others? +Isabella appeared to her ungenerous and selfish, regardless of +everything but her own gratification. These painful ideas crossed her +mind, though she said nothing. Isabella, in the meanwhile, had applied +her handkerchief to her eyes; and Morland, miserable at such a sight, +could not help saying, "Nay, Catherine. I think you cannot stand out any +longer now. The sacrifice is not much; and to oblige such a friend--I +shall think you quite unkind, if you still refuse." + +This was the first time of her brother's openly siding against her, and +anxious to avoid his displeasure, she proposed a compromise. If they +would only put off their scheme till Tuesday, which they might easily +do, as it depended only on themselves, she could go with them, and +everybody might then be satisfied. But "No, no, no!" was the immediate +answer; "that could not be, for Thorpe did not know that he might not +go to town on Tuesday." Catherine was sorry, but could do no more; and +a short silence ensued, which was broken by Isabella, who in a voice of +cold resentment said, "Very well, then there is an end of the party. +If Catherine does not go, I cannot. I cannot be the only woman. I would +not, upon any account in the world, do so improper a thing." + +"Catherine, you must go," said James. + +"But why cannot Mr. Thorpe drive one of his other sisters? I dare say +either of them would like to go." + +"Thank ye," cried Thorpe, "but I did not come to Bath to drive my +sisters about, and look like a fool. No, if you do not go, d---- me if I +do. I only go for the sake of driving you." + +"That is a compliment which gives me no pleasure." But her words were +lost on Thorpe, who had turned abruptly away. + +The three others still continued together, walking in a most +uncomfortable manner to poor Catherine; sometimes not a word was said, +sometimes she was again attacked with supplications or reproaches, and +her arm was still linked within Isabella's, though their hearts were +at war. At one moment she was softened, at another irritated; always +distressed, but always steady. + +"I did not think you had been so obstinate, Catherine," said James; +"you were not used to be so hard to persuade; you once were the kindest, +best-tempered of my sisters." + +"I hope I am not less so now," she replied, very feelingly; "but indeed +I cannot go. If I am wrong, I am doing what I believe to be right." + +"I suspect," said Isabella, in a low voice, "there is no great +struggle." + +Catherine's heart swelled; she drew away her arm, and Isabella made no +opposition. Thus passed a long ten minutes, till they were again joined +by Thorpe, who, coming to them with a gayer look, said, "Well, I +have settled the matter, and now we may all go tomorrow with a safe +conscience. I have been to Miss Tilney, and made your excuses." + +"You have not!" cried Catherine. + +"I have, upon my soul. Left her this moment. Told her you had sent me to +say that, having just recollected a prior engagement of going to Clifton +with us tomorrow, you could not have the pleasure of walking with her +till Tuesday. She said very well, Tuesday was just as convenient to her; +so there is an end of all our difficulties. A pretty good thought of +mine--hey?" + +Isabella's countenance was once more all smiles and good humour, and +James too looked happy again. + +"A most heavenly thought indeed! Now, my sweet Catherine, all our +distresses are over; you are honourably acquitted, and we shall have a +most delightful party." + +"This will not do," said Catherine; "I cannot submit to this. I must run +after Miss Tilney directly and set her right." + +Isabella, however, caught hold of one hand, Thorpe of the other, and +remonstrances poured in from all three. Even James was quite angry. When +everything was settled, when Miss Tilney herself said that Tuesday would +suit her as well, it was quite ridiculous, quite absurd, to make any +further objection. + +"I do not care. Mr. Thorpe had no business to invent any such message. +If I had thought it right to put it off, I could have spoken to Miss +Tilney myself. This is only doing it in a ruder way; and how do I know +that Mr. Thorpe has--He may be mistaken again perhaps; he led me into +one act of rudeness by his mistake on Friday. Let me go, Mr. Thorpe; +Isabella, do not hold me." + +Thorpe told her it would be in vain to go after the Tilneys; they were +turning the corner into Brock Street, when he had overtaken them, and +were at home by this time. + +"Then I will go after them," said Catherine; "wherever they are I will +go after them. It does not signify talking. If I could not be persuaded +into doing what I thought wrong, I never will be tricked into it." +And with these words she broke away and hurried off. Thorpe would have +darted after her, but Morland withheld him. "Let her go, let her go, if +she will go. She is as obstinate as--" + +Thorpe never finished the simile, for it could hardly have been a proper +one. + +Away walked Catherine in great agitation, as fast as the crowd would +permit her, fearful of being pursued, yet determined to persevere. As +she walked, she reflected on what had passed. It was painful to her to +disappoint and displease them, particularly to displease her brother; +but she could not repent her resistance. Setting her own inclination +apart, to have failed a second time in her engagement to Miss Tilney, to +have retracted a promise voluntarily made only five minutes before, +and on a false pretence too, must have been wrong. She had not been +withstanding them on selfish principles alone, she had not consulted +merely her own gratification; that might have been ensured in some +degree by the excursion itself, by seeing Blaize Castle; no, she had +attended to what was due to others, and to her own character in their +opinion. Her conviction of being right, however, was not enough to +restore her composure; till she had spoken to Miss Tilney she could not +be at ease; and quickening her pace when she got clear of the Crescent, +she almost ran over the remaining ground till she gained the top of +Milsom Street. So rapid had been her movements that in spite of the +Tilneys' advantage in the outset, they were but just turning into +their lodgings as she came within view of them; and the servant still +remaining at the open door, she used only the ceremony of saying +that she must speak with Miss Tilney that moment, and hurrying by him +proceeded upstairs. Then, opening the first door before her, which +happened to be the right, she immediately found herself in the +drawing-room with General Tilney, his son, and daughter. Her +explanation, defective only in being--from her irritation of nerves and +shortness of breath--no explanation at all, was instantly given. "I am +come in a great hurry--It was all a mistake--I never promised to go--I +told them from the first I could not go.--I ran away in a great hurry +to explain it.--I did not care what you thought of me.--I would not stay +for the servant." + +The business, however, though not perfectly elucidated by this speech, +soon ceased to be a puzzle. Catherine found that John Thorpe had given +the message; and Miss Tilney had no scruple in owning herself greatly +surprised by it. But whether her brother had still exceeded her in +resentment, Catherine, though she instinctively addressed herself as +much to one as to the other in her vindication, had no means of knowing. +Whatever might have been felt before her arrival, her eager declarations +immediately made every look and sentence as friendly as she could +desire. + +The affair thus happily settled, she was introduced by Miss Tilney +to her father, and received by him with such ready, such solicitous +politeness as recalled Thorpe's information to her mind, and made her +think with pleasure that he might be sometimes depended on. To such +anxious attention was the general's civility carried, that not aware of +her extraordinary swiftness in entering the house, he was quite angry +with the servant whose neglect had reduced her to open the door of the +apartment herself. "What did William mean by it? He should make a point +of inquiring into the matter." And if Catherine had not most warmly +asserted his innocence, it seemed likely that William would lose the +favour of his master forever, if not his place, by her rapidity. + +After sitting with them a quarter of an hour, she rose to take leave, +and was then most agreeably surprised by General Tilney's asking her if +she would do his daughter the honour of dining and spending the rest +of the day with her. Miss Tilney added her own wishes. Catherine was +greatly obliged; but it was quite out of her power. Mr. and Mrs. Allen +would expect her back every moment. The general declared he could say no +more; the claims of Mr. and Mrs. Allen were not to be superseded; but on +some other day he trusted, when longer notice could be given, they would +not refuse to spare her to her friend. "Oh, no; Catherine was sure they +would not have the least objection, and she should have great pleasure +in coming." The general attended her himself to the street-door, saying +everything gallant as they went downstairs, admiring the elasticity of +her walk, which corresponded exactly with the spirit of her dancing, and +making her one of the most graceful bows she had ever beheld, when they +parted. + +Catherine, delighted by all that had passed, proceeded gaily to Pulteney +Street, walking, as she concluded, with great elasticity, though she +had never thought of it before. She reached home without seeing anything +more of the offended party; and now that she had been triumphant +throughout, had carried her point, and was secure of her walk, she began +(as the flutter of her spirits subsided) to doubt whether she had been +perfectly right. A sacrifice was always noble; and if she had given way +to their entreaties, she should have been spared the distressing idea of +a friend displeased, a brother angry, and a scheme of great happiness +to both destroyed, perhaps through her means. To ease her mind, and +ascertain by the opinion of an unprejudiced person what her own conduct +had really been, she took occasion to mention before Mr. Allen the +half-settled scheme of her brother and the Thorpes for the following +day. Mr. Allen caught at it directly. "Well," said he, "and do you think +of going too?" + +"No; I had just engaged myself to walk with Miss Tilney before they told +me of it; and therefore you know I could not go with them, could I?" + +"No, certainly not; and I am glad you do not think of it. These schemes +are not at all the thing. Young men and women driving about the country +in open carriages! Now and then it is very well; but going to inns and +public places together! It is not right; and I wonder Mrs. Thorpe should +allow it. I am glad you do not think of going; I am sure Mrs. Morland +would not be pleased. Mrs. Allen, are not you of my way of thinking? Do +not you think these kind of projects objectionable?" + +"Yes, very much so indeed. Open carriages are nasty things. A clean +gown is not five minutes' wear in them. You are splashed getting in +and getting out; and the wind takes your hair and your bonnet in every +direction. I hate an open carriage myself." + +"I know you do; but that is not the question. Do not you think it has an +odd appearance, if young ladies are frequently driven about in them by +young men, to whom they are not even related?" + +"Yes, my dear, a very odd appearance indeed. I cannot bear to see it." + +"Dear madam," cried Catherine, "then why did not you tell me so before? +I am sure if I had known it to be improper, I would not have gone with +Mr. Thorpe at all; but I always hoped you would tell me, if you thought +I was doing wrong." + +"And so I should, my dear, you may depend on it; for as I told Mrs. +Morland at parting, I would always do the best for you in my power. But +one must not be over particular. Young people will be young people, +as your good mother says herself. You know I wanted you, when we first +came, not to buy that sprigged muslin, but you would. Young people do +not like to be always thwarted." + +"But this was something of real consequence; and I do not think you +would have found me hard to persuade." + +"As far as it has gone hitherto, there is no harm done," said Mr. Allen; +"and I would only advise you, my dear, not to go out with Mr. Thorpe any +more." + +"That is just what I was going to say," added his wife. + +Catherine, relieved for herself, felt uneasy for Isabella, and after a +moment's thought, asked Mr. Allen whether it would not be both proper +and kind in her to write to Miss Thorpe, and explain the indecorum of +which she must be as insensible as herself; for she considered that +Isabella might otherwise perhaps be going to Clifton the next day, in +spite of what had passed. Mr. Allen, however, discouraged her from doing +any such thing. "You had better leave her alone, my dear; she is old +enough to know what she is about, and if not, has a mother to advise +her. Mrs. Thorpe is too indulgent beyond a doubt; but, however, you had +better not interfere. She and your brother choose to go, and you will be +only getting ill will." + +Catherine submitted, and though sorry to think that Isabella should be +doing wrong, felt greatly relieved by Mr. Allen's approbation of her +own conduct, and truly rejoiced to be preserved by his advice from the +danger of falling into such an error herself. Her escape from being one +of the party to Clifton was now an escape indeed; for what would the +Tilneys have thought of her, if she had broken her promise to them in +order to do what was wrong in itself, if she had been guilty of one +breach of propriety, only to enable her to be guilty of another? + + + + +CHAPTER 14 + + +The next morning was fair, and Catherine almost expected another attack +from the assembled party. With Mr. Allen to support her, she felt no +dread of the event: but she would gladly be spared a contest, where +victory itself was painful, and was heartily rejoiced therefore at +neither seeing nor hearing anything of them. The Tilneys called for +her at the appointed time; and no new difficulty arising, no sudden +recollection, no unexpected summons, no impertinent intrusion to +disconcert their measures, my heroine was most unnaturally able to +fulfil her engagement, though it was made with the hero himself. +They determined on walking round Beechen Cliff, that noble hill whose +beautiful verdure and hanging coppice render it so striking an object +from almost every opening in Bath. + +"I never look at it," said Catherine, as they walked along the side of +the river, "without thinking of the south of France." + +"You have been abroad then?" said Henry, a little surprised. + +"Oh! No, I only mean what I have read about. It always puts me in mind +of the country that Emily and her father travelled through, in The +Mysteries of Udolpho. But you never read novels, I dare say?" + +"Why not?" + +"Because they are not clever enough for you--gentlemen read better +books." + +"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good +novel, must be intolerably stupid. I have read all Mrs. Radcliffe's +works, and most of them with great pleasure. The Mysteries of Udolpho, +when I had once begun it, I could not lay down again; I remember +finishing it in two days--my hair standing on end the whole time." + +"Yes," added Miss Tilney, "and I remember that you undertook to read it +aloud to me, and that when I was called away for only five minutes to +answer a note, instead of waiting for me, you took the volume into the +Hermitage Walk, and I was obliged to stay till you had finished it." + +"Thank you, Eleanor--a most honourable testimony. You see, Miss Morland, +the injustice of your suspicions. Here was I, in my eagerness to get on, +refusing to wait only five minutes for my sister, breaking the promise +I had made of reading it aloud, and keeping her in suspense at a most +interesting part, by running away with the volume, which, you are to +observe, was her own, particularly her own. I am proud when I reflect on +it, and I think it must establish me in your good opinion." + +"I am very glad to hear it indeed, and now I shall never be ashamed of +liking Udolpho myself. But I really thought before, young men despised +novels amazingly." + +"It is amazingly; it may well suggest amazement if they do--for they +read nearly as many as women. I myself have read hundreds and hundreds. +Do not imagine that you can cope with me in a knowledge of Julias and +Louisas. If we proceed to particulars, and engage in the never-ceasing +inquiry of 'Have you read this?' and 'Have you read that?' I shall soon +leave you as far behind me as--what shall I say?--I want an appropriate +simile.--as far as your friend Emily herself left poor Valancourt when +she went with her aunt into Italy. Consider how many years I have had +the start of you. I had entered on my studies at Oxford, while you were +a good little girl working your sampler at home!" + +"Not very good, I am afraid. But now really, do not you think Udolpho +the nicest book in the world?" + +"The nicest--by which I suppose you mean the neatest. That must depend +upon the binding." + +"Henry," said Miss Tilney, "you are very impertinent. Miss Morland, he +is treating you exactly as he does his sister. He is forever finding +fault with me, for some incorrectness of language, and now he is taking +the same liberty with you. The word 'nicest,' as you used it, did not +suit him; and you had better change it as soon as you can, or we shall +be overpowered with Johnson and Blair all the rest of the way." + +"I am sure," cried Catherine, "I did not mean to say anything wrong; but +it is a nice book, and why should not I call it so?" + +"Very true," said Henry, "and this is a very nice day, and we are taking +a very nice walk, and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh! It is a +very nice word indeed! It does for everything. Originally perhaps it +was applied only to express neatness, propriety, delicacy, or +refinement--people were nice in their dress, in their sentiments, or +their choice. But now every commendation on every subject is comprised +in that one word." + +"While, in fact," cried his sister, "it ought only to be applied to you, +without any commendation at all. You are more nice than wise. Come, +Miss Morland, let us leave him to meditate over our faults in the utmost +propriety of diction, while we praise Udolpho in whatever terms we +like best. It is a most interesting work. You are fond of that kind of +reading?" + +"To say the truth, I do not much like any other." + +"Indeed!" + +"That is, I can read poetry and plays, and things of that sort, and +do not dislike travels. But history, real solemn history, I cannot be +interested in. Can you?" + +"Yes, I am fond of history." + +"I wish I were too. I read it a little as a duty, but it tells me +nothing that does not either vex or weary me. The quarrels of popes and +kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for +nothing, and hardly any women at all--it is very tiresome: and yet I +often think it odd that it should be so dull, for a great deal of it +must be invention. The speeches that are put into the heroes' mouths, +their thoughts and designs--the chief of all this must be invention, and +invention is what delights me in other books." + +"Historians, you think," said Miss Tilney, "are not happy in their +flights of fancy. They display imagination without raising interest. I +am fond of history--and am very well contented to take the false with +the true. In the principal facts they have sources of intelligence +in former histories and records, which may be as much depended on, +I conclude, as anything that does not actually pass under one's own +observation; and as for the little embellishments you speak of, they are +embellishments, and I like them as such. If a speech be well drawn up, +I read it with pleasure, by whomsoever it may be made--and probably with +much greater, if the production of Mr. Hume or Mr. Robertson, than if +the genuine words of Caractacus, Agricola, or Alfred the Great." + +"You are fond of history! And so are Mr. Allen and my father; and I have +two brothers who do not dislike it. So many instances within my small +circle of friends is remarkable! At this rate, I shall not pity the +writers of history any longer. If people like to read their books, it +is all very well, but to be at so much trouble in filling great volumes, +which, as I used to think, nobody would willingly ever look into, to be +labouring only for the torment of little boys and girls, always struck +me as a hard fate; and though I know it is all very right and necessary, +I have often wondered at the person's courage that could sit down on +purpose to do it." + +"That little boys and girls should be tormented," said Henry, "is what +no one at all acquainted with human nature in a civilized state can +deny; but in behalf of our most distinguished historians, I must observe +that they might well be offended at being supposed to have no higher +aim, and that by their method and style, they are perfectly well +qualified to torment readers of the most advanced reason and mature +time of life. I use the verb 'to torment,' as I observed to be your own +method, instead of 'to instruct,' supposing them to be now admitted as +synonymous." + +"You think me foolish to call instruction a torment, but if you had been +as much used as myself to hear poor little children first learning their +letters and then learning to spell, if you had ever seen how stupid they +can be for a whole morning together, and how tired my poor mother is +at the end of it, as I am in the habit of seeing almost every day of my +life at home, you would allow that 'to torment' and 'to instruct' might +sometimes be used as synonymous words." + +"Very probably. But historians are not accountable for the difficulty +of learning to read; and even you yourself, who do not altogether seem +particularly friendly to very severe, very intense application, may +perhaps be brought to acknowledge that it is very well worth-while to +be tormented for two or three years of one's life, for the sake of +being able to read all the rest of it. Consider--if reading had not been +taught, Mrs. Radcliffe would have written in vain--or perhaps might not +have written at all." + +Catherine assented--and a very warm panegyric from her on that lady's +merits closed the subject. The Tilneys were soon engaged in another on +which she had nothing to say. They were viewing the country with the +eyes of persons accustomed to drawing, and decided on its capability of +being formed into pictures, with all the eagerness of real taste. Here +Catherine was quite lost. She knew nothing of drawing--nothing of taste: +and she listened to them with an attention which brought her little +profit, for they talked in phrases which conveyed scarcely any idea +to her. The little which she could understand, however, appeared to +contradict the very few notions she had entertained on the matter +before. It seemed as if a good view were no longer to be taken from the +top of an high hill, and that a clear blue sky was no longer a proof +of a fine day. She was heartily ashamed of her ignorance. A misplaced +shame. Where people wish to attach, they should always be ignorant. +To come with a well-informed mind is to come with an inability of +administering to the vanity of others, which a sensible person would +always wish to avoid. A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of +knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can. + +The advantages of natural folly in a beautiful girl have been already +set forth by the capital pen of a sister author; and to her treatment +of the subject I will only add, in justice to men, that though to the +larger and more trifling part of the sex, imbecility in females is a +great enhancement of their personal charms, there is a portion of them +too reasonable and too well informed themselves to desire anything +more in woman than ignorance. But Catherine did not know her own +advantages--did not know that a good-looking girl, with an affectionate +heart and a very ignorant mind, cannot fail of attracting a clever young +man, unless circumstances are particularly untoward. In the present +instance, she confessed and lamented her want of knowledge, declared +that she would give anything in the world to be able to draw; and +a lecture on the picturesque immediately followed, in which his +instructions were so clear that she soon began to see beauty in +everything admired by him, and her attention was so earnest that he +became perfectly satisfied of her having a great deal of natural taste. +He talked of foregrounds, distances, and second distances--side-screens +and perspectives--lights and shades; and Catherine was so hopeful a +scholar that when they gained the top of Beechen Cliff, she voluntarily +rejected the whole city of Bath as unworthy to make part of a landscape. +Delighted with her progress, and fearful of wearying her with too much +wisdom at once, Henry suffered the subject to decline, and by an easy +transition from a piece of rocky fragment and the withered oak which +he had placed near its summit, to oaks in general, to forests, the +enclosure of them, waste lands, crown lands and government, he shortly +found himself arrived at politics; and from politics, it was an +easy step to silence. The general pause which succeeded his short +disquisition on the state of the nation was put an end to by Catherine, +who, in rather a solemn tone of voice, uttered these words, "I have +heard that something very shocking indeed will soon come out in London." + +Miss Tilney, to whom this was chiefly addressed, was startled, and +hastily replied, "Indeed! And of what nature?" + +"That I do not know, nor who is the author. I have only heard that it is +to be more horrible than anything we have met with yet." + +"Good heaven! Where could you hear of such a thing?" + +"A particular friend of mine had an account of it in a letter from +London yesterday. It is to be uncommonly dreadful. I shall expect murder +and everything of the kind." + +"You speak with astonishing composure! But I hope your friend's accounts +have been exaggerated; and if such a design is known beforehand, proper +measures will undoubtedly be taken by government to prevent its coming +to effect." + +"Government," said Henry, endeavouring not to smile, "neither desires +nor dares to interfere in such matters. There must be murder; and +government cares not how much." + +The ladies stared. He laughed, and added, "Come, shall I make you +understand each other, or leave you to puzzle out an explanation as +you can? No--I will be noble. I will prove myself a man, no less by the +generosity of my soul than the clearness of my head. I have no patience +with such of my sex as disdain to let themselves sometimes down to the +comprehension of yours. Perhaps the abilities of women are neither sound +nor acute--neither vigorous nor keen. Perhaps they may want observation, +discernment, judgment, fire, genius, and wit." + +"Miss Morland, do not mind what he says; but have the goodness to +satisfy me as to this dreadful riot." + +"Riot! What riot?" + +"My dear Eleanor, the riot is only in your own brain. The confusion +there is scandalous. Miss Morland has been talking of nothing more +dreadful than a new publication which is shortly to come out, in three +duodecimo volumes, two hundred and seventy-six pages in each, with +a frontispiece to the first, of two tombstones and a lantern--do you +understand? And you, Miss Morland--my stupid sister has mistaken all +your clearest expressions. You talked of expected horrors in London--and +instead of instantly conceiving, as any rational creature would have +done, that such words could relate only to a circulating library, she +immediately pictured to herself a mob of three thousand men assembling +in St. George's Fields, the Bank attacked, the Tower threatened, the +streets of London flowing with blood, a detachment of the Twelfth Light +Dragoons (the hopes of the nation) called up from Northampton to quell +the insurgents, and the gallant Captain Frederick Tilney, in the +moment of charging at the head of his troop, knocked off his horse by a +brickbat from an upper window. Forgive her stupidity. The fears of the +sister have added to the weakness of the woman; but she is by no means a +simpleton in general." + +Catherine looked grave. "And now, Henry," said Miss Tilney, "that you +have made us understand each other, you may as well make Miss Morland +understand yourself--unless you mean to have her think you intolerably +rude to your sister, and a great brute in your opinion of women in +general. Miss Morland is not used to your odd ways." + +"I shall be most happy to make her better acquainted with them." + +"No doubt; but that is no explanation of the present." + +"What am I to do?" + +"You know what you ought to do. Clear your character handsomely before +her. Tell her that you think very highly of the understanding of women." + +"Miss Morland, I think very highly of the understanding of all the women +in the world--especially of those--whoever they may be--with whom I +happen to be in company." + +"That is not enough. Be more serious." + +"Miss Morland, no one can think more highly of the understanding of +women than I do. In my opinion, nature has given them so much that they +never find it necessary to use more than half." + +"We shall get nothing more serious from him now, Miss Morland. He is +not in a sober mood. But I do assure you that he must be entirely +misunderstood, if he can ever appear to say an unjust thing of any woman +at all, or an unkind one of me." + +It was no effort to Catherine to believe that Henry Tilney could never +be wrong. His manner might sometimes surprise, but his meaning must +always be just: and what she did not understand, she was almost as ready +to admire, as what she did. The whole walk was delightful, and though it +ended too soon, its conclusion was delightful too; her friends attended +her into the house, and Miss Tilney, before they parted, addressing +herself with respectful form, as much to Mrs. Allen as to Catherine, +petitioned for the pleasure of her company to dinner on the day after +the next. No difficulty was made on Mrs. Allen's side, and the only +difficulty on Catherine's was in concealing the excess of her pleasure. + +The morning had passed away so charmingly as to banish all her +friendship and natural affection, for no thought of Isabella or James +had crossed her during their walk. When the Tilneys were gone, she +became amiable again, but she was amiable for some time to little +effect; Mrs. Allen had no intelligence to give that could relieve her +anxiety; she had heard nothing of any of them. Towards the end of the +morning, however, Catherine, having occasion for some indispensable yard +of ribbon which must be bought without a moment's delay, walked out into +the town, and in Bond Street overtook the second Miss Thorpe as she was +loitering towards Edgar's Buildings between two of the sweetest girls in +the world, who had been her dear friends all the morning. From her, she +soon learned that the party to Clifton had taken place. "They set off at +eight this morning," said Miss Anne, "and I am sure I do not envy +them their drive. I think you and I are very well off to be out of the +scrape. It must be the dullest thing in the world, for there is not a +soul at Clifton at this time of year. Belle went with your brother, and +John drove Maria." + +Catherine spoke the pleasure she really felt on hearing this part of the +arrangement. + +"Oh! yes," rejoined the other, "Maria is gone. She was quite wild to go. +She thought it would be something very fine. I cannot say I admire her +taste; and for my part, I was determined from the first not to go, if +they pressed me ever so much." + +Catherine, a little doubtful of this, could not help answering, "I wish +you could have gone too. It is a pity you could not all go." + +"Thank you; but it is quite a matter of indifference to me. Indeed, I +would not have gone on any account. I was saying so to Emily and Sophia +when you overtook us." + +Catherine was still unconvinced; but glad that Anne should have the +friendship of an Emily and a Sophia to console her, she bade her adieu +without much uneasiness, and returned home, pleased that the party had +not been prevented by her refusing to join it, and very heartily wishing +that it might be too pleasant to allow either James or Isabella to +resent her resistance any longer. + + + + +CHAPTER 15 + + +Early the next day, a note from Isabella, speaking peace and tenderness +in every line, and entreating the immediate presence of her friend on +a matter of the utmost importance, hastened Catherine, in the happiest +state of confidence and curiosity, to Edgar's Buildings. The two +youngest Miss Thorpes were by themselves in the parlour; and, on Anne's +quitting it to call her sister, Catherine took the opportunity of asking +the other for some particulars of their yesterday's party. Maria desired +no greater pleasure than to speak of it; and Catherine immediately +learnt that it had been altogether the most delightful scheme in the +world, that nobody could imagine how charming it had been, and that +it had been more delightful than anybody could conceive. Such was the +information of the first five minutes; the second unfolded thus much in +detail--that they had driven directly to the York Hotel, ate some soup, +and bespoke an early dinner, walked down to the pump-room, tasted the +water, and laid out some shillings in purses and spars; thence adjoined +to eat ice at a pastry-cook's, and hurrying back to the hotel, swallowed +their dinner in haste, to prevent being in the dark; and then had a +delightful drive back, only the moon was not up, and it rained a little, +and Mr. Morland's horse was so tired he could hardly get it along. + +Catherine listened with heartfelt satisfaction. It appeared that Blaize +Castle had never been thought of; and, as for all the rest, there was +nothing to regret for half an instant. Maria's intelligence concluded +with a tender effusion of pity for her sister Anne, whom she represented +as insupportably cross, from being excluded the party. + +"She will never forgive me, I am sure; but, you know, how could I help +it? John would have me go, for he vowed he would not drive her, because +she had such thick ankles. I dare say she will not be in good humour +again this month; but I am determined I will not be cross; it is not a +little matter that puts me out of temper." + +Isabella now entered the room with so eager a step, and a look of such +happy importance, as engaged all her friend's notice. Maria was without +ceremony sent away, and Isabella, embracing Catherine, thus began: "Yes, +my dear Catherine, it is so indeed; your penetration has not deceived +you. Oh! That arch eye of yours! It sees through everything." + +Catherine replied only by a look of wondering ignorance. + +"Nay, my beloved, sweetest friend," continued the other, "compose +yourself. I am amazingly agitated, as you perceive. Let us sit down and +talk in comfort. Well, and so you guessed it the moment you had my note? +Sly creature! Oh! My dear Catherine, you alone, who know my heart, can +judge of my present happiness. Your brother is the most charming of +men. I only wish I were more worthy of him. But what will your excellent +father and mother say? Oh! Heavens! When I think of them I am so +agitated!" + +Catherine's understanding began to awake: an idea of the truth suddenly +darted into her mind; and, with the natural blush of so new an emotion, +she cried out, "Good heaven! My dear Isabella, what do you mean? Can +you--can you really be in love with James?" + +This bold surmise, however, she soon learnt comprehended but half the +fact. The anxious affection, which she was accused of having continually +watched in Isabella's every look and action, had, in the course of their +yesterday's party, received the delightful confession of an equal love. +Her heart and faith were alike engaged to James. Never had Catherine +listened to anything so full of interest, wonder, and joy. Her brother +and her friend engaged! New to such circumstances, the importance of +it appeared unspeakably great, and she contemplated it as one of those +grand events, of which the ordinary course of life can hardly afford a +return. The strength of her feelings she could not express; the nature +of them, however, contented her friend. The happiness of having such a +sister was their first effusion, and the fair ladies mingled in embraces +and tears of joy. + +Delighting, however, as Catherine sincerely did in the prospect of the +connection, it must be acknowledged that Isabella far surpassed her +in tender anticipations. "You will be so infinitely dearer to me, my +Catherine, than either Anne or Maria: I feel that I shall be so much +more attached to my dear Morland's family than to my own." + +This was a pitch of friendship beyond Catherine. + +"You are so like your dear brother," continued Isabella, "that I quite +doted on you the first moment I saw you. But so it always is with me; +the first moment settles everything. The very first day that Morland +came to us last Christmas--the very first moment I beheld him--my heart +was irrecoverably gone. I remember I wore my yellow gown, with my hair +done up in braids; and when I came into the drawing-room, and John +introduced him, I thought I never saw anybody so handsome before." + +Here Catherine secretly acknowledged the power of love; for, though +exceedingly fond of her brother, and partial to all his endowments, she +had never in her life thought him handsome. + +"I remember too, Miss Andrews drank tea with us that evening, and wore +her puce-coloured sarsenet; and she looked so heavenly that I thought +your brother must certainly fall in love with her; I could not sleep +a wink all right for thinking of it. Oh! Catherine, the many sleepless +nights I have had on your brother's account! I would not have you suffer +half what I have done! I am grown wretchedly thin, I know; but I will +not pain you by describing my anxiety; you have seen enough of it. I +feel that I have betrayed myself perpetually--so unguarded in speaking +of my partiality for the church! But my secret I was always sure would +be safe with you." + +Catherine felt that nothing could have been safer; but ashamed of an +ignorance little expected, she dared no longer contest the point, +nor refuse to have been as full of arch penetration and affectionate +sympathy as Isabella chose to consider her. Her brother, she found, +was preparing to set off with all speed to Fullerton, to make known his +situation and ask consent; and here was a source of some real agitation +to the mind of Isabella. Catherine endeavoured to persuade her, as she +was herself persuaded, that her father and mother would never oppose +their son's wishes. "It is impossible," said she, "for parents to be +more kind, or more desirous of their children's happiness; I have no +doubt of their consenting immediately." + +"Morland says exactly the same," replied Isabella; "and yet I dare not +expect it; my fortune will be so small; they never can consent to it. +Your brother, who might marry anybody!" + +Here Catherine again discerned the force of love. + +"Indeed, Isabella, you are too humble. The difference of fortune can be +nothing to signify." + +"Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your generous heart I know it would signify +nothing; but we must not expect such disinterestedness in many. As for +myself, I am sure I only wish our situations were reversed. Had I the +command of millions, were I mistress of the whole world, your brother +would be my only choice." + +This charming sentiment, recommended as much by sense as novelty, +gave Catherine a most pleasing remembrance of all the heroines of her +acquaintance; and she thought her friend never looked more lovely than +in uttering the grand idea. "I am sure they will consent," was her +frequent declaration; "I am sure they will be delighted with you." + +"For my own part," said Isabella, "my wishes are so moderate that the +smallest income in nature would be enough for me. Where people are +really attached, poverty itself is wealth; grandeur I detest: I would +not settle in London for the universe. A cottage in some retired village +would be ecstasy. There are some charming little villas about Richmond." + +"Richmond!" cried Catherine. "You must settle near Fullerton. You must +be near us." + +"I am sure I shall be miserable if we do not. If I can but be near you, +I shall be satisfied. But this is idle talking! I will not allow myself +to think of such things, till we have your father's answer. Morland +says that by sending it tonight to Salisbury, we may have it tomorrow. +Tomorrow? I know I shall never have courage to open the letter. I know +it will be the death of me." + +A reverie succeeded this conviction--and when Isabella spoke again, it +was to resolve on the quality of her wedding-gown. + +Their conference was put an end to by the anxious young lover himself, +who came to breathe his parting sigh before he set off for Wiltshire. +Catherine wished to congratulate him, but knew not what to say, and her +eloquence was only in her eyes. From them, however, the eight parts of +speech shone out most expressively, and James could combine them with +ease. Impatient for the realization of all that he hoped at home, his +adieus were not long; and they would have been yet shorter, had he not +been frequently detained by the urgent entreaties of his fair one that +he would go. Twice was he called almost from the door by her eagerness +to have him gone. "Indeed, Morland, I must drive you away. Consider how +far you have to ride. I cannot bear to see you linger so. For heaven's +sake, waste no more time. There, go, go--I insist on it." + +The two friends, with hearts now more united than ever, were inseparable +for the day; and in schemes of sisterly happiness the hours flew along. +Mrs. Thorpe and her son, who were acquainted with everything, and +who seemed only to want Mr. Morland's consent, to consider Isabella's +engagement as the most fortunate circumstance imaginable for their +family, were allowed to join their counsels, and add their quota of +significant looks and mysterious expressions to fill up the measure +of curiosity to be raised in the unprivileged younger sisters. To +Catherine's simple feelings, this odd sort of reserve seemed neither +kindly meant, nor consistently supported; and its unkindness she would +hardly have forborne pointing out, had its inconsistency been less their +friend; but Anne and Maria soon set her heart at ease by the sagacity of +their "I know what"; and the evening was spent in a sort of war of wit, +a display of family ingenuity, on one side in the mystery of an affected +secret, on the other of undefined discovery, all equally acute. + +Catherine was with her friend again the next day, endeavouring to +support her spirits and while away the many tedious hours before +the delivery of the letters; a needful exertion, for as the time +of reasonable expectation drew near, Isabella became more and more +desponding, and before the letter arrived, had worked herself into a +state of real distress. But when it did come, where could distress +be found? "I have had no difficulty in gaining the consent of my kind +parents, and am promised that everything in their power shall be done to +forward my happiness," were the first three lines, and in one moment +all was joyful security. The brightest glow was instantly spread over +Isabella's features, all care and anxiety seemed removed, her spirits +became almost too high for control, and she called herself without +scruple the happiest of mortals. + +Mrs. Thorpe, with tears of joy, embraced her daughter, her son, her +visitor, and could have embraced half the inhabitants of Bath with +satisfaction. Her heart was overflowing with tenderness. It was "dear +John" and "dear Catherine" at every word; "dear Anne and dear Maria" +must immediately be made sharers in their felicity; and two "dears" at +once before the name of Isabella were not more than that beloved child +had now well earned. John himself was no skulker in joy. He not only +bestowed on Mr. Morland the high commendation of being one of the finest +fellows in the world, but swore off many sentences in his praise. + +The letter, whence sprang all this felicity, was short, containing +little more than this assurance of success; and every particular was +deferred till James could write again. But for particulars Isabella +could well afford to wait. The needful was comprised in Mr. Morland's +promise; his honour was pledged to make everything easy; and by what +means their income was to be formed, whether landed property were to +be resigned, or funded money made over, was a matter in which her +disinterested spirit took no concern. She knew enough to feel secure of +an honourable and speedy establishment, and her imagination took a rapid +flight over its attendant felicities. She saw herself at the end of +a few weeks, the gaze and admiration of every new acquaintance at +Fullerton, the envy of every valued old friend in Putney, with a +carriage at her command, a new name on her tickets, and a brilliant +exhibition of hoop rings on her finger. + +When the contents of the letter were ascertained, John Thorpe, who had +only waited its arrival to begin his journey to London, prepared to set +off. "Well, Miss Morland," said he, on finding her alone in the parlour, +"I am come to bid you good-bye." Catherine wished him a good journey. +Without appearing to hear her, he walked to the window, fidgeted about, +hummed a tune, and seemed wholly self-occupied. + +"Shall not you be late at Devizes?" said Catherine. He made no answer; +but after a minute's silence burst out with, "A famous good thing this +marrying scheme, upon my soul! A clever fancy of Morland's and Belle's. +What do you think of it, Miss Morland? I say it is no bad notion." + +"I am sure I think it a very good one." + +"Do you? That's honest, by heavens! I am glad you are no enemy to +matrimony, however. Did you ever hear the old song 'Going to One Wedding +Brings on Another?' I say, you will come to Belle's wedding, I hope." + +"Yes; I have promised your sister to be with her, if possible." + +"And then you know"--twisting himself about and forcing a foolish +laugh--"I say, then you know, we may try the truth of this same old +song." + +"May we? But I never sing. Well, I wish you a good journey. I dine with +Miss Tilney today, and must now be going home." + +"Nay, but there is no such confounded hurry. Who knows when we may +be together again? Not but that I shall be down again by the end of a +fortnight, and a devilish long fortnight it will appear to me." + +"Then why do you stay away so long?" replied Catherine--finding that he +waited for an answer. + +"That is kind of you, however--kind and good-natured. I shall not forget +it in a hurry. But you have more good nature and all that, than anybody +living, I believe. A monstrous deal of good nature, and it is not only +good nature, but you have so much, so much of everything; and then you +have such--upon my soul, I do not know anybody like you." + +"Oh! dear, there are a great many people like me, I dare say, only a +great deal better. Good morning to you." + +"But I say, Miss Morland, I shall come and pay my respects at Fullerton +before it is long, if not disagreeable." + +"Pray do. My father and mother will be very glad to see you." + +"And I hope--I hope, Miss Morland, you will not be sorry to see me." + +"Oh! dear, not at all. There are very few people I am sorry to see. +Company is always cheerful." + +"That is just my way of thinking. Give me but a little cheerful company, +let me only have the company of the people I love, let me only be where +I like and with whom I like, and the devil take the rest, say I. And +I am heartily glad to hear you say the same. But I have a notion, Miss +Morland, you and I think pretty much alike upon most matters." + +"Perhaps we may; but it is more than I ever thought of. And as to most +matters, to say the truth, there are not many that I know my own mind +about." + +"By Jove, no more do I. It is not my way to bother my brains with what +does not concern me. My notion of things is simple enough. Let me only +have the girl I like, say I, with a comfortable house over my head, and +what care I for all the rest? Fortune is nothing. I am sure of a good +income of my own; and if she had not a penny, why, so much the better." + +"Very true. I think like you there. If there is a good fortune on one +side, there can be no occasion for any on the other. No matter which +has it, so that there is enough. I hate the idea of one great fortune +looking out for another. And to marry for money I think the wickedest +thing in existence. Good day. We shall be very glad to see you at +Fullerton, whenever it is convenient." And away she went. It was not in +the power of all his gallantry to detain her longer. With such news to +communicate, and such a visit to prepare for, her departure was not +to be delayed by anything in his nature to urge; and she hurried away, +leaving him to the undivided consciousness of his own happy address, and +her explicit encouragement. + +The agitation which she had herself experienced on first learning her +brother's engagement made her expect to raise no inconsiderable emotion +in Mr. and Mrs. Allen, by the communication of the wonderful event. How +great was her disappointment! The important affair, which many words of +preparation ushered in, had been foreseen by them both ever since +her brother's arrival; and all that they felt on the occasion was +comprehended in a wish for the young people's happiness, with a remark, +on the gentleman's side, in favour of Isabella's beauty, and on the +lady's, of her great good luck. It was to Catherine the most surprising +insensibility. The disclosure, however, of the great secret of James's +going to Fullerton the day before, did raise some emotion in Mrs. Allen. +She could not listen to that with perfect calmness, but repeatedly +regretted the necessity of its concealment, wished she could have known +his intention, wished she could have seen him before he went, as she +should certainly have troubled him with her best regards to his father +and mother, and her kind compliments to all the Skinners. + + + + +CHAPTER 16 + + +Catherine's expectations of pleasure from her visit in Milsom Street +were so very high that disappointment was inevitable; and accordingly, +though she was most politely received by General Tilney, and kindly +welcomed by his daughter, though Henry was at home, and no one else of +the party, she found, on her return, without spending many hours in +the examination of her feelings, that she had gone to her appointment +preparing for happiness which it had not afforded. Instead of finding +herself improved in acquaintance with Miss Tilney, from the intercourse +of the day, she seemed hardly so intimate with her as before; instead +of seeing Henry Tilney to greater advantage than ever, in the ease of a +family party, he had never said so little, nor been so little agreeable; +and, in spite of their father's great civilities to her--in spite of his +thanks, invitations, and compliments--it had been a release to get +away from him. It puzzled her to account for all this. It could not +be General Tilney's fault. That he was perfectly agreeable and +good-natured, and altogether a very charming man, did not admit of a +doubt, for he was tall and handsome, and Henry's father. He could not +be accountable for his children's want of spirits, or for her want of +enjoyment in his company. The former she hoped at last might have +been accidental, and the latter she could only attribute to her own +stupidity. Isabella, on hearing the particulars of the visit, gave +a different explanation: "It was all pride, pride, insufferable +haughtiness and pride! She had long suspected the family to be very +high, and this made it certain. Such insolence of behaviour as Miss +Tilney's she had never heard of in her life! Not to do the honours of +her house with common good breeding! To behave to her guest with such +superciliousness! Hardly even to speak to her!" + +"But it was not so bad as that, Isabella; there was no superciliousness; +she was very civil." + +"Oh! Don't defend her! And then the brother, he, who had appeared +so attached to you! Good heavens! Well, some people's feelings are +incomprehensible. And so he hardly looked once at you the whole day?" + +"I do not say so; but he did not seem in good spirits." + +"How contemptible! Of all things in the world inconstancy is my +aversion. Let me entreat you never to think of him again, my dear +Catherine; indeed he is unworthy of you." + +"Unworthy! I do not suppose he ever thinks of me." + +"That is exactly what I say; he never thinks of you. Such fickleness! +Oh! How different to your brother and to mine! I really believe John has +the most constant heart." + +"But as for General Tilney, I assure you it would be impossible for +anybody to behave to me with greater civility and attention; it seemed +to be his only care to entertain and make me happy." + +"Oh! I know no harm of him; I do not suspect him of pride. I believe he +is a very gentleman-like man. John thinks very well of him, and John's +judgment--" + +"Well, I shall see how they behave to me this evening; we shall meet +them at the rooms." + +"And must I go?" + +"Do not you intend it? I thought it was all settled." + +"Nay, since you make such a point of it, I can refuse you nothing. But +do not insist upon my being very agreeable, for my heart, you know, will +be some forty miles off. And as for dancing, do not mention it, I beg; +that is quite out of the question. Charles Hodges will plague me to +death, I dare say; but I shall cut him very short. Ten to one but he +guesses the reason, and that is exactly what I want to avoid, so I shall +insist on his keeping his conjecture to himself." + +Isabella's opinion of the Tilneys did not influence her friend; she was +sure there had been no insolence in the manners either of brother or +sister; and she did not credit there being any pride in their hearts. +The evening rewarded her confidence; she was met by one with the same +kindness, and by the other with the same attention, as heretofore: Miss +Tilney took pains to be near her, and Henry asked her to dance. + +Having heard the day before in Milsom Street that their elder brother, +Captain Tilney, was expected almost every hour, she was at no loss for +the name of a very fashionable-looking, handsome young man, whom she had +never seen before, and who now evidently belonged to their party. She +looked at him with great admiration, and even supposed it possible that +some people might think him handsomer than his brother, though, in her +eyes, his air was more assuming, and his countenance less prepossessing. +His taste and manners were beyond a doubt decidedly inferior; for, +within her hearing, he not only protested against every thought of +dancing himself, but even laughed openly at Henry for finding it +possible. From the latter circumstance it may be presumed that, whatever +might be our heroine's opinion of him, his admiration of her was not +of a very dangerous kind; not likely to produce animosities between the +brothers, nor persecutions to the lady. He cannot be the instigator of +the three villains in horsemen's greatcoats, by whom she will hereafter +be forced into a traveling-chaise and four, which will drive off with +incredible speed. Catherine, meanwhile, undisturbed by presentiments of +such an evil, or of any evil at all, except that of having but a short +set to dance down, enjoyed her usual happiness with Henry Tilney, +listening with sparkling eyes to everything he said; and, in finding him +irresistible, becoming so herself. + +At the end of the first dance, Captain Tilney came towards them again, +and, much to Catherine's dissatisfaction, pulled his brother away. They +retired whispering together; and, though her delicate sensibility did +not take immediate alarm, and lay it down as fact, that Captain Tilney +must have heard some malevolent misrepresentation of her, which he now +hastened to communicate to his brother, in the hope of separating them +forever, she could not have her partner conveyed from her sight without +very uneasy sensations. Her suspense was of full five minutes' duration; +and she was beginning to think it a very long quarter of an hour, when +they both returned, and an explanation was given, by Henry's requesting +to know if she thought her friend, Miss Thorpe, would have any objection +to dancing, as his brother would be most happy to be introduced to +her. Catherine, without hesitation, replied that she was very sure Miss +Thorpe did not mean to dance at all. The cruel reply was passed on to +the other, and he immediately walked away. + +"Your brother will not mind it, I know," said she, "because I heard him +say before that he hated dancing; but it was very good-natured in him +to think of it. I suppose he saw Isabella sitting down, and fancied she +might wish for a partner; but he is quite mistaken, for she would not +dance upon any account in the world." + +Henry smiled, and said, "How very little trouble it can give you to +understand the motive of other people's actions." + +"Why? What do you mean?" + +"With you, it is not, How is such a one likely to be influenced, What +is the inducement most likely to act upon such a person's feelings, age, +situation, and probable habits of life considered--but, How should I be +influenced, What would be my inducement in acting so and so?" + +"I do not understand you." + +"Then we are on very unequal terms, for I understand you perfectly +well." + +"Me? Yes; I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible." + +"Bravo! An excellent satire on modern language." + +"But pray tell me what you mean." + +"Shall I indeed? Do you really desire it? But you are not aware of the +consequences; it will involve you in a very cruel embarrassment, and +certainly bring on a disagreement between us. + +"No, no; it shall not do either; I am not afraid." + +"Well, then, I only meant that your attributing my brother's wish of +dancing with Miss Thorpe to good nature alone convinced me of your being +superior in good nature yourself to all the rest of the world." + +Catherine blushed and disclaimed, and the gentleman's predictions were +verified. There was a something, however, in his words which repaid her +for the pain of confusion; and that something occupied her mind so much +that she drew back for some time, forgetting to speak or to listen, and +almost forgetting where she was; till, roused by the voice of Isabella, +she looked up and saw her with Captain Tilney preparing to give them +hands across. + +Isabella shrugged her shoulders and smiled, the only explanation of this +extraordinary change which could at that time be given; but as it +was not quite enough for Catherine's comprehension, she spoke her +astonishment in very plain terms to her partner. + +"I cannot think how it could happen! Isabella was so determined not to +dance." + +"And did Isabella never change her mind before?" + +"Oh! But, because--And your brother! After what you told him from me, +how could he think of going to ask her?" + +"I cannot take surprise to myself on that head. You bid me be surprised +on your friend's account, and therefore I am; but as for my brother, his +conduct in the business, I must own, has been no more than I believed +him perfectly equal to. The fairness of your friend was an open +attraction; her firmness, you know, could only be understood by +yourself." + +"You are laughing; but, I assure you, Isabella is very firm in general." + +"It is as much as should be said of anyone. To be always firm must be +to be often obstinate. When properly to relax is the trial of judgment; +and, without reference to my brother, I really think Miss Thorpe has by +no means chosen ill in fixing on the present hour." + +The friends were not able to get together for any confidential discourse +till all the dancing was over; but then, as they walked about the room +arm in arm, Isabella thus explained herself: "I do not wonder at your +surprise; and I am really fatigued to death. He is such a rattle! +Amusing enough, if my mind had been disengaged; but I would have given +the world to sit still." + +"Then why did not you?" + +"Oh! My dear! It would have looked so particular; and you know how I +abhor doing that. I refused him as long as I possibly could, but he +would take no denial. You have no idea how he pressed me. I begged him +to excuse me, and get some other partner--but no, not he; after aspiring +to my hand, there was nobody else in the room he could bear to think of; +and it was not that he wanted merely to dance, he wanted to be with +me. Oh! Such nonsense! I told him he had taken a very unlikely way to +prevail upon me; for, of all things in the world, I hated fine speeches +and compliments; and so--and so then I found there would be no peace if +I did not stand up. Besides, I thought Mrs. Hughes, who introduced him, +might take it ill if I did not: and your dear brother, I am sure he +would have been miserable if I had sat down the whole evening. I am +so glad it is over! My spirits are quite jaded with listening to his +nonsense: and then, being such a smart young fellow, I saw every eye was +upon us." + +"He is very handsome indeed." + +"Handsome! Yes, I suppose he may. I dare say people would admire him +in general; but he is not at all in my style of beauty. I hate a florid +complexion and dark eyes in a man. However, he is very well. Amazingly +conceited, I am sure. I took him down several times, you know, in my +way." + +When the young ladies next met, they had a far more interesting subject +to discuss. James Morland's second letter was then received, and the +kind intentions of his father fully explained. A living, of which Mr. +Morland was himself patron and incumbent, of about four hundred pounds +yearly value, was to be resigned to his son as soon as he should be +old enough to take it; no trifling deduction from the family income, no +niggardly assignment to one of ten children. An estate of at least equal +value, moreover, was assured as his future inheritance. + +James expressed himself on the occasion with becoming gratitude; and +the necessity of waiting between two and three years before they could +marry, being, however unwelcome, no more than he had expected, was borne +by him without discontent. Catherine, whose expectations had been as +unfixed as her ideas of her father's income, and whose judgment was now +entirely led by her brother, felt equally well satisfied, and heartily +congratulated Isabella on having everything so pleasantly settled. + +"It is very charming indeed," said Isabella, with a grave face. "Mr. +Morland has behaved vastly handsome indeed," said the gentle Mrs. +Thorpe, looking anxiously at her daughter. "I only wish I could do as +much. One could not expect more from him, you know. If he finds he +can do more by and by, I dare say he will, for I am sure he must be an +excellent good-hearted man. Four hundred is but a small income to begin +on indeed, but your wishes, my dear Isabella, are so moderate, you do +not consider how little you ever want, my dear." + +"It is not on my own account I wish for more; but I cannot bear to +be the means of injuring my dear Morland, making him sit down upon an +income hardly enough to find one in the common necessaries of life. For +myself, it is nothing; I never think of myself." + +"I know you never do, my dear; and you will always find your reward in +the affection it makes everybody feel for you. There never was a young +woman so beloved as you are by everybody that knows you; and I dare say +when Mr. Morland sees you, my dear child--but do not let us distress +our dear Catherine by talking of such things. Mr. Morland has behaved so +very handsome, you know. I always heard he was a most excellent man; +and you know, my dear, we are not to suppose but what, if you had had a +suitable fortune, he would have come down with something more, for I am +sure he must be a most liberal-minded man." + +"Nobody can think better of Mr. Morland than I do, I am sure. But +everybody has their failing, you know, and everybody has a right to +do what they like with their own money." Catherine was hurt by these +insinuations. "I am very sure," said she, "that my father has promised +to do as much as he can afford." + +Isabella recollected herself. "As to that, my sweet Catherine, there +cannot be a doubt, and you know me well enough to be sure that a much +smaller income would satisfy me. It is not the want of more money that +makes me just at present a little out of spirits; I hate money; and if +our union could take place now upon only fifty pounds a year, I should +not have a wish unsatisfied. Ah! my Catherine, you have found me out. +There's the sting. The long, long, endless two years and half that are +to pass before your brother can hold the living." + +"Yes, yes, my darling Isabella," said Mrs. Thorpe, "we perfectly see +into your heart. You have no disguise. We perfectly understand the +present vexation; and everybody must love you the better for such a +noble honest affection." + +Catherine's uncomfortable feelings began to lessen. She endeavoured to +believe that the delay of the marriage was the only source of Isabella's +regret; and when she saw her at their next interview as cheerful and +amiable as ever, endeavoured to forget that she had for a minute thought +otherwise. James soon followed his letter, and was received with the +most gratifying kindness. + + + + +CHAPTER 17 + + +The Allens had now entered on the sixth week of their stay in Bath; and +whether it should be the last was for some time a question, to which +Catherine listened with a beating heart. To have her acquaintance with +the Tilneys end so soon was an evil which nothing could counterbalance. +Her whole happiness seemed at stake, while the affair was in suspense, +and everything secured when it was determined that the lodgings should +be taken for another fortnight. What this additional fortnight was to +produce to her beyond the pleasure of sometimes seeing Henry Tilney made +but a small part of Catherine's speculation. Once or twice indeed, since +James's engagement had taught her what could be done, she had got so +far as to indulge in a secret "perhaps," but in general the felicity of +being with him for the present bounded her views: the present was now +comprised in another three weeks, and her happiness being certain for +that period, the rest of her life was at such a distance as to excite +but little interest. In the course of the morning which saw this +business arranged, she visited Miss Tilney, and poured forth her +joyful feelings. It was doomed to be a day of trial. No sooner had she +expressed her delight in Mr. Allen's lengthened stay than Miss Tilney +told her of her father's having just determined upon quitting Bath +by the end of another week. Here was a blow! The past suspense of +the morning had been ease and quiet to the present disappointment. +Catherine's countenance fell, and in a voice of most sincere concern she +echoed Miss Tilney's concluding words, "By the end of another week!" + +"Yes, my father can seldom be prevailed on to give the waters what I +think a fair trial. He has been disappointed of some friends' arrival +whom he expected to meet here, and as he is now pretty well, is in a +hurry to get home." + +"I am very sorry for it," said Catherine dejectedly; "if I had known +this before--" + +"Perhaps," said Miss Tilney in an embarrassed manner, "you would be so +good--it would make me very happy if--" + +The entrance of her father put a stop to the civility, which Catherine +was beginning to hope might introduce a desire of their corresponding. +After addressing her with his usual politeness, he turned to his +daughter and said, "Well, Eleanor, may I congratulate you on being +successful in your application to your fair friend?" + +"I was just beginning to make the request, sir, as you came in." + +"Well, proceed by all means. I know how much your heart is in it. My +daughter, Miss Morland," he continued, without leaving his daughter time +to speak, "has been forming a very bold wish. We leave Bath, as she has +perhaps told you, on Saturday se'nnight. A letter from my steward tells +me that my presence is wanted at home; and being disappointed in my hope +of seeing the Marquis of Longtown and General Courteney here, some of +my very old friends, there is nothing to detain me longer in Bath. And +could we carry our selfish point with you, we should leave it without a +single regret. Can you, in short, be prevailed on to quit this scene +of public triumph and oblige your friend Eleanor with your company in +Gloucestershire? I am almost ashamed to make the request, though its +presumption would certainly appear greater to every creature in Bath +than yourself. Modesty such as yours--but not for the world would I pain +it by open praise. If you can be induced to honour us with a visit, +you will make us happy beyond expression. 'Tis true, we can offer you +nothing like the gaieties of this lively place; we can tempt you neither +by amusement nor splendour, for our mode of living, as you see, is plain +and unpretending; yet no endeavours shall be wanting on our side to make +Northanger Abbey not wholly disagreeable." + +Northanger Abbey! These were thrilling words, and wound up Catherine's +feelings to the highest point of ecstasy. Her grateful and gratified +heart could hardly restrain its expressions within the language of +tolerable calmness. To receive so flattering an invitation! To have her +company so warmly solicited! Everything honourable and soothing, every +present enjoyment, and every future hope was contained in it; and her +acceptance, with only the saving clause of Papa and Mamma's approbation, +was eagerly given. "I will write home directly," said she, "and if they +do not object, as I dare say they will not--" + +General Tilney was not less sanguine, having already waited on her +excellent friends in Pulteney Street, and obtained their sanction of +his wishes. "Since they can consent to part with you," said he, "we may +expect philosophy from all the world." + +Miss Tilney was earnest, though gentle, in her secondary civilities, and +the affair became in a few minutes as nearly settled as this necessary +reference to Fullerton would allow. + +The circumstances of the morning had led Catherine's feelings through +the varieties of suspense, security, and disappointment; but they were +now safely lodged in perfect bliss; and with spirits elated to rapture, +with Henry at her heart, and Northanger Abbey on her lips, she +hurried home to write her letter. Mr. and Mrs. Morland, relying on +the discretion of the friends to whom they had already entrusted their +daughter, felt no doubt of the propriety of an acquaintance which had +been formed under their eye, and sent therefore by return of post their +ready consent to her visit in Gloucestershire. This indulgence, though +not more than Catherine had hoped for, completed her conviction of being +favoured beyond every other human creature, in friends and fortune, +circumstance and chance. Everything seemed to cooperate for her +advantage. By the kindness of her first friends, the Allens, she had +been introduced into scenes where pleasures of every kind had met her. +Her feelings, her preferences, had each known the happiness of a return. +Wherever she felt attachment, she had been able to create it. The +affection of Isabella was to be secured to her in a sister. The Tilneys, +they, by whom, above all, she desired to be favourably thought of, +outstripped even her wishes in the flattering measures by which their +intimacy was to be continued. She was to be their chosen visitor, she +was to be for weeks under the same roof with the person whose society +she mostly prized--and, in addition to all the rest, this roof was to +be the roof of an abbey! Her passion for ancient edifices was next in +degree to her passion for Henry Tilney--and castles and abbeys made +usually the charm of those reveries which his image did not fill. To see +and explore either the ramparts and keep of the one, or the cloisters +of the other, had been for many weeks a darling wish, though to be more +than the visitor of an hour had seemed too nearly impossible for desire. +And yet, this was to happen. With all the chances against her of house, +hall, place, park, court, and cottage, Northanger turned up an abbey, +and she was to be its inhabitant. Its long, damp passages, its narrow +cells and ruined chapel, were to be within her daily reach, and she +could not entirely subdue the hope of some traditional legends, some +awful memorials of an injured and ill-fated nun. + +It was wonderful that her friends should seem so little elated by the +possession of such a home, that the consciousness of it should be so +meekly borne. The power of early habit only could account for it. A +distinction to which they had been born gave no pride. Their superiority +of abode was no more to them than their superiority of person. + +Many were the inquiries she was eager to make of Miss Tilney; but so +active were her thoughts, that when these inquiries were answered, she +was hardly more assured than before, of Northanger Abbey having been +a richly endowed convent at the time of the Reformation, of its having +fallen into the hands of an ancestor of the Tilneys on its dissolution, +of a large portion of the ancient building still making a part of the +present dwelling although the rest was decayed, or of its standing low +in a valley, sheltered from the north and east by rising woods of oak. + + + + +CHAPTER 18 + + +With a mind thus full of happiness, Catherine was hardly aware that two +or three days had passed away, without her seeing Isabella for more than +a few minutes together. She began first to be sensible of this, and +to sigh for her conversation, as she walked along the pump-room one +morning, by Mrs. Allen's side, without anything to say or to hear; and +scarcely had she felt a five minutes' longing of friendship, before the +object of it appeared, and inviting her to a secret conference, led the +way to a seat. "This is my favourite place," said she as they sat +down on a bench between the doors, which commanded a tolerable view of +everybody entering at either; "it is so out of the way." + +Catherine, observing that Isabella's eyes were continually bent towards +one door or the other, as in eager expectation, and remembering how +often she had been falsely accused of being arch, thought the present a +fine opportunity for being really so; and therefore gaily said, "Do not +be uneasy, Isabella, James will soon be here." + +"Psha! My dear creature," she replied, "do not think me such a simpleton +as to be always wanting to confine him to my elbow. It would be hideous +to be always together; we should be the jest of the place. And so you +are going to Northanger! I am amazingly glad of it. It is one of the +finest old places in England, I understand. I shall depend upon a most +particular description of it." + +"You shall certainly have the best in my power to give. But who are you +looking for? Are your sisters coming?" + +"I am not looking for anybody. One's eyes must be somewhere, and you +know what a foolish trick I have of fixing mine, when my thoughts are an +hundred miles off. I am amazingly absent; I believe I am the most absent +creature in the world. Tilney says it is always the case with minds of a +certain stamp." + +"But I thought, Isabella, you had something in particular to tell me?" + +"Oh! Yes, and so I have. But here is a proof of what I was saying. My +poor head, I had quite forgot it. Well, the thing is this: I have just +had a letter from John; you can guess the contents." + +"No, indeed, I cannot." + +"My sweet love, do not be so abominably affected. What can he write +about, but yourself? You know he is over head and ears in love with +you." + +"With me, dear Isabella!" + +"Nay, my sweetest Catherine, this is being quite absurd! Modesty, and +all that, is very well in its way, but really a little common honesty is +sometimes quite as becoming. I have no idea of being so overstrained! +It is fishing for compliments. His attentions were such as a child must +have noticed. And it was but half an hour before he left Bath that you +gave him the most positive encouragement. He says so in this letter, +says that he as good as made you an offer, and that you received his +advances in the kindest way; and now he wants me to urge his suit, +and say all manner of pretty things to you. So it is in vain to affect +ignorance." + +Catherine, with all the earnestness of truth, expressed her astonishment +at such a charge, protesting her innocence of every thought of Mr. +Thorpe's being in love with her, and the consequent impossibility of +her having ever intended to encourage him. "As to any attentions on his +side, I do declare, upon my honour, I never was sensible of them for a +moment--except just his asking me to dance the first day of his coming. +And as to making me an offer, or anything like it, there must be some +unaccountable mistake. I could not have misunderstood a thing of that +kind, you know! And, as I ever wish to be believed, I solemnly protest +that no syllable of such a nature ever passed between us. The last half +hour before he went away! It must be all and completely a mistake--for I +did not see him once that whole morning." + +"But that you certainly did, for you spent the whole morning in Edgar's +Buildings--it was the day your father's consent came--and I am pretty +sure that you and John were alone in the parlour some time before you +left the house." + +"Are you? Well, if you say it, it was so, I dare say--but for the life +of me, I cannot recollect it. I do remember now being with you, and +seeing him as well as the rest--but that we were ever alone for five +minutes--However, it is not worth arguing about, for whatever might pass +on his side, you must be convinced, by my having no recollection of it, +that I never thought, nor expected, nor wished for anything of the kind +from him. I am excessively concerned that he should have any regard for +me--but indeed it has been quite unintentional on my side; I never had +the smallest idea of it. Pray undeceive him as soon as you can, and tell +him I beg his pardon--that is--I do not know what I ought to say--but +make him understand what I mean, in the properest way. I would not speak +disrespectfully of a brother of yours, Isabella, I am sure; but you know +very well that if I could think of one man more than another--he is not +the person." Isabella was silent. "My dear friend, you must not be angry +with me. I cannot suppose your brother cares so very much about me. And, +you know, we shall still be sisters." + +"Yes, yes" (with a blush), "there are more ways than one of our being +sisters. But where am I wandering to? Well, my dear Catherine, the case +seems to be that you are determined against poor John--is not it so?" + +"I certainly cannot return his affection, and as certainly never meant +to encourage it." + +"Since that is the case, I am sure I shall not tease you any further. +John desired me to speak to you on the subject, and therefore I have. +But I confess, as soon as I read his letter, I thought it a very +foolish, imprudent business, and not likely to promote the good of +either; for what were you to live upon, supposing you came together? You +have both of you something, to be sure, but it is not a trifle that will +support a family nowadays; and after all that romancers may say, there +is no doing without money. I only wonder John could think of it; he +could not have received my last." + +"You do acquit me, then, of anything wrong?--You are convinced that I +never meant to deceive your brother, never suspected him of liking me +till this moment?" + +"Oh! As to that," answered Isabella laughingly, "I do not pretend to +determine what your thoughts and designs in time past may have been. All +that is best known to yourself. A little harmless flirtation or so will +occur, and one is often drawn on to give more encouragement than one +wishes to stand by. But you may be assured that I am the last person in +the world to judge you severely. All those things should be allowed for +in youth and high spirits. What one means one day, you know, one may not +mean the next. Circumstances change, opinions alter." + +"But my opinion of your brother never did alter; it was always the same. +You are describing what never happened." + +"My dearest Catherine," continued the other without at all listening to +her, "I would not for all the world be the means of hurrying you into an +engagement before you knew what you were about. I do not think anything +would justify me in wishing you to sacrifice all your happiness merely +to oblige my brother, because he is my brother, and who perhaps after +all, you know, might be just as happy without you, for people seldom +know what they would be at, young men especially, they are so amazingly +changeable and inconstant. What I say is, why should a brother's +happiness be dearer to me than a friend's? You know I carry my notions +of friendship pretty high. But, above all things, my dear Catherine, do +not be in a hurry. Take my word for it, that if you are in too great +a hurry, you will certainly live to repent it. Tilney says there is +nothing people are so often deceived in as the state of their own +affections, and I believe he is very right. Ah! Here he comes; never +mind, he will not see us, I am sure." + +Catherine, looking up, perceived Captain Tilney; and Isabella, +earnestly fixing her eye on him as she spoke, soon caught his notice. He +approached immediately, and took the seat to which her movements invited +him. His first address made Catherine start. Though spoken low, she +could distinguish, "What! Always to be watched, in person or by proxy!" + +"Psha, nonsense!" was Isabella's answer in the same half whisper. "Why +do you put such things into my head? If I could believe it--my spirit, +you know, is pretty independent." + +"I wish your heart were independent. That would be enough for me." + +"My heart, indeed! What can you have to do with hearts? You men have +none of you any hearts." + +"If we have not hearts, we have eyes; and they give us torment enough." + +"Do they? I am sorry for it; I am sorry they find anything so +disagreeable in me. I will look another way. I hope this pleases you" +(turning her back on him); "I hope your eyes are not tormented now." + +"Never more so; for the edge of a blooming cheek is still in view--at +once too much and too little." + +Catherine heard all this, and quite out of countenance, could listen +no longer. Amazed that Isabella could endure it, and jealous for her +brother, she rose up, and saying she should join Mrs. Allen, proposed +their walking. But for this Isabella showed no inclination. She was so +amazingly tired, and it was so odious to parade about the pump-room; +and if she moved from her seat she should miss her sisters; she was +expecting her sisters every moment; so that her dearest Catherine must +excuse her, and must sit quietly down again. But Catherine could be +stubborn too; and Mrs. Allen just then coming up to propose their +returning home, she joined her and walked out of the pump-room, leaving +Isabella still sitting with Captain Tilney. With much uneasiness did +she thus leave them. It seemed to her that Captain Tilney was falling +in love with Isabella, and Isabella unconsciously encouraging him; +unconsciously it must be, for Isabella's attachment to James was as +certain and well acknowledged as her engagement. To doubt her truth +or good intentions was impossible; and yet, during the whole of their +conversation her manner had been odd. She wished Isabella had talked +more like her usual self, and not so much about money, and had not +looked so well pleased at the sight of Captain Tilney. How strange that +she should not perceive his admiration! Catherine longed to give her a +hint of it, to put her on her guard, and prevent all the pain which +her too lively behaviour might otherwise create both for him and her +brother. + +The compliment of John Thorpe's affection did not make amends for this +thoughtlessness in his sister. She was almost as far from believing as +from wishing it to be sincere; for she had not forgotten that he +could mistake, and his assertion of the offer and of her encouragement +convinced her that his mistakes could sometimes be very egregious. +In vanity, therefore, she gained but little; her chief profit was in +wonder. That he should think it worth his while to fancy himself in love +with her was a matter of lively astonishment. Isabella talked of his +attentions; she had never been sensible of any; but Isabella had said +many things which she hoped had been spoken in haste, and would never +be said again; and upon this she was glad to rest altogether for present +ease and comfort. + + + + +CHAPTER 19 + + +A few days passed away, and Catherine, though not allowing herself to +suspect her friend, could not help watching her closely. The result of +her observations was not agreeable. Isabella seemed an altered creature. +When she saw her, indeed, surrounded only by their immediate friends +in Edgar's Buildings or Pulteney Street, her change of manners was so +trifling that, had it gone no farther, it might have passed unnoticed. +A something of languid indifference, or of that boasted absence of +mind which Catherine had never heard of before, would occasionally come +across her; but had nothing worse appeared, that might only have spread +a new grace and inspired a warmer interest. But when Catherine saw her +in public, admitting Captain Tilney's attentions as readily as they were +offered, and allowing him almost an equal share with James in her notice +and smiles, the alteration became too positive to be passed over. What +could be meant by such unsteady conduct, what her friend could be at, +was beyond her comprehension. Isabella could not be aware of the pain +she was inflicting; but it was a degree of wilful thoughtlessness which +Catherine could not but resent. James was the sufferer. She saw him +grave and uneasy; and however careless of his present comfort the woman +might be who had given him her heart, to her it was always an object. +For poor Captain Tilney too she was greatly concerned. Though his looks +did not please her, his name was a passport to her goodwill, and she +thought with sincere compassion of his approaching disappointment; for, +in spite of what she had believed herself to overhear in the pump-room, +his behaviour was so incompatible with a knowledge of Isabella's +engagement that she could not, upon reflection, imagine him aware of it. +He might be jealous of her brother as a rival, but if more had seemed +implied, the fault must have been in her misapprehension. She wished, by +a gentle remonstrance, to remind Isabella of her situation, and make +her aware of this double unkindness; but for remonstrance, either +opportunity or comprehension was always against her. If able to suggest +a hint, Isabella could never understand it. In this distress, the +intended departure of the Tilney family became her chief consolation; +their journey into Gloucestershire was to take place within a few days, +and Captain Tilney's removal would at least restore peace to every heart +but his own. But Captain Tilney had at present no intention of removing; +he was not to be of the party to Northanger; he was to continue at Bath. +When Catherine knew this, her resolution was directly made. She spoke to +Henry Tilney on the subject, regretting his brother's evident partiality +for Miss Thorpe, and entreating him to make known her prior engagement. + +"My brother does know it," was Henry's answer. + +"Does he? Then why does he stay here?" + +He made no reply, and was beginning to talk of something else; but she +eagerly continued, "Why do not you persuade him to go away? The longer +he stays, the worse it will be for him at last. Pray advise him for his +own sake, and for everybody's sake, to leave Bath directly. Absence will +in time make him comfortable again; but he can have no hope here, and it +is only staying to be miserable." + +Henry smiled and said, "I am sure my brother would not wish to do that." + +"Then you will persuade him to go away?" + +"Persuasion is not at command; but pardon me, if I cannot even endeavour +to persuade him. I have myself told him that Miss Thorpe is engaged. He +knows what he is about, and must be his own master." + +"No, he does not know what he is about," cried Catherine; "he does not +know the pain he is giving my brother. Not that James has ever told me +so, but I am sure he is very uncomfortable." + +"And are you sure it is my brother's doing?" + +"Yes, very sure." + +"Is it my brother's attentions to Miss Thorpe, or Miss Thorpe's +admission of them, that gives the pain?" + +"Is not it the same thing?" + +"I think Mr. Morland would acknowledge a difference. No man is offended +by another man's admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman only +who can make it a torment." + +Catherine blushed for her friend, and said, "Isabella is wrong. But I +am sure she cannot mean to torment, for she is very much attached to my +brother. She has been in love with him ever since they first met, and +while my father's consent was uncertain, she fretted herself almost into +a fever. You know she must be attached to him." + +"I understand: she is in love with James, and flirts with Frederick." + +"Oh! no, not flirts. A woman in love with one man cannot flirt with +another." + +"It is probable that she will neither love so well, nor flirt so +well, as she might do either singly. The gentlemen must each give up a +little." + +After a short pause, Catherine resumed with, "Then you do not believe +Isabella so very much attached to my brother?" + +"I can have no opinion on that subject." + +"But what can your brother mean? If he knows her engagement, what can he +mean by his behaviour?" + +"You are a very close questioner." + +"Am I? I only ask what I want to be told." + +"But do you only ask what I can be expected to tell?" + +"Yes, I think so; for you must know your brother's heart." + +"My brother's heart, as you term it, on the present occasion, I assure +you I can only guess at." + +"Well?" + +"Well! Nay, if it is to be guesswork, let us all guess for ourselves. To +be guided by second-hand conjecture is pitiful. The premises are before +you. My brother is a lively and perhaps sometimes a thoughtless young +man; he has had about a week's acquaintance with your friend, and he has +known her engagement almost as long as he has known her." + +"Well," said Catherine, after some moments' consideration, "you may be +able to guess at your brother's intentions from all this; but I am sure +I cannot. But is not your father uncomfortable about it? Does not he +want Captain Tilney to go away? Sure, if your father were to speak to +him, he would go." + +"My dear Miss Morland," said Henry, "in this amiable solicitude for your +brother's comfort, may you not be a little mistaken? Are you not carried +a little too far? Would he thank you, either on his own account or +Miss Thorpe's, for supposing that her affection, or at least her good +behaviour, is only to be secured by her seeing nothing of Captain +Tilney? Is he safe only in solitude? Or is her heart constant to him +only when unsolicited by anyone else? He cannot think this--and you may +be sure that he would not have you think it. I will not say, 'Do not +be uneasy,' because I know that you are so, at this moment; but be as +little uneasy as you can. You have no doubt of the mutual attachment +of your brother and your friend; depend upon it, therefore, that +real jealousy never can exist between them; depend upon it that no +disagreement between them can be of any duration. Their hearts are open +to each other, as neither heart can be to you; they know exactly what +is required and what can be borne; and you may be certain that one will +never tease the other beyond what is known to be pleasant." + +Perceiving her still to look doubtful and grave, he added, "Though +Frederick does not leave Bath with us, he will probably remain but a +very short time, perhaps only a few days behind us. His leave of absence +will soon expire, and he must return to his regiment. And what will then +be their acquaintance? The mess-room will drink Isabella Thorpe for +a fortnight, and she will laugh with your brother over poor Tilney's +passion for a month." + +Catherine would contend no longer against comfort. She had resisted its +approaches during the whole length of a speech, but it now carried her +captive. Henry Tilney must know best. She blamed herself for the extent +of her fears, and resolved never to think so seriously on the subject +again. + +Her resolution was supported by Isabella's behaviour in their parting +interview. The Thorpes spent the last evening of Catherine's stay in +Pulteney Street, and nothing passed between the lovers to excite +her uneasiness, or make her quit them in apprehension. James was in +excellent spirits, and Isabella most engagingly placid. Her tenderness +for her friend seemed rather the first feeling of her heart; but that +at such a moment was allowable; and once she gave her lover a flat +contradiction, and once she drew back her hand; but Catherine remembered +Henry's instructions, and placed it all to judicious affection. The +embraces, tears, and promises of the parting fair ones may be fancied. + + + + +CHAPTER 20 + + +Mr. and Mrs. Allen were sorry to lose their young friend, whose good +humour and cheerfulness had made her a valuable companion, and in the +promotion of whose enjoyment their own had been gently increased. Her +happiness in going with Miss Tilney, however, prevented their wishing +it otherwise; and, as they were to remain only one more week in Bath +themselves, her quitting them now would not long be felt. Mr. Allen +attended her to Milsom Street, where she was to breakfast, and saw her +seated with the kindest welcome among her new friends; but so great was +her agitation in finding herself as one of the family, and so fearful +was she of not doing exactly what was right, and of not being able to +preserve their good opinion, that, in the embarrassment of the first +five minutes, she could almost have wished to return with him to +Pulteney Street. + +Miss Tilney's manners and Henry's smile soon did away some of her +unpleasant feelings; but still she was far from being at ease; nor could +the incessant attentions of the general himself entirely reassure her. +Nay, perverse as it seemed, she doubted whether she might not have felt +less, had she been less attended to. His anxiety for her comfort--his +continual solicitations that she would eat, and his often-expressed +fears of her seeing nothing to her taste--though never in her life +before had she beheld half such variety on a breakfast-table--made it +impossible for her to forget for a moment that she was a visitor. She +felt utterly unworthy of such respect, and knew not how to reply to it. +Her tranquillity was not improved by the general's impatience for the +appearance of his eldest son, nor by the displeasure he expressed at his +laziness when Captain Tilney at last came down. She was quite pained by +the severity of his father's reproof, which seemed disproportionate to +the offence; and much was her concern increased when she found herself +the principal cause of the lecture, and that his tardiness was chiefly +resented from being disrespectful to her. This was placing her in a +very uncomfortable situation, and she felt great compassion for Captain +Tilney, without being able to hope for his goodwill. + +He listened to his father in silence, and attempted not any defence, +which confirmed her in fearing that the inquietude of his mind, on +Isabella's account, might, by keeping him long sleepless, have been +the real cause of his rising late. It was the first time of her being +decidedly in his company, and she had hoped to be now able to form +her opinion of him; but she scarcely heard his voice while his father +remained in the room; and even afterwards, so much were his spirits +affected, she could distinguish nothing but these words, in a whisper to +Eleanor, "How glad I shall be when you are all off." + +The bustle of going was not pleasant. The clock struck ten while the +trunks were carrying down, and the general had fixed to be out of Milsom +Street by that hour. His greatcoat, instead of being brought for him +to put on directly, was spread out in the curricle in which he was to +accompany his son. The middle seat of the chaise was not drawn out, +though there were three people to go in it, and his daughter's maid had +so crowded it with parcels that Miss Morland would not have room to sit; +and, so much was he influenced by this apprehension when he handed her +in, that she had some difficulty in saving her own new writing-desk from +being thrown out into the street. At last, however, the door was closed +upon the three females, and they set off at the sober pace in which +the handsome, highly fed four horses of a gentleman usually perform a +journey of thirty miles: such was the distance of Northanger from Bath, +to be now divided into two equal stages. Catherine's spirits revived as +they drove from the door; for with Miss Tilney she felt no restraint; +and, with the interest of a road entirely new to her, of an abbey +before, and a curricle behind, she caught the last view of Bath without +any regret, and met with every milestone before she expected it. The +tediousness of a two hours' wait at Petty France, in which there was +nothing to be done but to eat without being hungry, and loiter about +without anything to see, next followed--and her admiration of the style +in which they travelled, of the fashionable chaise and four--postilions +handsomely liveried, rising so regularly in their stirrups, and +numerous outriders properly mounted, sunk a little under this consequent +inconvenience. Had their party been perfectly agreeable, the delay would +have been nothing; but General Tilney, though so charming a man, seemed +always a check upon his children's spirits, and scarcely anything was +said but by himself; the observation of which, with his discontent at +whatever the inn afforded, and his angry impatience at the waiters, made +Catherine grow every moment more in awe of him, and appeared to lengthen +the two hours into four. At last, however, the order of release was +given; and much was Catherine then surprised by the general's proposal +of her taking his place in his son's curricle for the rest of the +journey: "the day was fine, and he was anxious for her seeing as much of +the country as possible." + +The remembrance of Mr. Allen's opinion, respecting young men's open +carriages, made her blush at the mention of such a plan, and her first +thought was to decline it; but her second was of greater deference for +General Tilney's judgment; he could not propose anything improper for +her; and, in the course of a few minutes, she found herself with Henry +in the curricle, as happy a being as ever existed. A very short trial +convinced her that a curricle was the prettiest equipage in the world; +the chaise and four wheeled off with some grandeur, to be sure, but it +was a heavy and troublesome business, and she could not easily forget +its having stopped two hours at Petty France. Half the time would +have been enough for the curricle, and so nimbly were the light horses +disposed to move, that, had not the general chosen to have his own +carriage lead the way, they could have passed it with ease in half a +minute. But the merit of the curricle did not all belong to the horses; +Henry drove so well--so quietly--without making any disturbance, +without parading to her, or swearing at them: so different from the only +gentleman-coachman whom it was in her power to compare him with! And +then his hat sat so well, and the innumerable capes of his greatcoat +looked so becomingly important! To be driven by him, next to being +dancing with him, was certainly the greatest happiness in the world. In +addition to every other delight, she had now that of listening to her +own praise; of being thanked at least, on his sister's account, for +her kindness in thus becoming her visitor; of hearing it ranked as real +friendship, and described as creating real gratitude. His sister, he +said, was uncomfortably circumstanced--she had no female companion--and, +in the frequent absence of her father, was sometimes without any +companion at all. + +"But how can that be?" said Catherine. "Are not you with her?" + +"Northanger is not more than half my home; I have an establishment at +my own house in Woodston, which is nearly twenty miles from my father's, +and some of my time is necessarily spent there." + +"How sorry you must be for that!" + +"I am always sorry to leave Eleanor." + +"Yes; but besides your affection for her, you must be so fond of +the abbey! After being used to such a home as the abbey, an ordinary +parsonage-house must be very disagreeable." + +He smiled, and said, "You have formed a very favourable idea of the +abbey." + +"To be sure, I have. Is not it a fine old place, just like what one +reads about?" + +"And are you prepared to encounter all the horrors that a building such +as 'what one reads about' may produce? Have you a stout heart? Nerves +fit for sliding panels and tapestry?" + +"Oh! yes--I do not think I should be easily frightened, because there +would be so many people in the house--and besides, it has never been +uninhabited and left deserted for years, and then the family come back +to it unawares, without giving any notice, as generally happens." + +"No, certainly. We shall not have to explore our way into a hall dimly +lighted by the expiring embers of a wood fire--nor be obliged to spread +our beds on the floor of a room without windows, doors, or furniture. +But you must be aware that when a young lady is (by whatever means) +introduced into a dwelling of this kind, she is always lodged apart from +the rest of the family. While they snugly repair to their own end of the +house, she is formally conducted by Dorothy, the ancient housekeeper, up +a different staircase, and along many gloomy passages, into an apartment +never used since some cousin or kin died in it about twenty years +before. Can you stand such a ceremony as this? Will not your mind +misgive you when you find yourself in this gloomy chamber--too lofty and +extensive for you, with only the feeble rays of a single lamp to take +in its size--its walls hung with tapestry exhibiting figures as large as +life, and the bed, of dark green stuff or purple velvet, presenting even +a funereal appearance? Will not your heart sink within you?" + +"Oh! But this will not happen to me, I am sure." + +"How fearfully will you examine the furniture of your apartment! And +what will you discern? Not tables, toilettes, wardrobes, or drawers, +but on one side perhaps the remains of a broken lute, on the other a +ponderous chest which no efforts can open, and over the fireplace +the portrait of some handsome warrior, whose features will so +incomprehensibly strike you, that you will not be able to withdraw your +eyes from it. Dorothy, meanwhile, no less struck by your appearance, +gazes on you in great agitation, and drops a few unintelligible hints. +To raise your spirits, moreover, she gives you reason to suppose that +the part of the abbey you inhabit is undoubtedly haunted, and informs +you that you will not have a single domestic within call. With this +parting cordial she curtsies off--you listen to the sound of her +receding footsteps as long as the last echo can reach you--and when, +with fainting spirits, you attempt to fasten your door, you discover, +with increased alarm, that it has no lock." + +"Oh! Mr. Tilney, how frightful! This is just like a book! But it cannot +really happen to me. I am sure your housekeeper is not really Dorothy. +Well, what then?" + +"Nothing further to alarm perhaps may occur the first night. After +surmounting your unconquerable horror of the bed, you will retire to +rest, and get a few hours' unquiet slumber. But on the second, or at +farthest the third night after your arrival, you will probably have a +violent storm. Peals of thunder so loud as to seem to shake the edifice +to its foundation will roll round the neighbouring mountains--and during +the frightful gusts of wind which accompany it, you will probably think +you discern (for your lamp is not extinguished) one part of the hanging +more violently agitated than the rest. Unable of course to repress your +curiosity in so favourable a moment for indulging it, you will instantly +arise, and throwing your dressing-gown around you, proceed to examine +this mystery. After a very short search, you will discover a division in +the tapestry so artfully constructed as to defy the minutest inspection, +and on opening it, a door will immediately appear--which door, being +only secured by massy bars and a padlock, you will, after a few efforts, +succeed in opening--and, with your lamp in your hand, will pass through +it into a small vaulted room." + +"No, indeed; I should be too much frightened to do any such thing." + +"What! Not when Dorothy has given you to understand that there is a +secret subterraneous communication between your apartment and the chapel +of St. Anthony, scarcely two miles off? Could you shrink from so simple +an adventure? No, no, you will proceed into this small vaulted room, +and through this into several others, without perceiving anything very +remarkable in either. In one perhaps there may be a dagger, in another +a few drops of blood, and in a third the remains of some instrument of +torture; but there being nothing in all this out of the common way, +and your lamp being nearly exhausted, you will return towards your own +apartment. In repassing through the small vaulted room, however, your +eyes will be attracted towards a large, old-fashioned cabinet of ebony +and gold, which, though narrowly examining the furniture before, you +had passed unnoticed. Impelled by an irresistible presentiment, you will +eagerly advance to it, unlock its folding doors, and search into +every drawer--but for some time without discovering anything of +importance--perhaps nothing but a considerable hoard of diamonds. At +last, however, by touching a secret spring, an inner compartment will +open--a roll of paper appears--you seize it--it contains many sheets of +manuscript--you hasten with the precious treasure into your own chamber, +but scarcely have you been able to decipher 'Oh! Thou--whomsoever thou +mayst be, into whose hands these memoirs of the wretched Matilda may +fall'--when your lamp suddenly expires in the socket, and leaves you in +total darkness." + +"Oh! No, no--do not say so. Well, go on." + +But Henry was too much amused by the interest he had raised to be able +to carry it farther; he could no longer command solemnity either of +subject or voice, and was obliged to entreat her to use her own fancy +in the perusal of Matilda's woes. Catherine, recollecting herself, grew +ashamed of her eagerness, and began earnestly to assure him that her +attention had been fixed without the smallest apprehension of really +meeting with what he related. "Miss Tilney, she was sure, would never +put her into such a chamber as he had described! She was not at all +afraid." + +As they drew near the end of their journey, her impatience for a sight +of the abbey--for some time suspended by his conversation on subjects +very different--returned in full force, and every bend in the road was +expected with solemn awe to afford a glimpse of its massy walls of grey +stone, rising amidst a grove of ancient oaks, with the last beams of the +sun playing in beautiful splendour on its high Gothic windows. But so +low did the building stand, that she found herself passing through the +great gates of the lodge into the very grounds of Northanger, without +having discerned even an antique chimney. + +She knew not that she had any right to be surprised, but there was a +something in this mode of approach which she certainly had not expected. +To pass between lodges of a modern appearance, to find herself with such +ease in the very precincts of the abbey, and driven so rapidly along a +smooth, level road of fine gravel, without obstacle, alarm, or solemnity +of any kind, struck her as odd and inconsistent. She was not long +at leisure, however, for such considerations. A sudden scud of rain, +driving full in her face, made it impossible for her to observe anything +further, and fixed all her thoughts on the welfare of her new straw +bonnet; and she was actually under the abbey walls, was springing, with +Henry's assistance, from the carriage, was beneath the shelter of the +old porch, and had even passed on to the hall, where her friend and +the general were waiting to welcome her, without feeling one awful +foreboding of future misery to herself, or one moment's suspicion of any +past scenes of horror being acted within the solemn edifice. The breeze +had not seemed to waft the sighs of the murdered to her; it had wafted +nothing worse than a thick mizzling rain; and having given a good shake +to her habit, she was ready to be shown into the common drawing-room, +and capable of considering where she was. + +An abbey! Yes, it was delightful to be really in an abbey! But she +doubted, as she looked round the room, whether anything within her +observation would have given her the consciousness. The furniture was in +all the profusion and elegance of modern taste. The fireplace, where she +had expected the ample width and ponderous carving of former times, was +contracted to a Rumford, with slabs of plain though handsome marble, and +ornaments over it of the prettiest English china. The windows, to which +she looked with peculiar dependence, from having heard the general talk +of his preserving them in their Gothic form with reverential care, were +yet less what her fancy had portrayed. To be sure, the pointed arch +was preserved--the form of them was Gothic--they might be even +casements--but every pane was so large, so clear, so light! To an +imagination which had hoped for the smallest divisions, and the heaviest +stone-work, for painted glass, dirt, and cobwebs, the difference was +very distressing. + +The general, perceiving how her eye was employed, began to talk of the +smallness of the room and simplicity of the furniture, where everything, +being for daily use, pretended only to comfort, etc.; flattering +himself, however, that there were some apartments in the Abbey not +unworthy her notice--and was proceeding to mention the costly gilding +of one in particular, when, taking out his watch, he stopped short to +pronounce it with surprise within twenty minutes of five! This seemed +the word of separation, and Catherine found herself hurried away by Miss +Tilney in such a manner as convinced her that the strictest punctuality +to the family hours would be expected at Northanger. + +Returning through the large and lofty hall, they ascended a broad +staircase of shining oak, which, after many flights and many +landing-places, brought them upon a long, wide gallery. On one side it +had a range of doors, and it was lighted on the other by windows which +Catherine had only time to discover looked into a quadrangle, before +Miss Tilney led the way into a chamber, and scarcely staying to hope she +would find it comfortable, left her with an anxious entreaty that she +would make as little alteration as possible in her dress. + + + + +CHAPTER 21 + + +A moment's glance was enough to satisfy Catherine that her apartment +was very unlike the one which Henry had endeavoured to alarm her by the +description of. It was by no means unreasonably large, and contained +neither tapestry nor velvet. The walls were papered, the floor was +carpeted; the windows were neither less perfect nor more dim than those +of the drawing-room below; the furniture, though not of the latest +fashion, was handsome and comfortable, and the air of the room +altogether far from uncheerful. Her heart instantaneously at ease on +this point, she resolved to lose no time in particular examination of +anything, as she greatly dreaded disobliging the general by any delay. +Her habit therefore was thrown off with all possible haste, and she was +preparing to unpin the linen package, which the chaise-seat had conveyed +for her immediate accommodation, when her eye suddenly fell on a large +high chest, standing back in a deep recess on one side of the fireplace. +The sight of it made her start; and, forgetting everything else, she +stood gazing on it in motionless wonder, while these thoughts crossed +her: + +"This is strange indeed! I did not expect such a sight as this! An +immense heavy chest! What can it hold? Why should it be placed here? +Pushed back too, as if meant to be out of sight! I will look into +it--cost me what it may, I will look into it--and directly too--by +daylight. If I stay till evening my candle may go out." She advanced and +examined it closely: it was of cedar, curiously inlaid with some darker +wood, and raised, about a foot from the ground, on a carved stand of the +same. The lock was silver, though tarnished from age; at each end +were the imperfect remains of handles also of silver, broken perhaps +prematurely by some strange violence; and, on the centre of the lid, was +a mysterious cipher, in the same metal. Catherine bent over it intently, +but without being able to distinguish anything with certainty. She could +not, in whatever direction she took it, believe the last letter to be +a T; and yet that it should be anything else in that house was +a circumstance to raise no common degree of astonishment. If not +originally theirs, by what strange events could it have fallen into the +Tilney family? + +Her fearful curiosity was every moment growing greater; and seizing, +with trembling hands, the hasp of the lock, she resolved at all hazards +to satisfy herself at least as to its contents. With difficulty, for +something seemed to resist her efforts, she raised the lid a few inches; +but at that moment a sudden knocking at the door of the room made her, +starting, quit her hold, and the lid closed with alarming violence. This +ill-timed intruder was Miss Tilney's maid, sent by her mistress to be of +use to Miss Morland; and though Catherine immediately dismissed her, it +recalled her to the sense of what she ought to be doing, and forced her, +in spite of her anxious desire to penetrate this mystery, to proceed in +her dressing without further delay. Her progress was not quick, for her +thoughts and her eyes were still bent on the object so well calculated +to interest and alarm; and though she dared not waste a moment upon +a second attempt, she could not remain many paces from the chest. At +length, however, having slipped one arm into her gown, her toilette +seemed so nearly finished that the impatience of her curiosity might +safely be indulged. One moment surely might be spared; and, so desperate +should be the exertion of her strength, that, unless secured by +supernatural means, the lid in one moment should be thrown back. With +this spirit she sprang forward, and her confidence did not deceive her. +Her resolute effort threw back the lid, and gave to her astonished eyes +the view of a white cotton counterpane, properly folded, reposing at one +end of the chest in undisputed possession! + +She was gazing on it with the first blush of surprise when Miss Tilney, +anxious for her friend's being ready, entered the room, and to the +rising shame of having harboured for some minutes an absurd expectation, +was then added the shame of being caught in so idle a search. "That is +a curious old chest, is not it?" said Miss Tilney, as Catherine hastily +closed it and turned away to the glass. "It is impossible to say how +many generations it has been here. How it came to be first put in this +room I know not, but I have not had it moved, because I thought it might +sometimes be of use in holding hats and bonnets. The worst of it is that +its weight makes it difficult to open. In that corner, however, it is at +least out of the way." + +Catherine had no leisure for speech, being at once blushing, tying her +gown, and forming wise resolutions with the most violent dispatch. Miss +Tilney gently hinted her fear of being late; and in half a minute they +ran downstairs together, in an alarm not wholly unfounded, for General +Tilney was pacing the drawing-room, his watch in his hand, and having, +on the very instant of their entering, pulled the bell with violence, +ordered "Dinner to be on table directly!" + +Catherine trembled at the emphasis with which he spoke, and sat pale +and breathless, in a most humble mood, concerned for his children, and +detesting old chests; and the general, recovering his politeness as he +looked at her, spent the rest of his time in scolding his daughter for +so foolishly hurrying her fair friend, who was absolutely out of breath +from haste, when there was not the least occasion for hurry in the +world: but Catherine could not at all get over the double distress +of having involved her friend in a lecture and been a great simpleton +herself, till they were happily seated at the dinner-table, when the +general's complacent smiles, and a good appetite of her own, restored +her to peace. The dining-parlour was a noble room, suitable in its +dimensions to a much larger drawing-room than the one in common use, and +fitted up in a style of luxury and expense which was almost lost on the +unpractised eye of Catherine, who saw little more than its spaciousness +and the number of their attendants. Of the former, she spoke aloud +her admiration; and the general, with a very gracious countenance, +acknowledged that it was by no means an ill-sized room, and further +confessed that, though as careless on such subjects as most people, he +did look upon a tolerably large eating-room as one of the necessaries +of life; he supposed, however, "that she must have been used to much +better-sized apartments at Mr. Allen's?" + +"No, indeed," was Catherine's honest assurance; "Mr. Allen's +dining-parlour was not more than half as large," and she had never +seen so large a room as this in her life. The general's good humour +increased. Why, as he had such rooms, he thought it would be simple not +to make use of them; but, upon his honour, he believed there might be +more comfort in rooms of only half their size. Mr. Allen's house, he was +sure, must be exactly of the true size for rational happiness. + +The evening passed without any further disturbance, and, in the +occasional absence of General Tilney, with much positive cheerfulness. +It was only in his presence that Catherine felt the smallest fatigue +from her journey; and even then, even in moments of languor or +restraint, a sense of general happiness preponderated, and she could +think of her friends in Bath without one wish of being with them. + +The night was stormy; the wind had been rising at intervals the whole +afternoon; and by the time the party broke up, it blew and rained +violently. Catherine, as she crossed the hall, listened to the tempest +with sensations of awe; and, when she heard it rage round a corner of +the ancient building and close with sudden fury a distant door, felt +for the first time that she was really in an abbey. Yes, these were +characteristic sounds; they brought to her recollection a countless +variety of dreadful situations and horrid scenes, which such buildings +had witnessed, and such storms ushered in; and most heartily did she +rejoice in the happier circumstances attending her entrance within walls +so solemn! She had nothing to dread from midnight assassins or drunken +gallants. Henry had certainly been only in jest in what he had told her +that morning. In a house so furnished, and so guarded, she could have +nothing to explore or to suffer, and might go to her bedroom as securely +as if it had been her own chamber at Fullerton. Thus wisely fortifying +her mind, as she proceeded upstairs, she was enabled, especially on +perceiving that Miss Tilney slept only two doors from her, to enter +her room with a tolerably stout heart; and her spirits were immediately +assisted by the cheerful blaze of a wood fire. "How much better is +this," said she, as she walked to the fender--"how much better to find a +fire ready lit, than to have to wait shivering in the cold till all the +family are in bed, as so many poor girls have been obliged to do, and +then to have a faithful old servant frightening one by coming in with a +faggot! How glad I am that Northanger is what it is! If it had been like +some other places, I do not know that, in such a night as this, I could +have answered for my courage: but now, to be sure, there is nothing to +alarm one." + +She looked round the room. The window curtains seemed in motion. It +could be nothing but the violence of the wind penetrating through the +divisions of the shutters; and she stepped boldly forward, carelessly +humming a tune, to assure herself of its being so, peeped courageously +behind each curtain, saw nothing on either low window seat to scare her, +and on placing a hand against the shutter, felt the strongest conviction +of the wind's force. A glance at the old chest, as she turned away from +this examination, was not without its use; she scorned the causeless +fears of an idle fancy, and began with a most happy indifference to +prepare herself for bed. "She should take her time; she should not hurry +herself; she did not care if she were the last person up in the house. +But she would not make up her fire; that would seem cowardly, as if +she wished for the protection of light after she were in bed." The fire +therefore died away, and Catherine, having spent the best part of an +hour in her arrangements, was beginning to think of stepping into bed, +when, on giving a parting glance round the room, she was struck by the +appearance of a high, old-fashioned black cabinet, which, though in +a situation conspicuous enough, had never caught her notice before. +Henry's words, his description of the ebony cabinet which was to escape +her observation at first, immediately rushed across her; and though +there could be nothing really in it, there was something whimsical, it +was certainly a very remarkable coincidence! She took her candle and +looked closely at the cabinet. It was not absolutely ebony and gold; but +it was japan, black and yellow japan of the handsomest kind; and as she +held her candle, the yellow had very much the effect of gold. The key +was in the door, and she had a strange fancy to look into it; not, +however, with the smallest expectation of finding anything, but it was +so very odd, after what Henry had said. In short, she could not sleep +till she had examined it. So, placing the candle with great caution on +a chair, she seized the key with a very tremulous hand and tried to turn +it; but it resisted her utmost strength. Alarmed, but not discouraged, +she tried it another way; a bolt flew, and she believed herself +successful; but how strangely mysterious! The door was still immovable. +She paused a moment in breathless wonder. The wind roared down the +chimney, the rain beat in torrents against the windows, and everything +seemed to speak the awfulness of her situation. To retire to bed, +however, unsatisfied on such a point, would be vain, since sleep must be +impossible with the consciousness of a cabinet so mysteriously closed +in her immediate vicinity. Again, therefore, she applied herself to the +key, and after moving it in every possible way for some instants with +the determined celerity of hope's last effort, the door suddenly yielded +to her hand: her heart leaped with exultation at such a victory, and +having thrown open each folding door, the second being secured only by +bolts of less wonderful construction than the lock, though in that her +eye could not discern anything unusual, a double range of small drawers +appeared in view, with some larger drawers above and below them; and in +the centre, a small door, closed also with a lock and key, secured in +all probability a cavity of importance. + +Catherine's heart beat quick, but her courage did not fail her. With a +cheek flushed by hope, and an eye straining with curiosity, her fingers +grasped the handle of a drawer and drew it forth. It was entirely empty. +With less alarm and greater eagerness she seized a second, a third, a +fourth; each was equally empty. Not one was left unsearched, and in not +one was anything found. Well read in the art of concealing a treasure, +the possibility of false linings to the drawers did not escape her, and +she felt round each with anxious acuteness in vain. The place in the +middle alone remained now unexplored; and though she had "never from +the first had the smallest idea of finding anything in any part of the +cabinet, and was not in the least disappointed at her ill success thus +far, it would be foolish not to examine it thoroughly while she was +about it." It was some time however before she could unfasten the door, +the same difficulty occurring in the management of this inner lock as of +the outer; but at length it did open; and not vain, as hitherto, was her +search; her quick eyes directly fell on a roll of paper pushed back +into the further part of the cavity, apparently for concealment, and +her feelings at that moment were indescribable. Her heart fluttered, her +knees trembled, and her cheeks grew pale. She seized, with an unsteady +hand, the precious manuscript, for half a glance sufficed to ascertain +written characters; and while she acknowledged with awful sensations +this striking exemplification of what Henry had foretold, resolved +instantly to peruse every line before she attempted to rest. + +The dimness of the light her candle emitted made her turn to it with +alarm; but there was no danger of its sudden extinction; it had yet some +hours to burn; and that she might not have any greater difficulty in +distinguishing the writing than what its ancient date might occasion, +she hastily snuffed it. Alas! It was snuffed and extinguished in one. A +lamp could not have expired with more awful effect. Catherine, for a +few moments, was motionless with horror. It was done completely; not a +remnant of light in the wick could give hope to the rekindling breath. +Darkness impenetrable and immovable filled the room. A violent gust +of wind, rising with sudden fury, added fresh horror to the moment. +Catherine trembled from head to foot. In the pause which succeeded, a +sound like receding footsteps and the closing of a distant door struck +on her affrighted ear. Human nature could support no more. A cold sweat +stood on her forehead, the manuscript fell from her hand, and groping +her way to the bed, she jumped hastily in, and sought some suspension of +agony by creeping far underneath the clothes. To close her eyes in +sleep that night, she felt must be entirely out of the question. With +a curiosity so justly awakened, and feelings in every way so agitated, +repose must be absolutely impossible. The storm too abroad so dreadful! +She had not been used to feel alarm from wind, but now every blast +seemed fraught with awful intelligence. The manuscript so wonderfully +found, so wonderfully accomplishing the morning's prediction, how was it +to be accounted for? What could it contain? To whom could it relate? +By what means could it have been so long concealed? And how singularly +strange that it should fall to her lot to discover it! Till she had made +herself mistress of its contents, however, she could have neither repose +nor comfort; and with the sun's first rays she was determined to peruse +it. But many were the tedious hours which must yet intervene. She +shuddered, tossed about in her bed, and envied every quiet sleeper. The +storm still raged, and various were the noises, more terrific even +than the wind, which struck at intervals on her startled ear. The very +curtains of her bed seemed at one moment in motion, and at another +the lock of her door was agitated, as if by the attempt of somebody to +enter. Hollow murmurs seemed to creep along the gallery, and more than +once her blood was chilled by the sound of distant moans. Hour after +hour passed away, and the wearied Catherine had heard three proclaimed +by all the clocks in the house before the tempest subsided or she +unknowingly fell fast asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER 22 + + +The housemaid's folding back her window-shutters at eight o'clock the +next day was the sound which first roused Catherine; and she opened her +eyes, wondering that they could ever have been closed, on objects of +cheerfulness; her fire was already burning, and a bright morning +had succeeded the tempest of the night. Instantaneously, with the +consciousness of existence, returned her recollection of the manuscript; +and springing from the bed in the very moment of the maid's going away, +she eagerly collected every scattered sheet which had burst from the +roll on its falling to the ground, and flew back to enjoy the luxury +of their perusal on her pillow. She now plainly saw that she must not +expect a manuscript of equal length with the generality of what she had +shuddered over in books, for the roll, seeming to consist entirely of +small disjointed sheets, was altogether but of trifling size, and much +less than she had supposed it to be at first. + +Her greedy eye glanced rapidly over a page. She started at its import. +Could it be possible, or did not her senses play her false? An inventory +of linen, in coarse and modern characters, seemed all that was before +her! If the evidence of sight might be trusted, she held a washing-bill +in her hand. She seized another sheet, and saw the same articles with +little variation; a third, a fourth, and a fifth presented nothing +new. Shirts, stockings, cravats, and waistcoats faced her in each. Two +others, penned by the same hand, marked an expenditure scarcely more +interesting, in letters, hair-powder, shoe-string, and breeches-ball. +And the larger sheet, which had enclosed the rest, seemed by its first +cramp line, "To poultice chestnut mare"--a farrier's bill! Such was the +collection of papers (left perhaps, as she could then suppose, by the +negligence of a servant in the place whence she had taken them) which +had filled her with expectation and alarm, and robbed her of half her +night's rest! She felt humbled to the dust. Could not the adventure of +the chest have taught her wisdom? A corner of it, catching her eye as +she lay, seemed to rise up in judgment against her. Nothing could now +be clearer than the absurdity of her recent fancies. To suppose that a +manuscript of many generations back could have remained undiscovered in +a room such as that, so modern, so habitable!--Or that she should be the +first to possess the skill of unlocking a cabinet, the key of which was +open to all! + +How could she have so imposed on herself? Heaven forbid that Henry +Tilney should ever know her folly! And it was in a great measure his +own doing, for had not the cabinet appeared so exactly to agree with his +description of her adventures, she should never have felt the smallest +curiosity about it. This was the only comfort that occurred. Impatient +to get rid of those hateful evidences of her folly, those detestable +papers then scattered over the bed, she rose directly, and folding them +up as nearly as possible in the same shape as before, returned them +to the same spot within the cabinet, with a very hearty wish that no +untoward accident might ever bring them forward again, to disgrace her +even with herself. + +Why the locks should have been so difficult to open, however, was still +something remarkable, for she could now manage them with perfect ease. +In this there was surely something mysterious, and she indulged in the +flattering suggestion for half a minute, till the possibility of the +door's having been at first unlocked, and of being herself its fastener, +darted into her head, and cost her another blush. + +She got away as soon as she could from a room in which her conduct +produced such unpleasant reflections, and found her way with all speed +to the breakfast-parlour, as it had been pointed out to her by Miss +Tilney the evening before. Henry was alone in it; and his immediate hope +of her having been undisturbed by the tempest, with an arch reference +to the character of the building they inhabited, was rather distressing. +For the world would she not have her weakness suspected, and yet, +unequal to an absolute falsehood, was constrained to acknowledge that +the wind had kept her awake a little. "But we have a charming morning +after it," she added, desiring to get rid of the subject; "and storms +and sleeplessness are nothing when they are over. What beautiful +hyacinths! I have just learnt to love a hyacinth." + +"And how might you learn? By accident or argument?" + +"Your sister taught me; I cannot tell how. Mrs. Allen used to take +pains, year after year, to make me like them; but I never could, till +I saw them the other day in Milsom Street; I am naturally indifferent +about flowers." + +"But now you love a hyacinth. So much the better. You have gained a new +source of enjoyment, and it is well to have as many holds upon happiness +as possible. Besides, a taste for flowers is always desirable in your +sex, as a means of getting you out of doors, and tempting you to more +frequent exercise than you would otherwise take. And though the love +of a hyacinth may be rather domestic, who can tell, the sentiment once +raised, but you may in time come to love a rose?" + +"But I do not want any such pursuit to get me out of doors. The pleasure +of walking and breathing fresh air is enough for me, and in fine weather +I am out more than half my time. Mamma says I am never within." + +"At any rate, however, I am pleased that you have learnt to love +a hyacinth. The mere habit of learning to love is the thing; and a +teachableness of disposition in a young lady is a great blessing. Has my +sister a pleasant mode of instruction?" + +Catherine was saved the embarrassment of attempting an answer by the +entrance of the general, whose smiling compliments announced a happy +state of mind, but whose gentle hint of sympathetic early rising did not +advance her composure. + +The elegance of the breakfast set forced itself on Catherine's notice +when they were seated at table; and, lucidly, it had been the general's +choice. He was enchanted by her approbation of his taste, confessed it +to be neat and simple, thought it right to encourage the manufacture of +his country; and for his part, to his uncritical palate, the tea was as +well flavoured from the clay of Staffordshire, as from that of Dresden +or Save. But this was quite an old set, purchased two years ago. +The manufacture was much improved since that time; he had seen some +beautiful specimens when last in town, and had he not been perfectly +without vanity of that kind, might have been tempted to order a new +set. He trusted, however, that an opportunity might ere long occur of +selecting one--though not for himself. Catherine was probably the only +one of the party who did not understand him. + +Shortly after breakfast Henry left them for Woodston, where business +required and would keep him two or three days. They all attended in +the hall to see him mount his horse, and immediately on re-entering the +breakfast-room, Catherine walked to a window in the hope of catching +another glimpse of his figure. "This is a somewhat heavy call upon your +brother's fortitude," observed the general to Eleanor. "Woodston will +make but a sombre appearance today." + +"Is it a pretty place?" asked Catherine. + +"What say you, Eleanor? Speak your opinion, for ladies can best tell the +taste of ladies in regard to places as well as men. I think it would be +acknowledged by the most impartial eye to have many recommendations. The +house stands among fine meadows facing the south-east, with an excellent +kitchen-garden in the same aspect; the walls surrounding which I built +and stocked myself about ten years ago, for the benefit of my son. It +is a family living, Miss Morland; and the property in the place being +chiefly my own, you may believe I take care that it shall not be a bad +one. Did Henry's income depend solely on this living, he would not be +ill-provided for. Perhaps it may seem odd, that with only two younger +children, I should think any profession necessary for him; and certainly +there are moments when we could all wish him disengaged from every tie +of business. But though I may not exactly make converts of you young +ladies, I am sure your father, Miss Morland, would agree with me in +thinking it expedient to give every young man some employment. The +money is nothing, it is not an object, but employment is the thing. +Even Frederick, my eldest son, you see, who will perhaps inherit as +considerable a landed property as any private man in the county, has his +profession." + +The imposing effect of this last argument was equal to his wishes. The +silence of the lady proved it to be unanswerable. + +Something had been said the evening before of her being shown over the +house, and he now offered himself as her conductor; and though Catherine +had hoped to explore it accompanied only by his daughter, it was a +proposal of too much happiness in itself, under any circumstances, not +to be gladly accepted; for she had been already eighteen hours in the +abbey, and had seen only a few of its rooms. The netting-box, just +leisurely drawn forth, was closed with joyful haste, and she was ready +to attend him in a moment. "And when they had gone over the house, he +promised himself moreover the pleasure of accompanying her into the +shrubberies and garden." She curtsied her acquiescence. "But perhaps +it might be more agreeable to her to make those her first object. +The weather was at present favourable, and at this time of year the +uncertainty was very great of its continuing so. Which would she prefer? +He was equally at her service. Which did his daughter think would most +accord with her fair friend's wishes? But he thought he could discern. +Yes, he certainly read in Miss Morland's eyes a judicious desire of +making use of the present smiling weather. But when did she judge amiss? +The abbey would be always safe and dry. He yielded implicitly, and +would fetch his hat and attend them in a moment." He left the room, +and Catherine, with a disappointed, anxious face, began to speak of her +unwillingness that he should be taking them out of doors against his own +inclination, under a mistaken idea of pleasing her; but she was stopped +by Miss Tilney's saying, with a little confusion, "I believe it will be +wisest to take the morning while it is so fine; and do not be uneasy on +my father's account; he always walks out at this time of day." + +Catherine did not exactly know how this was to be understood. Why +was Miss Tilney embarrassed? Could there be any unwillingness on the +general's side to show her over the abbey? The proposal was his own. And +was not it odd that he should always take his walk so early? Neither her +father nor Mr. Allen did so. It was certainly very provoking. She was +all impatience to see the house, and had scarcely any curiosity about +the grounds. If Henry had been with them indeed! But now she should not +know what was picturesque when she saw it. Such were her thoughts, but +she kept them to herself, and put on her bonnet in patient discontent. + +She was struck, however, beyond her expectation, by the grandeur of +the abbey, as she saw it for the first time from the lawn. The whole +building enclosed a large court; and two sides of the quadrangle, rich +in Gothic ornaments, stood forward for admiration. The remainder was +shut off by knolls of old trees, or luxuriant plantations, and the steep +woody hills rising behind, to give it shelter, were beautiful even in +the leafless month of March. Catherine had seen nothing to compare with +it; and her feelings of delight were so strong, that without waiting for +any better authority, she boldly burst forth in wonder and praise. The +general listened with assenting gratitude; and it seemed as if his own +estimation of Northanger had waited unfixed till that hour. + +The kitchen-garden was to be next admired, and he led the way to it +across a small portion of the park. + +The number of acres contained in this garden was such as Catherine could +not listen to without dismay, being more than double the extent of all +Mr. Allen's, as well her father's, including church-yard and orchard. +The walls seemed countless in number, endless in length; a village of +hot-houses seemed to arise among them, and a whole parish to be at +work within the enclosure. The general was flattered by her looks of +surprise, which told him almost as plainly, as he soon forced her to +tell him in words, that she had never seen any gardens at all equal to +them before; and he then modestly owned that, "without any ambition of +that sort himself--without any solicitude about it--he did believe them +to be unrivalled in the kingdom. If he had a hobby-horse, it was that. +He loved a garden. Though careless enough in most matters of eating, he +loved good fruit--or if he did not, his friends and children did. There +were great vexations, however, attending such a garden as his. The +utmost care could not always secure the most valuable fruits. The pinery +had yielded only one hundred in the last year. Mr. Allen, he supposed, +must feel these inconveniences as well as himself." + +"No, not at all. Mr. Allen did not care about the garden, and never went +into it." + +With a triumphant smile of self-satisfaction, the general wished he +could do the same, for he never entered his, without being vexed in some +way or other, by its falling short of his plan. + +"How were Mr. Allen's succession-houses worked?" describing the nature +of his own as they entered them. + +"Mr. Allen had only one small hot-house, which Mrs. Allen had the use of +for her plants in winter, and there was a fire in it now and then." + +"He is a happy man!" said the general, with a look of very happy +contempt. + +Having taken her into every division, and led her under every wall, till +she was heartily weary of seeing and wondering, he suffered the girls +at last to seize the advantage of an outer door, and then expressing +his wish to examine the effect of some recent alterations about the +tea-house, proposed it as no unpleasant extension of their walk, if Miss +Morland were not tired. "But where are you going, Eleanor? Why do you +choose that cold, damp path to it? Miss Morland will get wet. Our best +way is across the park." + +"This is so favourite a walk of mine," said Miss Tilney, "that I always +think it the best and nearest way. But perhaps it may be damp." + +It was a narrow winding path through a thick grove of old Scotch firs; +and Catherine, struck by its gloomy aspect, and eager to enter it, +could not, even by the general's disapprobation, be kept from stepping +forward. He perceived her inclination, and having again urged the plea +of health in vain, was too polite to make further opposition. He excused +himself, however, from attending them: "The rays of the sun were not too +cheerful for him, and he would meet them by another course." He turned +away; and Catherine was shocked to find how much her spirits were +relieved by the separation. The shock, however, being less real than the +relief, offered it no injury; and she began to talk with easy gaiety of +the delightful melancholy which such a grove inspired. + +"I am particularly fond of this spot," said her companion, with a sigh. +"It was my mother's favourite walk." + +Catherine had never heard Mrs. Tilney mentioned in the family before, +and the interest excited by this tender remembrance showed itself +directly in her altered countenance, and in the attentive pause with +which she waited for something more. + +"I used to walk here so often with her!" added Eleanor; "though I never +loved it then, as I have loved it since. At that time indeed I used to +wonder at her choice. But her memory endears it now." + +"And ought it not," reflected Catherine, "to endear it to her husband? +Yet the general would not enter it." Miss Tilney continuing silent, she +ventured to say, "Her death must have been a great affliction!" + +"A great and increasing one," replied the other, in a low voice. "I was +only thirteen when it happened; and though I felt my loss perhaps as +strongly as one so young could feel it, I did not, I could not, then +know what a loss it was." She stopped for a moment, and then added, with +great firmness, "I have no sister, you know--and though Henry--though my +brothers are very affectionate, and Henry is a great deal here, which I +am most thankful for, it is impossible for me not to be often solitary." + +"To be sure you must miss him very much." + +"A mother would have been always present. A mother would have been a +constant friend; her influence would have been beyond all other." + +"Was she a very charming woman? Was she handsome? Was there any picture +of her in the abbey? And why had she been so partial to that grove? Was +it from dejection of spirits?"--were questions now eagerly poured forth; +the first three received a ready affirmative, the two others were passed +by; and Catherine's interest in the deceased Mrs. Tilney augmented with +every question, whether answered or not. Of her unhappiness in marriage, +she felt persuaded. The general certainly had been an unkind husband. He +did not love her walk: could he therefore have loved her? And besides, +handsome as he was, there was a something in the turn of his features +which spoke his not having behaved well to her. + +"Her picture, I suppose," blushing at the consummate art of her own +question, "hangs in your father's room?" + +"No; it was intended for the drawing-room; but my father was +dissatisfied with the painting, and for some time it had no place. +Soon after her death I obtained it for my own, and hung it in my +bed-chamber--where I shall be happy to show it you; it is very like." +Here was another proof. A portrait--very like--of a departed wife, not +valued by the husband! He must have been dreadfully cruel to her! + +Catherine attempted no longer to hide from herself the nature of the +feelings which, in spite of all his attentions, he had previously +excited; and what had been terror and dislike before, was now absolute +aversion. Yes, aversion! His cruelty to such a charming woman made him +odious to her. She had often read of such characters, characters which +Mr. Allen had been used to call unnatural and overdrawn; but here was +proof positive of the contrary. + +She had just settled this point when the end of the path brought them +directly upon the general; and in spite of all her virtuous indignation, +she found herself again obliged to walk with him, listen to him, and +even to smile when he smiled. Being no longer able, however, to receive +pleasure from the surrounding objects, she soon began to walk with +lassitude; the general perceived it, and with a concern for her health, +which seemed to reproach her for her opinion of him, was most urgent +for returning with his daughter to the house. He would follow them in +a quarter of an hour. Again they parted--but Eleanor was called back in +half a minute to receive a strict charge against taking her friend round +the abbey till his return. This second instance of his anxiety to delay +what she so much wished for struck Catherine as very remarkable. + + + + +CHAPTER 23 + + +An hour passed away before the general came in, spent, on the part of +his young guest, in no very favourable consideration of his character. +"This lengthened absence, these solitary rambles, did not speak a mind +at ease, or a conscience void of reproach." At length he appeared; and, +whatever might have been the gloom of his meditations, he could still +smile with them. Miss Tilney, understanding in part her friend's +curiosity to see the house, soon revived the subject; and her father +being, contrary to Catherine's expectations, unprovided with any +pretence for further delay, beyond that of stopping five minutes to +order refreshments to be in the room by their return, was at last ready +to escort them. + +They set forward; and, with a grandeur of air, a dignified step, +which caught the eye, but could not shake the doubts of the well-read +Catherine, he led the way across the hall, through the common +drawing-room and one useless antechamber, into a room magnificent both +in size and furniture--the real drawing-room, used only with company of +consequence. It was very noble--very grand--very charming!--was all that +Catherine had to say, for her indiscriminating eye scarcely discerned +the colour of the satin; and all minuteness of praise, all praise +that had much meaning, was supplied by the general: the costliness or +elegance of any room's fitting-up could be nothing to her; she cared for +no furniture of a more modern date than the fifteenth century. When the +general had satisfied his own curiosity, in a close examination of every +well-known ornament, they proceeded into the library, an apartment, in +its way, of equal magnificence, exhibiting a collection of books, on +which an humble man might have looked with pride. Catherine heard, +admired, and wondered with more genuine feeling than before--gathered +all that she could from this storehouse of knowledge, by running over +the titles of half a shelf, and was ready to proceed. But suites of +apartments did not spring up with her wishes. Large as was the building, +she had already visited the greatest part; though, on being told that, +with the addition of the kitchen, the six or seven rooms she had now +seen surrounded three sides of the court, she could scarcely believe it, +or overcome the suspicion of there being many chambers secreted. It was +some relief, however, that they were to return to the rooms in common +use, by passing through a few of less importance, looking into the +court, which, with occasional passages, not wholly unintricate, +connected the different sides; and she was further soothed in her +progress by being told that she was treading what had once been a +cloister, having traces of cells pointed out, and observing several +doors that were neither opened nor explained to her--by finding herself +successively in a billiard-room, and in the general's private apartment, +without comprehending their connection, or being able to turn aright +when she left them; and lastly, by passing through a dark little room, +owning Henry's authority, and strewed with his litter of books, guns, +and greatcoats. + +From the dining-room, of which, though already seen, and always to be +seen at five o'clock, the general could not forgo the pleasure of pacing +out the length, for the more certain information of Miss Morland, as +to what she neither doubted nor cared for, they proceeded by quick +communication to the kitchen--the ancient kitchen of the convent, rich +in the massy walls and smoke of former days, and in the stoves and hot +closets of the present. The general's improving hand had not loitered +here: every modern invention to facilitate the labour of the cooks had +been adopted within this, their spacious theatre; and, when the genius +of others had failed, his own had often produced the perfection wanted. +His endowments of this spot alone might at any time have placed him high +among the benefactors of the convent. + +With the walls of the kitchen ended all the antiquity of the abbey; the +fourth side of the quadrangle having, on account of its decaying state, +been removed by the general's father, and the present erected in its +place. All that was venerable ceased here. The new building was not +only new, but declared itself to be so; intended only for offices, and +enclosed behind by stable-yards, no uniformity of architecture had been +thought necessary. Catherine could have raved at the hand which had +swept away what must have been beyond the value of all the rest, for the +purposes of mere domestic economy; and would willingly have been spared +the mortification of a walk through scenes so fallen, had the general +allowed it; but if he had a vanity, it was in the arrangement of his +offices; and as he was convinced that, to a mind like Miss Morland's, +a view of the accommodations and comforts, by which the labours of her +inferiors were softened, must always be gratifying, he should make +no apology for leading her on. They took a slight survey of all; and +Catherine was impressed, beyond her expectation, by their multiplicity +and their convenience. The purposes for which a few shapeless pantries +and a comfortless scullery were deemed sufficient at Fullerton, were +here carried on in appropriate divisions, commodious and roomy. The +number of servants continually appearing did not strike her less than +the number of their offices. Wherever they went, some pattened girl +stopped to curtsy, or some footman in dishabille sneaked off. Yet this +was an abbey! How inexpressibly different in these domestic arrangements +from such as she had read about--from abbeys and castles, in which, +though certainly larger than Northanger, all the dirty work of the house +was to be done by two pair of female hands at the utmost. How they could +get through it all had often amazed Mrs. Allen; and, when Catherine saw +what was necessary here, she began to be amazed herself. + +They returned to the hall, that the chief staircase might be ascended, +and the beauty of its wood, and ornaments of rich carving might be +pointed out: having gained the top, they turned in an opposite direction +from the gallery in which her room lay, and shortly entered one on +the same plan, but superior in length and breadth. She was here shown +successively into three large bed-chambers, with their dressing-rooms, +most completely and handsomely fitted up; everything that money and +taste could do, to give comfort and elegance to apartments, had been +bestowed on these; and, being furnished within the last five years, they +were perfect in all that would be generally pleasing, and wanting in all +that could give pleasure to Catherine. As they were surveying the last, +the general, after slightly naming a few of the distinguished characters +by whom they had at times been honoured, turned with a smiling +countenance to Catherine, and ventured to hope that henceforward some of +their earliest tenants might be "our friends from Fullerton." She felt +the unexpected compliment, and deeply regretted the impossibility of +thinking well of a man so kindly disposed towards herself, and so full +of civility to all her family. + +The gallery was terminated by folding doors, which Miss Tilney, +advancing, had thrown open, and passed through, and seemed on the point +of doing the same by the first door to the left, in another long reach +of gallery, when the general, coming forwards, called her hastily, and, +as Catherine thought, rather angrily back, demanding whether she were +going?--And what was there more to be seen?--Had not Miss Morland +already seen all that could be worth her notice?--And did she not +suppose her friend might be glad of some refreshment after so much +exercise? Miss Tilney drew back directly, and the heavy doors were +closed upon the mortified Catherine, who, having seen, in a momentary +glance beyond them, a narrower passage, more numerous openings, and +symptoms of a winding staircase, believed herself at last within the +reach of something worth her notice; and felt, as she unwillingly paced +back the gallery, that she would rather be allowed to examine that end +of the house than see all the finery of all the rest. The general's +evident desire of preventing such an examination was an additional +stimulant. Something was certainly to be concealed; her fancy, though +it had trespassed lately once or twice, could not mislead her here; +and what that something was, a short sentence of Miss Tilney's, as they +followed the general at some distance downstairs, seemed to point out: +"I was going to take you into what was my mother's room--the room +in which she died--" were all her words; but few as they were, they +conveyed pages of intelligence to Catherine. It was no wonder that the +general should shrink from the sight of such objects as that room +must contain; a room in all probability never entered by him since the +dreadful scene had passed, which released his suffering wife, and left +him to the stings of conscience. + +She ventured, when next alone with Eleanor, to express her wish of being +permitted to see it, as well as all the rest of that side of the house; +and Eleanor promised to attend her there, whenever they should have a +convenient hour. Catherine understood her: the general must be watched +from home, before that room could be entered. "It remains as it was, I +suppose?" said she, in a tone of feeling. + +"Yes, entirely." + +"And how long ago may it be that your mother died?" + +"She has been dead these nine years." And nine years, Catherine knew, +was a trifle of time, compared with what generally elapsed after the +death of an injured wife, before her room was put to rights. + +"You were with her, I suppose, to the last?" + +"No," said Miss Tilney, sighing; "I was unfortunately from home. Her +illness was sudden and short; and, before I arrived it was all over." + +Catherine's blood ran cold with the horrid suggestions which naturally +sprang from these words. Could it be possible? Could Henry's father--? +And yet how many were the examples to justify even the blackest +suspicions! And, when she saw him in the evening, while she worked +with her friend, slowly pacing the drawing-room for an hour together in +silent thoughtfulness, with downcast eyes and contracted brow, she felt +secure from all possibility of wronging him. It was the air and attitude +of a Montoni! What could more plainly speak the gloomy workings of a +mind not wholly dead to every sense of humanity, in its fearful review +of past scenes of guilt? Unhappy man! And the anxiousness of her spirits +directed her eyes towards his figure so repeatedly, as to catch Miss +Tilney's notice. "My father," she whispered, "often walks about the room +in this way; it is nothing unusual." + +"So much the worse!" thought Catherine; such ill-timed exercise was of a +piece with the strange unseasonableness of his morning walks, and boded +nothing good. + +After an evening, the little variety and seeming length of which made +her peculiarly sensible of Henry's importance among them, she was +heartily glad to be dismissed; though it was a look from the general not +designed for her observation which sent his daughter to the bell. +When the butler would have lit his master's candle, however, he was +forbidden. The latter was not going to retire. "I have many pamphlets to +finish," said he to Catherine, "before I can close my eyes, and perhaps +may be poring over the affairs of the nation for hours after you are +asleep. Can either of us be more meetly employed? My eyes will be +blinding for the good of others, and yours preparing by rest for future +mischief." + +But neither the business alleged, nor the magnificent compliment, +could win Catherine from thinking that some very different object must +occasion so serious a delay of proper repose. To be kept up for hours, +after the family were in bed, by stupid pamphlets was not very likely. +There must be some deeper cause: something was to be done which could +be done only while the household slept; and the probability that Mrs. +Tilney yet lived, shut up for causes unknown, and receiving from the +pitiless hands of her husband a nightly supply of coarse food, was the +conclusion which necessarily followed. Shocking as was the idea, it +was at least better than a death unfairly hastened, as, in the natural +course of things, she must ere long be released. The suddenness of her +reputed illness, the absence of her daughter, and probably of her other +children, at the time--all favoured the supposition of her imprisonment. +Its origin--jealousy perhaps, or wanton cruelty--was yet to be +unravelled. + +In revolving these matters, while she undressed, it suddenly struck her +as not unlikely that she might that morning have passed near the very +spot of this unfortunate woman's confinement--might have been within +a few paces of the cell in which she languished out her days; for what +part of the abbey could be more fitted for the purpose than that which +yet bore the traces of monastic division? In the high-arched passage, +paved with stone, which already she had trodden with peculiar awe, she +well remembered the doors of which the general had given no account. To +what might not those doors lead? In support of the plausibility of this +conjecture, it further occurred to her that the forbidden gallery, in +which lay the apartments of the unfortunate Mrs. Tilney, must be, as +certainly as her memory could guide her, exactly over this suspected +range of cells, and the staircase by the side of those apartments of +which she had caught a transient glimpse, communicating by some +secret means with those cells, might well have favoured the barbarous +proceedings of her husband. Down that staircase she had perhaps been +conveyed in a state of well-prepared insensibility! + +Catherine sometimes started at the boldness of her own surmises, and +sometimes hoped or feared that she had gone too far; but they were +supported by such appearances as made their dismissal impossible. + +The side of the quadrangle, in which she supposed the guilty scene to be +acting, being, according to her belief, just opposite her own, it struck +her that, if judiciously watched, some rays of light from the general's +lamp might glimmer through the lower windows, as he passed to the prison +of his wife; and, twice before she stepped into bed, she stole gently +from her room to the corresponding window in the gallery, to see if it +appeared; but all abroad was dark, and it must yet be too early. The +various ascending noises convinced her that the servants must still be +up. Till midnight, she supposed it would be in vain to watch; but then, +when the clock had struck twelve, and all was quiet, she would, if not +quite appalled by darkness, steal out and look once more. The clock +struck twelve--and Catherine had been half an hour asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER 24 + + +The next day afforded no opportunity for the proposed examination of the +mysterious apartments. It was Sunday, and the whole time between morning +and afternoon service was required by the general in exercise abroad or +eating cold meat at home; and great as was Catherine's curiosity, her +courage was not equal to a wish of exploring them after dinner, either +by the fading light of the sky between six and seven o'clock, or by the +yet more partial though stronger illumination of a treacherous lamp. +The day was unmarked therefore by anything to interest her imagination +beyond the sight of a very elegant monument to the memory of Mrs. +Tilney, which immediately fronted the family pew. By that her eye +was instantly caught and long retained; and the perusal of the highly +strained epitaph, in which every virtue was ascribed to her by the +inconsolable husband, who must have been in some way or other her +destroyer, affected her even to tears. + +That the general, having erected such a monument, should be able to face +it, was not perhaps very strange, and yet that he could sit so boldly +collected within its view, maintain so elevated an air, look so +fearlessly around, nay, that he should even enter the church, seemed +wonderful to Catherine. Not, however, that many instances of beings +equally hardened in guilt might not be produced. She could remember +dozens who had persevered in every possible vice, going on from crime to +crime, murdering whomsoever they chose, without any feeling of humanity +or remorse; till a violent death or a religious retirement closed their +black career. The erection of the monument itself could not in the +smallest degree affect her doubts of Mrs. Tilney's actual decease. Were +she even to descend into the family vault where her ashes were supposed +to slumber, were she to behold the coffin in which they were said to +be enclosed--what could it avail in such a case? Catherine had read too +much not to be perfectly aware of the ease with which a waxen figure +might be introduced, and a supposititious funeral carried on. + +The succeeding morning promised something better. The general's early +walk, ill-timed as it was in every other view, was favourable here; and +when she knew him to be out of the house, she directly proposed to Miss +Tilney the accomplishment of her promise. Eleanor was ready to oblige +her; and Catherine reminding her as they went of another promise, their +first visit in consequence was to the portrait in her bed-chamber. It +represented a very lovely woman, with a mild and pensive countenance, +justifying, so far, the expectations of its new observer; but they were +not in every respect answered, for Catherine had depended upon meeting +with features, hair, complexion, that should be the very counterpart, +the very image, if not of Henry's, of Eleanor's--the only portraits of +which she had been in the habit of thinking, bearing always an equal +resemblance of mother and child. A face once taken was taken for +generations. But here she was obliged to look and consider and study +for a likeness. She contemplated it, however, in spite of this drawback, +with much emotion, and, but for a yet stronger interest, would have left +it unwillingly. + +Her agitation as they entered the great gallery was too much for any +endeavour at discourse; she could only look at her companion. Eleanor's +countenance was dejected, yet sedate; and its composure spoke her inured +to all the gloomy objects to which they were advancing. Again she passed +through the folding doors, again her hand was upon the important lock, +and Catherine, hardly able to breathe, was turning to close the former +with fearful caution, when the figure, the dreaded figure of the general +himself at the further end of the gallery, stood before her! The name of +"Eleanor" at the same moment, in his loudest tone, resounded through the +building, giving to his daughter the first intimation of his presence, +and to Catherine terror upon terror. An attempt at concealment had been +her first instinctive movement on perceiving him, yet she could +scarcely hope to have escaped his eye; and when her friend, who with an +apologizing look darted hastily by her, had joined and disappeared +with him, she ran for safety to her own room, and, locking herself +in, believed that she should never have courage to go down again. She +remained there at least an hour, in the greatest agitation, deeply +commiserating the state of her poor friend, and expecting a summons +herself from the angry general to attend him in his own apartment. No +summons, however, arrived; and at last, on seeing a carriage drive up +to the abbey, she was emboldened to descend and meet him under the +protection of visitors. The breakfast-room was gay with company; and +she was named to them by the general as the friend of his daughter, in +a complimentary style, which so well concealed his resentful ire, as to +make her feel secure at least of life for the present. And Eleanor, +with a command of countenance which did honour to her concern for his +character, taking an early occasion of saying to her, "My father only +wanted me to answer a note," she began to hope that she had either been +unseen by the general, or that from some consideration of policy she +should be allowed to suppose herself so. Upon this trust she dared still +to remain in his presence, after the company left them, and nothing +occurred to disturb it. + +In the course of this morning's reflections, she came to a resolution +of making her next attempt on the forbidden door alone. It would be much +better in every respect that Eleanor should know nothing of the matter. +To involve her in the danger of a second detection, to court her into +an apartment which must wring her heart, could not be the office of a +friend. The general's utmost anger could not be to herself what it might +be to a daughter; and, besides, she thought the examination itself +would be more satisfactory if made without any companion. It would be +impossible to explain to Eleanor the suspicions, from which the other +had, in all likelihood, been hitherto happily exempt; nor could she +therefore, in her presence, search for those proofs of the general's +cruelty, which however they might yet have escaped discovery, she felt +confident of somewhere drawing forth, in the shape of some fragmented +journal, continued to the last gasp. Of the way to the apartment she was +now perfectly mistress; and as she wished to get it over before Henry's +return, who was expected on the morrow, there was no time to be lost. +The day was bright, her courage high; at four o'clock, the sun was now +two hours above the horizon, and it would be only her retiring to dress +half an hour earlier than usual. + +It was done; and Catherine found herself alone in the gallery before the +clocks had ceased to strike. It was no time for thought; she hurried +on, slipped with the least possible noise through the folding doors, +and without stopping to look or breathe, rushed forward to the one in +question. The lock yielded to her hand, and, luckily, with no sullen +sound that could alarm a human being. On tiptoe she entered; the room +was before her; but it was some minutes before she could advance another +step. She beheld what fixed her to the spot and agitated every feature. +She saw a large, well-proportioned apartment, an handsome dimity bed, +arranged as unoccupied with an housemaid's care, a bright Bath stove, +mahogany wardrobes, and neatly painted chairs, on which the warm beams +of a western sun gaily poured through two sash windows! Catherine had +expected to have her feelings worked, and worked they were. Astonishment +and doubt first seized them; and a shortly succeeding ray of common +sense added some bitter emotions of shame. She could not be mistaken +as to the room; but how grossly mistaken in everything else!--in Miss +Tilney's meaning, in her own calculation! This apartment, to which she +had given a date so ancient, a position so awful, proved to be one end +of what the general's father had built. There were two other doors in +the chamber, leading probably into dressing-closets; but she had no +inclination to open either. Would the veil in which Mrs. Tilney had last +walked, or the volume in which she had last read, remain to tell what +nothing else was allowed to whisper? No: whatever might have been the +general's crimes, he had certainly too much wit to let them sue for +detection. She was sick of exploring, and desired but to be safe in her +own room, with her own heart only privy to its folly; and she was on +the point of retreating as softly as she had entered, when the sound of +footsteps, she could hardly tell where, made her pause and tremble. +To be found there, even by a servant, would be unpleasant; but by the +general (and he seemed always at hand when least wanted), much worse! +She listened--the sound had ceased; and resolving not to lose a +moment, she passed through and closed the door. At that instant a door +underneath was hastily opened; someone seemed with swift steps to ascend +the stairs, by the head of which she had yet to pass before she could +gain the gallery. She had no power to move. With a feeling of terror +not very definable, she fixed her eyes on the staircase, and in a few +moments it gave Henry to her view. "Mr. Tilney!" she exclaimed in a +voice of more than common astonishment. He looked astonished too. "Good +God!" she continued, not attending to his address. "How came you here? +How came you up that staircase?" + +"How came I up that staircase!" he replied, greatly surprised. "Because +it is my nearest way from the stable-yard to my own chamber; and why +should I not come up it?" + +Catherine recollected herself, blushed deeply, and could say no more. He +seemed to be looking in her countenance for that explanation which her +lips did not afford. She moved on towards the gallery. "And may I not, +in my turn," said he, as he pushed back the folding doors, "ask how you +came here? This passage is at least as extraordinary a road from the +breakfast-parlour to your apartment, as that staircase can be from the +stables to mine." + +"I have been," said Catherine, looking down, "to see your mother's +room." + +"My mother's room! Is there anything extraordinary to be seen there?" + +"No, nothing at all. I thought you did not mean to come back till +tomorrow." + +"I did not expect to be able to return sooner, when I went away; but +three hours ago I had the pleasure of finding nothing to detain me. You +look pale. I am afraid I alarmed you by running so fast up those stairs. +Perhaps you did not know--you were not aware of their leading from the +offices in common use?" + +"No, I was not. You have had a very fine day for your ride." + +"Very; and does Eleanor leave you to find your way into all the rooms in +the house by yourself?" + +"Oh! No; she showed me over the greatest part on Saturday--and we were +coming here to these rooms--but only"--dropping her voice--"your father +was with us." + +"And that prevented you," said Henry, earnestly regarding her. "Have you +looked into all the rooms in that passage?" + +"No, I only wanted to see--Is not it very late? I must go and dress." + +"It is only a quarter past four" showing his watch--"and you are not now +in Bath. No theatre, no rooms to prepare for. Half an hour at Northanger +must be enough." + +She could not contradict it, and therefore suffered herself to be +detained, though her dread of further questions made her, for the first +time in their acquaintance, wish to leave him. They walked slowly up the +gallery. "Have you had any letter from Bath since I saw you?" + +"No, and I am very much surprised. Isabella promised so faithfully to +write directly." + +"Promised so faithfully! A faithful promise! That puzzles me. I have +heard of a faithful performance. But a faithful promise--the fidelity +of promising! It is a power little worth knowing, however, since it can +deceive and pain you. My mother's room is very commodious, is it not? +Large and cheerful-looking, and the dressing-closets so well disposed! +It always strikes me as the most comfortable apartment in the house, and +I rather wonder that Eleanor should not take it for her own. She sent +you to look at it, I suppose?" + +"No." + +"It has been your own doing entirely?" Catherine said nothing. After a +short silence, during which he had closely observed her, he added, "As +there is nothing in the room in itself to raise curiosity, this must +have proceeded from a sentiment of respect for my mother's character, +as described by Eleanor, which does honour to her memory. The world, I +believe, never saw a better woman. But it is not often that virtue can +boast an interest such as this. The domestic, unpretending merits of a +person never known do not often create that kind of fervent, venerating +tenderness which would prompt a visit like yours. Eleanor, I suppose, +has talked of her a great deal?" + +"Yes, a great deal. That is--no, not much, but what she did say was very +interesting. Her dying so suddenly" (slowly, and with hesitation it +was spoken), "and you--none of you being at home--and your father, I +thought--perhaps had not been very fond of her." + +"And from these circumstances," he replied (his quick eye +fixed on hers), "you infer perhaps the probability of some +negligence--some"--(involuntarily she shook her head)--"or it may be--of +something still less pardonable." She raised her eyes towards him +more fully than she had ever done before. "My mother's illness," he +continued, "the seizure which ended in her death, was sudden. The malady +itself, one from which she had often suffered, a bilious fever--its +cause therefore constitutional. On the third day, in short, as soon as +she could be prevailed on, a physician attended her, a very respectable +man, and one in whom she had always placed great confidence. Upon his +opinion of her danger, two others were called in the next day, and +remained in almost constant attendance for four and twenty hours. On the +fifth day she died. During the progress of her disorder, Frederick and I +(we were both at home) saw her repeatedly; and from our own observation +can bear witness to her having received every possible attention +which could spring from the affection of those about her, or which her +situation in life could command. Poor Eleanor was absent, and at such a +distance as to return only to see her mother in her coffin." + +"But your father," said Catherine, "was he afflicted?" + +"For a time, greatly so. You have erred in supposing him not attached +to her. He loved her, I am persuaded, as well as it was possible for him +to--we have not all, you know, the same tenderness of disposition--and +I will not pretend to say that while she lived, she might not often have +had much to bear, but though his temper injured her, his judgment never +did. His value of her was sincere; and, if not permanently, he was truly +afflicted by her death." + +"I am very glad of it," said Catherine; "it would have been very +shocking!" + +"If I understand you rightly, you had formed a surmise of such horror as +I have hardly words to--Dear Miss Morland, consider the dreadful nature +of the suspicions you have entertained. What have you been judging from? +Remember the country and the age in which we live. Remember that we are +English, that we are Christians. Consult your own understanding, your +own sense of the probable, your own observation of what is passing +around you. Does our education prepare us for such atrocities? Do our +laws connive at them? Could they be perpetrated without being known, in +a country like this, where social and literary intercourse is on such a +footing, where every man is surrounded by a neighbourhood of voluntary +spies, and where roads and newspapers lay everything open? Dearest Miss +Morland, what ideas have you been admitting?" + +They had reached the end of the gallery, and with tears of shame she ran +off to her own room. + + + + +CHAPTER 25 + + +The visions of romance were over. Catherine was completely awakened. +Henry's address, short as it had been, had more thoroughly opened her +eyes to the extravagance of her late fancies than all their several +disappointments had done. Most grievously was she humbled. Most bitterly +did she cry. It was not only with herself that she was sunk--but with +Henry. Her folly, which now seemed even criminal, was all exposed to +him, and he must despise her forever. The liberty which her imagination +had dared to take with the character of his father--could he ever +forgive it? The absurdity of her curiosity and her fears--could they +ever be forgotten? She hated herself more than she could express. He +had--she thought he had, once or twice before this fatal morning, shown +something like affection for her. But now--in short, she made herself as +miserable as possible for about half an hour, went down when the +clock struck five, with a broken heart, and could scarcely give an +intelligible answer to Eleanor's inquiry if she was well. The formidable +Henry soon followed her into the room, and the only difference in his +behaviour to her was that he paid her rather more attention than usual. +Catherine had never wanted comfort more, and he looked as if he was +aware of it. + +The evening wore away with no abatement of this soothing politeness; and +her spirits were gradually raised to a modest tranquillity. She did not +learn either to forget or defend the past; but she learned to hope that +it would never transpire farther, and that it might not cost her Henry's +entire regard. Her thoughts being still chiefly fixed on what she had +with such causeless terror felt and done, nothing could shortly be +clearer than that it had been all a voluntary, self-created delusion, +each trifling circumstance receiving importance from an imagination +resolved on alarm, and everything forced to bend to one purpose by +a mind which, before she entered the abbey, had been craving to be +frightened. She remembered with what feelings she had prepared for a +knowledge of Northanger. She saw that the infatuation had been created, +the mischief settled, long before her quitting Bath, and it seemed as if +the whole might be traced to the influence of that sort of reading which +she had there indulged. + +Charming as were all Mrs. Radcliffe's works, and charming even as were +the works of all her imitators, it was not in them perhaps that human +nature, at least in the Midland counties of England, was to be looked +for. Of the Alps and Pyrenees, with their pine forests and their vices, +they might give a faithful delineation; and Italy, Switzerland, and +the south of France might be as fruitful in horrors as they were there +represented. Catherine dared not doubt beyond her own country, and even +of that, if hard pressed, would have yielded the northern and western +extremities. But in the central part of England there was surely some +security for the existence even of a wife not beloved, in the laws of +the land, and the manners of the age. Murder was not tolerated, servants +were not slaves, and neither poison nor sleeping potions to be procured, +like rhubarb, from every druggist. Among the Alps and Pyrenees, perhaps, +there were no mixed characters. There, such as were not as spotless as +an angel might have the dispositions of a fiend. But in England it was +not so; among the English, she believed, in their hearts and habits, +there was a general though unequal mixture of good and bad. Upon this +conviction, she would not be surprised if even in Henry and Eleanor +Tilney, some slight imperfection might hereafter appear; and upon this +conviction she need not fear to acknowledge some actual specks in +the character of their father, who, though cleared from the grossly +injurious suspicions which she must ever blush to have entertained, she +did believe, upon serious consideration, to be not perfectly amiable. + +Her mind made up on these several points, and her resolution formed, of +always judging and acting in future with the greatest good sense, she +had nothing to do but to forgive herself and be happier than ever; and +the lenient hand of time did much for her by insensible gradations in +the course of another day. Henry's astonishing generosity and nobleness +of conduct, in never alluding in the slightest way to what had passed, +was of the greatest assistance to her; and sooner than she could have +supposed it possible in the beginning of her distress, her spirits +became absolutely comfortable, and capable, as heretofore, of continual +improvement by anything he said. There were still some subjects, indeed, +under which she believed they must always tremble--the mention of a +chest or a cabinet, for instance--and she did not love the sight of +japan in any shape: but even she could allow that an occasional memento +of past folly, however painful, might not be without use. + +The anxieties of common life began soon to succeed to the alarms of +romance. Her desire of hearing from Isabella grew every day greater. +She was quite impatient to know how the Bath world went on, and how the +rooms were attended; and especially was she anxious to be assured of +Isabella's having matched some fine netting-cotton, on which she had +left her intent; and of her continuing on the best terms with James. Her +only dependence for information of any kind was on Isabella. James had +protested against writing to her till his return to Oxford; and Mrs. +Allen had given her no hopes of a letter till she had got back to +Fullerton. But Isabella had promised and promised again; and when she +promised a thing, she was so scrupulous in performing it! This made it +so particularly strange! + +For nine successive mornings, Catherine wondered over the repetition +of a disappointment, which each morning became more severe: but, on +the tenth, when she entered the breakfast-room, her first object was a +letter, held out by Henry's willing hand. She thanked him as heartily +as if he had written it himself. "'Tis only from James, however," as she +looked at the direction. She opened it; it was from Oxford; and to this +purpose: + + +"Dear Catherine, + +"Though, God knows, with little inclination for writing, I think it my +duty to tell you that everything is at an end between Miss Thorpe and +me. I left her and Bath yesterday, never to see either again. I shall +not enter into particulars--they would only pain you more. You will soon +hear enough from another quarter to know where lies the blame; and I +hope will acquit your brother of everything but the folly of too easily +thinking his affection returned. Thank God! I am undeceived in time! +But it is a heavy blow! After my father's consent had been so kindly +given--but no more of this. She has made me miserable forever! Let me +soon hear from you, dear Catherine; you are my only friend; your love +I do build upon. I wish your visit at Northanger may be over before +Captain Tilney makes his engagement known, or you will be uncomfortably +circumstanced. Poor Thorpe is in town: I dread the sight of him; his +honest heart would feel so much. I have written to him and my father. +Her duplicity hurts me more than all; till the very last, if I reasoned +with her, she declared herself as much attached to me as ever, and +laughed at my fears. I am ashamed to think how long I bore with it; +but if ever man had reason to believe himself loved, I was that man. I +cannot understand even now what she would be at, for there could be no +need of my being played off to make her secure of Tilney. We parted +at last by mutual consent--happy for me had we never met! I can never +expect to know such another woman! Dearest Catherine, beware how you +give your heart. + +"Believe me," &c. + + +Catherine had not read three lines before her sudden change of +countenance, and short exclamations of sorrowing wonder, declared her to +be receiving unpleasant news; and Henry, earnestly watching her through +the whole letter, saw plainly that it ended no better than it began. He +was prevented, however, from even looking his surprise by his father's +entrance. They went to breakfast directly; but Catherine could hardly +eat anything. Tears filled her eyes, and even ran down her cheeks as she +sat. The letter was one moment in her hand, then in her lap, and then in +her pocket; and she looked as if she knew not what she did. The general, +between his cocoa and his newspaper, had luckily no leisure for noticing +her; but to the other two her distress was equally visible. As soon +as she dared leave the table she hurried away to her own room; but the +housemaids were busy in it, and she was obliged to come down again. +She turned into the drawing-room for privacy, but Henry and Eleanor had +likewise retreated thither, and were at that moment deep in consultation +about her. She drew back, trying to beg their pardon, but was, with +gentle violence, forced to return; and the others withdrew, after +Eleanor had affectionately expressed a wish of being of use or comfort +to her. + +After half an hour's free indulgence of grief and reflection, Catherine +felt equal to encountering her friends; but whether she should make +her distress known to them was another consideration. Perhaps, if +particularly questioned, she might just give an idea--just distantly +hint at it--but not more. To expose a friend, such a friend as Isabella +had been to her--and then their own brother so closely concerned in it! +She believed she must waive the subject altogether. Henry and Eleanor +were by themselves in the breakfast-room; and each, as she entered it, +looked at her anxiously. Catherine took her place at the table, and, +after a short silence, Eleanor said, "No bad news from Fullerton, I +hope? Mr. and Mrs. Morland--your brothers and sisters--I hope they are +none of them ill?" + +"No, I thank you" (sighing as she spoke); "they are all very well. My +letter was from my brother at Oxford." + +Nothing further was said for a few minutes; and then speaking through +her tears, she added, "I do not think I shall ever wish for a letter +again!" + +"I am sorry," said Henry, closing the book he had just opened; "if I +had suspected the letter of containing anything unwelcome, I should have +given it with very different feelings." + +"It contained something worse than anybody could suppose! Poor James is +so unhappy! You will soon know why." + +"To have so kind-hearted, so affectionate a sister," replied Henry +warmly, "must be a comfort to him under any distress." + +"I have one favour to beg," said Catherine, shortly afterwards, in an +agitated manner, "that, if your brother should be coming here, you will +give me notice of it, that I may go away." + +"Our brother! Frederick!" + +"Yes; I am sure I should be very sorry to leave you so soon, but +something has happened that would make it very dreadful for me to be in +the same house with Captain Tilney." + +Eleanor's work was suspended while she gazed with increasing +astonishment; but Henry began to suspect the truth, and something, in +which Miss Thorpe's name was included, passed his lips. + +"How quick you are!" cried Catherine: "you have guessed it, I declare! +And yet, when we talked about it in Bath, you little thought of its +ending so. Isabella--no wonder now I have not heard from her--Isabella +has deserted my brother, and is to marry yours! Could you have believed +there had been such inconstancy and fickleness, and everything that is +bad in the world?" + +"I hope, so far as concerns my brother, you are misinformed. I hope +he has not had any material share in bringing on Mr. Morland's +disappointment. His marrying Miss Thorpe is not probable. I think you +must be deceived so far. I am very sorry for Mr. Morland--sorry that +anyone you love should be unhappy; but my surprise would be greater at +Frederick's marrying her than at any other part of the story." + +"It is very true, however; you shall read James's letter yourself. +Stay--There is one part--" recollecting with a blush the last line. + +"Will you take the trouble of reading to us the passages which concern +my brother?" + +"No, read it yourself," cried Catherine, whose second thoughts were +clearer. "I do not know what I was thinking of" (blushing again that she +had blushed before); "James only means to give me good advice." + +He gladly received the letter, and, having read it through, with close +attention, returned it saying, "Well, if it is to be so, I can only +say that I am sorry for it. Frederick will not be the first man who has +chosen a wife with less sense than his family expected. I do not envy +his situation, either as a lover or a son." + +Miss Tilney, at Catherine's invitation, now read the letter likewise, +and, having expressed also her concern and surprise, began to inquire +into Miss Thorpe's connections and fortune. + +"Her mother is a very good sort of woman," was Catherine's answer. + +"What was her father?" + +"A lawyer, I believe. They live at Putney." + +"Are they a wealthy family?" + +"No, not very. I do not believe Isabella has any fortune at all: but +that will not signify in your family. Your father is so very liberal! +He told me the other day that he only valued money as it allowed him to +promote the happiness of his children." The brother and sister looked +at each other. "But," said Eleanor, after a short pause, "would it be to +promote his happiness, to enable him to marry such a girl? She must be +an unprincipled one, or she could not have used your brother so. And how +strange an infatuation on Frederick's side! A girl who, before his eyes, +is violating an engagement voluntarily entered into with another man! Is +not it inconceivable, Henry? Frederick too, who always wore his heart so +proudly! Who found no woman good enough to be loved!" + +"That is the most unpromising circumstance, the strongest presumption +against him. When I think of his past declarations, I give him up. +Moreover, I have too good an opinion of Miss Thorpe's prudence to +suppose that she would part with one gentleman before the other +was secured. It is all over with Frederick indeed! He is a deceased +man--defunct in understanding. Prepare for your sister-in-law, Eleanor, +and such a sister-in-law as you must delight in! Open, candid, artless, +guileless, with affections strong but simple, forming no pretensions, +and knowing no disguise." + +"Such a sister-in-law, Henry, I should delight in," said Eleanor with a +smile. + +"But perhaps," observed Catherine, "though she has behaved so ill by our +family, she may behave better by yours. Now she has really got the man +she likes, she may be constant." + +"Indeed I am afraid she will," replied Henry; "I am afraid she will +be very constant, unless a baronet should come in her way; that is +Frederick's only chance. I will get the Bath paper, and look over the +arrivals." + +"You think it is all for ambition, then? And, upon my word, there are +some things that seem very like it. I cannot forget that, when she first +knew what my father would do for them, she seemed quite disappointed +that it was not more. I never was so deceived in anyone's character in +my life before." + +"Among all the great variety that you have known and studied." + +"My own disappointment and loss in her is very great; but, as for poor +James, I suppose he will hardly ever recover it." + +"Your brother is certainly very much to be pitied at present; but we +must not, in our concern for his sufferings, undervalue yours. You feel, +I suppose, that in losing Isabella, you lose half yourself: you feel a +void in your heart which nothing else can occupy. Society is becoming +irksome; and as for the amusements in which you were wont to share at +Bath, the very idea of them without her is abhorrent. You would not, +for instance, now go to a ball for the world. You feel that you have no +longer any friend to whom you can speak with unreserve, on whose regard +you can place dependence, or whose counsel, in any difficulty, you could +rely on. You feel all this?" + +"No," said Catherine, after a few moments' reflection, "I do not--ought +I? To say the truth, though I am hurt and grieved, that I cannot still +love her, that I am never to hear from her, perhaps never to see her +again, I do not feel so very, very much afflicted as one would have +thought." + +"You feel, as you always do, what is most to the credit of human nature. +Such feelings ought to be investigated, that they may know themselves." + +Catherine, by some chance or other, found her spirits so very much +relieved by this conversation that she could not regret her being led +on, though so unaccountably, to mention the circumstance which had +produced it. + + + + +CHAPTER 26 + + +From this time, the subject was frequently canvassed by the three young +people; and Catherine found, with some surprise, that her two young +friends were perfectly agreed in considering Isabella's want of +consequence and fortune as likely to throw great difficulties in the way +of her marrying their brother. Their persuasion that the general would, +upon this ground alone, independent of the objection that might be +raised against her character, oppose the connection, turned her feelings +moreover with some alarm towards herself. She was as insignificant, +and perhaps as portionless, as Isabella; and if the heir of the Tilney +property had not grandeur and wealth enough in himself, at what point +of interest were the demands of his younger brother to rest? The very +painful reflections to which this thought led could only be dispersed by +a dependence on the effect of that particular partiality, which, as she +was given to understand by his words as well as his actions, she had +from the first been so fortunate as to excite in the general; and by a +recollection of some most generous and disinterested sentiments on the +subject of money, which she had more than once heard him utter, and +which tempted her to think his disposition in such matters misunderstood +by his children. + +They were so fully convinced, however, that their brother would not +have the courage to apply in person for his father's consent, and so +repeatedly assured her that he had never in his life been less likely to +come to Northanger than at the present time, that she suffered her mind +to be at ease as to the necessity of any sudden removal of her own. But +as it was not to be supposed that Captain Tilney, whenever he made his +application, would give his father any just idea of Isabella's conduct, +it occurred to her as highly expedient that Henry should lay the whole +business before him as it really was, enabling the general by that means +to form a cool and impartial opinion, and prepare his objections on +a fairer ground than inequality of situations. She proposed it to him +accordingly; but he did not catch at the measure so eagerly as she had +expected. "No," said he, "my father's hands need not be strengthened, +and Frederick's confession of folly need not be forestalled. He must +tell his own story." + +"But he will tell only half of it." + +"A quarter would be enough." + +A day or two passed away and brought no tidings of Captain Tilney. His +brother and sister knew not what to think. Sometimes it appeared to +them as if his silence would be the natural result of the suspected +engagement, and at others that it was wholly incompatible with it. +The general, meanwhile, though offended every morning by Frederick's +remissness in writing, was free from any real anxiety about him, and had +no more pressing solicitude than that of making Miss Morland's time at +Northanger pass pleasantly. He often expressed his uneasiness on this +head, feared the sameness of every day's society and employments would +disgust her with the place, wished the Lady Frasers had been in the +country, talked every now and then of having a large party to dinner, +and once or twice began even to calculate the number of young dancing +people in the neighbourhood. But then it was such a dead time of year, +no wild-fowl, no game, and the Lady Frasers were not in the country. +And it all ended, at last, in his telling Henry one morning that when he +next went to Woodston, they would take him by surprise there some day +or other, and eat their mutton with him. Henry was greatly honoured and +very happy, and Catherine was quite delighted with the scheme. "And when +do you think, sir, I may look forward to this pleasure? I must be at +Woodston on Monday to attend the parish meeting, and shall probably be +obliged to stay two or three days." + +"Well, well, we will take our chance some one of those days. There is +no need to fix. You are not to put yourself at all out of your way. +Whatever you may happen to have in the house will be enough. I think I +can answer for the young ladies making allowance for a bachelor's table. +Let me see; Monday will be a busy day with you, we will not come on +Monday; and Tuesday will be a busy one with me. I expect my surveyor +from Brockham with his report in the morning; and afterwards I cannot in +decency fail attending the club. I really could not face my acquaintance +if I stayed away now; for, as I am known to be in the country, it would +be taken exceedingly amiss; and it is a rule with me, Miss Morland, +never to give offence to any of my neighbours, if a small sacrifice of +time and attention can prevent it. They are a set of very worthy men. +They have half a buck from Northanger twice a year; and I dine with them +whenever I can. Tuesday, therefore, we may say is out of the question. +But on Wednesday, I think, Henry, you may expect us; and we shall be +with you early, that we may have time to look about us. Two hours and +three quarters will carry us to Woodston, I suppose; we shall be in the +carriage by ten; so, about a quarter before one on Wednesday, you may +look for us." + +A ball itself could not have been more welcome to Catherine than +this little excursion, so strong was her desire to be acquainted with +Woodston; and her heart was still bounding with joy when Henry, about an +hour afterwards, came booted and greatcoated into the room where she +and Eleanor were sitting, and said, "I am come, young ladies, in a +very moralizing strain, to observe that our pleasures in this world +are always to be paid for, and that we often purchase them at a great +disadvantage, giving ready-monied actual happiness for a draft on the +future, that may not be honoured. Witness myself, at this present hour. +Because I am to hope for the satisfaction of seeing you at Woodston on +Wednesday, which bad weather, or twenty other causes, may prevent, I +must go away directly, two days before I intended it." + +"Go away!" said Catherine, with a very long face. "And why?" + +"Why! How can you ask the question? Because no time is to be lost in +frightening my old housekeeper out of her wits, because I must go and +prepare a dinner for you, to be sure." + +"Oh! Not seriously!" + +"Aye, and sadly too--for I had much rather stay." + +"But how can you think of such a thing, after what the general said? +When he so particularly desired you not to give yourself any trouble, +because anything would do." + +Henry only smiled. "I am sure it is quite unnecessary upon your sister's +account and mine. You must know it to be so; and the general made such +a point of your providing nothing extraordinary: besides, if he had not +said half so much as he did, he has always such an excellent dinner +at home, that sitting down to a middling one for one day could not +signify." + +"I wish I could reason like you, for his sake and my own. Good-bye. As +tomorrow is Sunday, Eleanor, I shall not return." + +He went; and, it being at any time a much simpler operation to Catherine +to doubt her own judgment than Henry's, she was very soon obliged to +give him credit for being right, however disagreeable to her his going. +But the inexplicability of the general's conduct dwelt much on her +thoughts. That he was very particular in his eating, she had, by her own +unassisted observation, already discovered; but why he should say +one thing so positively, and mean another all the while, was most +unaccountable! How were people, at that rate, to be understood? Who but +Henry could have been aware of what his father was at? + +From Saturday to Wednesday, however, they were now to be without Henry. +This was the sad finale of every reflection: and Captain Tilney's letter +would certainly come in his absence; and Wednesday she was very sure +would be wet. The past, present, and future were all equally in gloom. +Her brother so unhappy, and her loss in Isabella so great; and Eleanor's +spirits always affected by Henry's absence! What was there to interest +or amuse her? She was tired of the woods and the shrubberies--always so +smooth and so dry; and the abbey in itself was no more to her now than +any other house. The painful remembrance of the folly it had helped +to nourish and perfect was the only emotion which could spring from a +consideration of the building. What a revolution in her ideas! She, who +had so longed to be in an abbey! Now, there was nothing so charming +to her imagination as the unpretending comfort of a well-connected +parsonage, something like Fullerton, but better: Fullerton had its +faults, but Woodston probably had none. If Wednesday should ever come! + +It did come, and exactly when it might be reasonably looked for. It +came--it was fine--and Catherine trod on air. By ten o'clock, the chaise +and four conveyed the two from the abbey; and, after an agreeable drive +of almost twenty miles, they entered Woodston, a large and populous +village, in a situation not unpleasant. Catherine was ashamed to say +how pretty she thought it, as the general seemed to think an apology +necessary for the flatness of the country, and the size of the village; +but in her heart she preferred it to any place she had ever been at, +and looked with great admiration at every neat house above the rank of +a cottage, and at all the little chandler's shops which they passed. At +the further end of the village, and tolerably disengaged from the rest +of it, stood the parsonage, a new-built substantial stone house, with +its semicircular sweep and green gates; and, as they drove up to the +door, Henry, with the friends of his solitude, a large Newfoundland +puppy and two or three terriers, was ready to receive and make much of +them. + +Catherine's mind was too full, as she entered the house, for her either +to observe or to say a great deal; and, till called on by the general +for her opinion of it, she had very little idea of the room in which she +was sitting. Upon looking round it then, she perceived in a moment that +it was the most comfortable room in the world; but she was too guarded +to say so, and the coldness of her praise disappointed him. + +"We are not calling it a good house," said he. "We are not comparing +it with Fullerton and Northanger--we are considering it as a mere +parsonage, small and confined, we allow, but decent, perhaps, and +habitable; and altogether not inferior to the generality; or, in other +words, I believe there are few country parsonages in England half so +good. It may admit of improvement, however. Far be it from me to say +otherwise; and anything in reason--a bow thrown out, perhaps--though, +between ourselves, if there is one thing more than another my aversion, +it is a patched-on bow." + +Catherine did not hear enough of this speech to understand or be pained +by it; and other subjects being studiously brought forward and supported +by Henry, at the same time that a tray full of refreshments was +introduced by his servant, the general was shortly restored to his +complacency, and Catherine to all her usual ease of spirits. + +The room in question was of a commodious, well-proportioned size, and +handsomely fitted up as a dining-parlour; and on their quitting it to +walk round the grounds, she was shown, first into a smaller apartment, +belonging peculiarly to the master of the house, and made unusually tidy +on the occasion; and afterwards into what was to be the drawing-room, +with the appearance of which, though unfurnished, Catherine was +delighted enough even to satisfy the general. It was a prettily shaped +room, the windows reaching to the ground, and the view from them +pleasant, though only over green meadows; and she expressed her +admiration at the moment with all the honest simplicity with which she +felt it. "Oh! Why do not you fit up this room, Mr. Tilney? What a pity +not to have it fitted up! It is the prettiest room I ever saw; it is the +prettiest room in the world!" + +"I trust," said the general, with a most satisfied smile, "that it will +very speedily be furnished: it waits only for a lady's taste!" + +"Well, if it was my house, I should never sit anywhere else. Oh! What a +sweet little cottage there is among the trees--apple trees, too! It is +the prettiest cottage!" + +"You like it--you approve it as an object--it is enough. Henry, remember +that Robinson is spoken to about it. The cottage remains." + +Such a compliment recalled all Catherine's consciousness, and silenced +her directly; and, though pointedly applied to by the general for her +choice of the prevailing colour of the paper and hangings, nothing like +an opinion on the subject could be drawn from her. The influence of +fresh objects and fresh air, however, was of great use in dissipating +these embarrassing associations; and, having reached the ornamental part +of the premises, consisting of a walk round two sides of a meadow, on +which Henry's genius had begun to act about half a year ago, she was +sufficiently recovered to think it prettier than any pleasure-ground she +had ever been in before, though there was not a shrub in it higher than +the green bench in the corner. + +A saunter into other meadows, and through part of the village, with a +visit to the stables to examine some improvements, and a charming game +of play with a litter of puppies just able to roll about, brought them +to four o'clock, when Catherine scarcely thought it could be three. At +four they were to dine, and at six to set off on their return. Never had +any day passed so quickly! + +She could not but observe that the abundance of the dinner did not seem +to create the smallest astonishment in the general; nay, that he was +even looking at the side-table for cold meat which was not there. His +son and daughter's observations were of a different kind. They had +seldom seen him eat so heartily at any table but his own, and never +before known him so little disconcerted by the melted butter's being +oiled. + +At six o'clock, the general having taken his coffee, the carriage again +received them; and so gratifying had been the tenor of his conduct +throughout the whole visit, so well assured was her mind on the subject +of his expectations, that, could she have felt equally confident of the +wishes of his son, Catherine would have quitted Woodston with little +anxiety as to the How or the When she might return to it. + + + + +CHAPTER 27 + + +The next morning brought the following very unexpected letter from +Isabella: + + +Bath, April + +My dearest Catherine, I received your two kind letters with the greatest +delight, and have a thousand apologies to make for not answering them +sooner. I really am quite ashamed of my idleness; but in this horrid +place one can find time for nothing. I have had my pen in my hand to +begin a letter to you almost every day since you left Bath, but have +always been prevented by some silly trifler or other. Pray write to me +soon, and direct to my own home. Thank God, we leave this vile place +tomorrow. Since you went away, I have had no pleasure in it--the dust +is beyond anything; and everybody one cares for is gone. I believe if I +could see you I should not mind the rest, for you are dearer to me than +anybody can conceive. I am quite uneasy about your dear brother, not +having heard from him since he went to Oxford; and am fearful of some +misunderstanding. Your kind offices will set all right: he is the only +man I ever did or could love, and I trust you will convince him of it. +The spring fashions are partly down; and the hats the most frightful you +can imagine. I hope you spend your time pleasantly, but am afraid you +never think of me. I will not say all that I could of the family you are +with, because I would not be ungenerous, or set you against those you +esteem; but it is very difficult to know whom to trust, and young men +never know their minds two days together. I rejoice to say that the +young man whom, of all others, I particularly abhor, has left Bath. You +will know, from this description, I must mean Captain Tilney, who, as +you may remember, was amazingly disposed to follow and tease me, before +you went away. Afterwards he got worse, and became quite my shadow. Many +girls might have been taken in, for never were such attentions; but I +knew the fickle sex too well. He went away to his regiment two days ago, +and I trust I shall never be plagued with him again. He is the greatest +coxcomb I ever saw, and amazingly disagreeable. The last two days he was +always by the side of Charlotte Davis: I pitied his taste, but took no +notice of him. The last time we met was in Bath Street, and I turned +directly into a shop that he might not speak to me; I would not even +look at him. He went into the pump-room afterwards; but I would not have +followed him for all the world. Such a contrast between him and your +brother! Pray send me some news of the latter--I am quite unhappy about +him; he seemed so uncomfortable when he went away, with a cold, or +something that affected his spirits. I would write to him myself, but +have mislaid his direction; and, as I hinted above, am afraid he +took something in my conduct amiss. Pray explain everything to his +satisfaction; or, if he still harbours any doubt, a line from himself +to me, or a call at Putney when next in town, might set all to rights. +I have not been to the rooms this age, nor to the play, except going in +last night with the Hodges, for a frolic, at half price: they teased +me into it; and I was determined they should not say I shut myself up +because Tilney was gone. We happened to sit by the Mitchells, and they +pretended to be quite surprised to see me out. I knew their spite: at +one time they could not be civil to me, but now they are all friendship; +but I am not such a fool as to be taken in by them. You know I have a +pretty good spirit of my own. Anne Mitchell had tried to put on a +turban like mine, as I wore it the week before at the concert, but made +wretched work of it--it happened to become my odd face, I believe, at +least Tilney told me so at the time, and said every eye was upon me; but +he is the last man whose word I would take. I wear nothing but purple +now: I know I look hideous in it, but no matter--it is your dear +brother's favourite colour. Lose no time, my dearest, sweetest +Catherine, in writing to him and to me, Who ever am, etc. + + +Such a strain of shallow artifice could not impose even upon Catherine. +Its inconsistencies, contradictions, and falsehood struck her from the +very first. She was ashamed of Isabella, and ashamed of having ever +loved her. Her professions of attachment were now as disgusting as her +excuses were empty, and her demands impudent. "Write to James on her +behalf! No, James should never hear Isabella's name mentioned by her +again." + +On Henry's arrival from Woodston, she made known to him and Eleanor +their brother's safety, congratulating them with sincerity on it, and +reading aloud the most material passages of her letter with strong +indignation. When she had finished it--"So much for Isabella," she +cried, "and for all our intimacy! She must think me an idiot, or she +could not have written so; but perhaps this has served to make her +character better known to me than mine is to her. I see what she has +been about. She is a vain coquette, and her tricks have not answered. I +do not believe she had ever any regard either for James or for me, and I +wish I had never known her." + +"It will soon be as if you never had," said Henry. + +"There is but one thing that I cannot understand. I see that she has +had designs on Captain Tilney, which have not succeeded; but I do not +understand what Captain Tilney has been about all this time. Why should +he pay her such attentions as to make her quarrel with my brother, and +then fly off himself?" + +"I have very little to say for Frederick's motives, such as I believe +them to have been. He has his vanities as well as Miss Thorpe, and the +chief difference is, that, having a stronger head, they have not yet +injured himself. If the effect of his behaviour does not justify him +with you, we had better not seek after the cause." + +"Then you do not suppose he ever really cared about her?" + +"I am persuaded that he never did." + +"And only made believe to do so for mischief's sake?" + +Henry bowed his assent. + +"Well, then, I must say that I do not like him at all. Though it has +turned out so well for us, I do not like him at all. As it happens, +there is no great harm done, because I do not think Isabella has any +heart to lose. But, suppose he had made her very much in love with him?" + +"But we must first suppose Isabella to have had a heart to +lose--consequently to have been a very different creature; and, in that +case, she would have met with very different treatment." + +"It is very right that you should stand by your brother." + +"And if you would stand by yours, you would not be much distressed by +the disappointment of Miss Thorpe. But your mind is warped by an innate +principle of general integrity, and therefore not accessible to the cool +reasonings of family partiality, or a desire of revenge." + +Catherine was complimented out of further bitterness. Frederick could +not be unpardonably guilty, while Henry made himself so agreeable. She +resolved on not answering Isabella's letter, and tried to think no more +of it. + + + + +CHAPTER 28 + + +Soon after this, the general found himself obliged to go to London for +a week; and he left Northanger earnestly regretting that any necessity +should rob him even for an hour of Miss Morland's company, and anxiously +recommending the study of her comfort and amusement to his children +as their chief object in his absence. His departure gave Catherine the +first experimental conviction that a loss may be sometimes a gain. The +happiness with which their time now passed, every employment voluntary, +every laugh indulged, every meal a scene of ease and good humour, +walking where they liked and when they liked, their hours, pleasures, +and fatigues at their own command, made her thoroughly sensible of the +restraint which the general's presence had imposed, and most thankfully +feel their present release from it. Such ease and such delights made her +love the place and the people more and more every day; and had it not +been for a dread of its soon becoming expedient to leave the one, and +an apprehension of not being equally beloved by the other, she would at +each moment of each day have been perfectly happy; but she was now in +the fourth week of her visit; before the general came home, the fourth +week would be turned, and perhaps it might seem an intrusion if she +stayed much longer. This was a painful consideration whenever it +occurred; and eager to get rid of such a weight on her mind, she very +soon resolved to speak to Eleanor about it at once, propose going away, +and be guided in her conduct by the manner in which her proposal might +be taken. + +Aware that if she gave herself much time, she might feel it difficult to +bring forward so unpleasant a subject, she took the first opportunity of +being suddenly alone with Eleanor, and of Eleanor's being in the +middle of a speech about something very different, to start forth her +obligation of going away very soon. Eleanor looked and declared herself +much concerned. She had "hoped for the pleasure of her company for a +much longer time--had been misled (perhaps by her wishes) to suppose +that a much longer visit had been promised--and could not but think that +if Mr. and Mrs. Morland were aware of the pleasure it was to her to have +her there, they would be too generous to hasten her return." Catherine +explained: "Oh! As to that, Papa and Mamma were in no hurry at all. As +long as she was happy, they would always be satisfied." + +"Then why, might she ask, in such a hurry herself to leave them?" + +"Oh! Because she had been there so long." + +"Nay, if you can use such a word, I can urge you no farther. If you +think it long--" + +"Oh! No, I do not indeed. For my own pleasure, I could stay with you as +long again." And it was directly settled that, till she had, her leaving +them was not even to be thought of. In having this cause of uneasiness +so pleasantly removed, the force of the other was likewise weakened. The +kindness, the earnestness of Eleanor's manner in pressing her to stay, +and Henry's gratified look on being told that her stay was determined, +were such sweet proofs of her importance with them, as left her only +just so much solicitude as the human mind can never do comfortably +without. She did--almost always--believe that Henry loved her, and quite +always that his father and sister loved and even wished her to belong +to them; and believing so far, her doubts and anxieties were merely +sportive irritations. + +Henry was not able to obey his father's injunction of remaining wholly +at Northanger in attendance on the ladies, during his absence in London, +the engagements of his curate at Woodston obliging him to leave them on +Saturday for a couple of nights. His loss was not now what it had been +while the general was at home; it lessened their gaiety, but did not +ruin their comfort; and the two girls agreeing in occupation, and +improving in intimacy, found themselves so well sufficient for the time +to themselves, that it was eleven o'clock, rather a late hour at +the abbey, before they quitted the supper-room on the day of Henry's +departure. They had just reached the head of the stairs when it seemed, +as far as the thickness of the walls would allow them to judge, that a +carriage was driving up to the door, and the next moment confirmed the +idea by the loud noise of the house-bell. After the first perturbation +of surprise had passed away, in a "Good heaven! What can be the matter?" +it was quickly decided by Eleanor to be her eldest brother, whose +arrival was often as sudden, if not quite so unseasonable, and +accordingly she hurried down to welcome him. + +Catherine walked on to her chamber, making up her mind as well as she +could, to a further acquaintance with Captain Tilney, and comforting +herself under the unpleasant impression his conduct had given her, and +the persuasion of his being by far too fine a gentleman to approve of +her, that at least they should not meet under such circumstances as +would make their meeting materially painful. She trusted he would never +speak of Miss Thorpe; and indeed, as he must by this time be ashamed of +the part he had acted, there could be no danger of it; and as long as +all mention of Bath scenes were avoided, she thought she could behave +to him very civilly. In such considerations time passed away, and it was +certainly in his favour that Eleanor should be so glad to see him, and +have so much to say, for half an hour was almost gone since his arrival, +and Eleanor did not come up. + +At that moment Catherine thought she heard her step in the gallery, and +listened for its continuance; but all was silent. Scarcely, however, +had she convicted her fancy of error, when the noise of something moving +close to her door made her start; it seemed as if someone was touching +the very doorway--and in another moment a slight motion of the lock +proved that some hand must be on it. She trembled a little at the idea +of anyone's approaching so cautiously; but resolving not to be again +overcome by trivial appearances of alarm, or misled by a raised +imagination, she stepped quietly forward, and opened the door. Eleanor, +and only Eleanor, stood there. Catherine's spirits, however, were +tranquillized but for an instant, for Eleanor's cheeks were pale, and +her manner greatly agitated. Though evidently intending to come in, it +seemed an effort to enter the room, and a still greater to speak when +there. Catherine, supposing some uneasiness on Captain Tilney's account, +could only express her concern by silent attention, obliged her to be +seated, rubbed her temples with lavender-water, and hung over her with +affectionate solicitude. "My dear Catherine, you must not--you must not +indeed--" were Eleanor's first connected words. "I am quite well. +This kindness distracts me--I cannot bear it--I come to you on such an +errand!" + +"Errand! To me!" + +"How shall I tell you! Oh! How shall I tell you!" + +A new idea now darted into Catherine's mind, and turning as pale as her +friend, she exclaimed, "'Tis a messenger from Woodston!" + +"You are mistaken, indeed," returned Eleanor, looking at her most +compassionately; "it is no one from Woodston. It is my father himself." +Her voice faltered, and her eyes were turned to the ground as she +mentioned his name. His unlooked-for return was enough in itself to make +Catherine's heart sink, and for a few moments she hardly supposed +there were anything worse to be told. She said nothing; and Eleanor, +endeavouring to collect herself and speak with firmness, but with eyes +still cast down, soon went on. "You are too good, I am sure, to think +the worse of me for the part I am obliged to perform. I am indeed a most +unwilling messenger. After what has so lately passed, so lately been +settled between us--how joyfully, how thankfully on my side!--as to your +continuing here as I hoped for many, many weeks longer, how can I tell +you that your kindness is not to be accepted--and that the happiness +your company has hitherto given us is to be repaid by--But I must not +trust myself with words. My dear Catherine, we are to part. My father +has recollected an engagement that takes our whole family away on +Monday. We are going to Lord Longtown's, near Hereford, for a fortnight. +Explanation and apology are equally impossible. I cannot attempt +either." + +"My dear Eleanor," cried Catherine, suppressing her feelings as well as +she could, "do not be so distressed. A second engagement must give +way to a first. I am very, very sorry we are to part--so soon, and so +suddenly too; but I am not offended, indeed I am not. I can finish my +visit here, you know, at any time; or I hope you will come to me. Can +you, when you return from this lord's, come to Fullerton?" + +"It will not be in my power, Catherine." + +"Come when you can, then." + +Eleanor made no answer; and Catherine's thoughts recurring to something +more directly interesting, she added, thinking aloud, "Monday--so soon +as Monday; and you all go. Well, I am certain of--I shall be able to +take leave, however. I need not go till just before you do, you know. Do +not be distressed, Eleanor, I can go on Monday very well. My father +and mother's having no notice of it is of very little consequence. The +general will send a servant with me, I dare say, half the way--and then +I shall soon be at Salisbury, and then I am only nine miles from home." + +"Ah, Catherine! Were it settled so, it would be somewhat less +intolerable, though in such common attentions you would have received +but half what you ought. But--how can I tell you?--tomorrow morning is +fixed for your leaving us, and not even the hour is left to your choice; +the very carriage is ordered, and will be here at seven o'clock, and no +servant will be offered you." + +Catherine sat down, breathless and speechless. "I could hardly believe +my senses, when I heard it; and no displeasure, no resentment that +you can feel at this moment, however justly great, can be more than I +myself--but I must not talk of what I felt. Oh! That I could suggest +anything in extenuation! Good God! What will your father and mother say! +After courting you from the protection of real friends to this--almost +double distance from your home, to have you driven out of the house, +without the considerations even of decent civility! Dear, dear +Catherine, in being the bearer of such a message, I seem guilty myself +of all its insult; yet, I trust you will acquit me, for you must have +been long enough in this house to see that I am but a nominal mistress +of it, that my real power is nothing." + +"Have I offended the general?" said Catherine in a faltering voice. + +"Alas! For my feelings as a daughter, all that I know, all that I +answer for, is that you can have given him no just cause of offence. He +certainly is greatly, very greatly discomposed; I have seldom seen him +more so. His temper is not happy, and something has now occurred to +ruffle it in an uncommon degree; some disappointment, some vexation, +which just at this moment seems important, but which I can hardly +suppose you to have any concern in, for how is it possible?" + +It was with pain that Catherine could speak at all; and it was only for +Eleanor's sake that she attempted it. "I am sure," said she, "I am very +sorry if I have offended him. It was the last thing I would willingly +have done. But do not be unhappy, Eleanor. An engagement, you know, must +be kept. I am only sorry it was not recollected sooner, that I might +have written home. But it is of very little consequence." + +"I hope, I earnestly hope, that to your real safety it will be of none; +but to everything else it is of the greatest consequence: to comfort, +appearance, propriety, to your family, to the world. Were your friends, +the Allens, still in Bath, you might go to them with comparative ease; +a few hours would take you there; but a journey of seventy miles, to be +taken post by you, at your age, alone, unattended!" + +"Oh, the journey is nothing. Do not think about that. And if we are to +part, a few hours sooner or later, you know, makes no difference. I +can be ready by seven. Let me be called in time." Eleanor saw that she +wished to be alone; and believing it better for each that they should +avoid any further conversation, now left her with, "I shall see you in +the morning." + +Catherine's swelling heart needed relief. In Eleanor's presence +friendship and pride had equally restrained her tears, but no sooner was +she gone than they burst forth in torrents. Turned from the house, and +in such a way! Without any reason that could justify, any apology that +could atone for the abruptness, the rudeness, nay, the insolence of +it. Henry at a distance--not able even to bid him farewell. Every hope, +every expectation from him suspended, at least, and who could say how +long? Who could say when they might meet again? And all this by such +a man as General Tilney, so polite, so well bred, and heretofore +so particularly fond of her! It was as incomprehensible as it was +mortifying and grievous. From what it could arise, and where it would +end, were considerations of equal perplexity and alarm. The manner in +which it was done so grossly uncivil, hurrying her away without any +reference to her own convenience, or allowing her even the appearance +of choice as to the time or mode of her travelling; of two days, the +earliest fixed on, and of that almost the earliest hour, as if resolved +to have her gone before he was stirring in the morning, that he +might not be obliged even to see her. What could all this mean but +an intentional affront? By some means or other she must have had the +misfortune to offend him. Eleanor had wished to spare her from so +painful a notion, but Catherine could not believe it possible that any +injury or any misfortune could provoke such ill will against a person +not connected, or, at least, not supposed to be connected with it. + +Heavily passed the night. Sleep, or repose that deserved the name +of sleep, was out of the question. That room, in which her disturbed +imagination had tormented her on her first arrival, was again the scene +of agitated spirits and unquiet slumbers. Yet how different now the +source of her inquietude from what it had been then--how mournfully +superior in reality and substance! Her anxiety had foundation in +fact, her fears in probability; and with a mind so occupied in the +contemplation of actual and natural evil, the solitude of her situation, +the darkness of her chamber, the antiquity of the building, were felt +and considered without the smallest emotion; and though the wind was +high, and often produced strange and sudden noises throughout the house, +she heard it all as she lay awake, hour after hour, without curiosity or +terror. + +Soon after six Eleanor entered her room, eager to show attention or give +assistance where it was possible; but very little remained to be done. +Catherine had not loitered; she was almost dressed, and her packing +almost finished. The possibility of some conciliatory message from the +general occurred to her as his daughter appeared. What so natural, as +that anger should pass away and repentance succeed it? And she only +wanted to know how far, after what had passed, an apology might properly +be received by her. But the knowledge would have been useless here; +it was not called for; neither clemency nor dignity was put to the +trial--Eleanor brought no message. Very little passed between them on +meeting; each found her greatest safety in silence, and few and trivial +were the sentences exchanged while they remained upstairs, Catherine in +busy agitation completing her dress, and Eleanor with more goodwill than +experience intent upon filling the trunk. When everything was done they +left the room, Catherine lingering only half a minute behind her friend +to throw a parting glance on every well-known, cherished object, and +went down to the breakfast-parlour, where breakfast was prepared. She +tried to eat, as well to save herself from the pain of being urged as +to make her friend comfortable; but she had no appetite, and could not +swallow many mouthfuls. The contrast between this and her last breakfast +in that room gave her fresh misery, and strengthened her distaste for +everything before her. It was not four and twenty hours ago since they +had met there to the same repast, but in circumstances how different! +With what cheerful ease, what happy, though false, security, had she +then looked around her, enjoying everything present, and fearing little +in future, beyond Henry's going to Woodston for a day! Happy, happy +breakfast! For Henry had been there; Henry had sat by her and helped +her. These reflections were long indulged undisturbed by any address +from her companion, who sat as deep in thought as herself; and the +appearance of the carriage was the first thing to startle and recall +them to the present moment. Catherine's colour rose at the sight of it; +and the indignity with which she was treated, striking at that instant +on her mind with peculiar force, made her for a short time sensible only +of resentment. Eleanor seemed now impelled into resolution and speech. + +"You must write to me, Catherine," she cried; "you must let me hear from +you as soon as possible. Till I know you to be safe at home, I shall +not have an hour's comfort. For one letter, at all risks, all hazards, I +must entreat. Let me have the satisfaction of knowing that you are safe +at Fullerton, and have found your family well, and then, till I can ask +for your correspondence as I ought to do, I will not expect more. Direct +to me at Lord Longtown's, and, I must ask it, under cover to Alice." + +"No, Eleanor, if you are not allowed to receive a letter from me, I am +sure I had better not write. There can be no doubt of my getting home +safe." + +Eleanor only replied, "I cannot wonder at your feelings. I will not +importune you. I will trust to your own kindness of heart when I am at +a distance from you." But this, with the look of sorrow accompanying +it, was enough to melt Catherine's pride in a moment, and she instantly +said, "Oh, Eleanor, I will write to you indeed." + +There was yet another point which Miss Tilney was anxious to settle, +though somewhat embarrassed in speaking of. It had occurred to her that +after so long an absence from home, Catherine might not be provided with +money enough for the expenses of her journey, and, upon suggesting it +to her with most affectionate offers of accommodation, it proved to be +exactly the case. Catherine had never thought on the subject till that +moment, but, upon examining her purse, was convinced that but for +this kindness of her friend, she might have been turned from the house +without even the means of getting home; and the distress in which she +must have been thereby involved filling the minds of both, scarcely +another word was said by either during the time of their remaining +together. Short, however, was that time. The carriage was soon announced +to be ready; and Catherine, instantly rising, a long and affectionate +embrace supplied the place of language in bidding each other adieu; and, +as they entered the hall, unable to leave the house without some mention +of one whose name had not yet been spoken by either, she paused a +moment, and with quivering lips just made it intelligible that she left +"her kind remembrance for her absent friend." But with this approach to +his name ended all possibility of restraining her feelings; and, hiding +her face as well as she could with her handkerchief, she darted across +the hall, jumped into the chaise, and in a moment was driven from the +door. + + + + +CHAPTER 29 + + +Catherine was too wretched to be fearful. The journey in itself had no +terrors for her; and she began it without either dreading its length or +feeling its solitariness. Leaning back in one corner of the carriage, in +a violent burst of tears, she was conveyed some miles beyond the walls +of the abbey before she raised her head; and the highest point of ground +within the park was almost closed from her view before she was capable +of turning her eyes towards it. Unfortunately, the road she now +travelled was the same which only ten days ago she had so happily passed +along in going to and from Woodston; and, for fourteen miles, every +bitter feeling was rendered more severe by the review of objects on +which she had first looked under impressions so different. Every mile, +as it brought her nearer Woodston, added to her sufferings, and when +within the distance of five, she passed the turning which led to it, and +thought of Henry, so near, yet so unconscious, her grief and agitation +were excessive. + +The day which she had spent at that place had been one of the happiest +of her life. It was there, it was on that day, that the general had made +use of such expressions with regard to Henry and herself, had so +spoken and so looked as to give her the most positive conviction of his +actually wishing their marriage. Yes, only ten days ago had he +elated her by his pointed regard--had he even confused her by his too +significant reference! And now--what had she done, or what had she +omitted to do, to merit such a change? + +The only offence against him of which she could accuse herself had been +such as was scarcely possible to reach his knowledge. Henry and her own +heart only were privy to the shocking suspicions which she had so idly +entertained; and equally safe did she believe her secret with each. +Designedly, at least, Henry could not have betrayed her. If, indeed, by +any strange mischance his father should have gained intelligence of +what she had dared to think and look for, of her causeless fancies +and injurious examinations, she could not wonder at any degree of his +indignation. If aware of her having viewed him as a murderer, she could +not wonder at his even turning her from his house. But a justification +so full of torture to herself, she trusted, would not be in his power. + +Anxious as were all her conjectures on this point, it was not, however, +the one on which she dwelt most. There was a thought yet nearer, a more +prevailing, more impetuous concern. How Henry would think, and feel, +and look, when he returned on the morrow to Northanger and heard of +her being gone, was a question of force and interest to rise over every +other, to be never ceasing, alternately irritating and soothing; it +sometimes suggested the dread of his calm acquiescence, and at others +was answered by the sweetest confidence in his regret and resentment. To +the general, of course, he would not dare to speak; but to Eleanor--what +might he not say to Eleanor about her? + +In this unceasing recurrence of doubts and inquiries, on any one article +of which her mind was incapable of more than momentary repose, the hours +passed away, and her journey advanced much faster than she looked for. +The pressing anxieties of thought, which prevented her from noticing +anything before her, when once beyond the neighbourhood of Woodston, +saved her at the same time from watching her progress; and though no +object on the road could engage a moment's attention, she found no stage +of it tedious. From this, she was preserved too by another cause, by +feeling no eagerness for her journey's conclusion; for to return in such +a manner to Fullerton was almost to destroy the pleasure of a meeting +with those she loved best, even after an absence such as hers--an eleven +weeks' absence. What had she to say that would not humble herself and +pain her family, that would not increase her own grief by the confession +of it, extend an useless resentment, and perhaps involve the innocent +with the guilty in undistinguishing ill will? She could never do justice +to Henry and Eleanor's merit; she felt it too strongly for expression; +and should a dislike be taken against them, should they be thought of +unfavourably, on their father's account, it would cut her to the heart. + +With these feelings, she rather dreaded than sought for the first view +of that well-known spire which would announce her within twenty miles of +home. Salisbury she had known to be her point on leaving Northanger; but +after the first stage she had been indebted to the post-masters for the +names of the places which were then to conduct her to it; so great +had been her ignorance of her route. She met with nothing, however, +to distress or frighten her. Her youth, civil manners, and liberal +pay procured her all the attention that a traveller like herself could +require; and stopping only to change horses, she travelled on for +about eleven hours without accident or alarm, and between six and seven +o'clock in the evening found herself entering Fullerton. + +A heroine returning, at the close of her career, to her native village, +in all the triumph of recovered reputation, and all the dignity of +a countess, with a long train of noble relations in their several +phaetons, and three waiting-maids in a travelling chaise and four, +behind her, is an event on which the pen of the contriver may well +delight to dwell; it gives credit to every conclusion, and the author +must share in the glory she so liberally bestows. But my affair is +widely different; I bring back my heroine to her home in solitude and +disgrace; and no sweet elation of spirits can lead me into minuteness. +A heroine in a hack post-chaise is such a blow upon sentiment, as no +attempt at grandeur or pathos can withstand. Swiftly therefore shall her +post-boy drive through the village, amid the gaze of Sunday groups, and +speedy shall be her descent from it. + +But, whatever might be the distress of Catherine's mind, as she thus +advanced towards the parsonage, and whatever the humiliation of her +biographer in relating it, she was preparing enjoyment of no everyday +nature for those to whom she went; first, in the appearance of her +carriage--and secondly, in herself. The chaise of a traveller being +a rare sight in Fullerton, the whole family were immediately at the +window; and to have it stop at the sweep-gate was a pleasure to brighten +every eye and occupy every fancy--a pleasure quite unlooked for by all +but the two youngest children, a boy and girl of six and four years old, +who expected a brother or sister in every carriage. Happy the glance +that first distinguished Catherine! Happy the voice that proclaimed the +discovery! But whether such happiness were the lawful property of George +or Harriet could never be exactly understood. + +Her father, mother, Sarah, George, and Harriet, all assembled at the +door to welcome her with affectionate eagerness, was a sight to awaken +the best feelings of Catherine's heart; and in the embrace of each, as +she stepped from the carriage, she found herself soothed beyond anything +that she had believed possible. So surrounded, so caressed, she was even +happy! In the joyfulness of family love everything for a short time was +subdued, and the pleasure of seeing her, leaving them at first little +leisure for calm curiosity, they were all seated round the tea-table, +which Mrs. Morland had hurried for the comfort of the poor traveller, +whose pale and jaded looks soon caught her notice, before any inquiry so +direct as to demand a positive answer was addressed to her. + +Reluctantly, and with much hesitation, did she then begin what might +perhaps, at the end of half an hour, be termed, by the courtesy of her +hearers, an explanation; but scarcely, within that time, could they +at all discover the cause, or collect the particulars, of her sudden +return. They were far from being an irritable race; far from any +quickness in catching, or bitterness in resenting, affronts: but here, +when the whole was unfolded, was an insult not to be overlooked, nor, +for the first half hour, to be easily pardoned. Without suffering any +romantic alarm, in the consideration of their daughter's long and lonely +journey, Mr. and Mrs. Morland could not but feel that it might have been +productive of much unpleasantness to her; that it was what they could +never have voluntarily suffered; and that, in forcing her on such +a measure, General Tilney had acted neither honourably nor +feelingly--neither as a gentleman nor as a parent. Why he had done it, +what could have provoked him to such a breach of hospitality, and so +suddenly turned all his partial regard for their daughter into actual +ill will, was a matter which they were at least as far from divining +as Catherine herself; but it did not oppress them by any means so long; +and, after a due course of useless conjecture, that "it was a strange +business, and that he must be a very strange man," grew enough for all +their indignation and wonder; though Sarah indeed still indulged in the +sweets of incomprehensibility, exclaiming and conjecturing with youthful +ardour. "My dear, you give yourself a great deal of needless trouble," +said her mother at last; "depend upon it, it is something not at all +worth understanding." + +"I can allow for his wishing Catherine away, when he recollected this +engagement," said Sarah, "but why not do it civilly?" + +"I am sorry for the young people," returned Mrs. Morland; "they must +have a sad time of it; but as for anything else, it is no matter now; +Catherine is safe at home, and our comfort does not depend upon General +Tilney." Catherine sighed. "Well," continued her philosophic mother, "I +am glad I did not know of your journey at the time; but now it is all +over, perhaps there is no great harm done. It is always good for +young people to be put upon exerting themselves; and you know, my dear +Catherine, you always were a sad little scatter-brained creature; but +now you must have been forced to have your wits about you, with so much +changing of chaises and so forth; and I hope it will appear that you +have not left anything behind you in any of the pockets." + +Catherine hoped so too, and tried to feel an interest in her own +amendment, but her spirits were quite worn down; and, to be silent and +alone becoming soon her only wish, she readily agreed to her mother's +next counsel of going early to bed. Her parents, seeing nothing in +her ill looks and agitation but the natural consequence of mortified +feelings, and of the unusual exertion and fatigue of such a journey, +parted from her without any doubt of their being soon slept away; and +though, when they all met the next morning, her recovery was not equal +to their hopes, they were still perfectly unsuspicious of there being +any deeper evil. They never once thought of her heart, which, for the +parents of a young lady of seventeen, just returned from her first +excursion from home, was odd enough! + +As soon as breakfast was over, she sat down to fulfil her promise to +Miss Tilney, whose trust in the effect of time and distance on her +friend's disposition was already justified, for already did Catherine +reproach herself with having parted from Eleanor coldly, with +having never enough valued her merits or kindness, and never enough +commiserated her for what she had been yesterday left to endure. The +strength of these feelings, however, was far from assisting her pen; +and never had it been harder for her to write than in addressing Eleanor +Tilney. To compose a letter which might at once do justice to her +sentiments and her situation, convey gratitude without servile regret, +be guarded without coldness, and honest without resentment--a letter +which Eleanor might not be pained by the perusal of--and, above all, +which she might not blush herself, if Henry should chance to see, was an +undertaking to frighten away all her powers of performance; and, after +long thought and much perplexity, to be very brief was all that she +could determine on with any confidence of safety. The money therefore +which Eleanor had advanced was enclosed with little more than grateful +thanks, and the thousand good wishes of a most affectionate heart. + +"This has been a strange acquaintance," observed Mrs. Morland, as the +letter was finished; "soon made and soon ended. I am sorry it happens +so, for Mrs. Allen thought them very pretty kind of young people; and +you were sadly out of luck too in your Isabella. Ah! Poor James! Well, +we must live and learn; and the next new friends you make I hope will be +better worth keeping." + +Catherine coloured as she warmly answered, "No friend can be better +worth keeping than Eleanor." + +"If so, my dear, I dare say you will meet again some time or other; do +not be uneasy. It is ten to one but you are thrown together again in the +course of a few years; and then what a pleasure it will be!" + +Mrs. Morland was not happy in her attempt at consolation. The hope +of meeting again in the course of a few years could only put into +Catherine's head what might happen within that time to make a meeting +dreadful to her. She could never forget Henry Tilney, or think of him +with less tenderness than she did at that moment; but he might forget +her; and in that case, to meet--! Her eyes filled with tears as she +pictured her acquaintance so renewed; and her mother, perceiving her +comfortable suggestions to have had no good effect, proposed, as another +expedient for restoring her spirits, that they should call on Mrs. +Allen. + +The two houses were only a quarter of a mile apart; and, as they walked, +Mrs. Morland quickly dispatched all that she felt on the score of +James's disappointment. "We are sorry for him," said she; "but otherwise +there is no harm done in the match going off; for it could not be +a desirable thing to have him engaged to a girl whom we had not the +smallest acquaintance with, and who was so entirely without fortune; and +now, after such behaviour, we cannot think at all well of her. Just at +present it comes hard to poor James; but that will not last forever; and +I dare say he will be a discreeter man all his life, for the foolishness +of his first choice." + +This was just such a summary view of the affair as Catherine could +listen to; another sentence might have endangered her complaisance, +and made her reply less rational; for soon were all her thinking powers +swallowed up in the reflection of her own change of feelings and spirits +since last she had trodden that well-known road. It was not three months +ago since, wild with joyful expectation, she had there run backwards +and forwards some ten times a day, with an heart light, gay, and +independent; looking forward to pleasures untasted and unalloyed, and +free from the apprehension of evil as from the knowledge of it. Three +months ago had seen her all this; and now, how altered a being did she +return! + +She was received by the Allens with all the kindness which her +unlooked-for appearance, acting on a steady affection, would naturally +call forth; and great was their surprise, and warm their displeasure, +on hearing how she had been treated--though Mrs. Morland's account of +it was no inflated representation, no studied appeal to their passions. +"Catherine took us quite by surprise yesterday evening," said she. "She +travelled all the way post by herself, and knew nothing of coming till +Saturday night; for General Tilney, from some odd fancy or other, all +of a sudden grew tired of having her there, and almost turned her out +of the house. Very unfriendly, certainly; and he must be a very odd +man; but we are so glad to have her amongst us again! And it is a great +comfort to find that she is not a poor helpless creature, but can shift +very well for herself." + +Mr. Allen expressed himself on the occasion with the reasonable +resentment of a sensible friend; and Mrs. Allen thought his expressions +quite good enough to be immediately made use of again by herself. His +wonder, his conjectures, and his explanations became in succession hers, +with the addition of this single remark--"I really have not patience +with the general"--to fill up every accidental pause. And, "I really +have not patience with the general," was uttered twice after Mr. +Allen left the room, without any relaxation of anger, or any material +digression of thought. A more considerable degree of wandering attended +the third repetition; and, after completing the fourth, she immediately +added, "Only think, my dear, of my having got that frightful great rent +in my best Mechlin so charmingly mended, before I left Bath, that one +can hardly see where it was. I must show it you some day or other. Bath +is a nice place, Catherine, after all. I assure you I did not above half +like coming away. Mrs. Thorpe's being there was such a comfort to us, +was not it? You know, you and I were quite forlorn at first." + +"Yes, but that did not last long," said Catherine, her eyes brightening +at the recollection of what had first given spirit to her existence +there. + +"Very true: we soon met with Mrs. Thorpe, and then we wanted for +nothing. My dear, do not you think these silk gloves wear very well? +I put them on new the first time of our going to the Lower Rooms, you +know, and I have worn them a great deal since. Do you remember that +evening?" + +"Do I! Oh! Perfectly." + +"It was very agreeable, was not it? Mr. Tilney drank tea with us, and I +always thought him a great addition, he is so very agreeable. I have a +notion you danced with him, but am not quite sure. I remember I had my +favourite gown on." + +Catherine could not answer; and, after a short trial of other subjects, +Mrs. Allen again returned to--"I really have not patience with the +general! Such an agreeable, worthy man as he seemed to be! I do not +suppose, Mrs. Morland, you ever saw a better-bred man in your life. His +lodgings were taken the very day after he left them, Catherine. But no +wonder; Milsom Street, you know." + +As they walked home again, Mrs. Morland endeavoured to impress on her +daughter's mind the happiness of having such steady well-wishers as Mr. +and Mrs. Allen, and the very little consideration which the neglect or +unkindness of slight acquaintance like the Tilneys ought to have with +her, while she could preserve the good opinion and affection of her +earliest friends. There was a great deal of good sense in all this; but +there are some situations of the human mind in which good sense has +very little power; and Catherine's feelings contradicted almost every +position her mother advanced. It was upon the behaviour of these very +slight acquaintance that all her present happiness depended; and +while Mrs. Morland was successfully confirming her own opinions by the +justness of her own representations, Catherine was silently reflecting +that now Henry must have arrived at Northanger; now he must have heard +of her departure; and now, perhaps, they were all setting off for +Hereford. + + + + +CHAPTER 30 + + +Catherine's disposition was not naturally sedentary, nor had her habits +been ever very industrious; but whatever might hitherto have been her +defects of that sort, her mother could not but perceive them now to be +greatly increased. She could neither sit still nor employ herself for +ten minutes together, walking round the garden and orchard again and +again, as if nothing but motion was voluntary; and it seemed as if she +could even walk about the house rather than remain fixed for any time +in the parlour. Her loss of spirits was a yet greater alteration. In her +rambling and her idleness she might only be a caricature of herself; but +in her silence and sadness she was the very reverse of all that she had +been before. + +For two days Mrs. Morland allowed it to pass even without a hint; +but when a third night's rest had neither restored her cheerfulness, +improved her in useful activity, nor given her a greater inclination for +needlework, she could no longer refrain from the gentle reproof of, "My +dear Catherine, I am afraid you are growing quite a fine lady. I do not +know when poor Richard's cravats would be done, if he had no friend +but you. Your head runs too much upon Bath; but there is a time for +everything--a time for balls and plays, and a time for work. You have +had a long run of amusement, and now you must try to be useful." + +Catherine took up her work directly, saying, in a dejected voice, that +"her head did not run upon Bath--much." + +"Then you are fretting about General Tilney, and that is very simple +of you; for ten to one whether you ever see him again. You should never +fret about trifles." After a short silence--"I hope, my Catherine, you +are not getting out of humour with home because it is not so grand +as Northanger. That would be turning your visit into an evil indeed. +Wherever you are you should always be contented, but especially at home, +because there you must spend the most of your time. I did not quite +like, at breakfast, to hear you talk so much about the French bread at +Northanger." + +"I am sure I do not care about the bread. It is all the same to me what +I eat." + +"There is a very clever essay in one of the books upstairs upon much +such a subject, about young girls that have been spoilt for home by +great acquaintance--The Mirror, I think. I will look it out for you some +day or other, because I am sure it will do you good." + +Catherine said no more, and, with an endeavour to do right, applied +to her work; but, after a few minutes, sunk again, without knowing it +herself, into languor and listlessness, moving herself in her chair, +from the irritation of weariness, much oftener than she moved her +needle. Mrs. Morland watched the progress of this relapse; and seeing, +in her daughter's absent and dissatisfied look, the full proof of that +repining spirit to which she had now begun to attribute her want of +cheerfulness, hastily left the room to fetch the book in question, +anxious to lose no time in attacking so dreadful a malady. It was some +time before she could find what she looked for; and other family matters +occurring to detain her, a quarter of an hour had elapsed ere she +returned downstairs with the volume from which so much was hoped. Her +avocations above having shut out all noise but what she created herself, +she knew not that a visitor had arrived within the last few minutes, +till, on entering the room, the first object she beheld was a young +man whom she had never seen before. With a look of much respect, he +immediately rose, and being introduced to her by her conscious daughter +as "Mr. Henry Tilney," with the embarrassment of real sensibility began +to apologize for his appearance there, acknowledging that after what had +passed he had little right to expect a welcome at Fullerton, and stating +his impatience to be assured of Miss Morland's having reached her home +in safety, as the cause of his intrusion. He did not address himself to +an uncandid judge or a resentful heart. Far from comprehending him or +his sister in their father's misconduct, Mrs. Morland had been always +kindly disposed towards each, and instantly, pleased by his appearance, +received him with the simple professions of unaffected benevolence; +thanking him for such an attention to her daughter, assuring him that +the friends of her children were always welcome there, and entreating +him to say not another word of the past. + +He was not ill-inclined to obey this request, for, though his heart was +greatly relieved by such unlooked-for mildness, it was not just at that +moment in his power to say anything to the purpose. Returning in silence +to his seat, therefore, he remained for some minutes most civilly +answering all Mrs. Morland's common remarks about the weather and +roads. Catherine meanwhile--the anxious, agitated, happy, feverish +Catherine--said not a word; but her glowing cheek and brightened eye +made her mother trust that this good-natured visit would at least set +her heart at ease for a time, and gladly therefore did she lay aside the +first volume of The Mirror for a future hour. + +Desirous of Mr. Morland's assistance, as well in giving encouragement, +as in finding conversation for her guest, whose embarrassment on his +father's account she earnestly pitied, Mrs. Morland had very early +dispatched one of the children to summon him; but Mr. Morland was from +home--and being thus without any support, at the end of a quarter of +an hour she had nothing to say. After a couple of minutes' unbroken +silence, Henry, turning to Catherine for the first time since her +mother's entrance, asked her, with sudden alacrity, if Mr. and Mrs. +Allen were now at Fullerton? And on developing, from amidst all her +perplexity of words in reply, the meaning, which one short syllable +would have given, immediately expressed his intention of paying his +respects to them, and, with a rising colour, asked her if she would +have the goodness to show him the way. "You may see the house from this +window, sir," was information on Sarah's side, which produced only a +bow of acknowledgment from the gentleman, and a silencing nod from +her mother; for Mrs. Morland, thinking it probable, as a secondary +consideration in his wish of waiting on their worthy neighbours, that he +might have some explanation to give of his father's behaviour, which it +must be more pleasant for him to communicate only to Catherine, would +not on any account prevent her accompanying him. They began their walk, +and Mrs. Morland was not entirely mistaken in his object in wishing it. +Some explanation on his father's account he had to give; but his first +purpose was to explain himself, and before they reached Mr. Allen's +grounds he had done it so well that Catherine did not think it could +ever be repeated too often. She was assured of his affection; and that +heart in return was solicited, which, perhaps, they pretty equally +knew was already entirely his own; for, though Henry was now sincerely +attached to her, though he felt and delighted in all the excellencies +of her character and truly loved her society, I must confess that his +affection originated in nothing better than gratitude, or, in other +words, that a persuasion of her partiality for him had been the only +cause of giving her a serious thought. It is a new circumstance in +romance, I acknowledge, and dreadfully derogatory of an heroine's +dignity; but if it be as new in common life, the credit of a wild +imagination will at least be all my own. + +A very short visit to Mrs. Allen, in which Henry talked at random, +without sense or connection, and Catherine, rapt in the contemplation of +her own unutterable happiness, scarcely opened her lips, dismissed them +to the ecstasies of another tete-a-tete; and before it was suffered to +close, she was enabled to judge how far he was sanctioned by parental +authority in his present application. On his return from Woodston, two +days before, he had been met near the abbey by his impatient father, +hastily informed in angry terms of Miss Morland's departure, and ordered +to think of her no more. + +Such was the permission upon which he had now offered her his hand. +The affrighted Catherine, amidst all the terrors of expectation, as she +listened to this account, could not but rejoice in the kind caution +with which Henry had saved her from the necessity of a conscientious +rejection, by engaging her faith before he mentioned the subject; and +as he proceeded to give the particulars, and explain the motives of +his father's conduct, her feelings soon hardened into even a triumphant +delight. The general had had nothing to accuse her of, nothing to lay +to her charge, but her being the involuntary, unconscious object of a +deception which his pride could not pardon, and which a better pride +would have been ashamed to own. She was guilty only of being less rich +than he had supposed her to be. Under a mistaken persuasion of her +possessions and claims, he had courted her acquaintance in Bath, +solicited her company at Northanger, and designed her for his +daughter-in-law. On discovering his error, to turn her from the house +seemed the best, though to his feelings an inadequate proof of his +resentment towards herself, and his contempt of her family. + +John Thorpe had first misled him. The general, perceiving his son +one night at the theatre to be paying considerable attention to Miss +Morland, had accidentally inquired of Thorpe if he knew more of her +than her name. Thorpe, most happy to be on speaking terms with a man +of General Tilney's importance, had been joyfully and proudly +communicative; and being at that time not only in daily expectation +of Morland's engaging Isabella, but likewise pretty well resolved upon +marrying Catherine himself, his vanity induced him to represent the +family as yet more wealthy than his vanity and avarice had made him +believe them. With whomsoever he was, or was likely to be connected, his +own consequence always required that theirs should be great, and as his +intimacy with any acquaintance grew, so regularly grew their fortune. +The expectations of his friend Morland, therefore, from the first +overrated, had ever since his introduction to Isabella been gradually +increasing; and by merely adding twice as much for the grandeur of the +moment, by doubling what he chose to think the amount of Mr. Morland's +preferment, trebling his private fortune, bestowing a rich aunt, and +sinking half the children, he was able to represent the whole family +to the general in a most respectable light. For Catherine, however, the +peculiar object of the general's curiosity, and his own speculations, +he had yet something more in reserve, and the ten or fifteen thousand +pounds which her father could give her would be a pretty addition to Mr. +Allen's estate. Her intimacy there had made him seriously determine on +her being handsomely legacied hereafter; and to speak of her therefore +as the almost acknowledged future heiress of Fullerton naturally +followed. Upon such intelligence the general had proceeded; for never +had it occurred to him to doubt its authority. Thorpe's interest in the +family, by his sister's approaching connection with one of its members, +and his own views on another (circumstances of which he boasted with +almost equal openness), seemed sufficient vouchers for his truth; and +to these were added the absolute facts of the Allens being wealthy and +childless, of Miss Morland's being under their care, and--as soon as his +acquaintance allowed him to judge--of their treating her with parental +kindness. His resolution was soon formed. Already had he discerned a +liking towards Miss Morland in the countenance of his son; and thankful +for Mr. Thorpe's communication, he almost instantly determined to spare +no pains in weakening his boasted interest and ruining his dearest +hopes. Catherine herself could not be more ignorant at the time of all +this, than his own children. Henry and Eleanor, perceiving nothing in +her situation likely to engage their father's particular respect, had +seen with astonishment the suddenness, continuance, and extent of his +attention; and though latterly, from some hints which had accompanied an +almost positive command to his son of doing everything in his power to +attach her, Henry was convinced of his father's believing it to be +an advantageous connection, it was not till the late explanation at +Northanger that they had the smallest idea of the false calculations +which had hurried him on. That they were false, the general had learnt +from the very person who had suggested them, from Thorpe himself, whom +he had chanced to meet again in town, and who, under the influence of +exactly opposite feelings, irritated by Catherine's refusal, and +yet more by the failure of a very recent endeavour to accomplish a +reconciliation between Morland and Isabella, convinced that they were +separated forever, and spurning a friendship which could be no longer +serviceable, hastened to contradict all that he had said before to +the advantage of the Morlands--confessed himself to have been totally +mistaken in his opinion of their circumstances and character, misled by +the rhodomontade of his friend to believe his father a man of substance +and credit, whereas the transactions of the two or three last weeks +proved him to be neither; for after coming eagerly forward on the first +overture of a marriage between the families, with the most liberal +proposals, he had, on being brought to the point by the shrewdness of +the relator, been constrained to acknowledge himself incapable of +giving the young people even a decent support. They were, in fact, a +necessitous family; numerous, too, almost beyond example; by no means +respected in their own neighbourhood, as he had lately had particular +opportunities of discovering; aiming at a style of life which their +fortune could not warrant; seeking to better themselves by wealthy +connections; a forward, bragging, scheming race. + +The terrified general pronounced the name of Allen with an inquiring +look; and here too Thorpe had learnt his error. The Allens, he believed, +had lived near them too long, and he knew the young man on whom the +Fullerton estate must devolve. The general needed no more. Enraged with +almost everybody in the world but himself, he set out the next day for +the abbey, where his performances have been seen. + +I leave it to my reader's sagacity to determine how much of all this +it was possible for Henry to communicate at this time to Catherine, how +much of it he could have learnt from his father, in what points his own +conjectures might assist him, and what portion must yet remain to be +told in a letter from James. I have united for their case what they must +divide for mine. Catherine, at any rate, heard enough to feel that in +suspecting General Tilney of either murdering or shutting up his wife, +she had scarcely sinned against his character, or magnified his cruelty. + +Henry, in having such things to relate of his father, was almost +as pitiable as in their first avowal to himself. He blushed for the +narrow-minded counsel which he was obliged to expose. The conversation +between them at Northanger had been of the most unfriendly kind. Henry's +indignation on hearing how Catherine had been treated, on comprehending +his father's views, and being ordered to acquiesce in them, had been +open and bold. The general, accustomed on every ordinary occasion to +give the law in his family, prepared for no reluctance but of feeling, +no opposing desire that should dare to clothe itself in words, could ill +brook the opposition of his son, steady as the sanction of reason and +the dictate of conscience could make it. But, in such a cause, his +anger, though it must shock, could not intimidate Henry, who was +sustained in his purpose by a conviction of its justice. He felt himself +bound as much in honour as in affection to Miss Morland, and believing +that heart to be his own which he had been directed to gain, no unworthy +retraction of a tacit consent, no reversing decree of unjustifiable +anger, could shake his fidelity, or influence the resolutions it +prompted. + +He steadily refused to accompany his father into Herefordshire, an +engagement formed almost at the moment to promote the dismissal of +Catherine, and as steadily declared his intention of offering her his +hand. The general was furious in his anger, and they parted in dreadful +disagreement. Henry, in an agitation of mind which many solitary hours +were required to compose, had returned almost instantly to Woodston, +and, on the afternoon of the following day, had begun his journey to +Fullerton. + + + + +CHAPTER 31 + + +Mr. and Mrs. Morland's surprise on being applied to by Mr. Tilney for +their consent to his marrying their daughter was, for a few minutes, +considerable, it having never entered their heads to suspect an +attachment on either side; but as nothing, after all, could be more +natural than Catherine's being beloved, they soon learnt to consider it +with only the happy agitation of gratified pride, and, as far as they +alone were concerned, had not a single objection to start. His pleasing +manners and good sense were self-evident recommendations; and having +never heard evil of him, it was not their way to suppose any evil could +be told. Goodwill supplying the place of experience, his character +needed no attestation. "Catherine would make a sad, heedless young +housekeeper to be sure," was her mother's foreboding remark; but quick +was the consolation of there being nothing like practice. + +There was but one obstacle, in short, to be mentioned; but till that one +was removed, it must be impossible for them to sanction the engagement. +Their tempers were mild, but their principles were steady, and while +his parent so expressly forbade the connection, they could not allow +themselves to encourage it. That the general should come forward to +solicit the alliance, or that he should even very heartily approve it, +they were not refined enough to make any parading stipulation; but +the decent appearance of consent must be yielded, and that once +obtained--and their own hearts made them trust that it could not be +very long denied--their willing approbation was instantly to follow. His +consent was all that they wished for. They were no more inclined than +entitled to demand his money. Of a very considerable fortune, his son +was, by marriage settlements, eventually secure; his present income was +an income of independence and comfort, and under every pecuniary view, +it was a match beyond the claims of their daughter. + +The young people could not be surprised at a decision like this. They +felt and they deplored--but they could not resent it; and they parted, +endeavouring to hope that such a change in the general, as each believed +almost impossible, might speedily take place, to unite them again in +the fullness of privileged affection. Henry returned to what was now +his only home, to watch over his young plantations, and extend his +improvements for her sake, to whose share in them he looked anxiously +forward; and Catherine remained at Fullerton to cry. Whether the +torments of absence were softened by a clandestine correspondence, let +us not inquire. Mr. and Mrs. Morland never did--they had been too kind +to exact any promise; and whenever Catherine received a letter, as, at +that time, happened pretty often, they always looked another way. + +The anxiety, which in this state of their attachment must be the portion +of Henry and Catherine, and of all who loved either, as to its final +event, can hardly extend, I fear, to the bosom of my readers, who will +see in the tell-tale compression of the pages before them, that we are +all hastening together to perfect felicity. The means by which their +early marriage was effected can be the only doubt: what probable +circumstance could work upon a temper like the general's? The +circumstance which chiefly availed was the marriage of his daughter with +a man of fortune and consequence, which took place in the course of +the summer--an accession of dignity that threw him into a fit of good +humour, from which he did not recover till after Eleanor had obtained +his forgiveness of Henry, and his permission for him "to be a fool if he +liked it!" + +The marriage of Eleanor Tilney, her removal from all the evils of such +a home as Northanger had been made by Henry's banishment, to the home of +her choice and the man of her choice, is an event which I expect to +give general satisfaction among all her acquaintance. My own joy on the +occasion is very sincere. I know no one more entitled, by unpretending +merit, or better prepared by habitual suffering, to receive and enjoy +felicity. Her partiality for this gentleman was not of recent origin; +and he had been long withheld only by inferiority of situation from +addressing her. His unexpected accession to title and fortune had +removed all his difficulties; and never had the general loved his +daughter so well in all her hours of companionship, utility, and patient +endurance as when he first hailed her "Your Ladyship!" Her husband was +really deserving of her; independent of his peerage, his wealth, and +his attachment, being to a precision the most charming young man in the +world. Any further definition of his merits must be unnecessary; the +most charming young man in the world is instantly before the imagination +of us all. Concerning the one in question, therefore, I have only to +add--aware that the rules of composition forbid the introduction of a +character not connected with my fable--that this was the very +gentleman whose negligent servant left behind him that collection of +washing-bills, resulting from a long visit at Northanger, by which my +heroine was involved in one of her most alarming adventures. + +The influence of the viscount and viscountess in their brother's behalf +was assisted by that right understanding of Mr. Morland's circumstances +which, as soon as the general would allow himself to be informed, they +were qualified to give. It taught him that he had been scarcely +more misled by Thorpe's first boast of the family wealth than by his +subsequent malicious overthrow of it; that in no sense of the word were +they necessitous or poor, and that Catherine would have three thousand +pounds. This was so material an amendment of his late expectations that +it greatly contributed to smooth the descent of his pride; and by no +means without its effect was the private intelligence, which he was at +some pains to procure, that the Fullerton estate, being entirely at +the disposal of its present proprietor, was consequently open to every +greedy speculation. + +On the strength of this, the general, soon after Eleanor's marriage, +permitted his son to return to Northanger, and thence made him the +bearer of his consent, very courteously worded in a page full of empty +professions to Mr. Morland. The event which it authorized soon followed: +Henry and Catherine were married, the bells rang, and everybody smiled; +and, as this took place within a twelvemonth from the first day of their +meeting, it will not appear, after all the dreadful delays occasioned by +the general's cruelty, that they were essentially hurt by it. To begin +perfect happiness at the respective ages of twenty-six and eighteen is +to do pretty well; and professing myself moreover convinced that the +general's unjust interference, so far from being really injurious to +their felicity, was perhaps rather conducive to it, by improving their +knowledge of each other, and adding strength to their attachment, +I leave it to be settled, by whomsoever it may concern, whether the +tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or +reward filial disobedience. + + + +*Vide a letter from Mr. Richardson, No. 97, Vol. II, Rambler. + + + + +A NOTE ON THE TEXT + +Northanger Abbey was written in 1797-98 under a different title. The +manuscript was revised around 1803 and sold to a London publisher, +Crosbie & Co., who sold it back in 1816. The Signet Classic text +is based on the first edition, published by John Murray, London, in +1818--the year following Miss Austen's death. Spelling and punctuation +have been largely brought into conformity with modern British usage. + + + + + + + + + +MANSFIELD PARK + +(1814) + + +By Jane Austen + + + + +CHAPTER I + +About thirty years ago Miss Maria Ward, of Huntingdon, with only seven +thousand pounds, had the good luck to captivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of +Mansfield Park, in the county of Northampton, and to be thereby raised +to the rank of a baronet's lady, with all the comforts and consequences +of an handsome house and large income. All Huntingdon exclaimed on the +greatness of the match, and her uncle, the lawyer, himself, allowed her +to be at least three thousand pounds short of any equitable claim to it. +She had two sisters to be benefited by her elevation; and such of their +acquaintance as thought Miss Ward and Miss Frances quite as handsome as +Miss Maria, did not scruple to predict their marrying with almost equal +advantage. But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in +the world as there are pretty women to deserve them. Miss Ward, at the +end of half a dozen years, found herself obliged to be attached to +the Rev. Mr. Norris, a friend of her brother-in-law, with scarcely any +private fortune, and Miss Frances fared yet worse. Miss Ward's match, +indeed, when it came to the point, was not contemptible: Sir Thomas +being happily able to give his friend an income in the living of +Mansfield; and Mr. and Mrs. Norris began their career of conjugal +felicity with very little less than a thousand a year. But Miss Frances +married, in the common phrase, to disoblige her family, and by fixing on +a lieutenant of marines, without education, fortune, or connexions, did +it very thoroughly. She could hardly have made a more untoward choice. +Sir Thomas Bertram had interest, which, from principle as well as +pride--from a general wish of doing right, and a desire of seeing all +that were connected with him in situations of respectability, he would +have been glad to exert for the advantage of Lady Bertram's sister; but +her husband's profession was such as no interest could reach; and before +he had time to devise any other method of assisting them, an absolute +breach between the sisters had taken place. It was the natural result of +the conduct of each party, and such as a very imprudent marriage almost +always produces. To save herself from useless remonstrance, Mrs. Price +never wrote to her family on the subject till actually married. Lady +Bertram, who was a woman of very tranquil feelings, and a temper +remarkably easy and indolent, would have contented herself with merely +giving up her sister, and thinking no more of the matter; but Mrs. +Norris had a spirit of activity, which could not be satisfied till she +had written a long and angry letter to Fanny, to point out the folly of +her conduct, and threaten her with all its possible ill consequences. +Mrs. Price, in her turn, was injured and angry; and an answer, which +comprehended each sister in its bitterness, and bestowed such very +disrespectful reflections on the pride of Sir Thomas as Mrs. Norris +could not possibly keep to herself, put an end to all intercourse +between them for a considerable period. + +Their homes were so distant, and the circles in which they moved so +distinct, as almost to preclude the means of ever hearing of each +other's existence during the eleven following years, or, at least, to +make it very wonderful to Sir Thomas that Mrs. Norris should ever have +it in her power to tell them, as she now and then did, in an angry +voice, that Fanny had got another child. By the end of eleven years, +however, Mrs. Price could no longer afford to cherish pride or +resentment, or to lose one connexion that might possibly assist her. +A large and still increasing family, an husband disabled for active +service, but not the less equal to company and good liquor, and a very +small income to supply their wants, made her eager to regain the friends +she had so carelessly sacrificed; and she addressed Lady Bertram in +a letter which spoke so much contrition and despondence, such a +superfluity of children, and such a want of almost everything else, as +could not but dispose them all to a reconciliation. She was preparing +for her ninth lying-in; and after bewailing the circumstance, and +imploring their countenance as sponsors to the expected child, she +could not conceal how important she felt they might be to the future +maintenance of the eight already in being. Her eldest was a boy of ten +years old, a fine spirited fellow, who longed to be out in the world; +but what could she do? Was there any chance of his being hereafter +useful to Sir Thomas in the concerns of his West Indian property? +No situation would be beneath him; or what did Sir Thomas think of +Woolwich? or how could a boy be sent out to the East? + +The letter was not unproductive. It re-established peace and kindness. +Sir Thomas sent friendly advice and professions, Lady Bertram dispatched +money and baby-linen, and Mrs. Norris wrote the letters. + +Such were its immediate effects, and within a twelvemonth a more +important advantage to Mrs. Price resulted from it. Mrs. Norris was +often observing to the others that she could not get her poor sister and +her family out of her head, and that, much as they had all done for her, +she seemed to be wanting to do more; and at length she could not but +own it to be her wish that poor Mrs. Price should be relieved from the +charge and expense of one child entirely out of her great number. "What +if they were among them to undertake the care of her eldest daughter, +a girl now nine years old, of an age to require more attention than her +poor mother could possibly give? The trouble and expense of it to them +would be nothing, compared with the benevolence of the action." Lady +Bertram agreed with her instantly. "I think we cannot do better," said +she; "let us send for the child." + +Sir Thomas could not give so instantaneous and unqualified a consent. He +debated and hesitated;--it was a serious charge;--a girl so brought up +must be adequately provided for, or there would be cruelty instead +of kindness in taking her from her family. He thought of his own four +children, of his two sons, of cousins in love, etc.;--but no sooner +had he deliberately begun to state his objections, than Mrs. Norris +interrupted him with a reply to them all, whether stated or not. + +"My dear Sir Thomas, I perfectly comprehend you, and do justice to the +generosity and delicacy of your notions, which indeed are quite of a +piece with your general conduct; and I entirely agree with you in +the main as to the propriety of doing everything one could by way of +providing for a child one had in a manner taken into one's own hands; +and I am sure I should be the last person in the world to withhold my +mite upon such an occasion. Having no children of my own, who should I +look to in any little matter I may ever have to bestow, but the children +of my sisters?--and I am sure Mr. Norris is too just--but you know I am +a woman of few words and professions. Do not let us be frightened from +a good deed by a trifle. Give a girl an education, and introduce +her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of +settling well, without farther expense to anybody. A niece of ours, Sir +Thomas, I may say, or at least of _yours_, would not grow up in this +neighbourhood without many advantages. I don't say she would be so +handsome as her cousins. I dare say she would not; but she would be +introduced into the society of this country under such very favourable +circumstances as, in all human probability, would get her a creditable +establishment. You are thinking of your sons--but do not you know that, +of all things upon earth, _that_ is the least likely to happen, brought +up as they would be, always together like brothers and sisters? It is +morally impossible. I never knew an instance of it. It is, in fact, the +only sure way of providing against the connexion. Suppose her a pretty +girl, and seen by Tom or Edmund for the first time seven years hence, +and I dare say there would be mischief. The very idea of her having been +suffered to grow up at a distance from us all in poverty and neglect, +would be enough to make either of the dear, sweet-tempered boys in love +with her. But breed her up with them from this time, and suppose her +even to have the beauty of an angel, and she will never be more to +either than a sister." + +"There is a great deal of truth in what you say," replied Sir Thomas, +"and far be it from me to throw any fanciful impediment in the way of a +plan which would be so consistent with the relative situations of each. +I only meant to observe that it ought not to be lightly engaged in, +and that to make it really serviceable to Mrs. Price, and creditable to +ourselves, we must secure to the child, or consider ourselves engaged to +secure to her hereafter, as circumstances may arise, the provision of +a gentlewoman, if no such establishment should offer as you are so +sanguine in expecting." + +"I thoroughly understand you," cried Mrs. Norris, "you are everything +that is generous and considerate, and I am sure we shall never disagree +on this point. Whatever I can do, as you well know, I am always ready +enough to do for the good of those I love; and, though I could never +feel for this little girl the hundredth part of the regard I bear your +own dear children, nor consider her, in any respect, so much my own, +I should hate myself if I were capable of neglecting her. Is not she a +sister's child? and could I bear to see her want while I had a bit of +bread to give her? My dear Sir Thomas, with all my faults I have a warm +heart; and, poor as I am, would rather deny myself the necessaries of +life than do an ungenerous thing. So, if you are not against it, I will +write to my poor sister tomorrow, and make the proposal; and, as soon +as matters are settled, _I_ will engage to get the child to Mansfield; +_you_ shall have no trouble about it. My own trouble, you know, I never +regard. I will send Nanny to London on purpose, and she may have a bed +at her cousin the saddler's, and the child be appointed to meet her +there. They may easily get her from Portsmouth to town by the coach, +under the care of any creditable person that may chance to be going. I +dare say there is always some reputable tradesman's wife or other going +up." + +Except to the attack on Nanny's cousin, Sir Thomas no longer made any +objection, and a more respectable, though less economical rendezvous +being accordingly substituted, everything was considered as settled, +and the pleasures of so benevolent a scheme were already enjoyed. The +division of gratifying sensations ought not, in strict justice, to +have been equal; for Sir Thomas was fully resolved to be the real and +consistent patron of the selected child, and Mrs. Norris had not the +least intention of being at any expense whatever in her maintenance. +As far as walking, talking, and contriving reached, she was thoroughly +benevolent, and nobody knew better how to dictate liberality to others; +but her love of money was equal to her love of directing, and she knew +quite as well how to save her own as to spend that of her friends. +Having married on a narrower income than she had been used to look +forward to, she had, from the first, fancied a very strict line of +economy necessary; and what was begun as a matter of prudence, soon grew +into a matter of choice, as an object of that needful solicitude which +there were no children to supply. Had there been a family to provide +for, Mrs. Norris might never have saved her money; but having no care +of that kind, there was nothing to impede her frugality, or lessen the +comfort of making a yearly addition to an income which they had never +lived up to. Under this infatuating principle, counteracted by no real +affection for her sister, it was impossible for her to aim at more than +the credit of projecting and arranging so expensive a charity; though +perhaps she might so little know herself as to walk home to the +Parsonage, after this conversation, in the happy belief of being the +most liberal-minded sister and aunt in the world. + +When the subject was brought forward again, her views were more fully +explained; and, in reply to Lady Bertram's calm inquiry of "Where shall +the child come to first, sister, to you or to us?" Sir Thomas heard with +some surprise that it would be totally out of Mrs. Norris's power to +take any share in the personal charge of her. He had been considering +her as a particularly welcome addition at the Parsonage, as a desirable +companion to an aunt who had no children of her own; but he found +himself wholly mistaken. Mrs. Norris was sorry to say that the little +girl's staying with them, at least as things then were, was quite out of +the question. Poor Mr. Norris's indifferent state of health made it an +impossibility: he could no more bear the noise of a child than he could +fly; if, indeed, he should ever get well of his gouty complaints, it +would be a different matter: she should then be glad to take her turn, +and think nothing of the inconvenience; but just now, poor Mr. Norris +took up every moment of her time, and the very mention of such a thing +she was sure would distract him. + +"Then she had better come to us," said Lady Bertram, with the utmost +composure. After a short pause Sir Thomas added with dignity, "Yes, let +her home be in this house. We will endeavour to do our duty by her, and +she will, at least, have the advantage of companions of her own age, and +of a regular instructress." + +"Very true," cried Mrs. Norris, "which are both very important +considerations; and it will be just the same to Miss Lee whether she has +three girls to teach, or only two--there can be no difference. I only +wish I could be more useful; but you see I do all in my power. I am not +one of those that spare their own trouble; and Nanny shall fetch her, +however it may put me to inconvenience to have my chief counsellor away +for three days. I suppose, sister, you will put the child in the little +white attic, near the old nurseries. It will be much the best place +for her, so near Miss Lee, and not far from the girls, and close by the +housemaids, who could either of them help to dress her, you know, and +take care of her clothes, for I suppose you would not think it fair to +expect Ellis to wait on her as well as the others. Indeed, I do not see +that you could possibly place her anywhere else." + +Lady Bertram made no opposition. + +"I hope she will prove a well-disposed girl," continued Mrs. Norris, +"and be sensible of her uncommon good fortune in having such friends." + +"Should her disposition be really bad," said Sir Thomas, "we must not, +for our own children's sake, continue her in the family; but there is +no reason to expect so great an evil. We shall probably see much to wish +altered in her, and must prepare ourselves for gross ignorance, some +meanness of opinions, and very distressing vulgarity of manner; but +these are not incurable faults; nor, I trust, can they be dangerous for +her associates. Had my daughters been _younger_ than herself, I should +have considered the introduction of such a companion as a matter of very +serious moment; but, as it is, I hope there can be nothing to fear for +_them_, and everything to hope for _her_, from the association." + +"That is exactly what I think," cried Mrs. Norris, "and what I was +saying to my husband this morning. It will be an education for the +child, said I, only being with her cousins; if Miss Lee taught her +nothing, she would learn to be good and clever from _them_." + +"I hope she will not tease my poor pug," said Lady Bertram; "I have but +just got Julia to leave it alone." + +"There will be some difficulty in our way, Mrs. Norris," observed Sir +Thomas, "as to the distinction proper to be made between the girls +as they grow up: how to preserve in the minds of my _daughters_ the +consciousness of what they are, without making them think too lowly of +their cousin; and how, without depressing her spirits too far, to make +her remember that she is not a _Miss Bertram_. I should wish to see them +very good friends, and would, on no account, authorise in my girls the +smallest degree of arrogance towards their relation; but still they +cannot be equals. Their rank, fortune, rights, and expectations will +always be different. It is a point of great delicacy, and you must +assist us in our endeavours to choose exactly the right line of +conduct." + +Mrs. Norris was quite at his service; and though she perfectly agreed +with him as to its being a most difficult thing, encouraged him to hope +that between them it would be easily managed. + +It will be readily believed that Mrs. Norris did not write to her sister +in vain. Mrs. Price seemed rather surprised that a girl should be +fixed on, when she had so many fine boys, but accepted the offer most +thankfully, assuring them of her daughter's being a very well-disposed, +good-humoured girl, and trusting they would never have cause to throw +her off. She spoke of her farther as somewhat delicate and puny, but was +sanguine in the hope of her being materially better for change of air. +Poor woman! she probably thought change of air might agree with many of +her children. + + + +CHAPTER II + +The little girl performed her long journey in safety; and at Northampton +was met by Mrs. Norris, who thus regaled in the credit of being foremost +to welcome her, and in the importance of leading her in to the others, +and recommending her to their kindness. + +Fanny Price was at this time just ten years old, and though there might +not be much in her first appearance to captivate, there was, at least, +nothing to disgust her relations. She was small of her age, with no glow +of complexion, nor any other striking beauty; exceedingly timid and shy, +and shrinking from notice; but her air, though awkward, was not vulgar, +her voice was sweet, and when she spoke her countenance was pretty. Sir +Thomas and Lady Bertram received her very kindly; and Sir Thomas, +seeing how much she needed encouragement, tried to be all that was +conciliating: but he had to work against a most untoward gravity of +deportment; and Lady Bertram, without taking half so much trouble, or +speaking one word where he spoke ten, by the mere aid of a good-humoured +smile, became immediately the less awful character of the two. + +The young people were all at home, and sustained their share in the +introduction very well, with much good humour, and no embarrassment, at +least on the part of the sons, who, at seventeen and sixteen, and tall +of their age, had all the grandeur of men in the eyes of their little +cousin. The two girls were more at a loss from being younger and in +greater awe of their father, who addressed them on the occasion with +rather an injudicious particularity. But they were too much used to +company and praise to have anything like natural shyness; and their +confidence increasing from their cousin's total want of it, they were +soon able to take a full survey of her face and her frock in easy +indifference. + +They were a remarkably fine family, the sons very well-looking, the +daughters decidedly handsome, and all of them well-grown and forward of +their age, which produced as striking a difference between the cousins +in person, as education had given to their address; and no one would +have supposed the girls so nearly of an age as they really were. There +were in fact but two years between the youngest and Fanny. Julia +Bertram was only twelve, and Maria but a year older. The little visitor +meanwhile was as unhappy as possible. Afraid of everybody, ashamed of +herself, and longing for the home she had left, she knew not how to look +up, and could scarcely speak to be heard, or without crying. Mrs. Norris +had been talking to her the whole way from Northampton of her wonderful +good fortune, and the extraordinary degree of gratitude and good +behaviour which it ought to produce, and her consciousness of misery was +therefore increased by the idea of its being a wicked thing for her +not to be happy. The fatigue, too, of so long a journey, became soon no +trifling evil. In vain were the well-meant condescensions of Sir Thomas, +and all the officious prognostications of Mrs. Norris that she would be +a good girl; in vain did Lady Bertram smile and make her sit on the sofa +with herself and pug, and vain was even the sight of a gooseberry tart +towards giving her comfort; she could scarcely swallow two mouthfuls +before tears interrupted her, and sleep seeming to be her likeliest +friend, she was taken to finish her sorrows in bed. + +"This is not a very promising beginning," said Mrs. Norris, when Fanny +had left the room. "After all that I said to her as we came along, I +thought she would have behaved better; I told her how much might depend +upon her acquitting herself well at first. I wish there may not be a +little sulkiness of temper--her poor mother had a good deal; but we must +make allowances for such a child--and I do not know that her being sorry +to leave her home is really against her, for, with all its faults, +it _was_ her home, and she cannot as yet understand how much she has +changed for the better; but then there is moderation in all things." + +It required a longer time, however, than Mrs. Norris was inclined to +allow, to reconcile Fanny to the novelty of Mansfield Park, and the +separation from everybody she had been used to. Her feelings were very +acute, and too little understood to be properly attended to. Nobody +meant to be unkind, but nobody put themselves out of their way to secure +her comfort. + +The holiday allowed to the Miss Bertrams the next day, on purpose to +afford leisure for getting acquainted with, and entertaining their young +cousin, produced little union. They could not but hold her cheap on +finding that she had but two sashes, and had never learned French; and +when they perceived her to be little struck with the duet they were so +good as to play, they could do no more than make her a generous present +of some of their least valued toys, and leave her to herself, while +they adjourned to whatever might be the favourite holiday sport of the +moment, making artificial flowers or wasting gold paper. + +Fanny, whether near or from her cousins, whether in the schoolroom, the +drawing-room, or the shrubbery, was equally forlorn, finding something +to fear in every person and place. She was disheartened by Lady +Bertram's silence, awed by Sir Thomas's grave looks, and quite overcome +by Mrs. Norris's admonitions. Her elder cousins mortified her by +reflections on her size, and abashed her by noticing her shyness: Miss +Lee wondered at her ignorance, and the maid-servants sneered at her +clothes; and when to these sorrows was added the idea of the brothers +and sisters among whom she had always been important as playfellow, +instructress, and nurse, the despondence that sunk her little heart was +severe. + +The grandeur of the house astonished, but could not console her. The +rooms were too large for her to move in with ease: whatever she touched +she expected to injure, and she crept about in constant terror of +something or other; often retreating towards her own chamber to cry; and +the little girl who was spoken of in the drawing-room when she left it +at night as seeming so desirably sensible of her peculiar good fortune, +ended every day's sorrows by sobbing herself to sleep. A week had +passed in this way, and no suspicion of it conveyed by her quiet +passive manner, when she was found one morning by her cousin Edmund, the +youngest of the sons, sitting crying on the attic stairs. + +"My dear little cousin," said he, with all the gentleness of an +excellent nature, "what can be the matter?" And sitting down by her, +he was at great pains to overcome her shame in being so surprised, and +persuade her to speak openly. Was she ill? or was anybody angry with +her? or had she quarrelled with Maria and Julia? or was she puzzled +about anything in her lesson that he could explain? Did she, in short, +want anything he could possibly get her, or do for her? For a long while +no answer could be obtained beyond a "no, no--not at all--no, thank +you"; but he still persevered; and no sooner had he begun to revert +to her own home, than her increased sobs explained to him where the +grievance lay. He tried to console her. + +"You are sorry to leave Mama, my dear little Fanny," said he, "which +shows you to be a very good girl; but you must remember that you are +with relations and friends, who all love you, and wish to make you +happy. Let us walk out in the park, and you shall tell me all about your +brothers and sisters." + +On pursuing the subject, he found that, dear as all these brothers and +sisters generally were, there was one among them who ran more in her +thoughts than the rest. It was William whom she talked of most, and +wanted most to see. William, the eldest, a year older than herself, her +constant companion and friend; her advocate with her mother (of whom +he was the darling) in every distress. "William did not like she should +come away; he had told her he should miss her very much indeed." "But +William will write to you, I dare say." "Yes, he had promised he would, +but he had told _her_ to write first." "And when shall you do it?" She +hung her head and answered hesitatingly, "she did not know; she had not +any paper." + +"If that be all your difficulty, I will furnish you with paper and every +other material, and you may write your letter whenever you choose. Would +it make you happy to write to William?" + +"Yes, very." + +"Then let it be done now. Come with me into the breakfast-room, we shall +find everything there, and be sure of having the room to ourselves." + +"But, cousin, will it go to the post?" + +"Yes, depend upon me it shall: it shall go with the other letters; and, +as your uncle will frank it, it will cost William nothing." + +"My uncle!" repeated Fanny, with a frightened look. + +"Yes, when you have written the letter, I will take it to my father to +frank." + +Fanny thought it a bold measure, but offered no further resistance; and +they went together into the breakfast-room, where Edmund prepared her +paper, and ruled her lines with all the goodwill that her brother +could himself have felt, and probably with somewhat more exactness. He +continued with her the whole time of her writing, to assist her with his +penknife or his orthography, as either were wanted; and added to these +attentions, which she felt very much, a kindness to her brother which +delighted her beyond all the rest. He wrote with his own hand his +love to his cousin William, and sent him half a guinea under the seal. +Fanny's feelings on the occasion were such as she believed herself +incapable of expressing; but her countenance and a few artless words +fully conveyed all their gratitude and delight, and her cousin began +to find her an interesting object. He talked to her more, and, from all +that she said, was convinced of her having an affectionate heart, and +a strong desire of doing right; and he could perceive her to be farther +entitled to attention by great sensibility of her situation, and great +timidity. He had never knowingly given her pain, but he now felt that +she required more positive kindness; and with that view endeavoured, +in the first place, to lessen her fears of them all, and gave her +especially a great deal of good advice as to playing with Maria and +Julia, and being as merry as possible. + +From this day Fanny grew more comfortable. She felt that she had a +friend, and the kindness of her cousin Edmund gave her better spirits +with everybody else. The place became less strange, and the people less +formidable; and if there were some amongst them whom she could not cease +to fear, she began at least to know their ways, and to catch the best +manner of conforming to them. The little rusticities and awkwardnesses +which had at first made grievous inroads on the tranquillity of all, +and not least of herself, necessarily wore away, and she was no longer +materially afraid to appear before her uncle, nor did her aunt Norris's +voice make her start very much. To her cousins she became occasionally +an acceptable companion. Though unworthy, from inferiority of age and +strength, to be their constant associate, their pleasures and schemes +were sometimes of a nature to make a third very useful, especially when +that third was of an obliging, yielding temper; and they could not but +own, when their aunt inquired into her faults, or their brother Edmund +urged her claims to their kindness, that "Fanny was good-natured +enough." + +Edmund was uniformly kind himself; and she had nothing worse to endure +on the part of Tom than that sort of merriment which a young man of +seventeen will always think fair with a child of ten. He was just +entering into life, full of spirits, and with all the liberal +dispositions of an eldest son, who feels born only for expense and +enjoyment. His kindness to his little cousin was consistent with his +situation and rights: he made her some very pretty presents, and laughed +at her. + +As her appearance and spirits improved, Sir Thomas and Mrs. Norris +thought with greater satisfaction of their benevolent plan; and it +was pretty soon decided between them that, though far from clever, she +showed a tractable disposition, and seemed likely to give them little +trouble. A mean opinion of her abilities was not confined to _them_. +Fanny could read, work, and write, but she had been taught nothing more; +and as her cousins found her ignorant of many things with which they had +been long familiar, they thought her prodigiously stupid, and for the +first two or three weeks were continually bringing some fresh report of +it into the drawing-room. "Dear mama, only think, my cousin cannot +put the map of Europe together--or my cousin cannot tell the principal +rivers in Russia--or, she never heard of Asia Minor--or she does +not know the difference between water-colours and crayons!--How +strange!--Did you ever hear anything so stupid?" + +"My dear," their considerate aunt would reply, "it is very bad, but +you must not expect everybody to be as forward and quick at learning as +yourself." + +"But, aunt, she is really so very ignorant!--Do you know, we asked her +last night which way she would go to get to Ireland; and she said, she +should cross to the Isle of Wight. She thinks of nothing but the Isle of +Wight, and she calls it _the_ _Island_, as if there were no other island +in the world. I am sure I should have been ashamed of myself, if I had +not known better long before I was so old as she is. I cannot remember +the time when I did not know a great deal that she has not the least +notion of yet. How long ago it is, aunt, since we used to repeat the +chronological order of the kings of England, with the dates of their +accession, and most of the principal events of their reigns!" + +"Yes," added the other; "and of the Roman emperors as low as Severus; +besides a great deal of the heathen mythology, and all the metals, +semi-metals, planets, and distinguished philosophers." + +"Very true indeed, my dears, but you are blessed with wonderful +memories, and your poor cousin has probably none at all. There is a +vast deal of difference in memories, as well as in everything else, +and therefore you must make allowance for your cousin, and pity her +deficiency. And remember that, if you are ever so forward and clever +yourselves, you should always be modest; for, much as you know already, +there is a great deal more for you to learn." + +"Yes, I know there is, till I am seventeen. But I must tell you another +thing of Fanny, so odd and so stupid. Do you know, she says she does not +want to learn either music or drawing." + +"To be sure, my dear, that is very stupid indeed, and shows a great +want of genius and emulation. But, all things considered, I do not know +whether it is not as well that it should be so, for, though you know +(owing to me) your papa and mama are so good as to bring her up with +you, it is not at all necessary that she should be as accomplished as +you are;--on the contrary, it is much more desirable that there should +be a difference." + +Such were the counsels by which Mrs. Norris assisted to form her nieces' +minds; and it is not very wonderful that, with all their promising +talents and early information, they should be entirely deficient in the +less common acquirements of self-knowledge, generosity and humility. In +everything but disposition they were admirably taught. Sir Thomas did +not know what was wanting, because, though a truly anxious father, he +was not outwardly affectionate, and the reserve of his manner repressed +all the flow of their spirits before him. + +To the education of her daughters Lady Bertram paid not the smallest +attention. She had not time for such cares. She was a woman who spent +her days in sitting, nicely dressed, on a sofa, doing some long piece of +needlework, of little use and no beauty, thinking more of her pug than +her children, but very indulgent to the latter when it did not put +herself to inconvenience, guided in everything important by Sir Thomas, +and in smaller concerns by her sister. Had she possessed greater leisure +for the service of her girls, she would probably have supposed it +unnecessary, for they were under the care of a governess, with proper +masters, and could want nothing more. As for Fanny's being stupid at +learning, "she could only say it was very unlucky, but some people +_were_ stupid, and Fanny must take more pains: she did not know what +else was to be done; and, except her being so dull, she must add she saw +no harm in the poor little thing, and always found her very handy and +quick in carrying messages, and fetching what she wanted." + +Fanny, with all her faults of ignorance and timidity, was fixed at +Mansfield Park, and learning to transfer in its favour much of her +attachment to her former home, grew up there not unhappily among her +cousins. There was no positive ill-nature in Maria or Julia; and though +Fanny was often mortified by their treatment of her, she thought too +lowly of her own claims to feel injured by it. + +From about the time of her entering the family, Lady Bertram, in +consequence of a little ill-health, and a great deal of indolence, gave +up the house in town, which she had been used to occupy every spring, +and remained wholly in the country, leaving Sir Thomas to attend his +duty in Parliament, with whatever increase or diminution of comfort +might arise from her absence. In the country, therefore, the Miss +Bertrams continued to exercise their memories, practise their duets, +and grow tall and womanly: and their father saw them becoming in person, +manner, and accomplishments, everything that could satisfy his anxiety. +His eldest son was careless and extravagant, and had already given him +much uneasiness; but his other children promised him nothing but good. +His daughters, he felt, while they retained the name of Bertram, must +be giving it new grace, and in quitting it, he trusted, would extend +its respectable alliances; and the character of Edmund, his strong good +sense and uprightness of mind, bid most fairly for utility, honour, and +happiness to himself and all his connexions. He was to be a clergyman. + +Amid the cares and the complacency which his own children suggested, +Sir Thomas did not forget to do what he could for the children of Mrs. +Price: he assisted her liberally in the education and disposal of her +sons as they became old enough for a determinate pursuit; and Fanny, +though almost totally separated from her family, was sensible of the +truest satisfaction in hearing of any kindness towards them, or of +anything at all promising in their situation or conduct. Once, and once +only, in the course of many years, had she the happiness of being with +William. Of the rest she saw nothing: nobody seemed to think of her ever +going amongst them again, even for a visit, nobody at home seemed to +want her; but William determining, soon after her removal, to be a +sailor, was invited to spend a week with his sister in Northamptonshire +before he went to sea. Their eager affection in meeting, their exquisite +delight in being together, their hours of happy mirth, and moments of +serious conference, may be imagined; as well as the sanguine views and +spirits of the boy even to the last, and the misery of the girl when he +left her. Luckily the visit happened in the Christmas holidays, when she +could directly look for comfort to her cousin Edmund; and he told her +such charming things of what William was to do, and be hereafter, in +consequence of his profession, as made her gradually admit that the +separation might have some use. Edmund's friendship never failed her: +his leaving Eton for Oxford made no change in his kind dispositions, and +only afforded more frequent opportunities of proving them. Without any +display of doing more than the rest, or any fear of doing too much, +he was always true to her interests, and considerate of her feelings, +trying to make her good qualities understood, and to conquer the +diffidence which prevented their being more apparent; giving her advice, +consolation, and encouragement. + +Kept back as she was by everybody else, his single support could not +bring her forward; but his attentions were otherwise of the highest +importance in assisting the improvement of her mind, and extending its +pleasures. He knew her to be clever, to have a quick apprehension +as well as good sense, and a fondness for reading, which, properly +directed, must be an education in itself. Miss Lee taught her French, +and heard her read the daily portion of history; but he recommended +the books which charmed her leisure hours, he encouraged her taste, and +corrected her judgment: he made reading useful by talking to her of what +she read, and heightened its attraction by judicious praise. In return +for such services she loved him better than anybody in the world except +William: her heart was divided between the two. + + + +CHAPTER III + +The first event of any importance in the family was the death of Mr. +Norris, which happened when Fanny was about fifteen, and necessarily +introduced alterations and novelties. Mrs. Norris, on quitting the +Parsonage, removed first to the Park, and afterwards to a small house +of Sir Thomas's in the village, and consoled herself for the loss of her +husband by considering that she could do very well without him; and for +her reduction of income by the evident necessity of stricter economy. + +The living was hereafter for Edmund; and, had his uncle died a few years +sooner, it would have been duly given to some friend to hold till he +were old enough for orders. But Tom's extravagance had, previous to +that event, been so great as to render a different disposal of the next +presentation necessary, and the younger brother must help to pay for the +pleasures of the elder. There was another family living actually held +for Edmund; but though this circumstance had made the arrangement +somewhat easier to Sir Thomas's conscience, he could not but feel it to +be an act of injustice, and he earnestly tried to impress his eldest son +with the same conviction, in the hope of its producing a better effect +than anything he had yet been able to say or do. + +"I blush for you, Tom," said he, in his most dignified manner; "I blush +for the expedient which I am driven on, and I trust I may pity your +feelings as a brother on the occasion. You have robbed Edmund for ten, +twenty, thirty years, perhaps for life, of more than half the income +which ought to be his. It may hereafter be in my power, or in yours +(I hope it will), to procure him better preferment; but it must not +be forgotten that no benefit of that sort would have been beyond his +natural claims on us, and that nothing can, in fact, be an equivalent +for the certain advantage which he is now obliged to forego through the +urgency of your debts." + +Tom listened with some shame and some sorrow; but escaping as quickly as +possible, could soon with cheerful selfishness reflect, firstly, that he +had not been half so much in debt as some of his friends; secondly, that +his father had made a most tiresome piece of work of it; and, +thirdly, that the future incumbent, whoever he might be, would, in all +probability, die very soon. + +On Mr. Norris's death the presentation became the right of a Dr. Grant, +who came consequently to reside at Mansfield; and on proving to be a +hearty man of forty-five, seemed likely to disappoint Mr. Bertram's +calculations. But "no, he was a short-necked, apoplectic sort of fellow, +and, plied well with good things, would soon pop off." + +He had a wife about fifteen years his junior, but no children; and +they entered the neighbourhood with the usual fair report of being very +respectable, agreeable people. + +The time was now come when Sir Thomas expected his sister-in-law to +claim her share in their niece, the change in Mrs. Norris's situation, +and the improvement in Fanny's age, seeming not merely to do away any +former objection to their living together, but even to give it the most +decided eligibility; and as his own circumstances were rendered less +fair than heretofore, by some recent losses on his West India estate, in +addition to his eldest son's extravagance, it became not undesirable +to himself to be relieved from the expense of her support, and the +obligation of her future provision. In the fullness of his belief that +such a thing must be, he mentioned its probability to his wife; and the +first time of the subject's occurring to her again happening to be when +Fanny was present, she calmly observed to her, "So, Fanny, you are going +to leave us, and live with my sister. How shall you like it?" + +Fanny was too much surprised to do more than repeat her aunt's words, +"Going to leave you?" + +"Yes, my dear; why should you be astonished? You have been five years +with us, and my sister always meant to take you when Mr. Norris died. +But you must come up and tack on my patterns all the same." + +The news was as disagreeable to Fanny as it had been unexpected. She had +never received kindness from her aunt Norris, and could not love her. + +"I shall be very sorry to go away," said she, with a faltering voice. + +"Yes, I dare say you will; _that's_ natural enough. I suppose you have +had as little to vex you since you came into this house as any creature +in the world." + +"I hope I am not ungrateful, aunt," said Fanny modestly. + +"No, my dear; I hope not. I have always found you a very good girl." + +"And am I never to live here again?" + +"Never, my dear; but you are sure of a comfortable home. It can make +very little difference to you, whether you are in one house or the +other." + +Fanny left the room with a very sorrowful heart; she could not feel the +difference to be so small, she could not think of living with her aunt +with anything like satisfaction. As soon as she met with Edmund she told +him her distress. + +"Cousin," said she, "something is going to happen which I do not like +at all; and though you have often persuaded me into being reconciled to +things that I disliked at first, you will not be able to do it now. I am +going to live entirely with my aunt Norris." + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes; my aunt Bertram has just told me so. It is quite settled. I am to +leave Mansfield Park, and go to the White House, I suppose, as soon as +she is removed there." + +"Well, Fanny, and if the plan were not unpleasant to you, I should call +it an excellent one." + +"Oh, cousin!" + +"It has everything else in its favour. My aunt is acting like a sensible +woman in wishing for you. She is choosing a friend and companion exactly +where she ought, and I am glad her love of money does not interfere. +You will be what you ought to be to her. I hope it does not distress you +very much, Fanny?" + +"Indeed it does: I cannot like it. I love this house and everything in +it: I shall love nothing there. You know how uncomfortable I feel with +her." + +"I can say nothing for her manner to you as a child; but it was the +same with us all, or nearly so. She never knew how to be pleasant to +children. But you are now of an age to be treated better; I think she is +behaving better already; and when you are her only companion, you _must_ +be important to her." + +"I can never be important to any one." + +"What is to prevent you?" + +"Everything. My situation, my foolishness and awkwardness." + +"As to your foolishness and awkwardness, my dear Fanny, believe me, you +never have a shadow of either, but in using the words so improperly. +There is no reason in the world why you should not be important where +you are known. You have good sense, and a sweet temper, and I am sure +you have a grateful heart, that could never receive kindness without +wishing to return it. I do not know any better qualifications for a +friend and companion." + +"You are too kind," said Fanny, colouring at such praise; "how shall I +ever thank you as I ought, for thinking so well of me. Oh! cousin, if I +am to go away, I shall remember your goodness to the last moment of my +life." + +"Why, indeed, Fanny, I should hope to be remembered at such a distance +as the White House. You speak as if you were going two hundred miles +off instead of only across the park; but you will belong to us almost +as much as ever. The two families will be meeting every day in the +year. The only difference will be that, living with your aunt, you will +necessarily be brought forward as you ought to be. _Here_ there are +too many whom you can hide behind; but with _her_ you will be forced to +speak for yourself." + +"Oh! I do not say so." + +"I must say it, and say it with pleasure. Mrs. Norris is much better +fitted than my mother for having the charge of you now. She is of a +temper to do a great deal for anybody she really interests herself +about, and she will force you to do justice to your natural powers." + +Fanny sighed, and said, "I cannot see things as you do; but I ought to +believe you to be right rather than myself, and I am very much obliged +to you for trying to reconcile me to what must be. If I could suppose +my aunt really to care for me, it would be delightful to feel myself of +consequence to anybody. _Here_, I know, I am of none, and yet I love the +place so well." + +"The place, Fanny, is what you will not quit, though you quit the house. +You will have as free a command of the park and gardens as ever. Even +_your_ constant little heart need not take fright at such a nominal +change. You will have the same walks to frequent, the same library to +choose from, the same people to look at, the same horse to ride." + +"Very true. Yes, dear old grey pony! Ah! cousin, when I remember how +much I used to dread riding, what terrors it gave me to hear it talked +of as likely to do me good (oh! how I have trembled at my uncle's +opening his lips if horses were talked of), and then think of the kind +pains you took to reason and persuade me out of my fears, and convince +me that I should like it after a little while, and feel how right you +proved to be, I am inclined to hope you may always prophesy as well." + +"And I am quite convinced that your being with Mrs. Norris will be as +good for your mind as riding has been for your health, and as much for +your ultimate happiness too." + +So ended their discourse, which, for any very appropriate service it +could render Fanny, might as well have been spared, for Mrs. Norris had +not the smallest intention of taking her. It had never occurred to her, +on the present occasion, but as a thing to be carefully avoided. To +prevent its being expected, she had fixed on the smallest habitation +which could rank as genteel among the buildings of Mansfield parish, +the White House being only just large enough to receive herself and her +servants, and allow a spare room for a friend, of which she made a +very particular point. The spare rooms at the Parsonage had never been +wanted, but the absolute necessity of a spare room for a friend was now +never forgotten. Not all her precautions, however, could save her from +being suspected of something better; or, perhaps, her very display of +the importance of a spare room might have misled Sir Thomas to suppose +it really intended for Fanny. Lady Bertram soon brought the matter to a +certainty by carelessly observing to Mrs. Norris-- + +"I think, sister, we need not keep Miss Lee any longer, when Fanny goes +to live with you." + +Mrs. Norris almost started. "Live with me, dear Lady Bertram! what do +you mean?" + +"Is she not to live with you? I thought you had settled it with Sir +Thomas." + +"Me! never. I never spoke a syllable about it to Sir Thomas, nor he to +me. Fanny live with me! the last thing in the world for me to think +of, or for anybody to wish that really knows us both. Good heaven! what +could I do with Fanny? Me! a poor, helpless, forlorn widow, unfit for +anything, my spirits quite broke down; what could I do with a girl at +her time of life? A girl of fifteen! the very age of all others to need +most attention and care, and put the cheerfullest spirits to the test! +Sure Sir Thomas could not seriously expect such a thing! Sir Thomas is +too much my friend. Nobody that wishes me well, I am sure, would propose +it. How came Sir Thomas to speak to you about it?" + +"Indeed, I do not know. I suppose he thought it best." + +"But what did he say? He could not say he _wished_ me to take Fanny. I +am sure in his heart he could not wish me to do it." + +"No; he only said he thought it very likely; and I thought so too. We +both thought it would be a comfort to you. But if you do not like it, +there is no more to be said. She is no encumbrance here." + +"Dear sister, if you consider my unhappy state, how can she be any +comfort to me? Here am I, a poor desolate widow, deprived of the best of +husbands, my health gone in attending and nursing him, my spirits still +worse, all my peace in this world destroyed, with hardly enough to +support me in the rank of a gentlewoman, and enable me to live so as not +to disgrace the memory of the dear departed--what possible comfort could +I have in taking such a charge upon me as Fanny? If I could wish it for +my own sake, I would not do so unjust a thing by the poor girl. She +is in good hands, and sure of doing well. I must struggle through my +sorrows and difficulties as I can." + +"Then you will not mind living by yourself quite alone?" + +"Lady Bertram, I do not complain. I know I cannot live as I have done, +but I must retrench where I can, and learn to be a better manager. I +_have_ _been_ a liberal housekeeper enough, but I shall not be ashamed +to practise economy now. My situation is as much altered as my income. +A great many things were due from poor Mr. Norris, as clergyman of the +parish, that cannot be expected from me. It is unknown how much was +consumed in our kitchen by odd comers and goers. At the White House, +matters must be better looked after. I _must_ live within my income, or +I shall be miserable; and I own it would give me great satisfaction to +be able to do rather more, to lay by a little at the end of the year." + +"I dare say you will. You always do, don't you?" + +"My object, Lady Bertram, is to be of use to those that come after me. +It is for your children's good that I wish to be richer. I have nobody +else to care for, but I should be very glad to think I could leave a +little trifle among them worth their having." + +"You are very good, but do not trouble yourself about them. They are +sure of being well provided for. Sir Thomas will take care of that." + +"Why, you know, Sir Thomas's means will be rather straitened if the +Antigua estate is to make such poor returns." + +"Oh! _that_ will soon be settled. Sir Thomas has been writing about it, +I know." + +"Well, Lady Bertram," said Mrs. Norris, moving to go, "I can only say +that my sole desire is to be of use to your family: and so, if Sir +Thomas should ever speak again about my taking Fanny, you will be able +to say that my health and spirits put it quite out of the question; +besides that, I really should not have a bed to give her, for I must +keep a spare room for a friend." + +Lady Bertram repeated enough of this conversation to her husband to +convince him how much he had mistaken his sister-in-law's views; and +she was from that moment perfectly safe from all expectation, or the +slightest allusion to it from him. He could not but wonder at her +refusing to do anything for a niece whom she had been so forward to +adopt; but, as she took early care to make him, as well as Lady Bertram, +understand that whatever she possessed was designed for their family, +he soon grew reconciled to a distinction which, at the same time that it +was advantageous and complimentary to them, would enable him better to +provide for Fanny himself. + +Fanny soon learnt how unnecessary had been her fears of a removal; +and her spontaneous, untaught felicity on the discovery, conveyed some +consolation to Edmund for his disappointment in what he had expected to +be so essentially serviceable to her. Mrs. Norris took possession of the +White House, the Grants arrived at the Parsonage, and these events over, +everything at Mansfield went on for some time as usual. + +The Grants showing a disposition to be friendly and sociable, gave great +satisfaction in the main among their new acquaintance. They had their +faults, and Mrs. Norris soon found them out. The Doctor was very fond of +eating, and would have a good dinner every day; and Mrs. Grant, instead +of contriving to gratify him at little expense, gave her cook as high +wages as they did at Mansfield Park, and was scarcely ever seen in her +offices. Mrs. Norris could not speak with any temper of such grievances, +nor of the quantity of butter and eggs that were regularly consumed +in the house. "Nobody loved plenty and hospitality more than herself; +nobody more hated pitiful doings; the Parsonage, she believed, had never +been wanting in comforts of any sort, had never borne a bad character +in _her_ _time_, but this was a way of going on that she could not +understand. A fine lady in a country parsonage was quite out of place. +_Her_ store-room, she thought, might have been good enough for Mrs. +Grant to go into. Inquire where she would, she could not find out that +Mrs. Grant had ever had more than five thousand pounds." + +Lady Bertram listened without much interest to this sort of invective. +She could not enter into the wrongs of an economist, but she felt all +the injuries of beauty in Mrs. Grant's being so well settled in life +without being handsome, and expressed her astonishment on that point +almost as often, though not so diffusely, as Mrs. Norris discussed the +other. + +These opinions had been hardly canvassed a year before another event +arose of such importance in the family, as might fairly claim some place +in the thoughts and conversation of the ladies. Sir Thomas found it +expedient to go to Antigua himself, for the better arrangement of his +affairs, and he took his eldest son with him, in the hope of detaching +him from some bad connexions at home. They left England with the +probability of being nearly a twelvemonth absent. + +The necessity of the measure in a pecuniary light, and the hope of its +utility to his son, reconciled Sir Thomas to the effort of quitting the +rest of his family, and of leaving his daughters to the direction of +others at their present most interesting time of life. He could not +think Lady Bertram quite equal to supply his place with them, or rather, +to perform what should have been her own; but, in Mrs. Norris's watchful +attention, and in Edmund's judgment, he had sufficient confidence to +make him go without fears for their conduct. + +Lady Bertram did not at all like to have her husband leave her; but she +was not disturbed by any alarm for his safety, or solicitude for his +comfort, being one of those persons who think nothing can be dangerous, +or difficult, or fatiguing to anybody but themselves. + +The Miss Bertrams were much to be pitied on the occasion: not for their +sorrow, but for their want of it. Their father was no object of love to +them; he had never seemed the friend of their pleasures, and his absence +was unhappily most welcome. They were relieved by it from all restraint; +and without aiming at one gratification that would probably have been +forbidden by Sir Thomas, they felt themselves immediately at their +own disposal, and to have every indulgence within their reach. Fanny's +relief, and her consciousness of it, were quite equal to her cousins'; +but a more tender nature suggested that her feelings were ungrateful, +and she really grieved because she could not grieve. "Sir Thomas, who +had done so much for her and her brothers, and who was gone perhaps +never to return! that she should see him go without a tear! it was a +shameful insensibility." He had said to her, moreover, on the very last +morning, that he hoped she might see William again in the course of the +ensuing winter, and had charged her to write and invite him to Mansfield +as soon as the squadron to which he belonged should be known to be +in England. "This was so thoughtful and kind!" and would he only have +smiled upon her, and called her "my dear Fanny," while he said it, every +former frown or cold address might have been forgotten. But he had ended +his speech in a way to sink her in sad mortification, by adding, "If +William does come to Mansfield, I hope you may be able to convince him +that the many years which have passed since you parted have not been +spent on your side entirely without improvement; though, I fear, he must +find his sister at sixteen in some respects too much like his sister at +ten." She cried bitterly over this reflection when her uncle was +gone; and her cousins, on seeing her with red eyes, set her down as a +hypocrite. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Tom Bertram had of late spent so little of his time at home that he +could be only nominally missed; and Lady Bertram was soon astonished +to find how very well they did even without his father, how well Edmund +could supply his place in carving, talking to the steward, writing to +the attorney, settling with the servants, and equally saving her +from all possible fatigue or exertion in every particular but that of +directing her letters. + +The earliest intelligence of the travellers' safe arrival at Antigua, +after a favourable voyage, was received; though not before Mrs. Norris +had been indulging in very dreadful fears, and trying to make Edmund +participate them whenever she could get him alone; and as she depended +on being the first person made acquainted with any fatal catastrophe, +she had already arranged the manner of breaking it to all the others, +when Sir Thomas's assurances of their both being alive and well made it +necessary to lay by her agitation and affectionate preparatory speeches +for a while. + +The winter came and passed without their being called for; the accounts +continued perfectly good; and Mrs. Norris, in promoting gaieties for her +nieces, assisting their toilets, displaying their accomplishments, +and looking about for their future husbands, had so much to do as, in +addition to all her own household cares, some interference in those of +her sister, and Mrs. Grant's wasteful doings to overlook, left her very +little occasion to be occupied in fears for the absent. + +The Miss Bertrams were now fully established among the belles of the +neighbourhood; and as they joined to beauty and brilliant acquirements +a manner naturally easy, and carefully formed to general civility and +obligingness, they possessed its favour as well as its admiration. Their +vanity was in such good order that they seemed to be quite free from it, +and gave themselves no airs; while the praises attending such behaviour, +secured and brought round by their aunt, served to strengthen them in +believing they had no faults. + +Lady Bertram did not go into public with her daughters. She was too +indolent even to accept a mother's gratification in witnessing their +success and enjoyment at the expense of any personal trouble, and the +charge was made over to her sister, who desired nothing better than a +post of such honourable representation, and very thoroughly relished +the means it afforded her of mixing in society without having horses to +hire. + +Fanny had no share in the festivities of the season; but she enjoyed +being avowedly useful as her aunt's companion when they called away the +rest of the family; and, as Miss Lee had left Mansfield, she naturally +became everything to Lady Bertram during the night of a ball or a party. +She talked to her, listened to her, read to her; and the tranquillity +of such evenings, her perfect security in such a _tete-a-tete_ from any +sound of unkindness, was unspeakably welcome to a mind which had seldom +known a pause in its alarms or embarrassments. As to her cousins' +gaieties, she loved to hear an account of them, especially of the +balls, and whom Edmund had danced with; but thought too lowly of her +own situation to imagine she should ever be admitted to the same, and +listened, therefore, without an idea of any nearer concern in them. Upon +the whole, it was a comfortable winter to her; for though it brought +no William to England, the never-failing hope of his arrival was worth +much. + +The ensuing spring deprived her of her valued friend, the old grey pony; +and for some time she was in danger of feeling the loss in her health as +well as in her affections; for in spite of the acknowledged importance +of her riding on horse-back, no measures were taken for mounting her +again, "because," as it was observed by her aunts, "she might ride one +of her cousin's horses at any time when they did not want them," and as +the Miss Bertrams regularly wanted their horses every fine day, and had +no idea of carrying their obliging manners to the sacrifice of any real +pleasure, that time, of course, never came. They took their cheerful +rides in the fine mornings of April and May; and Fanny either sat at +home the whole day with one aunt, or walked beyond her strength at +the instigation of the other: Lady Bertram holding exercise to be as +unnecessary for everybody as it was unpleasant to herself; and Mrs. +Norris, who was walking all day, thinking everybody ought to walk +as much. Edmund was absent at this time, or the evil would have +been earlier remedied. When he returned, to understand how Fanny was +situated, and perceived its ill effects, there seemed with him but one +thing to be done; and that "Fanny must have a horse" was the resolute +declaration with which he opposed whatever could be urged by the +supineness of his mother, or the economy of his aunt, to make it appear +unimportant. Mrs. Norris could not help thinking that some steady old +thing might be found among the numbers belonging to the Park that would +do vastly well; or that one might be borrowed of the steward; or that +perhaps Dr. Grant might now and then lend them the pony he sent to the +post. She could not but consider it as absolutely unnecessary, and even +improper, that Fanny should have a regular lady's horse of her own, in +the style of her cousins. She was sure Sir Thomas had never intended it: +and she must say that, to be making such a purchase in his absence, and +adding to the great expenses of his stable, at a time when a large part +of his income was unsettled, seemed to her very unjustifiable. "Fanny +must have a horse," was Edmund's only reply. Mrs. Norris could not see +it in the same light. Lady Bertram did: she entirely agreed with her son +as to the necessity of it, and as to its being considered necessary by +his father; she only pleaded against there being any hurry; she only +wanted him to wait till Sir Thomas's return, and then Sir Thomas might +settle it all himself. He would be at home in September, and where would +be the harm of only waiting till September? + +Though Edmund was much more displeased with his aunt than with his +mother, as evincing least regard for her niece, he could not help paying +more attention to what she said; and at length determined on a method of +proceeding which would obviate the risk of his father's thinking he +had done too much, and at the same time procure for Fanny the immediate +means of exercise, which he could not bear she should be without. He had +three horses of his own, but not one that would carry a woman. Two +of them were hunters; the third, a useful road-horse: this third he +resolved to exchange for one that his cousin might ride; he knew where +such a one was to be met with; and having once made up his mind, the +whole business was soon completed. The new mare proved a treasure; with +a very little trouble she became exactly calculated for the purpose, +and Fanny was then put in almost full possession of her. She had not +supposed before that anything could ever suit her like the old grey +pony; but her delight in Edmund's mare was far beyond any former +pleasure of the sort; and the addition it was ever receiving in the +consideration of that kindness from which her pleasure sprung, was +beyond all her words to express. She regarded her cousin as an example +of everything good and great, as possessing worth which no one but +herself could ever appreciate, and as entitled to such gratitude from +her as no feelings could be strong enough to pay. Her sentiments towards +him were compounded of all that was respectful, grateful, confiding, and +tender. + +As the horse continued in name, as well as fact, the property of Edmund, +Mrs. Norris could tolerate its being for Fanny's use; and had Lady +Bertram ever thought about her own objection again, he might have +been excused in her eyes for not waiting till Sir Thomas's return in +September, for when September came Sir Thomas was still abroad, and +without any near prospect of finishing his business. Unfavourable +circumstances had suddenly arisen at a moment when he was beginning to +turn all his thoughts towards England; and the very great uncertainty +in which everything was then involved determined him on sending home his +son, and waiting the final arrangement by himself. Tom arrived safely, +bringing an excellent account of his father's health; but to very little +purpose, as far as Mrs. Norris was concerned. Sir Thomas's sending away +his son seemed to her so like a parent's care, under the influence of a +foreboding of evil to himself, that she could not help feeling dreadful +presentiments; and as the long evenings of autumn came on, was so +terribly haunted by these ideas, in the sad solitariness of her cottage, +as to be obliged to take daily refuge in the dining-room of the Park. +The return of winter engagements, however, was not without its effect; +and in the course of their progress, her mind became so pleasantly +occupied in superintending the fortunes of her eldest niece, as +tolerably to quiet her nerves. "If poor Sir Thomas were fated never to +return, it would be peculiarly consoling to see their dear Maria well +married," she very often thought; always when they were in the company +of men of fortune, and particularly on the introduction of a young man +who had recently succeeded to one of the largest estates and finest +places in the country. + +Mr. Rushworth was from the first struck with the beauty of Miss Bertram, +and, being inclined to marry, soon fancied himself in love. He was +a heavy young man, with not more than common sense; but as there was +nothing disagreeable in his figure or address, the young lady was well +pleased with her conquest. Being now in her twenty-first year, Maria +Bertram was beginning to think matrimony a duty; and as a marriage with +Mr. Rushworth would give her the enjoyment of a larger income than her +father's, as well as ensure her the house in town, which was now a prime +object, it became, by the same rule of moral obligation, her evident +duty to marry Mr. Rushworth if she could. Mrs. Norris was most zealous +in promoting the match, by every suggestion and contrivance likely to +enhance its desirableness to either party; and, among other means, by +seeking an intimacy with the gentleman's mother, who at present lived +with him, and to whom she even forced Lady Bertram to go through ten +miles of indifferent road to pay a morning visit. It was not long before +a good understanding took place between this lady and herself. Mrs. +Rushworth acknowledged herself very desirous that her son should marry, +and declared that of all the young ladies she had ever seen, Miss +Bertram seemed, by her amiable qualities and accomplishments, the best +adapted to make him happy. Mrs. Norris accepted the compliment, +and admired the nice discernment of character which could so well +distinguish merit. Maria was indeed the pride and delight of them +all--perfectly faultless--an angel; and, of course, so surrounded by +admirers, must be difficult in her choice: but yet, as far as Mrs. +Norris could allow herself to decide on so short an acquaintance, Mr. +Rushworth appeared precisely the young man to deserve and attach her. + +After dancing with each other at a proper number of balls, the young +people justified these opinions, and an engagement, with a due reference +to the absent Sir Thomas, was entered into, much to the satisfaction +of their respective families, and of the general lookers-on of the +neighbourhood, who had, for many weeks past, felt the expediency of Mr. +Rushworth's marrying Miss Bertram. + +It was some months before Sir Thomas's consent could be received; but, +in the meanwhile, as no one felt a doubt of his most cordial pleasure +in the connexion, the intercourse of the two families was carried +on without restraint, and no other attempt made at secrecy than Mrs. +Norris's talking of it everywhere as a matter not to be talked of at +present. + +Edmund was the only one of the family who could see a fault in the +business; but no representation of his aunt's could induce him to find +Mr. Rushworth a desirable companion. He could allow his sister to be +the best judge of her own happiness, but he was not pleased that her +happiness should centre in a large income; nor could he refrain from +often saying to himself, in Mr. Rushworth's company--"If this man had +not twelve thousand a year, he would be a very stupid fellow." + +Sir Thomas, however, was truly happy in the prospect of an alliance +so unquestionably advantageous, and of which he heard nothing but the +perfectly good and agreeable. It was a connexion exactly of the right +sort--in the same county, and the same interest--and his most hearty +concurrence was conveyed as soon as possible. He only conditioned that +the marriage should not take place before his return, which he was again +looking eagerly forward to. He wrote in April, and had strong hopes +of settling everything to his entire satisfaction, and leaving Antigua +before the end of the summer. + +Such was the state of affairs in the month of July; and Fanny had just +reached her eighteenth year, when the society of the village received +an addition in the brother and sister of Mrs. Grant, a Mr. and Miss +Crawford, the children of her mother by a second marriage. They were +young people of fortune. The son had a good estate in Norfolk, the +daughter twenty thousand pounds. As children, their sister had been +always very fond of them; but, as her own marriage had been soon +followed by the death of their common parent, which left them to the +care of a brother of their father, of whom Mrs. Grant knew nothing, she +had scarcely seen them since. In their uncle's house they had found a +kind home. Admiral and Mrs. Crawford, though agreeing in nothing else, +were united in affection for these children, or, at least, were no +farther adverse in their feelings than that each had their favourite, to +whom they showed the greatest fondness of the two. The Admiral delighted +in the boy, Mrs. Crawford doted on the girl; and it was the lady's death +which now obliged her _protegee_, after some months' further trial at +her uncle's house, to find another home. Admiral Crawford was a man of +vicious conduct, who chose, instead of retaining his niece, to bring his +mistress under his own roof; and to this Mrs. Grant was indebted for her +sister's proposal of coming to her, a measure quite as welcome on one +side as it could be expedient on the other; for Mrs. Grant, having by +this time run through the usual resources of ladies residing in the +country without a family of children--having more than filled her +favourite sitting-room with pretty furniture, and made a choice +collection of plants and poultry--was very much in want of some variety +at home. The arrival, therefore, of a sister whom she had always loved, +and now hoped to retain with her as long as she remained single, was +highly agreeable; and her chief anxiety was lest Mansfield should not +satisfy the habits of a young woman who had been mostly used to London. + +Miss Crawford was not entirely free from similar apprehensions, though +they arose principally from doubts of her sister's style of living and +tone of society; and it was not till after she had tried in vain to +persuade her brother to settle with her at his own country house, +that she could resolve to hazard herself among her other relations. To +anything like a permanence of abode, or limitation of society, Henry +Crawford had, unluckily, a great dislike: he could not accommodate his +sister in an article of such importance; but he escorted her, with the +utmost kindness, into Northamptonshire, and as readily engaged to fetch +her away again, at half an hour's notice, whenever she were weary of the +place. + +The meeting was very satisfactory on each side. Miss Crawford found a +sister without preciseness or rusticity, a sister's husband who looked +the gentleman, and a house commodious and well fitted up; and Mrs. Grant +received in those whom she hoped to love better than ever a young man +and woman of very prepossessing appearance. Mary Crawford was remarkably +pretty; Henry, though not handsome, had air and countenance; the manners +of both were lively and pleasant, and Mrs. Grant immediately gave them +credit for everything else. She was delighted with each, but Mary was +her dearest object; and having never been able to glory in beauty of her +own, she thoroughly enjoyed the power of being proud of her sister's. +She had not waited her arrival to look out for a suitable match for her: +she had fixed on Tom Bertram; the eldest son of a baronet was not too +good for a girl of twenty thousand pounds, with all the elegance +and accomplishments which Mrs. Grant foresaw in her; and being a +warm-hearted, unreserved woman, Mary had not been three hours in the +house before she told her what she had planned. + +Miss Crawford was glad to find a family of such consequence so very near +them, and not at all displeased either at her sister's early care, or +the choice it had fallen on. Matrimony was her object, provided she +could marry well: and having seen Mr. Bertram in town, she knew that +objection could no more be made to his person than to his situation in +life. While she treated it as a joke, therefore, she did not forget to +think of it seriously. The scheme was soon repeated to Henry. + +"And now," added Mrs. Grant, "I have thought of something to make it +complete. I should dearly love to settle you both in this country; and +therefore, Henry, you shall marry the youngest Miss Bertram, a nice, +handsome, good-humoured, accomplished girl, who will make you very +happy." + +Henry bowed and thanked her. + +"My dear sister," said Mary, "if you can persuade him into anything +of the sort, it will be a fresh matter of delight to me to find myself +allied to anybody so clever, and I shall only regret that you have +not half a dozen daughters to dispose of. If you can persuade Henry +to marry, you must have the address of a Frenchwoman. All that English +abilities can do has been tried already. I have three very particular +friends who have been all dying for him in their turn; and the pains +which they, their mothers (very clever women), as well as my dear aunt +and myself, have taken to reason, coax, or trick him into marrying, is +inconceivable! He is the most horrible flirt that can be imagined. If +your Miss Bertrams do not like to have their hearts broke, let them +avoid Henry." + +"My dear brother, I will not believe this of you." + +"No, I am sure you are too good. You will be kinder than Mary. You +will allow for the doubts of youth and inexperience. I am of a cautious +temper, and unwilling to risk my happiness in a hurry. Nobody can +think more highly of the matrimonial state than myself. I consider the +blessing of a wife as most justly described in those discreet lines of +the poet--'Heaven's _last_ best gift.'" + +"There, Mrs. Grant, you see how he dwells on one word, and only look +at his smile. I assure you he is very detestable; the Admiral's lessons +have quite spoiled him." + +"I pay very little regard," said Mrs. Grant, "to what any young person +says on the subject of marriage. If they profess a disinclination for +it, I only set it down that they have not yet seen the right person." + +Dr. Grant laughingly congratulated Miss Crawford on feeling no +disinclination to the state herself. + +"Oh yes! I am not at all ashamed of it. I would have everybody marry if +they can do it properly: I do not like to have people throw themselves +away; but everybody should marry as soon as they can do it to +advantage." + + + +CHAPTER V + +The young people were pleased with each other from the first. On each +side there was much to attract, and their acquaintance soon promised as +early an intimacy as good manners would warrant. Miss Crawford's beauty +did her no disservice with the Miss Bertrams. They were too handsome +themselves to dislike any woman for being so too, and were almost as +much charmed as their brothers with her lively dark eye, clear brown +complexion, and general prettiness. Had she been tall, full formed, and +fair, it might have been more of a trial: but as it was, there could be +no comparison; and she was most allowably a sweet, pretty girl, while +they were the finest young women in the country. + +Her brother was not handsome: no, when they first saw him he was +absolutely plain, black and plain; but still he was the gentleman, with +a pleasing address. The second meeting proved him not so very plain: +he was plain, to be sure, but then he had so much countenance, and his +teeth were so good, and he was so well made, that one soon forgot he was +plain; and after a third interview, after dining in company with him at +the Parsonage, he was no longer allowed to be called so by anybody. He +was, in fact, the most agreeable young man the sisters had ever known, +and they were equally delighted with him. Miss Bertram's engagement made +him in equity the property of Julia, of which Julia was fully aware; and +before he had been at Mansfield a week, she was quite ready to be fallen +in love with. + +Maria's notions on the subject were more confused and indistinct. She +did not want to see or understand. "There could be no harm in her liking +an agreeable man--everybody knew her situation--Mr. Crawford must take +care of himself." Mr. Crawford did not mean to be in any danger! the +Miss Bertrams were worth pleasing, and were ready to be pleased; and he +began with no object but of making them like him. He did not want them +to die of love; but with sense and temper which ought to have made him +judge and feel better, he allowed himself great latitude on such points. + +"I like your Miss Bertrams exceedingly, sister," said he, as he returned +from attending them to their carriage after the said dinner visit; "they +are very elegant, agreeable girls." + +"So they are indeed, and I am delighted to hear you say it. But you like +Julia best." + +"Oh yes! I like Julia best." + +"But do you really? for Miss Bertram is in general thought the +handsomest." + +"So I should suppose. She has the advantage in every feature, and I +prefer her countenance; but I like Julia best; Miss Bertram is certainly +the handsomest, and I have found her the most agreeable, but I shall +always like Julia best, because you order me." + +"I shall not talk to you, Henry, but I know you _will_ like her best at +last." + +"Do not I tell you that I like her best _at_ _first_?" + +"And besides, Miss Bertram is engaged. Remember that, my dear brother. +Her choice is made." + +"Yes, and I like her the better for it. An engaged woman is always more +agreeable than a disengaged. She is satisfied with herself. Her cares +are over, and she feels that she may exert all her powers of pleasing +without suspicion. All is safe with a lady engaged: no harm can be +done." + +"Why, as to that, Mr. Rushworth is a very good sort of young man, and it +is a great match for her." + +"But Miss Bertram does not care three straws for him; _that_ is your +opinion of your intimate friend. _I_ do not subscribe to it. I am sure +Miss Bertram is very much attached to Mr. Rushworth. I could see it in +her eyes, when he was mentioned. I think too well of Miss Bertram to +suppose she would ever give her hand without her heart." + +"Mary, how shall we manage him?" + +"We must leave him to himself, I believe. Talking does no good. He will +be taken in at last." + +"But I would not have him _taken_ _in_; I would not have him duped; I +would have it all fair and honourable." + +"Oh dear! let him stand his chance and be taken in. It will do just as +well. Everybody is taken in at some period or other." + +"Not always in marriage, dear Mary." + +"In marriage especially. With all due respect to such of the present +company as chance to be married, my dear Mrs. Grant, there is not one in +a hundred of either sex who is not taken in when they marry. Look where +I will, I see that it _is_ so; and I feel that it _must_ be so, when I +consider that it is, of all transactions, the one in which people expect +most from others, and are least honest themselves." + +"Ah! You have been in a bad school for matrimony, in Hill Street." + +"My poor aunt had certainly little cause to love the state; but, +however, speaking from my own observation, it is a manoeuvring business. +I know so many who have married in the full expectation and confidence +of some one particular advantage in the connexion, or accomplishment, or +good quality in the person, who have found themselves entirely deceived, +and been obliged to put up with exactly the reverse. What is this but a +take in?" + +"My dear child, there must be a little imagination here. I beg your +pardon, but I cannot quite believe you. Depend upon it, you see but +half. You see the evil, but you do not see the consolation. There will +be little rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to +expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human +nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make +a second better: we find comfort somewhere--and those evil-minded +observers, dearest Mary, who make much of a little, are more taken in +and deceived than the parties themselves." + +"Well done, sister! I honour your _esprit_ _du_ _corps_. When I am a +wife, I mean to be just as staunch myself; and I wish my friends in +general would be so too. It would save me many a heartache." + +"You are as bad as your brother, Mary; but we will cure you both. +Mansfield shall cure you both, and without any taking in. Stay with us, +and we will cure you." + +The Crawfords, without wanting to be cured, were very willing to stay. +Mary was satisfied with the Parsonage as a present home, and Henry +equally ready to lengthen his visit. He had come, intending to spend +only a few days with them; but Mansfield promised well, and there was +nothing to call him elsewhere. It delighted Mrs. Grant to keep them both +with her, and Dr. Grant was exceedingly well contented to have it so: a +talking pretty young woman like Miss Crawford is always pleasant society +to an indolent, stay-at-home man; and Mr. Crawford's being his guest was +an excuse for drinking claret every day. + +The Miss Bertrams' admiration of Mr. Crawford was more rapturous than +anything which Miss Crawford's habits made her likely to feel. She +acknowledged, however, that the Mr. Bertrams were very fine young men, +that two such young men were not often seen together even in London, and +that their manners, particularly those of the eldest, were very good. +_He_ had been much in London, and had more liveliness and gallantry than +Edmund, and must, therefore, be preferred; and, indeed, his being the +eldest was another strong claim. She had felt an early presentiment that +she _should_ like the eldest best. She knew it was her way. + +Tom Bertram must have been thought pleasant, indeed, at any rate; he was +the sort of young man to be generally liked, his agreeableness was of +the kind to be oftener found agreeable than some endowments of a higher +stamp, for he had easy manners, excellent spirits, a large acquaintance, +and a great deal to say; and the reversion of Mansfield Park, and a +baronetcy, did no harm to all this. Miss Crawford soon felt that he and +his situation might do. She looked about her with due consideration, and +found almost everything in his favour: a park, a real park, five miles +round, a spacious modern-built house, so well placed and well screened +as to deserve to be in any collection of engravings of gentlemen's +seats in the kingdom, and wanting only to be completely new +furnished--pleasant sisters, a quiet mother, and an agreeable man +himself--with the advantage of being tied up from much gaming at present +by a promise to his father, and of being Sir Thomas hereafter. It +might do very well; she believed she should accept him; and she began +accordingly to interest herself a little about the horse which he had to +run at the B---- races. + +These races were to call him away not long after their acquaintance +began; and as it appeared that the family did not, from his usual goings +on, expect him back again for many weeks, it would bring his passion to +an early proof. Much was said on his side to induce her to attend the +races, and schemes were made for a large party to them, with all the +eagerness of inclination, but it would only do to be talked of. + +And Fanny, what was _she_ doing and thinking all this while? and what +was _her_ opinion of the newcomers? Few young ladies of eighteen could +be less called on to speak their opinion than Fanny. In a quiet way, +very little attended to, she paid her tribute of admiration to Miss +Crawford's beauty; but as she still continued to think Mr. Crawford +very plain, in spite of her two cousins having repeatedly proved the +contrary, she never mentioned _him_. The notice, which she excited +herself, was to this effect. "I begin now to understand you all, +except Miss Price," said Miss Crawford, as she was walking with the Mr. +Bertrams. "Pray, is she out, or is she not? I am puzzled. She dined at +the Parsonage, with the rest of you, which seemed like being _out_; and +yet she says so little, that I can hardly suppose she _is_." + +Edmund, to whom this was chiefly addressed, replied, "I believe I know +what you mean, but I will not undertake to answer the question. My +cousin is grown up. She has the age and sense of a woman, but the outs +and not outs are beyond me." + +"And yet, in general, nothing can be more easily ascertained. The +distinction is so broad. Manners as well as appearance are, generally +speaking, so totally different. Till now, I could not have supposed it +possible to be mistaken as to a girl's being out or not. A girl not out +has always the same sort of dress: a close bonnet, for instance; looks +very demure, and never says a word. You may smile, but it is so, I +assure you; and except that it is sometimes carried a little too far, +it is all very proper. Girls should be quiet and modest. The most +objectionable part is, that the alteration of manners on being +introduced into company is frequently too sudden. They sometimes pass in +such very little time from reserve to quite the opposite--to confidence! +_That_ is the faulty part of the present system. One does not like to +see a girl of eighteen or nineteen so immediately up to every thing--and +perhaps when one has seen her hardly able to speak the year before. Mr. +Bertram, I dare say _you_ have sometimes met with such changes." + +"I believe I have, but this is hardly fair; I see what you are at. You +are quizzing me and Miss Anderson." + +"No, indeed. Miss Anderson! I do not know who or what you mean. I am +quite in the dark. But I _will_ quiz you with a great deal of pleasure, +if you will tell me what about." + +"Ah! you carry it off very well, but I cannot be quite so far imposed +on. You must have had Miss Anderson in your eye, in describing an +altered young lady. You paint too accurately for mistake. It was exactly +so. The Andersons of Baker Street. We were speaking of them the other +day, you know. Edmund, you have heard me mention Charles Anderson. +The circumstance was precisely as this lady has represented it. When +Anderson first introduced me to his family, about two years ago, his +sister was not _out_, and I could not get her to speak to me. I sat +there an hour one morning waiting for Anderson, with only her and a +little girl or two in the room, the governess being sick or run away, +and the mother in and out every moment with letters of business, and I +could hardly get a word or a look from the young lady--nothing like a +civil answer--she screwed up her mouth, and turned from me with such an +air! I did not see her again for a twelvemonth. She was then _out_. I +met her at Mrs. Holford's, and did not recollect her. She came up to me, +claimed me as an acquaintance, stared me out of countenance; and talked +and laughed till I did not know which way to look. I felt that I must +be the jest of the room at the time, and Miss Crawford, it is plain, has +heard the story." + +"And a very pretty story it is, and with more truth in it, I dare say, +than does credit to Miss Anderson. It is too common a fault. Mothers +certainly have not yet got quite the right way of managing their +daughters. I do not know where the error lies. I do not pretend to set +people right, but I do see that they are often wrong." + +"Those who are showing the world what female manners _should_ be," said +Mr. Bertram gallantly, "are doing a great deal to set them right." + +"The error is plain enough," said the less courteous Edmund; "such girls +are ill brought up. They are given wrong notions from the beginning. +They are always acting upon motives of vanity, and there is no more +real modesty in their behaviour _before_ they appear in public than +afterwards." + +"I do not know," replied Miss Crawford hesitatingly. "Yes, I cannot +agree with you there. It is certainly the modestest part of the +business. It is much worse to have girls not out give themselves the +same airs and take the same liberties as if they were, which I have seen +done. That is worse than anything--quite disgusting!" + +"Yes, _that_ is very inconvenient indeed," said Mr. Bertram. "It leads +one astray; one does not know what to do. The close bonnet and demure +air you describe so well (and nothing was ever juster), tell one what +is expected; but I got into a dreadful scrape last year from the want of +them. I went down to Ramsgate for a week with a friend last September, +just after my return from the West Indies. My friend Sneyd--you have +heard me speak of Sneyd, Edmund--his father, and mother, and sisters, +were there, all new to me. When we reached Albion Place they were out; +we went after them, and found them on the pier: Mrs. and the two Miss +Sneyds, with others of their acquaintance. I made my bow in form; and +as Mrs. Sneyd was surrounded by men, attached myself to one of her +daughters, walked by her side all the way home, and made myself as +agreeable as I could; the young lady perfectly easy in her manners, and +as ready to talk as to listen. I had not a suspicion that I could be +doing anything wrong. They looked just the same: both well-dressed, with +veils and parasols like other girls; but I afterwards found that I had +been giving all my attention to the youngest, who was not _out_, and +had most excessively offended the eldest. Miss Augusta ought not to have +been noticed for the next six months; and Miss Sneyd, I believe, has +never forgiven me." + +"That was bad indeed. Poor Miss Sneyd. Though I have no younger +sister, I feel for her. To be neglected before one's time must be very +vexatious; but it was entirely the mother's fault. Miss Augusta should +have been with her governess. Such half-and-half doings never prosper. +But now I must be satisfied about Miss Price. Does she go to balls? Does +she dine out every where, as well as at my sister's?" + +"No," replied Edmund; "I do not think she has ever been to a ball. My +mother seldom goes into company herself, and dines nowhere but with Mrs. +Grant, and Fanny stays at home with _her_." + +"Oh! then the point is clear. Miss Price is not out." + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Mr. Bertram set off for--------, and Miss Crawford was prepared to +find a great chasm in their society, and to miss him decidedly in the +meetings which were now becoming almost daily between the families; +and on their all dining together at the Park soon after his going, she +retook her chosen place near the bottom of the table, fully expecting to +feel a most melancholy difference in the change of masters. It would +be a very flat business, she was sure. In comparison with his brother, +Edmund would have nothing to say. The soup would be sent round in a most +spiritless manner, wine drank without any smiles or agreeable trifling, +and the venison cut up without supplying one pleasant anecdote of any +former haunch, or a single entertaining story, about "my friend such a +one." She must try to find amusement in what was passing at the upper +end of the table, and in observing Mr. Rushworth, who was now making his +appearance at Mansfield for the first time since the Crawfords' arrival. +He had been visiting a friend in the neighbouring county, and that +friend having recently had his grounds laid out by an improver, Mr. +Rushworth was returned with his head full of the subject, and very eager +to be improving his own place in the same way; and though not saying +much to the purpose, could talk of nothing else. The subject had +been already handled in the drawing-room; it was revived in the +dining-parlour. Miss Bertram's attention and opinion was evidently his +chief aim; and though her deportment showed rather conscious superiority +than any solicitude to oblige him, the mention of Sotherton Court, +and the ideas attached to it, gave her a feeling of complacency, which +prevented her from being very ungracious. + +"I wish you could see Compton," said he; "it is the most complete thing! +I never saw a place so altered in my life. I told Smith I did not know +where I was. The approach _now_, is one of the finest things in the +country: you see the house in the most surprising manner. I declare, +when I got back to Sotherton yesterday, it looked like a prison--quite a +dismal old prison." + +"Oh, for shame!" cried Mrs. Norris. "A prison indeed? Sotherton Court is +the noblest old place in the world." + +"It wants improvement, ma'am, beyond anything. I never saw a place that +wanted so much improvement in my life; and it is so forlorn that I do +not know what can be done with it." + +"No wonder that Mr. Rushworth should think so at present," said Mrs. +Grant to Mrs. Norris, with a smile; "but depend upon it, Sotherton will +have _every_ improvement in time which his heart can desire." + +"I must try to do something with it," said Mr. Rushworth, "but I do not +know what. I hope I shall have some good friend to help me." + +"Your best friend upon such an occasion," said Miss Bertram calmly, +"would be Mr. Repton, I imagine." + +"That is what I was thinking of. As he has done so well by Smith, I +think I had better have him at once. His terms are five guineas a day." + +"Well, and if they were _ten_," cried Mrs. Norris, "I am sure _you_ need +not regard it. The expense need not be any impediment. If I were you, +I should not think of the expense. I would have everything done in the +best style, and made as nice as possible. Such a place as Sotherton +Court deserves everything that taste and money can do. You have space to +work upon there, and grounds that will well reward you. For my own part, +if I had anything within the fiftieth part of the size of Sotherton, I +should be always planting and improving, for naturally I am excessively +fond of it. It would be too ridiculous for me to attempt anything where +I am now, with my little half acre. It would be quite a burlesque. But +if I had more room, I should take a prodigious delight in improving and +planting. We did a vast deal in that way at the Parsonage: we made it +quite a different place from what it was when we first had it. You young +ones do not remember much about it, perhaps; but if dear Sir Thomas were +here, he could tell you what improvements we made: and a great deal more +would have been done, but for poor Mr. Norris's sad state of health. +He could hardly ever get out, poor man, to enjoy anything, and _that_ +disheartened me from doing several things that Sir Thomas and I used to +talk of. If it had not been for _that_, we should have carried on the +garden wall, and made the plantation to shut out the churchyard, just +as Dr. Grant has done. We were always doing something as it was. It was +only the spring twelvemonth before Mr. Norris's death that we put in the +apricot against the stable wall, which is now grown such a noble tree, +and getting to such perfection, sir," addressing herself then to Dr. +Grant. + +"The tree thrives well, beyond a doubt, madam," replied Dr. Grant. "The +soil is good; and I never pass it without regretting that the fruit +should be so little worth the trouble of gathering." + +"Sir, it is a Moor Park, we bought it as a Moor Park, and it cost +us--that is, it was a present from Sir Thomas, but I saw the bill--and I +know it cost seven shillings, and was charged as a Moor Park." + +"You were imposed on, ma'am," replied Dr. Grant: "these potatoes have as +much the flavour of a Moor Park apricot as the fruit from that tree. It +is an insipid fruit at the best; but a good apricot is eatable, which +none from my garden are." + +"The truth is, ma'am," said Mrs. Grant, pretending to whisper across +the table to Mrs. Norris, "that Dr. Grant hardly knows what the natural +taste of our apricot is: he is scarcely ever indulged with one, for it +is so valuable a fruit; with a little assistance, and ours is such a +remarkably large, fair sort, that what with early tarts and preserves, +my cook contrives to get them all." + +Mrs. Norris, who had begun to redden, was appeased; and, for a little +while, other subjects took place of the improvements of Sotherton. Dr. +Grant and Mrs. Norris were seldom good friends; their acquaintance had +begun in dilapidations, and their habits were totally dissimilar. + +After a short interruption Mr. Rushworth began again. "Smith's place +is the admiration of all the country; and it was a mere nothing before +Repton took it in hand. I think I shall have Repton." + +"Mr. Rushworth," said Lady Bertram, "if I were you, I would have a +very pretty shrubbery. One likes to get out into a shrubbery in fine +weather." + +Mr. Rushworth was eager to assure her ladyship of his acquiescence, and +tried to make out something complimentary; but, between his submission +to _her_ taste, and his having always intended the same himself, with +the superadded objects of professing attention to the comfort of ladies +in general, and of insinuating that there was one only whom he was +anxious to please, he grew puzzled, and Edmund was glad to put an end +to his speech by a proposal of wine. Mr. Rushworth, however, though not +usually a great talker, had still more to say on the subject next his +heart. "Smith has not much above a hundred acres altogether in his +grounds, which is little enough, and makes it more surprising that the +place can have been so improved. Now, at Sotherton we have a good seven +hundred, without reckoning the water meadows; so that I think, if so +much could be done at Compton, we need not despair. There have been two +or three fine old trees cut down, that grew too near the house, and +it opens the prospect amazingly, which makes me think that Repton, or +anybody of that sort, would certainly have the avenue at Sotherton down: +the avenue that leads from the west front to the top of the hill, +you know," turning to Miss Bertram particularly as he spoke. But Miss +Bertram thought it most becoming to reply-- + +"The avenue! Oh! I do not recollect it. I really know very little of +Sotherton." + +Fanny, who was sitting on the other side of Edmund, exactly opposite +Miss Crawford, and who had been attentively listening, now looked at +him, and said in a low voice-- + +"Cut down an avenue! What a pity! Does it not make you think of Cowper? +'Ye fallen avenues, once more I mourn your fate unmerited.'" + +He smiled as he answered, "I am afraid the avenue stands a bad chance, +Fanny." + +"I should like to see Sotherton before it is cut down, to see the place +as it is now, in its old state; but I do not suppose I shall." + +"Have you never been there? No, you never can; and, unluckily, it is out +of distance for a ride. I wish we could contrive it." + +"Oh! it does not signify. Whenever I do see it, you will tell me how it +has been altered." + +"I collect," said Miss Crawford, "that Sotherton is an old place, and a +place of some grandeur. In any particular style of building?" + +"The house was built in Elizabeth's time, and is a large, regular, brick +building; heavy, but respectable looking, and has many good rooms. It +is ill placed. It stands in one of the lowest spots of the park; in that +respect, unfavourable for improvement. But the woods are fine, and +there is a stream, which, I dare say, might be made a good deal of. Mr. +Rushworth is quite right, I think, in meaning to give it a modern dress, +and I have no doubt that it will be all done extremely well." + +Miss Crawford listened with submission, and said to herself, "He is a +well-bred man; he makes the best of it." + +"I do not wish to influence Mr. Rushworth," he continued; "but, had I +a place to new fashion, I should not put myself into the hands of an +improver. I would rather have an inferior degree of beauty, of my own +choice, and acquired progressively. I would rather abide by my own +blunders than by his." + +"_You_ would know what you were about, of course; but that would not +suit _me_. I have no eye or ingenuity for such matters, but as they are +before me; and had I a place of my own in the country, I should be most +thankful to any Mr. Repton who would undertake it, and give me as much +beauty as he could for my money; and I should never look at it till it +was complete." + +"It would be delightful to _me_ to see the progress of it all," said +Fanny. + +"Ay, you have been brought up to it. It was no part of my education; and +the only dose I ever had, being administered by not the first favourite +in the world, has made me consider improvements _in_ _hand_ as the +greatest of nuisances. Three years ago the Admiral, my honoured uncle, +bought a cottage at Twickenham for us all to spend our summers in; +and my aunt and I went down to it quite in raptures; but it being +excessively pretty, it was soon found necessary to be improved, and for +three months we were all dirt and confusion, without a gravel walk to +step on, or a bench fit for use. I would have everything as complete +as possible in the country, shrubberies and flower-gardens, and rustic +seats innumerable: but it must all be done without my care. Henry is +different; he loves to be doing." + +Edmund was sorry to hear Miss Crawford, whom he was much disposed to +admire, speak so freely of her uncle. It did not suit his sense of +propriety, and he was silenced, till induced by further smiles and +liveliness to put the matter by for the present. + +"Mr. Bertram," said she, "I have tidings of my harp at last. I am +assured that it is safe at Northampton; and there it has probably been +these ten days, in spite of the solemn assurances we have so often +received to the contrary." Edmund expressed his pleasure and surprise. +"The truth is, that our inquiries were too direct; we sent a servant, +we went ourselves: this will not do seventy miles from London; but this +morning we heard of it in the right way. It was seen by some farmer, and +he told the miller, and the miller told the butcher, and the butcher's +son-in-law left word at the shop." + +"I am very glad that you have heard of it, by whatever means, and hope +there will be no further delay." + +"I am to have it to-morrow; but how do you think it is to be conveyed? +Not by a wagon or cart: oh no! nothing of that kind could be hired in +the village. I might as well have asked for porters and a handbarrow." + +"You would find it difficult, I dare say, just now, in the middle of a +very late hay harvest, to hire a horse and cart?" + +"I was astonished to find what a piece of work was made of it! To want +a horse and cart in the country seemed impossible, so I told my maid to +speak for one directly; and as I cannot look out of my dressing-closet +without seeing one farmyard, nor walk in the shrubbery without passing +another, I thought it would be only ask and have, and was rather grieved +that I could not give the advantage to all. Guess my surprise, when +I found that I had been asking the most unreasonable, most impossible +thing in the world; had offended all the farmers, all the labourers, +all the hay in the parish! As for Dr. Grant's bailiff, I believe I had +better keep out of _his_ way; and my brother-in-law himself, who is all +kindness in general, looked rather black upon me when he found what I +had been at." + +"You could not be expected to have thought on the subject before; but +when you _do_ think of it, you must see the importance of getting in +the grass. The hire of a cart at any time might not be so easy as you +suppose: our farmers are not in the habit of letting them out; but, in +harvest, it must be quite out of their power to spare a horse." + +"I shall understand all your ways in time; but, coming down with the +true London maxim, that everything is to be got with money, I was a +little embarrassed at first by the sturdy independence of your country +customs. However, I am to have my harp fetched to-morrow. Henry, who is +good-nature itself, has offered to fetch it in his barouche. Will it not +be honourably conveyed?" + +Edmund spoke of the harp as his favourite instrument, and hoped to be +soon allowed to hear her. Fanny had never heard the harp at all, and +wished for it very much. + +"I shall be most happy to play to you both," said Miss Crawford; "at +least as long as you can like to listen: probably much longer, for +I dearly love music myself, and where the natural taste is equal the +player must always be best off, for she is gratified in more ways than +one. Now, Mr. Bertram, if you write to your brother, I entreat you to +tell him that my harp is come: he heard so much of my misery about it. +And you may say, if you please, that I shall prepare my most plaintive +airs against his return, in compassion to his feelings, as I know his +horse will lose." + +"If I write, I will say whatever you wish me; but I do not, at present, +foresee any occasion for writing." + +"No, I dare say, nor if he were to be gone a twelvemonth, would you ever +write to him, nor he to you, if it could be helped. The occasion would +never be foreseen. What strange creatures brothers are! You would not +write to each other but upon the most urgent necessity in the world; and +when obliged to take up the pen to say that such a horse is ill, or such +a relation dead, it is done in the fewest possible words. You have but +one style among you. I know it perfectly. Henry, who is in every other +respect exactly what a brother should be, who loves me, consults me, +confides in me, and will talk to me by the hour together, has never +yet turned the page in a letter; and very often it is nothing more +than--'Dear Mary, I am just arrived. Bath seems full, and everything +as usual. Yours sincerely.' That is the true manly style; that is a +complete brother's letter." + +"When they are at a distance from all their family," said Fanny, +colouring for William's sake, "they can write long letters." + +"Miss Price has a brother at sea," said Edmund, "whose excellence as a +correspondent makes her think you too severe upon us." + +"At sea, has she? In the king's service, of course?" + +Fanny would rather have had Edmund tell the story, but his determined +silence obliged her to relate her brother's situation: her voice was +animated in speaking of his profession, and the foreign stations he had +been on; but she could not mention the number of years that he had been +absent without tears in her eyes. Miss Crawford civilly wished him an +early promotion. + +"Do you know anything of my cousin's captain?" said Edmund; "Captain +Marshall? You have a large acquaintance in the navy, I conclude?" + +"Among admirals, large enough; but," with an air of grandeur, "we know +very little of the inferior ranks. Post-captains may be very good sort +of men, but they do not belong to _us_. Of various admirals I could tell +you a great deal: of them and their flags, and the gradation of their +pay, and their bickerings and jealousies. But, in general, I can assure +you that they are all passed over, and all very ill used. Certainly, my +home at my uncle's brought me acquainted with a circle of admirals. Of +_Rears_ and _Vices_ I saw enough. Now do not be suspecting me of a pun, +I entreat." + +Edmund again felt grave, and only replied, "It is a noble profession." + +"Yes, the profession is well enough under two circumstances: if it make +the fortune, and there be discretion in spending it; but, in short, it +is not a favourite profession of mine. It has never worn an amiable form +to _me_." + +Edmund reverted to the harp, and was again very happy in the prospect of +hearing her play. + +The subject of improving grounds, meanwhile, was still under +consideration among the others; and Mrs. Grant could not help addressing +her brother, though it was calling his attention from Miss Julia +Bertram. + +"My dear Henry, have _you_ nothing to say? You have been an improver +yourself, and from what I hear of Everingham, it may vie with any place +in England. Its natural beauties, I am sure, are great. Everingham, +as it _used_ to be, was perfect in my estimation: such a happy fall of +ground, and such timber! What would I not give to see it again?" + +"Nothing could be so gratifying to me as to hear your opinion of it," +was his answer; "but I fear there would be some disappointment: you +would not find it equal to your present ideas. In extent, it is a mere +nothing; you would be surprised at its insignificance; and, as for +improvement, there was very little for me to do--too little: I should +like to have been busy much longer." + +"You are fond of the sort of thing?" said Julia. + +"Excessively; but what with the natural advantages of the ground, which +pointed out, even to a very young eye, what little remained to be done, +and my own consequent resolutions, I had not been of age three +months before Everingham was all that it is now. My plan was laid +at Westminster, a little altered, perhaps, at Cambridge, and at +one-and-twenty executed. I am inclined to envy Mr. Rushworth for having +so much happiness yet before him. I have been a devourer of my own." + +"Those who see quickly, will resolve quickly, and act quickly," +said Julia. "_You_ can never want employment. Instead of envying Mr. +Rushworth, you should assist him with your opinion." + +Mrs. Grant, hearing the latter part of this speech, enforced it warmly, +persuaded that no judgment could be equal to her brother's; and as +Miss Bertram caught at the idea likewise, and gave it her full support, +declaring that, in her opinion, it was infinitely better to consult +with friends and disinterested advisers, than immediately to throw the +business into the hands of a professional man, Mr. Rushworth was very +ready to request the favour of Mr. Crawford's assistance; and Mr. +Crawford, after properly depreciating his own abilities, was quite at +his service in any way that could be useful. Mr. Rushworth then began to +propose Mr. Crawford's doing him the honour of coming over to Sotherton, +and taking a bed there; when Mrs. Norris, as if reading in her two +nieces' minds their little approbation of a plan which was to take Mr. +Crawford away, interposed with an amendment. + +"There can be no doubt of Mr. Crawford's willingness; but why should not +more of us go? Why should not we make a little party? Here are many that +would be interested in your improvements, my dear Mr. Rushworth, and +that would like to hear Mr. Crawford's opinion on the spot, and that +might be of some small use to you with _their_ opinions; and, for my +own part, I have been long wishing to wait upon your good mother again; +nothing but having no horses of my own could have made me so remiss; but +now I could go and sit a few hours with Mrs. Rushworth, while the rest +of you walked about and settled things, and then we could all return +to a late dinner here, or dine at Sotherton, just as might be most +agreeable to your mother, and have a pleasant drive home by moonlight. +I dare say Mr. Crawford would take my two nieces and me in his barouche, +and Edmund can go on horseback, you know, sister, and Fanny will stay at +home with you." + +Lady Bertram made no objection; and every one concerned in the going +was forward in expressing their ready concurrence, excepting Edmund, who +heard it all and said nothing. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +"Well, Fanny, and how do you like Miss Crawford _now_?" said Edmund the +next day, after thinking some time on the subject himself. "How did you +like her yesterday?" + +"Very well--very much. I like to hear her talk. She entertains me; and +she is so extremely pretty, that I have great pleasure in looking at +her." + +"It is her countenance that is so attractive. She has a wonderful play +of feature! But was there nothing in her conversation that struck you, +Fanny, as not quite right?" + +"Oh yes! she ought not to have spoken of her uncle as she did. I was +quite astonished. An uncle with whom she has been living so many years, +and who, whatever his faults may be, is so very fond of her brother, +treating him, they say, quite like a son. I could not have believed it!" + +"I thought you would be struck. It was very wrong; very indecorous." + +"And very ungrateful, I think." + +"Ungrateful is a strong word. I do not know that her uncle has any claim +to her _gratitude_; his wife certainly had; and it is the warmth of her +respect for her aunt's memory which misleads her here. She is awkwardly +circumstanced. With such warm feelings and lively spirits it must be +difficult to do justice to her affection for Mrs. Crawford, without +throwing a shade on the Admiral. I do not pretend to know which was most +to blame in their disagreements, though the Admiral's present conduct +might incline one to the side of his wife; but it is natural and amiable +that Miss Crawford should acquit her aunt entirely. I do not censure her +_opinions_; but there certainly _is_ impropriety in making them public." + +"Do not you think," said Fanny, after a little consideration, "that this +impropriety is a reflection itself upon Mrs. Crawford, as her niece has +been entirely brought up by her? She cannot have given her right notions +of what was due to the Admiral." + +"That is a fair remark. Yes, we must suppose the faults of the niece +to have been those of the aunt; and it makes one more sensible of the +disadvantages she has been under. But I think her present home must +do her good. Mrs. Grant's manners are just what they ought to be. She +speaks of her brother with a very pleasing affection." + +"Yes, except as to his writing her such short letters. She made me +almost laugh; but I cannot rate so very highly the love or good-nature +of a brother who will not give himself the trouble of writing anything +worth reading to his sisters, when they are separated. I am sure William +would never have used _me_ so, under any circumstances. And what right +had she to suppose that _you_ would not write long letters when you were +absent?" + +"The right of a lively mind, Fanny, seizing whatever may contribute +to its own amusement or that of others; perfectly allowable, when +untinctured by ill-humour or roughness; and there is not a shadow of +either in the countenance or manner of Miss Crawford: nothing sharp, or +loud, or coarse. She is perfectly feminine, except in the instances we +have been speaking of. There she cannot be justified. I am glad you saw +it all as I did." + +Having formed her mind and gained her affections, he had a good chance +of her thinking like him; though at this period, and on this subject, +there began now to be some danger of dissimilarity, for he was in a line +of admiration of Miss Crawford, which might lead him where Fanny +could not follow. Miss Crawford's attractions did not lessen. The harp +arrived, and rather added to her beauty, wit, and good-humour; for she +played with the greatest obligingness, with an expression and taste +which were peculiarly becoming, and there was something clever to be +said at the close of every air. Edmund was at the Parsonage every day, +to be indulged with his favourite instrument: one morning secured an +invitation for the next; for the lady could not be unwilling to have a +listener, and every thing was soon in a fair train. + +A young woman, pretty, lively, with a harp as elegant as herself, and +both placed near a window, cut down to the ground, and opening on a +little lawn, surrounded by shrubs in the rich foliage of summer, was +enough to catch any man's heart. The season, the scene, the air, were +all favourable to tenderness and sentiment. Mrs. Grant and her tambour +frame were not without their use: it was all in harmony; and as +everything will turn to account when love is once set going, even the +sandwich tray, and Dr. Grant doing the honours of it, were worth looking +at. Without studying the business, however, or knowing what he was +about, Edmund was beginning, at the end of a week of such intercourse, +to be a good deal in love; and to the credit of the lady it may be added +that, without his being a man of the world or an elder brother, without +any of the arts of flattery or the gaieties of small talk, he began to +be agreeable to her. She felt it to be so, though she had not foreseen, +and could hardly understand it; for he was not pleasant by any common +rule: he talked no nonsense; he paid no compliments; his opinions +were unbending, his attentions tranquil and simple. There was a charm, +perhaps, in his sincerity, his steadiness, his integrity, which Miss +Crawford might be equal to feel, though not equal to discuss with +herself. She did not think very much about it, however: he pleased her +for the present; she liked to have him near her; it was enough. + +Fanny could not wonder that Edmund was at the Parsonage every morning; +she would gladly have been there too, might she have gone in uninvited +and unnoticed, to hear the harp; neither could she wonder that, when the +evening stroll was over, and the two families parted again, he should +think it right to attend Mrs. Grant and her sister to their home, while +Mr. Crawford was devoted to the ladies of the Park; but she thought it +a very bad exchange; and if Edmund were not there to mix the wine and +water for her, would rather go without it than not. She was a little +surprised that he could spend so many hours with Miss Crawford, and +not see more of the sort of fault which he had already observed, and of +which _she_ was almost always reminded by a something of the same nature +whenever she was in her company; but so it was. Edmund was fond of +speaking to her of Miss Crawford, but he seemed to think it enough that +the Admiral had since been spared; and she scrupled to point out her own +remarks to him, lest it should appear like ill-nature. The first actual +pain which Miss Crawford occasioned her was the consequence of an +inclination to learn to ride, which the former caught, soon after her +being settled at Mansfield, from the example of the young ladies at the +Park, and which, when Edmund's acquaintance with her increased, led to +his encouraging the wish, and the offer of his own quiet mare for the +purpose of her first attempts, as the best fitted for a beginner that +either stable could furnish. No pain, no injury, however, was designed +by him to his cousin in this offer: _she_ was not to lose a day's +exercise by it. The mare was only to be taken down to the Parsonage half +an hour before her ride were to begin; and Fanny, on its being first +proposed, so far from feeling slighted, was almost over-powered with +gratitude that he should be asking her leave for it. + +Miss Crawford made her first essay with great credit to herself, and no +inconvenience to Fanny. Edmund, who had taken down the mare and presided +at the whole, returned with it in excellent time, before either Fanny or +the steady old coachman, who always attended her when she rode without +her cousins, were ready to set forward. The second day's trial was not +so guiltless. Miss Crawford's enjoyment of riding was such that she did +not know how to leave off. Active and fearless, and though rather small, +strongly made, she seemed formed for a horsewoman; and to the pure +genuine pleasure of the exercise, something was probably added in +Edmund's attendance and instructions, and something more in the +conviction of very much surpassing her sex in general by her early +progress, to make her unwilling to dismount. Fanny was ready and +waiting, and Mrs. Norris was beginning to scold her for not being gone, +and still no horse was announced, no Edmund appeared. To avoid her aunt, +and look for him, she went out. + +The houses, though scarcely half a mile apart, were not within sight of +each other; but, by walking fifty yards from the hall door, she could +look down the park, and command a view of the Parsonage and all its +demesnes, gently rising beyond the village road; and in Dr. Grant's +meadow she immediately saw the group--Edmund and Miss Crawford both on +horse-back, riding side by side, Dr. and Mrs. Grant, and Mr. Crawford, +with two or three grooms, standing about and looking on. A happy party +it appeared to her, all interested in one object: cheerful beyond a +doubt, for the sound of merriment ascended even to her. It was a sound +which did not make _her_ cheerful; she wondered that Edmund should +forget her, and felt a pang. She could not turn her eyes from the +meadow; she could not help watching all that passed. At first Miss +Crawford and her companion made the circuit of the field, which was not +small, at a foot's pace; then, at _her_ apparent suggestion, they rose +into a canter; and to Fanny's timid nature it was most astonishing to +see how well she sat. After a few minutes they stopped entirely. Edmund +was close to her; he was speaking to her; he was evidently directing her +management of the bridle; he had hold of her hand; she saw it, or the +imagination supplied what the eye could not reach. She must not wonder +at all this; what could be more natural than that Edmund should be +making himself useful, and proving his good-nature by any one? She could +not but think, indeed, that Mr. Crawford might as well have saved him +the trouble; that it would have been particularly proper and becoming +in a brother to have done it himself; but Mr. Crawford, with all his +boasted good-nature, and all his coachmanship, probably knew nothing +of the matter, and had no active kindness in comparison of Edmund. She +began to think it rather hard upon the mare to have such double duty; if +she were forgotten, the poor mare should be remembered. + +Her feelings for one and the other were soon a little tranquillised +by seeing the party in the meadow disperse, and Miss Crawford still on +horseback, but attended by Edmund on foot, pass through a gate into the +lane, and so into the park, and make towards the spot where she stood. +She began then to be afraid of appearing rude and impatient; and walked +to meet them with a great anxiety to avoid the suspicion. + +"My dear Miss Price," said Miss Crawford, as soon as she was at all +within hearing, "I am come to make my own apologies for keeping you +waiting; but I have nothing in the world to say for myself--I knew it +was very late, and that I was behaving extremely ill; and therefore, if +you please, you must forgive me. Selfishness must always be forgiven, +you know, because there is no hope of a cure." + +Fanny's answer was extremely civil, and Edmund added his conviction that +she could be in no hurry. "For there is more than time enough for my +cousin to ride twice as far as she ever goes," said he, "and you have +been promoting her comfort by preventing her from setting off half an +hour sooner: clouds are now coming up, and she will not suffer from the +heat as she would have done then. I wish _you_ may not be fatigued by so +much exercise. I wish you had saved yourself this walk home." + +"No part of it fatigues me but getting off this horse, I assure you," +said she, as she sprang down with his help; "I am very strong. Nothing +ever fatigues me but doing what I do not like. Miss Price, I give way to +you with a very bad grace; but I sincerely hope you will have a pleasant +ride, and that I may have nothing but good to hear of this dear, +delightful, beautiful animal." + +The old coachman, who had been waiting about with his own horse, now +joining them, Fanny was lifted on hers, and they set off across another +part of the park; her feelings of discomfort not lightened by seeing, as +she looked back, that the others were walking down the hill together to +the village; nor did her attendant do her much good by his comments on +Miss Crawford's great cleverness as a horse-woman, which he had been +watching with an interest almost equal to her own. + +"It is a pleasure to see a lady with such a good heart for riding!" +said he. "I never see one sit a horse better. She did not seem to have +a thought of fear. Very different from you, miss, when you first began, +six years ago come next Easter. Lord bless you! how you did tremble when +Sir Thomas first had you put on!" + +In the drawing-room Miss Crawford was also celebrated. Her merit in +being gifted by Nature with strength and courage was fully appreciated +by the Miss Bertrams; her delight in riding was like their own; her +early excellence in it was like their own, and they had great pleasure +in praising it. + +"I was sure she would ride well," said Julia; "she has the make for it. +Her figure is as neat as her brother's." + +"Yes," added Maria, "and her spirits are as good, and she has the same +energy of character. I cannot but think that good horsemanship has a +great deal to do with the mind." + +When they parted at night Edmund asked Fanny whether she meant to ride +the next day. + +"No, I do not know--not if you want the mare," was her answer. + +"I do not want her at all for myself," said he; "but whenever you are +next inclined to stay at home, I think Miss Crawford would be glad to +have her a longer time--for a whole morning, in short. She has a great +desire to get as far as Mansfield Common: Mrs. Grant has been telling +her of its fine views, and I have no doubt of her being perfectly equal +to it. But any morning will do for this. She would be extremely sorry to +interfere with you. It would be very wrong if she did. _She_ rides only +for pleasure; _you_ for health." + +"I shall not ride to-morrow, certainly," said Fanny; "I have been out +very often lately, and would rather stay at home. You know I am strong +enough now to walk very well." + +Edmund looked pleased, which must be Fanny's comfort, and the ride to +Mansfield Common took place the next morning: the party included all the +young people but herself, and was much enjoyed at the time, and doubly +enjoyed again in the evening discussion. A successful scheme of this +sort generally brings on another; and the having been to Mansfield +Common disposed them all for going somewhere else the day after. There +were many other views to be shewn; and though the weather was hot, there +were shady lanes wherever they wanted to go. A young party is always +provided with a shady lane. Four fine mornings successively were spent +in this manner, in shewing the Crawfords the country, and doing the +honours of its finest spots. Everything answered; it was all gaiety and +good-humour, the heat only supplying inconvenience enough to be talked +of with pleasure--till the fourth day, when the happiness of one of +the party was exceedingly clouded. Miss Bertram was the one. Edmund and +Julia were invited to dine at the Parsonage, and _she_ was excluded. +It was meant and done by Mrs. Grant, with perfect good-humour, on Mr. +Rushworth's account, who was partly expected at the Park that day; +but it was felt as a very grievous injury, and her good manners were +severely taxed to conceal her vexation and anger till she reached home. +As Mr. Rushworth did _not_ come, the injury was increased, and she had +not even the relief of shewing her power over him; she could only be +sullen to her mother, aunt, and cousin, and throw as great a gloom as +possible over their dinner and dessert. + +Between ten and eleven Edmund and Julia walked into the drawing-room, +fresh with the evening air, glowing and cheerful, the very reverse +of what they found in the three ladies sitting there, for Maria would +scarcely raise her eyes from her book, and Lady Bertram was half-asleep; +and even Mrs. Norris, discomposed by her niece's ill-humour, and having +asked one or two questions about the dinner, which were not immediately +attended to, seemed almost determined to say no more. For a few minutes +the brother and sister were too eager in their praise of the night and +their remarks on the stars, to think beyond themselves; but when the +first pause came, Edmund, looking around, said, "But where is Fanny? Is +she gone to bed?" + +"No, not that I know of," replied Mrs. Norris; "she was here a moment +ago." + +Her own gentle voice speaking from the other end of the room, which was +a very long one, told them that she was on the sofa. Mrs. Norris began +scolding. + +"That is a very foolish trick, Fanny, to be idling away all the evening +upon a sofa. Why cannot you come and sit here, and employ yourself as +_we_ do? If you have no work of your own, I can supply you from the +poor basket. There is all the new calico, that was bought last week, +not touched yet. I am sure I almost broke my back by cutting it out. You +should learn to think of other people; and, take my word for it, it is a +shocking trick for a young person to be always lolling upon a sofa." + +Before half this was said, Fanny was returned to her seat at the table, +and had taken up her work again; and Julia, who was in high good-humour, +from the pleasures of the day, did her the justice of exclaiming, "I +must say, ma'am, that Fanny is as little upon the sofa as anybody in the +house." + +"Fanny," said Edmund, after looking at her attentively, "I am sure you +have the headache." + +She could not deny it, but said it was not very bad. + +"I can hardly believe you," he replied; "I know your looks too well. How +long have you had it?" + +"Since a little before dinner. It is nothing but the heat." + +"Did you go out in the heat?" + +"Go out! to be sure she did," said Mrs. Norris: "would you have her stay +within such a fine day as this? Were not we _all_ out? Even your mother +was out to-day for above an hour." + +"Yes, indeed, Edmund," added her ladyship, who had been thoroughly +awakened by Mrs. Norris's sharp reprimand to Fanny; "I was out above an +hour. I sat three-quarters of an hour in the flower-garden, while Fanny +cut the roses; and very pleasant it was, I assure you, but very hot. It +was shady enough in the alcove, but I declare I quite dreaded the coming +home again." + +"Fanny has been cutting roses, has she?" + +"Yes, and I am afraid they will be the last this year. Poor thing! _She_ +found it hot enough; but they were so full-blown that one could not +wait." + +"There was no help for it, certainly," rejoined Mrs. Norris, in a rather +softened voice; "but I question whether her headache might not be caught +_then_, sister. There is nothing so likely to give it as standing and +stooping in a hot sun; but I dare say it will be well to-morrow. Suppose +you let her have your aromatic vinegar; I always forget to have mine +filled." + +"She has got it," said Lady Bertram; "she has had it ever since she came +back from your house the second time." + +"What!" cried Edmund; "has she been walking as well as cutting roses; +walking across the hot park to your house, and doing it twice, ma'am? No +wonder her head aches." + +Mrs. Norris was talking to Julia, and did not hear. + +"I was afraid it would be too much for her," said Lady Bertram; "but +when the roses were gathered, your aunt wished to have them, and then +you know they must be taken home." + +"But were there roses enough to oblige her to go twice?" + +"No; but they were to be put into the spare room to dry; and, unluckily, +Fanny forgot to lock the door of the room and bring away the key, so she +was obliged to go again." + +Edmund got up and walked about the room, saying, "And could nobody be +employed on such an errand but Fanny? Upon my word, ma'am, it has been a +very ill-managed business." + +"I am sure I do not know how it was to have been done better," cried +Mrs. Norris, unable to be longer deaf; "unless I had gone myself, +indeed; but I cannot be in two places at once; and I was talking to Mr. +Green at that very time about your mother's dairymaid, by _her_ desire, +and had promised John Groom to write to Mrs. Jefferies about his son, +and the poor fellow was waiting for me half an hour. I think nobody +can justly accuse me of sparing myself upon any occasion, but really I +cannot do everything at once. And as for Fanny's just stepping down +to my house for me--it is not much above a quarter of a mile--I cannot +think I was unreasonable to ask it. How often do I pace it three times a +day, early and late, ay, and in all weathers too, and say nothing about +it?" + +"I wish Fanny had half your strength, ma'am." + +"If Fanny would be more regular in her exercise, she would not be +knocked up so soon. She has not been out on horseback now this long +while, and I am persuaded that, when she does not ride, she ought to +walk. If she had been riding before, I should not have asked it of her. +But I thought it would rather do her good after being stooping among the +roses; for there is nothing so refreshing as a walk after a fatigue +of that kind; and though the sun was strong, it was not so very hot. +Between ourselves, Edmund," nodding significantly at his mother, "it was +cutting the roses, and dawdling about in the flower-garden, that did the +mischief." + +"I am afraid it was, indeed," said the more candid Lady Bertram, who had +overheard her; "I am very much afraid she caught the headache there, +for the heat was enough to kill anybody. It was as much as I could bear +myself. Sitting and calling to Pug, and trying to keep him from the +flower-beds, was almost too much for me." + +Edmund said no more to either lady; but going quietly to another table, +on which the supper-tray yet remained, brought a glass of Madeira to +Fanny, and obliged her to drink the greater part. She wished to be able +to decline it; but the tears, which a variety of feelings created, made +it easier to swallow than to speak. + +Vexed as Edmund was with his mother and aunt, he was still more angry +with himself. His own forgetfulness of her was worse than anything which +they had done. Nothing of this would have happened had she been properly +considered; but she had been left four days together without any choice +of companions or exercise, and without any excuse for avoiding whatever +her unreasonable aunts might require. He was ashamed to think that +for four days together she had not had the power of riding, and very +seriously resolved, however unwilling he must be to check a pleasure of +Miss Crawford's, that it should never happen again. + +Fanny went to bed with her heart as full as on the first evening of her +arrival at the Park. The state of her spirits had probably had its +share in her indisposition; for she had been feeling neglected, and been +struggling against discontent and envy for some days past. As she leant +on the sofa, to which she had retreated that she might not be seen, the +pain of her mind had been much beyond that in her head; and the sudden +change which Edmund's kindness had then occasioned, made her hardly know +how to support herself. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Fanny's rides recommenced the very next day; and as it was a pleasant +fresh-feeling morning, less hot than the weather had lately been, Edmund +trusted that her losses, both of health and pleasure, would be soon made +good. While she was gone Mr. Rushworth arrived, escorting his mother, +who came to be civil and to shew her civility especially, in urging the +execution of the plan for visiting Sotherton, which had been started a +fortnight before, and which, in consequence of her subsequent absence +from home, had since lain dormant. Mrs. Norris and her nieces were all +well pleased with its revival, and an early day was named and agreed +to, provided Mr. Crawford should be disengaged: the young ladies did +not forget that stipulation, and though Mrs. Norris would willingly have +answered for his being so, they would neither authorise the liberty nor +run the risk; and at last, on a hint from Miss Bertram, Mr. Rushworth +discovered that the properest thing to be done was for him to walk down +to the Parsonage directly, and call on Mr. Crawford, and inquire whether +Wednesday would suit him or not. + +Before his return Mrs. Grant and Miss Crawford came in. Having been out +some time, and taken a different route to the house, they had not met +him. Comfortable hopes, however, were given that he would find Mr. +Crawford at home. The Sotherton scheme was mentioned of course. It was +hardly possible, indeed, that anything else should be talked of, +for Mrs. Norris was in high spirits about it; and Mrs. Rushworth, a +well-meaning, civil, prosing, pompous woman, who thought nothing of +consequence, but as it related to her own and her son's concerns, +had not yet given over pressing Lady Bertram to be of the party. Lady +Bertram constantly declined it; but her placid manner of refusal made +Mrs. Rushworth still think she wished to come, till Mrs. Norris's more +numerous words and louder tone convinced her of the truth. + +"The fatigue would be too much for my sister, a great deal too much, I +assure you, my dear Mrs. Rushworth. Ten miles there, and ten back, you +know. You must excuse my sister on this occasion, and accept of our +two dear girls and myself without her. Sotherton is the only place that +could give her a _wish_ to go so far, but it cannot be, indeed. She will +have a companion in Fanny Price, you know, so it will all do very well; +and as for Edmund, as he is not here to speak for himself, I will answer +for his being most happy to join the party. He can go on horseback, you +know." + +Mrs. Rushworth being obliged to yield to Lady Bertram's staying at home, +could only be sorry. "The loss of her ladyship's company would be a +great drawback, and she should have been extremely happy to have seen +the young lady too, Miss Price, who had never been at Sotherton yet, and +it was a pity she should not see the place." + +"You are very kind, you are all kindness, my dear madam," cried Mrs. +Norris; "but as to Fanny, she will have opportunities in plenty of +seeing Sotherton. She has time enough before her; and her going now is +quite out of the question. Lady Bertram could not possibly spare her." + +"Oh no! I cannot do without Fanny." + +Mrs. Rushworth proceeded next, under the conviction that everybody must +be wanting to see Sotherton, to include Miss Crawford in the invitation; +and though Mrs. Grant, who had not been at the trouble of visiting Mrs. +Rushworth, on her coming into the neighbourhood, civilly declined it on +her own account, she was glad to secure any pleasure for her sister; +and Mary, properly pressed and persuaded, was not long in accepting +her share of the civility. Mr. Rushworth came back from the Parsonage +successful; and Edmund made his appearance just in time to learn +what had been settled for Wednesday, to attend Mrs. Rushworth to her +carriage, and walk half-way down the park with the two other ladies. + +On his return to the breakfast-room, he found Mrs. Norris trying to +make up her mind as to whether Miss Crawford's being of the party were +desirable or not, or whether her brother's barouche would not be full +without her. The Miss Bertrams laughed at the idea, assuring her that +the barouche would hold four perfectly well, independent of the box, on +which _one_ might go with him. + +"But why is it necessary," said Edmund, "that Crawford's carriage, or +his _only_, should be employed? Why is no use to be made of my mother's +chaise? I could not, when the scheme was first mentioned the other +day, understand why a visit from the family were not to be made in the +carriage of the family." + +"What!" cried Julia: "go boxed up three in a postchaise in this weather, +when we may have seats in a barouche! No, my dear Edmund, that will not +quite do." + +"Besides," said Maria, "I know that Mr. Crawford depends upon taking us. +After what passed at first, he would claim it as a promise." + +"And, my dear Edmund," added Mrs. Norris, "taking out _two_ carriages +when _one_ will do, would be trouble for nothing; and, between +ourselves, coachman is not very fond of the roads between this and +Sotherton: he always complains bitterly of the narrow lanes scratching +his carriage, and you know one should not like to have dear Sir Thomas, +when he comes home, find all the varnish scratched off." + +"That would not be a very handsome reason for using Mr. Crawford's," +said Maria; "but the truth is, that Wilcox is a stupid old fellow, and +does not know how to drive. I will answer for it that we shall find no +inconvenience from narrow roads on Wednesday." + +"There is no hardship, I suppose, nothing unpleasant," said Edmund, "in +going on the barouche box." + +"Unpleasant!" cried Maria: "oh dear! I believe it would be generally +thought the favourite seat. There can be no comparison as to one's view +of the country. Probably Miss Crawford will choose the barouche-box +herself." + +"There can be no objection, then, to Fanny's going with you; there can +be no doubt of your having room for her." + +"Fanny!" repeated Mrs. Norris; "my dear Edmund, there is no idea of her +going with us. She stays with her aunt. I told Mrs. Rushworth so. She is +not expected." + +"You can have no reason, I imagine, madam," said he, addressing his +mother, "for wishing Fanny _not_ to be of the party, but as it relates +to yourself, to your own comfort. If you could do without her, you would +not wish to keep her at home?" + +"To be sure not, but I _cannot_ do without her." + +"You can, if I stay at home with you, as I mean to do." + +There was a general cry out at this. "Yes," he continued, "there is no +necessity for my going, and I mean to stay at home. Fanny has a great +desire to see Sotherton. I know she wishes it very much. She has not +often a gratification of the kind, and I am sure, ma'am, you would be +glad to give her the pleasure now?" + +"Oh yes! very glad, if your aunt sees no objection." + +Mrs. Norris was very ready with the only objection which could +remain--their having positively assured Mrs. Rushworth that Fanny could +not go, and the very strange appearance there would consequently be in +taking her, which seemed to her a difficulty quite impossible to be got +over. It must have the strangest appearance! It would be something so +very unceremonious, so bordering on disrespect for Mrs. Rushworth, whose +own manners were such a pattern of good-breeding and attention, that she +really did not feel equal to it. Mrs. Norris had no affection for Fanny, +and no wish of procuring her pleasure at any time; but her opposition to +Edmund _now_, arose more from partiality for her own scheme, because it +_was_ her own, than from anything else. She felt that she had arranged +everything extremely well, and that any alteration must be for the +worse. When Edmund, therefore, told her in reply, as he did when she +would give him the hearing, that she need not distress herself on Mrs. +Rushworth's account, because he had taken the opportunity, as he walked +with her through the hall, of mentioning Miss Price as one who would +probably be of the party, and had directly received a very sufficient +invitation for his cousin, Mrs. Norris was too much vexed to submit with +a very good grace, and would only say, "Very well, very well, just as +you chuse, settle it your own way, I am sure I do not care about it." + +"It seems very odd," said Maria, "that you should be staying at home +instead of Fanny." + +"I am sure she ought to be very much obliged to you," added Julia, +hastily leaving the room as she spoke, from a consciousness that she +ought to offer to stay at home herself. + +"Fanny will feel quite as grateful as the occasion requires," was +Edmund's only reply, and the subject dropt. + +Fanny's gratitude, when she heard the plan, was, in fact, much greater +than her pleasure. She felt Edmund's kindness with all, and more than +all, the sensibility which he, unsuspicious of her fond attachment, +could be aware of; but that he should forego any enjoyment on her +account gave her pain, and her own satisfaction in seeing Sotherton +would be nothing without him. + +The next meeting of the two Mansfield families produced another +alteration in the plan, and one that was admitted with general +approbation. Mrs. Grant offered herself as companion for the day to Lady +Bertram in lieu of her son, and Dr. Grant was to join them at dinner. +Lady Bertram was very well pleased to have it so, and the young ladies +were in spirits again. Even Edmund was very thankful for an arrangement +which restored him to his share of the party; and Mrs. Norris thought it +an excellent plan, and had it at her tongue's end, and was on the point +of proposing it, when Mrs. Grant spoke. + +Wednesday was fine, and soon after breakfast the barouche arrived, Mr. +Crawford driving his sisters; and as everybody was ready, there was +nothing to be done but for Mrs. Grant to alight and the others to take +their places. The place of all places, the envied seat, the post of +honour, was unappropriated. To whose happy lot was it to fall? While +each of the Miss Bertrams were meditating how best, and with the most +appearance of obliging the others, to secure it, the matter was settled +by Mrs. Grant's saying, as she stepped from the carriage, "As there are +five of you, it will be better that one should sit with Henry; and as +you were saying lately that you wished you could drive, Julia, I think +this will be a good opportunity for you to take a lesson." + +Happy Julia! Unhappy Maria! The former was on the barouche-box in a +moment, the latter took her seat within, in gloom and mortification; and +the carriage drove off amid the good wishes of the two remaining ladies, +and the barking of Pug in his mistress's arms. + +Their road was through a pleasant country; and Fanny, whose rides had +never been extensive, was soon beyond her knowledge, and was very happy +in observing all that was new, and admiring all that was pretty. She was +not often invited to join in the conversation of the others, nor did +she desire it. Her own thoughts and reflections were habitually her +best companions; and, in observing the appearance of the country, the +bearings of the roads, the difference of soil, the state of the harvest, +the cottages, the cattle, the children, she found entertainment that +could only have been heightened by having Edmund to speak to of what she +felt. That was the only point of resemblance between her and the lady +who sat by her: in everything but a value for Edmund, Miss Crawford was +very unlike her. She had none of Fanny's delicacy of taste, of mind, of +feeling; she saw Nature, inanimate Nature, with little observation; +her attention was all for men and women, her talents for the light +and lively. In looking back after Edmund, however, when there was any +stretch of road behind them, or when he gained on them in ascending a +considerable hill, they were united, and a "there he is" broke at the +same moment from them both, more than once. + +For the first seven miles Miss Bertram had very little real comfort: +her prospect always ended in Mr. Crawford and her sister sitting side by +side, full of conversation and merriment; and to see only his expressive +profile as he turned with a smile to Julia, or to catch the laugh of +the other, was a perpetual source of irritation, which her own sense +of propriety could but just smooth over. When Julia looked back, it was +with a countenance of delight, and whenever she spoke to them, it was in +the highest spirits: "her view of the country was charming, she wished +they could all see it," etc.; but her only offer of exchange was +addressed to Miss Crawford, as they gained the summit of a long hill, +and was not more inviting than this: "Here is a fine burst of country. I +wish you had my seat, but I dare say you will not take it, let me press +you ever so much;" and Miss Crawford could hardly answer before they +were moving again at a good pace. + +When they came within the influence of Sotherton associations, it was +better for Miss Bertram, who might be said to have two strings to her +bow. She had Rushworth feelings, and Crawford feelings, and in +the vicinity of Sotherton the former had considerable effect. Mr. +Rushworth's consequence was hers. She could not tell Miss Crawford that +"those woods belonged to Sotherton," she could not carelessly observe +that "she believed that it was now all Mr. Rushworth's property on each +side of the road," without elation of heart; and it was a pleasure +to increase with their approach to the capital freehold mansion, +and ancient manorial residence of the family, with all its rights of +court-leet and court-baron. + +"Now we shall have no more rough road, Miss Crawford; our difficulties +are over. The rest of the way is such as it ought to be. Mr. Rushworth +has made it since he succeeded to the estate. Here begins the village. +Those cottages are really a disgrace. The church spire is reckoned +remarkably handsome. I am glad the church is not so close to the great +house as often happens in old places. The annoyance of the bells must be +terrible. There is the parsonage: a tidy-looking house, and I understand +the clergyman and his wife are very decent people. Those are almshouses, +built by some of the family. To the right is the steward's house; he +is a very respectable man. Now we are coming to the lodge-gates; but we +have nearly a mile through the park still. It is not ugly, you see, at +this end; there is some fine timber, but the situation of the house is +dreadful. We go down hill to it for half a mile, and it is a pity, for +it would not be an ill-looking place if it had a better approach." + +Miss Crawford was not slow to admire; she pretty well guessed Miss +Bertram's feelings, and made it a point of honour to promote her +enjoyment to the utmost. Mrs. Norris was all delight and volubility; and +even Fanny had something to say in admiration, and might be heard with +complacency. Her eye was eagerly taking in everything within her reach; +and after being at some pains to get a view of the house, and observing +that "it was a sort of building which she could not look at but with +respect," she added, "Now, where is the avenue? The house fronts the +east, I perceive. The avenue, therefore, must be at the back of it. Mr. +Rushworth talked of the west front." + +"Yes, it is exactly behind the house; begins at a little distance, and +ascends for half a mile to the extremity of the grounds. You may see +something of it here--something of the more distant trees. It is oak +entirely." + +Miss Bertram could now speak with decided information of what she had +known nothing about when Mr. Rushworth had asked her opinion; and her +spirits were in as happy a flutter as vanity and pride could furnish, +when they drove up to the spacious stone steps before the principal +entrance. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Mr. Rushworth was at the door to receive his fair lady; and the whole +party were welcomed by him with due attention. In the drawing-room they +were met with equal cordiality by the mother, and Miss Bertram had all +the distinction with each that she could wish. After the business of +arriving was over, it was first necessary to eat, and the doors were +thrown open to admit them through one or two intermediate rooms into the +appointed dining-parlour, where a collation was prepared with abundance +and elegance. Much was said, and much was ate, and all went well. The +particular object of the day was then considered. How would Mr. Crawford +like, in what manner would he chuse, to take a survey of the grounds? +Mr. Rushworth mentioned his curricle. Mr. Crawford suggested the greater +desirableness of some carriage which might convey more than two. "To be +depriving themselves of the advantage of other eyes and other judgments, +might be an evil even beyond the loss of present pleasure." + +Mrs. Rushworth proposed that the chaise should be taken also; but this +was scarcely received as an amendment: the young ladies neither smiled +nor spoke. Her next proposition, of shewing the house to such of them +as had not been there before, was more acceptable, for Miss Bertram +was pleased to have its size displayed, and all were glad to be doing +something. + +The whole party rose accordingly, and under Mrs. Rushworth's guidance +were shewn through a number of rooms, all lofty, and many large, and +amply furnished in the taste of fifty years back, with shining floors, +solid mahogany, rich damask, marble, gilding, and carving, each handsome +in its way. Of pictures there were abundance, and some few good, but +the larger part were family portraits, no longer anything to anybody +but Mrs. Rushworth, who had been at great pains to learn all that the +housekeeper could teach, and was now almost equally well qualified to +shew the house. On the present occasion she addressed herself chiefly to +Miss Crawford and Fanny, but there was no comparison in the willingness +of their attention; for Miss Crawford, who had seen scores of great +houses, and cared for none of them, had only the appearance of civilly +listening, while Fanny, to whom everything was almost as interesting +as it was new, attended with unaffected earnestness to all that Mrs. +Rushworth could relate of the family in former times, its rise and +grandeur, regal visits and loyal efforts, delighted to connect anything +with history already known, or warm her imagination with scenes of the +past. + +The situation of the house excluded the possibility of much prospect +from any of the rooms; and while Fanny and some of the others were +attending Mrs. Rushworth, Henry Crawford was looking grave and shaking +his head at the windows. Every room on the west front looked across +a lawn to the beginning of the avenue immediately beyond tall iron +palisades and gates. + +Having visited many more rooms than could be supposed to be of any +other use than to contribute to the window-tax, and find employment for +housemaids, "Now," said Mrs. Rushworth, "we are coming to the chapel, +which properly we ought to enter from above, and look down upon; but +as we are quite among friends, I will take you in this way, if you will +excuse me." + +They entered. Fanny's imagination had prepared her for something +grander than a mere spacious, oblong room, fitted up for the purpose of +devotion: with nothing more striking or more solemn than the profusion +of mahogany, and the crimson velvet cushions appearing over the ledge of +the family gallery above. "I am disappointed," said she, in a low voice, +to Edmund. "This is not my idea of a chapel. There is nothing awful +here, nothing melancholy, nothing grand. Here are no aisles, no arches, +no inscriptions, no banners. No banners, cousin, to be 'blown by the +night wind of heaven.' No signs that a 'Scottish monarch sleeps below.'" + +"You forget, Fanny, how lately all this has been built, and for how +confined a purpose, compared with the old chapels of castles and +monasteries. It was only for the private use of the family. They have +been buried, I suppose, in the parish church. _There_ you must look for +the banners and the achievements." + +"It was foolish of me not to think of all that; but I am disappointed." + +Mrs. Rushworth began her relation. "This chapel was fitted up as you see +it, in James the Second's time. Before that period, as I understand, +the pews were only wainscot; and there is some reason to think that +the linings and cushions of the pulpit and family seat were only purple +cloth; but this is not quite certain. It is a handsome chapel, and was +formerly in constant use both morning and evening. Prayers were always +read in it by the domestic chaplain, within the memory of many; but the +late Mr. Rushworth left it off." + +"Every generation has its improvements," said Miss Crawford, with a +smile, to Edmund. + +Mrs. Rushworth was gone to repeat her lesson to Mr. Crawford; and +Edmund, Fanny, and Miss Crawford remained in a cluster together. + +"It is a pity," cried Fanny, "that the custom should have been +discontinued. It was a valuable part of former times. There is something +in a chapel and chaplain so much in character with a great house, +with one's ideas of what such a household should be! A whole family +assembling regularly for the purpose of prayer is fine!" + +"Very fine indeed," said Miss Crawford, laughing. "It must do the heads +of the family a great deal of good to force all the poor housemaids and +footmen to leave business and pleasure, and say their prayers here twice +a day, while they are inventing excuses themselves for staying away." + +"_That_ is hardly Fanny's idea of a family assembling," said Edmund. "If +the master and mistress do _not_ attend themselves, there must be more +harm than good in the custom." + +"At any rate, it is safer to leave people to their own devices on such +subjects. Everybody likes to go their own way--to chuse their own time +and manner of devotion. The obligation of attendance, the formality, the +restraint, the length of time--altogether it is a formidable thing, and +what nobody likes; and if the good people who used to kneel and gape in +that gallery could have foreseen that the time would ever come when men +and women might lie another ten minutes in bed, when they woke with a +headache, without danger of reprobation, because chapel was missed, +they would have jumped with joy and envy. Cannot you imagine with what +unwilling feelings the former belles of the house of Rushworth did +many a time repair to this chapel? The young Mrs. Eleanors and Mrs. +Bridgets--starched up into seeming piety, but with heads full of +something very different--especially if the poor chaplain were not worth +looking at--and, in those days, I fancy parsons were very inferior even +to what they are now." + +For a few moments she was unanswered. Fanny coloured and looked +at Edmund, but felt too angry for speech; and he needed a little +recollection before he could say, "Your lively mind can hardly be +serious even on serious subjects. You have given us an amusing sketch, +and human nature cannot say it was not so. We must all feel _at_ _times_ +the difficulty of fixing our thoughts as we could wish; but if you are +supposing it a frequent thing, that is to say, a weakness grown into a +habit from neglect, what could be expected from the _private_ devotions +of such persons? Do you think the minds which are suffered, which +are indulged in wanderings in a chapel, would be more collected in a +closet?" + +"Yes, very likely. They would have two chances at least in their favour. +There would be less to distract the attention from without, and it would +not be tried so long." + +"The mind which does not struggle against itself under _one_ +circumstance, would find objects to distract it in the _other_, I +believe; and the influence of the place and of example may often rouse +better feelings than are begun with. The greater length of the service, +however, I admit to be sometimes too hard a stretch upon the mind. One +wishes it were not so; but I have not yet left Oxford long enough to +forget what chapel prayers are." + +While this was passing, the rest of the party being scattered about the +chapel, Julia called Mr. Crawford's attention to her sister, by saying, +"Do look at Mr. Rushworth and Maria, standing side by side, exactly as +if the ceremony were going to be performed. Have not they completely the +air of it?" + +Mr. Crawford smiled his acquiescence, and stepping forward to Maria, +said, in a voice which she only could hear, "I do not like to see Miss +Bertram so near the altar." + +Starting, the lady instinctively moved a step or two, but recovering +herself in a moment, affected to laugh, and asked him, in a tone not +much louder, "If he would give her away?" + +"I am afraid I should do it very awkwardly," was his reply, with a look +of meaning. + +Julia, joining them at the moment, carried on the joke. + +"Upon my word, it is really a pity that it should not take place +directly, if we had but a proper licence, for here we are altogether, +and nothing in the world could be more snug and pleasant." And she +talked and laughed about it with so little caution as to catch the +comprehension of Mr. Rushworth and his mother, and expose her sister to +the whispered gallantries of her lover, while Mrs. Rushworth spoke +with proper smiles and dignity of its being a most happy event to her +whenever it took place. + +"If Edmund were but in orders!" cried Julia, and running to where he +stood with Miss Crawford and Fanny: "My dear Edmund, if you were but in +orders now, you might perform the ceremony directly. How unlucky that +you are not ordained; Mr. Rushworth and Maria are quite ready." + +Miss Crawford's countenance, as Julia spoke, might have amused a +disinterested observer. She looked almost aghast under the new idea she +was receiving. Fanny pitied her. "How distressed she will be at what she +said just now," passed across her mind. + +"Ordained!" said Miss Crawford; "what, are you to be a clergyman?" + +"Yes; I shall take orders soon after my father's return--probably at +Christmas." + +Miss Crawford, rallying her spirits, and recovering her complexion, +replied only, "If I had known this before, I would have spoken of the +cloth with more respect," and turned the subject. + +The chapel was soon afterwards left to the silence and stillness +which reigned in it, with few interruptions, throughout the year. Miss +Bertram, displeased with her sister, led the way, and all seemed to feel +that they had been there long enough. + +The lower part of the house had been now entirely shewn, and Mrs. +Rushworth, never weary in the cause, would have proceeded towards the +principal staircase, and taken them through all the rooms above, if her +son had not interposed with a doubt of there being time enough. "For +if," said he, with the sort of self-evident proposition which many a +clearer head does not always avoid, "we are _too_ long going over the +house, we shall not have time for what is to be done out of doors. It is +past two, and we are to dine at five." + +Mrs. Rushworth submitted; and the question of surveying the grounds, +with the who and the how, was likely to be more fully agitated, and Mrs. +Norris was beginning to arrange by what junction of carriages and horses +most could be done, when the young people, meeting with an outward door, +temptingly open on a flight of steps which led immediately to turf and +shrubs, and all the sweets of pleasure-grounds, as by one impulse, one +wish for air and liberty, all walked out. + +"Suppose we turn down here for the present," said Mrs. Rushworth, +civilly taking the hint and following them. "Here are the greatest +number of our plants, and here are the curious pheasants." + +"Query," said Mr. Crawford, looking round him, "whether we may not find +something to employ us here before we go farther? I see walls of great +promise. Mr. Rushworth, shall we summon a council on this lawn?" + +"James," said Mrs. Rushworth to her son, "I believe the wilderness +will be new to all the party. The Miss Bertrams have never seen the +wilderness yet." + +No objection was made, but for some time there seemed no inclination to +move in any plan, or to any distance. All were attracted at first by the +plants or the pheasants, and all dispersed about in happy independence. +Mr. Crawford was the first to move forward to examine the capabilities +of that end of the house. The lawn, bounded on each side by a high wall, +contained beyond the first planted area a bowling-green, and beyond +the bowling-green a long terrace walk, backed by iron palisades, and +commanding a view over them into the tops of the trees of the wilderness +immediately adjoining. It was a good spot for fault-finding. Mr. +Crawford was soon followed by Miss Bertram and Mr. Rushworth; and when, +after a little time, the others began to form into parties, these three +were found in busy consultation on the terrace by Edmund, Miss Crawford, +and Fanny, who seemed as naturally to unite, and who, after a short +participation of their regrets and difficulties, left them and walked +on. The remaining three, Mrs. Rushworth, Mrs. Norris, and Julia, were +still far behind; for Julia, whose happy star no longer prevailed, +was obliged to keep by the side of Mrs. Rushworth, and restrain her +impatient feet to that lady's slow pace, while her aunt, having fallen +in with the housekeeper, who was come out to feed the pheasants, was +lingering behind in gossip with her. Poor Julia, the only one out of +the nine not tolerably satisfied with their lot, was now in a state of +complete penance, and as different from the Julia of the barouche-box as +could well be imagined. The politeness which she had been brought up to +practise as a duty made it impossible for her to escape; while the +want of that higher species of self-command, that just consideration of +others, that knowledge of her own heart, that principle of right, which +had not formed any essential part of her education, made her miserable +under it. + +"This is insufferably hot," said Miss Crawford, when they had taken one +turn on the terrace, and were drawing a second time to the door in the +middle which opened to the wilderness. "Shall any of us object to being +comfortable? Here is a nice little wood, if one can but get into it. +What happiness if the door should not be locked! but of course it is; +for in these great places the gardeners are the only people who can go +where they like." + +The door, however, proved not to be locked, and they were all agreed in +turning joyfully through it, and leaving the unmitigated glare of day +behind. A considerable flight of steps landed them in the wilderness, +which was a planted wood of about two acres, and though chiefly of +larch and laurel, and beech cut down, and though laid out with too much +regularity, was darkness and shade, and natural beauty, compared with +the bowling-green and the terrace. They all felt the refreshment of it, +and for some time could only walk and admire. At length, after a short +pause, Miss Crawford began with, "So you are to be a clergyman, Mr. +Bertram. This is rather a surprise to me." + +"Why should it surprise you? You must suppose me designed for some +profession, and might perceive that I am neither a lawyer, nor a +soldier, nor a sailor." + +"Very true; but, in short, it had not occurred to me. And you know there +is generally an uncle or a grandfather to leave a fortune to the second +son." + +"A very praiseworthy practice," said Edmund, "but not quite universal. +I am one of the exceptions, and _being_ one, must do something for +myself." + +"But why are you to be a clergyman? I thought _that_ was always the lot +of the youngest, where there were many to chuse before him." + +"Do you think the church itself never chosen, then?" + +"_Never_ is a black word. But yes, in the _never_ of conversation, which +means _not_ _very_ _often_, I do think it. For what is to be done in the +church? Men love to distinguish themselves, and in either of the other +lines distinction may be gained, but not in the church. A clergyman is +nothing." + +"The _nothing_ of conversation has its gradations, I hope, as well as +the _never_. A clergyman cannot be high in state or fashion. He must +not head mobs, or set the ton in dress. But I cannot call that situation +nothing which has the charge of all that is of the first importance +to mankind, individually or collectively considered, temporally and +eternally, which has the guardianship of religion and morals, and +consequently of the manners which result from their influence. No one +here can call the _office_ nothing. If the man who holds it is so, it +is by the neglect of his duty, by foregoing its just importance, and +stepping out of his place to appear what he ought not to appear." + +"_You_ assign greater consequence to the clergyman than one has been +used to hear given, or than I can quite comprehend. One does not see +much of this influence and importance in society, and how can it be +acquired where they are so seldom seen themselves? How can two sermons a +week, even supposing them worth hearing, supposing the preacher to have +the sense to prefer Blair's to his own, do all that you speak of? govern +the conduct and fashion the manners of a large congregation for the rest +of the week? One scarcely sees a clergyman out of his pulpit." + +"_You_ are speaking of London, _I_ am speaking of the nation at large." + +"The metropolis, I imagine, is a pretty fair sample of the rest." + +"Not, I should hope, of the proportion of virtue to vice throughout the +kingdom. We do not look in great cities for our best morality. It is not +there that respectable people of any denomination can do most good; and +it certainly is not there that the influence of the clergy can be most +felt. A fine preacher is followed and admired; but it is not in fine +preaching only that a good clergyman will be useful in his parish and +his neighbourhood, where the parish and neighbourhood are of a size +capable of knowing his private character, and observing his general +conduct, which in London can rarely be the case. The clergy are lost +there in the crowds of their parishioners. They are known to the largest +part only as preachers. And with regard to their influencing public +manners, Miss Crawford must not misunderstand me, or suppose I mean to +call them the arbiters of good-breeding, the regulators of refinement +and courtesy, the masters of the ceremonies of life. The _manners_ I +speak of might rather be called _conduct_, perhaps, the result of good +principles; the effect, in short, of those doctrines which it is their +duty to teach and recommend; and it will, I believe, be everywhere +found, that as the clergy are, or are not what they ought to be, so are +the rest of the nation." + +"Certainly," said Fanny, with gentle earnestness. + +"There," cried Miss Crawford, "you have quite convinced Miss Price +already." + +"I wish I could convince Miss Crawford too." + +"I do not think you ever will," said she, with an arch smile; "I am just +as much surprised now as I was at first that you should intend to take +orders. You really are fit for something better. Come, do change your +mind. It is not too late. Go into the law." + +"Go into the law! With as much ease as I was told to go into this +wilderness." + +"Now you are going to say something about law being the worst wilderness +of the two, but I forestall you; remember, I have forestalled you." + +"You need not hurry when the object is only to prevent my saying a +_bon_ _mot_, for there is not the least wit in my nature. I am a very +matter-of-fact, plain-spoken being, and may blunder on the borders of a +repartee for half an hour together without striking it out." + +A general silence succeeded. Each was thoughtful. Fanny made the first +interruption by saying, "I wonder that I should be tired with only +walking in this sweet wood; but the next time we come to a seat, if it +is not disagreeable to you, I should be glad to sit down for a little +while." + +"My dear Fanny," cried Edmund, immediately drawing her arm within his, +"how thoughtless I have been! I hope you are not very tired. Perhaps," +turning to Miss Crawford, "my other companion may do me the honour of +taking an arm." + +"Thank you, but I am not at all tired." She took it, however, as she +spoke, and the gratification of having her do so, of feeling such a +connexion for the first time, made him a little forgetful of Fanny. +"You scarcely touch me," said he. "You do not make me of any use. What a +difference in the weight of a woman's arm from that of a man! At Oxford +I have been a good deal used to have a man lean on me for the length of +a street, and you are only a fly in the comparison." + +"I am really not tired, which I almost wonder at; for we must have +walked at least a mile in this wood. Do not you think we have?" + +"Not half a mile," was his sturdy answer; for he was not yet so much in +love as to measure distance, or reckon time, with feminine lawlessness. + +"Oh! you do not consider how much we have wound about. We have taken +such a very serpentine course, and the wood itself must be half a mile +long in a straight line, for we have never seen the end of it yet since +we left the first great path." + +"But if you remember, before we left that first great path, we saw +directly to the end of it. We looked down the whole vista, and saw it +closed by iron gates, and it could not have been more than a furlong in +length." + +"Oh! I know nothing of your furlongs, but I am sure it is a very long +wood, and that we have been winding in and out ever since we came into +it; and therefore, when I say that we have walked a mile in it, I must +speak within compass." + +"We have been exactly a quarter of an hour here," said Edmund, taking +out his watch. "Do you think we are walking four miles an hour?" + +"Oh! do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too +slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch." + +A few steps farther brought them out at the bottom of the very walk they +had been talking of; and standing back, well shaded and sheltered, and +looking over a ha-ha into the park, was a comfortable-sized bench, on +which they all sat down. + +"I am afraid you are very tired, Fanny," said Edmund, observing her; +"why would not you speak sooner? This will be a bad day's amusement for +you if you are to be knocked up. Every sort of exercise fatigues her so +soon, Miss Crawford, except riding." + +"How abominable in you, then, to let me engross her horse as I did all +last week! I am ashamed of you and of myself, but it shall never happen +again." + +"_Your_ attentiveness and consideration makes me more sensible of my own +neglect. Fanny's interest seems in safer hands with you than with me." + +"That she should be tired now, however, gives me no surprise; for there +is nothing in the course of one's duties so fatiguing as what we have +been doing this morning: seeing a great house, dawdling from one room to +another, straining one's eyes and one's attention, hearing what one does +not understand, admiring what one does not care for. It is generally +allowed to be the greatest bore in the world, and Miss Price has found +it so, though she did not know it." + +"I shall soon be rested," said Fanny; "to sit in the shade on a fine +day, and look upon verdure, is the most perfect refreshment." + +After sitting a little while Miss Crawford was up again. "I must move," +said she; "resting fatigues me. I have looked across the ha-ha till I +am weary. I must go and look through that iron gate at the same view, +without being able to see it so well." + +Edmund left the seat likewise. "Now, Miss Crawford, if you will look up +the walk, you will convince yourself that it cannot be half a mile long, +or half half a mile." + +"It is an immense distance," said she; "I see _that_ with a glance." + +He still reasoned with her, but in vain. She would not calculate, she +would not compare. She would only smile and assert. The greatest degree +of rational consistency could not have been more engaging, and they +talked with mutual satisfaction. At last it was agreed that they should +endeavour to determine the dimensions of the wood by walking a little +more about it. They would go to one end of it, in the line they were +then in--for there was a straight green walk along the bottom by +the side of the ha-ha--and perhaps turn a little way in some other +direction, if it seemed likely to assist them, and be back in a few +minutes. Fanny said she was rested, and would have moved too, but this +was not suffered. Edmund urged her remaining where she was with an +earnestness which she could not resist, and she was left on the bench to +think with pleasure of her cousin's care, but with great regret that she +was not stronger. She watched them till they had turned the corner, and +listened till all sound of them had ceased. + + + +CHAPTER X + +A quarter of an hour, twenty minutes, passed away, and Fanny was still +thinking of Edmund, Miss Crawford, and herself, without interruption +from any one. She began to be surprised at being left so long, and to +listen with an anxious desire of hearing their steps and their voices +again. She listened, and at length she heard; she heard voices and feet +approaching; but she had just satisfied herself that it was not those +she wanted, when Miss Bertram, Mr. Rushworth, and Mr. Crawford issued +from the same path which she had trod herself, and were before her. + +"Miss Price all alone" and "My dear Fanny, how comes this?" were the +first salutations. She told her story. "Poor dear Fanny," cried her +cousin, "how ill you have been used by them! You had better have staid +with us." + +Then seating herself with a gentleman on each side, she resumed +the conversation which had engaged them before, and discussed the +possibility of improvements with much animation. Nothing was fixed +on; but Henry Crawford was full of ideas and projects, and, generally +speaking, whatever he proposed was immediately approved, first by her, +and then by Mr. Rushworth, whose principal business seemed to be to +hear the others, and who scarcely risked an original thought of his own +beyond a wish that they had seen his friend Smith's place. + +After some minutes spent in this way, Miss Bertram, observing the iron +gate, expressed a wish of passing through it into the park, that their +views and their plans might be more comprehensive. It was the very thing +of all others to be wished, it was the best, it was the only way of +proceeding with any advantage, in Henry Crawford's opinion; and he +directly saw a knoll not half a mile off, which would give them exactly +the requisite command of the house. Go therefore they must to that +knoll, and through that gate; but the gate was locked. Mr. Rushworth +wished he had brought the key; he had been very near thinking whether he +should not bring the key; he was determined he would never come without +the key again; but still this did not remove the present evil. They +could not get through; and as Miss Bertram's inclination for so doing +did by no means lessen, it ended in Mr. Rushworth's declaring outright +that he would go and fetch the key. He set off accordingly. + +"It is undoubtedly the best thing we can do now, as we are so far from +the house already," said Mr. Crawford, when he was gone. + +"Yes, there is nothing else to be done. But now, sincerely, do not you +find the place altogether worse than you expected?" + +"No, indeed, far otherwise. I find it better, grander, more complete in +its style, though that style may not be the best. And to tell you the +truth," speaking rather lower, "I do not think that _I_ shall ever see +Sotherton again with so much pleasure as I do now. Another summer will +hardly improve it to me." + +After a moment's embarrassment the lady replied, "You are too much a +man of the world not to see with the eyes of the world. If other people +think Sotherton improved, I have no doubt that you will." + +"I am afraid I am not quite so much the man of the world as might be +good for me in some points. My feelings are not quite so evanescent, nor +my memory of the past under such easy dominion as one finds to be the +case with men of the world." + +This was followed by a short silence. Miss Bertram began again. "You +seemed to enjoy your drive here very much this morning. I was glad to +see you so well entertained. You and Julia were laughing the whole way." + +"Were we? Yes, I believe we were; but I have not the least recollection +at what. Oh! I believe I was relating to her some ridiculous stories of +an old Irish groom of my uncle's. Your sister loves to laugh." + +"You think her more light-hearted than I am?" + +"More easily amused," he replied; "consequently, you know," smiling, +"better company. I could not have hoped to entertain you with Irish +anecdotes during a ten miles' drive." + +"Naturally, I believe, I am as lively as Julia, but I have more to think +of now." + +"You have, undoubtedly; and there are situations in which very high +spirits would denote insensibility. Your prospects, however, are too +fair to justify want of spirits. You have a very smiling scene before +you." + +"Do you mean literally or figuratively? Literally, I conclude. Yes, +certainly, the sun shines, and the park looks very cheerful. But +unluckily that iron gate, that ha-ha, give me a feeling of restraint and +hardship. 'I cannot get out,' as the starling said." As she spoke, and +it was with expression, she walked to the gate: he followed her. "Mr. +Rushworth is so long fetching this key!" + +"And for the world you would not get out without the key and without Mr. +Rushworth's authority and protection, or I think you might with little +difficulty pass round the edge of the gate, here, with my assistance; +I think it might be done, if you really wished to be more at large, and +could allow yourself to think it not prohibited." + +"Prohibited! nonsense! I certainly can get out that way, and I will. +Mr. Rushworth will be here in a moment, you know; we shall not be out of +sight." + +"Or if we are, Miss Price will be so good as to tell him that he will +find us near that knoll: the grove of oak on the knoll." + +Fanny, feeling all this to be wrong, could not help making an effort to +prevent it. "You will hurt yourself, Miss Bertram," she cried; "you will +certainly hurt yourself against those spikes; you will tear your gown; +you will be in danger of slipping into the ha-ha. You had better not +go." + +Her cousin was safe on the other side while these words were spoken, +and, smiling with all the good-humour of success, she said, "Thank you, +my dear Fanny, but I and my gown are alive and well, and so good-bye." + +Fanny was again left to her solitude, and with no increase of pleasant +feelings, for she was sorry for almost all that she had seen and heard, +astonished at Miss Bertram, and angry with Mr. Crawford. By taking +a circuitous route, and, as it appeared to her, very unreasonable +direction to the knoll, they were soon beyond her eye; and for some +minutes longer she remained without sight or sound of any companion. +She seemed to have the little wood all to herself. She could almost +have thought that Edmund and Miss Crawford had left it, but that it was +impossible for Edmund to forget her so entirely. + +She was again roused from disagreeable musings by sudden footsteps: +somebody was coming at a quick pace down the principal walk. She +expected Mr. Rushworth, but it was Julia, who, hot and out of breath, +and with a look of disappointment, cried out on seeing her, "Heyday! +Where are the others? I thought Maria and Mr. Crawford were with you." + +Fanny explained. + +"A pretty trick, upon my word! I cannot see them anywhere," looking +eagerly into the park. "But they cannot be very far off, and I think I +am equal to as much as Maria, even without help." + +"But, Julia, Mr. Rushworth will be here in a moment with the key. Do +wait for Mr. Rushworth." + +"Not I, indeed. I have had enough of the family for one morning. Why, +child, I have but this moment escaped from his horrible mother. Such a +penance as I have been enduring, while you were sitting here so composed +and so happy! It might have been as well, perhaps, if you had been in my +place, but you always contrive to keep out of these scrapes." + +This was a most unjust reflection, but Fanny could allow for it, and let +it pass: Julia was vexed, and her temper was hasty; but she felt that it +would not last, and therefore, taking no notice, only asked her if she +had not seen Mr. Rushworth. + +"Yes, yes, we saw him. He was posting away as if upon life and death, +and could but just spare time to tell us his errand, and where you all +were." + +"It is a pity he should have so much trouble for nothing." + +"_That_ is Miss Maria's concern. I am not obliged to punish myself for +_her_ sins. The mother I could not avoid, as long as my tiresome aunt +was dancing about with the housekeeper, but the son I _can_ get away +from." + +And she immediately scrambled across the fence, and walked away, not +attending to Fanny's last question of whether she had seen anything of +Miss Crawford and Edmund. The sort of dread in which Fanny now sat of +seeing Mr. Rushworth prevented her thinking so much of their continued +absence, however, as she might have done. She felt that he had been +very ill-used, and was quite unhappy in having to communicate what had +passed. He joined her within five minutes after Julia's exit; and +though she made the best of the story, he was evidently mortified and +displeased in no common degree. At first he scarcely said anything; his +looks only expressed his extreme surprise and vexation, and he walked to +the gate and stood there, without seeming to know what to do. + +"They desired me to stay--my cousin Maria charged me to say that you +would find them at that knoll, or thereabouts." + +"I do not believe I shall go any farther," said he sullenly; "I see +nothing of them. By the time I get to the knoll they may be gone +somewhere else. I have had walking enough." + +And he sat down with a most gloomy countenance by Fanny. + +"I am very sorry," said she; "it is very unlucky." And she longed to be +able to say something more to the purpose. + +After an interval of silence, "I think they might as well have staid for +me," said he. + +"Miss Bertram thought you would follow her." + +"I should not have had to follow her if she had staid." + +This could not be denied, and Fanny was silenced. After another pause, +he went on--"Pray, Miss Price, are you such a great admirer of this Mr. +Crawford as some people are? For my part, I can see nothing in him." + +"I do not think him at all handsome." + +"Handsome! Nobody can call such an undersized man handsome. He is not +five foot nine. I should not wonder if he is not more than five foot +eight. I think he is an ill-looking fellow. In my opinion, these +Crawfords are no addition at all. We did very well without them." + +A small sigh escaped Fanny here, and she did not know how to contradict +him. + +"If I had made any difficulty about fetching the key, there might have +been some excuse, but I went the very moment she said she wanted it." + +"Nothing could be more obliging than your manner, I am sure, and I dare +say you walked as fast as you could; but still it is some distance, you +know, from this spot to the house, quite into the house; and when people +are waiting, they are bad judges of time, and every half minute seems +like five." + +He got up and walked to the gate again, and "wished he had had the key +about him at the time." Fanny thought she discerned in his standing +there an indication of relenting, which encouraged her to another +attempt, and she said, therefore, "It is a pity you should not join +them. They expected to have a better view of the house from that part +of the park, and will be thinking how it may be improved; and nothing of +that sort, you know, can be settled without you." + +She found herself more successful in sending away than in retaining a +companion. Mr. Rushworth was worked on. "Well," said he, "if you +really think I had better go: it would be foolish to bring the key +for nothing." And letting himself out, he walked off without farther +ceremony. + +Fanny's thoughts were now all engrossed by the two who had left her so +long ago, and getting quite impatient, she resolved to go in search +of them. She followed their steps along the bottom walk, and had just +turned up into another, when the voice and the laugh of Miss Crawford +once more caught her ear; the sound approached, and a few more windings +brought them before her. They were just returned into the wilderness +from the park, to which a sidegate, not fastened, had tempted them very +soon after their leaving her, and they had been across a portion of the +park into the very avenue which Fanny had been hoping the whole morning +to reach at last, and had been sitting down under one of the trees. This +was their history. It was evident that they had been spending their time +pleasantly, and were not aware of the length of their absence. Fanny's +best consolation was in being assured that Edmund had wished for her +very much, and that he should certainly have come back for her, had she +not been tired already; but this was not quite sufficient to do away +with the pain of having been left a whole hour, when he had talked of +only a few minutes, nor to banish the sort of curiosity she felt to know +what they had been conversing about all that time; and the result of +the whole was to her disappointment and depression, as they prepared by +general agreement to return to the house. + +On reaching the bottom of the steps to the terrace, Mrs. Rushworth +and Mrs. Norris presented themselves at the top, just ready for the +wilderness, at the end of an hour and a half from their leaving the +house. Mrs. Norris had been too well employed to move faster. Whatever +cross-accidents had occurred to intercept the pleasures of her nieces, +she had found a morning of complete enjoyment; for the housekeeper, +after a great many courtesies on the subject of pheasants, had taken her +to the dairy, told her all about their cows, and given her the receipt +for a famous cream cheese; and since Julia's leaving them they had +been met by the gardener, with whom she had made a most satisfactory +acquaintance, for she had set him right as to his grandson's illness, +convinced him that it was an ague, and promised him a charm for it; and +he, in return, had shewn her all his choicest nursery of plants, and +actually presented her with a very curious specimen of heath. + +On this _rencontre_ they all returned to the house together, there +to lounge away the time as they could with sofas, and chit-chat, and +Quarterly Reviews, till the return of the others, and the arrival of +dinner. It was late before the Miss Bertrams and the two gentlemen came +in, and their ramble did not appear to have been more than partially +agreeable, or at all productive of anything useful with regard to the +object of the day. By their own accounts they had been all walking after +each other, and the junction which had taken place at last seemed, to +Fanny's observation, to have been as much too late for re-establishing +harmony, as it confessedly had been for determining on any alteration. +She felt, as she looked at Julia and Mr. Rushworth, that hers was not +the only dissatisfied bosom amongst them: there was gloom on the face of +each. Mr. Crawford and Miss Bertram were much more gay, and she thought +that he was taking particular pains, during dinner, to do away any +little resentment of the other two, and restore general good-humour. + +Dinner was soon followed by tea and coffee, a ten miles' drive home +allowed no waste of hours; and from the time of their sitting down to +table, it was a quick succession of busy nothings till the carriage came +to the door, and Mrs. Norris, having fidgeted about, and obtained a +few pheasants' eggs and a cream cheese from the housekeeper, and made +abundance of civil speeches to Mrs. Rushworth, was ready to lead the +way. At the same moment Mr. Crawford, approaching Julia, said, "I hope I +am not to lose my companion, unless she is afraid of the evening air +in so exposed a seat." The request had not been foreseen, but was very +graciously received, and Julia's day was likely to end almost as well as +it began. Miss Bertram had made up her mind to something different, and +was a little disappointed; but her conviction of being really the +one preferred comforted her under it, and enabled her to receive Mr. +Rushworth's parting attentions as she ought. He was certainly better +pleased to hand her into the barouche than to assist her in ascending +the box, and his complacency seemed confirmed by the arrangement. + +"Well, Fanny, this has been a fine day for you, upon my word," said +Mrs. Norris, as they drove through the park. "Nothing but pleasure from +beginning to end! I am sure you ought to be very much obliged to your +aunt Bertram and me for contriving to let you go. A pretty good day's +amusement you have had!" + +Maria was just discontented enough to say directly, "I think _you_ have +done pretty well yourself, ma'am. Your lap seems full of good things, +and here is a basket of something between us which has been knocking my +elbow unmercifully." + +"My dear, it is only a beautiful little heath, which that nice old +gardener would make me take; but if it is in your way, I will have it in +my lap directly. There, Fanny, you shall carry that parcel for me; take +great care of it: do not let it fall; it is a cream cheese, just like +the excellent one we had at dinner. Nothing would satisfy that good old +Mrs. Whitaker, but my taking one of the cheeses. I stood out as long +as I could, till the tears almost came into her eyes, and I knew it was +just the sort that my sister would be delighted with. That Mrs. Whitaker +is a treasure! She was quite shocked when I asked her whether wine was +allowed at the second table, and she has turned away two housemaids for +wearing white gowns. Take care of the cheese, Fanny. Now I can manage +the other parcel and the basket very well." + +"What else have you been spunging?" said Maria, half-pleased that +Sotherton should be so complimented. + +"Spunging, my dear! It is nothing but four of those beautiful pheasants' +eggs, which Mrs. Whitaker would quite force upon me: she would not take +a denial. She said it must be such an amusement to me, as she understood +I lived quite alone, to have a few living creatures of that sort; and +so to be sure it will. I shall get the dairymaid to set them under the +first spare hen, and if they come to good I can have them moved to my +own house and borrow a coop; and it will be a great delight to me in +my lonely hours to attend to them. And if I have good luck, your mother +shall have some." + +It was a beautiful evening, mild and still, and the drive was as +pleasant as the serenity of Nature could make it; but when Mrs. Norris +ceased speaking, it was altogether a silent drive to those within. Their +spirits were in general exhausted; and to determine whether the day had +afforded most pleasure or pain, might occupy the meditations of almost +all. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss +Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters +from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield. It was much +pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think +of their father in England again within a certain period, which these +letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise. + +November was the black month fixed for his return. Sir Thomas wrote of +it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise. His +business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take +his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward +with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November. + +Maria was more to be pitied than Julia; for to her the father brought a +husband, and the return of the friend most solicitous for her happiness +would unite her to the lover, on whom she had chosen that happiness +should depend. It was a gloomy prospect, and all she could do was to +throw a mist over it, and hope when the mist cleared away she should +see something else. It would hardly be _early_ in November, there +were generally delays, a bad passage or _something_; that favouring +_something_ which everybody who shuts their eyes while they look, or +their understandings while they reason, feels the comfort of. It would +probably be the middle of November at least; the middle of November +was three months off. Three months comprised thirteen weeks. Much might +happen in thirteen weeks. + +Sir Thomas would have been deeply mortified by a suspicion of half that +his daughters felt on the subject of his return, and would hardly have +found consolation in a knowledge of the interest it excited in the +breast of another young lady. Miss Crawford, on walking up with her +brother to spend the evening at Mansfield Park, heard the good news; and +though seeming to have no concern in the affair beyond politeness, and +to have vented all her feelings in a quiet congratulation, heard it with +an attention not so easily satisfied. Mrs. Norris gave the particulars +of the letters, and the subject was dropt; but after tea, as Miss +Crawford was standing at an open window with Edmund and Fanny looking +out on a twilight scene, while the Miss Bertrams, Mr. Rushworth, +and Henry Crawford were all busy with candles at the pianoforte, she +suddenly revived it by turning round towards the group, and saying, "How +happy Mr. Rushworth looks! He is thinking of November." + +Edmund looked round at Mr. Rushworth too, but had nothing to say. + +"Your father's return will be a very interesting event." + +"It will, indeed, after such an absence; an absence not only long, but +including so many dangers." + +"It will be the forerunner also of other interesting events: your +sister's marriage, and your taking orders." + +"Yes." + +"Don't be affronted," said she, laughing, "but it does put me in mind of +some of the old heathen heroes, who, after performing great exploits in +a foreign land, offered sacrifices to the gods on their safe return." + +"There is no sacrifice in the case," replied Edmund, with a serious +smile, and glancing at the pianoforte again; "it is entirely her own +doing." + +"Oh yes I know it is. I was merely joking. She has done no more than +what every young woman would do; and I have no doubt of her being +extremely happy. My other sacrifice, of course, you do not understand." + +"My taking orders, I assure you, is quite as voluntary as Maria's +marrying." + +"It is fortunate that your inclination and your father's convenience +should accord so well. There is a very good living kept for you, I +understand, hereabouts." + +"Which you suppose has biassed me?" + +"But _that_ I am sure it has not," cried Fanny. + +"Thank you for your good word, Fanny, but it is more than I would affirm +myself. On the contrary, the knowing that there was such a provision for +me probably did bias me. Nor can I think it wrong that it should. There +was no natural disinclination to be overcome, and I see no reason why +a man should make a worse clergyman for knowing that he will have a +competence early in life. I was in safe hands. I hope I should not have +been influenced myself in a wrong way, and I am sure my father was too +conscientious to have allowed it. I have no doubt that I was biased, but +I think it was blamelessly." + +"It is the same sort of thing," said Fanny, after a short pause, "as for +the son of an admiral to go into the navy, or the son of a general to be +in the army, and nobody sees anything wrong in that. Nobody wonders that +they should prefer the line where their friends can serve them best, or +suspects them to be less in earnest in it than they appear." + +"No, my dear Miss Price, and for reasons good. The profession, either +navy or army, is its own justification. It has everything in its favour: +heroism, danger, bustle, fashion. Soldiers and sailors are always +acceptable in society. Nobody can wonder that men are soldiers and +sailors." + +"But the motives of a man who takes orders with the certainty of +preferment may be fairly suspected, you think?" said Edmund. "To be +justified in your eyes, he must do it in the most complete uncertainty +of any provision." + +"What! take orders without a living! No; that is madness indeed; +absolute madness." + +"Shall I ask you how the church is to be filled, if a man is neither to +take orders with a living nor without? No; for you certainly would not +know what to say. But I must beg some advantage to the clergyman from +your own argument. As he cannot be influenced by those feelings which +you rank highly as temptation and reward to the soldier and sailor in +their choice of a profession, as heroism, and noise, and fashion, are +all against him, he ought to be less liable to the suspicion of wanting +sincerity or good intentions in the choice of his." + +"Oh! no doubt he is very sincere in preferring an income ready made, +to the trouble of working for one; and has the best intentions of doing +nothing all the rest of his days but eat, drink, and grow fat. It is +indolence, Mr. Bertram, indeed. Indolence and love of ease; a want of +all laudable ambition, of taste for good company, or of inclination +to take the trouble of being agreeable, which make men clergymen. +A clergyman has nothing to do but be slovenly and selfish--read the +newspaper, watch the weather, and quarrel with his wife. His curate does +all the work, and the business of his own life is to dine." + +"There are such clergymen, no doubt, but I think they are not so common +as to justify Miss Crawford in esteeming it their general character. I +suspect that in this comprehensive and (may I say) commonplace censure, +you are not judging from yourself, but from prejudiced persons, whose +opinions you have been in the habit of hearing. It is impossible that +your own observation can have given you much knowledge of the clergy. +You can have been personally acquainted with very few of a set of men +you condemn so conclusively. You are speaking what you have been told at +your uncle's table." + +"I speak what appears to me the general opinion; and where an opinion +is general, it is usually correct. Though _I_ have not seen much of +the domestic lives of clergymen, it is seen by too many to leave any +deficiency of information." + +"Where any one body of educated men, of whatever denomination, are +condemned indiscriminately, there must be a deficiency of information, +or (smiling) of something else. Your uncle, and his brother admirals, +perhaps knew little of clergymen beyond the chaplains whom, good or bad, +they were always wishing away." + +"Poor William! He has met with great kindness from the chaplain of the +Antwerp," was a tender apostrophe of Fanny's, very much to the purpose +of her own feelings if not of the conversation. + +"I have been so little addicted to take my opinions from my uncle," +said Miss Crawford, "that I can hardly suppose--and since you push me so +hard, I must observe, that I am not entirely without the means of seeing +what clergymen are, being at this present time the guest of my own +brother, Dr. Grant. And though Dr. Grant is most kind and obliging to +me, and though he is really a gentleman, and, I dare say, a good scholar +and clever, and often preaches good sermons, and is very respectable, +_I_ see him to be an indolent, selfish _bon_ _vivant_, who must have +his palate consulted in everything; who will not stir a finger for the +convenience of any one; and who, moreover, if the cook makes a blunder, +is out of humour with his excellent wife. To own the truth, Henry and +I were partly driven out this very evening by a disappointment about a +green goose, which he could not get the better of. My poor sister was +forced to stay and bear it." + +"I do not wonder at your disapprobation, upon my word. It is a great +defect of temper, made worse by a very faulty habit of self-indulgence; +and to see your sister suffering from it must be exceedingly painful to +such feelings as yours. Fanny, it goes against us. We cannot attempt to +defend Dr. Grant." + +"No," replied Fanny, "but we need not give up his profession for all +that; because, whatever profession Dr. Grant had chosen, he would have +taken a--not a good temper into it; and as he must, either in the navy +or army, have had a great many more people under his command than he +has now, I think more would have been made unhappy by him as a sailor or +soldier than as a clergyman. Besides, I cannot but suppose that whatever +there may be to wish otherwise in Dr. Grant would have been in a greater +danger of becoming worse in a more active and worldly profession, where +he would have had less time and obligation--where he might have escaped +that knowledge of himself, the _frequency_, at least, of that knowledge +which it is impossible he should escape as he is now. A man--a sensible +man like Dr. Grant, cannot be in the habit of teaching others their duty +every week, cannot go to church twice every Sunday, and preach such very +good sermons in so good a manner as he does, without being the better +for it himself. It must make him think; and I have no doubt that he +oftener endeavours to restrain himself than he would if he had been +anything but a clergyman." + +"We cannot prove to the contrary, to be sure; but I wish you a better +fate, Miss Price, than to be the wife of a man whose amiableness +depends upon his own sermons; for though he may preach himself into a +good-humour every Sunday, it will be bad enough to have him quarrelling +about green geese from Monday morning till Saturday night." + +"I think the man who could often quarrel with Fanny," said Edmund +affectionately, "must be beyond the reach of any sermons." + +Fanny turned farther into the window; and Miss Crawford had only time +to say, in a pleasant manner, "I fancy Miss Price has been more used to +deserve praise than to hear it"; when, being earnestly invited by the +Miss Bertrams to join in a glee, she tripped off to the instrument, +leaving Edmund looking after her in an ecstasy of admiration of all her +many virtues, from her obliging manners down to her light and graceful +tread. + +"There goes good-humour, I am sure," said he presently. "There goes a +temper which would never give pain! How well she walks! and how readily +she falls in with the inclination of others! joining them the moment she +is asked. What a pity," he added, after an instant's reflection, "that +she should have been in such hands!" + +Fanny agreed to it, and had the pleasure of seeing him continue at the +window with her, in spite of the expected glee; and of having his eyes +soon turned, like hers, towards the scene without, where all that was +solemn, and soothing, and lovely, appeared in the brilliancy of an +unclouded night, and the contrast of the deep shade of the woods. Fanny +spoke her feelings. "Here's harmony!" said she; "here's repose! Here's +what may leave all painting and all music behind, and what poetry only +can attempt to describe! Here's what may tranquillise every care, and +lift the heart to rapture! When I look out on such a night as this, I +feel as if there could be neither wickedness nor sorrow in the world; +and there certainly would be less of both if the sublimity of Nature +were more attended to, and people were carried more out of themselves by +contemplating such a scene." + +"I like to hear your enthusiasm, Fanny. It is a lovely night, and they +are much to be pitied who have not been taught to feel, in some degree, +as you do; who have not, at least, been given a taste for Nature in +early life. They lose a great deal." + +"_You_ taught me to think and feel on the subject, cousin." + +"I had a very apt scholar. There's Arcturus looking very bright." + +"Yes, and the Bear. I wish I could see Cassiopeia." + +"We must go out on the lawn for that. Should you be afraid?" + +"Not in the least. It is a great while since we have had any +star-gazing." + +"Yes; I do not know how it has happened." The glee began. "We will stay +till this is finished, Fanny," said he, turning his back on the window; +and as it advanced, she had the mortification of seeing him advance too, +moving forward by gentle degrees towards the instrument, and when it +ceased, he was close by the singers, among the most urgent in requesting +to hear the glee again. + +Fanny sighed alone at the window till scolded away by Mrs. Norris's +threats of catching cold. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Sir Thomas was to return in November, and his eldest son had duties to +call him earlier home. The approach of September brought tidings of Mr. +Bertram, first in a letter to the gamekeeper and then in a letter +to Edmund; and by the end of August he arrived himself, to be gay, +agreeable, and gallant again as occasion served, or Miss Crawford +demanded; to tell of races and Weymouth, and parties and friends, to +which she might have listened six weeks before with some interest, and +altogether to give her the fullest conviction, by the power of actual +comparison, of her preferring his younger brother. + +It was very vexatious, and she was heartily sorry for it; but so it was; +and so far from now meaning to marry the elder, she did not even want +to attract him beyond what the simplest claims of conscious beauty +required: his lengthened absence from Mansfield, without anything but +pleasure in view, and his own will to consult, made it perfectly clear +that he did not care about her; and his indifference was so much more +than equalled by her own, that were he now to step forth the owner of +Mansfield Park, the Sir Thomas complete, which he was to be in time, she +did not believe she could accept him. + +The season and duties which brought Mr. Bertram back to Mansfield took +Mr. Crawford into Norfolk. Everingham could not do without him in the +beginning of September. He went for a fortnight--a fortnight of such +dullness to the Miss Bertrams as ought to have put them both on their +guard, and made even Julia admit, in her jealousy of her sister, the +absolute necessity of distrusting his attentions, and wishing him not +to return; and a fortnight of sufficient leisure, in the intervals of +shooting and sleeping, to have convinced the gentleman that he ought +to keep longer away, had he been more in the habit of examining his own +motives, and of reflecting to what the indulgence of his idle vanity was +tending; but, thoughtless and selfish from prosperity and bad example, +he would not look beyond the present moment. The sisters, handsome, +clever, and encouraging, were an amusement to his sated mind; and +finding nothing in Norfolk to equal the social pleasures of Mansfield, +he gladly returned to it at the time appointed, and was welcomed thither +quite as gladly by those whom he came to trifle with further. + +Maria, with only Mr. Rushworth to attend to her, and doomed to the +repeated details of his day's sport, good or bad, his boast of his dogs, +his jealousy of his neighbours, his doubts of their qualifications, +and his zeal after poachers, subjects which will not find their way to +female feelings without some talent on one side or some attachment on +the other, had missed Mr. Crawford grievously; and Julia, unengaged and +unemployed, felt all the right of missing him much more. Each sister +believed herself the favourite. Julia might be justified in so doing by +the hints of Mrs. Grant, inclined to credit what she wished, and Maria +by the hints of Mr. Crawford himself. Everything returned into the same +channel as before his absence; his manners being to each so animated and +agreeable as to lose no ground with either, and just stopping short of +the consistence, the steadiness, the solicitude, and the warmth which +might excite general notice. + +Fanny was the only one of the party who found anything to dislike; but +since the day at Sotherton, she could never see Mr. Crawford with either +sister without observation, and seldom without wonder or censure; and +had her confidence in her own judgment been equal to her exercise of it +in every other respect, had she been sure that she was seeing clearly, +and judging candidly, she would probably have made some important +communications to her usual confidant. As it was, however, she only +hazarded a hint, and the hint was lost. "I am rather surprised," said +she, "that Mr. Crawford should come back again so soon, after being here +so long before, full seven weeks; for I had understood he was so +very fond of change and moving about, that I thought something would +certainly occur, when he was once gone, to take him elsewhere. He is +used to much gayer places than Mansfield." + +"It is to his credit," was Edmund's answer; "and I dare say it gives his +sister pleasure. She does not like his unsettled habits." + +"What a favourite he is with my cousins!" + +"Yes, his manners to women are such as must please. Mrs. Grant, I +believe, suspects him of a preference for Julia; I have never seen much +symptom of it, but I wish it may be so. He has no faults but what a +serious attachment would remove." + +"If Miss Bertram were not engaged," said Fanny cautiously, "I could +sometimes almost think that he admired her more than Julia." + +"Which is, perhaps, more in favour of his liking Julia best, than you, +Fanny, may be aware; for I believe it often happens that a man, before +he has quite made up his own mind, will distinguish the sister or +intimate friend of the woman he is really thinking of more than the +woman herself. Crawford has too much sense to stay here if he found +himself in any danger from Maria; and I am not at all afraid for her, +after such a proof as she has given that her feelings are not strong." + +Fanny supposed she must have been mistaken, and meant to think +differently in future; but with all that submission to Edmund could +do, and all the help of the coinciding looks and hints which she +occasionally noticed in some of the others, and which seemed to say that +Julia was Mr. Crawford's choice, she knew not always what to think. She +was privy, one evening, to the hopes of her aunt Norris on the subject, +as well as to her feelings, and the feelings of Mrs. Rushworth, on a +point of some similarity, and could not help wondering as she listened; +and glad would she have been not to be obliged to listen, for it was +while all the other young people were dancing, and she sitting, +most unwillingly, among the chaperons at the fire, longing for the +re-entrance of her elder cousin, on whom all her own hopes of a partner +then depended. It was Fanny's first ball, though without the preparation +or splendour of many a young lady's first ball, being the thought only +of the afternoon, built on the late acquisition of a violin player in +the servants' hall, and the possibility of raising five couple with +the help of Mrs. Grant and a new intimate friend of Mr. Bertram's just +arrived on a visit. It had, however, been a very happy one to Fanny +through four dances, and she was quite grieved to be losing even a +quarter of an hour. While waiting and wishing, looking now at +the dancers and now at the door, this dialogue between the two +above-mentioned ladies was forced on her-- + +"I think, ma'am," said Mrs. Norris, her eyes directed towards Mr. +Rushworth and Maria, who were partners for the second time, "we shall +see some happy faces again now." + +"Yes, ma'am, indeed," replied the other, with a stately simper, "there +will be some satisfaction in looking on _now_, and I think it was rather +a pity they should have been obliged to part. Young folks in their +situation should be excused complying with the common forms. I wonder my +son did not propose it." + +"I dare say he did, ma'am. Mr. Rushworth is never remiss. But dear Maria +has such a strict sense of propriety, so much of that true delicacy +which one seldom meets with nowadays, Mrs. Rushworth--that wish of +avoiding particularity! Dear ma'am, only look at her face at this +moment; how different from what it was the two last dances!" + +Miss Bertram did indeed look happy, her eyes were sparkling with +pleasure, and she was speaking with great animation, for Julia and her +partner, Mr. Crawford, were close to her; they were all in a cluster +together. How she had looked before, Fanny could not recollect, for she +had been dancing with Edmund herself, and had not thought about her. + +Mrs. Norris continued, "It is quite delightful, ma'am, to see young +people so properly happy, so well suited, and so much the thing! I +cannot but think of dear Sir Thomas's delight. And what do you say, +ma'am, to the chance of another match? Mr. Rushworth has set a good +example, and such things are very catching." + +Mrs. Rushworth, who saw nothing but her son, was quite at a loss. + +"The couple above, ma'am. Do you see no symptoms there?" + +"Oh dear! Miss Julia and Mr. Crawford. Yes, indeed, a very pretty match. +What is his property?" + +"Four thousand a year." + +"Very well. Those who have not more must be satisfied with what they +have. Four thousand a year is a pretty estate, and he seems a very +genteel, steady young man, so I hope Miss Julia will be very happy." + +"It is not a settled thing, ma'am, yet. We only speak of it among +friends. But I have very little doubt it _will_ be. He is growing +extremely particular in his attentions." + +Fanny could listen no farther. Listening and wondering were all +suspended for a time, for Mr. Bertram was in the room again; and though +feeling it would be a great honour to be asked by him, she thought it +must happen. He came towards their little circle; but instead of asking +her to dance, drew a chair near her, and gave her an account of the +present state of a sick horse, and the opinion of the groom, from +whom he had just parted. Fanny found that it was not to be, and in the +modesty of her nature immediately felt that she had been unreasonable +in expecting it. When he had told of his horse, he took a newspaper from +the table, and looking over it, said in a languid way, "If you want to +dance, Fanny, I will stand up with you." With more than equal civility +the offer was declined; she did not wish to dance. "I am glad of it," +said he, in a much brisker tone, and throwing down the newspaper again, +"for I am tired to death. I only wonder how the good people can keep +it up so long. They had need be _all_ in love, to find any amusement in +such folly; and so they are, I fancy. If you look at them you may see +they are so many couple of lovers--all but Yates and Mrs. Grant--and, +between ourselves, she, poor woman, must want a lover as much as any one +of them. A desperate dull life hers must be with the doctor," making +a sly face as he spoke towards the chair of the latter, who proving, +however, to be close at his elbow, made so instantaneous a change of +expression and subject necessary, as Fanny, in spite of everything, +could hardly help laughing at. "A strange business this in America, Dr. +Grant! What is your opinion? I always come to you to know what I am to +think of public matters." + +"My dear Tom," cried his aunt soon afterwards, "as you are not dancing, +I dare say you will have no objection to join us in a rubber; shall +you?" Then leaving her seat, and coming to him to enforce the proposal, +added in a whisper, "We want to make a table for Mrs. Rushworth, you +know. Your mother is quite anxious about it, but cannot very well spare +time to sit down herself, because of her fringe. Now, you and I and Dr. +Grant will just do; and though _we_ play but half-crowns, you know, you +may bet half-guineas with _him_." + +"I should be most happy," replied he aloud, and jumping up with +alacrity, "it would give me the greatest pleasure; but that I am +this moment going to dance." Come, Fanny, taking her hand, "do not be +dawdling any longer, or the dance will be over." + +Fanny was led off very willingly, though it was impossible for her to +feel much gratitude towards her cousin, or distinguish, as he certainly +did, between the selfishness of another person and his own. + +"A pretty modest request upon my word," he indignantly exclaimed as they +walked away. "To want to nail me to a card-table for the next two hours +with herself and Dr. Grant, who are always quarrelling, and that poking +old woman, who knows no more of whist than of algebra. I wish my good +aunt would be a little less busy! And to ask me in such a way too! +without ceremony, before them all, so as to leave me no possibility +of refusing. _That_ is what I dislike most particularly. It raises my +spleen more than anything, to have the pretence of being asked, of +being given a choice, and at the same time addressed in such a way as +to oblige one to do the very thing, whatever it be! If I had not luckily +thought of standing up with you I could not have got out of it. It is +a great deal too bad. But when my aunt has got a fancy in her head, +nothing can stop her." + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The Honourable John Yates, this new friend, had not much to recommend +him beyond habits of fashion and expense, and being the younger son of +a lord with a tolerable independence; and Sir Thomas would probably +have thought his introduction at Mansfield by no means desirable. Mr. +Bertram's acquaintance with him had begun at Weymouth, where they had +spent ten days together in the same society, and the friendship, if +friendship it might be called, had been proved and perfected by Mr. +Yates's being invited to take Mansfield in his way, whenever he could, +and by his promising to come; and he did come rather earlier than had +been expected, in consequence of the sudden breaking-up of a large party +assembled for gaiety at the house of another friend, which he had left +Weymouth to join. He came on the wings of disappointment, and with his +head full of acting, for it had been a theatrical party; and the play +in which he had borne a part was within two days of representation, +when the sudden death of one of the nearest connexions of the family +had destroyed the scheme and dispersed the performers. To be so near +happiness, so near fame, so near the long paragraph in praise of the +private theatricals at Ecclesford, the seat of the Right Hon. Lord +Ravenshaw, in Cornwall, which would of course have immortalised the +whole party for at least a twelvemonth! and being so near, to lose +it all, was an injury to be keenly felt, and Mr. Yates could talk of +nothing else. Ecclesford and its theatre, with its arrangements and +dresses, rehearsals and jokes, was his never-failing subject, and to +boast of the past his only consolation. + +Happily for him, a love of the theatre is so general, an itch for acting +so strong among young people, that he could hardly out-talk the interest +of his hearers. From the first casting of the parts to the epilogue it +was all bewitching, and there were few who did not wish to have been a +party concerned, or would have hesitated to try their skill. The play +had been Lovers' Vows, and Mr. Yates was to have been Count Cassel. "A +trifling part," said he, "and not at all to my taste, and such a one +as I certainly would not accept again; but I was determined to make no +difficulties. Lord Ravenshaw and the duke had appropriated the only two +characters worth playing before I reached Ecclesford; and though Lord +Ravenshaw offered to resign his to me, it was impossible to take it, you +know. I was sorry for _him_ that he should have so mistaken his powers, +for he was no more equal to the Baron--a little man with a weak voice, +always hoarse after the first ten minutes. It must have injured the +piece materially; but _I_ was resolved to make no difficulties. Sir +Henry thought the duke not equal to Frederick, but that was because +Sir Henry wanted the part himself; whereas it was certainly in the best +hands of the two. I was surprised to see Sir Henry such a stick. Luckily +the strength of the piece did not depend upon him. Our Agatha was +inimitable, and the duke was thought very great by many. And upon the +whole, it would certainly have gone off wonderfully." + +"It was a hard case, upon my word"; and, "I do think you were very much +to be pitied," were the kind responses of listening sympathy. + +"It is not worth complaining about; but to be sure the poor old dowager +could not have died at a worse time; and it is impossible to help +wishing that the news could have been suppressed for just the three days +we wanted. It was but three days; and being only a grandmother, and all +happening two hundred miles off, I think there would have been no great +harm, and it was suggested, I know; but Lord Ravenshaw, who I suppose is +one of the most correct men in England, would not hear of it." + +"An afterpiece instead of a comedy," said Mr. Bertram. "Lovers' Vows +were at an end, and Lord and Lady Ravenshaw left to act My Grandmother +by themselves. Well, the jointure may comfort _him_; and perhaps, +between friends, he began to tremble for his credit and his lungs in the +Baron, and was not sorry to withdraw; and to make _you_ amends, Yates, I +think we must raise a little theatre at Mansfield, and ask you to be our +manager." + +This, though the thought of the moment, did not end with the moment; for +the inclination to act was awakened, and in no one more strongly than in +him who was now master of the house; and who, having so much leisure as +to make almost any novelty a certain good, had likewise such a degree of +lively talents and comic taste, as were exactly adapted to the novelty +of acting. The thought returned again and again. "Oh for the Ecclesford +theatre and scenery to try something with." Each sister could echo the +wish; and Henry Crawford, to whom, in all the riot of his gratifications +it was yet an untasted pleasure, was quite alive at the idea. "I really +believe," said he, "I could be fool enough at this moment to undertake +any character that ever was written, from Shylock or Richard III down to +the singing hero of a farce in his scarlet coat and cocked hat. I feel +as if I could be anything or everything; as if I could rant and storm, +or sigh or cut capers, in any tragedy or comedy in the English language. +Let us be doing something. Be it only half a play, an act, a scene; what +should prevent us? Not these countenances, I am sure," looking towards +the Miss Bertrams; "and for a theatre, what signifies a theatre? We +shall be only amusing ourselves. Any room in this house might suffice." + +"We must have a curtain," said Tom Bertram; "a few yards of green baize +for a curtain, and perhaps that may be enough." + +"Oh, quite enough," cried Mr. Yates, "with only just a side wing or two +run up, doors in flat, and three or four scenes to be let down; nothing +more would be necessary on such a plan as this. For mere amusement among +ourselves we should want nothing more." + +"I believe we must be satisfied with _less_," said Maria. "There would +not be time, and other difficulties would arise. We must rather adopt +Mr. Crawford's views, and make the _performance_, not the _theatre_, our +object. Many parts of our best plays are independent of scenery." + +"Nay," said Edmund, who began to listen with alarm. "Let us do nothing +by halves. If we are to act, let it be in a theatre completely fitted +up with pit, boxes, and gallery, and let us have a play entire from +beginning to end; so as it be a German play, no matter what, with a good +tricking, shifting afterpiece, and a figure-dance, and a hornpipe, and a +song between the acts. If we do not outdo Ecclesford, we do nothing." + +"Now, Edmund, do not be disagreeable," said Julia. "Nobody loves a play +better than you do, or can have gone much farther to see one." + +"True, to see real acting, good hardened real acting; but I would hardly +walk from this room to the next to look at the raw efforts of those who +have not been bred to the trade: a set of gentlemen and ladies, who have +all the disadvantages of education and decorum to struggle through." + +After a short pause, however, the subject still continued, and was +discussed with unabated eagerness, every one's inclination increasing +by the discussion, and a knowledge of the inclination of the rest; and +though nothing was settled but that Tom Bertram would prefer a comedy, +and his sisters and Henry Crawford a tragedy, and that nothing in the +world could be easier than to find a piece which would please them all, +the resolution to act something or other seemed so decided as to +make Edmund quite uncomfortable. He was determined to prevent it, if +possible, though his mother, who equally heard the conversation which +passed at table, did not evince the least disapprobation. + +The same evening afforded him an opportunity of trying his strength. +Maria, Julia, Henry Crawford, and Mr. Yates were in the billiard-room. +Tom, returning from them into the drawing-room, where Edmund was +standing thoughtfully by the fire, while Lady Bertram was on the sofa at +a little distance, and Fanny close beside her arranging her work, thus +began as he entered--"Such a horribly vile billiard-table as ours is not +to be met with, I believe, above ground. I can stand it no longer, and I +think, I may say, that nothing shall ever tempt me to it again; but one +good thing I have just ascertained: it is the very room for a theatre, +precisely the shape and length for it; and the doors at the farther +end, communicating with each other, as they may be made to do in five +minutes, by merely moving the bookcase in my father's room, is the very +thing we could have desired, if we had sat down to wish for it; and +my father's room will be an excellent greenroom. It seems to join the +billiard-room on purpose." + +"You are not serious, Tom, in meaning to act?" said Edmund, in a low +voice, as his brother approached the fire. + +"Not serious! never more so, I assure you. What is there to surprise you +in it?" + +"I think it would be very wrong. In a _general_ light, private +theatricals are open to some objections, but as _we_ are circumstanced, +I must think it would be highly injudicious, and more than injudicious +to attempt anything of the kind. It would shew great want of feeling +on my father's account, absent as he is, and in some degree of constant +danger; and it would be imprudent, I think, with regard to Maria, whose +situation is a very delicate one, considering everything, extremely +delicate." + +"You take up a thing so seriously! as if we were going to act three +times a week till my father's return, and invite all the country. But +it is not to be a display of that sort. We mean nothing but a little +amusement among ourselves, just to vary the scene, and exercise our +powers in something new. We want no audience, no publicity. We may be +trusted, I think, in chusing some play most perfectly unexceptionable; +and I can conceive no greater harm or danger to any of us in conversing +in the elegant written language of some respectable author than in +chattering in words of our own. I have no fears and no scruples. And +as to my father's being absent, it is so far from an objection, that I +consider it rather as a motive; for the expectation of his return must +be a very anxious period to my mother; and if we can be the means of +amusing that anxiety, and keeping up her spirits for the next few weeks, +I shall think our time very well spent, and so, I am sure, will he. It +is a _very_ anxious period for her." + +As he said this, each looked towards their mother. Lady Bertram, sunk +back in one corner of the sofa, the picture of health, wealth, ease, +and tranquillity, was just falling into a gentle doze, while Fanny was +getting through the few difficulties of her work for her. + +Edmund smiled and shook his head. + +"By Jove! this won't do," cried Tom, throwing himself into a chair with +a hearty laugh. "To be sure, my dear mother, your anxiety--I was unlucky +there." + +"What is the matter?" asked her ladyship, in the heavy tone of one +half-roused; "I was not asleep." + +"Oh dear, no, ma'am, nobody suspected you! Well, Edmund," he continued, +returning to the former subject, posture, and voice, as soon as Lady +Bertram began to nod again, "but _this_ I _will_ maintain, that we shall +be doing no harm." + +"I cannot agree with you; I am convinced that my father would totally +disapprove it." + +"And I am convinced to the contrary. Nobody is fonder of the exercise +of talent in young people, or promotes it more, than my father, and for +anything of the acting, spouting, reciting kind, I think he has always a +decided taste. I am sure he encouraged it in us as boys. How many a time +have we mourned over the dead body of Julius Caesar, and to _be'd_ and +not _to_ _be'd_, in this very room, for his amusement? And I am sure, +_my_ _name_ _was_ _Norval_, every evening of my life through one +Christmas holidays." + +"It was a very different thing. You must see the difference yourself. My +father wished us, as schoolboys, to speak well, but he would never +wish his grown-up daughters to be acting plays. His sense of decorum is +strict." + +"I know all that," said Tom, displeased. "I know my father as well as +you do; and I'll take care that his daughters do nothing to distress +him. Manage your own concerns, Edmund, and I'll take care of the rest of +the family." + +"If you are resolved on acting," replied the persevering Edmund, "I must +hope it will be in a very small and quiet way; and I think a theatre +ought not to be attempted. It would be taking liberties with my father's +house in his absence which could not be justified." + +"For everything of that nature I will be answerable," said Tom, in a +decided tone. "His house shall not be hurt. I have quite as great an +interest in being careful of his house as you can have; and as to such +alterations as I was suggesting just now, such as moving a bookcase, or +unlocking a door, or even as using the billiard-room for the space of a +week without playing at billiards in it, you might just as well suppose +he would object to our sitting more in this room, and less in the +breakfast-room, than we did before he went away, or to my sister's +pianoforte being moved from one side of the room to the other. Absolute +nonsense!" + +"The innovation, if not wrong as an innovation, will be wrong as an +expense." + +"Yes, the expense of such an undertaking would be prodigious! Perhaps +it might cost a whole twenty pounds. Something of a theatre we must have +undoubtedly, but it will be on the simplest plan: a green curtain and a +little carpenter's work, and that's all; and as the carpenter's work +may be all done at home by Christopher Jackson himself, it will be +too absurd to talk of expense; and as long as Jackson is employed, +everything will be right with Sir Thomas. Don't imagine that nobody in +this house can see or judge but yourself. Don't act yourself, if you do +not like it, but don't expect to govern everybody else." + +"No, as to acting myself," said Edmund, "_that_ I absolutely protest +against." + +Tom walked out of the room as he said it, and Edmund was left to sit +down and stir the fire in thoughtful vexation. + +Fanny, who had heard it all, and borne Edmund company in every feeling +throughout the whole, now ventured to say, in her anxiety to suggest +some comfort, "Perhaps they may not be able to find any play to suit +them. Your brother's taste and your sisters' seem very different." + +"I have no hope there, Fanny. If they persist in the scheme, they will +find something. I shall speak to my sisters and try to dissuade _them_, +and that is all I can do." + +"I should think my aunt Norris would be on your side." + +"I dare say she would, but she has no influence with either Tom or my +sisters that could be of any use; and if I cannot convince them myself, +I shall let things take their course, without attempting it through +her. Family squabbling is the greatest evil of all, and we had better do +anything than be altogether by the ears." + +His sisters, to whom he had an opportunity of speaking the next morning, +were quite as impatient of his advice, quite as unyielding to his +representation, quite as determined in the cause of pleasure, as Tom. +Their mother had no objection to the plan, and they were not in the +least afraid of their father's disapprobation. There could be no harm in +what had been done in so many respectable families, and by so many women +of the first consideration; and it must be scrupulousness run mad that +could see anything to censure in a plan like theirs, comprehending only +brothers and sisters and intimate friends, and which would never be +heard of beyond themselves. Julia _did_ seem inclined to admit that +Maria's situation might require particular caution and delicacy--but +that could not extend to _her_--she was at liberty; and Maria evidently +considered her engagement as only raising her so much more above +restraint, and leaving her less occasion than Julia to consult either +father or mother. Edmund had little to hope, but he was still urging the +subject when Henry Crawford entered the room, fresh from the Parsonage, +calling out, "No want of hands in our theatre, Miss Bertram. No want +of understrappers: my sister desires her love, and hopes to be admitted +into the company, and will be happy to take the part of any old duenna +or tame confidante, that you may not like to do yourselves." + +Maria gave Edmund a glance, which meant, "What say you now? Can we +be wrong if Mary Crawford feels the same?" And Edmund, silenced, +was obliged to acknowledge that the charm of acting might well carry +fascination to the mind of genius; and with the ingenuity of love, to +dwell more on the obliging, accommodating purport of the message than on +anything else. + +The scheme advanced. Opposition was vain; and as to Mrs. Norris, he +was mistaken in supposing she would wish to make any. She started no +difficulties that were not talked down in five minutes by her eldest +nephew and niece, who were all-powerful with her; and as the whole +arrangement was to bring very little expense to anybody, and none at all +to herself, as she foresaw in it all the comforts of hurry, bustle, +and importance, and derived the immediate advantage of fancying herself +obliged to leave her own house, where she had been living a month at +her own cost, and take up her abode in theirs, that every hour might be +spent in their service, she was, in fact, exceedingly delighted with the +project. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Fanny seemed nearer being right than Edmund had supposed. The business +of finding a play that would suit everybody proved to be no trifle; and +the carpenter had received his orders and taken his measurements, had +suggested and removed at least two sets of difficulties, and having made +the necessity of an enlargement of plan and expense fully evident, was +already at work, while a play was still to seek. Other preparations +were also in hand. An enormous roll of green baize had arrived from +Northampton, and been cut out by Mrs. Norris (with a saving by her good +management of full three-quarters of a yard), and was actually forming +into a curtain by the housemaids, and still the play was wanting; and +as two or three days passed away in this manner, Edmund began almost to +hope that none might ever be found. + +There were, in fact, so many things to be attended to, so many people +to be pleased, so many best characters required, and, above all, such a +need that the play should be at once both tragedy and comedy, that there +did seem as little chance of a decision as anything pursued by youth and +zeal could hold out. + +On the tragic side were the Miss Bertrams, Henry Crawford, and Mr. +Yates; on the comic, Tom Bertram, not _quite_ alone, because it was +evident that Mary Crawford's wishes, though politely kept back, inclined +the same way: but his determinateness and his power seemed to make +allies unnecessary; and, independent of this great irreconcilable +difference, they wanted a piece containing very few characters in the +whole, but every character first-rate, and three principal women. All +the best plays were run over in vain. Neither Hamlet, nor Macbeth, nor +Othello, nor Douglas, nor The Gamester, presented anything that could +satisfy even the tragedians; and The Rivals, The School for Scandal, +Wheel of Fortune, Heir at Law, and a long et cetera, were successively +dismissed with yet warmer objections. No piece could be proposed that +did not supply somebody with a difficulty, and on one side or the other +it was a continual repetition of, "Oh no, _that_ will never do! Let us +have no ranting tragedies. Too many characters. Not a tolerable +woman's part in the play. Anything but _that_, my dear Tom. It would be +impossible to fill it up. One could not expect anybody to take such a +part. Nothing but buffoonery from beginning to end. _That_ might do, +perhaps, but for the low parts. If I _must_ give my opinion, I have +always thought it the most insipid play in the English language. _I_ do +not wish to make objections; I shall be happy to be of any use, but I +think we could not chuse worse." + +Fanny looked on and listened, not unamused to observe the selfishness +which, more or less disguised, seemed to govern them all, and wondering +how it would end. For her own gratification she could have wished that +something might be acted, for she had never seen even half a play, but +everything of higher consequence was against it. + +"This will never do," said Tom Bertram at last. "We are wasting time +most abominably. Something must be fixed on. No matter what, so that +something is chosen. We must not be so nice. A few characters too many +must not frighten us. We must _double_ them. We must descend a little. +If a part is insignificant, the greater our credit in making anything of +it. From this moment I make no difficulties. I take any part you chuse +to give me, so as it be comic. Let it but be comic, I condition for +nothing more." + +For about the fifth time he then proposed the Heir at Law, doubting only +whether to prefer Lord Duberley or Dr. Pangloss for himself; and very +earnestly, but very unsuccessfully, trying to persuade the others that +there were some fine tragic parts in the rest of the dramatis personae. + +The pause which followed this fruitless effort was ended by the same +speaker, who, taking up one of the many volumes of plays that lay on the +table, and turning it over, suddenly exclaimed--"Lovers' Vows! And why +should not Lovers' Vows do for _us_ as well as for the Ravenshaws? How +came it never to be thought of before? It strikes me as if it would do +exactly. What say you all? Here are two capital tragic parts for Yates +and Crawford, and here is the rhyming Butler for me, if nobody else +wants it; a trifling part, but the sort of thing I should not dislike, +and, as I said before, I am determined to take anything and do my best. +And as for the rest, they may be filled up by anybody. It is only Count +Cassel and Anhalt." + +The suggestion was generally welcome. Everybody was growing weary of +indecision, and the first idea with everybody was, that nothing had been +proposed before so likely to suit them all. Mr. Yates was particularly +pleased: he had been sighing and longing to do the Baron at Ecclesford, +had grudged every rant of Lord Ravenshaw's, and been forced to re-rant +it all in his own room. The storm through Baron Wildenheim was the +height of his theatrical ambition; and with the advantage of knowing +half the scenes by heart already, he did now, with the greatest +alacrity, offer his services for the part. To do him justice, however, +he did not resolve to appropriate it; for remembering that there was +some very good ranting-ground in Frederick, he professed an equal +willingness for that. Henry Crawford was ready to take either. Whichever +Mr. Yates did not chuse would perfectly satisfy him, and a short parley +of compliment ensued. Miss Bertram, feeling all the interest of an +Agatha in the question, took on her to decide it, by observing to Mr. +Yates that this was a point in which height and figure ought to +be considered, and that _his_ being the tallest, seemed to fit him +peculiarly for the Baron. She was acknowledged to be quite right, and +the two parts being accepted accordingly, she was certain of the proper +Frederick. Three of the characters were now cast, besides Mr. Rushworth, +who was always answered for by Maria as willing to do anything; when +Julia, meaning, like her sister, to be Agatha, began to be scrupulous on +Miss Crawford's account. + +"This is not behaving well by the absent," said she. "Here are not women +enough. Amelia and Agatha may do for Maria and me, but here is nothing +for your sister, Mr. Crawford." + +Mr. Crawford desired _that_ might not be thought of: he was very sure +his sister had no wish of acting but as she might be useful, and that +she would not allow herself to be considered in the present case. But +this was immediately opposed by Tom Bertram, who asserted the part of +Amelia to be in every respect the property of Miss Crawford, if she +would accept it. "It falls as naturally, as necessarily to her," +said he, "as Agatha does to one or other of my sisters. It can be no +sacrifice on their side, for it is highly comic." + +A short silence followed. Each sister looked anxious; for each felt the +best claim to Agatha, and was hoping to have it pressed on her by the +rest. Henry Crawford, who meanwhile had taken up the play, and with +seeming carelessness was turning over the first act, soon settled the +business. + +"I must entreat Miss _Julia_ Bertram," said he, "not to engage in the +part of Agatha, or it will be the ruin of all my solemnity. You must +not, indeed you must not" (turning to her). "I could not stand your +countenance dressed up in woe and paleness. The many laughs we have had +together would infallibly come across me, and Frederick and his knapsack +would be obliged to run away." + +Pleasantly, courteously, it was spoken; but the manner was lost in the +matter to Julia's feelings. She saw a glance at Maria which confirmed +the injury to herself: it was a scheme, a trick; she was slighted, Maria +was preferred; the smile of triumph which Maria was trying to suppress +shewed how well it was understood; and before Julia could command +herself enough to speak, her brother gave his weight against her too, +by saying, "Oh yes! Maria must be Agatha. Maria will be the best Agatha. +Though Julia fancies she prefers tragedy, I would not trust her in it. +There is nothing of tragedy about her. She has not the look of it. Her +features are not tragic features, and she walks too quick, and speaks +too quick, and would not keep her countenance. She had better do the old +countrywoman: the Cottager's wife; you had, indeed, Julia. Cottager's +wife is a very pretty part, I assure you. The old lady relieves the +high-flown benevolence of her husband with a good deal of spirit. You +shall be Cottager's wife." + +"Cottager's wife!" cried Mr. Yates. "What are you talking of? The most +trivial, paltry, insignificant part; the merest commonplace; not a +tolerable speech in the whole. Your sister do that! It is an insult +to propose it. At Ecclesford the governess was to have done it. We +all agreed that it could not be offered to anybody else. A little more +justice, Mr. Manager, if you please. You do not deserve the office, if +you cannot appreciate the talents of your company a little better." + +"Why, as to _that_, my good friend, till I and my company have really +acted there must be some guesswork; but I mean no disparagement to +Julia. We cannot have two Agathas, and we must have one Cottager's +wife; and I am sure I set her the example of moderation myself in being +satisfied with the old Butler. If the part is trifling she will have +more credit in making something of it; and if she is so desperately bent +against everything humorous, let her take Cottager's speeches instead of +Cottager's wife's, and so change the parts all through; _he_ is solemn +and pathetic enough, I am sure. It could make no difference in the play, +and as for Cottager himself, when he has got his wife's speeches, _I_ +would undertake him with all my heart." + +"With all your partiality for Cottager's wife," said Henry Crawford, "it +will be impossible to make anything of it fit for your sister, and we +must not suffer her good-nature to be imposed on. We must not _allow_ +her to accept the part. She must not be left to her own complaisance. +Her talents will be wanted in Amelia. Amelia is a character more +difficult to be well represented than even Agatha. I consider Amelia +is the most difficult character in the whole piece. It requires great +powers, great nicety, to give her playfulness and simplicity without +extravagance. I have seen good actresses fail in the part. Simplicity, +indeed, is beyond the reach of almost every actress by profession. +It requires a delicacy of feeling which they have not. It requires a +gentlewoman--a Julia Bertram. You _will_ undertake it, I hope?" turning +to her with a look of anxious entreaty, which softened her a little; but +while she hesitated what to say, her brother again interposed with Miss +Crawford's better claim. + +"No, no, Julia must not be Amelia. It is not at all the part for her. +She would not like it. She would not do well. She is too tall and +robust. Amelia should be a small, light, girlish, skipping figure. It is +fit for Miss Crawford, and Miss Crawford only. She looks the part, and I +am persuaded will do it admirably." + +Without attending to this, Henry Crawford continued his supplication. +"You must oblige us," said he, "indeed you must. When you have studied +the character, I am sure you will feel it suit you. Tragedy may be your +choice, but it will certainly appear that comedy chuses _you_. You +will be to visit me in prison with a basket of provisions; you will +not refuse to visit me in prison? I think I see you coming in with your +basket." + +The influence of his voice was felt. Julia wavered; but was he only +trying to soothe and pacify her, and make her overlook the previous +affront? She distrusted him. The slight had been most determined. He +was, perhaps, but at treacherous play with her. She looked suspiciously +at her sister; Maria's countenance was to decide it: if she were vexed +and alarmed--but Maria looked all serenity and satisfaction, and Julia +well knew that on this ground Maria could not be happy but at her +expense. With hasty indignation, therefore, and a tremulous voice, she +said to him, "You do not seem afraid of not keeping your countenance +when I come in with a basket of provisions--though one might have +supposed--but it is only as Agatha that I was to be so overpowering!" +She stopped--Henry Crawford looked rather foolish, and as if he did not +know what to say. Tom Bertram began again-- + +"Miss Crawford must be Amelia. She will be an excellent Amelia." + +"Do not be afraid of _my_ wanting the character," cried Julia, with +angry quickness: "I am _not_ to be Agatha, and I am sure I will do +nothing else; and as to Amelia, it is of all parts in the world the +most disgusting to me. I quite detest her. An odious, little, pert, +unnatural, impudent girl. I have always protested against comedy, and +this is comedy in its worst form." And so saying, she walked hastily +out of the room, leaving awkward feelings to more than one, but exciting +small compassion in any except Fanny, who had been a quiet auditor of +the whole, and who could not think of her as under the agitations of +_jealousy_ without great pity. + +A short silence succeeded her leaving them; but her brother soon +returned to business and Lovers' Vows, and was eagerly looking over +the play, with Mr. Yates's help, to ascertain what scenery would be +necessary--while Maria and Henry Crawford conversed together in an +under-voice, and the declaration with which she began of, "I am sure I +would give up the part to Julia most willingly, but that though I shall +probably do it very ill, I feel persuaded _she_ would do it worse," was +doubtless receiving all the compliments it called for. + +When this had lasted some time, the division of the party was completed +by Tom Bertram and Mr. Yates walking off together to consult farther in +the room now beginning to be called _the_ _Theatre_, and Miss Bertram's +resolving to go down to the Parsonage herself with the offer of Amelia +to Miss Crawford; and Fanny remained alone. + +The first use she made of her solitude was to take up the volume which +had been left on the table, and begin to acquaint herself with the play +of which she had heard so much. Her curiosity was all awake, and she ran +through it with an eagerness which was suspended only by intervals of +astonishment, that it could be chosen in the present instance, that it +could be proposed and accepted in a private theatre! Agatha and Amelia +appeared to her in their different ways so totally improper for home +representation--the situation of one, and the language of the other, +so unfit to be expressed by any woman of modesty, that she could hardly +suppose her cousins could be aware of what they were engaging in; and +longed to have them roused as soon as possible by the remonstrance which +Edmund would certainly make. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Miss Crawford accepted the part very readily; and soon after Miss +Bertram's return from the Parsonage, Mr. Rushworth arrived, and another +character was consequently cast. He had the offer of Count Cassel +and Anhalt, and at first did not know which to chuse, and wanted Miss +Bertram to direct him; but upon being made to understand the different +style of the characters, and which was which, and recollecting that he +had once seen the play in London, and had thought Anhalt a very stupid +fellow, he soon decided for the Count. Miss Bertram approved the +decision, for the less he had to learn the better; and though she could +not sympathise in his wish that the Count and Agatha might be to act +together, nor wait very patiently while he was slowly turning over the +leaves with the hope of still discovering such a scene, she very kindly +took his part in hand, and curtailed every speech that admitted being +shortened; besides pointing out the necessity of his being very much +dressed, and chusing his colours. Mr. Rushworth liked the idea of his +finery very well, though affecting to despise it; and was too much +engaged with what his own appearance would be to think of the others, +or draw any of those conclusions, or feel any of that displeasure which +Maria had been half prepared for. + +Thus much was settled before Edmund, who had been out all the morning, +knew anything of the matter; but when he entered the drawing-room before +dinner, the buzz of discussion was high between Tom, Maria, and Mr. +Yates; and Mr. Rushworth stepped forward with great alacrity to tell him +the agreeable news. + +"We have got a play," said he. "It is to be Lovers' Vows; and I am to be +Count Cassel, and am to come in first with a blue dress and a pink satin +cloak, and afterwards am to have another fine fancy suit, by way of a +shooting-dress. I do not know how I shall like it." + +Fanny's eyes followed Edmund, and her heart beat for him as she heard +this speech, and saw his look, and felt what his sensations must be. + +"Lovers' Vows!" in a tone of the greatest amazement, was his only reply +to Mr. Rushworth, and he turned towards his brother and sisters as if +hardly doubting a contradiction. + +"Yes," cried Mr. Yates. "After all our debatings and difficulties, we +find there is nothing that will suit us altogether so well, nothing so +unexceptionable, as Lovers' Vows. The wonder is that it should not have +been thought of before. My stupidity was abominable, for here we have +all the advantage of what I saw at Ecclesford; and it is so useful to +have anything of a model! We have cast almost every part." + +"But what do you do for women?" said Edmund gravely, and looking at +Maria. + +Maria blushed in spite of herself as she answered, "I take the part +which Lady Ravenshaw was to have done, and" (with a bolder eye) "Miss +Crawford is to be Amelia." + +"I should not have thought it the sort of play to be so easily filled +up, with _us_," replied Edmund, turning away to the fire, where sat +his mother, aunt, and Fanny, and seating himself with a look of great +vexation. + +Mr. Rushworth followed him to say, "I come in three times, and have +two-and-forty speeches. That's something, is not it? But I do not much +like the idea of being so fine. I shall hardly know myself in a blue +dress and a pink satin cloak." + +Edmund could not answer him. In a few minutes Mr. Bertram was called +out of the room to satisfy some doubts of the carpenter; and being +accompanied by Mr. Yates, and followed soon afterwards by Mr. Rushworth, +Edmund almost immediately took the opportunity of saying, "I cannot, +before Mr. Yates, speak what I feel as to this play, without reflecting +on his friends at Ecclesford; but I must now, my dear Maria, tell _you_, +that I think it exceedingly unfit for private representation, and that I +hope you will give it up. I cannot but suppose you _will_ when you have +read it carefully over. Read only the first act aloud to either your +mother or aunt, and see how you can approve it. It will not be necessary +to send you to your _father's_ judgment, I am convinced." + +"We see things very differently," cried Maria. "I am perfectly +acquainted with the play, I assure you; and with a very few omissions, +and so forth, which will be made, of course, I can see nothing +objectionable in it; and _I_ am not the _only_ young woman you find who +thinks it very fit for private representation." + +"I am sorry for it," was his answer; "but in this matter it is _you_ who +are to lead. _You_ must set the example. If others have blundered, it +is your place to put them right, and shew them what true delicacy is. +In all points of decorum _your_ conduct must be law to the rest of the +party." + +This picture of her consequence had some effect, for no one loved better +to lead than Maria; and with far more good-humour she answered, "I am +much obliged to you, Edmund; you mean very well, I am sure: but I still +think you see things too strongly; and I really cannot undertake to +harangue all the rest upon a subject of this kind. _There_ would be the +greatest indecorum, I think." + +"Do you imagine that I could have such an idea in my head? No; let your +conduct be the only harangue. Say that, on examining the part, you feel +yourself unequal to it; that you find it requiring more exertion and +confidence than you can be supposed to have. Say this with firmness, and +it will be quite enough. All who can distinguish will understand your +motive. The play will be given up, and your delicacy honoured as it +ought." + +"Do not act anything improper, my dear," said Lady Bertram. "Sir Thomas +would not like it.--Fanny, ring the bell; I must have my dinner.--To be +sure, Julia is dressed by this time." + +"I am convinced, madam," said Edmund, preventing Fanny, "that Sir Thomas +would not like it." + +"There, my dear, do you hear what Edmund says?" + +"If I were to decline the part," said Maria, with renewed zeal, "Julia +would certainly take it." + +"What!" cried Edmund, "if she knew your reasons!" + +"Oh! she might think the difference between us--the difference in our +situations--that _she_ need not be so scrupulous as _I_ might feel +necessary. I am sure she would argue so. No; you must excuse me; I +cannot retract my consent; it is too far settled, everybody would be so +disappointed, Tom would be quite angry; and if we are so very nice, we +shall never act anything." + +"I was just going to say the very same thing," said Mrs. Norris. +"If every play is to be objected to, you will act nothing, and the +preparations will be all so much money thrown away, and I am sure _that_ +would be a discredit to us all. I do not know the play; but, as Maria +says, if there is anything a little too warm (and it is so with most of +them) it can be easily left out. We must not be over-precise, Edmund. As +Mr. Rushworth is to act too, there can be no harm. I only wish Tom had +known his own mind when the carpenters began, for there was the loss +of half a day's work about those side-doors. The curtain will be a good +job, however. The maids do their work very well, and I think we shall be +able to send back some dozens of the rings. There is no occasion to put +them so very close together. I _am_ of some use, I hope, in preventing +waste and making the most of things. There should always be one +steady head to superintend so many young ones. I forgot to tell Tom of +something that happened to me this very day. I had been looking about me +in the poultry-yard, and was just coming out, when who should I see but +Dick Jackson making up to the servants' hall-door with two bits of deal +board in his hand, bringing them to father, you may be sure; mother had +chanced to send him of a message to father, and then father had bid +him bring up them two bits of board, for he could not no how do without +them. I knew what all this meant, for the servants' dinner-bell +was ringing at the very moment over our heads; and as I hate such +encroaching people (the Jacksons are very encroaching, I have always +said so: just the sort of people to get all they can), I said to the boy +directly (a great lubberly fellow of ten years old, you know, who ought +to be ashamed of himself), '_I'll_ take the boards to your father, Dick, +so get you home again as fast as you can.' The boy looked very silly, +and turned away without offering a word, for I believe I might speak +pretty sharp; and I dare say it will cure him of coming marauding about +the house for one while. I hate such greediness--so good as your father +is to the family, employing the man all the year round!" + +Nobody was at the trouble of an answer; the others soon returned; and +Edmund found that to have endeavoured to set them right must be his only +satisfaction. + +Dinner passed heavily. Mrs. Norris related again her triumph over Dick +Jackson, but neither play nor preparation were otherwise much talked +of, for Edmund's disapprobation was felt even by his brother, though +he would not have owned it. Maria, wanting Henry Crawford's animating +support, thought the subject better avoided. Mr. Yates, who was trying +to make himself agreeable to Julia, found her gloom less impenetrable on +any topic than that of his regret at her secession from their company; +and Mr. Rushworth, having only his own part and his own dress in his +head, had soon talked away all that could be said of either. + +But the concerns of the theatre were suspended only for an hour or two: +there was still a great deal to be settled; and the spirits of evening +giving fresh courage, Tom, Maria, and Mr. Yates, soon after their being +reassembled in the drawing-room, seated themselves in committee at a +separate table, with the play open before them, and were just getting +deep in the subject when a most welcome interruption was given by the +entrance of Mr. and Miss Crawford, who, late and dark and dirty as it +was, could not help coming, and were received with the most grateful +joy. + +"Well, how do you go on?" and "What have you settled?" and "Oh! we +can do nothing without you," followed the first salutations; and Henry +Crawford was soon seated with the other three at the table, while his +sister made her way to Lady Bertram, and with pleasant attention was +complimenting _her_. "I must really congratulate your ladyship," said +she, "on the play being chosen; for though you have borne it with +exemplary patience, I am sure you must be sick of all our noise and +difficulties. The actors may be glad, but the bystanders must be +infinitely more thankful for a decision; and I do sincerely give you +joy, madam, as well as Mrs. Norris, and everybody else who is in the +same predicament," glancing half fearfully, half slyly, beyond Fanny to +Edmund. + +She was very civilly answered by Lady Bertram, but Edmund said nothing. +His being only a bystander was not disclaimed. After continuing in chat +with the party round the fire a few minutes, Miss Crawford returned +to the party round the table; and standing by them, seemed to +interest herself in their arrangements till, as if struck by a sudden +recollection, she exclaimed, "My good friends, you are most composedly +at work upon these cottages and alehouses, inside and out; but pray let +me know my fate in the meanwhile. Who is to be Anhalt? What gentleman +among you am I to have the pleasure of making love to?" + +For a moment no one spoke; and then many spoke together to tell the same +melancholy truth, that they had not yet got any Anhalt. "Mr. Rushworth +was to be Count Cassel, but no one had yet undertaken Anhalt." + +"I had my choice of the parts," said Mr. Rushworth; "but I thought I +should like the Count best, though I do not much relish the finery I am +to have." + +"You chose very wisely, I am sure," replied Miss Crawford, with a +brightened look; "Anhalt is a heavy part." + +"_The_ _Count_ has two-and-forty speeches," returned Mr. Rushworth, +"which is no trifle." + +"I am not at all surprised," said Miss Crawford, after a short pause, +"at this want of an Anhalt. Amelia deserves no better. Such a forward +young lady may well frighten the men." + +"I should be but too happy in taking the part, if it were possible," +cried Tom; "but, unluckily, the Butler and Anhalt are in together. I +will not entirely give it up, however; I will try what can be done--I +will look it over again." + +"Your _brother_ should take the part," said Mr. Yates, in a low voice. +"Do not you think he would?" + +"_I_ shall not ask him," replied Tom, in a cold, determined manner. + +Miss Crawford talked of something else, and soon afterwards rejoined the +party at the fire. + +"They do not want me at all," said she, seating herself. "I only puzzle +them, and oblige them to make civil speeches. Mr. Edmund Bertram, as +you do not act yourself, you will be a disinterested adviser; and, +therefore, I apply to _you_. What shall we do for an Anhalt? Is it +practicable for any of the others to double it? What is your advice?" + +"My advice," said he calmly, "is that you change the play." + +"_I_ should have no objection," she replied; "for though I should not +particularly dislike the part of Amelia if well supported, that is, if +everything went well, I shall be sorry to be an inconvenience; but +as they do not chuse to hear your advice at _that_ _table_" (looking +round), "it certainly will not be taken." + +Edmund said no more. + +"If _any_ part could tempt _you_ to act, I suppose it would be Anhalt," +observed the lady archly, after a short pause; "for he is a clergyman, +you know." + +"_That_ circumstance would by no means tempt me," he replied, "for I +should be sorry to make the character ridiculous by bad acting. It +must be very difficult to keep Anhalt from appearing a formal, solemn +lecturer; and the man who chuses the profession itself is, perhaps, one +of the last who would wish to represent it on the stage." + +Miss Crawford was silenced, and with some feelings of resentment and +mortification, moved her chair considerably nearer the tea-table, and +gave all her attention to Mrs. Norris, who was presiding there. + +"Fanny," cried Tom Bertram, from the other table, where the conference +was eagerly carrying on, and the conversation incessant, "we want your +services." + +Fanny was up in a moment, expecting some errand; for the habit of +employing her in that way was not yet overcome, in spite of all that +Edmund could do. + +"Oh! we do not want to disturb you from your seat. We do not want your +_present_ services. We shall only want you in our play. You must be +Cottager's wife." + +"Me!" cried Fanny, sitting down again with a most frightened look. +"Indeed you must excuse me. I could not act anything if you were to give +me the world. No, indeed, I cannot act." + +"Indeed, but you must, for we cannot excuse you. It need not frighten +you: it is a nothing of a part, a mere nothing, not above half a dozen +speeches altogether, and it will not much signify if nobody hears a word +you say; so you may be as creep-mouse as you like, but we must have you +to look at." + +"If you are afraid of half a dozen speeches," cried Mr. Rushworth, "what +would you do with such a part as mine? I have forty-two to learn." + +"It is not that I am afraid of learning by heart," said Fanny, shocked +to find herself at that moment the only speaker in the room, and to feel +that almost every eye was upon her; "but I really cannot act." + +"Yes, yes, you can act well enough for _us_. Learn your part, and we +will teach you all the rest. You have only two scenes, and as I shall +be Cottager, I'll put you in and push you about, and you will do it very +well, I'll answer for it." + +"No, indeed, Mr. Bertram, you must excuse me. You cannot have an idea. +It would be absolutely impossible for me. If I were to undertake it, I +should only disappoint you." + +"Phoo! Phoo! Do not be so shamefaced. You'll do it very well. Every +allowance will be made for you. We do not expect perfection. You must +get a brown gown, and a white apron, and a mob cap, and we must make +you a few wrinkles, and a little of the crowsfoot at the corner of your +eyes, and you will be a very proper, little old woman." + +"You must excuse me, indeed you must excuse me," cried Fanny, growing +more and more red from excessive agitation, and looking distressfully +at Edmund, who was kindly observing her; but unwilling to exasperate +his brother by interference, gave her only an encouraging smile. Her +entreaty had no effect on Tom: he only said again what he had said +before; and it was not merely Tom, for the requisition was now backed by +Maria, and Mr. Crawford, and Mr. Yates, with an urgency which differed +from his but in being more gentle or more ceremonious, and which +altogether was quite overpowering to Fanny; and before she could breathe +after it, Mrs. Norris completed the whole by thus addressing her in a +whisper at once angry and audible--"What a piece of work here is about +nothing: I am quite ashamed of you, Fanny, to make such a difficulty of +obliging your cousins in a trifle of this sort--so kind as they are to +you! Take the part with a good grace, and let us hear no more of the +matter, I entreat." + +"Do not urge her, madam," said Edmund. "It is not fair to urge her +in this manner. You see she does not like to act. Let her chuse for +herself, as well as the rest of us. Her judgment may be quite as safely +trusted. Do not urge her any more." + +"I am not going to urge her," replied Mrs. Norris sharply; "but I shall +think her a very obstinate, ungrateful girl, if she does not do what her +aunt and cousins wish her--very ungrateful, indeed, considering who and +what she is." + +Edmund was too angry to speak; but Miss Crawford, looking for a moment +with astonished eyes at Mrs. Norris, and then at Fanny, whose tears were +beginning to shew themselves, immediately said, with some keenness, "I +do not like my situation: this _place_ is too hot for me," and moved +away her chair to the opposite side of the table, close to Fanny, saying +to her, in a kind, low whisper, as she placed herself, "Never mind, +my dear Miss Price, this is a cross evening: everybody is cross and +teasing, but do not let us mind them"; and with pointed attention +continued to talk to her and endeavour to raise her spirits, in spite of +being out of spirits herself. By a look at her brother she prevented any +farther entreaty from the theatrical board, and the really good feelings +by which she was almost purely governed were rapidly restoring her to +all the little she had lost in Edmund's favour. + +Fanny did not love Miss Crawford; but she felt very much obliged to her +for her present kindness; and when, from taking notice of her work, +and wishing _she_ could work as well, and begging for the pattern, and +supposing Fanny was now preparing for her _appearance_, as of course she +would come out when her cousin was married, Miss Crawford proceeded to +inquire if she had heard lately from her brother at sea, and said that +she had quite a curiosity to see him, and imagined him a very fine young +man, and advised Fanny to get his picture drawn before he went to sea +again--she could not help admitting it to be very agreeable flattery, or +help listening, and answering with more animation than she had intended. + +The consultation upon the play still went on, and Miss Crawford's +attention was first called from Fanny by Tom Bertram's telling her, +with infinite regret, that he found it absolutely impossible for him to +undertake the part of Anhalt in addition to the Butler: he had been most +anxiously trying to make it out to be feasible, but it would not do; +he must give it up. "But there will not be the smallest difficulty in +filling it," he added. "We have but to speak the word; we may pick and +chuse. I could name, at this moment, at least six young men within six +miles of us, who are wild to be admitted into our company, and there are +one or two that would not disgrace us: I should not be afraid to trust +either of the Olivers or Charles Maddox. Tom Oliver is a very clever +fellow, and Charles Maddox is as gentlemanlike a man as you will see +anywhere, so I will take my horse early to-morrow morning and ride over +to Stoke, and settle with one of them." + +While he spoke, Maria was looking apprehensively round at Edmund in full +expectation that he must oppose such an enlargement of the plan as this: +so contrary to all their first protestations; but Edmund said nothing. +After a moment's thought, Miss Crawford calmly replied, "As far as I +am concerned, I can have no objection to anything that you all think +eligible. Have I ever seen either of the gentlemen? Yes, Mr. Charles +Maddox dined at my sister's one day, did not he, Henry? A quiet-looking +young man. I remember him. Let _him_ be applied to, if you please, for +it will be less unpleasant to me than to have a perfect stranger." + +Charles Maddox was to be the man. Tom repeated his resolution of going +to him early on the morrow; and though Julia, who had scarcely opened +her lips before, observed, in a sarcastic manner, and with a glance +first at Maria and then at Edmund, that "the Mansfield theatricals would +enliven the whole neighbourhood exceedingly," Edmund still held his +peace, and shewed his feelings only by a determined gravity. + +"I am not very sanguine as to our play," said Miss Crawford, in an +undervoice to Fanny, after some consideration; "and I can tell Mr. +Maddox that I shall shorten some of _his_ speeches, and a great many of +_my_ _own_, before we rehearse together. It will be very disagreeable, +and by no means what I expected." + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +It was not in Miss Crawford's power to talk Fanny into any real +forgetfulness of what had passed. When the evening was over, she went to +bed full of it, her nerves still agitated by the shock of such an attack +from her cousin Tom, so public and so persevered in, and her spirits +sinking under her aunt's unkind reflection and reproach. To be called +into notice in such a manner, to hear that it was but the prelude to +something so infinitely worse, to be told that she must do what was +so impossible as to act; and then to have the charge of obstinacy and +ingratitude follow it, enforced with such a hint at the dependence +of her situation, had been too distressing at the time to make the +remembrance when she was alone much less so, especially with the +superadded dread of what the morrow might produce in continuation of the +subject. Miss Crawford had protected her only for the time; and if +she were applied to again among themselves with all the authoritative +urgency that Tom and Maria were capable of, and Edmund perhaps away, +what should she do? She fell asleep before she could answer the +question, and found it quite as puzzling when she awoke the next +morning. The little white attic, which had continued her sleeping-room +ever since her first entering the family, proving incompetent to suggest +any reply, she had recourse, as soon as she was dressed, to another +apartment more spacious and more meet for walking about in and thinking, +and of which she had now for some time been almost equally mistress. It +had been their school-room; so called till the Miss Bertrams would not +allow it to be called so any longer, and inhabited as such to a later +period. There Miss Lee had lived, and there they had read and written, +and talked and laughed, till within the last three years, when she had +quitted them. The room had then become useless, and for some time was +quite deserted, except by Fanny, when she visited her plants, or wanted +one of the books, which she was still glad to keep there, from the +deficiency of space and accommodation in her little chamber above: but +gradually, as her value for the comforts of it increased, she had added +to her possessions, and spent more of her time there; and having nothing +to oppose her, had so naturally and so artlessly worked herself into it, +that it was now generally admitted to be hers. The East room, as it had +been called ever since Maria Bertram was sixteen, was now considered +Fanny's, almost as decidedly as the white attic: the smallness of the +one making the use of the other so evidently reasonable that the Miss +Bertrams, with every superiority in their own apartments which their own +sense of superiority could demand, were entirely approving it; and Mrs. +Norris, having stipulated for there never being a fire in it on Fanny's +account, was tolerably resigned to her having the use of what nobody +else wanted, though the terms in which she sometimes spoke of the +indulgence seemed to imply that it was the best room in the house. + +The aspect was so favourable that even without a fire it was habitable +in many an early spring and late autumn morning to such a willing mind +as Fanny's; and while there was a gleam of sunshine she hoped not to be +driven from it entirely, even when winter came. The comfort of it in +her hours of leisure was extreme. She could go there after anything +unpleasant below, and find immediate consolation in some pursuit, or +some train of thought at hand. Her plants, her books--of which she had +been a collector from the first hour of her commanding a shilling--her +writing-desk, and her works of charity and ingenuity, were all within +her reach; or if indisposed for employment, if nothing but musing would +do, she could scarcely see an object in that room which had not an +interesting remembrance connected with it. Everything was a friend, or +bore her thoughts to a friend; and though there had been sometimes much +of suffering to her; though her motives had often been misunderstood, +her feelings disregarded, and her comprehension undervalued; though she +had known the pains of tyranny, of ridicule, and neglect, yet almost +every recurrence of either had led to something consolatory: her aunt +Bertram had spoken for her, or Miss Lee had been encouraging, or, what +was yet more frequent or more dear, Edmund had been her champion and her +friend: he had supported her cause or explained her meaning, he had told +her not to cry, or had given her some proof of affection which made +her tears delightful; and the whole was now so blended together, so +harmonised by distance, that every former affliction had its charm. The +room was most dear to her, and she would not have changed its furniture +for the handsomest in the house, though what had been originally plain +had suffered all the ill-usage of children; and its greatest elegancies +and ornaments were a faded footstool of Julia's work, too ill done +for the drawing-room, three transparencies, made in a rage for +transparencies, for the three lower panes of one window, where Tintern +Abbey held its station between a cave in Italy and a moonlight lake in +Cumberland, a collection of family profiles, thought unworthy of being +anywhere else, over the mantelpiece, and by their side, and pinned +against the wall, a small sketch of a ship sent four years ago from the +Mediterranean by William, with H.M.S. Antwerp at the bottom, in letters +as tall as the mainmast. + +To this nest of comforts Fanny now walked down to try its influence on +an agitated, doubting spirit, to see if by looking at Edmund's profile +she could catch any of his counsel, or by giving air to her geraniums +she might inhale a breeze of mental strength herself. But she had more +than fears of her own perseverance to remove: she had begun to feel +undecided as to what she _ought_ _to_ _do_; and as she walked round the +room her doubts were increasing. Was she _right_ in refusing what was +so warmly asked, so strongly wished for--what might be so essential to a +scheme on which some of those to whom she owed the greatest complaisance +had set their hearts? Was it not ill-nature, selfishness, and a fear of +exposing herself? And would Edmund's judgment, would his persuasion of +Sir Thomas's disapprobation of the whole, be enough to justify her in a +determined denial in spite of all the rest? It would be so horrible to +her to act that she was inclined to suspect the truth and purity of her +own scruples; and as she looked around her, the claims of her cousins +to being obliged were strengthened by the sight of present upon present +that she had received from them. The table between the windows was +covered with work-boxes and netting-boxes which had been given her at +different times, principally by Tom; and she grew bewildered as to the +amount of the debt which all these kind remembrances produced. A tap at +the door roused her in the midst of this attempt to find her way to her +duty, and her gentle "Come in" was answered by the appearance of one, +before whom all her doubts were wont to be laid. Her eyes brightened at +the sight of Edmund. + +"Can I speak with you, Fanny, for a few minutes?" said he. + +"Yes, certainly." + +"I want to consult. I want your opinion." + +"My opinion!" she cried, shrinking from such a compliment, highly as it +gratified her. + +"Yes, your advice and opinion. I do not know what to do. This acting +scheme gets worse and worse, you see. They have chosen almost as bad a +play as they could, and now, to complete the business, are going to ask +the help of a young man very slightly known to any of us. This is the +end of all the privacy and propriety which was talked about at first. +I know no harm of Charles Maddox; but the excessive intimacy which +must spring from his being admitted among us in this manner is highly +objectionable, the _more_ than intimacy--the familiarity. I cannot +think of it with any patience; and it does appear to me an evil of such +magnitude as must, _if_ _possible_, be prevented. Do not you see it in +the same light?" + +"Yes; but what can be done? Your brother is so determined." + +"There is but _one_ thing to be done, Fanny. I must take Anhalt myself. +I am well aware that nothing else will quiet Tom." + +Fanny could not answer him. + +"It is not at all what I like," he continued. "No man can like being +driven into the _appearance_ of such inconsistency. After being known to +oppose the scheme from the beginning, there is absurdity in the face of +my joining them _now_, when they are exceeding their first plan in every +respect; but I can think of no other alternative. Can you, Fanny?" + +"No," said Fanny slowly, "not immediately, but--" + +"But what? I see your judgment is not with me. Think it a little over. +Perhaps you are not so much aware as I am of the mischief that _may_, of +the unpleasantness that _must_ arise from a young man's being received +in this manner: domesticated among us; authorised to come at all hours, +and placed suddenly on a footing which must do away all restraints. To +think only of the licence which every rehearsal must tend to create. It +is all very bad! Put yourself in Miss Crawford's place, Fanny. Consider +what it would be to act Amelia with a stranger. She has a right to be +felt for, because she evidently feels for herself. I heard enough of +what she said to you last night to understand her unwillingness to be +acting with a stranger; and as she probably engaged in the part with +different expectations--perhaps without considering the subject enough +to know what was likely to be--it would be ungenerous, it would be +really wrong to expose her to it. Her feelings ought to be respected. +Does it not strike you so, Fanny? You hesitate." + +"I am sorry for Miss Crawford; but I am more sorry to see you drawn in +to do what you had resolved against, and what you are known to think +will be disagreeable to my uncle. It will be such a triumph to the +others!" + +"They will not have much cause of triumph when they see how infamously I +act. But, however, triumph there certainly will be, and I must brave it. +But if I can be the means of restraining the publicity of the business, +of limiting the exhibition, of concentrating our folly, I shall be +well repaid. As I am now, I have no influence, I can do nothing: I have +offended them, and they will not hear me; but when I have put them in +good-humour by this concession, I am not without hopes of persuading +them to confine the representation within a much smaller circle than +they are now in the high road for. This will be a material gain. My +object is to confine it to Mrs. Rushworth and the Grants. Will not this +be worth gaining?" + +"Yes, it will be a great point." + +"But still it has not your approbation. Can you mention any other +measure by which I have a chance of doing equal good?" + +"No, I cannot think of anything else." + +"Give me your approbation, then, Fanny. I am not comfortable without +it." + +"Oh, cousin!" + +"If you are against me, I ought to distrust myself, and yet--But it is +absolutely impossible to let Tom go on in this way, riding about the +country in quest of anybody who can be persuaded to act--no matter whom: +the look of a gentleman is to be enough. I thought _you_ would have +entered more into Miss Crawford's feelings." + +"No doubt she will be very glad. It must be a great relief to her," said +Fanny, trying for greater warmth of manner. + +"She never appeared more amiable than in her behaviour to you last +night. It gave her a very strong claim on my goodwill." + +"She _was_ very kind, indeed, and I am glad to have her spared"... + +She could not finish the generous effusion. Her conscience stopt her in +the middle, but Edmund was satisfied. + +"I shall walk down immediately after breakfast," said he, "and am sure +of giving pleasure there. And now, dear Fanny, I will not interrupt you +any longer. You want to be reading. But I could not be easy till I had +spoken to you, and come to a decision. Sleeping or waking, my head has +been full of this matter all night. It is an evil, but I am certainly +making it less than it might be. If Tom is up, I shall go to him +directly and get it over, and when we meet at breakfast we shall be all +in high good-humour at the prospect of acting the fool together with +such unanimity. _You_, in the meanwhile, will be taking a trip into +China, I suppose. How does Lord Macartney go on?"--opening a volume on +the table and then taking up some others. "And here are Crabbe's Tales, +and the Idler, at hand to relieve you, if you tire of your great book. I +admire your little establishment exceedingly; and as soon as I am +gone, you will empty your head of all this nonsense of acting, and sit +comfortably down to your table. But do not stay here to be cold." + +He went; but there was no reading, no China, no composure for Fanny. He +had told her the most extraordinary, the most inconceivable, the most +unwelcome news; and she could think of nothing else. To be acting! After +all his objections--objections so just and so public! After all that she +had heard him say, and seen him look, and known him to be feeling. Could +it be possible? Edmund so inconsistent! Was he not deceiving himself? +Was he not wrong? Alas! it was all Miss Crawford's doing. She had seen +her influence in every speech, and was miserable. The doubts and alarms +as to her own conduct, which had previously distressed her, and +which had all slept while she listened to him, were become of little +consequence now. This deeper anxiety swallowed them up. Things should +take their course; she cared not how it ended. Her cousins might attack, +but could hardly tease her. She was beyond their reach; and if at last +obliged to yield--no matter--it was all misery now. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +It was, indeed, a triumphant day to Mr. Bertram and Maria. Such a +victory over Edmund's discretion had been beyond their hopes, and was +most delightful. There was no longer anything to disturb them in their +darling project, and they congratulated each other in private on the +jealous weakness to which they attributed the change, with all the glee +of feelings gratified in every way. Edmund might still look grave, and +say he did not like the scheme in general, and must disapprove the play +in particular; their point was gained: he was to act, and he was driven +to it by the force of selfish inclinations only. Edmund had descended +from that moral elevation which he had maintained before, and they were +both as much the better as the happier for the descent. + +They behaved very well, however, to _him_ on the occasion, betraying no +exultation beyond the lines about the corners of the mouth, and seemed +to think it as great an escape to be quit of the intrusion of Charles +Maddox, as if they had been forced into admitting him against their +inclination. "To have it quite in their own family circle was what +they had particularly wished. A stranger among them would have been the +destruction of all their comfort"; and when Edmund, pursuing that idea, +gave a hint of his hope as to the limitation of the audience, they were +ready, in the complaisance of the moment, to promise anything. It was +all good-humour and encouragement. Mrs. Norris offered to contrive his +dress, Mr. Yates assured him that Anhalt's last scene with the Baron +admitted a good deal of action and emphasis, and Mr. Rushworth undertook +to count his speeches. + +"Perhaps," said Tom, "Fanny may be more disposed to oblige us now. +Perhaps you may persuade _her_." + +"No, she is quite determined. She certainly will not act." + +"Oh! very well." And not another word was said; but Fanny felt herself +again in danger, and her indifference to the danger was beginning to +fail her already. + +There were not fewer smiles at the Parsonage than at the Park on this +change in Edmund; Miss Crawford looked very lovely in hers, and entered +with such an instantaneous renewal of cheerfulness into the whole +affair as could have but one effect on him. "He was certainly right in +respecting such feelings; he was glad he had determined on it." And the +morning wore away in satisfactions very sweet, if not very sound. One +advantage resulted from it to Fanny: at the earnest request of Miss +Crawford, Mrs. Grant had, with her usual good-humour, agreed to +undertake the part for which Fanny had been wanted; and this was all +that occurred to gladden _her_ heart during the day; and even this, when +imparted by Edmund, brought a pang with it, for it was Miss Crawford to +whom she was obliged--it was Miss Crawford whose kind exertions were to +excite her gratitude, and whose merit in making them was spoken of +with a glow of admiration. She was safe; but peace and safety were +unconnected here. Her mind had been never farther from peace. She could +not feel that she had done wrong herself, but she was disquieted +in every other way. Her heart and her judgment were equally against +Edmund's decision: she could not acquit his unsteadiness, and his +happiness under it made her wretched. She was full of jealousy and +agitation. Miss Crawford came with looks of gaiety which seemed an +insult, with friendly expressions towards herself which she could hardly +answer calmly. Everybody around her was gay and busy, prosperous and +important; each had their object of interest, their part, their dress, +their favourite scene, their friends and confederates: all were finding +employment in consultations and comparisons, or diversion in the playful +conceits they suggested. She alone was sad and insignificant: she had +no share in anything; she might go or stay; she might be in the midst +of their noise, or retreat from it to the solitude of the East room, +without being seen or missed. She could almost think anything would +have been preferable to this. Mrs. Grant was of consequence: _her_ +good-nature had honourable mention; her taste and her time were +considered; her presence was wanted; she was sought for, and attended, +and praised; and Fanny was at first in some danger of envying her the +character she had accepted. But reflection brought better feelings, and +shewed her that Mrs. Grant was entitled to respect, which could never +have belonged to _her_; and that, had she received even the greatest, +she could never have been easy in joining a scheme which, considering +only her uncle, she must condemn altogether. + +Fanny's heart was not absolutely the only saddened one amongst them, +as she soon began to acknowledge to herself. Julia was a sufferer too, +though not quite so blamelessly. + +Henry Crawford had trifled with her feelings; but she had very long +allowed and even sought his attentions, with a jealousy of her sister so +reasonable as ought to have been their cure; and now that the conviction +of his preference for Maria had been forced on her, she submitted to it +without any alarm for Maria's situation, or any endeavour at rational +tranquillity for herself. She either sat in gloomy silence, wrapt in +such gravity as nothing could subdue, no curiosity touch, no wit amuse; +or allowing the attentions of Mr. Yates, was talking with forced gaiety +to him alone, and ridiculing the acting of the others. + +For a day or two after the affront was given, Henry Crawford had +endeavoured to do it away by the usual attack of gallantry and +compliment, but he had not cared enough about it to persevere against a +few repulses; and becoming soon too busy with his play to have time for +more than one flirtation, he grew indifferent to the quarrel, or rather +thought it a lucky occurrence, as quietly putting an end to what might +ere long have raised expectations in more than Mrs. Grant. She was not +pleased to see Julia excluded from the play, and sitting by disregarded; +but as it was not a matter which really involved her happiness, as Henry +must be the best judge of his own, and as he did assure her, with a +most persuasive smile, that neither he nor Julia had ever had a serious +thought of each other, she could only renew her former caution as to +the elder sister, entreat him not to risk his tranquillity by too +much admiration there, and then gladly take her share in anything that +brought cheerfulness to the young people in general, and that did so +particularly promote the pleasure of the two so dear to her. + +"I rather wonder Julia is not in love with Henry," was her observation +to Mary. + +"I dare say she is," replied Mary coldly. "I imagine both sisters are." + +"Both! no, no, that must not be. Do not give him a hint of it. Think of +Mr. Rushworth!" + +"You had better tell Miss Bertram to think of Mr. Rushworth. It may +do _her_ some good. I often think of Mr. Rushworth's property and +independence, and wish them in other hands; but I never think of him. A +man might represent the county with such an estate; a man might escape a +profession and represent the county." + +"I dare say he _will_ be in parliament soon. When Sir Thomas comes, I +dare say he will be in for some borough, but there has been nobody to +put him in the way of doing anything yet." + +"Sir Thomas is to achieve many mighty things when he comes home," said +Mary, after a pause. "Do you remember Hawkins Browne's 'Address to +Tobacco,' in imitation of Pope?-- + + Blest leaf! whose aromatic gales dispense + To Templars modesty, to Parsons sense. + +I will parody them-- + + Blest Knight! whose dictatorial looks dispense + To Children affluence, to Rushworth sense. + +Will not that do, Mrs. Grant? Everything seems to depend upon Sir +Thomas's return." + +"You will find his consequence very just and reasonable when you see him +in his family, I assure you. I do not think we do so well without him. +He has a fine dignified manner, which suits the head of such a house, +and keeps everybody in their place. Lady Bertram seems more of a cipher +now than when he is at home; and nobody else can keep Mrs. Norris in +order. But, Mary, do not fancy that Maria Bertram cares for Henry. I +am sure _Julia_ does not, or she would not have flirted as she did last +night with Mr. Yates; and though he and Maria are very good friends, I +think she likes Sotherton too well to be inconstant." + +"I would not give much for Mr. Rushworth's chance if Henry stept in +before the articles were signed." + +"If you have such a suspicion, something must be done; and as soon as +the play is all over, we will talk to him seriously and make him know +his own mind; and if he means nothing, we will send him off, though he +is Henry, for a time." + +Julia _did_ suffer, however, though Mrs. Grant discerned it not, and +though it escaped the notice of many of her own family likewise. She had +loved, she did love still, and she had all the suffering which a warm +temper and a high spirit were likely to endure under the disappointment +of a dear, though irrational hope, with a strong sense of ill-usage. +Her heart was sore and angry, and she was capable only of angry +consolations. The sister with whom she was used to be on easy terms was +now become her greatest enemy: they were alienated from each other; +and Julia was not superior to the hope of some distressing end to the +attentions which were still carrying on there, some punishment to +Maria for conduct so shameful towards herself as well as towards Mr. +Rushworth. With no material fault of temper, or difference of opinion, +to prevent their being very good friends while their interests were +the same, the sisters, under such a trial as this, had not affection or +principle enough to make them merciful or just, to give them honour or +compassion. Maria felt her triumph, and pursued her purpose, careless of +Julia; and Julia could never see Maria distinguished by Henry Crawford +without trusting that it would create jealousy, and bring a public +disturbance at last. + +Fanny saw and pitied much of this in Julia; but there was no outward +fellowship between them. Julia made no communication, and Fanny took +no liberties. They were two solitary sufferers, or connected only by +Fanny's consciousness. + +The inattention of the two brothers and the aunt to Julia's +discomposure, and their blindness to its true cause, must be imputed to +the fullness of their own minds. They were totally preoccupied. Tom was +engrossed by the concerns of his theatre, and saw nothing that did not +immediately relate to it. Edmund, between his theatrical and his real +part, between Miss Crawford's claims and his own conduct, between love +and consistency, was equally unobservant; and Mrs. Norris was too busy +in contriving and directing the general little matters of the company, +superintending their various dresses with economical expedient, for +which nobody thanked her, and saving, with delighted integrity, half +a crown here and there to the absent Sir Thomas, to have leisure for +watching the behaviour, or guarding the happiness of his daughters. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Everything was now in a regular train: theatre, actors, actresses, and +dresses, were all getting forward; but though no other great impediments +arose, Fanny found, before many days were past, that it was not all +uninterrupted enjoyment to the party themselves, and that she had not to +witness the continuance of such unanimity and delight as had been almost +too much for her at first. Everybody began to have their vexation. +Edmund had many. Entirely against _his_ judgment, a scene-painter +arrived from town, and was at work, much to the increase of the +expenses, and, what was worse, of the eclat of their proceedings; and +his brother, instead of being really guided by him as to the privacy of +the representation, was giving an invitation to every family who came +in his way. Tom himself began to fret over the scene-painter's slow +progress, and to feel the miseries of waiting. He had learned his +part--all his parts, for he took every trifling one that could be united +with the Butler, and began to be impatient to be acting; and every day +thus unemployed was tending to increase his sense of the insignificance +of all his parts together, and make him more ready to regret that some +other play had not been chosen. + +Fanny, being always a very courteous listener, and often the only +listener at hand, came in for the complaints and the distresses of +most of them. _She_ knew that Mr. Yates was in general thought to rant +dreadfully; that Mr. Yates was disappointed in Henry Crawford; that +Tom Bertram spoke so quick he would be unintelligible; that Mrs. Grant +spoiled everything by laughing; that Edmund was behindhand with his +part, and that it was misery to have anything to do with Mr. Rushworth, +who was wanting a prompter through every speech. She knew, also, that +poor Mr. Rushworth could seldom get anybody to rehearse with him: _his_ +complaint came before her as well as the rest; and so decided to her +eye was her cousin Maria's avoidance of him, and so needlessly often the +rehearsal of the first scene between her and Mr. Crawford, that she had +soon all the terror of other complaints from _him_. So far from being +all satisfied and all enjoying, she found everybody requiring something +they had not, and giving occasion of discontent to the others. Everybody +had a part either too long or too short; nobody would attend as they +ought; nobody would remember on which side they were to come in; nobody +but the complainer would observe any directions. + +Fanny believed herself to derive as much innocent enjoyment from the +play as any of them; Henry Crawford acted well, and it was a pleasure to +_her_ to creep into the theatre, and attend the rehearsal of the first +act, in spite of the feelings it excited in some speeches for Maria. +Maria, she also thought, acted well, too well; and after the first +rehearsal or two, Fanny began to be their only audience; and sometimes +as prompter, sometimes as spectator, was often very useful. As far as +she could judge, Mr. Crawford was considerably the best actor of all: he +had more confidence than Edmund, more judgment than Tom, more talent and +taste than Mr. Yates. She did not like him as a man, but she must admit +him to be the best actor, and on this point there were not many who +differed from her. Mr. Yates, indeed, exclaimed against his tameness and +insipidity; and the day came at last, when Mr. Rushworth turned to her +with a black look, and said, "Do you think there is anything so very +fine in all this? For the life and soul of me, I cannot admire him; and, +between ourselves, to see such an undersized, little, mean-looking man, +set up for a fine actor, is very ridiculous in my opinion." + +From this moment there was a return of his former jealousy, which Maria, +from increasing hopes of Crawford, was at little pains to remove; and +the chances of Mr. Rushworth's ever attaining to the knowledge of his +two-and-forty speeches became much less. As to his ever making anything +_tolerable_ of them, nobody had the smallest idea of that except +his mother; _she_, indeed, regretted that his part was not more +considerable, and deferred coming over to Mansfield till they were +forward enough in their rehearsal to comprehend all his scenes; but the +others aspired at nothing beyond his remembering the catchword, and the +first line of his speech, and being able to follow the prompter through +the rest. Fanny, in her pity and kindheartedness, was at great pains to +teach him how to learn, giving him all the helps and directions in her +power, trying to make an artificial memory for him, and learning every +word of his part herself, but without his being much the forwarder. + +Many uncomfortable, anxious, apprehensive feelings she certainly had; +but with all these, and other claims on her time and attention, she was +as far from finding herself without employment or utility amongst them, +as without a companion in uneasiness; quite as far from having no +demand on her leisure as on her compassion. The gloom of her first +anticipations was proved to have been unfounded. She was occasionally +useful to all; she was perhaps as much at peace as any. + +There was a great deal of needlework to be done, moreover, in which her +help was wanted; and that Mrs. Norris thought her quite as well off +as the rest, was evident by the manner in which she claimed it--"Come, +Fanny," she cried, "these are fine times for you, but you must not be +always walking from one room to the other, and doing the lookings-on at +your ease, in this way; I want you here. I have been slaving myself till +I can hardly stand, to contrive Mr. Rushworth's cloak without sending +for any more satin; and now I think you may give me your help in putting +it together. There are but three seams; you may do them in a trice. It +would be lucky for me if I had nothing but the executive part to do. +_You_ are best off, I can tell you: but if nobody did more than _you_, +we should not get on very fast." + +Fanny took the work very quietly, without attempting any defence; but +her kinder aunt Bertram observed on her behalf-- + +"One cannot wonder, sister, that Fanny _should_ be delighted: it is +all new to her, you know; you and I used to be very fond of a play +ourselves, and so am I still; and as soon as I am a little more at +leisure, _I_ mean to look in at their rehearsals too. What is the play +about, Fanny? you have never told me." + +"Oh! sister, pray do not ask her now; for Fanny is not one of those who +can talk and work at the same time. It is about Lovers' Vows." + +"I believe," said Fanny to her aunt Bertram, "there will be three acts +rehearsed to-morrow evening, and that will give you an opportunity of +seeing all the actors at once." + +"You had better stay till the curtain is hung," interposed Mrs. Norris; +"the curtain will be hung in a day or two--there is very little sense in +a play without a curtain--and I am much mistaken if you do not find it +draw up into very handsome festoons." + +Lady Bertram seemed quite resigned to waiting. Fanny did not share her +aunt's composure: she thought of the morrow a great deal, for if the +three acts were rehearsed, Edmund and Miss Crawford would then be acting +together for the first time; the third act would bring a scene between +them which interested her most particularly, and which she was longing +and dreading to see how they would perform. The whole subject of it was +love--a marriage of love was to be described by the gentleman, and very +little short of a declaration of love be made by the lady. + +She had read and read the scene again with many painful, many wondering +emotions, and looked forward to their representation of it as a +circumstance almost too interesting. She did not _believe_ they had yet +rehearsed it, even in private. + +The morrow came, the plan for the evening continued, and Fanny's +consideration of it did not become less agitated. She worked very +diligently under her aunt's directions, but her diligence and her +silence concealed a very absent, anxious mind; and about noon she +made her escape with her work to the East room, that she might have no +concern in another, and, as she deemed it, most unnecessary rehearsal of +the first act, which Henry Crawford was just proposing, desirous at +once of having her time to herself, and of avoiding the sight of Mr. +Rushworth. A glimpse, as she passed through the hall, of the two ladies +walking up from the Parsonage made no change in her wish of retreat, and +she worked and meditated in the East room, undisturbed, for a quarter of +an hour, when a gentle tap at the door was followed by the entrance of +Miss Crawford. + +"Am I right? Yes; this is the East room. My dear Miss Price, I beg your +pardon, but I have made my way to you on purpose to entreat your help." + +Fanny, quite surprised, endeavoured to shew herself mistress of the room +by her civilities, and looked at the bright bars of her empty grate with +concern. + +"Thank you; I am quite warm, very warm. Allow me to stay here a little +while, and do have the goodness to hear me my third act. I have brought +my book, and if you would but rehearse it with me, I should be _so_ +obliged! I came here to-day intending to rehearse it with Edmund--by +ourselves--against the evening, but he is not in the way; and if he +_were_, I do not think I could go through it with _him_, till I have +hardened myself a little; for really there is a speech or two. You will +be so good, won't you?" + +Fanny was most civil in her assurances, though she could not give them +in a very steady voice. + +"Have you ever happened to look at the part I mean?" continued Miss +Crawford, opening her book. "Here it is. I did not think much of it at +first--but, upon my word. There, look at _that_ speech, and _that_, and +_that_. How am I ever to look him in the face and say such things? Could +you do it? But then he is your cousin, which makes all the difference. +You must rehearse it with me, that I may fancy _you_ him, and get on by +degrees. You _have_ a look of _his_ sometimes." + +"Have I? I will do my best with the greatest readiness; but I must +_read_ the part, for I can say very little of it." + +"_None_ of it, I suppose. You are to have the book, of course. Now for +it. We must have two chairs at hand for you to bring forward to the +front of the stage. There--very good school-room chairs, not made for a +theatre, I dare say; much more fitted for little girls to sit and kick +their feet against when they are learning a lesson. What would your +governess and your uncle say to see them used for such a purpose? Could +Sir Thomas look in upon us just now, he would bless himself, for we +are rehearsing all over the house. Yates is storming away in the +dining-room. I heard him as I came upstairs, and the theatre is engaged +of course by those indefatigable rehearsers, Agatha and Frederick. If +_they_ are not perfect, I _shall_ be surprised. By the bye, I looked in +upon them five minutes ago, and it happened to be exactly at one of the +times when they were trying _not_ to embrace, and Mr. Rushworth was with +me. I thought he began to look a little queer, so I turned it off as +well as I could, by whispering to him, 'We shall have an excellent +Agatha; there is something so _maternal_ in her manner, so completely +_maternal_ in her voice and countenance.' Was not that well done of me? +He brightened up directly. Now for my soliloquy." + +She began, and Fanny joined in with all the modest feeling which the +idea of representing Edmund was so strongly calculated to inspire; but +with looks and voice so truly feminine as to be no very good picture of +a man. With such an Anhalt, however, Miss Crawford had courage enough; +and they had got through half the scene, when a tap at the door brought +a pause, and the entrance of Edmund, the next moment, suspended it all. + +Surprise, consciousness, and pleasure appeared in each of the three +on this unexpected meeting; and as Edmund was come on the very same +business that had brought Miss Crawford, consciousness and pleasure were +likely to be more than momentary in _them_. He too had his book, and was +seeking Fanny, to ask her to rehearse with him, and help him to prepare +for the evening, without knowing Miss Crawford to be in the house; +and great was the joy and animation of being thus thrown together, of +comparing schemes, and sympathising in praise of Fanny's kind offices. + +_She_ could not equal them in their warmth. _Her_ spirits sank under the +glow of theirs, and she felt herself becoming too nearly nothing to +both to have any comfort in having been sought by either. They must now +rehearse together. Edmund proposed, urged, entreated it, till the lady, +not very unwilling at first, could refuse no longer, and Fanny was +wanted only to prompt and observe them. She was invested, indeed, with +the office of judge and critic, and earnestly desired to exercise it and +tell them all their faults; but from doing so every feeling within her +shrank--she could not, would not, dared not attempt it: had she been +otherwise qualified for criticism, her conscience must have restrained +her from venturing at disapprobation. She believed herself to feel too +much of it in the aggregate for honesty or safety in particulars. To +prompt them must be enough for her; and it was sometimes _more_ than +enough; for she could not always pay attention to the book. In watching +them she forgot herself; and, agitated by the increasing spirit of +Edmund's manner, had once closed the page and turned away exactly as he +wanted help. It was imputed to very reasonable weariness, and she was +thanked and pitied; but she deserved their pity more than she hoped they +would ever surmise. At last the scene was over, and Fanny forced herself +to add her praise to the compliments each was giving the other; and when +again alone and able to recall the whole, she was inclined to believe +their performance would, indeed, have such nature and feeling in it as +must ensure their credit, and make it a very suffering exhibition to +herself. Whatever might be its effect, however, she must stand the brunt +of it again that very day. + +The first regular rehearsal of the three first acts was certainly to +take place in the evening: Mrs. Grant and the Crawfords were engaged to +return for that purpose as soon as they could after dinner; and every +one concerned was looking forward with eagerness. There seemed a general +diffusion of cheerfulness on the occasion. Tom was enjoying such an +advance towards the end; Edmund was in spirits from the morning's +rehearsal, and little vexations seemed everywhere smoothed away. All +were alert and impatient; the ladies moved soon, the gentlemen soon +followed them, and with the exception of Lady Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and +Julia, everybody was in the theatre at an early hour; and having lighted +it up as well as its unfinished state admitted, were waiting only the +arrival of Mrs. Grant and the Crawfords to begin. + +They did not wait long for the Crawfords, but there was no Mrs. Grant. +She could not come. Dr. Grant, professing an indisposition, for which he +had little credit with his fair sister-in-law, could not spare his wife. + +"Dr. Grant is ill," said she, with mock solemnity. "He has been ill ever +since he did not eat any of the pheasant today. He fancied it tough, +sent away his plate, and has been suffering ever since". + +Here was disappointment! Mrs. Grant's non-attendance was sad indeed. +Her pleasant manners and cheerful conformity made her always valuable +amongst them; but _now_ she was absolutely necessary. They could not +act, they could not rehearse with any satisfaction without her. The +comfort of the whole evening was destroyed. What was to be done? Tom, as +Cottager, was in despair. After a pause of perplexity, some eyes began +to be turned towards Fanny, and a voice or two to say, "If Miss Price +would be so good as to _read_ the part." She was immediately surrounded +by supplications; everybody asked it; even Edmund said, "Do, Fanny, if +it is not _very_ disagreeable to you." + +But Fanny still hung back. She could not endure the idea of it. Why was +not Miss Crawford to be applied to as well? Or why had not she rather +gone to her own room, as she had felt to be safest, instead of attending +the rehearsal at all? She had known it would irritate and distress her; +she had known it her duty to keep away. She was properly punished. + +"You have only to _read_ the part," said Henry Crawford, with renewed +entreaty. + +"And I do believe she can say every word of it," added Maria, "for she +could put Mrs. Grant right the other day in twenty places. Fanny, I am +sure you know the part." + +Fanny could not say she did _not_; and as they all persevered, as +Edmund repeated his wish, and with a look of even fond dependence on +her good-nature, she must yield. She would do her best. Everybody was +satisfied; and she was left to the tremors of a most palpitating heart, +while the others prepared to begin. + +They _did_ begin; and being too much engaged in their own noise to be +struck by an unusual noise in the other part of the house, had proceeded +some way when the door of the room was thrown open, and Julia, appearing +at it, with a face all aghast, exclaimed, "My father is come! He is in +the hall at this moment." + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +How is the consternation of the party to be described? To the greater +number it was a moment of absolute horror. Sir Thomas in the house! All +felt the instantaneous conviction. Not a hope of imposition or mistake +was harboured anywhere. Julia's looks were an evidence of the fact that +made it indisputable; and after the first starts and exclamations, not a +word was spoken for half a minute: each with an altered countenance was +looking at some other, and almost each was feeling it a stroke the most +unwelcome, most ill-timed, most appalling! Mr. Yates might consider +it only as a vexatious interruption for the evening, and Mr. Rushworth +might imagine it a blessing; but every other heart was sinking under +some degree of self-condemnation or undefined alarm, every other heart +was suggesting, "What will become of us? what is to be done now?" It +was a terrible pause; and terrible to every ear were the corroborating +sounds of opening doors and passing footsteps. + +Julia was the first to move and speak again. Jealousy and bitterness +had been suspended: selfishness was lost in the common cause; but at the +moment of her appearance, Frederick was listening with looks of devotion +to Agatha's narrative, and pressing her hand to his heart; and as soon +as she could notice this, and see that, in spite of the shock of her +words, he still kept his station and retained her sister's hand, her +wounded heart swelled again with injury, and looking as red as she had +been white before, she turned out of the room, saying, "_I_ need not be +afraid of appearing before him." + +Her going roused the rest; and at the same moment the two brothers +stepped forward, feeling the necessity of doing something. A very few +words between them were sufficient. The case admitted no difference of +opinion: they must go to the drawing-room directly. Maria joined them +with the same intent, just then the stoutest of the three; for the +very circumstance which had driven Julia away was to her the sweetest +support. Henry Crawford's retaining her hand at such a moment, a moment +of such peculiar proof and importance, was worth ages of doubt and +anxiety. She hailed it as an earnest of the most serious determination, +and was equal even to encounter her father. They walked off, utterly +heedless of Mr. Rushworth's repeated question of, "Shall I go too? Had +not I better go too? Will not it be right for me to go too?" but they +were no sooner through the door than Henry Crawford undertook to answer +the anxious inquiry, and, encouraging him by all means to pay his +respects to Sir Thomas without delay, sent him after the others with +delighted haste. + +Fanny was left with only the Crawfords and Mr. Yates. She had been quite +overlooked by her cousins; and as her own opinion of her claims on Sir +Thomas's affection was much too humble to give her any idea of classing +herself with his children, she was glad to remain behind and gain a +little breathing-time. Her agitation and alarm exceeded all that was +endured by the rest, by the right of a disposition which not even +innocence could keep from suffering. She was nearly fainting: all her +former habitual dread of her uncle was returning, and with it compassion +for him and for almost every one of the party on the development before +him, with solicitude on Edmund's account indescribable. She had found +a seat, where in excessive trembling she was enduring all these fearful +thoughts, while the other three, no longer under any restraint, were +giving vent to their feelings of vexation, lamenting over such an +unlooked-for premature arrival as a most untoward event, and without +mercy wishing poor Sir Thomas had been twice as long on his passage, or +were still in Antigua. + +The Crawfords were more warm on the subject than Mr. Yates, from better +understanding the family, and judging more clearly of the mischief that +must ensue. The ruin of the play was to them a certainty: they felt +the total destruction of the scheme to be inevitably at hand; while Mr. +Yates considered it only as a temporary interruption, a disaster for the +evening, and could even suggest the possibility of the rehearsal being +renewed after tea, when the bustle of receiving Sir Thomas were over, +and he might be at leisure to be amused by it. The Crawfords laughed +at the idea; and having soon agreed on the propriety of their walking +quietly home and leaving the family to themselves, proposed Mr. Yates's +accompanying them and spending the evening at the Parsonage. But Mr. +Yates, having never been with those who thought much of parental claims, +or family confidence, could not perceive that anything of the kind was +necessary; and therefore, thanking them, said, "he preferred remaining +where he was, that he might pay his respects to the old gentleman +handsomely since he _was_ come; and besides, he did not think it would +be fair by the others to have everybody run away." + +Fanny was just beginning to collect herself, and to feel that if she +staid longer behind it might seem disrespectful, when this point was +settled, and being commissioned with the brother and sister's apology, +saw them preparing to go as she quitted the room herself to perform the +dreadful duty of appearing before her uncle. + +Too soon did she find herself at the drawing-room door; and after +pausing a moment for what she knew would not come, for a courage which +the outside of no door had ever supplied to her, she turned the lock in +desperation, and the lights of the drawing-room, and all the collected +family, were before her. As she entered, her own name caught her ear. +Sir Thomas was at that moment looking round him, and saying, "But where +is Fanny? Why do not I see my little Fanny?"--and on perceiving her, +came forward with a kindness which astonished and penetrated her, +calling her his dear Fanny, kissing her affectionately, and observing +with decided pleasure how much she was grown! Fanny knew not how to +feel, nor where to look. She was quite oppressed. He had never been so +kind, so _very_ kind to her in his life. His manner seemed changed, his +voice was quick from the agitation of joy; and all that had been awful +in his dignity seemed lost in tenderness. He led her nearer the light +and looked at her again--inquired particularly after her health, and +then, correcting himself, observed that he need not inquire, for +her appearance spoke sufficiently on that point. A fine blush having +succeeded the previous paleness of her face, he was justified in his +belief of her equal improvement in health and beauty. He inquired next +after her family, especially William: and his kindness altogether was +such as made her reproach herself for loving him so little, and thinking +his return a misfortune; and when, on having courage to lift her eyes to +his face, she saw that he was grown thinner, and had the burnt, fagged, +worn look of fatigue and a hot climate, every tender feeling was +increased, and she was miserable in considering how much unsuspected +vexation was probably ready to burst on him. + +Sir Thomas was indeed the life of the party, who at his suggestion +now seated themselves round the fire. He had the best right to be the +talker; and the delight of his sensations in being again in his own +house, in the centre of his family, after such a separation, made him +communicative and chatty in a very unusual degree; and he was ready to +give every information as to his voyage, and answer every question +of his two sons almost before it was put. His business in Antigua had +latterly been prosperously rapid, and he came directly from Liverpool, +having had an opportunity of making his passage thither in a private +vessel, instead of waiting for the packet; and all the little +particulars of his proceedings and events, his arrivals and departures, +were most promptly delivered, as he sat by Lady Bertram and looked with +heartfelt satisfaction on the faces around him--interrupting himself +more than once, however, to remark on his good fortune in finding them +all at home--coming unexpectedly as he did--all collected together +exactly as he could have wished, but dared not depend on. Mr. Rushworth +was not forgotten: a most friendly reception and warmth of hand-shaking +had already met him, and with pointed attention he was now included in +the objects most intimately connected with Mansfield. There was nothing +disagreeable in Mr. Rushworth's appearance, and Sir Thomas was liking +him already. + +By not one of the circle was he listened to with such unbroken, +unalloyed enjoyment as by his wife, who was really extremely happy to +see him, and whose feelings were so warmed by his sudden arrival as to +place her nearer agitation than she had been for the last twenty years. +She had been _almost_ fluttered for a few minutes, and still remained so +sensibly animated as to put away her work, move Pug from her side, and +give all her attention and all the rest of her sofa to her husband. She +had no anxieties for anybody to cloud _her_ pleasure: her own time had +been irreproachably spent during his absence: she had done a great +deal of carpet-work, and made many yards of fringe; and she would have +answered as freely for the good conduct and useful pursuits of all +the young people as for her own. It was so agreeable to her to see +him again, and hear him talk, to have her ear amused and her whole +comprehension filled by his narratives, that she began particularly +to feel how dreadfully she must have missed him, and how impossible it +would have been for her to bear a lengthened absence. + +Mrs. Norris was by no means to be compared in happiness to her +sister. Not that _she_ was incommoded by many fears of Sir Thomas's +disapprobation when the present state of his house should be known, for +her judgment had been so blinded that, except by the instinctive caution +with which she had whisked away Mr. Rushworth's pink satin cloak as her +brother-in-law entered, she could hardly be said to shew any sign of +alarm; but she was vexed by the _manner_ of his return. It had left her +nothing to do. Instead of being sent for out of the room, and seeing +him first, and having to spread the happy news through the house, Sir +Thomas, with a very reasonable dependence, perhaps, on the nerves of his +wife and children, had sought no confidant but the butler, and had been +following him almost instantaneously into the drawing-room. Mrs. Norris +felt herself defrauded of an office on which she had always depended, +whether his arrival or his death were to be the thing unfolded; and was +now trying to be in a bustle without having anything to bustle about, +and labouring to be important where nothing was wanted but tranquillity +and silence. Would Sir Thomas have consented to eat, she might have gone +to the housekeeper with troublesome directions, and insulted the footmen +with injunctions of despatch; but Sir Thomas resolutely declined all +dinner: he would take nothing, nothing till tea came--he would rather +wait for tea. Still Mrs. Norris was at intervals urging something +different; and in the most interesting moment of his passage to England, +when the alarm of a French privateer was at the height, she burst +through his recital with the proposal of soup. "Sure, my dear Sir +Thomas, a basin of soup would be a much better thing for you than tea. +Do have a basin of soup." + +Sir Thomas could not be provoked. "Still the same anxiety for +everybody's comfort, my dear Mrs. Norris," was his answer. "But indeed I +would rather have nothing but tea." + +"Well, then, Lady Bertram, suppose you speak for tea directly; suppose +you hurry Baddeley a little; he seems behindhand to-night." She carried +this point, and Sir Thomas's narrative proceeded. + +At length there was a pause. His immediate communications were +exhausted, and it seemed enough to be looking joyfully around him, now +at one, now at another of the beloved circle; but the pause was not +long: in the elation of her spirits Lady Bertram became talkative, and +what were the sensations of her children upon hearing her say, "How +do you think the young people have been amusing themselves lately, Sir +Thomas? They have been acting. We have been all alive with acting." + +"Indeed! and what have you been acting?" + +"Oh! they'll tell you all about it." + +"The _all_ will soon be told," cried Tom hastily, and with affected +unconcern; "but it is not worth while to bore my father with it now. You +will hear enough of it to-morrow, sir. We have just been trying, by way +of doing something, and amusing my mother, just within the last week, +to get up a few scenes, a mere trifle. We have had such incessant rains +almost since October began, that we have been nearly confined to the +house for days together. I have hardly taken out a gun since the 3rd. +Tolerable sport the first three days, but there has been no attempting +anything since. The first day I went over Mansfield Wood, and Edmund +took the copses beyond Easton, and we brought home six brace between +us, and might each have killed six times as many, but we respect your +pheasants, sir, I assure you, as much as you could desire. I do not +think you will find your woods by any means worse stocked than they +were. _I_ never saw Mansfield Wood so full of pheasants in my life +as this year. I hope you will take a day's sport there yourself, sir, +soon." + +For the present the danger was over, and Fanny's sick feelings subsided; +but when tea was soon afterwards brought in, and Sir Thomas, getting up, +said that he found that he could not be any longer in the house without +just looking into his own dear room, every agitation was returning. He +was gone before anything had been said to prepare him for the change he +must find there; and a pause of alarm followed his disappearance. Edmund +was the first to speak-- + +"Something must be done," said he. + +"It is time to think of our visitors," said Maria, still feeling her +hand pressed to Henry Crawford's heart, and caring little for anything +else. "Where did you leave Miss Crawford, Fanny?" + +Fanny told of their departure, and delivered their message. + +"Then poor Yates is all alone," cried Tom. "I will go and fetch him. He +will be no bad assistant when it all comes out." + +To the theatre he went, and reached it just in time to witness the first +meeting of his father and his friend. Sir Thomas had been a good deal +surprised to find candles burning in his room; and on casting his eye +round it, to see other symptoms of recent habitation and a general air +of confusion in the furniture. The removal of the bookcase from before +the billiard-room door struck him especially, but he had scarcely more +than time to feel astonished at all this, before there were sounds from +the billiard-room to astonish him still farther. Some one was talking +there in a very loud accent; he did not know the voice--more than +talking--almost hallooing. He stepped to the door, rejoicing at that +moment in having the means of immediate communication, and, opening it, +found himself on the stage of a theatre, and opposed to a ranting young +man, who appeared likely to knock him down backwards. At the very moment +of Yates perceiving Sir Thomas, and giving perhaps the very best start +he had ever given in the whole course of his rehearsals, Tom Bertram +entered at the other end of the room; and never had he found greater +difficulty in keeping his countenance. His father's looks of solemnity +and amazement on this his first appearance on any stage, and the gradual +metamorphosis of the impassioned Baron Wildenheim into the well-bred and +easy Mr. Yates, making his bow and apology to Sir Thomas Bertram, was +such an exhibition, such a piece of true acting, as he would not have +lost upon any account. It would be the last--in all probability--the +last scene on that stage; but he was sure there could not be a finer. +The house would close with the greatest eclat. + +There was little time, however, for the indulgence of any images of +merriment. It was necessary for him to step forward, too, and assist +the introduction, and with many awkward sensations he did his best. Sir +Thomas received Mr. Yates with all the appearance of cordiality which +was due to his own character, but was really as far from pleased +with the necessity of the acquaintance as with the manner of its +commencement. Mr. Yates's family and connexions were sufficiently known +to him to render his introduction as the "particular friend," another of +the hundred particular friends of his son, exceedingly unwelcome; and it +needed all the felicity of being again at home, and all the forbearance +it could supply, to save Sir Thomas from anger on finding himself thus +bewildered in his own house, making part of a ridiculous exhibition in +the midst of theatrical nonsense, and forced in so untoward a moment to +admit the acquaintance of a young man whom he felt sure of disapproving, +and whose easy indifference and volubility in the course of the first +five minutes seemed to mark him the most at home of the two. + +Tom understood his father's thoughts, and heartily wishing he might be +always as well disposed to give them but partial expression, began to +see, more clearly than he had ever done before, that there might be some +ground of offence, that there might be some reason for the glance his +father gave towards the ceiling and stucco of the room; and that when he +inquired with mild gravity after the fate of the billiard-table, he was +not proceeding beyond a very allowable curiosity. A few minutes were +enough for such unsatisfactory sensations on each side; and Sir +Thomas having exerted himself so far as to speak a few words of +calm approbation in reply to an eager appeal of Mr. Yates, as to the +happiness of the arrangement, the three gentlemen returned to the +drawing-room together, Sir Thomas with an increase of gravity which was +not lost on all. + +"I come from your theatre," said he composedly, as he sat down; "I found +myself in it rather unexpectedly. Its vicinity to my own room--but in +every respect, indeed, it took me by surprise, as I had not the smallest +suspicion of your acting having assumed so serious a character. It +appears a neat job, however, as far as I could judge by candlelight, +and does my friend Christopher Jackson credit." And then he would +have changed the subject, and sipped his coffee in peace over domestic +matters of a calmer hue; but Mr. Yates, without discernment to catch Sir +Thomas's meaning, or diffidence, or delicacy, or discretion enough to +allow him to lead the discourse while he mingled among the others with +the least obtrusiveness himself, would keep him on the topic of the +theatre, would torment him with questions and remarks relative to it, +and finally would make him hear the whole history of his disappointment +at Ecclesford. Sir Thomas listened most politely, but found much to +offend his ideas of decorum, and confirm his ill-opinion of Mr. Yates's +habits of thinking, from the beginning to the end of the story; and when +it was over, could give him no other assurance of sympathy than what a +slight bow conveyed. + +"This was, in fact, the origin of _our_ acting," said Tom, after +a moment's thought. "My friend Yates brought the infection from +Ecclesford, and it spread--as those things always spread, you know, +sir--the faster, probably, from _your_ having so often encouraged the +sort of thing in us formerly. It was like treading old ground again." + +Mr. Yates took the subject from his friend as soon as possible, and +immediately gave Sir Thomas an account of what they had done and were +doing: told him of the gradual increase of their views, the happy +conclusion of their first difficulties, and present promising state of +affairs; relating everything with so blind an interest as made him not +only totally unconscious of the uneasy movements of many of his +friends as they sat, the change of countenance, the fidget, the hem! of +unquietness, but prevented him even from seeing the expression of the +face on which his own eyes were fixed--from seeing Sir Thomas's dark +brow contract as he looked with inquiring earnestness at his daughters +and Edmund, dwelling particularly on the latter, and speaking a +language, a remonstrance, a reproof, which _he_ felt at his heart. Not +less acutely was it felt by Fanny, who had edged back her chair behind +her aunt's end of the sofa, and, screened from notice herself, saw all +that was passing before her. Such a look of reproach at Edmund from his +father she could never have expected to witness; and to feel that it +was in any degree deserved was an aggravation indeed. Sir Thomas's +look implied, "On your judgment, Edmund, I depended; what have you +been about?" She knelt in spirit to her uncle, and her bosom swelled to +utter, "Oh, not to _him_! Look so to all the others, but not to _him_!" + +Mr. Yates was still talking. "To own the truth, Sir Thomas, we were in +the middle of a rehearsal when you arrived this evening. We were going +through the three first acts, and not unsuccessfully upon the whole. Our +company is now so dispersed, from the Crawfords being gone home, that +nothing more can be done to-night; but if you will give us the honour of +your company to-morrow evening, I should not be afraid of the result. We +bespeak your indulgence, you understand, as young performers; we bespeak +your indulgence." + +"My indulgence shall be given, sir," replied Sir Thomas gravely, "but +without any other rehearsal." And with a relenting smile, he added, "I +come home to be happy and indulgent." Then turning away towards any +or all of the rest, he tranquilly said, "Mr. and Miss Crawford were +mentioned in my last letters from Mansfield. Do you find them agreeable +acquaintance?" + +Tom was the only one at all ready with an answer, but he being entirely +without particular regard for either, without jealousy either in love +or acting, could speak very handsomely of both. "Mr. Crawford was a +most pleasant, gentleman-like man; his sister a sweet, pretty, elegant, +lively girl." + +Mr. Rushworth could be silent no longer. "I do not say he is not +gentleman-like, considering; but you should tell your father he is not +above five feet eight, or he will be expecting a well-looking man." + +Sir Thomas did not quite understand this, and looked with some surprise +at the speaker. + +"If I must say what I think," continued Mr. Rushworth, "in my opinion it +is very disagreeable to be always rehearsing. It is having too much of a +good thing. I am not so fond of acting as I was at first. I think we are +a great deal better employed, sitting comfortably here among ourselves, +and doing nothing." + +Sir Thomas looked again, and then replied with an approving smile, "I am +happy to find our sentiments on this subject so much the same. It gives +me sincere satisfaction. That I should be cautious and quick-sighted, +and feel many scruples which my children do _not_ feel, is perfectly +natural; and equally so that my value for domestic tranquillity, for a +home which shuts out noisy pleasures, should much exceed theirs. But at +your time of life to feel all this, is a most favourable circumstance +for yourself, and for everybody connected with you; and I am sensible of +the importance of having an ally of such weight." + +Sir Thomas meant to be giving Mr. Rushworth's opinion in better words +than he could find himself. He was aware that he must not expect a +genius in Mr. Rushworth; but as a well-judging, steady young man, with +better notions than his elocution would do justice to, he intended to +value him very highly. It was impossible for many of the others not to +smile. Mr. Rushworth hardly knew what to do with so much meaning; but by +looking, as he really felt, most exceedingly pleased with Sir Thomas's +good opinion, and saying scarcely anything, he did his best towards +preserving that good opinion a little longer. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Edmund's first object the next morning was to see his father alone, and +give him a fair statement of the whole acting scheme, defending his own +share in it as far only as he could then, in a soberer moment, feel his +motives to deserve, and acknowledging, with perfect ingenuousness, that +his concession had been attended with such partial good as to make his +judgment in it very doubtful. He was anxious, while vindicating himself, +to say nothing unkind of the others: but there was only one amongst +them whose conduct he could mention without some necessity of defence +or palliation. "We have all been more or less to blame," said he, "every +one of us, excepting Fanny. Fanny is the only one who has judged rightly +throughout; who has been consistent. _Her_ feelings have been steadily +against it from first to last. She never ceased to think of what was due +to you. You will find Fanny everything you could wish." + +Sir Thomas saw all the impropriety of such a scheme among such a party, +and at such a time, as strongly as his son had ever supposed he must; he +felt it too much, indeed, for many words; and having shaken hands with +Edmund, meant to try to lose the disagreeable impression, and forget how +much he had been forgotten himself as soon as he could, after the house +had been cleared of every object enforcing the remembrance, and restored +to its proper state. He did not enter into any remonstrance with his +other children: he was more willing to believe they felt their error +than to run the risk of investigation. The reproof of an immediate +conclusion of everything, the sweep of every preparation, would be +sufficient. + +There was one person, however, in the house, whom he could not leave +to learn his sentiments merely through his conduct. He could not help +giving Mrs. Norris a hint of his having hoped that her advice might +have been interposed to prevent what her judgment must certainly have +disapproved. The young people had been very inconsiderate in forming the +plan; they ought to have been capable of a better decision themselves; +but they were young; and, excepting Edmund, he believed, of unsteady +characters; and with greater surprise, therefore, he must regard her +acquiescence in their wrong measures, her countenance of their unsafe +amusements, than that such measures and such amusements should have +been suggested. Mrs. Norris was a little confounded and as nearly +being silenced as ever she had been in her life; for she was ashamed to +confess having never seen any of the impropriety which was so glaring +to Sir Thomas, and would not have admitted that her influence was +insufficient--that she might have talked in vain. Her only resource was +to get out of the subject as fast as possible, and turn the current +of Sir Thomas's ideas into a happier channel. She had a great deal to +insinuate in her own praise as to _general_ attention to the interest +and comfort of his family, much exertion and many sacrifices to glance +at in the form of hurried walks and sudden removals from her own +fireside, and many excellent hints of distrust and economy to Lady +Bertram and Edmund to detail, whereby a most considerable saving had +always arisen, and more than one bad servant been detected. But her +chief strength lay in Sotherton. Her greatest support and glory was +in having formed the connexion with the Rushworths. _There_ she +was impregnable. She took to herself all the credit of bringing Mr. +Rushworth's admiration of Maria to any effect. "If I had not been +active," said she, "and made a point of being introduced to his mother, +and then prevailed on my sister to pay the first visit, I am as certain +as I sit here that nothing would have come of it; for Mr. Rushworth +is the sort of amiable modest young man who wants a great deal of +encouragement, and there were girls enough on the catch for him if we +had been idle. But I left no stone unturned. I was ready to move heaven +and earth to persuade my sister, and at last I did persuade her. You +know the distance to Sotherton; it was in the middle of winter, and the +roads almost impassable, but I did persuade her." + +"I know how great, how justly great, your influence is with Lady Bertram +and her children, and am the more concerned that it should not have +been." + +"My dear Sir Thomas, if you had seen the state of the roads _that_ day! +I thought we should never have got through them, though we had the four +horses of course; and poor old coachman would attend us, out of his +great love and kindness, though he was hardly able to sit the box on +account of the rheumatism which I had been doctoring him for ever since +Michaelmas. I cured him at last; but he was very bad all the winter--and +this was such a day, I could not help going to him up in his room before +we set off to advise him not to venture: he was putting on his wig; so +I said, 'Coachman, you had much better not go; your Lady and I shall be +very safe; you know how steady Stephen is, and Charles has been upon the +leaders so often now, that I am sure there is no fear.' But, however, I +soon found it would not do; he was bent upon going, and as I hate to be +worrying and officious, I said no more; but my heart quite ached for him +at every jolt, and when we got into the rough lanes about Stoke, where, +what with frost and snow upon beds of stones, it was worse than anything +you can imagine, I was quite in an agony about him. And then the poor +horses too! To see them straining away! You know how I always feel for +the horses. And when we got to the bottom of Sandcroft Hill, what do you +think I did? You will laugh at me; but I got out and walked up. I did +indeed. It might not be saving them much, but it was something, and I +could not bear to sit at my ease and be dragged up at the expense of +those noble animals. I caught a dreadful cold, but _that_ I did not +regard. My object was accomplished in the visit." + +"I hope we shall always think the acquaintance worth any trouble that +might be taken to establish it. There is nothing very striking in Mr. +Rushworth's manners, but I was pleased last night with what appeared to +be his opinion on one subject: his decided preference of a quiet family +party to the bustle and confusion of acting. He seemed to feel exactly +as one could wish." + +"Yes, indeed, and the more you know of him the better you will like him. +He is not a shining character, but he has a thousand good qualities; and +is so disposed to look up to you, that I am quite laughed at about it, +for everybody considers it as my doing. 'Upon my word, Mrs. Norris,' +said Mrs. Grant the other day, 'if Mr. Rushworth were a son of your own, +he could not hold Sir Thomas in greater respect.'" + +Sir Thomas gave up the point, foiled by her evasions, disarmed by her +flattery; and was obliged to rest satisfied with the conviction that +where the present pleasure of those she loved was at stake, her kindness +did sometimes overpower her judgment. + +It was a busy morning with him. Conversation with any of them occupied +but a small part of it. He had to reinstate himself in all the wonted +concerns of his Mansfield life: to see his steward and his bailiff; to +examine and compute, and, in the intervals of business, to walk into +his stables and his gardens, and nearest plantations; but active and +methodical, he had not only done all this before he resumed his seat as +master of the house at dinner, he had also set the carpenter to work in +pulling down what had been so lately put up in the billiard-room, +and given the scene-painter his dismissal long enough to justify the +pleasing belief of his being then at least as far off as Northampton. +The scene-painter was gone, having spoilt only the floor of one room, +ruined all the coachman's sponges, and made five of the under-servants +idle and dissatisfied; and Sir Thomas was in hopes that another day or +two would suffice to wipe away every outward memento of what had been, +even to the destruction of every unbound copy of Lovers' Vows in the +house, for he was burning all that met his eye. + +Mr. Yates was beginning now to understand Sir Thomas's intentions, +though as far as ever from understanding their source. He and his friend +had been out with their guns the chief of the morning, and Tom had taken +the opportunity of explaining, with proper apologies for his father's +particularity, what was to be expected. Mr. Yates felt it as acutely as +might be supposed. To be a second time disappointed in the same way was +an instance of very severe ill-luck; and his indignation was such, +that had it not been for delicacy towards his friend, and his friend's +youngest sister, he believed he should certainly attack the baronet +on the absurdity of his proceedings, and argue him into a little more +rationality. He believed this very stoutly while he was in Mansfield +Wood, and all the way home; but there was a something in Sir Thomas, +when they sat round the same table, which made Mr. Yates think it +wiser to let him pursue his own way, and feel the folly of it without +opposition. He had known many disagreeable fathers before, and often +been struck with the inconveniences they occasioned, but never, in +the whole course of his life, had he seen one of that class so +unintelligibly moral, so infamously tyrannical as Sir Thomas. He was +not a man to be endured but for his children's sake, and he might be +thankful to his fair daughter Julia that Mr. Yates did yet mean to stay +a few days longer under his roof. + +The evening passed with external smoothness, though almost every +mind was ruffled; and the music which Sir Thomas called for from his +daughters helped to conceal the want of real harmony. Maria was in a +good deal of agitation. It was of the utmost consequence to her that +Crawford should now lose no time in declaring himself, and she was +disturbed that even a day should be gone by without seeming to advance +that point. She had been expecting to see him the whole morning, and +all the evening, too, was still expecting him. Mr. Rushworth had set off +early with the great news for Sotherton; and she had fondly hoped for +such an immediate _eclaircissement_ as might save him the trouble of +ever coming back again. But they had seen no one from the Parsonage, +not a creature, and had heard no tidings beyond a friendly note of +congratulation and inquiry from Mrs. Grant to Lady Bertram. It was the +first day for many, many weeks, in which the families had been wholly +divided. Four-and-twenty hours had never passed before, since August +began, without bringing them together in some way or other. It was a +sad, anxious day; and the morrow, though differing in the sort of evil, +did by no means bring less. A few moments of feverish enjoyment were +followed by hours of acute suffering. Henry Crawford was again in the +house: he walked up with Dr. Grant, who was anxious to pay his respects +to Sir Thomas, and at rather an early hour they were ushered into the +breakfast-room, where were most of the family. Sir Thomas soon appeared, +and Maria saw with delight and agitation the introduction of the man she +loved to her father. Her sensations were indefinable, and so were they +a few minutes afterwards upon hearing Henry Crawford, who had a chair +between herself and Tom, ask the latter in an undervoice whether +there were any plans for resuming the play after the present happy +interruption (with a courteous glance at Sir Thomas), because, in that +case, he should make a point of returning to Mansfield at any time +required by the party: he was going away immediately, being to meet his +uncle at Bath without delay; but if there were any prospect of a renewal +of Lovers' Vows, he should hold himself positively engaged, he should +break through every other claim, he should absolutely condition with his +uncle for attending them whenever he might be wanted. The play should +not be lost by _his_ absence. + +"From Bath, Norfolk, London, York, wherever I may be," said he; "I will +attend you from any place in England, at an hour's notice." + +It was well at that moment that Tom had to speak, and not his sister. He +could immediately say with easy fluency, "I am sorry you are going; +but as to our play, _that_ is all over--entirely at an end" (looking +significantly at his father). "The painter was sent off yesterday, and +very little will remain of the theatre to-morrow. I knew how _that_ +would be from the first. It is early for Bath. You will find nobody +there." + +"It is about my uncle's usual time." + +"When do you think of going?" + +"I may, perhaps, get as far as Banbury to-day." + +"Whose stables do you use at Bath?" was the next question; and while +this branch of the subject was under discussion, Maria, who wanted +neither pride nor resolution, was preparing to encounter her share of it +with tolerable calmness. + +To her he soon turned, repeating much of what he had already said, with +only a softened air and stronger expressions of regret. But what availed +his expressions or his air? He was going, and, if not voluntarily going, +voluntarily intending to stay away; for, excepting what might be due +to his uncle, his engagements were all self-imposed. He might talk of +necessity, but she knew his independence. The hand which had so pressed +hers to his heart! the hand and the heart were alike motionless and +passive now! Her spirit supported her, but the agony of her mind was +severe. She had not long to endure what arose from listening to language +which his actions contradicted, or to bury the tumult of her feelings +under the restraint of society; for general civilities soon called +his notice from her, and the farewell visit, as it then became openly +acknowledged, was a very short one. He was gone--he had touched her +hand for the last time, he had made his parting bow, and she might seek +directly all that solitude could do for her. Henry Crawford was gone, +gone from the house, and within two hours afterwards from the parish; +and so ended all the hopes his selfish vanity had raised in Maria and +Julia Bertram. + +Julia could rejoice that he was gone. His presence was beginning to be +odious to her; and if Maria gained him not, she was now cool enough to +dispense with any other revenge. She did not want exposure to be added +to desertion. Henry Crawford gone, she could even pity her sister. + +With a purer spirit did Fanny rejoice in the intelligence. She heard it +at dinner, and felt it a blessing. By all the others it was mentioned +with regret; and his merits honoured with due gradation of feeling--from +the sincerity of Edmund's too partial regard, to the unconcern of his +mother speaking entirely by rote. Mrs. Norris began to look about her, +and wonder that his falling in love with Julia had come to nothing; and +could almost fear that she had been remiss herself in forwarding it; but +with so many to care for, how was it possible for even _her_ activity to +keep pace with her wishes? + +Another day or two, and Mr. Yates was gone likewise. In _his_ departure +Sir Thomas felt the chief interest: wanting to be alone with his family, +the presence of a stranger superior to Mr. Yates must have been irksome; +but of him, trifling and confident, idle and expensive, it was every way +vexatious. In himself he was wearisome, but as the friend of Tom and +the admirer of Julia he became offensive. Sir Thomas had been quite +indifferent to Mr. Crawford's going or staying: but his good wishes +for Mr. Yates's having a pleasant journey, as he walked with him to the +hall-door, were given with genuine satisfaction. Mr. Yates had staid to +see the destruction of every theatrical preparation at Mansfield, the +removal of everything appertaining to the play: he left the house in all +the soberness of its general character; and Sir Thomas hoped, in seeing +him out of it, to be rid of the worst object connected with the scheme, +and the last that must be inevitably reminding him of its existence. + +Mrs. Norris contrived to remove one article from his sight that might +have distressed him. The curtain, over which she had presided with such +talent and such success, went off with her to her cottage, where she +happened to be particularly in want of green baize. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Sir Thomas's return made a striking change in the ways of the family, +independent of Lovers' Vows. Under his government, Mansfield was an +altered place. Some members of their society sent away, and the spirits +of many others saddened--it was all sameness and gloom compared with +the past--a sombre family party rarely enlivened. There was little +intercourse with the Parsonage. Sir Thomas, drawing back from intimacies +in general, was particularly disinclined, at this time, for any +engagements but in one quarter. The Rushworths were the only addition to +his own domestic circle which he could solicit. + +Edmund did not wonder that such should be his father's feelings, nor +could he regret anything but the exclusion of the Grants. "But they," he +observed to Fanny, "have a claim. They seem to belong to us; they seem +to be part of ourselves. I could wish my father were more sensible of +their very great attention to my mother and sisters while he was away. I +am afraid they may feel themselves neglected. But the truth is, that my +father hardly knows them. They had not been here a twelvemonth when he +left England. If he knew them better, he would value their society as it +deserves; for they are in fact exactly the sort of people he would +like. We are sometimes a little in want of animation among ourselves: my +sisters seem out of spirits, and Tom is certainly not at his ease. Dr. +and Mrs. Grant would enliven us, and make our evenings pass away with +more enjoyment even to my father." + +"Do you think so?" said Fanny: "in my opinion, my uncle would not like +_any_ addition. I think he values the very quietness you speak of, and +that the repose of his own family circle is all he wants. And it does +not appear to me that we are more serious than we used to be--I mean +before my uncle went abroad. As well as I can recollect, it was always +much the same. There was never much laughing in his presence; or, if +there is any difference, it is not more, I think, than such an absence +has a tendency to produce at first. There must be a sort of shyness; but +I cannot recollect that our evenings formerly were ever merry, except +when my uncle was in town. No young people's are, I suppose, when those +they look up to are at home". + +"I believe you are right, Fanny," was his reply, after a short +consideration. "I believe our evenings are rather returned to what they +were, than assuming a new character. The novelty was in their being +lively. Yet, how strong the impression that only a few weeks will give! +I have been feeling as if we had never lived so before." + +"I suppose I am graver than other people," said Fanny. "The evenings do +not appear long to me. I love to hear my uncle talk of the West Indies. +I could listen to him for an hour together. It entertains _me_ more than +many other things have done; but then I am unlike other people, I dare +say." + +"Why should you dare say _that_?" (smiling). "Do you want to be told +that you are only unlike other people in being more wise and discreet? +But when did you, or anybody, ever get a compliment from me, Fanny? Go +to my father if you want to be complimented. He will satisfy you. Ask +your uncle what he thinks, and you will hear compliments enough: and +though they may be chiefly on your person, you must put up with it, and +trust to his seeing as much beauty of mind in time." + +Such language was so new to Fanny that it quite embarrassed her. + +"Your uncle thinks you very pretty, dear Fanny--and that is the long and +the short of the matter. Anybody but myself would have made something +more of it, and anybody but you would resent that you had not been +thought very pretty before; but the truth is, that your uncle never +did admire you till now--and now he does. Your complexion is so +improved!--and you have gained so much countenance!--and your +figure--nay, Fanny, do not turn away about it--it is but an uncle. If +you cannot bear an uncle's admiration, what is to become of you? You +must really begin to harden yourself to the idea of being worth looking +at. You must try not to mind growing up into a pretty woman." + +"Oh! don't talk so, don't talk so," cried Fanny, distressed by more +feelings than he was aware of; but seeing that she was distressed, he +had done with the subject, and only added more seriously-- + +"Your uncle is disposed to be pleased with you in every respect; and I +only wish you would talk to him more. You are one of those who are too +silent in the evening circle." + +"But I do talk to him more than I used. I am sure I do. Did not you hear +me ask him about the slave-trade last night?" + +"I did--and was in hopes the question would be followed up by others. It +would have pleased your uncle to be inquired of farther." + +"And I longed to do it--but there was such a dead silence! And while +my cousins were sitting by without speaking a word, or seeming at all +interested in the subject, I did not like--I thought it would appear as +if I wanted to set myself off at their expense, by shewing a curiosity +and pleasure in his information which he must wish his own daughters to +feel." + +"Miss Crawford was very right in what she said of you the other day: +that you seemed almost as fearful of notice and praise as other women +were of neglect. We were talking of you at the Parsonage, and those were +her words. She has great discernment. I know nobody who distinguishes +characters better. For so young a woman it is remarkable! She certainly +understands _you_ better than you are understood by the greater part of +those who have known you so long; and with regard to some others, I can +perceive, from occasional lively hints, the unguarded expressions of +the moment, that she could define _many_ as accurately, did not delicacy +forbid it. I wonder what she thinks of my father! She must admire him +as a fine-looking man, with most gentlemanlike, dignified, consistent +manners; but perhaps, having seen him so seldom, his reserve may be +a little repulsive. Could they be much together, I feel sure of their +liking each other. He would enjoy her liveliness and she has talents to +value his powers. I wish they met more frequently! I hope she does not +suppose there is any dislike on his side." + +"She must know herself too secure of the regard of all the rest of you," +said Fanny, with half a sigh, "to have any such apprehension. And Sir +Thomas's wishing just at first to be only with his family, is so very +natural, that she can argue nothing from that. After a little while, I +dare say, we shall be meeting again in the same sort of way, allowing +for the difference of the time of year." + +"This is the first October that she has passed in the country since her +infancy. I do not call Tunbridge or Cheltenham the country; and November +is a still more serious month, and I can see that Mrs. Grant is very +anxious for her not finding Mansfield dull as winter comes on." + +Fanny could have said a great deal, but it was safer to say nothing, and +leave untouched all Miss Crawford's resources--her accomplishments, her +spirits, her importance, her friends, lest it should betray her into +any observations seemingly unhandsome. Miss Crawford's kind opinion of +herself deserved at least a grateful forbearance, and she began to talk +of something else. + +"To-morrow, I think, my uncle dines at Sotherton, and you and Mr. +Bertram too. We shall be quite a small party at home. I hope my uncle +may continue to like Mr. Rushworth." + +"That is impossible, Fanny. He must like him less after to-morrow's +visit, for we shall be five hours in his company. I should dread +the stupidity of the day, if there were not a much greater evil to +follow--the impression it must leave on Sir Thomas. He cannot much +longer deceive himself. I am sorry for them all, and would give +something that Rushworth and Maria had never met." + +In this quarter, indeed, disappointment was impending over Sir Thomas. +Not all his good-will for Mr. Rushworth, not all Mr. Rushworth's +deference for him, could prevent him from soon discerning some part of +the truth--that Mr. Rushworth was an inferior young man, as ignorant +in business as in books, with opinions in general unfixed, and without +seeming much aware of it himself. + +He had expected a very different son-in-law; and beginning to feel +grave on Maria's account, tried to understand _her_ feelings. Little +observation there was necessary to tell him that indifference was the +most favourable state they could be in. Her behaviour to Mr. Rushworth +was careless and cold. She could not, did not like him. Sir Thomas +resolved to speak seriously to her. Advantageous as would be the +alliance, and long standing and public as was the engagement, her +happiness must not be sacrificed to it. Mr. Rushworth had, perhaps, been +accepted on too short an acquaintance, and, on knowing him better, she +was repenting. + +With solemn kindness Sir Thomas addressed her: told her his fears, +inquired into her wishes, entreated her to be open and sincere, and +assured her that every inconvenience should be braved, and the connexion +entirely given up, if she felt herself unhappy in the prospect of it. He +would act for her and release her. Maria had a moment's struggle as she +listened, and only a moment's: when her father ceased, she was able to +give her answer immediately, decidedly, and with no apparent agitation. +She thanked him for his great attention, his paternal kindness, but he +was quite mistaken in supposing she had the smallest desire of breaking +through her engagement, or was sensible of any change of opinion or +inclination since her forming it. She had the highest esteem for Mr. +Rushworth's character and disposition, and could not have a doubt of her +happiness with him. + +Sir Thomas was satisfied; too glad to be satisfied, perhaps, to urge the +matter quite so far as his judgment might have dictated to others. It +was an alliance which he could not have relinquished without pain; +and thus he reasoned. Mr. Rushworth was young enough to improve. Mr. +Rushworth must and would improve in good society; and if Maria could now +speak so securely of her happiness with him, speaking certainly without +the prejudice, the blindness of love, she ought to be believed. Her +feelings, probably, were not acute; he had never supposed them to be +so; but her comforts might not be less on that account; and if she could +dispense with seeing her husband a leading, shining character, there +would certainly be everything else in her favour. A well-disposed young +woman, who did not marry for love, was in general but the more attached +to her own family; and the nearness of Sotherton to Mansfield +must naturally hold out the greatest temptation, and would, in all +probability, be a continual supply of the most amiable and innocent +enjoyments. Such and such-like were the reasonings of Sir Thomas, +happy to escape the embarrassing evils of a rupture, the wonder, +the reflections, the reproach that must attend it; happy to secure a +marriage which would bring him such an addition of respectability +and influence, and very happy to think anything of his daughter's +disposition that was most favourable for the purpose. + +To her the conference closed as satisfactorily as to him. She was in a +state of mind to be glad that she had secured her fate beyond recall: +that she had pledged herself anew to Sotherton; that she was safe from +the possibility of giving Crawford the triumph of governing her actions, +and destroying her prospects; and retired in proud resolve, determined +only to behave more cautiously to Mr. Rushworth in future, that her +father might not be again suspecting her. + +Had Sir Thomas applied to his daughter within the first three or four +days after Henry Crawford's leaving Mansfield, before her feelings were +at all tranquillised, before she had given up every hope of him, or +absolutely resolved on enduring his rival, her answer might have been +different; but after another three or four days, when there was no +return, no letter, no message, no symptom of a softened heart, no hope +of advantage from separation, her mind became cool enough to seek all +the comfort that pride and self revenge could give. + +Henry Crawford had destroyed her happiness, but he should not know that +he had done it; he should not destroy her credit, her appearance, her +prosperity, too. He should not have to think of her as pining in the +retirement of Mansfield for _him_, rejecting Sotherton and London, +independence and splendour, for _his_ sake. Independence was more +needful than ever; the want of it at Mansfield more sensibly felt. She +was less and less able to endure the restraint which her father imposed. +The liberty which his absence had given was now become absolutely +necessary. She must escape from him and Mansfield as soon as possible, +and find consolation in fortune and consequence, bustle and the world, +for a wounded spirit. Her mind was quite determined, and varied not. + +To such feelings delay, even the delay of much preparation, would have +been an evil, and Mr. Rushworth could hardly be more impatient for the +marriage than herself. In all the important preparations of the mind +she was complete: being prepared for matrimony by an hatred of home, +restraint, and tranquillity; by the misery of disappointed affection, +and contempt of the man she was to marry. The rest might wait. The +preparations of new carriages and furniture might wait for London and +spring, when her own taste could have fairer play. + +The principals being all agreed in this respect, it soon appeared that a +very few weeks would be sufficient for such arrangements as must precede +the wedding. + +Mrs. Rushworth was quite ready to retire, and make way for the fortunate +young woman whom her dear son had selected; and very early in November +removed herself, her maid, her footman, and her chariot, with true +dowager propriety, to Bath, there to parade over the wonders of +Sotherton in her evening parties; enjoying them as thoroughly, perhaps, +in the animation of a card-table, as she had ever done on the spot; and +before the middle of the same month the ceremony had taken place which +gave Sotherton another mistress. + +It was a very proper wedding. The bride was elegantly dressed; the two +bridesmaids were duly inferior; her father gave her away; her mother +stood with salts in her hand, expecting to be agitated; her aunt tried +to cry; and the service was impressively read by Dr. Grant. Nothing +could be objected to when it came under the discussion of the +neighbourhood, except that the carriage which conveyed the bride and +bridegroom and Julia from the church-door to Sotherton was the same +chaise which Mr. Rushworth had used for a twelvemonth before. In +everything else the etiquette of the day might stand the strictest +investigation. + +It was done, and they were gone. Sir Thomas felt as an anxious father +must feel, and was indeed experiencing much of the agitation which his +wife had been apprehensive of for herself, but had fortunately escaped. +Mrs. Norris, most happy to assist in the duties of the day, by spending +it at the Park to support her sister's spirits, and drinking the health +of Mr. and Mrs. Rushworth in a supernumerary glass or two, was all +joyous delight; for she had made the match; she had done everything; +and no one would have supposed, from her confident triumph, that she +had ever heard of conjugal infelicity in her life, or could have the +smallest insight into the disposition of the niece who had been brought +up under her eye. + +The plan of the young couple was to proceed, after a few days, to +Brighton, and take a house there for some weeks. Every public place was +new to Maria, and Brighton is almost as gay in winter as in summer. When +the novelty of amusement there was over, it would be time for the wider +range of London. + +Julia was to go with them to Brighton. Since rivalry between the sisters +had ceased, they had been gradually recovering much of their former good +understanding; and were at least sufficiently friends to make each of +them exceedingly glad to be with the other at such a time. Some other +companion than Mr. Rushworth was of the first consequence to his lady; +and Julia was quite as eager for novelty and pleasure as Maria, though +she might not have struggled through so much to obtain them, and could +better bear a subordinate situation. + +Their departure made another material change at Mansfield, a chasm +which required some time to fill up. The family circle became greatly +contracted; and though the Miss Bertrams had latterly added little to +its gaiety, they could not but be missed. Even their mother missed them; +and how much more their tenderhearted cousin, who wandered about +the house, and thought of them, and felt for them, with a degree of +affectionate regret which they had never done much to deserve! + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +Fanny's consequence increased on the departure of her cousins. Becoming, +as she then did, the only young woman in the drawing-room, the only +occupier of that interesting division of a family in which she had +hitherto held so humble a third, it was impossible for her not to be +more looked at, more thought of and attended to, than she had ever been +before; and "Where is Fanny?" became no uncommon question, even without +her being wanted for any one's convenience. + +Not only at home did her value increase, but at the Parsonage too. In +that house, which she had hardly entered twice a year since Mr. Norris's +death, she became a welcome, an invited guest, and in the gloom and dirt +of a November day, most acceptable to Mary Crawford. Her visits there, +beginning by chance, were continued by solicitation. Mrs. Grant, +really eager to get any change for her sister, could, by the easiest +self-deceit, persuade herself that she was doing the kindest thing by +Fanny, and giving her the most important opportunities of improvement in +pressing her frequent calls. + +Fanny, having been sent into the village on some errand by her aunt +Norris, was overtaken by a heavy shower close to the Parsonage; and +being descried from one of the windows endeavouring to find shelter +under the branches and lingering leaves of an oak just beyond their +premises, was forced, though not without some modest reluctance on her +part, to come in. A civil servant she had withstood; but when Dr. Grant +himself went out with an umbrella, there was nothing to be done but to +be very much ashamed, and to get into the house as fast as possible; and +to poor Miss Crawford, who had just been contemplating the dismal rain +in a very desponding state of mind, sighing over the ruin of all her +plan of exercise for that morning, and of every chance of seeing a +single creature beyond themselves for the next twenty-four hours, the +sound of a little bustle at the front door, and the sight of Miss Price +dripping with wet in the vestibule, was delightful. The value of an +event on a wet day in the country was most forcibly brought before her. +She was all alive again directly, and among the most active in being +useful to Fanny, in detecting her to be wetter than she would at first +allow, and providing her with dry clothes; and Fanny, after being +obliged to submit to all this attention, and to being assisted and +waited on by mistresses and maids, being also obliged, on returning +downstairs, to be fixed in their drawing-room for an hour while the rain +continued, the blessing of something fresh to see and think of was thus +extended to Miss Crawford, and might carry on her spirits to the period +of dressing and dinner. + +The two sisters were so kind to her, and so pleasant, that Fanny might +have enjoyed her visit could she have believed herself not in the way, +and could she have foreseen that the weather would certainly clear at +the end of the hour, and save her from the shame of having Dr. Grant's +carriage and horses out to take her home, with which she was threatened. +As to anxiety for any alarm that her absence in such weather might +occasion at home, she had nothing to suffer on that score; for as her +being out was known only to her two aunts, she was perfectly aware that +none would be felt, and that in whatever cottage aunt Norris might chuse +to establish her during the rain, her being in such cottage would be +indubitable to aunt Bertram. + +It was beginning to look brighter, when Fanny, observing a harp in the +room, asked some questions about it, which soon led to an acknowledgment +of her wishing very much to hear it, and a confession, which could +hardly be believed, of her having never yet heard it since its being +in Mansfield. To Fanny herself it appeared a very simple and natural +circumstance. She had scarcely ever been at the Parsonage since the +instrument's arrival, there had been no reason that she should; but Miss +Crawford, calling to mind an early expressed wish on the subject, was +concerned at her own neglect; and "Shall I play to you now?" and "What +will you have?" were questions immediately following with the readiest +good-humour. + +She played accordingly; happy to have a new listener, and a listener who +seemed so much obliged, so full of wonder at the performance, and who +shewed herself not wanting in taste. She played till Fanny's eyes, +straying to the window on the weather's being evidently fair, spoke what +she felt must be done. + +"Another quarter of an hour," said Miss Crawford, "and we shall see how +it will be. Do not run away the first moment of its holding up. Those +clouds look alarming." + +"But they are passed over," said Fanny. "I have been watching them. This +weather is all from the south." + +"South or north, I know a black cloud when I see it; and you must not +set forward while it is so threatening. And besides, I want to play +something more to you--a very pretty piece--and your cousin Edmund's +prime favourite. You must stay and hear your cousin's favourite." + +Fanny felt that she must; and though she had not waited for that +sentence to be thinking of Edmund, such a memento made her particularly +awake to his idea, and she fancied him sitting in that room again +and again, perhaps in the very spot where she sat now, listening with +constant delight to the favourite air, played, as it appeared to her, +with superior tone and expression; and though pleased with it herself, +and glad to like whatever was liked by him, she was more sincerely +impatient to go away at the conclusion of it than she had been before; +and on this being evident, she was so kindly asked to call again, to +take them in her walk whenever she could, to come and hear more of the +harp, that she felt it necessary to be done, if no objection arose at +home. + +Such was the origin of the sort of intimacy which took place between +them within the first fortnight after the Miss Bertrams' going away--an +intimacy resulting principally from Miss Crawford's desire of something +new, and which had little reality in Fanny's feelings. Fanny went to her +every two or three days: it seemed a kind of fascination: she could not +be easy without going, and yet it was without loving her, without ever +thinking like her, without any sense of obligation for being sought +after now when nobody else was to be had; and deriving no higher +pleasure from her conversation than occasional amusement, and _that_ +often at the expense of her judgment, when it was raised by pleasantry +on people or subjects which she wished to be respected. She went, +however, and they sauntered about together many an half-hour in Mrs. +Grant's shrubbery, the weather being unusually mild for the time of +year, and venturing sometimes even to sit down on one of the benches now +comparatively unsheltered, remaining there perhaps till, in the midst +of some tender ejaculation of Fanny's on the sweets of so protracted +an autumn, they were forced, by the sudden swell of a cold gust shaking +down the last few yellow leaves about them, to jump up and walk for +warmth. + +"This is pretty, very pretty," said Fanny, looking around her as +they were thus sitting together one day; "every time I come into this +shrubbery I am more struck with its growth and beauty. Three years ago, +this was nothing but a rough hedgerow along the upper side of the field, +never thought of as anything, or capable of becoming anything; and now +it is converted into a walk, and it would be difficult to say whether +most valuable as a convenience or an ornament; and perhaps, in another +three years, we may be forgetting--almost forgetting what it was before. +How wonderful, how very wonderful the operations of time, and the +changes of the human mind!" And following the latter train of thought, +she soon afterwards added: "If any one faculty of our nature may be +called _more_ wonderful than the rest, I do think it is memory. There +seems something more speakingly incomprehensible in the powers, +the failures, the inequalities of memory, than in any other of our +intelligences. The memory is sometimes so retentive, so serviceable, so +obedient; at others, so bewildered and so weak; and at others again, so +tyrannic, so beyond control! We are, to be sure, a miracle every way; +but our powers of recollecting and of forgetting do seem peculiarly past +finding out." + +Miss Crawford, untouched and inattentive, had nothing to say; and +Fanny, perceiving it, brought back her own mind to what she thought must +interest. + +"It may seem impertinent in _me_ to praise, but I must admire the taste +Mrs. Grant has shewn in all this. There is such a quiet simplicity in +the plan of the walk! Not too much attempted!" + +"Yes," replied Miss Crawford carelessly, "it does very well for a +place of this sort. One does not think of extent _here_; and between +ourselves, till I came to Mansfield, I had not imagined a country parson +ever aspired to a shrubbery, or anything of the kind." + +"I am so glad to see the evergreens thrive!" said Fanny, in reply. "My +uncle's gardener always says the soil here is better than his own, and +so it appears from the growth of the laurels and evergreens in general. +The evergreen! How beautiful, how welcome, how wonderful the evergreen! +When one thinks of it, how astonishing a variety of nature! In some +countries we know the tree that sheds its leaf is the variety, but that +does not make it less amazing that the same soil and the same sun should +nurture plants differing in the first rule and law of their existence. +You will think me rhapsodising; but when I am out of doors, especially +when I am sitting out of doors, I am very apt to get into this sort of +wondering strain. One cannot fix one's eyes on the commonest natural +production without finding food for a rambling fancy." + +"To say the truth," replied Miss Crawford, "I am something like the +famous Doge at the court of Lewis XIV.; and may declare that I see no +wonder in this shrubbery equal to seeing myself in it. If anybody had +told me a year ago that this place would be my home, that I should be +spending month after month here, as I have done, I certainly should +not have believed them. I have now been here nearly five months; and, +moreover, the quietest five months I ever passed." + +"_Too_ quiet for you, I believe." + +"I should have thought so _theoretically_ myself, but," and her eyes +brightened as she spoke, "take it all and all, I never spent so happy a +summer. But then," with a more thoughtful air and lowered voice, "there +is no saying what it may lead to." + +Fanny's heart beat quick, and she felt quite unequal to surmising +or soliciting anything more. Miss Crawford, however, with renewed +animation, soon went on-- + +"I am conscious of being far better reconciled to a country residence +than I had ever expected to be. I can even suppose it pleasant to +spend _half_ the year in the country, under certain circumstances, +very pleasant. An elegant, moderate-sized house in the centre of family +connexions; continual engagements among them; commanding the first +society in the neighbourhood; looked up to, perhaps, as leading it even +more than those of larger fortune, and turning from the cheerful round +of such amusements to nothing worse than a _tete-a-tete_ with the person +one feels most agreeable in the world. There is nothing frightful in +such a picture, is there, Miss Price? One need not envy the new Mrs. +Rushworth with such a home as _that_." + +"Envy Mrs. Rushworth!" was all that Fanny attempted to say. "Come, come, +it would be very un-handsome in us to be severe on Mrs. Rushworth, for I +look forward to our owing her a great many gay, brilliant, happy hours. +I expect we shall be all very much at Sotherton another year. Such +a match as Miss Bertram has made is a public blessing; for the first +pleasures of Mr. Rushworth's wife must be to fill her house, and give +the best balls in the country." + +Fanny was silent, and Miss Crawford relapsed into thoughtfulness, till +suddenly looking up at the end of a few minutes, she exclaimed, "Ah! +here he is." It was not Mr. Rushworth, however, but Edmund, who then +appeared walking towards them with Mrs. Grant. "My sister and Mr. +Bertram. I am so glad your eldest cousin is gone, that he may be Mr. +Bertram again. There is something in the sound of Mr. _Edmund_ Bertram +so formal, so pitiful, so younger-brother-like, that I detest it." + +"How differently we feel!" cried Fanny. "To me, the sound of _Mr._ +Bertram is so cold and nothing-meaning, so entirely without warmth or +character! It just stands for a gentleman, and that's all. But there is +nobleness in the name of Edmund. It is a name of heroism and renown; of +kings, princes, and knights; and seems to breathe the spirit of chivalry +and warm affections." + +"I grant you the name is good in itself, and _Lord_ Edmund or _Sir_ +Edmund sound delightfully; but sink it under the chill, the annihilation +of a Mr., and Mr. Edmund is no more than Mr. John or Mr. Thomas. Well, +shall we join and disappoint them of half their lecture upon sitting +down out of doors at this time of year, by being up before they can +begin?" + +Edmund met them with particular pleasure. It was the first time of his +seeing them together since the beginning of that better acquaintance +which he had been hearing of with great satisfaction. A friendship +between two so very dear to him was exactly what he could have wished: +and to the credit of the lover's understanding, be it stated, that he +did not by any means consider Fanny as the only, or even as the greater +gainer by such a friendship. + +"Well," said Miss Crawford, "and do you not scold us for our imprudence? +What do you think we have been sitting down for but to be talked to +about it, and entreated and supplicated never to do so again?" + +"Perhaps I might have scolded," said Edmund, "if either of you had been +sitting down alone; but while you do wrong together, I can overlook a +great deal." + +"They cannot have been sitting long," cried Mrs. Grant, "for when I went +up for my shawl I saw them from the staircase window, and then they were +walking." + +"And really," added Edmund, "the day is so mild, that your sitting down +for a few minutes can be hardly thought imprudent. Our weather must +not always be judged by the calendar. We may sometimes take greater +liberties in November than in May." + +"Upon my word," cried Miss Crawford, "you are two of the most +disappointing and unfeeling kind friends I ever met with! There is no +giving you a moment's uneasiness. You do not know how much we have been +suffering, nor what chills we have felt! But I have long thought Mr. +Bertram one of the worst subjects to work on, in any little manoeuvre +against common sense, that a woman could be plagued with. I had very +little hope of _him_ from the first; but you, Mrs. Grant, my sister, my +own sister, I think I had a right to alarm you a little." + +"Do not flatter yourself, my dearest Mary. You have not the smallest +chance of moving me. I have my alarms, but they are quite in a different +quarter; and if I could have altered the weather, you would have had a +good sharp east wind blowing on you the whole time--for here are some of +my plants which Robert _will_ leave out because the nights are so mild, +and I know the end of it will be, that we shall have a sudden change of +weather, a hard frost setting in all at once, taking everybody (at least +Robert) by surprise, and I shall lose every one; and what is worse, cook +has just been telling me that the turkey, which I particularly wished +not to be dressed till Sunday, because I know how much more Dr. Grant +would enjoy it on Sunday after the fatigues of the day, will not keep +beyond to-morrow. These are something like grievances, and make me think +the weather most unseasonably close." + +"The sweets of housekeeping in a country village!" said Miss Crawford +archly. "Commend me to the nurseryman and the poulterer." + +"My dear child, commend Dr. Grant to the deanery of Westminster or St. +Paul's, and I should be as glad of your nurseryman and poulterer as you +could be. But we have no such people in Mansfield. What would you have +me do?" + +"Oh! you can do nothing but what you do already: be plagued very often, +and never lose your temper." + +"Thank you; but there is no escaping these little vexations, Mary, live +where we may; and when you are settled in town and I come to see you, I +dare say I shall find you with yours, in spite of the nurseryman and +the poulterer, perhaps on their very account. Their remoteness and +unpunctuality, or their exorbitant charges and frauds, will be drawing +forth bitter lamentations." + +"I mean to be too rich to lament or to feel anything of the sort. +A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of. It +certainly may secure all the myrtle and turkey part of it." + +"You intend to be very rich?" said Edmund, with a look which, to Fanny's +eye, had a great deal of serious meaning. + +"To be sure. Do not you? Do not we all?" + +"I cannot intend anything which it must be so completely beyond my power +to command. Miss Crawford may chuse her degree of wealth. She has only +to fix on her number of thousands a year, and there can be no doubt of +their coming. My intentions are only not to be poor." + +"By moderation and economy, and bringing down your wants to your income, +and all that. I understand you--and a very proper plan it is for a +person at your time of life, with such limited means and indifferent +connexions. What can _you_ want but a decent maintenance? You have +not much time before you; and your relations are in no situation to do +anything for you, or to mortify you by the contrast of their own wealth +and consequence. Be honest and poor, by all means--but I shall not envy +you; I do not much think I shall even respect you. I have a much greater +respect for those that are honest and rich." + +"Your degree of respect for honesty, rich or poor, is precisely what +I have no manner of concern with. I do not mean to be poor. Poverty +is exactly what I have determined against. Honesty, in the something +between, in the middle state of worldly circumstances, is all that I am +anxious for your not looking down on." + +"But I do look down upon it, if it might have been higher. I must +look down upon anything contented with obscurity when it might rise to +distinction." + +"But how may it rise? How may my honesty at least rise to any +distinction?" + +This was not so very easy a question to answer, and occasioned an "Oh!" +of some length from the fair lady before she could add, "You ought to be +in parliament, or you should have gone into the army ten years ago." + +"_That_ is not much to the purpose now; and as to my being in +parliament, I believe I must wait till there is an especial assembly for +the representation of younger sons who have little to live on. No, Miss +Crawford," he added, in a more serious tone, "there _are_ distinctions +which I should be miserable if I thought myself without any +chance--absolutely without chance or possibility of obtaining--but they +are of a different character." + +A look of consciousness as he spoke, and what seemed a consciousness +of manner on Miss Crawford's side as she made some laughing answer, +was sorrowfull food for Fanny's observation; and finding herself quite +unable to attend as she ought to Mrs. Grant, by whose side she was now +following the others, she had nearly resolved on going home immediately, +and only waited for courage to say so, when the sound of the great clock +at Mansfield Park, striking three, made her feel that she had +really been much longer absent than usual, and brought the previous +self-inquiry of whether she should take leave or not just then, and how, +to a very speedy issue. With undoubting decision she directly began her +adieus; and Edmund began at the same time to recollect that his mother +had been inquiring for her, and that he had walked down to the Parsonage +on purpose to bring her back. + +Fanny's hurry increased; and without in the least expecting Edmund's +attendance, she would have hastened away alone; but the general pace was +quickened, and they all accompanied her into the house, through which it +was necessary to pass. Dr. Grant was in the vestibule, and as they stopt +to speak to him she found, from Edmund's manner, that he _did_ mean to +go with her. He too was taking leave. She could not but be thankful. In +the moment of parting, Edmund was invited by Dr. Grant to eat his mutton +with him the next day; and Fanny had barely time for an unpleasant +feeling on the occasion, when Mrs. Grant, with sudden recollection, +turned to her and asked for the pleasure of her company too. This was +so new an attention, so perfectly new a circumstance in the events of +Fanny's life, that she was all surprise and embarrassment; and while +stammering out her great obligation, and her "but she did not suppose it +would be in her power," was looking at Edmund for his opinion and help. +But Edmund, delighted with her having such an happiness offered, and +ascertaining with half a look, and half a sentence, that she had no +objection but on her aunt's account, could not imagine that his mother +would make any difficulty of sparing her, and therefore gave his decided +open advice that the invitation should be accepted; and though Fanny +would not venture, even on his encouragement, to such a flight of +audacious independence, it was soon settled, that if nothing were heard +to the contrary, Mrs. Grant might expect her. + +"And you know what your dinner will be," said Mrs. Grant, smiling--"the +turkey, and I assure you a very fine one; for, my dear," turning to her +husband, "cook insists upon the turkey's being dressed to-morrow." + +"Very well, very well," cried Dr. Grant, "all the better; I am glad +to hear you have anything so good in the house. But Miss Price and Mr. +Edmund Bertram, I dare say, would take their chance. We none of us want +to hear the bill of fare. A friendly meeting, and not a fine dinner, +is all we have in view. A turkey, or a goose, or a leg of mutton, or +whatever you and your cook chuse to give us." + +The two cousins walked home together; and, except in the immediate +discussion of this engagement, which Edmund spoke of with the warmest +satisfaction, as so particularly desirable for her in the intimacy which +he saw with so much pleasure established, it was a silent walk; for +having finished that subject, he grew thoughtful and indisposed for any +other. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +"But why should Mrs. Grant ask Fanny?" said Lady Bertram. "How came she +to think of asking Fanny? Fanny never dines there, you know, in this +sort of way. I cannot spare her, and I am sure she does not want to go. +Fanny, you do not want to go, do you?" + +"If you put such a question to her," cried Edmund, preventing his +cousin's speaking, "Fanny will immediately say No; but I am sure, my +dear mother, she would like to go; and I can see no reason why she +should not." + +"I cannot imagine why Mrs. Grant should think of asking her? She never +did before. She used to ask your sisters now and then, but she never +asked Fanny." + +"If you cannot do without me, ma'am--" said Fanny, in a self-denying +tone. + +"But my mother will have my father with her all the evening." + +"To be sure, so I shall." + +"Suppose you take my father's opinion, ma'am." + +"That's well thought of. So I will, Edmund. I will ask Sir Thomas, as +soon as he comes in, whether I can do without her." + +"As you please, ma'am, on that head; but I meant my father's opinion +as to the _propriety_ of the invitation's being accepted or not; and +I think he will consider it a right thing by Mrs. Grant, as well as by +Fanny, that being the _first_ invitation it should be accepted." + +"I do not know. We will ask him. But he will be very much surprised that +Mrs. Grant should ask Fanny at all." + +There was nothing more to be said, or that could be said to any purpose, +till Sir Thomas were present; but the subject involving, as it did, +her own evening's comfort for the morrow, was so much uppermost in Lady +Bertram's mind, that half an hour afterwards, on his looking in for a +minute in his way from his plantation to his dressing-room, she called +him back again, when he had almost closed the door, with "Sir Thomas, +stop a moment--I have something to say to you." + +Her tone of calm languor, for she never took the trouble of raising her +voice, was always heard and attended to; and Sir Thomas came back. Her +story began; and Fanny immediately slipped out of the room; for to hear +herself the subject of any discussion with her uncle was more than her +nerves could bear. She was anxious, she knew--more anxious perhaps than +she ought to be--for what was it after all whether she went or staid? +but if her uncle were to be a great while considering and deciding, and +with very grave looks, and those grave looks directed to her, and +at last decide against her, she might not be able to appear properly +submissive and indifferent. Her cause, meanwhile, went on well. It +began, on Lady Bertram's part, with--"I have something to tell you that +will surprise you. Mrs. Grant has asked Fanny to dinner." + +"Well," said Sir Thomas, as if waiting more to accomplish the surprise. + +"Edmund wants her to go. But how can I spare her?" + +"She will be late," said Sir Thomas, taking out his watch; "but what is +your difficulty?" + +Edmund found himself obliged to speak and fill up the blanks in his +mother's story. He told the whole; and she had only to add, "So strange! +for Mrs. Grant never used to ask her." + +"But is it not very natural," observed Edmund, "that Mrs. Grant should +wish to procure so agreeable a visitor for her sister?" + +"Nothing can be more natural," said Sir Thomas, after a short +deliberation; "nor, were there no sister in the case, could anything, +in my opinion, be more natural. Mrs. Grant's shewing civility to Miss +Price, to Lady Bertram's niece, could never want explanation. The only +surprise I can feel is, that this should be the _first_ time of its +being paid. Fanny was perfectly right in giving only a conditional +answer. She appears to feel as she ought. But as I conclude that she +must wish to go, since all young people like to be together, I can see +no reason why she should be denied the indulgence." + +"But can I do without her, Sir Thomas?" + +"Indeed I think you may." + +"She always makes tea, you know, when my sister is not here." + +"Your sister, perhaps, may be prevailed on to spend the day with us, and +I shall certainly be at home." + +"Very well, then, Fanny may go, Edmund." + +The good news soon followed her. Edmund knocked at her door in his way +to his own. + +"Well, Fanny, it is all happily settled, and without the smallest +hesitation on your uncle's side. He had but one opinion. You are to go." + +"Thank you, I am _so_ glad," was Fanny's instinctive reply; though when +she had turned from him and shut the door, she could not help feeling, +"And yet why should I be glad? for am I not certain of seeing or hearing +something there to pain me?" + +In spite of this conviction, however, she was glad. Simple as such an +engagement might appear in other eyes, it had novelty and importance in +hers, for excepting the day at Sotherton, she had scarcely ever dined +out before; and though now going only half a mile, and only to three +people, still it was dining out, and all the little interests of +preparation were enjoyments in themselves. She had neither sympathy nor +assistance from those who ought to have entered into her feelings and +directed her taste; for Lady Bertram never thought of being useful to +anybody, and Mrs. Norris, when she came on the morrow, in consequence of +an early call and invitation from Sir Thomas, was in a very ill humour, +and seemed intent only on lessening her niece's pleasure, both present +and future, as much as possible. + +"Upon my word, Fanny, you are in high luck to meet with such attention +and indulgence! You ought to be very much obliged to Mrs. Grant for +thinking of you, and to your aunt for letting you go, and you ought to +look upon it as something extraordinary; for I hope you are aware that +there is no real occasion for your going into company in this sort of +way, or ever dining out at all; and it is what you must not depend upon +ever being repeated. Nor must you be fancying that the invitation is +meant as any particular compliment to _you_; the compliment is intended +to your uncle and aunt and me. Mrs. Grant thinks it a civility due to +_us_ to take a little notice of you, or else it would never have come +into her head, and you may be very certain that, if your cousin Julia +had been at home, you would not have been asked at all." + +Mrs. Norris had now so ingeniously done away all Mrs. Grant's part of +the favour, that Fanny, who found herself expected to speak, could only +say that she was very much obliged to her aunt Bertram for sparing her, +and that she was endeavouring to put her aunt's evening work in such a +state as to prevent her being missed. + +"Oh! depend upon it, your aunt can do very well without you, or you +would not be allowed to go. _I_ shall be here, so you may be quite easy +about your aunt. And I hope you will have a very _agreeable_ day, and +find it all mighty _delightful_. But I must observe that five is the +very awkwardest of all possible numbers to sit down to table; and I +cannot but be surprised that such an _elegant_ lady as Mrs. Grant should +not contrive better! And round their enormous great wide table, too, +which fills up the room so dreadfully! Had the doctor been contented to +take my dining-table when I came away, as anybody in their senses would +have done, instead of having that absurd new one of his own, which is +wider, literally wider than the dinner-table here, how infinitely better +it would have been! and how much more he would have been respected! for +people are never respected when they step out of their proper sphere. +Remember that, Fanny. Five--only five to be sitting round that table. +However, you will have dinner enough on it for ten, I dare say." + +Mrs. Norris fetched breath, and went on again. + +"The nonsense and folly of people's stepping out of their rank and +trying to appear above themselves, makes me think it right to give _you_ +a hint, Fanny, now that you are going into company without any of us; +and I do beseech and entreat you not to be putting yourself forward, and +talking and giving your opinion as if you were one of your cousins--as +if you were dear Mrs. Rushworth or Julia. _That_ will never do, believe +me. Remember, wherever you are, you must be the lowest and last; and +though Miss Crawford is in a manner at home at the Parsonage, you are +not to be taking place of her. And as to coming away at night, you are +to stay just as long as Edmund chuses. Leave him to settle _that_." + +"Yes, ma'am, I should not think of anything else." + +"And if it should rain, which I think exceedingly likely, for I never +saw it more threatening for a wet evening in my life, you must manage as +well as you can, and not be expecting the carriage to be sent for you. I +certainly do not go home to-night, and, therefore, the carriage will not +be out on my account; so you must make up your mind to what may happen, +and take your things accordingly." + +Her niece thought it perfectly reasonable. She rated her own claims +to comfort as low even as Mrs. Norris could; and when Sir Thomas soon +afterwards, just opening the door, said, "Fanny, at what time would you +have the carriage come round?" she felt a degree of astonishment which +made it impossible for her to speak. + +"My dear Sir Thomas!" cried Mrs. Norris, red with anger, "Fanny can +walk." + +"Walk!" repeated Sir Thomas, in a tone of most unanswerable dignity, and +coming farther into the room. "My niece walk to a dinner engagement at +this time of the year! Will twenty minutes after four suit you?" + +"Yes, sir," was Fanny's humble answer, given with the feelings almost +of a criminal towards Mrs. Norris; and not bearing to remain with her +in what might seem a state of triumph, she followed her uncle out of +the room, having staid behind him only long enough to hear these words +spoken in angry agitation-- + +"Quite unnecessary! a great deal too kind! But Edmund goes; true, it is +upon Edmund's account. I observed he was hoarse on Thursday night." + +But this could not impose on Fanny. She felt that the carriage was for +herself, and herself alone: and her uncle's consideration of her, coming +immediately after such representations from her aunt, cost her some +tears of gratitude when she was alone. + +The coachman drove round to a minute; another minute brought down the +gentleman; and as the lady had, with a most scrupulous fear of being +late, been many minutes seated in the drawing-room, Sir Thomas saw them +off in as good time as his own correctly punctual habits required. + +"Now I must look at you, Fanny," said Edmund, with the kind smile of an +affectionate brother, "and tell you how I like you; and as well as I can +judge by this light, you look very nicely indeed. What have you got on?" + +"The new dress that my uncle was so good as to give me on my cousin's +marriage. I hope it is not too fine; but I thought I ought to wear it as +soon as I could, and that I might not have such another opportunity all +the winter. I hope you do not think me too fine." + +"A woman can never be too fine while she is all in white. No, I see no +finery about you; nothing but what is perfectly proper. Your gown seems +very pretty. I like these glossy spots. Has not Miss Crawford a gown +something the same?" + +In approaching the Parsonage they passed close by the stable-yard and +coach-house. + +"Heyday!" said Edmund, "here's company, here's a carriage! who have they +got to meet us?" And letting down the side-glass to distinguish, "'Tis +Crawford's, Crawford's barouche, I protest! There are his own two men +pushing it back into its old quarters. He is here, of course. This is +quite a surprise, Fanny. I shall be very glad to see him." + +There was no occasion, there was no time for Fanny to say how very +differently she felt; but the idea of having such another to observe +her was a great increase of the trepidation with which she performed the +very awful ceremony of walking into the drawing-room. + +In the drawing-room Mr. Crawford certainly was, having been just long +enough arrived to be ready for dinner; and the smiles and pleased looks +of the three others standing round him, shewed how welcome was his +sudden resolution of coming to them for a few days on leaving Bath. +A very cordial meeting passed between him and Edmund; and with the +exception of Fanny, the pleasure was general; and even to _her_ there +might be some advantage in his presence, since every addition to the +party must rather forward her favourite indulgence of being suffered to +sit silent and unattended to. She was soon aware of this herself; for +though she must submit, as her own propriety of mind directed, in spite +of her aunt Norris's opinion, to being the principal lady in company, +and to all the little distinctions consequent thereon, she found, while +they were at table, such a happy flow of conversation prevailing, in +which she was not required to take any part--there was so much to be +said between the brother and sister about Bath, so much between the two +young men about hunting, so much of politics between Mr. Crawford and +Dr. Grant, and of everything and all together between Mr. Crawford +and Mrs. Grant, as to leave her the fairest prospect of having only +to listen in quiet, and of passing a very agreeable day. She could not +compliment the newly arrived gentleman, however, with any appearance of +interest, in a scheme for extending his stay at Mansfield, and sending +for his hunters from Norfolk, which, suggested by Dr. Grant, advised by +Edmund, and warmly urged by the two sisters, was soon in possession of +his mind, and which he seemed to want to be encouraged even by her to +resolve on. Her opinion was sought as to the probable continuance of the +open weather, but her answers were as short and indifferent as civility +allowed. She could not wish him to stay, and would much rather not have +him speak to her. + +Her two absent cousins, especially Maria, were much in her thoughts on +seeing him; but no embarrassing remembrance affected _his_ spirits. +Here he was again on the same ground where all had passed before, and +apparently as willing to stay and be happy without the Miss Bertrams, +as if he had never known Mansfield in any other state. She heard them +spoken of by him only in a general way, till they were all re-assembled +in the drawing-room, when Edmund, being engaged apart in some matter of +business with Dr. Grant, which seemed entirely to engross them, and +Mrs. Grant occupied at the tea-table, he began talking of them with more +particularity to his other sister. With a significant smile, which made +Fanny quite hate him, he said, "So! Rushworth and his fair bride are at +Brighton, I understand; happy man!" + +"Yes, they have been there about a fortnight, Miss Price, have they not? +And Julia is with them." + +"And Mr. Yates, I presume, is not far off." + +"Mr. Yates! Oh! we hear nothing of Mr. Yates. I do not imagine he +figures much in the letters to Mansfield Park; do you, Miss Price? I +think my friend Julia knows better than to entertain her father with Mr. +Yates." + +"Poor Rushworth and his two-and-forty speeches!" continued Crawford. +"Nobody can ever forget them. Poor fellow! I see him now--his toil and +his despair. Well, I am much mistaken if his lovely Maria will ever want +him to make two-and-forty speeches to her"; adding, with a momentary +seriousness, "She is too good for him--much too good." And then changing +his tone again to one of gentle gallantry, and addressing Fanny, he +said, "You were Mr. Rushworth's best friend. Your kindness and patience +can never be forgotten, your indefatigable patience in trying to make it +possible for him to learn his part--in trying to give him a brain +which nature had denied--to mix up an understanding for him out of the +superfluity of your own! _He_ might not have sense enough himself to +estimate your kindness, but I may venture to say that it had honour from +all the rest of the party." + +Fanny coloured, and said nothing. + +"It is as a dream, a pleasant dream!" he exclaimed, breaking forth +again, after a few minutes' musing. "I shall always look back on our +theatricals with exquisite pleasure. There was such an interest, such an +animation, such a spirit diffused. Everybody felt it. We were all alive. +There was employment, hope, solicitude, bustle, for every hour of +the day. Always some little objection, some little doubt, some little +anxiety to be got over. I never was happier." + +With silent indignation Fanny repeated to herself, "Never +happier!--never happier than when doing what you must know was not +justifiable!--never happier than when behaving so dishonourably and +unfeelingly! Oh! what a corrupted mind!" + +"We were unlucky, Miss Price," he continued, in a lower tone, to avoid +the possibility of being heard by Edmund, and not at all aware of her +feelings, "we certainly were very unlucky. Another week, only one other +week, would have been enough for us. I think if we had had the disposal +of events--if Mansfield Park had had the government of the winds +just for a week or two, about the equinox, there would have been +a difference. Not that we would have endangered his safety by any +tremendous weather--but only by a steady contrary wind, or a calm. I +think, Miss Price, we would have indulged ourselves with a week's calm +in the Atlantic at that season." + +He seemed determined to be answered; and Fanny, averting her face, said, +with a firmer tone than usual, "As far as _I_ am concerned, sir, I would +not have delayed his return for a day. My uncle disapproved it all so +entirely when he did arrive, that in my opinion everything had gone +quite far enough." + +She had never spoken so much at once to him in her life before, and +never so angrily to any one; and when her speech was over, she trembled +and blushed at her own daring. He was surprised; but after a few +moments' silent consideration of her, replied in a calmer, graver tone, +and as if the candid result of conviction, "I believe you are right. +It was more pleasant than prudent. We were getting too noisy." And +then turning the conversation, he would have engaged her on some other +subject, but her answers were so shy and reluctant that he could not +advance in any. + +Miss Crawford, who had been repeatedly eyeing Dr. Grant and Edmund, +now observed, "Those gentlemen must have some very interesting point to +discuss." + +"The most interesting in the world," replied her brother--"how to make +money; how to turn a good income into a better. Dr. Grant is giving +Bertram instructions about the living he is to step into so soon. I find +he takes orders in a few weeks. They were at it in the dining-parlour. I +am glad to hear Bertram will be so well off. He will have a very pretty +income to make ducks and drakes with, and earned without much trouble. I +apprehend he will not have less than seven hundred a year. Seven hundred +a year is a fine thing for a younger brother; and as of course he will +still live at home, it will be all for his _menus_ _plaisirs_; and a +sermon at Christmas and Easter, I suppose, will be the sum total of +sacrifice." + +His sister tried to laugh off her feelings by saying, "Nothing amuses me +more than the easy manner with which everybody settles the abundance of +those who have a great deal less than themselves. You would look rather +blank, Henry, if your _menus_ _plaisirs_ were to be limited to seven +hundred a year." + +"Perhaps I might; but all _that_ you know is entirely comparative. +Birthright and habit must settle the business. Bertram is certainly well +off for a cadet of even a baronet's family. By the time he is four or +five and twenty he will have seven hundred a year, and nothing to do for +it." + +Miss Crawford _could_ have said that there would be a something to do +and to suffer for it, which she could not think lightly of; but she +checked herself and let it pass; and tried to look calm and unconcerned +when the two gentlemen shortly afterwards joined them. + +"Bertram," said Henry Crawford, "I shall make a point of coming to +Mansfield to hear you preach your first sermon. I shall come on purpose +to encourage a young beginner. When is it to be? Miss Price, will not +you join me in encouraging your cousin? Will not you engage to attend +with your eyes steadily fixed on him the whole time--as I shall do--not +to lose a word; or only looking off just to note down any sentence +preeminently beautiful? We will provide ourselves with tablets and a +pencil. When will it be? You must preach at Mansfield, you know, that +Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram may hear you." + +"I shall keep clear of you, Crawford, as long as I can," said Edmund; +"for you would be more likely to disconcert me, and I should be more +sorry to see you trying at it than almost any other man." + +"Will he not feel this?" thought Fanny. "No, he can feel nothing as he +ought." + +The party being now all united, and the chief talkers attracting each +other, she remained in tranquillity; and as a whist-table was formed +after tea--formed really for the amusement of Dr. Grant, by his +attentive wife, though it was not to be supposed so--and Miss Crawford +took her harp, she had nothing to do but to listen; and her tranquillity +remained undisturbed the rest of the evening, except when Mr. Crawford +now and then addressed to her a question or observation, which she could +not avoid answering. Miss Crawford was too much vexed by what had passed +to be in a humour for anything but music. With that she soothed herself +and amused her friend. + +The assurance of Edmund's being so soon to take orders, coming upon her +like a blow that had been suspended, and still hoped uncertain and at a +distance, was felt with resentment and mortification. She was very angry +with him. She had thought her influence more. She _had_ begun to think +of him; she felt that she had, with great regard, with almost decided +intentions; but she would now meet him with his own cool feelings. It +was plain that he could have no serious views, no true attachment, by +fixing himself in a situation which he must know she would never +stoop to. She would learn to match him in his indifference. She would +henceforth admit his attentions without any idea beyond immediate +amusement. If _he_ could so command his affections, _hers_ should do her +no harm. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Henry Crawford had quite made up his mind by the next morning to give +another fortnight to Mansfield, and having sent for his hunters, and +written a few lines of explanation to the Admiral, he looked round at +his sister as he sealed and threw the letter from him, and seeing the +coast clear of the rest of the family, said, with a smile, "And how do +you think I mean to amuse myself, Mary, on the days that I do not hunt? +I am grown too old to go out more than three times a week; but I have a +plan for the intermediate days, and what do you think it is?" + +"To walk and ride with me, to be sure." + +"Not exactly, though I shall be happy to do both, but _that_ would be +exercise only to my body, and I must take care of my mind. Besides, +_that_ would be all recreation and indulgence, without the wholesome +alloy of labour, and I do not like to eat the bread of idleness. No, my +plan is to make Fanny Price in love with me." + +"Fanny Price! Nonsense! No, no. You ought to be satisfied with her two +cousins." + +"But I cannot be satisfied without Fanny Price, without making a small +hole in Fanny Price's heart. You do not seem properly aware of her +claims to notice. When we talked of her last night, you none of you +seemed sensible of the wonderful improvement that has taken place in her +looks within the last six weeks. You see her every day, and therefore do +not notice it; but I assure you she is quite a different creature from +what she was in the autumn. She was then merely a quiet, modest, not +plain-looking girl, but she is now absolutely pretty. I used to think +she had neither complexion nor countenance; but in that soft skin of +hers, so frequently tinged with a blush as it was yesterday, there is +decided beauty; and from what I observed of her eyes and mouth, I do +not despair of their being capable of expression enough when she +has anything to express. And then, her air, her manner, her _tout_ +_ensemble_, is so indescribably improved! She must be grown two inches, +at least, since October." + +"Phoo! phoo! This is only because there were no tall women to compare +her with, and because she has got a new gown, and you never saw her so +well dressed before. She is just what she was in October, believe me. +The truth is, that she was the only girl in company for you to notice, +and you must have a somebody. I have always thought her pretty--not +strikingly pretty--but 'pretty enough,' as people say; a sort of beauty +that grows on one. Her eyes should be darker, but she has a sweet smile; +but as for this wonderful degree of improvement, I am sure it may all +be resolved into a better style of dress, and your having nobody else to +look at; and therefore, if you do set about a flirtation with her, you +never will persuade me that it is in compliment to her beauty, or that +it proceeds from anything but your own idleness and folly." + +Her brother gave only a smile to this accusation, and soon afterwards +said, "I do not quite know what to make of Miss Fanny. I do not +understand her. I could not tell what she would be at yesterday. What is +her character? Is she solemn? Is she queer? Is she prudish? Why did she +draw back and look so grave at me? I could hardly get her to speak. I +never was so long in company with a girl in my life, trying to entertain +her, and succeed so ill! Never met with a girl who looked so grave on +me! I must try to get the better of this. Her looks say, 'I will not +like you, I am determined not to like you'; and I say she shall." + +"Foolish fellow! And so this is her attraction after all! This it is, +her not caring about you, which gives her such a soft skin, and makes +her so much taller, and produces all these charms and graces! I do +desire that you will not be making her really unhappy; a _little_ love, +perhaps, may animate and do her good, but I will not have you plunge +her deep, for she is as good a little creature as ever lived, and has a +great deal of feeling." + +"It can be but for a fortnight," said Henry; "and if a fortnight can +kill her, she must have a constitution which nothing could save. No, I +will not do her any harm, dear little soul! only want her to look kindly +on me, to give me smiles as well as blushes, to keep a chair for me by +herself wherever we are, and be all animation when I take it and talk +to her; to think as I think, be interested in all my possessions and +pleasures, try to keep me longer at Mansfield, and feel when I go away +that she shall be never happy again. I want nothing more." + +"Moderation itself!" said Mary. "I can have no scruples now. Well, you +will have opportunities enough of endeavouring to recommend yourself, +for we are a great deal together." + +And without attempting any farther remonstrance, she left Fanny to +her fate, a fate which, had not Fanny's heart been guarded in a way +unsuspected by Miss Crawford, might have been a little harder than she +deserved; for although there doubtless are such unconquerable young +ladies of eighteen (or one should not read about them) as are never +to be persuaded into love against their judgment by all that talent, +manner, attention, and flattery can do, I have no inclination to +believe Fanny one of them, or to think that with so much tenderness +of disposition, and so much taste as belonged to her, she could have +escaped heart-whole from the courtship (though the courtship only of +a fortnight) of such a man as Crawford, in spite of there being some +previous ill opinion of him to be overcome, had not her affection been +engaged elsewhere. With all the security which love of another and +disesteem of him could give to the peace of mind he was attacking, +his continued attentions--continued, but not obtrusive, and adapting +themselves more and more to the gentleness and delicacy of her +character--obliged her very soon to dislike him less than formerly. She +had by no means forgotten the past, and she thought as ill of him as +ever; but she felt his powers: he was entertaining; and his manners were +so improved, so polite, so seriously and blamelessly polite, that it was +impossible not to be civil to him in return. + +A very few days were enough to effect this; and at the end of those few +days, circumstances arose which had a tendency rather to forward his +views of pleasing her, inasmuch as they gave her a degree of happiness +which must dispose her to be pleased with everybody. William, her +brother, the so long absent and dearly loved brother, was in England +again. She had a letter from him herself, a few hurried happy lines, +written as the ship came up Channel, and sent into Portsmouth with +the first boat that left the Antwerp at anchor in Spithead; and when +Crawford walked up with the newspaper in his hand, which he had hoped +would bring the first tidings, he found her trembling with joy over this +letter, and listening with a glowing, grateful countenance to the kind +invitation which her uncle was most collectedly dictating in reply. + +It was but the day before that Crawford had made himself thoroughly +master of the subject, or had in fact become at all aware of her having +such a brother, or his being in such a ship, but the interest then +excited had been very properly lively, determining him on his return to +town to apply for information as to the probable period of the Antwerp's +return from the Mediterranean, etc.; and the good luck which attended +his early examination of ship news the next morning seemed the reward of +his ingenuity in finding out such a method of pleasing her, as well as +of his dutiful attention to the Admiral, in having for many years +taken in the paper esteemed to have the earliest naval intelligence. He +proved, however, to be too late. All those fine first feelings, of which +he had hoped to be the exciter, were already given. But his intention, +the kindness of his intention, was thankfully acknowledged: quite +thankfully and warmly, for she was elevated beyond the common timidity +of her mind by the flow of her love for William. + +This dear William would soon be amongst them. There could be no doubt +of his obtaining leave of absence immediately, for he was still only a +midshipman; and as his parents, from living on the spot, must already +have seen him, and be seeing him perhaps daily, his direct holidays +might with justice be instantly given to the sister, who had been his +best correspondent through a period of seven years, and the uncle who +had done most for his support and advancement; and accordingly the reply +to her reply, fixing a very early day for his arrival, came as soon as +possible; and scarcely ten days had passed since Fanny had been in +the agitation of her first dinner-visit, when she found herself in an +agitation of a higher nature, watching in the hall, in the lobby, on +the stairs, for the first sound of the carriage which was to bring her a +brother. + +It came happily while she was thus waiting; and there being neither +ceremony nor fearfulness to delay the moment of meeting, she was with +him as he entered the house, and the first minutes of exquisite feeling +had no interruption and no witnesses, unless the servants chiefly intent +upon opening the proper doors could be called such. This was exactly +what Sir Thomas and Edmund had been separately conniving at, as each +proved to the other by the sympathetic alacrity with which they both +advised Mrs. Norris's continuing where she was, instead of rushing out +into the hall as soon as the noises of the arrival reached them. + +William and Fanny soon shewed themselves; and Sir Thomas had the +pleasure of receiving, in his protege, certainly a very different person +from the one he had equipped seven years ago, but a young man of an +open, pleasant countenance, and frank, unstudied, but feeling and +respectful manners, and such as confirmed him his friend. + +It was long before Fanny could recover from the agitating happiness of +such an hour as was formed by the last thirty minutes of expectation, +and the first of fruition; it was some time even before her happiness +could be said to make her happy, before the disappointment inseparable +from the alteration of person had vanished, and she could see in him the +same William as before, and talk to him, as her heart had been yearning +to do through many a past year. That time, however, did gradually come, +forwarded by an affection on his side as warm as her own, and much less +encumbered by refinement or self-distrust. She was the first object +of his love, but it was a love which his stronger spirits, and bolder +temper, made it as natural for him to express as to feel. On the +morrow they were walking about together with true enjoyment, and every +succeeding morrow renewed a _tete-a-tete_ which Sir Thomas could not but +observe with complacency, even before Edmund had pointed it out to him. + +Excepting the moments of peculiar delight, which any marked or +unlooked-for instance of Edmund's consideration of her in the last few +months had excited, Fanny had never known so much felicity in her life, +as in this unchecked, equal, fearless intercourse with the brother and +friend who was opening all his heart to her, telling her all his hopes +and fears, plans, and solicitudes respecting that long thought of, +dearly earned, and justly valued blessing of promotion; who could give +her direct and minute information of the father and mother, brothers and +sisters, of whom she very seldom heard; who was interested in all the +comforts and all the little hardships of her home at Mansfield; ready to +think of every member of that home as she directed, or differing only +by a less scrupulous opinion, and more noisy abuse of their aunt Norris, +and with whom (perhaps the dearest indulgence of the whole) all the evil +and good of their earliest years could be gone over again, and every +former united pain and pleasure retraced with the fondest recollection. +An advantage this, a strengthener of love, in which even the conjugal +tie is beneath the fraternal. Children of the same family, the same +blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of +enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connexions can supply; and +it must be by a long and unnatural estrangement, by a divorce which +no subsequent connexion can justify, if such precious remains of the +earliest attachments are ever entirely outlived. Too often, alas! it is +so. Fraternal love, sometimes almost everything, is at others worse than +nothing. But with William and Fanny Price it was still a sentiment +in all its prime and freshness, wounded by no opposition of interest, +cooled by no separate attachment, and feeling the influence of time and +absence only in its increase. + +An affection so amiable was advancing each in the opinion of all who had +hearts to value anything good. Henry Crawford was as much struck with +it as any. He honoured the warm-hearted, blunt fondness of the young +sailor, which led him to say, with his hands stretched towards Fanny's +head, "Do you know, I begin to like that queer fashion already, though +when I first heard of such things being done in England, I could +not believe it; and when Mrs. Brown, and the other women at the +Commissioner's at Gibraltar, appeared in the same trim, I thought they +were mad; but Fanny can reconcile me to anything"; and saw, with lively +admiration, the glow of Fanny's cheek, the brightness of her eye, the +deep interest, the absorbed attention, while her brother was describing +any of the imminent hazards, or terrific scenes, which such a period at +sea must supply. + +It was a picture which Henry Crawford had moral taste enough to value. +Fanny's attractions increased--increased twofold; for the sensibility +which beautified her complexion and illumined her countenance was an +attraction in itself. He was no longer in doubt of the capabilities of +her heart. She had feeling, genuine feeling. It would be something to +be loved by such a girl, to excite the first ardours of her young +unsophisticated mind! She interested him more than he had foreseen. A +fortnight was not enough. His stay became indefinite. + +William was often called on by his uncle to be the talker. His recitals +were amusing in themselves to Sir Thomas, but the chief object in +seeking them was to understand the reciter, to know the young man by his +histories; and he listened to his clear, simple, spirited details +with full satisfaction, seeing in them the proof of good principles, +professional knowledge, energy, courage, and cheerfulness, everything +that could deserve or promise well. Young as he was, William had already +seen a great deal. He had been in the Mediterranean; in the West Indies; +in the Mediterranean again; had been often taken on shore by the favour +of his captain, and in the course of seven years had known every variety +of danger which sea and war together could offer. With such means in +his power he had a right to be listened to; and though Mrs. Norris could +fidget about the room, and disturb everybody in quest of two needlefuls +of thread or a second-hand shirt button, in the midst of her nephew's +account of a shipwreck or an engagement, everybody else was attentive; +and even Lady Bertram could not hear of such horrors unmoved, or +without sometimes lifting her eyes from her work to say, "Dear me! how +disagreeable! I wonder anybody can ever go to sea." + +To Henry Crawford they gave a different feeling. He longed to have been +at sea, and seen and done and suffered as much. His heart was warmed, +his fancy fired, and he felt the highest respect for a lad who, before +he was twenty, had gone through such bodily hardships and given such +proofs of mind. The glory of heroism, of usefulness, of exertion, of +endurance, made his own habits of selfish indulgence appear in shameful +contrast; and he wished he had been a William Price, distinguishing +himself and working his way to fortune and consequence with so much +self-respect and happy ardour, instead of what he was! + +The wish was rather eager than lasting. He was roused from the reverie +of retrospection and regret produced by it, by some inquiry from Edmund +as to his plans for the next day's hunting; and he found it was as well +to be a man of fortune at once with horses and grooms at his command. +In one respect it was better, as it gave him the means of conferring a +kindness where he wished to oblige. With spirits, courage, and curiosity +up to anything, William expressed an inclination to hunt; and Crawford +could mount him without the slightest inconvenience to himself, and with +only some scruples to obviate in Sir Thomas, who knew better than his +nephew the value of such a loan, and some alarms to reason away in +Fanny. She feared for William; by no means convinced by all that he +could relate of his own horsemanship in various countries, of the +scrambling parties in which he had been engaged, the rough horses and +mules he had ridden, or his many narrow escapes from dreadful falls, +that he was at all equal to the management of a high-fed hunter in an +English fox-chase; nor till he returned safe and well, without accident +or discredit, could she be reconciled to the risk, or feel any of that +obligation to Mr. Crawford for lending the horse which he had fully +intended it should produce. When it was proved, however, to have done +William no harm, she could allow it to be a kindness, and even reward +the owner with a smile when the animal was one minute tendered to his +use again; and the next, with the greatest cordiality, and in a manner +not to be resisted, made over to his use entirely so long as he remained +in Northamptonshire. + + [End volume one of this edition. + Printed by T. and A. Constable, + Printers to Her Majesty at + the Edinburgh University Press] + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +The intercourse of the two families was at this period more nearly +restored to what it had been in the autumn, than any member of the +old intimacy had thought ever likely to be again. The return of Henry +Crawford, and the arrival of William Price, had much to do with it, +but much was still owing to Sir Thomas's more than toleration of the +neighbourly attempts at the Parsonage. His mind, now disengaged from +the cares which had pressed on him at first, was at leisure to find +the Grants and their young inmates really worth visiting; and though +infinitely above scheming or contriving for any the most advantageous +matrimonial establishment that could be among the apparent possibilities +of any one most dear to him, and disdaining even as a littleness the +being quick-sighted on such points, he could not avoid perceiving, in +a grand and careless way, that Mr. Crawford was somewhat distinguishing +his niece--nor perhaps refrain (though unconsciously) from giving a more +willing assent to invitations on that account. + +His readiness, however, in agreeing to dine at the Parsonage, when the +general invitation was at last hazarded, after many debates and many +doubts as to whether it were worth while, "because Sir Thomas seemed +so ill inclined, and Lady Bertram was so indolent!" proceeded from +good-breeding and goodwill alone, and had nothing to do with Mr. +Crawford, but as being one in an agreeable group: for it was in the +course of that very visit that he first began to think that any one in +the habit of such idle observations _would_ _have_ _thought_ that Mr. +Crawford was the admirer of Fanny Price. + +The meeting was generally felt to be a pleasant one, being composed in a +good proportion of those who would talk and those who would listen; +and the dinner itself was elegant and plentiful, according to the usual +style of the Grants, and too much according to the usual habits of +all to raise any emotion except in Mrs. Norris, who could never behold +either the wide table or the number of dishes on it with patience, and +who did always contrive to experience some evil from the passing of the +servants behind her chair, and to bring away some fresh conviction of +its being impossible among so many dishes but that some must be cold. + +In the evening it was found, according to the predetermination of Mrs. +Grant and her sister, that after making up the whist-table there would +remain sufficient for a round game, and everybody being as perfectly +complying and without a choice as on such occasions they always are, +speculation was decided on almost as soon as whist; and Lady Bertram +soon found herself in the critical situation of being applied to for her +own choice between the games, and being required either to draw a card +for whist or not. She hesitated. Luckily Sir Thomas was at hand. + +"What shall I do, Sir Thomas? Whist and speculation; which will amuse me +most?" + +Sir Thomas, after a moment's thought, recommended speculation. He was +a whist player himself, and perhaps might feel that it would not much +amuse him to have her for a partner. + +"Very well," was her ladyship's contented answer; "then speculation, if +you please, Mrs. Grant. I know nothing about it, but Fanny must teach +me." + +Here Fanny interposed, however, with anxious protestations of her own +equal ignorance; she had never played the game nor seen it played in +her life; and Lady Bertram felt a moment's indecision again; but upon +everybody's assuring her that nothing could be so easy, that it was the +easiest game on the cards, and Henry Crawford's stepping forward with a +most earnest request to be allowed to sit between her ladyship and Miss +Price, and teach them both, it was so settled; and Sir Thomas, Mrs. +Norris, and Dr. and Mrs. Grant being seated at the table of prime +intellectual state and dignity, the remaining six, under Miss Crawford's +direction, were arranged round the other. It was a fine arrangement +for Henry Crawford, who was close to Fanny, and with his hands full of +business, having two persons' cards to manage as well as his own; for +though it was impossible for Fanny not to feel herself mistress of the +rules of the game in three minutes, he had yet to inspirit her play, +sharpen her avarice, and harden her heart, which, especially in any +competition with William, was a work of some difficulty; and as for Lady +Bertram, he must continue in charge of all her fame and fortune through +the whole evening; and if quick enough to keep her from looking at her +cards when the deal began, must direct her in whatever was to be done +with them to the end of it. + +He was in high spirits, doing everything with happy ease, and preeminent +in all the lively turns, quick resources, and playful impudence that +could do honour to the game; and the round table was altogether a very +comfortable contrast to the steady sobriety and orderly silence of the +other. + +Twice had Sir Thomas inquired into the enjoyment and success of his +lady, but in vain; no pause was long enough for the time his measured +manner needed; and very little of her state could be known till Mrs. +Grant was able, at the end of the first rubber, to go to her and pay her +compliments. + +"I hope your ladyship is pleased with the game." + +"Oh dear, yes! very entertaining indeed. A very odd game. I do not know +what it is all about. I am never to see my cards; and Mr. Crawford does +all the rest." + +"Bertram," said Crawford, some time afterwards, taking the opportunity +of a little languor in the game, "I have never told you what happened to +me yesterday in my ride home." They had been hunting together, and were +in the midst of a good run, and at some distance from Mansfield, when +his horse being found to have flung a shoe, Henry Crawford had been +obliged to give up, and make the best of his way back. "I told you I +lost my way after passing that old farmhouse with the yew-trees, because +I can never bear to ask; but I have not told you that, with my usual +luck--for I never do wrong without gaining by it--I found myself in due +time in the very place which I had a curiosity to see. I was suddenly, +upon turning the corner of a steepish downy field, in the midst of +a retired little village between gently rising hills; a small stream +before me to be forded, a church standing on a sort of knoll to my +right--which church was strikingly large and handsome for the place, and +not a gentleman or half a gentleman's house to be seen excepting one--to +be presumed the Parsonage--within a stone's throw of the said knoll and +church. I found myself, in short, in Thornton Lacey." + +"It sounds like it," said Edmund; "but which way did you turn after +passing Sewell's farm?" + +"I answer no such irrelevant and insidious questions; though were I to +answer all that you could put in the course of an hour, you would never +be able to prove that it was _not_ Thornton Lacey--for such it certainly +was." + +"You inquired, then?" + +"No, I never inquire. But I _told_ a man mending a hedge that it was +Thornton Lacey, and he agreed to it." + +"You have a good memory. I had forgotten having ever told you half so +much of the place." + +Thornton Lacey was the name of his impending living, as Miss Crawford +well knew; and her interest in a negotiation for William Price's knave +increased. + +"Well," continued Edmund, "and how did you like what you saw?" + +"Very much indeed. You are a lucky fellow. There will be work for five +summers at least before the place is liveable." + +"No, no, not so bad as that. The farmyard must be moved, I grant you; +but I am not aware of anything else. The house is by no means bad, and +when the yard is removed, there may be a very tolerable approach to it." + +"The farmyard must be cleared away entirely, and planted up to shut +out the blacksmith's shop. The house must be turned to front the east +instead of the north--the entrance and principal rooms, I mean, must be +on that side, where the view is really very pretty; I am sure it may be +done. And _there_ must be your approach, through what is at present the +garden. You must make a new garden at what is now the back of the house; +which will be giving it the best aspect in the world, sloping to the +south-east. The ground seems precisely formed for it. I rode fifty yards +up the lane, between the church and the house, in order to look about +me; and saw how it might all be. Nothing can be easier. The meadows +beyond what _will_ _be_ the garden, as well as what now _is_, sweeping +round from the lane I stood in to the north-east, that is, to the +principal road through the village, must be all laid together, of +course; very pretty meadows they are, finely sprinkled with timber. They +belong to the living, I suppose; if not, you must purchase them. Then +the stream--something must be done with the stream; but I could not +quite determine what. I had two or three ideas." + +"And I have two or three ideas also," said Edmund, "and one of them is, +that very little of your plan for Thornton Lacey will ever be put in +practice. I must be satisfied with rather less ornament and beauty. I +think the house and premises may be made comfortable, and given the air +of a gentleman's residence, without any very heavy expense, and that +must suffice me; and, I hope, may suffice all who care about me." + +Miss Crawford, a little suspicious and resentful of a certain tone of +voice, and a certain half-look attending the last expression of his +hope, made a hasty finish of her dealings with William Price; and +securing his knave at an exorbitant rate, exclaimed, "There, I will +stake my last like a woman of spirit. No cold prudence for me. I am not +born to sit still and do nothing. If I lose the game, it shall not be +from not striving for it." + +The game was hers, and only did not pay her for what she had given +to secure it. Another deal proceeded, and Crawford began again about +Thornton Lacey. + +"My plan may not be the best possible: I had not many minutes to form +it in; but you must do a good deal. The place deserves it, and you +will find yourself not satisfied with much less than it is capable of. +(Excuse me, your ladyship must not see your cards. There, let them lie +just before you.) The place deserves it, Bertram. You talk of giving it +the air of a gentleman's residence. _That_ will be done by the removal +of the farmyard; for, independent of that terrible nuisance, I never saw +a house of the kind which had in itself so much the air of a +gentleman's residence, so much the look of a something above a mere +parsonage-house--above the expenditure of a few hundreds a year. It is +not a scrambling collection of low single rooms, with as many roofs +as windows; it is not cramped into the vulgar compactness of a square +farmhouse: it is a solid, roomy, mansion-like looking house, such as +one might suppose a respectable old country family had lived in from +generation to generation, through two centuries at least, and were now +spending from two to three thousand a year in." Miss Crawford listened, +and Edmund agreed to this. "The air of a gentleman's residence, +therefore, you cannot but give it, if you do anything. But it is capable +of much more. (Let me see, Mary; Lady Bertram bids a dozen for that +queen; no, no, a dozen is more than it is worth. Lady Bertram does not +bid a dozen. She will have nothing to say to it. Go on, go on.) By some +such improvements as I have suggested (I do not really require you to +proceed upon my plan, though, by the bye, I doubt anybody's striking out +a better) you may give it a higher character. You may raise it into +a _place_. From being the mere gentleman's residence, it becomes, by +judicious improvement, the residence of a man of education, taste, +modern manners, good connexions. All this may be stamped on it; and that +house receive such an air as to make its owner be set down as the +great landholder of the parish by every creature travelling the road; +especially as there is no real squire's house to dispute the point--a +circumstance, between ourselves, to enhance the value of such a +situation in point of privilege and independence beyond all calculation. +_You_ think with me, I hope" (turning with a softened voice to Fanny). +"Have you ever seen the place?" + +Fanny gave a quick negative, and tried to hide her interest in the +subject by an eager attention to her brother, who was driving as hard a +bargain, and imposing on her as much as he could; but Crawford pursued +with "No, no, you must not part with the queen. You have bought her too +dearly, and your brother does not offer half her value. No, no, sir, +hands off, hands off. Your sister does not part with the queen. She is +quite determined. The game will be yours," turning to her again; "it +will certainly be yours." + +"And Fanny had much rather it were William's," said Edmund, smiling at +her. "Poor Fanny! not allowed to cheat herself as she wishes!" + +"Mr. Bertram," said Miss Crawford, a few minutes afterwards, "you know +Henry to be such a capital improver, that you cannot possibly engage in +anything of the sort at Thornton Lacey without accepting his help. Only +think how useful he was at Sotherton! Only think what grand things were +produced there by our all going with him one hot day in August to drive +about the grounds, and see his genius take fire. There we went, and +there we came home again; and what was done there is not to be told!" + +Fanny's eyes were turned on Crawford for a moment with an expression +more than grave--even reproachful; but on catching his, were instantly +withdrawn. With something of consciousness he shook his head at his +sister, and laughingly replied, "I cannot say there was much done at +Sotherton; but it was a hot day, and we were all walking after each +other, and bewildered." As soon as a general buzz gave him shelter, he +added, in a low voice, directed solely at Fanny, "I should be sorry to +have my powers of _planning_ judged of by the day at Sotherton. I see +things very differently now. Do not think of me as I appeared then." + +Sotherton was a word to catch Mrs. Norris, and being just then in the +happy leisure which followed securing the odd trick by Sir Thomas's +capital play and her own against Dr. and Mrs. Grant's great hands, +she called out, in high good-humour, "Sotherton! Yes, that is a place, +indeed, and we had a charming day there. William, you are quite out of +luck; but the next time you come, I hope dear Mr. and Mrs. Rushworth +will be at home, and I am sure I can answer for your being kindly +received by both. Your cousins are not of a sort to forget their +relations, and Mr. Rushworth is a most amiable man. They are at Brighton +now, you know; in one of the best houses there, as Mr. Rushworth's fine +fortune gives them a right to be. I do not exactly know the distance, +but when you get back to Portsmouth, if it is not very far off, you +ought to go over and pay your respects to them; and I could send a +little parcel by you that I want to get conveyed to your cousins." + +"I should be very happy, aunt; but Brighton is almost by Beachey Head; +and if I could get so far, I could not expect to be welcome in such a +smart place as that--poor scrubby midshipman as I am." + +Mrs. Norris was beginning an eager assurance of the affability he might +depend on, when she was stopped by Sir Thomas's saying with authority, +"I do not advise your going to Brighton, William, as I trust you may +soon have more convenient opportunities of meeting; but my daughters +would be happy to see their cousins anywhere; and you will find Mr. +Rushworth most sincerely disposed to regard all the connexions of our +family as his own." + +"I would rather find him private secretary to the First Lord than +anything else," was William's only answer, in an undervoice, not meant +to reach far, and the subject dropped. + +As yet Sir Thomas had seen nothing to remark in Mr. Crawford's +behaviour; but when the whist-table broke up at the end of the second +rubber, and leaving Dr. Grant and Mrs. Norris to dispute over their last +play, he became a looker-on at the other, he found his niece the +object of attentions, or rather of professions, of a somewhat pointed +character. + +Henry Crawford was in the first glow of another scheme about Thornton +Lacey; and not being able to catch Edmund's ear, was detailing it to his +fair neighbour with a look of considerable earnestness. His scheme was +to rent the house himself the following winter, that he might have a +home of his own in that neighbourhood; and it was not merely for the use +of it in the hunting-season (as he was then telling her), though _that_ +consideration had certainly some weight, feeling as he did that, in +spite of all Dr. Grant's very great kindness, it was impossible for him +and his horses to be accommodated where they now were without material +inconvenience; but his attachment to that neighbourhood did not depend +upon one amusement or one season of the year: he had set his heart upon +having a something there that he could come to at any time, a little +homestall at his command, where all the holidays of his year might be +spent, and he might find himself continuing, improving, and _perfecting_ +that friendship and intimacy with the Mansfield Park family which was +increasing in value to him every day. Sir Thomas heard and was not +offended. There was no want of respect in the young man's address; +and Fanny's reception of it was so proper and modest, so calm and +uninviting, that he had nothing to censure in her. She said little, +assented only here and there, and betrayed no inclination either of +appropriating any part of the compliment to herself, or of strengthening +his views in favour of Northamptonshire. Finding by whom he was +observed, Henry Crawford addressed himself on the same subject to Sir +Thomas, in a more everyday tone, but still with feeling. + +"I want to be your neighbour, Sir Thomas, as you have, perhaps, heard me +telling Miss Price. May I hope for your acquiescence, and for your not +influencing your son against such a tenant?" + +Sir Thomas, politely bowing, replied, "It is the only way, sir, in which +I could _not_ wish you established as a permanent neighbour; but I hope, +and believe, that Edmund will occupy his own house at Thornton Lacey. +Edmund, am I saying too much?" + +Edmund, on this appeal, had first to hear what was going on; but, on +understanding the question, was at no loss for an answer. + +"Certainly, sir, I have no idea but of residence. But, Crawford, though +I refuse you as a tenant, come to me as a friend. Consider the house as +half your own every winter, and we will add to the stables on your own +improved plan, and with all the improvements of your improved plan that +may occur to you this spring." + +"We shall be the losers," continued Sir Thomas. "His going, though only +eight miles, will be an unwelcome contraction of our family circle; but +I should have been deeply mortified if any son of mine could reconcile +himself to doing less. It is perfectly natural that you should not have +thought much on the subject, Mr. Crawford. But a parish has wants and +claims which can be known only by a clergyman constantly resident, and +which no proxy can be capable of satisfying to the same extent. Edmund +might, in the common phrase, do the duty of Thornton, that is, he might +read prayers and preach, without giving up Mansfield Park: he might ride +over every Sunday, to a house nominally inhabited, and go through divine +service; he might be the clergyman of Thornton Lacey every seventh day, +for three or four hours, if that would content him. But it will not. +He knows that human nature needs more lessons than a weekly sermon can +convey; and that if he does not live among his parishioners, and prove +himself, by constant attention, their well-wisher and friend, he does +very little either for their good or his own." + +Mr. Crawford bowed his acquiescence. + +"I repeat again," added Sir Thomas, "that Thornton Lacey is the only +house in the neighbourhood in which I should _not_ be happy to wait on +Mr. Crawford as occupier." + +Mr. Crawford bowed his thanks. + +"Sir Thomas," said Edmund, "undoubtedly understands the duty of a parish +priest. We must hope his son may prove that _he_ knows it too." + +Whatever effect Sir Thomas's little harangue might really produce on Mr. +Crawford, it raised some awkward sensations in two of the others, two +of his most attentive listeners--Miss Crawford and Fanny. One of +whom, having never before understood that Thornton was so soon and so +completely to be his home, was pondering with downcast eyes on what it +would be _not_ to see Edmund every day; and the other, startled from the +agreeable fancies she had been previously indulging on the strength of +her brother's description, no longer able, in the picture she had +been forming of a future Thornton, to shut out the church, sink the +clergyman, and see only the respectable, elegant, modernised, and +occasional residence of a man of independent fortune, was considering +Sir Thomas, with decided ill-will, as the destroyer of all this, and +suffering the more from that involuntary forbearance which his character +and manner commanded, and from not daring to relieve herself by a single +attempt at throwing ridicule on his cause. + +All the agreeable of _her_ speculation was over for that hour. It was +time to have done with cards, if sermons prevailed; and she was glad to +find it necessary to come to a conclusion, and be able to refresh her +spirits by a change of place and neighbour. + +The chief of the party were now collected irregularly round the +fire, and waiting the final break-up. William and Fanny were the most +detached. They remained together at the otherwise deserted card-table, +talking very comfortably, and not thinking of the rest, till some of the +rest began to think of them. Henry Crawford's chair was the first to be +given a direction towards them, and he sat silently observing them for a +few minutes; himself, in the meanwhile, observed by Sir Thomas, who was +standing in chat with Dr. Grant. + +"This is the assembly night," said William. "If I were at Portsmouth I +should be at it, perhaps." + +"But you do not wish yourself at Portsmouth, William?" + +"No, Fanny, that I do not. I shall have enough of Portsmouth and of +dancing too, when I cannot have you. And I do not know that there would +be any good in going to the assembly, for I might not get a partner. +The Portsmouth girls turn up their noses at anybody who has not a +commission. One might as well be nothing as a midshipman. One _is_ +nothing, indeed. You remember the Gregorys; they are grown up amazing +fine girls, but they will hardly speak to _me_, because Lucy is courted +by a lieutenant." + +"Oh! shame, shame! But never mind it, William" (her own cheeks in a +glow of indignation as she spoke). "It is not worth minding. It is no +reflection on _you_; it is no more than what the greatest admirals have +all experienced, more or less, in their time. You must think of that, +you must try to make up your mind to it as one of the hardships which +fall to every sailor's share, like bad weather and hard living, only +with this advantage, that there will be an end to it, that there will +come a time when you will have nothing of that sort to endure. When you +are a lieutenant! only think, William, when you are a lieutenant, how +little you will care for any nonsense of this kind." + +"I begin to think I shall never be a lieutenant, Fanny. Everybody gets +made but me." + +"Oh! my dear William, do not talk so; do not be so desponding. My uncle +says nothing, but I am sure he will do everything in his power to get +you made. He knows, as well as you do, of what consequence it is." + +She was checked by the sight of her uncle much nearer to them than she +had any suspicion of, and each found it necessary to talk of something +else. + +"Are you fond of dancing, Fanny?" + +"Yes, very; only I am soon tired." + +"I should like to go to a ball with you and see you dance. Have you +never any balls at Northampton? I should like to see you dance, and I'd +dance with you if you _would_, for nobody would know who I was here, +and I should like to be your partner once more. We used to jump about +together many a time, did not we? when the hand-organ was in the street? +I am a pretty good dancer in my way, but I dare say you are a better." +And turning to his uncle, who was now close to them, "Is not Fanny a +very good dancer, sir?" + +Fanny, in dismay at such an unprecedented question, did not know which +way to look, or how to be prepared for the answer. Some very grave +reproof, or at least the coldest expression of indifference, must be +coming to distress her brother, and sink her to the ground. But, on the +contrary, it was no worse than, "I am sorry to say that I am unable +to answer your question. I have never seen Fanny dance since she was a +little girl; but I trust we shall both think she acquits herself like +a gentlewoman when we do see her, which, perhaps, we may have an +opportunity of doing ere long." + +"I have had the pleasure of seeing your sister dance, Mr. Price," +said Henry Crawford, leaning forward, "and will engage to answer every +inquiry which you can make on the subject, to your entire satisfaction. +But I believe" (seeing Fanny looked distressed) "it must be at some +other time. There is _one_ person in company who does not like to have +Miss Price spoken of." + +True enough, he had once seen Fanny dance; and it was equally true +that he would now have answered for her gliding about with quiet, light +elegance, and in admirable time; but, in fact, he could not for the life +of him recall what her dancing had been, and rather took it for granted +that she had been present than remembered anything about her. + +He passed, however, for an admirer of her dancing; and Sir Thomas, by no +means displeased, prolonged the conversation on dancing in general, and +was so well engaged in describing the balls of Antigua, and listening to +what his nephew could relate of the different modes of dancing which +had fallen within his observation, that he had not heard his carriage +announced, and was first called to the knowledge of it by the bustle of +Mrs. Norris. + +"Come, Fanny, Fanny, what are you about? We are going. Do not you see +your aunt is going? Quick, quick! I cannot bear to keep good old Wilcox +waiting. You should always remember the coachman and horses. My dear Sir +Thomas, we have settled it that the carriage should come back for you, +and Edmund and William." + +Sir Thomas could not dissent, as it had been his own arrangement, +previously communicated to his wife and sister; but _that_ seemed +forgotten by Mrs. Norris, who must fancy that she settled it all +herself. + +Fanny's last feeling in the visit was disappointment: for the shawl +which Edmund was quietly taking from the servant to bring and put round +her shoulders was seized by Mr. Crawford's quicker hand, and she was +obliged to be indebted to his more prominent attention. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +William's desire of seeing Fanny dance made more than a momentary +impression on his uncle. The hope of an opportunity, which Sir Thomas +had then given, was not given to be thought of no more. He remained +steadily inclined to gratify so amiable a feeling; to gratify anybody +else who might wish to see Fanny dance, and to give pleasure to the +young people in general; and having thought the matter over, and taken +his resolution in quiet independence, the result of it appeared the +next morning at breakfast, when, after recalling and commending what +his nephew had said, he added, "I do not like, William, that you +should leave Northamptonshire without this indulgence. It would give me +pleasure to see you both dance. You spoke of the balls at Northampton. +Your cousins have occasionally attended them; but they would not +altogether suit us now. The fatigue would be too much for your aunt. I +believe we must not think of a Northampton ball. A dance at home would +be more eligible; and if--" + +"Ah, my dear Sir Thomas!" interrupted Mrs. Norris, "I knew what was +coming. I knew what you were going to say. If dear Julia were at home, +or dearest Mrs. Rushworth at Sotherton, to afford a reason, an occasion +for such a thing, you would be tempted to give the young people a dance +at Mansfield. I know you would. If _they_ were at home to grace the +ball, a ball you would have this very Christmas. Thank your uncle, +William, thank your uncle!" + +"My daughters," replied Sir Thomas, gravely interposing, "have their +pleasures at Brighton, and I hope are very happy; but the dance which I +think of giving at Mansfield will be for their cousins. Could we be all +assembled, our satisfaction would undoubtedly be more complete, but the +absence of some is not to debar the others of amusement." + +Mrs. Norris had not another word to say. She saw decision in his looks, +and her surprise and vexation required some minutes' silence to be +settled into composure. A ball at such a time! His daughters absent and +herself not consulted! There was comfort, however, soon at hand. _She_ +must be the doer of everything: Lady Bertram would of course be spared +all thought and exertion, and it would all fall upon _her_. She should +have to do the honours of the evening; and this reflection quickly +restored so much of her good-humour as enabled her to join in with the +others, before their happiness and thanks were all expressed. + +Edmund, William, and Fanny did, in their different ways, look and speak +as much grateful pleasure in the promised ball as Sir Thomas could +desire. Edmund's feelings were for the other two. His father had never +conferred a favour or shewn a kindness more to his satisfaction. + +Lady Bertram was perfectly quiescent and contented, and had no +objections to make. Sir Thomas engaged for its giving her very little +trouble; and she assured him "that she was not at all afraid of the +trouble; indeed, she could not imagine there would be any." + +Mrs. Norris was ready with her suggestions as to the rooms he would +think fittest to be used, but found it all prearranged; and when she +would have conjectured and hinted about the day, it appeared that the +day was settled too. Sir Thomas had been amusing himself with shaping a +very complete outline of the business; and as soon as she would listen +quietly, could read his list of the families to be invited, from whom +he calculated, with all necessary allowance for the shortness of the +notice, to collect young people enough to form twelve or fourteen +couple: and could detail the considerations which had induced him to +fix on the 22nd as the most eligible day. William was required to be at +Portsmouth on the 24th; the 22nd would therefore be the last day of his +visit; but where the days were so few it would be unwise to fix on any +earlier. Mrs. Norris was obliged to be satisfied with thinking just the +same, and with having been on the point of proposing the 22nd herself, +as by far the best day for the purpose. + +The ball was now a settled thing, and before the evening a proclaimed +thing to all whom it concerned. Invitations were sent with despatch, +and many a young lady went to bed that night with her head full of happy +cares as well as Fanny. To her the cares were sometimes almost beyond +the happiness; for young and inexperienced, with small means of choice +and no confidence in her own taste, the "how she should be dressed" was +a point of painful solicitude; and the almost solitary ornament in her +possession, a very pretty amber cross which William had brought her from +Sicily, was the greatest distress of all, for she had nothing but a bit +of ribbon to fasten it to; and though she had worn it in that manner +once, would it be allowable at such a time in the midst of all the rich +ornaments which she supposed all the other young ladies would appear in? +And yet not to wear it! William had wanted to buy her a gold chain too, +but the purchase had been beyond his means, and therefore not to wear +the cross might be mortifying him. These were anxious considerations; +enough to sober her spirits even under the prospect of a ball given +principally for her gratification. + +The preparations meanwhile went on, and Lady Bertram continued to sit on +her sofa without any inconvenience from them. She had some extra visits +from the housekeeper, and her maid was rather hurried in making up a new +dress for her: Sir Thomas gave orders, and Mrs. Norris ran about; but +all this gave _her_ no trouble, and as she had foreseen, "there was, in +fact, no trouble in the business." + +Edmund was at this time particularly full of cares: his mind being +deeply occupied in the consideration of two important events now +at hand, which were to fix his fate in life--ordination and +matrimony--events of such a serious character as to make the ball, which +would be very quickly followed by one of them, appear of less moment in +his eyes than in those of any other person in the house. On the 23rd +he was going to a friend near Peterborough, in the same situation +as himself, and they were to receive ordination in the course of the +Christmas week. Half his destiny would then be determined, but the +other half might not be so very smoothly wooed. His duties would be +established, but the wife who was to share, and animate, and reward +those duties, might yet be unattainable. He knew his own mind, but he +was not always perfectly assured of knowing Miss Crawford's. There were +points on which they did not quite agree; there were moments in which +she did not seem propitious; and though trusting altogether to her +affection, so far as to be resolved--almost resolved--on bringing it to +a decision within a very short time, as soon as the variety of business +before him were arranged, and he knew what he had to offer her, he +had many anxious feelings, many doubting hours as to the result. His +conviction of her regard for him was sometimes very strong; he could +look back on a long course of encouragement, and she was as perfect in +disinterested attachment as in everything else. But at other times +doubt and alarm intermingled with his hopes; and when he thought of +her acknowledged disinclination for privacy and retirement, her decided +preference of a London life, what could he expect but a determined +rejection? unless it were an acceptance even more to be deprecated, +demanding such sacrifices of situation and employment on his side as +conscience must forbid. + +The issue of all depended on one question. Did she love him well enough +to forego what had used to be essential points? Did she love him well +enough to make them no longer essential? And this question, which he was +continually repeating to himself, though oftenest answered with a "Yes," +had sometimes its "No." + +Miss Crawford was soon to leave Mansfield, and on this circumstance the +"no" and the "yes" had been very recently in alternation. He had seen +her eyes sparkle as she spoke of the dear friend's letter, which claimed +a long visit from her in London, and of the kindness of Henry, in +engaging to remain where he was till January, that he might convey her +thither; he had heard her speak of the pleasure of such a journey with +an animation which had "no" in every tone. But this had occurred on the +first day of its being settled, within the first hour of the burst of +such enjoyment, when nothing but the friends she was to visit was before +her. He had since heard her express herself differently, with other +feelings, more chequered feelings: he had heard her tell Mrs. Grant that +she should leave her with regret; that she began to believe neither the +friends nor the pleasures she was going to were worth those she left +behind; and that though she felt she must go, and knew she should enjoy +herself when once away, she was already looking forward to being at +Mansfield again. Was there not a "yes" in all this? + +With such matters to ponder over, and arrange, and re-arrange, Edmund +could not, on his own account, think very much of the evening which the +rest of the family were looking forward to with a more equal degree of +strong interest. Independent of his two cousins' enjoyment in it, the +evening was to him of no higher value than any other appointed meeting +of the two families might be. In every meeting there was a hope of +receiving farther confirmation of Miss Crawford's attachment; but the +whirl of a ballroom, perhaps, was not particularly favourable to the +excitement or expression of serious feelings. To engage her early for +the two first dances was all the command of individual happiness which +he felt in his power, and the only preparation for the ball which he +could enter into, in spite of all that was passing around him on the +subject, from morning till night. + +Thursday was the day of the ball; and on Wednesday morning Fanny, still +unable to satisfy herself as to what she ought to wear, determined to +seek the counsel of the more enlightened, and apply to Mrs. Grant and +her sister, whose acknowledged taste would certainly bear her blameless; +and as Edmund and William were gone to Northampton, and she had reason +to think Mr. Crawford likewise out, she walked down to the Parsonage +without much fear of wanting an opportunity for private discussion; +and the privacy of such a discussion was a most important part of it to +Fanny, being more than half-ashamed of her own solicitude. + +She met Miss Crawford within a few yards of the Parsonage, just setting +out to call on her, and as it seemed to her that her friend, though +obliged to insist on turning back, was unwilling to lose her walk, she +explained her business at once, and observed, that if she would be so +kind as to give her opinion, it might be all talked over as well without +doors as within. Miss Crawford appeared gratified by the application, +and after a moment's thought, urged Fanny's returning with her in a much +more cordial manner than before, and proposed their going up into her +room, where they might have a comfortable coze, without disturbing Dr. +and Mrs. Grant, who were together in the drawing-room. It was just the +plan to suit Fanny; and with a great deal of gratitude on her side for +such ready and kind attention, they proceeded indoors, and upstairs, and +were soon deep in the interesting subject. Miss Crawford, pleased with +the appeal, gave her all her best judgment and taste, made everything +easy by her suggestions, and tried to make everything agreeable by her +encouragement. The dress being settled in all its grander parts--"But +what shall you have by way of necklace?" said Miss Crawford. "Shall not +you wear your brother's cross?" And as she spoke she was undoing a +small parcel, which Fanny had observed in her hand when they met. Fanny +acknowledged her wishes and doubts on this point: she did not know +how either to wear the cross, or to refrain from wearing it. She was +answered by having a small trinket-box placed before her, and being +requested to chuse from among several gold chains and necklaces. Such +had been the parcel with which Miss Crawford was provided, and such the +object of her intended visit: and in the kindest manner she now urged +Fanny's taking one for the cross and to keep for her sake, saying +everything she could think of to obviate the scruples which were making +Fanny start back at first with a look of horror at the proposal. + +"You see what a collection I have," said she; "more by half than I ever +use or think of. I do not offer them as new. I offer nothing but an old +necklace. You must forgive the liberty, and oblige me." + +Fanny still resisted, and from her heart. The gift was too valuable. But +Miss Crawford persevered, and argued the case with so much affectionate +earnestness through all the heads of William and the cross, and the +ball, and herself, as to be finally successful. Fanny found +herself obliged to yield, that she might not be accused of pride +or indifference, or some other littleness; and having with modest +reluctance given her consent, proceeded to make the selection. She +looked and looked, longing to know which might be least valuable; and +was determined in her choice at last, by fancying there was one necklace +more frequently placed before her eyes than the rest. It was of gold, +prettily worked; and though Fanny would have preferred a longer and a +plainer chain as more adapted for her purpose, she hoped, in fixing +on this, to be chusing what Miss Crawford least wished to keep. Miss +Crawford smiled her perfect approbation; and hastened to complete the +gift by putting the necklace round her, and making her see how well +it looked. Fanny had not a word to say against its becomingness, and, +excepting what remained of her scruples, was exceedingly pleased with +an acquisition so very apropos. She would rather, perhaps, have been +obliged to some other person. But this was an unworthy feeling. Miss +Crawford had anticipated her wants with a kindness which proved her a +real friend. "When I wear this necklace I shall always think of you," +said she, "and feel how very kind you were." + +"You must think of somebody else too, when you wear that necklace," +replied Miss Crawford. "You must think of Henry, for it was his choice +in the first place. He gave it to me, and with the necklace I make over +to you all the duty of remembering the original giver. It is to be +a family remembrancer. The sister is not to be in your mind without +bringing the brother too." + +Fanny, in great astonishment and confusion, would have returned the +present instantly. To take what had been the gift of another person, +of a brother too, impossible! it must not be! and with an eagerness +and embarrassment quite diverting to her companion, she laid down the +necklace again on its cotton, and seemed resolved either to take another +or none at all. Miss Crawford thought she had never seen a prettier +consciousness. "My dear child," said she, laughing, "what are you afraid +of? Do you think Henry will claim the necklace as mine, and fancy you +did not come honestly by it? or are you imagining he would be too much +flattered by seeing round your lovely throat an ornament which his money +purchased three years ago, before he knew there was such a throat in the +world? or perhaps"--looking archly--"you suspect a confederacy between +us, and that what I am now doing is with his knowledge and at his +desire?" + +With the deepest blushes Fanny protested against such a thought. + +"Well, then," replied Miss Crawford more seriously, but without at all +believing her, "to convince me that you suspect no trick, and are as +unsuspicious of compliment as I have always found you, take the necklace +and say no more about it. Its being a gift of my brother's need not make +the smallest difference in your accepting it, as I assure you it makes +none in my willingness to part with it. He is always giving me something +or other. I have such innumerable presents from him that it is quite +impossible for me to value or for him to remember half. And as for this +necklace, I do not suppose I have worn it six times: it is very pretty, +but I never think of it; and though you would be most heartily welcome +to any other in my trinket-box, you have happened to fix on the very +one which, if I have a choice, I would rather part with and see in your +possession than any other. Say no more against it, I entreat you. Such a +trifle is not worth half so many words." + +Fanny dared not make any farther opposition; and with renewed but less +happy thanks accepted the necklace again, for there was an expression in +Miss Crawford's eyes which she could not be satisfied with. + +It was impossible for her to be insensible of Mr. Crawford's change of +manners. She had long seen it. He evidently tried to please her: he was +gallant, he was attentive, he was something like what he had been to her +cousins: he wanted, she supposed, to cheat her of her tranquillity as +he had cheated them; and whether he might not have some concern in this +necklace--she could not be convinced that he had not, for Miss Crawford, +complaisant as a sister, was careless as a woman and a friend. + +Reflecting and doubting, and feeling that the possession of what she had +so much wished for did not bring much satisfaction, she now walked +home again, with a change rather than a diminution of cares since her +treading that path before. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +On reaching home Fanny went immediately upstairs to deposit this +unexpected acquisition, this doubtful good of a necklace, in some +favourite box in the East room, which held all her smaller treasures; +but on opening the door, what was her surprise to find her cousin Edmund +there writing at the table! Such a sight having never occurred before, +was almost as wonderful as it was welcome. + +"Fanny," said he directly, leaving his seat and his pen, and meeting her +with something in his hand, "I beg your pardon for being here. I came +to look for you, and after waiting a little while in hope of your coming +in, was making use of your inkstand to explain my errand. You will find +the beginning of a note to yourself; but I can now speak my business, +which is merely to beg your acceptance of this little trifle--a chain +for William's cross. You ought to have had it a week ago, but there has +been a delay from my brother's not being in town by several days so soon +as I expected; and I have only just now received it at Northampton. I +hope you will like the chain itself, Fanny. I endeavoured to consult the +simplicity of your taste; but, at any rate, I know you will be kind to +my intentions, and consider it, as it really is, a token of the love of +one of your oldest friends." + +And so saying, he was hurrying away, before Fanny, overpowered by a +thousand feelings of pain and pleasure, could attempt to speak; but +quickened by one sovereign wish, she then called out, "Oh! cousin, stop +a moment, pray stop!" + +He turned back. + +"I cannot attempt to thank you," she continued, in a very agitated +manner; "thanks are out of the question. I feel much more than I can +possibly express. Your goodness in thinking of me in such a way is +beyond--" + +"If that is all you have to say, Fanny" smiling and turning away again. + +"No, no, it is not. I want to consult you." + +Almost unconsciously she had now undone the parcel he had just put +into her hand, and seeing before her, in all the niceness of jewellers' +packing, a plain gold chain, perfectly simple and neat, she could not +help bursting forth again, "Oh, this is beautiful indeed! This is the +very thing, precisely what I wished for! This is the only ornament I +have ever had a desire to possess. It will exactly suit my cross. They +must and shall be worn together. It comes, too, in such an acceptable +moment. Oh, cousin, you do not know how acceptable it is." + +"My dear Fanny, you feel these things a great deal too much. I am most +happy that you like the chain, and that it should be here in time for +to-morrow; but your thanks are far beyond the occasion. Believe me, I +have no pleasure in the world superior to that of contributing to yours. +No, I can safely say, I have no pleasure so complete, so unalloyed. It +is without a drawback." + +Upon such expressions of affection Fanny could have lived an hour +without saying another word; but Edmund, after waiting a moment, obliged +her to bring down her mind from its heavenly flight by saying, "But what +is it that you want to consult me about?" + +It was about the necklace, which she was now most earnestly longing to +return, and hoped to obtain his approbation of her doing. She gave the +history of her recent visit, and now her raptures might well be over; +for Edmund was so struck with the circumstance, so delighted with what +Miss Crawford had done, so gratified by such a coincidence of conduct +between them, that Fanny could not but admit the superior power of one +pleasure over his own mind, though it might have its drawback. It was +some time before she could get his attention to her plan, or any answer +to her demand of his opinion: he was in a reverie of fond reflection, +uttering only now and then a few half-sentences of praise; but when +he did awake and understand, he was very decided in opposing what she +wished. + +"Return the necklace! No, my dear Fanny, upon no account. It would be +mortifying her severely. There can hardly be a more unpleasant sensation +than the having anything returned on our hands which we have given with +a reasonable hope of its contributing to the comfort of a friend. Why +should she lose a pleasure which she has shewn herself so deserving of?" + +"If it had been given to me in the first instance," said Fanny, "I +should not have thought of returning it; but being her brother's +present, is not it fair to suppose that she would rather not part with +it, when it is not wanted?" + +"She must not suppose it not wanted, not acceptable, at least: and its +having been originally her brother's gift makes no difference; for as +she was not prevented from offering, nor you from taking it on that +account, it ought not to prevent you from keeping it. No doubt it is +handsomer than mine, and fitter for a ballroom." + +"No, it is not handsomer, not at all handsomer in its way, and, for +my purpose, not half so fit. The chain will agree with William's cross +beyond all comparison better than the necklace." + +"For one night, Fanny, for only one night, if it _be_ a sacrifice; I am +sure you will, upon consideration, make that sacrifice rather than give +pain to one who has been so studious of your comfort. Miss Crawford's +attentions to you have been--not more than you were justly entitled +to--I am the last person to think that _could_ _be_, but they have been +invariable; and to be returning them with what must have something the +_air_ of ingratitude, though I know it could never have the _meaning_, +is not in your nature, I am sure. Wear the necklace, as you are engaged +to do, to-morrow evening, and let the chain, which was not ordered with +any reference to the ball, be kept for commoner occasions. This is my +advice. I would not have the shadow of a coolness between the two whose +intimacy I have been observing with the greatest pleasure, and in whose +characters there is so much general resemblance in true generosity +and natural delicacy as to make the few slight differences, resulting +principally from situation, no reasonable hindrance to a perfect +friendship. I would not have the shadow of a coolness arise," he +repeated, his voice sinking a little, "between the two dearest objects I +have on earth." + +He was gone as he spoke; and Fanny remained to tranquillise herself as +she could. She was one of his two dearest--that must support her. But +the other: the first! She had never heard him speak so openly before, +and though it told her no more than what she had long perceived, it was +a stab, for it told of his own convictions and views. They were +decided. He would marry Miss Crawford. It was a stab, in spite of every +long-standing expectation; and she was obliged to repeat again and +again, that she was one of his two dearest, before the words gave her +any sensation. Could she believe Miss Crawford to deserve him, it would +be--oh, how different would it be--how far more tolerable! But he was +deceived in her: he gave her merits which she had not; her faults were +what they had ever been, but he saw them no longer. Till she had shed +many tears over this deception, Fanny could not subdue her agitation; +and the dejection which followed could only be relieved by the influence +of fervent prayers for his happiness. + +It was her intention, as she felt it to be her duty, to try to overcome +all that was excessive, all that bordered on selfishness, in her +affection for Edmund. To call or to fancy it a loss, a disappointment, +would be a presumption for which she had not words strong enough to +satisfy her own humility. To think of him as Miss Crawford might be +justified in thinking, would in her be insanity. To her he could be +nothing under any circumstances; nothing dearer than a friend. Why did +such an idea occur to her even enough to be reprobated and forbidden? It +ought not to have touched on the confines of her imagination. She would +endeavour to be rational, and to deserve the right of judging of Miss +Crawford's character, and the privilege of true solicitude for him by a +sound intellect and an honest heart. + +She had all the heroism of principle, and was determined to do her duty; +but having also many of the feelings of youth and nature, let her not +be much wondered at, if, after making all these good resolutions on the +side of self-government, she seized the scrap of paper on which Edmund +had begun writing to her, as a treasure beyond all her hopes, and +reading with the tenderest emotion these words, "My very dear Fanny, +you must do me the favour to accept" locked it up with the chain, as the +dearest part of the gift. It was the only thing approaching to a letter +which she had ever received from him; she might never receive another; +it was impossible that she ever should receive another so perfectly +gratifying in the occasion and the style. Two lines more prized had +never fallen from the pen of the most distinguished author--never +more completely blessed the researches of the fondest biographer. The +enthusiasm of a woman's love is even beyond the biographer's. To her, +the handwriting itself, independent of anything it may convey, is a +blessedness. Never were such characters cut by any other human being as +Edmund's commonest handwriting gave! This specimen, written in haste +as it was, had not a fault; and there was a felicity in the flow of the +first four words, in the arrangement of "My very dear Fanny," which she +could have looked at for ever. + +Having regulated her thoughts and comforted her feelings by this happy +mixture of reason and weakness, she was able in due time to go down +and resume her usual employments near her aunt Bertram, and pay her the +usual observances without any apparent want of spirits. + +Thursday, predestined to hope and enjoyment, came; and opened with +more kindness to Fanny than such self-willed, unmanageable days often +volunteer, for soon after breakfast a very friendly note was brought +from Mr. Crawford to William, stating that as he found himself obliged +to go to London on the morrow for a few days, he could not help trying +to procure a companion; and therefore hoped that if William could +make up his mind to leave Mansfield half a day earlier than had been +proposed, he would accept a place in his carriage. Mr. Crawford meant to +be in town by his uncle's accustomary late dinner-hour, and William +was invited to dine with him at the Admiral's. The proposal was a very +pleasant one to William himself, who enjoyed the idea of travelling post +with four horses, and such a good-humoured, agreeable friend; and, in +likening it to going up with despatches, was saying at once everything +in favour of its happiness and dignity which his imagination could +suggest; and Fanny, from a different motive, was exceedingly pleased; +for the original plan was that William should go up by the mail from +Northampton the following night, which would not have allowed him an +hour's rest before he must have got into a Portsmouth coach; and though +this offer of Mr. Crawford's would rob her of many hours of his company, +she was too happy in having William spared from the fatigue of such +a journey, to think of anything else. Sir Thomas approved of it for +another reason. His nephew's introduction to Admiral Crawford might be +of service. The Admiral, he believed, had interest. Upon the whole, it +was a very joyous note. Fanny's spirits lived on it half the morning, +deriving some accession of pleasure from its writer being himself to go +away. + +As for the ball, so near at hand, she had too many agitations and fears +to have half the enjoyment in anticipation which she ought to have had, +or must have been supposed to have by the many young ladies looking +forward to the same event in situations more at ease, but under +circumstances of less novelty, less interest, less peculiar +gratification, than would be attributed to her. Miss Price, known +only by name to half the people invited, was now to make her first +appearance, and must be regarded as the queen of the evening. Who could +be happier than Miss Price? But Miss Price had not been brought up to +the trade of _coming_ _out_; and had she known in what light this ball +was, in general, considered respecting her, it would very much have +lessened her comfort by increasing the fears she already had of doing +wrong and being looked at. To dance without much observation or any +extraordinary fatigue, to have strength and partners for about half the +evening, to dance a little with Edmund, and not a great deal with Mr. +Crawford, to see William enjoy himself, and be able to keep away +from her aunt Norris, was the height of her ambition, and seemed to +comprehend her greatest possibility of happiness. As these were the best +of her hopes, they could not always prevail; and in the course of a long +morning, spent principally with her two aunts, she was often under the +influence of much less sanguine views. William, determined to make this +last day a day of thorough enjoyment, was out snipe-shooting; Edmund, +she had too much reason to suppose, was at the Parsonage; and left +alone to bear the worrying of Mrs. Norris, who was cross because the +housekeeper would have her own way with the supper, and whom _she_ could +not avoid though the housekeeper might, Fanny was worn down at last to +think everything an evil belonging to the ball, and when sent off with +a parting worry to dress, moved as languidly towards her own room, and +felt as incapable of happiness as if she had been allowed no share in +it. + +As she walked slowly upstairs she thought of yesterday; it had been +about the same hour that she had returned from the Parsonage, and +found Edmund in the East room. "Suppose I were to find him there again +to-day!" said she to herself, in a fond indulgence of fancy. + +"Fanny," said a voice at that moment near her. Starting and looking up, +she saw, across the lobby she had just reached, Edmund himself, standing +at the head of a different staircase. He came towards her. "You look +tired and fagged, Fanny. You have been walking too far." + +"No, I have not been out at all." + +"Then you have had fatigues within doors, which are worse. You had +better have gone out." + +Fanny, not liking to complain, found it easiest to make no answer; and +though he looked at her with his usual kindness, she believed he had +soon ceased to think of her countenance. He did not appear in spirits: +something unconnected with her was probably amiss. They proceeded +upstairs together, their rooms being on the same floor above. + +"I come from Dr. Grant's," said Edmund presently. "You may guess my +errand there, Fanny." And he looked so conscious, that Fanny could think +but of one errand, which turned her too sick for speech. "I wished to +engage Miss Crawford for the two first dances," was the explanation that +followed, and brought Fanny to life again, enabling her, as she found +she was expected to speak, to utter something like an inquiry as to the +result. + +"Yes," he answered, "she is engaged to me; but" (with a smile that did +not sit easy) "she says it is to be the last time that she ever will +dance with me. She is not serious. I think, I hope, I am sure she is +not serious; but I would rather not hear it. She never has danced with a +clergyman, she says, and she never _will_. For my own sake, I could wish +there had been no ball just at--I mean not this very week, this very +day; to-morrow I leave home." + +Fanny struggled for speech, and said, "I am very sorry that anything has +occurred to distress you. This ought to be a day of pleasure. My uncle +meant it so." + +"Oh yes, yes! and it will be a day of pleasure. It will all end right. I +am only vexed for a moment. In fact, it is not that I consider the ball +as ill-timed; what does it signify? But, Fanny," stopping her, by taking +her hand, and speaking low and seriously, "you know what all this means. +You see how it is; and could tell me, perhaps better than I could tell +you, how and why I am vexed. Let me talk to you a little. You are a +kind, kind listener. I have been pained by her manner this morning, and +cannot get the better of it. I know her disposition to be as sweet and +faultless as your own, but the influence of her former companions +makes her seem--gives to her conversation, to her professed opinions, +sometimes a tinge of wrong. She does not _think_ evil, but she speaks +it, speaks it in playfulness; and though I know it to be playfulness, it +grieves me to the soul." + +"The effect of education," said Fanny gently. + +Edmund could not but agree to it. "Yes, that uncle and aunt! They have +injured the finest mind; for sometimes, Fanny, I own to you, it does +appear more than manner: it appears as if the mind itself was tainted." + +Fanny imagined this to be an appeal to her judgment, and therefore, +after a moment's consideration, said, "If you only want me as a +listener, cousin, I will be as useful as I can; but I am not qualified +for an adviser. Do not ask advice of _me_. I am not competent." + +"You are right, Fanny, to protest against such an office, but you need +not be afraid. It is a subject on which I should never ask advice; it +is the sort of subject on which it had better never be asked; and few, +I imagine, do ask it, but when they want to be influenced against their +conscience. I only want to talk to you." + +"One thing more. Excuse the liberty; but take care _how_ you talk to me. +Do not tell me anything now, which hereafter you may be sorry for. The +time may come--" + +The colour rushed into her cheeks as she spoke. + +"Dearest Fanny!" cried Edmund, pressing her hand to his lips with +almost as much warmth as if it had been Miss Crawford's, "you are all +considerate thought! But it is unnecessary here. The time will never +come. No such time as you allude to will ever come. I begin to think it +most improbable: the chances grow less and less; and even if it should, +there will be nothing to be remembered by either you or me that we need +be afraid of, for I can never be ashamed of my own scruples; and if they +are removed, it must be by changes that will only raise her character +the more by the recollection of the faults she once had. You are the +only being upon earth to whom I should say what I have said; but you +have always known my opinion of her; you can bear me witness, Fanny, +that I have never been blinded. How many a time have we talked over +her little errors! You need not fear me; I have almost given up every +serious idea of her; but I must be a blockhead indeed, if, whatever +befell me, I could think of your kindness and sympathy without the +sincerest gratitude." + +He had said enough to shake the experience of eighteen. He had said +enough to give Fanny some happier feelings than she had lately known, +and with a brighter look, she answered, "Yes, cousin, I am convinced +that _you_ would be incapable of anything else, though perhaps some +might not. I cannot be afraid of hearing anything you wish to say. Do +not check yourself. Tell me whatever you like." + +They were now on the second floor, and the appearance of a housemaid +prevented any farther conversation. For Fanny's present comfort it was +concluded, perhaps, at the happiest moment: had he been able to talk +another five minutes, there is no saying that he might not have talked +away all Miss Crawford's faults and his own despondence. But as it was, +they parted with looks on his side of grateful affection, and with +some very precious sensations on hers. She had felt nothing like it for +hours. Since the first joy from Mr. Crawford's note to William had worn +away, she had been in a state absolutely the reverse; there had been +no comfort around, no hope within her. Now everything was smiling. +William's good fortune returned again upon her mind, and seemed of +greater value than at first. The ball, too--such an evening of pleasure +before her! It was now a real animation; and she began to dress for it +with much of the happy flutter which belongs to a ball. All went well: +she did not dislike her own looks; and when she came to the necklaces +again, her good fortune seemed complete, for upon trial the one given +her by Miss Crawford would by no means go through the ring of the cross. +She had, to oblige Edmund, resolved to wear it; but it was too large for +the purpose. His, therefore, must be worn; and having, with delightful +feelings, joined the chain and the cross--those memorials of the two +most beloved of her heart, those dearest tokens so formed for each other +by everything real and imaginary--and put them round her neck, and seen +and felt how full of William and Edmund they were, she was able, without +an effort, to resolve on wearing Miss Crawford's necklace too. She +acknowledged it to be right. Miss Crawford had a claim; and when it was +no longer to encroach on, to interfere with the stronger claims, the +truer kindness of another, she could do her justice even with pleasure +to herself. The necklace really looked very well; and Fanny left her +room at last, comfortably satisfied with herself and all about her. + +Her aunt Bertram had recollected her on this occasion with an unusual +degree of wakefulness. It had really occurred to her, unprompted, that +Fanny, preparing for a ball, might be glad of better help than the upper +housemaid's, and when dressed herself, she actually sent her own maid to +assist her; too late, of course, to be of any use. Mrs. Chapman had just +reached the attic floor, when Miss Price came out of her room completely +dressed, and only civilities were necessary; but Fanny felt her aunt's +attention almost as much as Lady Bertram or Mrs. Chapman could do +themselves. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +Her uncle and both her aunts were in the drawing-room when Fanny went +down. To the former she was an interesting object, and he saw with +pleasure the general elegance of her appearance, and her being in +remarkably good looks. The neatness and propriety of her dress was all +that he would allow himself to commend in her presence, but upon her +leaving the room again soon afterwards, he spoke of her beauty with very +decided praise. + +"Yes," said Lady Bertram, "she looks very well. I sent Chapman to her." + +"Look well! Oh, yes!" cried Mrs. Norris, "she has good reason to look +well with all her advantages: brought up in this family as she has been, +with all the benefit of her cousins' manners before her. Only think, my +dear Sir Thomas, what extraordinary advantages you and I have been the +means of giving her. The very gown you have been taking notice of is +your own generous present to her when dear Mrs. Rushworth married. What +would she have been if we had not taken her by the hand?" + +Sir Thomas said no more; but when they sat down to table the eyes of +the two young men assured him that the subject might be gently touched +again, when the ladies withdrew, with more success. Fanny saw that she +was approved; and the consciousness of looking well made her look still +better. From a variety of causes she was happy, and she was soon made +still happier; for in following her aunts out of the room, Edmund, who +was holding open the door, said, as she passed him, "You must dance +with me, Fanny; you must keep two dances for me; any two that you like, +except the first." She had nothing more to wish for. She had hardly +ever been in a state so nearly approaching high spirits in her life. Her +cousins' former gaiety on the day of a ball was no longer surprising to +her; she felt it to be indeed very charming, and was actually practising +her steps about the drawing-room as long as she could be safe from the +notice of her aunt Norris, who was entirely taken up at first in fresh +arranging and injuring the noble fire which the butler had prepared. + +Half an hour followed that would have been at least languid under any +other circumstances, but Fanny's happiness still prevailed. It was but +to think of her conversation with Edmund, and what was the restlessness +of Mrs. Norris? What were the yawns of Lady Bertram? + +The gentlemen joined them; and soon after began the sweet expectation of +a carriage, when a general spirit of ease and enjoyment seemed diffused, +and they all stood about and talked and laughed, and every moment had +its pleasure and its hope. Fanny felt that there must be a struggle +in Edmund's cheerfulness, but it was delightful to see the effort so +successfully made. + +When the carriages were really heard, when the guests began really to +assemble, her own gaiety of heart was much subdued: the sight of so +many strangers threw her back into herself; and besides the gravity and +formality of the first great circle, which the manners of neither Sir +Thomas nor Lady Bertram were of a kind to do away, she found herself +occasionally called on to endure something worse. She was introduced +here and there by her uncle, and forced to be spoken to, and to curtsey, +and speak again. This was a hard duty, and she was never summoned to +it without looking at William, as he walked about at his ease in the +background of the scene, and longing to be with him. + +The entrance of the Grants and Crawfords was a favourable epoch. The +stiffness of the meeting soon gave way before their popular manners and +more diffused intimacies: little groups were formed, and everybody grew +comfortable. Fanny felt the advantage; and, drawing back from the toils +of civility, would have been again most happy, could she have kept her +eyes from wandering between Edmund and Mary Crawford. _She_ looked all +loveliness--and what might not be the end of it? Her own musings +were brought to an end on perceiving Mr. Crawford before her, and +her thoughts were put into another channel by his engaging her almost +instantly for the first two dances. Her happiness on this occasion was +very much _a_ _la_ _mortal_, finely chequered. To be secure of a partner +at first was a most essential good--for the moment of beginning was now +growing seriously near; and she so little understood her own claims as +to think that if Mr. Crawford had not asked her, she must have been the +last to be sought after, and should have received a partner only through +a series of inquiry, and bustle, and interference, which would have been +terrible; but at the same time there was a pointedness in his manner of +asking her which she did not like, and she saw his eye glancing for +a moment at her necklace, with a smile--she thought there was a +smile--which made her blush and feel wretched. And though there was no +second glance to disturb her, though his object seemed then to be only +quietly agreeable, she could not get the better of her embarrassment, +heightened as it was by the idea of his perceiving it, and had no +composure till he turned away to some one else. Then she could gradually +rise up to the genuine satisfaction of having a partner, a voluntary +partner, secured against the dancing began. + +When the company were moving into the ballroom, she found herself +for the first time near Miss Crawford, whose eyes and smiles were +immediately and more unequivocally directed as her brother's had been, +and who was beginning to speak on the subject, when Fanny, anxious +to get the story over, hastened to give the explanation of the second +necklace: the real chain. Miss Crawford listened; and all her intended +compliments and insinuations to Fanny were forgotten: she felt only one +thing; and her eyes, bright as they had been before, shewing they could +yet be brighter, she exclaimed with eager pleasure, "Did he? Did Edmund? +That was like himself. No other man would have thought of it. I honour +him beyond expression." And she looked around as if longing to tell him +so. He was not near, he was attending a party of ladies out of the room; +and Mrs. Grant coming up to the two girls, and taking an arm of each, +they followed with the rest. + +Fanny's heart sunk, but there was no leisure for thinking long even of +Miss Crawford's feelings. They were in the ballroom, the violins were +playing, and her mind was in a flutter that forbade its fixing on +anything serious. She must watch the general arrangements, and see how +everything was done. + +In a few minutes Sir Thomas came to her, and asked if she were engaged; +and the "Yes, sir; to Mr. Crawford," was exactly what he had intended +to hear. Mr. Crawford was not far off; Sir Thomas brought him to her, +saying something which discovered to Fanny, that _she_ was to lead the +way and open the ball; an idea that had never occurred to her before. +Whenever she had thought of the minutiae of the evening, it had been as +a matter of course that Edmund would begin with Miss Crawford; and the +impression was so strong, that though _her_ _uncle_ spoke the contrary, +she could not help an exclamation of surprise, a hint of her unfitness, +an entreaty even to be excused. To be urging her opinion against Sir +Thomas's was a proof of the extremity of the case; but such was her +horror at the first suggestion, that she could actually look him in +the face and say that she hoped it might be settled otherwise; in vain, +however: Sir Thomas smiled, tried to encourage her, and then looked too +serious, and said too decidedly, "It must be so, my dear," for her to +hazard another word; and she found herself the next moment conducted by +Mr. Crawford to the top of the room, and standing there to be joined by +the rest of the dancers, couple after couple, as they were formed. + +She could hardly believe it. To be placed above so many elegant young +women! The distinction was too great. It was treating her like her +cousins! And her thoughts flew to those absent cousins with most +unfeigned and truly tender regret, that they were not at home to take +their own place in the room, and have their share of a pleasure which +would have been so very delightful to them. So often as she had heard +them wish for a ball at home as the greatest of all felicities! And +to have them away when it was given--and for _her_ to be opening the +ball--and with Mr. Crawford too! She hoped they would not envy her that +distinction _now_; but when she looked back to the state of things in +the autumn, to what they had all been to each other when once dancing +in that house before, the present arrangement was almost more than she +could understand herself. + +The ball began. It was rather honour than happiness to Fanny, for the +first dance at least: her partner was in excellent spirits, and tried to +impart them to her; but she was a great deal too much frightened to have +any enjoyment till she could suppose herself no longer looked at. Young, +pretty, and gentle, however, she had no awkwardnesses that were not +as good as graces, and there were few persons present that were not +disposed to praise her. She was attractive, she was modest, she was Sir +Thomas's niece, and she was soon said to be admired by Mr. Crawford. It +was enough to give her general favour. Sir Thomas himself was watching +her progress down the dance with much complacency; he was proud of his +niece; and without attributing all her personal beauty, as Mrs. Norris +seemed to do, to her transplantation to Mansfield, he was pleased with +himself for having supplied everything else: education and manners she +owed to him. + +Miss Crawford saw much of Sir Thomas's thoughts as he stood, and having, +in spite of all his wrongs towards her, a general prevailing desire of +recommending herself to him, took an opportunity of stepping aside to +say something agreeable of Fanny. Her praise was warm, and he +received it as she could wish, joining in it as far as discretion, and +politeness, and slowness of speech would allow, and certainly appearing +to greater advantage on the subject than his lady did soon afterwards, +when Mary, perceiving her on a sofa very near, turned round before she +began to dance, to compliment her on Miss Price's looks. + +"Yes, she does look very well," was Lady Bertram's placid reply. +"Chapman helped her to dress. I sent Chapman to her." Not but that +she was really pleased to have Fanny admired; but she was so much more +struck with her own kindness in sending Chapman to her, that she could +not get it out of her head. + +Miss Crawford knew Mrs. Norris too well to think of gratifying _her_ +by commendation of Fanny; to her, it was as the occasion offered--"Ah! +ma'am, how much we want dear Mrs. Rushworth and Julia to-night!" and +Mrs. Norris paid her with as many smiles and courteous words as she had +time for, amid so much occupation as she found for herself in making +up card-tables, giving hints to Sir Thomas, and trying to move all the +chaperons to a better part of the room. + +Miss Crawford blundered most towards Fanny herself in her intentions +to please. She meant to be giving her little heart a happy flutter, +and filling her with sensations of delightful self-consequence; and, +misinterpreting Fanny's blushes, still thought she must be doing so when +she went to her after the two first dances, and said, with a significant +look, "Perhaps _you_ can tell me why my brother goes to town to-morrow? +He says he has business there, but will not tell me what. The first time +he ever denied me his confidence! But this is what we all come to. +All are supplanted sooner or later. Now, I must apply to you for +information. Pray, what is Henry going for?" + +Fanny protested her ignorance as steadily as her embarrassment allowed. + +"Well, then," replied Miss Crawford, laughing, "I must suppose it to be +purely for the pleasure of conveying your brother, and of talking of you +by the way." + +Fanny was confused, but it was the confusion of discontent; while Miss +Crawford wondered she did not smile, and thought her over-anxious, +or thought her odd, or thought her anything rather than insensible of +pleasure in Henry's attentions. Fanny had a good deal of enjoyment in +the course of the evening; but Henry's attentions had very little to +do with it. She would much rather _not_ have been asked by him again so +very soon, and she wished she had not been obliged to suspect that his +previous inquiries of Mrs. Norris, about the supper hour, were all for +the sake of securing her at that part of the evening. But it was not to +be avoided: he made her feel that she was the object of all; though she +could not say that it was unpleasantly done, that there was indelicacy +or ostentation in his manner; and sometimes, when he talked of William, +he was really not unagreeable, and shewed even a warmth of heart +which did him credit. But still his attentions made no part of her +satisfaction. She was happy whenever she looked at William, and saw how +perfectly he was enjoying himself, in every five minutes that she could +walk about with him and hear his account of his partners; she was happy +in knowing herself admired; and she was happy in having the two dances +with Edmund still to look forward to, during the greatest part of the +evening, her hand being so eagerly sought after that her indefinite +engagement with _him_ was in continual perspective. She was happy even +when they did take place; but not from any flow of spirits on his side, +or any such expressions of tender gallantry as had blessed the morning. +His mind was fagged, and her happiness sprung from being the friend with +whom it could find repose. "I am worn out with civility," said he. "I +have been talking incessantly all night, and with nothing to say. But +with _you_, Fanny, there may be peace. You will not want to be talked +to. Let us have the luxury of silence." Fanny would hardly even speak +her agreement. A weariness, arising probably, in great measure, from the +same feelings which he had acknowledged in the morning, was peculiarly +to be respected, and they went down their two dances together with such +sober tranquillity as might satisfy any looker-on that Sir Thomas had +been bringing up no wife for his younger son. + +The evening had afforded Edmund little pleasure. Miss Crawford had +been in gay spirits when they first danced together, but it was not her +gaiety that could do him good: it rather sank than raised his comfort; +and afterwards, for he found himself still impelled to seek her +again, she had absolutely pained him by her manner of speaking of the +profession to which he was now on the point of belonging. They had +talked, and they had been silent; he had reasoned, she had ridiculed; +and they had parted at last with mutual vexation. Fanny, not able to +refrain entirely from observing them, had seen enough to be tolerably +satisfied. It was barbarous to be happy when Edmund was suffering. Yet +some happiness must and would arise from the very conviction that he did +suffer. + +When her two dances with him were over, her inclination and strength for +more were pretty well at an end; and Sir Thomas, having seen her walk +rather than dance down the shortening set, breathless, and with her hand +at her side, gave his orders for her sitting down entirely. From that +time Mr. Crawford sat down likewise. + +"Poor Fanny!" cried William, coming for a moment to visit her, and +working away his partner's fan as if for life, "how soon she is knocked +up! Why, the sport is but just begun. I hope we shall keep it up these +two hours. How can you be tired so soon?" + +"So soon! my good friend," said Sir Thomas, producing his watch with all +necessary caution; "it is three o'clock, and your sister is not used to +these sort of hours." + +"Well, then, Fanny, you shall not get up to-morrow before I go. Sleep as +long as you can, and never mind me." + +"Oh! William." + +"What! Did she think of being up before you set off?" + +"Oh! yes, sir," cried Fanny, rising eagerly from her seat to be nearer +her uncle; "I must get up and breakfast with him. It will be the last +time, you know; the last morning." + +"You had better not. He is to have breakfasted and be gone by half-past +nine. Mr. Crawford, I think you call for him at half-past nine?" + +Fanny was too urgent, however, and had too many tears in her eyes for +denial; and it ended in a gracious "Well, well!" which was permission. + +"Yes, half-past nine," said Crawford to William as the latter was +leaving them, "and I shall be punctual, for there will be no kind sister +to get up for _me_." And in a lower tone to Fanny, "I shall have only +a desolate house to hurry from. Your brother will find my ideas of time +and his own very different to-morrow." + +After a short consideration, Sir Thomas asked Crawford to join the early +breakfast party in that house instead of eating alone: he should himself +be of it; and the readiness with which his invitation was accepted +convinced him that the suspicions whence, he must confess to himself, +this very ball had in great measure sprung, were well founded. Mr. +Crawford was in love with Fanny. He had a pleasing anticipation of what +would be. His niece, meanwhile, did not thank him for what he had just +done. She had hoped to have William all to herself the last morning. It +would have been an unspeakable indulgence. But though her wishes +were overthrown, there was no spirit of murmuring within her. On the +contrary, she was so totally unused to have her pleasure consulted, or +to have anything take place at all in the way she could desire, that she +was more disposed to wonder and rejoice in having carried her point so +far, than to repine at the counteraction which followed. + +Shortly afterward, Sir Thomas was again interfering a little with her +inclination, by advising her to go immediately to bed. "Advise" was his +word, but it was the advice of absolute power, and she had only to +rise, and, with Mr. Crawford's very cordial adieus, pass quietly away; +stopping at the entrance-door, like the Lady of Branxholm Hall, "one +moment and no more," to view the happy scene, and take a last look at +the five or six determined couple who were still hard at work; and then, +creeping slowly up the principal staircase, pursued by the ceaseless +country-dance, feverish with hopes and fears, soup and negus, +sore-footed and fatigued, restless and agitated, yet feeling, in spite +of everything, that a ball was indeed delightful. + +In thus sending her away, Sir Thomas perhaps might not be thinking +merely of her health. It might occur to him that Mr. Crawford had been +sitting by her long enough, or he might mean to recommend her as a wife +by shewing her persuadableness. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +The ball was over, and the breakfast was soon over too; the last kiss +was given, and William was gone. Mr. Crawford had, as he foretold, been +very punctual, and short and pleasant had been the meal. + +After seeing William to the last moment, Fanny walked back to the +breakfast-room with a very saddened heart to grieve over the melancholy +change; and there her uncle kindly left her to cry in peace, conceiving, +perhaps, that the deserted chair of each young man might exercise her +tender enthusiasm, and that the remaining cold pork bones and mustard in +William's plate might but divide her feelings with the broken egg-shells +in Mr. Crawford's. She sat and cried _con_ _amore_ as her uncle +intended, but it was _con_ _amore_ fraternal and no other. William was +gone, and she now felt as if she had wasted half his visit in idle cares +and selfish solicitudes unconnected with him. + +Fanny's disposition was such that she could never even think of her +aunt Norris in the meagreness and cheerlessness of her own small house, +without reproaching herself for some little want of attention to her +when they had been last together; much less could her feelings acquit +her of having done and said and thought everything by William that was +due to him for a whole fortnight. + +It was a heavy, melancholy day. Soon after the second breakfast, Edmund +bade them good-bye for a week, and mounted his horse for Peterborough, +and then all were gone. Nothing remained of last night but remembrances, +which she had nobody to share in. She talked to her aunt Bertram--she +must talk to somebody of the ball; but her aunt had seen so little of +what had passed, and had so little curiosity, that it was heavy work. +Lady Bertram was not certain of anybody's dress or anybody's place at +supper but her own. "She could not recollect what it was that she had +heard about one of the Miss Maddoxes, or what it was that Lady Prescott +had noticed in Fanny: she was not sure whether Colonel Harrison had been +talking of Mr. Crawford or of William when he said he was the finest +young man in the room--somebody had whispered something to her; she had +forgot to ask Sir Thomas what it could be." And these were her longest +speeches and clearest communications: the rest was only a languid "Yes, +yes; very well; did you? did he? I did not see _that_; I should not know +one from the other." This was very bad. It was only better than Mrs. +Norris's sharp answers would have been; but she being gone home with +all the supernumerary jellies to nurse a sick maid, there was peace +and good-humour in their little party, though it could not boast much +beside. + +The evening was heavy like the day. "I cannot think what is the matter +with me," said Lady Bertram, when the tea-things were removed. "I feel +quite stupid. It must be sitting up so late last night. Fanny, you must +do something to keep me awake. I cannot work. Fetch the cards; I feel so +very stupid." + +The cards were brought, and Fanny played at cribbage with her aunt till +bedtime; and as Sir Thomas was reading to himself, no sounds were +heard in the room for the next two hours beyond the reckonings of the +game--"And _that_ makes thirty-one; four in hand and eight in crib. You +are to deal, ma'am; shall I deal for you?" Fanny thought and thought +again of the difference which twenty-four hours had made in that room, +and all that part of the house. Last night it had been hope and smiles, +bustle and motion, noise and brilliancy, in the drawing-room, and out +of the drawing-room, and everywhere. Now it was languor, and all but +solitude. + +A good night's rest improved her spirits. She could think of William the +next day more cheerfully; and as the morning afforded her an opportunity +of talking over Thursday night with Mrs. Grant and Miss Crawford, in a +very handsome style, with all the heightenings of imagination, and +all the laughs of playfulness which are so essential to the shade of a +departed ball, she could afterwards bring her mind without much effort +into its everyday state, and easily conform to the tranquillity of the +present quiet week. + +They were indeed a smaller party than she had ever known there for +a whole day together, and _he_ was gone on whom the comfort and +cheerfulness of every family meeting and every meal chiefly depended. +But this must be learned to be endured. He would soon be always gone; +and she was thankful that she could now sit in the same room with her +uncle, hear his voice, receive his questions, and even answer them, +without such wretched feelings as she had formerly known. + +"We miss our two young men," was Sir Thomas's observation on both the +first and second day, as they formed their very reduced circle after +dinner; and in consideration of Fanny's swimming eyes, nothing more was +said on the first day than to drink their good health; but on the +second it led to something farther. William was kindly commended and +his promotion hoped for. "And there is no reason to suppose," added Sir +Thomas, "but that his visits to us may now be tolerably frequent. As to +Edmund, we must learn to do without him. This will be the last winter of +his belonging to us, as he has done." + +"Yes," said Lady Bertram, "but I wish he was not going away. They are +all going away, I think. I wish they would stay at home." + +This wish was levelled principally at Julia, who had just applied for +permission to go to town with Maria; and as Sir Thomas thought it best +for each daughter that the permission should be granted, Lady Bertram, +though in her own good-nature she would not have prevented it, was +lamenting the change it made in the prospect of Julia's return, which +would otherwise have taken place about this time. A great deal of good +sense followed on Sir Thomas's side, tending to reconcile his wife to +the arrangement. Everything that a considerate parent _ought_ to feel +was advanced for her use; and everything that an affectionate mother +_must_ feel in promoting her children's enjoyment was attributed to her +nature. Lady Bertram agreed to it all with a calm "Yes"; and at the end +of a quarter of an hour's silent consideration spontaneously observed, +"Sir Thomas, I have been thinking--and I am very glad we took Fanny as +we did, for now the others are away we feel the good of it." + +Sir Thomas immediately improved this compliment by adding, "Very true. +We shew Fanny what a good girl we think her by praising her to her face, +she is now a very valuable companion. If we have been kind to _her_, she +is now quite as necessary to _us_." + +"Yes," said Lady Bertram presently; "and it is a comfort to think that +we shall always have _her_." + +Sir Thomas paused, half smiled, glanced at his niece, and then gravely +replied, "She will never leave us, I hope, till invited to some other +home that may reasonably promise her greater happiness than she knows +here." + +"And _that_ is not very likely to be, Sir Thomas. Who should invite her? +Maria might be very glad to see her at Sotherton now and then, but she +would not think of asking her to live there; and I am sure she is better +off here; and besides, I cannot do without her." + +The week which passed so quietly and peaceably at the great house in +Mansfield had a very different character at the Parsonage. To the young +lady, at least, in each family, it brought very different feelings. What +was tranquillity and comfort to Fanny was tediousness and vexation to +Mary. Something arose from difference of disposition and habit: one so +easily satisfied, the other so unused to endure; but still more might be +imputed to difference of circumstances. In some points of interest they +were exactly opposed to each other. To Fanny's mind, Edmund's absence +was really, in its cause and its tendency, a relief. To Mary it was +every way painful. She felt the want of his society every day, almost +every hour, and was too much in want of it to derive anything but +irritation from considering the object for which he went. He could not +have devised anything more likely to raise his consequence than this +week's absence, occurring as it did at the very time of her brother's +going away, of William Price's going too, and completing the sort of +general break-up of a party which had been so animated. She felt it +keenly. They were now a miserable trio, confined within doors by a +series of rain and snow, with nothing to do and no variety to hope for. +Angry as she was with Edmund for adhering to his own notions, and acting +on them in defiance of her (and she had been so angry that they had +hardly parted friends at the ball), she could not help thinking of +him continually when absent, dwelling on his merit and affection, and +longing again for the almost daily meetings they lately had. His absence +was unnecessarily long. He should not have planned such an absence--he +should not have left home for a week, when her own departure from +Mansfield was so near. Then she began to blame herself. She wished she +had not spoken so warmly in their last conversation. She was afraid she +had used some strong, some contemptuous expressions in speaking of the +clergy, and that should not have been. It was ill-bred; it was wrong. +She wished such words unsaid with all her heart. + +Her vexation did not end with the week. All this was bad, but she had +still more to feel when Friday came round again and brought no Edmund; +when Saturday came and still no Edmund; and when, through the slight +communication with the other family which Sunday produced, she learned +that he had actually written home to defer his return, having promised +to remain some days longer with his friend. + +If she had felt impatience and regret before--if she had been sorry for +what she said, and feared its too strong effect on him--she now felt +and feared it all tenfold more. She had, moreover, to contend with one +disagreeable emotion entirely new to her--jealousy. His friend Mr. +Owen had sisters; he might find them attractive. But, at any rate, his +staying away at a time when, according to all preceding plans, she was +to remove to London, meant something that she could not bear. Had Henry +returned, as he talked of doing, at the end of three or four days, she +should now have been leaving Mansfield. It became absolutely necessary +for her to get to Fanny and try to learn something more. She could not +live any longer in such solitary wretchedness; and she made her way +to the Park, through difficulties of walking which she had deemed +unconquerable a week before, for the chance of hearing a little in +addition, for the sake of at least hearing his name. + +The first half-hour was lost, for Fanny and Lady Bertram were together, +and unless she had Fanny to herself she could hope for nothing. But +at last Lady Bertram left the room, and then almost immediately Miss +Crawford thus began, with a voice as well regulated as she could--"And +how do _you_ like your cousin Edmund's staying away so long? Being the +only young person at home, I consider _you_ as the greatest sufferer. +You must miss him. Does his staying longer surprise you?" + +"I do not know," said Fanny hesitatingly. "Yes; I had not particularly +expected it." + +"Perhaps he will always stay longer than he talks of. It is the general +way all young men do." + +"He did not, the only time he went to see Mr. Owen before." + +"He finds the house more agreeable _now_. He is a very--a very pleasing +young man himself, and I cannot help being rather concerned at not +seeing him again before I go to London, as will now undoubtedly be the +case. I am looking for Henry every day, and as soon as he comes there +will be nothing to detain me at Mansfield. I should like to have seen +him once more, I confess. But you must give my compliments to him. Yes; +I think it must be compliments. Is not there a something wanted, +Miss Price, in our language--a something between compliments and--and +love--to suit the sort of friendly acquaintance we have had together? So +many months' acquaintance! But compliments may be sufficient here. +Was his letter a long one? Does he give you much account of what he is +doing? Is it Christmas gaieties that he is staying for?" + +"I only heard a part of the letter; it was to my uncle; but I believe +it was very short; indeed I am sure it was but a few lines. All that I +heard was that his friend had pressed him to stay longer, and that he +had agreed to do so. A _few_ days longer, or _some_ days longer; I am +not quite sure which." + +"Oh! if he wrote to his father; but I thought it might have been to Lady +Bertram or you. But if he wrote to his father, no wonder he was concise. +Who could write chat to Sir Thomas? If he had written to you, there +would have been more particulars. You would have heard of balls +and parties. He would have sent you a description of everything and +everybody. How many Miss Owens are there?" + +"Three grown up." + +"Are they musical?" + +"I do not at all know. I never heard." + +"That is the first question, you know," said Miss Crawford, trying to +appear gay and unconcerned, "which every woman who plays herself is sure +to ask about another. But it is very foolish to ask questions about +any young ladies--about any three sisters just grown up; for one knows, +without being told, exactly what they are: all very accomplished and +pleasing, and one very pretty. There is a beauty in every family; it is +a regular thing. Two play on the pianoforte, and one on the harp; and +all sing, or would sing if they were taught, or sing all the better for +not being taught; or something like it." + +"I know nothing of the Miss Owens," said Fanny calmly. + +"You know nothing and you care less, as people say. Never did tone +express indifference plainer. Indeed, how can one care for those one has +never seen? Well, when your cousin comes back, he will find Mansfield +very quiet; all the noisy ones gone, your brother and mine and myself. I +do not like the idea of leaving Mrs. Grant now the time draws near. She +does not like my going." + +Fanny felt obliged to speak. "You cannot doubt your being missed by +many," said she. "You will be very much missed." + +Miss Crawford turned her eye on her, as if wanting to hear or see more, +and then laughingly said, "Oh yes! missed as every noisy evil is missed +when it is taken away; that is, there is a great difference felt. But I +am not fishing; don't compliment me. If I _am_ missed, it will appear. +I may be discovered by those who want to see me. I shall not be in any +doubtful, or distant, or unapproachable region." + +Now Fanny could not bring herself to speak, and Miss Crawford was +disappointed; for she had hoped to hear some pleasant assurance of her +power from one who she thought must know, and her spirits were clouded +again. + +"The Miss Owens," said she, soon afterwards; "suppose you were to have +one of the Miss Owens settled at Thornton Lacey; how should you like it? +Stranger things have happened. I dare say they are trying for it. And +they are quite in the light, for it would be a very pretty establishment +for them. I do not at all wonder or blame them. It is everybody's duty +to do as well for themselves as they can. Sir Thomas Bertram's son is +somebody; and now he is in their own line. Their father is a clergyman, +and their brother is a clergyman, and they are all clergymen together. +He is their lawful property; he fairly belongs to them. You don't speak, +Fanny; Miss Price, you don't speak. But honestly now, do not you rather +expect it than otherwise?" + +"No," said Fanny stoutly, "I do not expect it at all." + +"Not at all!" cried Miss Crawford with alacrity. "I wonder at that. But +I dare say you know exactly--I always imagine you are--perhaps you do +not think him likely to marry at all--or not at present." + +"No, I do not," said Fanny softly, hoping she did not err either in the +belief or the acknowledgment of it. + +Her companion looked at her keenly; and gathering greater spirit from +the blush soon produced from such a look, only said, "He is best off as +he is," and turned the subject. + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +Miss Crawford's uneasiness was much lightened by this conversation, and +she walked home again in spirits which might have defied almost another +week of the same small party in the same bad weather, had they been put +to the proof; but as that very evening brought her brother down from +London again in quite, or more than quite, his usual cheerfulness, she +had nothing farther to try her own. His still refusing to tell her what +he had gone for was but the promotion of gaiety; a day before it might +have irritated, but now it was a pleasant joke--suspected only of +concealing something planned as a pleasant surprise to herself. And the +next day _did_ bring a surprise to her. Henry had said he should just +go and ask the Bertrams how they did, and be back in ten minutes, but +he was gone above an hour; and when his sister, who had been waiting for +him to walk with her in the garden, met him at last most impatiently in +the sweep, and cried out, "My dear Henry, where can you have been +all this time?" he had only to say that he had been sitting with Lady +Bertram and Fanny. + +"Sitting with them an hour and a half!" exclaimed Mary. + +But this was only the beginning of her surprise. + +"Yes, Mary," said he, drawing her arm within his, and walking along +the sweep as if not knowing where he was: "I could not get away sooner; +Fanny looked so lovely! I am quite determined, Mary. My mind is entirely +made up. Will it astonish you? No: you must be aware that I am quite +determined to marry Fanny Price." + +The surprise was now complete; for, in spite of whatever his +consciousness might suggest, a suspicion of his having any such views +had never entered his sister's imagination; and she looked so truly the +astonishment she felt, that he was obliged to repeat what he had said, +and more fully and more solemnly. The conviction of his determination +once admitted, it was not unwelcome. There was even pleasure with the +surprise. Mary was in a state of mind to rejoice in a connexion with the +Bertram family, and to be not displeased with her brother's marrying a +little beneath him. + +"Yes, Mary," was Henry's concluding assurance. "I am fairly caught. +You know with what idle designs I began; but this is the end of them. +I have, I flatter myself, made no inconsiderable progress in her +affections; but my own are entirely fixed." + +"Lucky, lucky girl!" cried Mary, as soon as she could speak; "what a +match for her! My dearest Henry, this must be my _first_ feeling; but +my _second_, which you shall have as sincerely, is, that I approve your +choice from my soul, and foresee your happiness as heartily as I wish +and desire it. You will have a sweet little wife; all gratitude and +devotion. Exactly what you deserve. What an amazing match for her! Mrs. +Norris often talks of her luck; what will she say now? The delight +of all the family, indeed! And she has some _true_ friends in it! How +_they_ will rejoice! But tell me all about it! Talk to me for ever. When +did you begin to think seriously about her?" + +Nothing could be more impossible than to answer such a question, though +nothing could be more agreeable than to have it asked. "How the pleasing +plague had stolen on him" he could not say; and before he had expressed +the same sentiment with a little variation of words three times over, +his sister eagerly interrupted him with, "Ah, my dear Henry, and this +is what took you to London! This was your business! You chose to consult +the Admiral before you made up your mind." + +But this he stoutly denied. He knew his uncle too well to consult him on +any matrimonial scheme. The Admiral hated marriage, and thought it never +pardonable in a young man of independent fortune. + +"When Fanny is known to him," continued Henry, "he will doat on her. +She is exactly the woman to do away every prejudice of such a man as +the Admiral, for she he would describe, if indeed he has now delicacy +of language enough to embody his own ideas. But till it is absolutely +settled--settled beyond all interference, he shall know nothing of the +matter. No, Mary, you are quite mistaken. You have not discovered my +business yet." + +"Well, well, I am satisfied. I know now to whom it must relate, and am +in no hurry for the rest. Fanny Price! wonderful, quite wonderful! That +Mansfield should have done so much for--that _you_ should have found +your fate in Mansfield! But you are quite right; you could not have +chosen better. There is not a better girl in the world, and you do not +want for fortune; and as to her connexions, they are more than good. The +Bertrams are undoubtedly some of the first people in this country. She +is niece to Sir Thomas Bertram; that will be enough for the world. But +go on, go on. Tell me more. What are your plans? Does she know her own +happiness?" + +"No." + +"What are you waiting for?" + +"For--for very little more than opportunity. Mary, she is not like her +cousins; but I think I shall not ask in vain." + +"Oh no! you cannot. Were you even less pleasing--supposing her not to +love you already (of which, however, I can have little doubt)--you would +be safe. The gentleness and gratitude of her disposition would secure +her all your own immediately. From my soul I do not think she would +marry you _without_ love; that is, if there is a girl in the world +capable of being uninfluenced by ambition, I can suppose it her; but ask +her to love you, and she will never have the heart to refuse." + +As soon as her eagerness could rest in silence, he was as happy to tell +as she could be to listen; and a conversation followed almost as deeply +interesting to her as to himself, though he had in fact nothing to +relate but his own sensations, nothing to dwell on but Fanny's charms. +Fanny's beauty of face and figure, Fanny's graces of manner and goodness +of heart, were the exhaustless theme. The gentleness, modesty, and +sweetness of her character were warmly expatiated on; that sweetness +which makes so essential a part of every woman's worth in the judgment +of man, that though he sometimes loves where it is not, he can never +believe it absent. Her temper he had good reason to depend on and +to praise. He had often seen it tried. Was there one of the family, +excepting Edmund, who had not in some way or other continually exercised +her patience and forbearance? Her affections were evidently strong. To +see her with her brother! What could more delightfully prove that the +warmth of her heart was equal to its gentleness? What could be more +encouraging to a man who had her love in view? Then, her understanding +was beyond every suspicion, quick and clear; and her manners were the +mirror of her own modest and elegant mind. Nor was this all. Henry +Crawford had too much sense not to feel the worth of good principles +in a wife, though he was too little accustomed to serious reflection to +know them by their proper name; but when he talked of her having such a +steadiness and regularity of conduct, such a high notion of honour, and +such an observance of decorum as might warrant any man in the fullest +dependence on her faith and integrity, he expressed what was inspired by +the knowledge of her being well principled and religious. + +"I could so wholly and absolutely confide in her," said he; "and _that_ +is what I want." + +Well might his sister, believing as she really did that his opinion of +Fanny Price was scarcely beyond her merits, rejoice in her prospects. + +"The more I think of it," she cried, "the more am I convinced that you +are doing quite right; and though I should never have selected Fanny +Price as the girl most likely to attach you, I am now persuaded she is +the very one to make you happy. Your wicked project upon her peace turns +out a clever thought indeed. You will both find your good in it." + +"It was bad, very bad in me against such a creature; but I did not know +her then; and she shall have no reason to lament the hour that first put +it into my head. I will make her very happy, Mary; happier than she has +ever yet been herself, or ever seen anybody else. I will not take her +from Northamptonshire. I shall let Everingham, and rent a place in this +neighbourhood; perhaps Stanwix Lodge. I shall let a seven years' lease +of Everingham. I am sure of an excellent tenant at half a word. I could +name three people now, who would give me my own terms and thank me." + +"Ha!" cried Mary; "settle in Northamptonshire! That is pleasant! Then we +shall be all together." + +When she had spoken it, she recollected herself, and wished it unsaid; +but there was no need of confusion; for her brother saw her only as the +supposed inmate of Mansfield parsonage, and replied but to invite her in +the kindest manner to his own house, and to claim the best right in her. + +"You must give us more than half your time," said he. "I cannot admit +Mrs. Grant to have an equal claim with Fanny and myself, for we shall +both have a right in you. Fanny will be so truly your sister!" + +Mary had only to be grateful and give general assurances; but she was +now very fully purposed to be the guest of neither brother nor sister +many months longer. + +"You will divide your year between London and Northamptonshire?" + +"Yes." + +"That's right; and in London, of course, a house of your own: no longer +with the Admiral. My dearest Henry, the advantage to you of getting away +from the Admiral before your manners are hurt by the contagion of his, +before you have contracted any of his foolish opinions, or learned to +sit over your dinner as if it were the best blessing of life! _You_ are +not sensible of the gain, for your regard for him has blinded you; but, +in my estimation, your marrying early may be the saving of you. To have +seen you grow like the Admiral in word or deed, look or gesture, would +have broken my heart." + +"Well, well, we do not think quite alike here. The Admiral has his +faults, but he is a very good man, and has been more than a father to +me. Few fathers would have let me have my own way half so much. You must +not prejudice Fanny against him. I must have them love one another." + +Mary refrained from saying what she felt, that there could not be two +persons in existence whose characters and manners were less accordant: +time would discover it to him; but she could not help _this_ reflection +on the Admiral. "Henry, I think so highly of Fanny Price, that if I +could suppose the next Mrs. Crawford would have half the reason which +my poor ill-used aunt had to abhor the very name, I would prevent the +marriage, if possible; but I know you: I know that a wife you _loved_ +would be the happiest of women, and that even when you ceased to +love, she would yet find in you the liberality and good-breeding of a +gentleman." + +The impossibility of not doing everything in the world to make Fanny +Price happy, or of ceasing to love Fanny Price, was of course the +groundwork of his eloquent answer. + +"Had you seen her this morning, Mary," he continued, "attending with +such ineffable sweetness and patience to all the demands of her aunt's +stupidity, working with her, and for her, her colour beautifully +heightened as she leant over the work, then returning to her seat to +finish a note which she was previously engaged in writing for that +stupid woman's service, and all this with such unpretending gentleness, +so much as if it were a matter of course that she was not to have a +moment at her own command, her hair arranged as neatly as it always is, +and one little curl falling forward as she wrote, which she now and then +shook back, and in the midst of all this, still speaking at intervals to +_me_, or listening, and as if she liked to listen, to what I said. Had +you seen her so, Mary, you would not have implied the possibility of her +power over my heart ever ceasing." + +"My dearest Henry," cried Mary, stopping short, and smiling in his face, +"how glad I am to see you so much in love! It quite delights me. But +what will Mrs. Rushworth and Julia say?" + +"I care neither what they say nor what they feel. They will now see what +sort of woman it is that can attach me, that can attach a man of sense. +I wish the discovery may do them any good. And they will now see their +cousin treated as she ought to be, and I wish they may be heartily +ashamed of their own abominable neglect and unkindness. They will be +angry," he added, after a moment's silence, and in a cooler tone; "Mrs. +Rushworth will be very angry. It will be a bitter pill to her; that is, +like other bitter pills, it will have two moments' ill flavour, and then +be swallowed and forgotten; for I am not such a coxcomb as to suppose +her feelings more lasting than other women's, though _I_ was the object +of them. Yes, Mary, my Fanny will feel a difference indeed: a daily, +hourly difference, in the behaviour of every being who approaches her; +and it will be the completion of my happiness to know that I am the doer +of it, that I am the person to give the consequence so justly her due. +Now she is dependent, helpless, friendless, neglected, forgotten." + +"Nay, Henry, not by all; not forgotten by all; not friendless or +forgotten. Her cousin Edmund never forgets her." + +"Edmund! True, I believe he is, generally speaking, kind to her, and +so is Sir Thomas in his way; but it is the way of a rich, superior, +long-worded, arbitrary uncle. What can Sir Thomas and Edmund together +do, what do they _do_ for her happiness, comfort, honour, and dignity in +the world, to what I _shall_ do?" + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +Henry Crawford was at Mansfield Park again the next morning, and at an +earlier hour than common visiting warrants. The two ladies were together +in the breakfast-room, and, fortunately for him, Lady Bertram was on the +very point of quitting it as he entered. She was almost at the door, and +not chusing by any means to take so much trouble in vain, she still went +on, after a civil reception, a short sentence about being waited for, +and a "Let Sir Thomas know" to the servant. + +Henry, overjoyed to have her go, bowed and watched her off, and without +losing another moment, turned instantly to Fanny, and, taking out some +letters, said, with a most animated look, "I must acknowledge myself +infinitely obliged to any creature who gives me such an opportunity +of seeing you alone: I have been wishing it more than you can have any +idea. Knowing as I do what your feelings as a sister are, I could hardly +have borne that any one in the house should share with you in the +first knowledge of the news I now bring. He is made. Your brother is a +lieutenant. I have the infinite satisfaction of congratulating you on +your brother's promotion. Here are the letters which announce it, this +moment come to hand. You will, perhaps, like to see them." + +Fanny could not speak, but he did not want her to speak. To see the +expression of her eyes, the change of her complexion, the progress of +her feelings, their doubt, confusion, and felicity, was enough. She took +the letters as he gave them. The first was from the Admiral to inform +his nephew, in a few words, of his having succeeded in the object he had +undertaken, the promotion of young Price, and enclosing two more, one +from the Secretary of the First Lord to a friend, whom the Admiral had +set to work in the business, the other from that friend to himself, +by which it appeared that his lordship had the very great happiness of +attending to the recommendation of Sir Charles; that Sir Charles was +much delighted in having such an opportunity of proving his regard +for Admiral Crawford, and that the circumstance of Mr. William Price's +commission as Second Lieutenant of H.M. Sloop Thrush being made out was +spreading general joy through a wide circle of great people. + +While her hand was trembling under these letters, her eye running from +one to the other, and her heart swelling with emotion, Crawford thus +continued, with unfeigned eagerness, to express his interest in the +event-- + +"I will not talk of my own happiness," said he, "great as it is, for I +think only of yours. Compared with you, who has a right to be happy? I +have almost grudged myself my own prior knowledge of what you ought to +have known before all the world. I have not lost a moment, however. +The post was late this morning, but there has not been since a moment's +delay. How impatient, how anxious, how wild I have been on the subject, +I will not attempt to describe; how severely mortified, how cruelly +disappointed, in not having it finished while I was in London! I was +kept there from day to day in the hope of it, for nothing less dear +to me than such an object would have detained me half the time from +Mansfield. But though my uncle entered into my wishes with all the +warmth I could desire, and exerted himself immediately, there were +difficulties from the absence of one friend, and the engagements of +another, which at last I could no longer bear to stay the end of, and +knowing in what good hands I left the cause, I came away on Monday, +trusting that many posts would not pass before I should be followed by +such very letters as these. My uncle, who is the very best man in +the world, has exerted himself, as I knew he would, after seeing your +brother. He was delighted with him. I would not allow myself yesterday +to say how delighted, or to repeat half that the Admiral said in his +praise. I deferred it all till his praise should be proved the praise of +a friend, as this day _does_ prove it. _Now_ I may say that even I could +not require William Price to excite a greater interest, or be followed +by warmer wishes and higher commendation, than were most voluntarily +bestowed by my uncle after the evening they had passed together." + +"Has this been all _your_ doing, then?" cried Fanny. "Good heaven! how +very, very kind! Have you really--was it by _your_ desire? I beg your +pardon, but I am bewildered. Did Admiral Crawford apply? How was it? I +am stupefied." + +Henry was most happy to make it more intelligible, by beginning at an +earlier stage, and explaining very particularly what he had done. His +last journey to London had been undertaken with no other view than that +of introducing her brother in Hill Street, and prevailing on the Admiral +to exert whatever interest he might have for getting him on. This had +been his business. He had communicated it to no creature: he had not +breathed a syllable of it even to Mary; while uncertain of the issue, +he could not have borne any participation of his feelings, but this had +been his business; and he spoke with such a glow of what his solicitude +had been, and used such strong expressions, was so abounding in the +_deepest_ _interest_, in _twofold_ _motives_, in _views_ _and_ _wishes_ +_more_ _than_ _could_ _be_ _told_, that Fanny could not have remained +insensible of his drift, had she been able to attend; but her heart was +so full and her senses still so astonished, that she could listen but +imperfectly even to what he told her of William, and saying only when +he paused, "How kind! how very kind! Oh, Mr. Crawford, we are infinitely +obliged to you! Dearest, dearest William!" She jumped up and moved in +haste towards the door, crying out, "I will go to my uncle. My uncle +ought to know it as soon as possible." But this could not be suffered. +The opportunity was too fair, and his feelings too impatient. He was +after her immediately. "She must not go, she must allow him five minutes +longer," and he took her hand and led her back to her seat, and was in +the middle of his farther explanation, before she had suspected for what +she was detained. When she did understand it, however, and found herself +expected to believe that she had created sensations which his heart had +never known before, and that everything he had done for William was to +be placed to the account of his excessive and unequalled attachment +to her, she was exceedingly distressed, and for some moments unable +to speak. She considered it all as nonsense, as mere trifling and +gallantry, which meant only to deceive for the hour; she could not but +feel that it was treating her improperly and unworthily, and in such a +way as she had not deserved; but it was like himself, and entirely of a +piece with what she had seen before; and she would not allow herself to +shew half the displeasure she felt, because he had been conferring an +obligation, which no want of delicacy on his part could make a trifle +to her. While her heart was still bounding with joy and gratitude on +William's behalf, she could not be severely resentful of anything that +injured only herself; and after having twice drawn back her hand, and +twice attempted in vain to turn away from him, she got up, and said +only, with much agitation, "Don't, Mr. Crawford, pray don't! I beg you +would not. This is a sort of talking which is very unpleasant to me. I +must go away. I cannot bear it." But he was still talking on, describing +his affection, soliciting a return, and, finally, in words so plain as +to bear but one meaning even to her, offering himself, hand, fortune, +everything, to her acceptance. It was so; he had said it. Her +astonishment and confusion increased; and though still not knowing +how to suppose him serious, she could hardly stand. He pressed for an +answer. + +"No, no, no!" she cried, hiding her face. "This is all nonsense. Do not +distress me. I can hear no more of this. Your kindness to William makes +me more obliged to you than words can express; but I do not want, I +cannot bear, I must not listen to such--No, no, don't think of me. But +you are _not_ thinking of me. I know it is all nothing." + +She had burst away from him, and at that moment Sir Thomas was heard +speaking to a servant in his way towards the room they were in. It was +no time for farther assurances or entreaty, though to part with her at +a moment when her modesty alone seemed, to his sanguine and preassured +mind, to stand in the way of the happiness he sought, was a cruel +necessity. She rushed out at an opposite door from the one her uncle +was approaching, and was walking up and down the East room in the +utmost confusion of contrary feeling, before Sir Thomas's politeness +or apologies were over, or he had reached the beginning of the joyful +intelligence which his visitor came to communicate. + +She was feeling, thinking, trembling about everything; agitated, happy, +miserable, infinitely obliged, absolutely angry. It was all beyond +belief! He was inexcusable, incomprehensible! But such were his habits +that he could do nothing without a mixture of evil. He had previously +made her the happiest of human beings, and now he had insulted--she knew +not what to say, how to class, or how to regard it. She would not have +him be serious, and yet what could excuse the use of such words and +offers, if they meant but to trifle? + +But William was a lieutenant. _That_ was a fact beyond a doubt, and +without an alloy. She would think of it for ever and forget all the +rest. Mr. Crawford would certainly never address her so again: he must +have seen how unwelcome it was to her; and in that case, how gratefully +she could esteem him for his friendship to William! + +She would not stir farther from the East room than the head of the great +staircase, till she had satisfied herself of Mr. Crawford's having left +the house; but when convinced of his being gone, she was eager to go +down and be with her uncle, and have all the happiness of his joy +as well as her own, and all the benefit of his information or his +conjectures as to what would now be William's destination. Sir Thomas +was as joyful as she could desire, and very kind and communicative; and +she had so comfortable a talk with him about William as to make her +feel as if nothing had occurred to vex her, till she found, towards the +close, that Mr. Crawford was engaged to return and dine there that +very day. This was a most unwelcome hearing, for though he might think +nothing of what had passed, it would be quite distressing to her to see +him again so soon. + +She tried to get the better of it; tried very hard, as the dinner hour +approached, to feel and appear as usual; but it was quite impossible for +her not to look most shy and uncomfortable when their visitor entered +the room. She could not have supposed it in the power of any concurrence +of circumstances to give her so many painful sensations on the first day +of hearing of William's promotion. + +Mr. Crawford was not only in the room--he was soon close to her. He +had a note to deliver from his sister. Fanny could not look at him, but +there was no consciousness of past folly in his voice. She opened her +note immediately, glad to have anything to do, and happy, as she read +it, to feel that the fidgetings of her aunt Norris, who was also to dine +there, screened her a little from view. + +"My dear Fanny,--for so I may now always call you, to the infinite +relief of a tongue that has been stumbling at _Miss_ _Price_ for at +least the last six weeks--I cannot let my brother go without sending you +a few lines of general congratulation, and giving my most joyful consent +and approval. Go on, my dear Fanny, and without fear; there can be no +difficulties worth naming. I chuse to suppose that the assurance of my +consent will be something; so you may smile upon him with your sweetest +smiles this afternoon, and send him back to me even happier than he +goes.--Yours affectionately, M. C." + +These were not expressions to do Fanny any good; for though she read +in too much haste and confusion to form the clearest judgment of Miss +Crawford's meaning, it was evident that she meant to compliment her on +her brother's attachment, and even to _appear_ to believe it serious. +She did not know what to do, or what to think. There was wretchedness in +the idea of its being serious; there was perplexity and agitation every +way. She was distressed whenever Mr. Crawford spoke to her, and he spoke +to her much too often; and she was afraid there was a something in his +voice and manner in addressing her very different from what they were +when he talked to the others. Her comfort in that day's dinner was +quite destroyed: she could hardly eat anything; and when Sir Thomas +good-humouredly observed that joy had taken away her appetite, she +was ready to sink with shame, from the dread of Mr. Crawford's +interpretation; for though nothing could have tempted her to turn +her eyes to the right hand, where he sat, she felt that _his_ were +immediately directed towards her. + +She was more silent than ever. She would hardly join even when William +was the subject, for his commission came all from the right hand too, +and there was pain in the connexion. + +She thought Lady Bertram sat longer than ever, and began to be in +despair of ever getting away; but at last they were in the drawing-room, +and she was able to think as she would, while her aunts finished the +subject of William's appointment in their own style. + +Mrs. Norris seemed as much delighted with the saving it would be to +Sir Thomas as with any part of it. "_Now_ William would be able to keep +himself, which would make a vast difference to his uncle, for it was +unknown how much he had cost his uncle; and, indeed, it would make some +difference in _her_ presents too. She was very glad that she had given +William what she did at parting, very glad, indeed, that it had been in +her power, without material inconvenience, just at that time to give him +something rather considerable; that is, for _her_, with _her_ limited +means, for now it would all be useful in helping to fit up his cabin. +She knew he must be at some expense, that he would have many things to +buy, though to be sure his father and mother would be able to put him in +the way of getting everything very cheap; but she was very glad she had +contributed her mite towards it." + +"I am glad you gave him something considerable," said Lady Bertram, with +most unsuspicious calmness, "for _I_ gave him only 10." + +"Indeed!" cried Mrs. Norris, reddening. "Upon my word, he must have gone +off with his pockets well lined, and at no expense for his journey to +London either!" + +"Sir Thomas told me 10 would be enough." + +Mrs. Norris, being not at all inclined to question its sufficiency, +began to take the matter in another point. + +"It is amazing," said she, "how much young people cost their friends, +what with bringing them up and putting them out in the world! They +little think how much it comes to, or what their parents, or their +uncles and aunts, pay for them in the course of the year. Now, here are +my sister Price's children; take them all together, I dare say nobody +would believe what a sum they cost Sir Thomas every year, to say nothing +of what _I_ do for them." + +"Very true, sister, as you say. But, poor things! they cannot help +it; and you know it makes very little difference to Sir Thomas. Fanny, +William must not forget my shawl if he goes to the East Indies; and I +shall give him a commission for anything else that is worth having. I +wish he may go to the East Indies, that I may have my shawl. I think I +will have two shawls, Fanny." + +Fanny, meanwhile, speaking only when she could not help it, was very +earnestly trying to understand what Mr. and Miss Crawford were at. There +was everything in the world _against_ their being serious but his words +and manner. Everything natural, probable, reasonable, was against it; +all their habits and ways of thinking, and all her own demerits. How +could _she_ have excited serious attachment in a man who had seen so +many, and been admired by so many, and flirted with so many, infinitely +her superiors; who seemed so little open to serious impressions, even +where pains had been taken to please him; who thought so slightly, so +carelessly, so unfeelingly on all such points; who was everything to +everybody, and seemed to find no one essential to him? And farther, +how could it be supposed that his sister, with all her high and worldly +notions of matrimony, would be forwarding anything of a serious nature +in such a quarter? Nothing could be more unnatural in either. Fanny +was ashamed of her own doubts. Everything might be possible rather than +serious attachment, or serious approbation of it toward her. She had +quite convinced herself of this before Sir Thomas and Mr. Crawford +joined them. The difficulty was in maintaining the conviction quite so +absolutely after Mr. Crawford was in the room; for once or twice a +look seemed forced on her which she did not know how to class among the +common meaning; in any other man, at least, she would have said that +it meant something very earnest, very pointed. But she still tried to +believe it no more than what he might often have expressed towards her +cousins and fifty other women. + +She thought he was wishing to speak to her unheard by the rest. She +fancied he was trying for it the whole evening at intervals, whenever +Sir Thomas was out of the room, or at all engaged with Mrs. Norris, and +she carefully refused him every opportunity. + +At last--it seemed an at last to Fanny's nervousness, though not +remarkably late--he began to talk of going away; but the comfort of the +sound was impaired by his turning to her the next moment, and saying, +"Have you nothing to send to Mary? No answer to her note? She will be +disappointed if she receives nothing from you. Pray write to her, if it +be only a line." + +"Oh yes! certainly," cried Fanny, rising in haste, the haste of +embarrassment and of wanting to get away--"I will write directly." + +She went accordingly to the table, where she was in the habit of writing +for her aunt, and prepared her materials without knowing what in the +world to say. She had read Miss Crawford's note only once, and how to +reply to anything so imperfectly understood was most distressing. +Quite unpractised in such sort of note-writing, had there been time for +scruples and fears as to style she would have felt them in abundance: +but something must be instantly written; and with only one decided +feeling, that of wishing not to appear to think anything really +intended, she wrote thus, in great trembling both of spirits and hand-- + +"I am very much obliged to you, my dear Miss Crawford, for your kind +congratulations, as far as they relate to my dearest William. The rest +of your note I know means nothing; but I am so unequal to anything of +the sort, that I hope you will excuse my begging you to take no farther +notice. I have seen too much of Mr. Crawford not to understand his +manners; if he understood me as well, he would, I dare say, behave +differently. I do not know what I write, but it would be a great favour +of you never to mention the subject again. With thanks for the honour of +your note, I remain, dear Miss Crawford, etc., etc." + +The conclusion was scarcely intelligible from increasing fright, for +she found that Mr. Crawford, under pretence of receiving the note, was +coming towards her. + +"You cannot think I mean to hurry you," said he, in an undervoice, +perceiving the amazing trepidation with which she made up the note, "you +cannot think I have any such object. Do not hurry yourself, I entreat." + +"Oh! I thank you; I have quite done, just done; it will be ready in a +moment; I am very much obliged to you; if you will be so good as to give +_that_ to Miss Crawford." + +The note was held out, and must be taken; and as she instantly and with +averted eyes walked towards the fireplace, where sat the others, he had +nothing to do but to go in good earnest. + +Fanny thought she had never known a day of greater agitation, both of +pain and pleasure; but happily the pleasure was not of a sort to die +with the day; for every day would restore the knowledge of William's +advancement, whereas the pain, she hoped, would return no more. She had +no doubt that her note must appear excessively ill-written, that +the language would disgrace a child, for her distress had allowed no +arrangement; but at least it would assure them both of her being neither +imposed on nor gratified by Mr. Crawford's attentions. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +Fanny had by no means forgotten Mr. Crawford when she awoke the next +morning; but she remembered the purport of her note, and was not less +sanguine as to its effect than she had been the night before. If Mr. +Crawford would but go away! That was what she most earnestly desired: +go and take his sister with him, as he was to do, and as he returned to +Mansfield on purpose to do. And why it was not done already she could +not devise, for Miss Crawford certainly wanted no delay. Fanny had +hoped, in the course of his yesterday's visit, to hear the day named; +but he had only spoken of their journey as what would take place ere +long. + +Having so satisfactorily settled the conviction her note would convey, +she could not but be astonished to see Mr. Crawford, as she accidentally +did, coming up to the house again, and at an hour as early as the day +before. His coming might have nothing to do with her, but she must avoid +seeing him if possible; and being then on her way upstairs, she resolved +there to remain, during the whole of his visit, unless actually sent +for; and as Mrs. Norris was still in the house, there seemed little +danger of her being wanted. + +She sat some time in a good deal of agitation, listening, trembling, and +fearing to be sent for every moment; but as no footsteps approached the +East room, she grew gradually composed, could sit down, and be able to +employ herself, and able to hope that Mr. Crawford had come and would go +without her being obliged to know anything of the matter. + +Nearly half an hour had passed, and she was growing very comfortable, +when suddenly the sound of a step in regular approach was heard; a heavy +step, an unusual step in that part of the house: it was her uncle's; she +knew it as well as his voice; she had trembled at it as often, and began +to tremble again, at the idea of his coming up to speak to her, whatever +might be the subject. It was indeed Sir Thomas who opened the door and +asked if she were there, and if he might come in. The terror of his +former occasional visits to that room seemed all renewed, and she felt +as if he were going to examine her again in French and English. + +She was all attention, however, in placing a chair for him, and trying +to appear honoured; and, in her agitation, had quite overlooked the +deficiencies of her apartment, till he, stopping short as he entered, +said, with much surprise, "Why have you no fire to-day?" + +There was snow on the ground, and she was sitting in a shawl. She +hesitated. + +"I am not cold, sir: I never sit here long at this time of year." + +"But you have a fire in general?" + +"No, sir." + +"How comes this about? Here must be some mistake. I understood that you +had the use of this room by way of making you perfectly comfortable. +In your bedchamber I know you _cannot_ have a fire. Here is some great +misapprehension which must be rectified. It is highly unfit for you to +sit, be it only half an hour a day, without a fire. You are not strong. +You are chilly. Your aunt cannot be aware of this." + +Fanny would rather have been silent; but being obliged to speak, she +could not forbear, in justice to the aunt she loved best, from saying +something in which the words "my aunt Norris" were distinguishable. + +"I understand," cried her uncle, recollecting himself, and not wanting +to hear more: "I understand. Your aunt Norris has always been an +advocate, and very judiciously, for young people's being brought up +without unnecessary indulgences; but there should be moderation in +everything. She is also very hardy herself, which of course will +influence her in her opinion of the wants of others. And on another +account, too, I can perfectly comprehend. I know what her sentiments +have always been. The principle was good in itself, but it may have +been, and I believe _has_ _been_, carried too far in your case. I +am aware that there has been sometimes, in some points, a misplaced +distinction; but I think too well of you, Fanny, to suppose you will +ever harbour resentment on that account. You have an understanding +which will prevent you from receiving things only in part, and judging +partially by the event. You will take in the whole of the past, you +will consider times, persons, and probabilities, and you will feel that +_they_ were not least your friends who were educating and preparing you +for that mediocrity of condition which _seemed_ to be your lot. Though +their caution may prove eventually unnecessary, it was kindly meant; and +of this you may be assured, that every advantage of affluence will be +doubled by the little privations and restrictions that may have been +imposed. I am sure you will not disappoint my opinion of you, by failing +at any time to treat your aunt Norris with the respect and attention +that are due to her. But enough of this. Sit down, my dear. I must speak +to you for a few minutes, but I will not detain you long." + +Fanny obeyed, with eyes cast down and colour rising. After a moment's +pause, Sir Thomas, trying to suppress a smile, went on. + +"You are not aware, perhaps, that I have had a visitor this morning. I +had not been long in my own room, after breakfast, when Mr. Crawford was +shewn in. His errand you may probably conjecture." + +Fanny's colour grew deeper and deeper; and her uncle, perceiving that +she was embarrassed to a degree that made either speaking or looking +up quite impossible, turned away his own eyes, and without any farther +pause proceeded in his account of Mr. Crawford's visit. + +Mr. Crawford's business had been to declare himself the lover of Fanny, +make decided proposals for her, and entreat the sanction of the uncle, +who seemed to stand in the place of her parents; and he had done it all +so well, so openly, so liberally, so properly, that Sir Thomas, feeling, +moreover, his own replies, and his own remarks to have been very much +to the purpose, was exceedingly happy to give the particulars of their +conversation; and little aware of what was passing in his niece's mind, +conceived that by such details he must be gratifying her far more than +himself. He talked, therefore, for several minutes without Fanny's +daring to interrupt him. She had hardly even attained the wish to do it. +Her mind was in too much confusion. She had changed her position; and, +with her eyes fixed intently on one of the windows, was listening to her +uncle in the utmost perturbation and dismay. For a moment he ceased, but +she had barely become conscious of it, when, rising from his chair, he +said, "And now, Fanny, having performed one part of my commission, +and shewn you everything placed on a basis the most assured and +satisfactory, I may execute the remainder by prevailing on you to +accompany me downstairs, where, though I cannot but presume on having +been no unacceptable companion myself, I must submit to your finding +one still better worth listening to. Mr. Crawford, as you have perhaps +foreseen, is yet in the house. He is in my room, and hoping to see you +there." + +There was a look, a start, an exclamation on hearing this, which +astonished Sir Thomas; but what was his increase of astonishment on +hearing her exclaim--"Oh! no, sir, I cannot, indeed I cannot go down to +him. Mr. Crawford ought to know--he must know that: I told him enough +yesterday to convince him; he spoke to me on this subject yesterday, +and I told him without disguise that it was very disagreeable to me, and +quite out of my power to return his good opinion." + +"I do not catch your meaning," said Sir Thomas, sitting down again. "Out +of your power to return his good opinion? What is all this? I know he +spoke to you yesterday, and (as far as I understand) received as much +encouragement to proceed as a well-judging young woman could permit +herself to give. I was very much pleased with what I collected to have +been your behaviour on the occasion; it shewed a discretion highly to +be commended. But now, when he has made his overtures so properly, and +honourably--what are your scruples _now_?" + +"You are mistaken, sir," cried Fanny, forced by the anxiety of the +moment even to tell her uncle that he was wrong; "you are quite +mistaken. How could Mr. Crawford say such a thing? I gave him no +encouragement yesterday. On the contrary, I told him, I cannot recollect +my exact words, but I am sure I told him that I would not listen to him, +that it was very unpleasant to me in every respect, and that I begged +him never to talk to me in that manner again. I am sure I said as much +as that and more; and I should have said still more, if I had been quite +certain of his meaning anything seriously; but I did not like to be, I +could not bear to be, imputing more than might be intended. I thought it +might all pass for nothing with _him_." + +She could say no more; her breath was almost gone. + +"Am I to understand," said Sir Thomas, after a few moments' silence, +"that you mean to _refuse_ Mr. Crawford?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Refuse him?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Refuse Mr. Crawford! Upon what plea? For what reason?" + +"I--I cannot like him, sir, well enough to marry him." + +"This is very strange!" said Sir Thomas, in a voice of calm displeasure. +"There is something in this which my comprehension does not reach. Here +is a young man wishing to pay his addresses to you, with everything to +recommend him: not merely situation in life, fortune, and character, +but with more than common agreeableness, with address and conversation +pleasing to everybody. And he is not an acquaintance of to-day; you have +now known him some time. His sister, moreover, is your intimate friend, +and he has been doing _that_ for your brother, which I should suppose +would have been almost sufficient recommendation to you, had there been +no other. It is very uncertain when my interest might have got William +on. He has done it already." + +"Yes," said Fanny, in a faint voice, and looking down with fresh shame; +and she did feel almost ashamed of herself, after such a picture as her +uncle had drawn, for not liking Mr. Crawford. + +"You must have been aware," continued Sir Thomas presently, "you must +have been some time aware of a particularity in Mr. Crawford's manners +to you. This cannot have taken you by surprise. You must have observed +his attentions; and though you always received them very properly (I +have no accusation to make on that head), I never perceived them to be +unpleasant to you. I am half inclined to think, Fanny, that you do not +quite know your own feelings." + +"Oh yes, sir! indeed I do. His attentions were always--what I did not +like." + +Sir Thomas looked at her with deeper surprise. "This is beyond me," +said he. "This requires explanation. Young as you are, and having seen +scarcely any one, it is hardly possible that your affections--" + +He paused and eyed her fixedly. He saw her lips formed into a _no_, +though the sound was inarticulate, but her face was like scarlet. That, +however, in so modest a girl, might be very compatible with innocence; +and chusing at least to appear satisfied, he quickly added, "No, no, I +know _that_ is quite out of the question; quite impossible. Well, there +is nothing more to be said." + +And for a few minutes he did say nothing. He was deep in thought. His +niece was deep in thought likewise, trying to harden and prepare herself +against farther questioning. She would rather die than own the truth; +and she hoped, by a little reflection, to fortify herself beyond +betraying it. + +"Independently of the interest which Mr. Crawford's _choice_ seemed to +justify" said Sir Thomas, beginning again, and very composedly, "his +wishing to marry at all so early is recommendatory to me. I am an +advocate for early marriages, where there are means in proportion, and +would have every young man, with a sufficient income, settle as soon +after four-and-twenty as he can. This is so much my opinion, that I am +sorry to think how little likely my own eldest son, your cousin, Mr. +Bertram, is to marry early; but at present, as far as I can judge, +matrimony makes no part of his plans or thoughts. I wish he were more +likely to fix." Here was a glance at Fanny. "Edmund, I consider, from +his dispositions and habits, as much more likely to marry early than +his brother. _He_, indeed, I have lately thought, has seen the woman he +could love, which, I am convinced, my eldest son has not. Am I right? Do +you agree with me, my dear?" + +"Yes, sir." + +It was gently, but it was calmly said, and Sir Thomas was easy on the +score of the cousins. But the removal of his alarm did his niece +no service: as her unaccountableness was confirmed his displeasure +increased; and getting up and walking about the room with a frown, which +Fanny could picture to herself, though she dared not lift up her eyes, +he shortly afterwards, and in a voice of authority, said, "Have you any +reason, child, to think ill of Mr. Crawford's temper?" + +"No, sir." + +She longed to add, "But of his principles I have"; but her heart sunk +under the appalling prospect of discussion, explanation, and probably +non-conviction. Her ill opinion of him was founded chiefly on +observations, which, for her cousins' sake, she could scarcely dare +mention to their father. Maria and Julia, and especially Maria, were so +closely implicated in Mr. Crawford's misconduct, that she could not give +his character, such as she believed it, without betraying them. She had +hoped that, to a man like her uncle, so discerning, so honourable, so +good, the simple acknowledgment of settled _dislike_ on her side would +have been sufficient. To her infinite grief she found it was not. + +Sir Thomas came towards the table where she sat in trembling +wretchedness, and with a good deal of cold sternness, said, "It is of no +use, I perceive, to talk to you. We had better put an end to this most +mortifying conference. Mr. Crawford must not be kept longer waiting. I +will, therefore, only add, as thinking it my duty to mark my opinion of +your conduct, that you have disappointed every expectation I had formed, +and proved yourself of a character the very reverse of what I had +supposed. For I _had_, Fanny, as I think my behaviour must have shewn, +formed a very favourable opinion of you from the period of my return to +England. I had thought you peculiarly free from wilfulness of temper, +self-conceit, and every tendency to that independence of spirit which +prevails so much in modern days, even in young women, and which in young +women is offensive and disgusting beyond all common offence. But you +have now shewn me that you can be wilful and perverse; that you can and +will decide for yourself, without any consideration or deference for +those who have surely some right to guide you, without even asking their +advice. You have shewn yourself very, very different from anything that +I had imagined. The advantage or disadvantage of your family, of your +parents, your brothers and sisters, never seems to have had a moment's +share in your thoughts on this occasion. How _they_ might be benefited, +how _they_ must rejoice in such an establishment for you, is nothing to +_you_. You think only of yourself, and because you do not feel for Mr. +Crawford exactly what a young heated fancy imagines to be necessary for +happiness, you resolve to refuse him at once, without wishing even for +a little time to consider of it, a little more time for cool +consideration, and for really examining your own inclinations; and are, +in a wild fit of folly, throwing away from you such an opportunity of +being settled in life, eligibly, honourably, nobly settled, as will, +probably, never occur to you again. Here is a young man of sense, of +character, of temper, of manners, and of fortune, exceedingly attached +to you, and seeking your hand in the most handsome and disinterested +way; and let me tell you, Fanny, that you may live eighteen years longer +in the world without being addressed by a man of half Mr. Crawford's +estate, or a tenth part of his merits. Gladly would I have bestowed +either of my own daughters on him. Maria is nobly married; but had +Mr. Crawford sought Julia's hand, I should have given it to him with +superior and more heartfelt satisfaction than I gave Maria's to Mr. +Rushworth." After half a moment's pause: "And I should have been very +much surprised had either of my daughters, on receiving a proposal +of marriage at any time which might carry with it only _half_ the +eligibility of _this_, immediately and peremptorily, and without paying +my opinion or my regard the compliment of any consultation, put a +decided negative on it. I should have been much surprised and much hurt +by such a proceeding. I should have thought it a gross violation of duty +and respect. _You_ are not to be judged by the same rule. You do not +owe me the duty of a child. But, Fanny, if your heart can acquit you of +_ingratitude_--" + +He ceased. Fanny was by this time crying so bitterly that, angry as he +was, he would not press that article farther. Her heart was almost broke +by such a picture of what she appeared to him; by such accusations, +so heavy, so multiplied, so rising in dreadful gradation! Self-willed, +obstinate, selfish, and ungrateful. He thought her all this. She had +deceived his expectations; she had lost his good opinion. What was to +become of her? + +"I am very sorry," said she inarticulately, through her tears, "I am +very sorry indeed." + +"Sorry! yes, I hope you are sorry; and you will probably have reason to +be long sorry for this day's transactions." + +"If it were possible for me to do otherwise" said she, with another +strong effort; "but I am so perfectly convinced that I could never make +him happy, and that I should be miserable myself." + +Another burst of tears; but in spite of that burst, and in spite of that +great black word _miserable_, which served to introduce it, Sir Thomas +began to think a little relenting, a little change of inclination, might +have something to do with it; and to augur favourably from the personal +entreaty of the young man himself. He knew her to be very timid, and +exceedingly nervous; and thought it not improbable that her mind +might be in such a state as a little time, a little pressing, a little +patience, and a little impatience, a judicious mixture of all on the +lover's side, might work their usual effect on. If the gentleman would +but persevere, if he had but love enough to persevere, Sir Thomas began +to have hopes; and these reflections having passed across his mind and +cheered it, "Well," said he, in a tone of becoming gravity, but of less +anger, "well, child, dry up your tears. There is no use in these tears; +they can do no good. You must now come downstairs with me. Mr. Crawford +has been kept waiting too long already. You must give him your own +answer: we cannot expect him to be satisfied with less; and you only +can explain to him the grounds of that misconception of your sentiments, +which, unfortunately for himself, he certainly has imbibed. I am totally +unequal to it." + +But Fanny shewed such reluctance, such misery, at the idea of going down +to him, that Sir Thomas, after a little consideration, judged it better +to indulge her. His hopes from both gentleman and lady suffered a small +depression in consequence; but when he looked at his niece, and saw the +state of feature and complexion which her crying had brought her +into, he thought there might be as much lost as gained by an immediate +interview. With a few words, therefore, of no particular meaning, he +walked off by himself, leaving his poor niece to sit and cry over what +had passed, with very wretched feelings. + +Her mind was all disorder. The past, present, future, everything was +terrible. But her uncle's anger gave her the severest pain of all. +Selfish and ungrateful! to have appeared so to him! She was miserable +for ever. She had no one to take her part, to counsel, or speak for her. +Her only friend was absent. He might have softened his father; but all, +perhaps all, would think her selfish and ungrateful. She might have to +endure the reproach again and again; she might hear it, or see it, or +know it to exist for ever in every connexion about her. She could not +but feel some resentment against Mr. Crawford; yet, if he really loved +her, and were unhappy too! It was all wretchedness together. + +In about a quarter of an hour her uncle returned; she was almost +ready to faint at the sight of him. He spoke calmly, however, without +austerity, without reproach, and she revived a little. There was +comfort, too, in his words, as well as his manner, for he began with, +"Mr. Crawford is gone: he has just left me. I need not repeat what has +passed. I do not want to add to anything you may now be feeling, by an +account of what he has felt. Suffice it, that he has behaved in the +most gentlemanlike and generous manner, and has confirmed me in a most +favourable opinion of his understanding, heart, and temper. Upon my +representation of what you were suffering, he immediately, and with the +greatest delicacy, ceased to urge to see you for the present." + +Here Fanny, who had looked up, looked down again. "Of course," continued +her uncle, "it cannot be supposed but that he should request to speak +with you alone, be it only for five minutes; a request too natural, +a claim too just to be denied. But there is no time fixed; perhaps +to-morrow, or whenever your spirits are composed enough. For the present +you have only to tranquillise yourself. Check these tears; they do but +exhaust you. If, as I am willing to suppose, you wish to shew me any +observance, you will not give way to these emotions, but endeavour to +reason yourself into a stronger frame of mind. I advise you to go out: +the air will do you good; go out for an hour on the gravel; you will +have the shrubbery to yourself, and will be the better for air and +exercise. And, Fanny" (turning back again for a moment), "I shall make +no mention below of what has passed; I shall not even tell your aunt +Bertram. There is no occasion for spreading the disappointment; say +nothing about it yourself." + +This was an order to be most joyfully obeyed; this was an act of +kindness which Fanny felt at her heart. To be spared from her aunt +Norris's interminable reproaches! he left her in a glow of gratitude. +Anything might be bearable rather than such reproaches. Even to see Mr. +Crawford would be less overpowering. + +She walked out directly, as her uncle recommended, and followed his +advice throughout, as far as she could; did check her tears; did +earnestly try to compose her spirits and strengthen her mind. She wished +to prove to him that she did desire his comfort, and sought to regain +his favour; and he had given her another strong motive for exertion, in +keeping the whole affair from the knowledge of her aunts. Not to excite +suspicion by her look or manner was now an object worth attaining; and +she felt equal to almost anything that might save her from her aunt +Norris. + +She was struck, quite struck, when, on returning from her walk and going +into the East room again, the first thing which caught her eye was a +fire lighted and burning. A fire! it seemed too much; just at that time +to be giving her such an indulgence was exciting even painful gratitude. +She wondered that Sir Thomas could have leisure to think of such a +trifle again; but she soon found, from the voluntary information of the +housemaid, who came in to attend it, that so it was to be every day. Sir +Thomas had given orders for it. + +"I must be a brute, indeed, if I can be really ungrateful!" said she, in +soliloquy. "Heaven defend me from being ungrateful!" + +She saw nothing more of her uncle, nor of her aunt Norris, till they met +at dinner. Her uncle's behaviour to her was then as nearly as possible +what it had been before; she was sure he did not mean there should be +any change, and that it was only her own conscience that could fancy +any; but her aunt was soon quarrelling with her; and when she found how +much and how unpleasantly her having only walked out without her aunt's +knowledge could be dwelt on, she felt all the reason she had to bless +the kindness which saved her from the same spirit of reproach, exerted +on a more momentous subject. + +"If I had known you were going out, I should have got you just to go +as far as my house with some orders for Nanny," said she, "which I have +since, to my very great inconvenience, been obliged to go and carry +myself. I could very ill spare the time, and you might have saved me the +trouble, if you would only have been so good as to let us know you were +going out. It would have made no difference to you, I suppose, whether +you had walked in the shrubbery or gone to my house." + +"I recommended the shrubbery to Fanny as the driest place," said Sir +Thomas. + +"Oh!" said Mrs. Norris, with a moment's check, "that was very kind of +you, Sir Thomas; but you do not know how dry the path is to my house. +Fanny would have had quite as good a walk there, I assure you, with the +advantage of being of some use, and obliging her aunt: it is all her +fault. If she would but have let us know she was going out but there is +a something about Fanny, I have often observed it before--she likes to +go her own way to work; she does not like to be dictated to; she takes +her own independent walk whenever she can; she certainly has a little +spirit of secrecy, and independence, and nonsense, about her, which I +would advise her to get the better of." + +As a general reflection on Fanny, Sir Thomas thought nothing could be +more unjust, though he had been so lately expressing the same sentiments +himself, and he tried to turn the conversation: tried repeatedly +before he could succeed; for Mrs. Norris had not discernment enough to +perceive, either now, or at any other time, to what degree he thought +well of his niece, or how very far he was from wishing to have his own +children's merits set off by the depreciation of hers. She was talking +_at_ Fanny, and resenting this private walk half through the dinner. + +It was over, however, at last; and the evening set in with more +composure to Fanny, and more cheerfulness of spirits than she could +have hoped for after so stormy a morning; but she trusted, in the first +place, that she had done right: that her judgment had not misled her. +For the purity of her intentions she could answer; and she was willing +to hope, secondly, that her uncle's displeasure was abating, and would +abate farther as he considered the matter with more impartiality, and +felt, as a good man must feel, how wretched, and how unpardonable, how +hopeless, and how wicked it was to marry without affection. + +When the meeting with which she was threatened for the morrow was past, +she could not but flatter herself that the subject would be finally +concluded, and Mr. Crawford once gone from Mansfield, that everything +would soon be as if no such subject had existed. She would not, could +not believe, that Mr. Crawford's affection for her could distress him +long; his mind was not of that sort. London would soon bring its cure. +In London he would soon learn to wonder at his infatuation, and be +thankful for the right reason in her which had saved him from its evil +consequences. + +While Fanny's mind was engaged in these sort of hopes, her uncle was, +soon after tea, called out of the room; an occurrence too common to +strike her, and she thought nothing of it till the butler reappeared ten +minutes afterwards, and advancing decidedly towards herself, said, +"Sir Thomas wishes to speak with you, ma'am, in his own room." Then it +occurred to her what might be going on; a suspicion rushed over her mind +which drove the colour from her cheeks; but instantly rising, she was +preparing to obey, when Mrs. Norris called out, "Stay, stay, Fanny! what +are you about? where are you going? don't be in such a hurry. Depend +upon it, it is not you who are wanted; depend upon it, it is me" +(looking at the butler); "but you are so very eager to put yourself +forward. What should Sir Thomas want you for? It is me, Baddeley, you +mean; I am coming this moment. You mean me, Baddeley, I am sure; Sir +Thomas wants me, not Miss Price." + +But Baddeley was stout. "No, ma'am, it is Miss Price; I am certain of +its being Miss Price." And there was a half-smile with the words, which +meant, "I do not think you would answer the purpose at all." + +Mrs. Norris, much discontented, was obliged to compose herself to work +again; and Fanny, walking off in agitating consciousness, found herself, +as she anticipated, in another minute alone with Mr. Crawford. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +The conference was neither so short nor so conclusive as the lady had +designed. The gentleman was not so easily satisfied. He had all the +disposition to persevere that Sir Thomas could wish him. He had vanity, +which strongly inclined him in the first place to think she did love +him, though she might not know it herself; and which, secondly, when +constrained at last to admit that she did know her own present feelings, +convinced him that he should be able in time to make those feelings what +he wished. + +He was in love, very much in love; and it was a love which, operating +on an active, sanguine spirit, of more warmth than delicacy, made her +affection appear of greater consequence because it was withheld, and +determined him to have the glory, as well as the felicity, of forcing +her to love him. + +He would not despair: he would not desist. He had every well-grounded +reason for solid attachment; he knew her to have all the worth that +could justify the warmest hopes of lasting happiness with her; her +conduct at this very time, by speaking the disinterestedness and +delicacy of her character (qualities which he believed most rare +indeed), was of a sort to heighten all his wishes, and confirm all his +resolutions. He knew not that he had a pre-engaged heart to attack. +Of _that_ he had no suspicion. He considered her rather as one who +had never thought on the subject enough to be in danger; who had been +guarded by youth, a youth of mind as lovely as of person; whose modesty +had prevented her from understanding his attentions, and who was still +overpowered by the suddenness of addresses so wholly unexpected, and the +novelty of a situation which her fancy had never taken into account. + +Must it not follow of course, that, when he was understood, he should +succeed? He believed it fully. Love such as his, in a man like himself, +must with perseverance secure a return, and at no great distance; and +he had so much delight in the idea of obliging her to love him in a very +short time, that her not loving him now was scarcely regretted. A little +difficulty to be overcome was no evil to Henry Crawford. He rather +derived spirits from it. He had been apt to gain hearts too easily. His +situation was new and animating. + +To Fanny, however, who had known too much opposition all her life to +find any charm in it, all this was unintelligible. She found that he did +mean to persevere; but how he could, after such language from her as she +felt herself obliged to use, was not to be understood. She told him that +she did not love him, could not love him, was sure she never should love +him; that such a change was quite impossible; that the subject was most +painful to her; that she must entreat him never to mention it again, to +allow her to leave him at once, and let it be considered as concluded +for ever. And when farther pressed, had added, that in her opinion their +dispositions were so totally dissimilar as to make mutual affection +incompatible; and that they were unfitted for each other by nature, +education, and habit. All this she had said, and with the earnestness +of sincerity; yet this was not enough, for he immediately denied there +being anything uncongenial in their characters, or anything unfriendly +in their situations; and positively declared, that he would still love, +and still hope! + +Fanny knew her own meaning, but was no judge of her own manner. Her +manner was incurably gentle; and she was not aware how much it concealed +the sternness of her purpose. Her diffidence, gratitude, and softness +made every expression of indifference seem almost an effort of +self-denial; seem, at least, to be giving nearly as much pain to herself +as to him. Mr. Crawford was no longer the Mr. Crawford who, as the +clandestine, insidious, treacherous admirer of Maria Bertram, had been +her abhorrence, whom she had hated to see or to speak to, in whom she +could believe no good quality to exist, and whose power, even of being +agreeable, she had barely acknowledged. He was now the Mr. Crawford who +was addressing herself with ardent, disinterested love; whose feelings +were apparently become all that was honourable and upright, whose views +of happiness were all fixed on a marriage of attachment; who was +pouring out his sense of her merits, describing and describing again his +affection, proving as far as words could prove it, and in the language, +tone, and spirit of a man of talent too, that he sought her for her +gentleness and her goodness; and to complete the whole, he was now the +Mr. Crawford who had procured William's promotion! + +Here was a change, and here were claims which could not but operate! +She might have disdained him in all the dignity of angry virtue, in +the grounds of Sotherton, or the theatre at Mansfield Park; but he +approached her now with rights that demanded different treatment. +She must be courteous, and she must be compassionate. She must have +a sensation of being honoured, and whether thinking of herself or her +brother, she must have a strong feeling of gratitude. The effect of the +whole was a manner so pitying and agitated, and words intermingled with +her refusal so expressive of obligation and concern, that to a temper of +vanity and hope like Crawford's, the truth, or at least the strength +of her indifference, might well be questionable; and he was not so +irrational as Fanny considered him, in the professions of persevering, +assiduous, and not desponding attachment which closed the interview. + +It was with reluctance that he suffered her to go; but there was no look +of despair in parting to belie his words, or give her hopes of his being +less unreasonable than he professed himself. + +Now she was angry. Some resentment did arise at a perseverance so +selfish and ungenerous. Here was again a want of delicacy and regard for +others which had formerly so struck and disgusted her. Here was again +a something of the same Mr. Crawford whom she had so reprobated before. +How evidently was there a gross want of feeling and humanity where his +own pleasure was concerned; and alas! how always known no principle to +supply as a duty what the heart was deficient in! Had her own affections +been as free as perhaps they ought to have been, he never could have +engaged them. + +So thought Fanny, in good truth and sober sadness, as she sat musing +over that too great indulgence and luxury of a fire upstairs: wondering +at the past and present; wondering at what was yet to come, and in a +nervous agitation which made nothing clear to her but the persuasion of +her being never under any circumstances able to love Mr. Crawford, and +the felicity of having a fire to sit over and think of it. + +Sir Thomas was obliged, or obliged himself, to wait till the morrow for +a knowledge of what had passed between the young people. He then saw +Mr. Crawford, and received his account. The first feeling was +disappointment: he had hoped better things; he had thought that an +hour's entreaty from a young man like Crawford could not have worked so +little change on a gentle-tempered girl like Fanny; but there was speedy +comfort in the determined views and sanguine perseverance of the lover; +and when seeing such confidence of success in the principal, Sir Thomas +was soon able to depend on it himself. + +Nothing was omitted, on his side, of civility, compliment, or kindness, +that might assist the plan. Mr. Crawford's steadiness was honoured, and +Fanny was praised, and the connexion was still the most desirable in the +world. At Mansfield Park Mr. Crawford would always be welcome; he had +only to consult his own judgment and feelings as to the frequency of his +visits, at present or in future. In all his niece's family and friends, +there could be but one opinion, one wish on the subject; the influence +of all who loved her must incline one way. + +Everything was said that could encourage, every encouragement received +with grateful joy, and the gentlemen parted the best of friends. + +Satisfied that the cause was now on a footing the most proper and +hopeful, Sir Thomas resolved to abstain from all farther importunity +with his niece, and to shew no open interference. Upon her disposition +he believed kindness might be the best way of working. Entreaty should +be from one quarter only. The forbearance of her family on a point, +respecting which she could be in no doubt of their wishes, might be +their surest means of forwarding it. Accordingly, on this principle, Sir +Thomas took the first opportunity of saying to her, with a mild gravity, +intended to be overcoming, "Well, Fanny, I have seen Mr. Crawford again, +and learn from him exactly how matters stand between you. He is a most +extraordinary young man, and whatever be the event, you must feel that +you have created an attachment of no common character; though, young +as you are, and little acquainted with the transient, varying, unsteady +nature of love, as it generally exists, you cannot be struck as I +am with all that is wonderful in a perseverance of this sort against +discouragement. With him it is entirely a matter of feeling: he claims +no merit in it; perhaps is entitled to none. Yet, having chosen so +well, his constancy has a respectable stamp. Had his choice been less +unexceptionable, I should have condemned his persevering." + +"Indeed, sir," said Fanny, "I am very sorry that Mr. Crawford should +continue to know that it is paying me a very great compliment, and I +feel most undeservedly honoured; but I am so perfectly convinced, and I +have told him so, that it never will be in my power--" + +"My dear," interrupted Sir Thomas, "there is no occasion for this. Your +feelings are as well known to me as my wishes and regrets must be +to you. There is nothing more to be said or done. From this hour the +subject is never to be revived between us. You will have nothing to +fear, or to be agitated about. You cannot suppose me capable of trying +to persuade you to marry against your inclinations. Your happiness and +advantage are all that I have in view, and nothing is required of you +but to bear with Mr. Crawford's endeavours to convince you that they may +not be incompatible with his. He proceeds at his own risk. You are on +safe ground. I have engaged for your seeing him whenever he calls, as +you might have done had nothing of this sort occurred. You will see +him with the rest of us, in the same manner, and, as much as you +can, dismissing the recollection of everything unpleasant. He leaves +Northamptonshire so soon, that even this slight sacrifice cannot be +often demanded. The future must be very uncertain. And now, my dear +Fanny, this subject is closed between us." + +The promised departure was all that Fanny could think of with much +satisfaction. Her uncle's kind expressions, however, and forbearing +manner, were sensibly felt; and when she considered how much of the +truth was unknown to him, she believed she had no right to wonder at +the line of conduct he pursued. He, who had married a daughter to Mr. +Rushworth: romantic delicacy was certainly not to be expected from him. +She must do her duty, and trust that time might make her duty easier +than it now was. + +She could not, though only eighteen, suppose Mr. Crawford's attachment +would hold out for ever; she could not but imagine that steady, +unceasing discouragement from herself would put an end to it in time. +How much time she might, in her own fancy, allot for its dominion, is +another concern. It would not be fair to inquire into a young lady's +exact estimate of her own perfections. + +In spite of his intended silence, Sir Thomas found himself once more +obliged to mention the subject to his niece, to prepare her briefly for +its being imparted to her aunts; a measure which he would still have +avoided, if possible, but which became necessary from the totally +opposite feelings of Mr. Crawford as to any secrecy of proceeding. He +had no idea of concealment. It was all known at the Parsonage, where +he loved to talk over the future with both his sisters, and it would be +rather gratifying to him to have enlightened witnesses of the progress +of his success. When Sir Thomas understood this, he felt the necessity +of making his own wife and sister-in-law acquainted with the business +without delay; though, on Fanny's account, he almost dreaded the +effect of the communication to Mrs. Norris as much as Fanny herself. He +deprecated her mistaken but well-meaning zeal. Sir Thomas, indeed, was, +by this time, not very far from classing Mrs. Norris as one of those +well-meaning people who are always doing mistaken and very disagreeable +things. + +Mrs. Norris, however, relieved him. He pressed for the strictest +forbearance and silence towards their niece; she not only promised, but +did observe it. She only looked her increased ill-will. Angry she was: +bitterly angry; but she was more angry with Fanny for having received +such an offer than for refusing it. It was an injury and affront to +Julia, who ought to have been Mr. Crawford's choice; and, independently +of that, she disliked Fanny, because she had neglected her; and she +would have grudged such an elevation to one whom she had been always +trying to depress. + +Sir Thomas gave her more credit for discretion on the occasion than she +deserved; and Fanny could have blessed her for allowing her only to see +her displeasure, and not to hear it. + +Lady Bertram took it differently. She had been a beauty, and a +prosperous beauty, all her life; and beauty and wealth were all that +excited her respect. To know Fanny to be sought in marriage by a man of +fortune, raised her, therefore, very much in her opinion. By convincing +her that Fanny _was_ very pretty, which she had been doubting about +before, and that she would be advantageously married, it made her feel a +sort of credit in calling her niece. + +"Well, Fanny," said she, as soon as they were alone together afterwards, +and she really had known something like impatience to be alone with her, +and her countenance, as she spoke, had extraordinary animation; "Well, +Fanny, I have had a very agreeable surprise this morning. I must just +speak of it _once_, I told Sir Thomas I must _once_, and then I +shall have done. I give you joy, my dear niece." And looking at her +complacently, she added, "Humph, we certainly are a handsome family!" + +Fanny coloured, and doubted at first what to say; when, hoping to assail +her on her vulnerable side, she presently answered-- + +"My dear aunt, _you_ cannot wish me to do differently from what I have +done, I am sure. _You_ cannot wish me to marry; for you would miss me, +should not you? Yes, I am sure you would miss me too much for that." + +"No, my dear, I should not think of missing you, when such an offer as +this comes in your way. I could do very well without you, if you were +married to a man of such good estate as Mr. Crawford. And you must be +aware, Fanny, that it is every young woman's duty to accept such a very +unexceptionable offer as this." + +This was almost the only rule of conduct, the only piece of advice, +which Fanny had ever received from her aunt in the course of eight years +and a half. It silenced her. She felt how unprofitable contention would +be. If her aunt's feelings were against her, nothing could be hoped from +attacking her understanding. Lady Bertram was quite talkative. + +"I will tell you what, Fanny," said she, "I am sure he fell in love with +you at the ball; I am sure the mischief was done that evening. You did +look remarkably well. Everybody said so. Sir Thomas said so. And you +know you had Chapman to help you to dress. I am very glad I sent +Chapman to you. I shall tell Sir Thomas that I am sure it was done +that evening." And still pursuing the same cheerful thoughts, she soon +afterwards added, "And will tell you what, Fanny, which is more than I +did for Maria: the next time Pug has a litter you shall have a puppy." + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +Edmund had great things to hear on his return. Many surprises were +awaiting him. The first that occurred was not least in interest: the +appearance of Henry Crawford and his sister walking together through the +village as he rode into it. He had concluded--he had meant them to be +far distant. His absence had been extended beyond a fortnight purposely +to avoid Miss Crawford. He was returning to Mansfield with spirits ready +to feed on melancholy remembrances, and tender associations, when her +own fair self was before him, leaning on her brother's arm, and he found +himself receiving a welcome, unquestionably friendly, from the woman +whom, two moments before, he had been thinking of as seventy miles off, +and as farther, much farther, from him in inclination than any distance +could express. + +Her reception of him was of a sort which he could not have hoped +for, had he expected to see her. Coming as he did from such a purport +fulfilled as had taken him away, he would have expected anything rather +than a look of satisfaction, and words of simple, pleasant meaning. +It was enough to set his heart in a glow, and to bring him home in the +properest state for feeling the full value of the other joyful surprises +at hand. + +William's promotion, with all its particulars, he was soon master of; +and with such a secret provision of comfort within his own breast to +help the joy, he found in it a source of most gratifying sensation and +unvarying cheerfulness all dinner-time. + +After dinner, when he and his father were alone, he had Fanny's history; +and then all the great events of the last fortnight, and the present +situation of matters at Mansfield were known to him. + +Fanny suspected what was going on. They sat so much longer than usual in +the dining-parlour, that she was sure they must be talking of her; and +when tea at last brought them away, and she was to be seen by Edmund +again, she felt dreadfully guilty. He came to her, sat down by her, took +her hand, and pressed it kindly; and at that moment she thought that, +but for the occupation and the scene which the tea-things afforded, she +must have betrayed her emotion in some unpardonable excess. + +He was not intending, however, by such action, to be conveying to her +that unqualified approbation and encouragement which her hopes drew +from it. It was designed only to express his participation in all that +interested her, and to tell her that he had been hearing what quickened +every feeling of affection. He was, in fact, entirely on his father's +side of the question. His surprise was not so great as his father's at +her refusing Crawford, because, so far from supposing her to consider +him with anything like a preference, he had always believed it to +be rather the reverse, and could imagine her to be taken perfectly +unprepared, but Sir Thomas could not regard the connexion as more +desirable than he did. It had every recommendation to him; and while +honouring her for what she had done under the influence of her present +indifference, honouring her in rather stronger terms than Sir Thomas +could quite echo, he was most earnest in hoping, and sanguine in +believing, that it would be a match at last, and that, united by mutual +affection, it would appear that their dispositions were as exactly +fitted to make them blessed in each other, as he was now beginning +seriously to consider them. Crawford had been too precipitate. He had +not given her time to attach herself. He had begun at the wrong end. +With such powers as his, however, and such a disposition as hers, Edmund +trusted that everything would work out a happy conclusion. Meanwhile, +he saw enough of Fanny's embarrassment to make him scrupulously guard +against exciting it a second time, by any word, or look, or movement. + +Crawford called the next day, and on the score of Edmund's return, Sir +Thomas felt himself more than licensed to ask him to stay dinner; it was +really a necessary compliment. He staid of course, and Edmund had then +ample opportunity for observing how he sped with Fanny, and what degree +of immediate encouragement for him might be extracted from her manners; +and it was so little, so very, very little--every chance, every +possibility of it, resting upon her embarrassment only; if there was +not hope in her confusion, there was hope in nothing else--that he was +almost ready to wonder at his friend's perseverance. Fanny was worth it +all; he held her to be worth every effort of patience, every exertion of +mind, but he did not think he could have gone on himself with any woman +breathing, without something more to warm his courage than his eyes +could discern in hers. He was very willing to hope that Crawford saw +clearer, and this was the most comfortable conclusion for his friend +that he could come to from all that he observed to pass before, and at, +and after dinner. + +In the evening a few circumstances occurred which he thought more +promising. When he and Crawford walked into the drawing-room, his mother +and Fanny were sitting as intently and silently at work as if there +were nothing else to care for. Edmund could not help noticing their +apparently deep tranquillity. + +"We have not been so silent all the time," replied his mother. "Fanny +has been reading to me, and only put the book down upon hearing you +coming." And sure enough there was a book on the table which had the air +of being very recently closed: a volume of Shakespeare. "She often +reads to me out of those books; and she was in the middle of a very +fine speech of that man's--what's his name, Fanny?--when we heard your +footsteps." + +Crawford took the volume. "Let me have the pleasure of finishing that +speech to your ladyship," said he. "I shall find it immediately." And by +carefully giving way to the inclination of the leaves, he did find it, +or within a page or two, quite near enough to satisfy Lady Bertram, who +assured him, as soon as he mentioned the name of Cardinal Wolsey, that +he had got the very speech. Not a look or an offer of help had Fanny +given; not a syllable for or against. All her attention was for her +work. She seemed determined to be interested by nothing else. But taste +was too strong in her. She could not abstract her mind five minutes: she +was forced to listen; his reading was capital, and her pleasure in good +reading extreme. To _good_ reading, however, she had been long used: +her uncle read well, her cousins all, Edmund very well, but in Mr. +Crawford's reading there was a variety of excellence beyond what she had +ever met with. The King, the Queen, Buckingham, Wolsey, Cromwell, all +were given in turn; for with the happiest knack, the happiest power of +jumping and guessing, he could always alight at will on the best scene, +or the best speeches of each; and whether it were dignity, or pride, or +tenderness, or remorse, or whatever were to be expressed, he could do +it with equal beauty. It was truly dramatic. His acting had first taught +Fanny what pleasure a play might give, and his reading brought all his +acting before her again; nay, perhaps with greater enjoyment, for it +came unexpectedly, and with no such drawback as she had been used to +suffer in seeing him on the stage with Miss Bertram. + +Edmund watched the progress of her attention, and was amused and +gratified by seeing how she gradually slackened in the needlework, which +at the beginning seemed to occupy her totally: how it fell from her hand +while she sat motionless over it, and at last, how the eyes which had +appeared so studiously to avoid him throughout the day were turned and +fixed on Crawford--fixed on him for minutes, fixed on him, in short, +till the attraction drew Crawford's upon her, and the book was closed, +and the charm was broken. Then she was shrinking again into herself, +and blushing and working as hard as ever; but it had been enough to give +Edmund encouragement for his friend, and as he cordially thanked him, he +hoped to be expressing Fanny's secret feelings too. + +"That play must be a favourite with you," said he; "you read as if you +knew it well." + +"It will be a favourite, I believe, from this hour," replied Crawford; +"but I do not think I have had a volume of Shakespeare in my hand before +since I was fifteen. I once saw Henry the Eighth acted, or I have heard +of it from somebody who did, I am not certain which. But Shakespeare +one gets acquainted with without knowing how. It is a part of an +Englishman's constitution. His thoughts and beauties are so spread +abroad that one touches them everywhere; one is intimate with him by +instinct. No man of any brain can open at a good part of one of his +plays without falling into the flow of his meaning immediately." + +"No doubt one is familiar with Shakespeare in a degree," said Edmund, +"from one's earliest years. His celebrated passages are quoted +by everybody; they are in half the books we open, and we all talk +Shakespeare, use his similes, and describe with his descriptions; but +this is totally distinct from giving his sense as you gave it. To know +him in bits and scraps is common enough; to know him pretty thoroughly +is, perhaps, not uncommon; but to read him well aloud is no everyday +talent." + +"Sir, you do me honour," was Crawford's answer, with a bow of mock +gravity. + +Both gentlemen had a glance at Fanny, to see if a word of accordant +praise could be extorted from her; yet both feeling that it could not +be. Her praise had been given in her attention; _that_ must content +them. + +Lady Bertram's admiration was expressed, and strongly too. "It was +really like being at a play," said she. "I wish Sir Thomas had been +here." + +Crawford was excessively pleased. If Lady Bertram, with all her +incompetency and languor, could feel this, the inference of what her +niece, alive and enlightened as she was, must feel, was elevating. + +"You have a great turn for acting, I am sure, Mr. Crawford," said her +ladyship soon afterwards; "and I will tell you what, I think you will +have a theatre, some time or other, at your house in Norfolk. I mean +when you are settled there. I do indeed. I think you will fit up a +theatre at your house in Norfolk." + +"Do you, ma'am?" cried he, with quickness. "No, no, that will never be. +Your ladyship is quite mistaken. No theatre at Everingham! Oh no!" And +he looked at Fanny with an expressive smile, which evidently meant, +"That lady will never allow a theatre at Everingham." + +Edmund saw it all, and saw Fanny so determined _not_ to see it, as to +make it clear that the voice was enough to convey the full meaning of +the protestation; and such a quick consciousness of compliment, such a +ready comprehension of a hint, he thought, was rather favourable than +not. + +The subject of reading aloud was farther discussed. The two young men +were the only talkers, but they, standing by the fire, talked over the +too common neglect of the qualification, the total inattention to it, +in the ordinary school-system for boys, the consequently natural, yet in +some instances almost unnatural, degree of ignorance and uncouthness +of men, of sensible and well-informed men, when suddenly called to the +necessity of reading aloud, which had fallen within their notice, giving +instances of blunders, and failures with their secondary causes, the +want of management of the voice, of proper modulation and emphasis, of +foresight and judgment, all proceeding from the first cause: want of +early attention and habit; and Fanny was listening again with great +entertainment. + +"Even in my profession," said Edmund, with a smile, "how little the +art of reading has been studied! how little a clear manner, and good +delivery, have been attended to! I speak rather of the past, however, +than the present. There is now a spirit of improvement abroad; but among +those who were ordained twenty, thirty, forty years ago, the larger +number, to judge by their performance, must have thought reading was +reading, and preaching was preaching. It is different now. The subject +is more justly considered. It is felt that distinctness and energy may +have weight in recommending the most solid truths; and besides, there is +more general observation and taste, a more critical knowledge diffused +than formerly; in every congregation there is a larger proportion who +know a little of the matter, and who can judge and criticise." + +Edmund had already gone through the service once since his ordination; +and upon this being understood, he had a variety of questions from +Crawford as to his feelings and success; questions, which being made, +though with the vivacity of friendly interest and quick taste, without +any touch of that spirit of banter or air of levity which Edmund knew to +be most offensive to Fanny, he had true pleasure in satisfying; and +when Crawford proceeded to ask his opinion and give his own as to the +properest manner in which particular passages in the service should be +delivered, shewing it to be a subject on which he had thought before, +and thought with judgment, Edmund was still more and more pleased. This +would be the way to Fanny's heart. She was not to be won by all that +gallantry and wit and good-nature together could do; or, at least, +she would not be won by them nearly so soon, without the assistance of +sentiment and feeling, and seriousness on serious subjects. + +"Our liturgy," observed Crawford, "has beauties, which not even a +careless, slovenly style of reading can destroy; but it has also +redundancies and repetitions which require good reading not to be felt. +For myself, at least, I must confess being not always so attentive as I +ought to be" (here was a glance at Fanny); "that nineteen times out of +twenty I am thinking how such a prayer ought to be read, and longing to +have it to read myself. Did you speak?" stepping eagerly to Fanny, and +addressing her in a softened voice; and upon her saying "No," he added, +"Are you sure you did not speak? I saw your lips move. I fancied you +might be going to tell me I ought to be more attentive, and not _allow_ +my thoughts to wander. Are not you going to tell me so?" + +"No, indeed, you know your duty too well for me to--even supposing--" + +She stopt, felt herself getting into a puzzle, and could not be +prevailed on to add another word, not by dint of several minutes of +supplication and waiting. He then returned to his former station, and +went on as if there had been no such tender interruption. + +"A sermon, well delivered, is more uncommon even than prayers well read. +A sermon, good in itself, is no rare thing. It is more difficult +to speak well than to compose well; that is, the rules and trick of +composition are oftener an object of study. A thoroughly good sermon, +thoroughly well delivered, is a capital gratification. I can never hear +such a one without the greatest admiration and respect, and more than +half a mind to take orders and preach myself. There is something in the +eloquence of the pulpit, when it is really eloquence, which is entitled +to the highest praise and honour. The preacher who can touch and affect +such an heterogeneous mass of hearers, on subjects limited, and long +worn threadbare in all common hands; who can say anything new or +striking, anything that rouses the attention without offending the +taste, or wearing out the feelings of his hearers, is a man whom one +could not, in his public capacity, honour enough. I should like to be +such a man." + +Edmund laughed. + +"I should indeed. I never listened to a distinguished preacher in my +life without a sort of envy. But then, I must have a London audience. +I could not preach but to the educated; to those who were capable of +estimating my composition. And I do not know that I should be fond of +preaching often; now and then, perhaps once or twice in the spring, +after being anxiously expected for half a dozen Sundays together; but +not for a constancy; it would not do for a constancy." + +Here Fanny, who could not but listen, involuntarily shook her head, +and Crawford was instantly by her side again, entreating to know her +meaning; and as Edmund perceived, by his drawing in a chair, and sitting +down close by her, that it was to be a very thorough attack, that looks +and undertones were to be well tried, he sank as quietly as possible +into a corner, turned his back, and took up a newspaper, very sincerely +wishing that dear little Fanny might be persuaded into explaining away +that shake of the head to the satisfaction of her ardent lover; and as +earnestly trying to bury every sound of the business from himself in +murmurs of his own, over the various advertisements of "A most desirable +Estate in South Wales"; "To Parents and Guardians"; and a "Capital +season'd Hunter." + +Fanny, meanwhile, vexed with herself for not having been as motionless +as she was speechless, and grieved to the heart to see Edmund's +arrangements, was trying by everything in the power of her modest, +gentle nature, to repulse Mr. Crawford, and avoid both his looks and +inquiries; and he, unrepulsable, was persisting in both. + +"What did that shake of the head mean?" said he. "What was it meant to +express? Disapprobation, I fear. But of what? What had I been saying +to displease you? Did you think me speaking improperly, lightly, +irreverently on the subject? Only tell me if I was. Only tell me if +I was wrong. I want to be set right. Nay, nay, I entreat you; for one +moment put down your work. What did that shake of the head mean?" + +In vain was her "Pray, sir, don't; pray, Mr. Crawford," repeated twice +over; and in vain did she try to move away. In the same low, eager +voice, and the same close neighbourhood, he went on, reurging the same +questions as before. She grew more agitated and displeased. + +"How can you, sir? You quite astonish me; I wonder how you can--" + +"Do I astonish you?" said he. "Do you wonder? Is there anything in +my present entreaty that you do not understand? I will explain to you +instantly all that makes me urge you in this manner, all that gives me +an interest in what you look and do, and excites my present curiosity. I +will not leave you to wonder long." + +In spite of herself, she could not help half a smile, but she said +nothing. + +"You shook your head at my acknowledging that I should not like to +engage in the duties of a clergyman always for a constancy. Yes, that +was the word. Constancy: I am not afraid of the word. I would spell it, +read it, write it with anybody. I see nothing alarming in the word. Did +you think I ought?" + +"Perhaps, sir," said Fanny, wearied at last into speaking--"perhaps, +sir, I thought it was a pity you did not always know yourself as well as +you seemed to do at that moment." + +Crawford, delighted to get her to speak at any rate, was determined +to keep it up; and poor Fanny, who had hoped to silence him by such an +extremity of reproof, found herself sadly mistaken, and that it was only +a change from one object of curiosity and one set of words to another. +He had always something to entreat the explanation of. The opportunity +was too fair. None such had occurred since his seeing her in her uncle's +room, none such might occur again before his leaving Mansfield. Lady +Bertram's being just on the other side of the table was a trifle, +for she might always be considered as only half-awake, and Edmund's +advertisements were still of the first utility. + +"Well," said Crawford, after a course of rapid questions and reluctant +answers; "I am happier than I was, because I now understand more clearly +your opinion of me. You think me unsteady: easily swayed by the whim of +the moment, easily tempted, easily put aside. With such an opinion, no +wonder that. But we shall see. It is not by protestations that I shall +endeavour to convince you I am wronged; it is not by telling you that my +affections are steady. My conduct shall speak for me; absence, distance, +time shall speak for me. _They_ shall prove that, as far as you can be +deserved by anybody, I do deserve you. You are infinitely my superior +in merit; all _that_ I know. You have qualities which I had not before +supposed to exist in such a degree in any human creature. You have some +touches of the angel in you beyond what--not merely beyond what one +sees, because one never sees anything like it--but beyond what one +fancies might be. But still I am not frightened. It is not by equality +of merit that you can be won. That is out of the question. It is he +who sees and worships your merit the strongest, who loves you most +devotedly, that has the best right to a return. There I build my +confidence. By that right I do and will deserve you; and when once +convinced that my attachment is what I declare it, I know you too well +not to entertain the warmest hopes. Yes, dearest, sweetest Fanny. Nay" +(seeing her draw back displeased), "forgive me. Perhaps I have as yet +no right; but by what other name can I call you? Do you suppose you are +ever present to my imagination under any other? No, it is 'Fanny' that +I think of all day, and dream of all night. You have given the name such +reality of sweetness, that nothing else can now be descriptive of you." + +Fanny could hardly have kept her seat any longer, or have refrained from +at least trying to get away in spite of all the too public opposition +she foresaw to it, had it not been for the sound of approaching relief, +the very sound which she had been long watching for, and long thinking +strangely delayed. + +The solemn procession, headed by Baddeley, of tea-board, urn, and +cake-bearers, made its appearance, and delivered her from a grievous +imprisonment of body and mind. Mr. Crawford was obliged to move. She was +at liberty, she was busy, she was protected. + +Edmund was not sorry to be admitted again among the number of those who +might speak and hear. But though the conference had seemed full long to +him, and though on looking at Fanny he saw rather a flush of vexation, +he inclined to hope that so much could not have been said and listened +to without some profit to the speaker. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +Edmund had determined that it belonged entirely to Fanny to chuse +whether her situation with regard to Crawford should be mentioned +between them or not; and that if she did not lead the way, it should +never be touched on by him; but after a day or two of mutual reserve, he +was induced by his father to change his mind, and try what his influence +might do for his friend. + +A day, and a very early day, was actually fixed for the Crawfords' +departure; and Sir Thomas thought it might be as well to make one +more effort for the young man before he left Mansfield, that all his +professions and vows of unshaken attachment might have as much hope to +sustain them as possible. + +Sir Thomas was most cordially anxious for the perfection of Mr. +Crawford's character in that point. He wished him to be a model of +constancy; and fancied the best means of effecting it would be by not +trying him too long. + +Edmund was not unwilling to be persuaded to engage in the business; he +wanted to know Fanny's feelings. She had been used to consult him in +every difficulty, and he loved her too well to bear to be denied her +confidence now; he hoped to be of service to her, he thought he must be +of service to her; whom else had she to open her heart to? If she did +not need counsel, she must need the comfort of communication. Fanny +estranged from him, silent and reserved, was an unnatural state of +things; a state which he must break through, and which he could easily +learn to think she was wanting him to break through. + +"I will speak to her, sir: I will take the first opportunity of speaking +to her alone," was the result of such thoughts as these; and upon Sir +Thomas's information of her being at that very time walking alone in the +shrubbery, he instantly joined her. + +"I am come to walk with you, Fanny," said he. "Shall I?" Drawing her +arm within his. "It is a long while since we have had a comfortable walk +together." + +She assented to it all rather by look than word. Her spirits were low. + +"But, Fanny," he presently added, "in order to have a comfortable walk, +something more is necessary than merely pacing this gravel together. You +must talk to me. I know you have something on your mind. I know what you +are thinking of. You cannot suppose me uninformed. Am I to hear of it +from everybody but Fanny herself?" + +Fanny, at once agitated and dejected, replied, "If you hear of it from +everybody, cousin, there can be nothing for me to tell." + +"Not of facts, perhaps; but of feelings, Fanny. No one but you can tell +me them. I do not mean to press you, however. If it is not what you wish +yourself, I have done. I had thought it might be a relief." + +"I am afraid we think too differently for me to find any relief in +talking of what I feel." + +"Do you suppose that we think differently? I have no idea of it. I dare +say that, on a comparison of our opinions, they would be found as much +alike as they have been used to be: to the point--I consider Crawford's +proposals as most advantageous and desirable, if you could return his +affection. I consider it as most natural that all your family should +wish you could return it; but that, as you cannot, you have done exactly +as you ought in refusing him. Can there be any disagreement between us +here?" + +"Oh no! But I thought you blamed me. I thought you were against me. This +is such a comfort!" + +"This comfort you might have had sooner, Fanny, had you sought it. But +how could you possibly suppose me against you? How could you imagine me +an advocate for marriage without love? Were I even careless in general +on such matters, how could you imagine me so where your happiness was at +stake?" + +"My uncle thought me wrong, and I knew he had been talking to you." + +"As far as you have gone, Fanny, I think you perfectly right. I may be +sorry, I may be surprised--though hardly _that_, for you had not had +time to attach yourself--but I think you perfectly right. Can it admit +of a question? It is disgraceful to us if it does. You did not love him; +nothing could have justified your accepting him." + +Fanny had not felt so comfortable for days and days. + +"So far your conduct has been faultless, and they were quite mistaken +who wished you to do otherwise. But the matter does not end here. +Crawford's is no common attachment; he perseveres, with the hope of +creating that regard which had not been created before. This, we know, +must be a work of time. But" (with an affectionate smile) "let him +succeed at last, Fanny, let him succeed at last. You have proved +yourself upright and disinterested, prove yourself grateful and +tender-hearted; and then you will be the perfect model of a woman which +I have always believed you born for." + +"Oh! never, never, never! he never will succeed with me." And she spoke +with a warmth which quite astonished Edmund, and which she blushed at +the recollection of herself, when she saw his look, and heard him +reply, "Never! Fanny!--so very determined and positive! This is not like +yourself, your rational self." + +"I mean," she cried, sorrowfully correcting herself, "that I _think_ I +never shall, as far as the future can be answered for; I think I never +shall return his regard." + +"I must hope better things. I am aware, more aware than Crawford can be, +that the man who means to make you love him (you having due notice of +his intentions) must have very uphill work, for there are all your early +attachments and habits in battle array; and before he can get your heart +for his own use he has to unfasten it from all the holds upon things +animate and inanimate, which so many years' growth have confirmed, and +which are considerably tightened for the moment by the very idea +of separation. I know that the apprehension of being forced to quit +Mansfield will for a time be arming you against him. I wish he had not +been obliged to tell you what he was trying for. I wish he had known you +as well as I do, Fanny. Between us, I think we should have won you. My +theoretical and his practical knowledge together could not have failed. +He should have worked upon my plans. I must hope, however, that time, +proving him (as I firmly believe it will) to deserve you by his steady +affection, will give him his reward. I cannot suppose that you have not +the _wish_ to love him--the natural wish of gratitude. You must have +some feeling of that sort. You must be sorry for your own indifference." + +"We are so totally unlike," said Fanny, avoiding a direct answer, "we +are so very, very different in all our inclinations and ways, that +I consider it as quite impossible we should ever be tolerably happy +together, even if I _could_ like him. There never were two people more +dissimilar. We have not one taste in common. We should be miserable." + +"You are mistaken, Fanny. The dissimilarity is not so strong. You are +quite enough alike. You _have_ tastes in common. You have moral and +literary tastes in common. You have both warm hearts and benevolent +feelings; and, Fanny, who that heard him read, and saw you listen to +Shakespeare the other night, will think you unfitted as companions? You +forget yourself: there is a decided difference in your tempers, I allow. +He is lively, you are serious; but so much the better: his spirits will +support yours. It is your disposition to be easily dejected and to fancy +difficulties greater than they are. His cheerfulness will counteract +this. He sees difficulties nowhere: and his pleasantness and gaiety will +be a constant support to you. Your being so far unlike, Fanny, does not +in the smallest degree make against the probability of your happiness +together: do not imagine it. I am myself convinced that it is rather a +favourable circumstance. I am perfectly persuaded that the tempers +had better be unlike: I mean unlike in the flow of the spirits, in +the manners, in the inclination for much or little company, in the +propensity to talk or to be silent, to be grave or to be gay. Some +opposition here is, I am thoroughly convinced, friendly to matrimonial +happiness. I exclude extremes, of course; and a very close resemblance +in all those points would be the likeliest way to produce an extreme. +A counteraction, gentle and continual, is the best safeguard of manners +and conduct." + +Full well could Fanny guess where his thoughts were now: Miss Crawford's +power was all returning. He had been speaking of her cheerfully from the +hour of his coming home. His avoiding her was quite at an end. He had +dined at the Parsonage only the preceding day. + +After leaving him to his happier thoughts for some minutes, Fanny, +feeling it due to herself, returned to Mr. Crawford, and said, "It +is not merely in _temper_ that I consider him as totally unsuited to +myself; though, in _that_ respect, I think the difference between us too +great, infinitely too great: his spirits often oppress me; but there is +something in him which I object to still more. I must say, cousin, that +I cannot approve his character. I have not thought well of him from the +time of the play. I then saw him behaving, as it appeared to me, so +very improperly and unfeelingly--I may speak of it now because it is all +over--so improperly by poor Mr. Rushworth, not seeming to care how he +exposed or hurt him, and paying attentions to my cousin Maria, which--in +short, at the time of the play, I received an impression which will +never be got over." + +"My dear Fanny," replied Edmund, scarcely hearing her to the end, "let +us not, any of us, be judged by what we appeared at that period of +general folly. The time of the play is a time which I hate to recollect. +Maria was wrong, Crawford was wrong, we were all wrong together; but +none so wrong as myself. Compared with me, all the rest were blameless. +I was playing the fool with my eyes open." + +"As a bystander," said Fanny, "perhaps I saw more than you did; and I do +think that Mr. Rushworth was sometimes very jealous." + +"Very possibly. No wonder. Nothing could be more improper than the whole +business. I am shocked whenever I think that Maria could be capable of +it; but, if she could undertake the part, we must not be surprised at +the rest." + +"Before the play, I am much mistaken if _Julia_ did not think he was +paying her attentions." + +"Julia! I have heard before from some one of his being in love with +Julia; but I could never see anything of it. And, Fanny, though I hope I +do justice to my sisters' good qualities, I think it very possible that +they might, one or both, be more desirous of being admired by Crawford, +and might shew that desire rather more unguardedly than was perfectly +prudent. I can remember that they were evidently fond of his society; +and with such encouragement, a man like Crawford, lively, and it may +be, a little unthinking, might be led on to--there could be nothing very +striking, because it is clear that he had no pretensions: his heart was +reserved for you. And I must say, that its being for you has raised him +inconceivably in my opinion. It does him the highest honour; it shews +his proper estimation of the blessing of domestic happiness and pure +attachment. It proves him unspoilt by his uncle. It proves him, in +short, everything that I had been used to wish to believe him, and +feared he was not." + +"I am persuaded that he does not think, as he ought, on serious +subjects." + +"Say, rather, that he has not thought at all upon serious subjects, +which I believe to be a good deal the case. How could it be otherwise, +with such an education and adviser? Under the disadvantages, indeed, +which both have had, is it not wonderful that they should be what they +are? Crawford's _feelings_, I am ready to acknowledge, have hitherto +been too much his guides. Happily, those feelings have generally been +good. You will supply the rest; and a most fortunate man he is to attach +himself to such a creature--to a woman who, firm as a rock in her own +principles, has a gentleness of character so well adapted to recommend +them. He has chosen his partner, indeed, with rare felicity. He will +make you happy, Fanny; I know he will make you happy; but you will make +him everything." + +"I would not engage in such a charge," cried Fanny, in a shrinking +accent; "in such an office of high responsibility!" + +"As usual, believing yourself unequal to anything! fancying everything +too much for you! Well, though I may not be able to persuade you into +different feelings, you will be persuaded into them, I trust. I confess +myself sincerely anxious that you may. I have no common interest in +Crawford's well-doing. Next to your happiness, Fanny, his has the first +claim on me. You are aware of my having no common interest in Crawford." + +Fanny was too well aware of it to have anything to say; and they walked +on together some fifty yards in mutual silence and abstraction. Edmund +first began again-- + +"I was very much pleased by her manner of speaking of it yesterday, +particularly pleased, because I had not depended upon her seeing +everything in so just a light. I knew she was very fond of you; but yet +I was afraid of her not estimating your worth to her brother quite as +it deserved, and of her regretting that he had not rather fixed on +some woman of distinction or fortune. I was afraid of the bias of those +worldly maxims, which she has been too much used to hear. But it was +very different. She spoke of you, Fanny, just as she ought. She desires +the connexion as warmly as your uncle or myself. We had a long talk +about it. I should not have mentioned the subject, though very anxious +to know her sentiments; but I had not been in the room five minutes +before she began introducing it with all that openness of heart, and +sweet peculiarity of manner, that spirit and ingenuousness which are so +much a part of herself. Mrs. Grant laughed at her for her rapidity." + +"Was Mrs. Grant in the room, then?" + +"Yes, when I reached the house I found the two sisters together by +themselves; and when once we had begun, we had not done with you, Fanny, +till Crawford and Dr. Grant came in." + +"It is above a week since I saw Miss Crawford." + +"Yes, she laments it; yet owns it may have been best. You will see her, +however, before she goes. She is very angry with you, Fanny; you must be +prepared for that. She calls herself very angry, but you can imagine her +anger. It is the regret and disappointment of a sister, who thinks her +brother has a right to everything he may wish for, at the first moment. +She is hurt, as you would be for William; but she loves and esteems you +with all her heart." + +"I knew she would be very angry with me." + +"My dearest Fanny," cried Edmund, pressing her arm closer to him, "do +not let the idea of her anger distress you. It is anger to be talked +of rather than felt. Her heart is made for love and kindness, not for +resentment. I wish you could have overheard her tribute of praise; +I wish you could have seen her countenance, when she said that you +_should_ be Henry's wife. And I observed that she always spoke of you +as 'Fanny,' which she was never used to do; and it had a sound of most +sisterly cordiality." + +"And Mrs. Grant, did she say--did she speak; was she there all the +time?" + +"Yes, she was agreeing exactly with her sister. The surprise of your +refusal, Fanny, seems to have been unbounded. That you could refuse such +a man as Henry Crawford seems more than they can understand. I said what +I could for you; but in good truth, as they stated the case--you must +prove yourself to be in your senses as soon as you can by a different +conduct; nothing else will satisfy them. But this is teasing you. I have +done. Do not turn away from me." + +"I _should_ have thought," said Fanny, after a pause of recollection and +exertion, "that every woman must have felt the possibility of a man's +not being approved, not being loved by some one of her sex at least, let +him be ever so generally agreeable. Let him have all the perfections +in the world, I think it ought not to be set down as certain that a man +must be acceptable to every woman he may happen to like himself. But, +even supposing it is so, allowing Mr. Crawford to have all the claims +which his sisters think he has, how was I to be prepared to meet him +with any feeling answerable to his own? He took me wholly by surprise. +I had not an idea that his behaviour to me before had any meaning; and +surely I was not to be teaching myself to like him only because he was +taking what seemed very idle notice of me. In my situation, it would +have been the extreme of vanity to be forming expectations on Mr. +Crawford. I am sure his sisters, rating him as they do, must have +thought it so, supposing he had meant nothing. How, then, was I to +be--to be in love with him the moment he said he was with me? How was I +to have an attachment at his service, as soon as it was asked for? His +sisters should consider me as well as him. The higher his deserts, the +more improper for me ever to have thought of him. And, and--we think +very differently of the nature of women, if they can imagine a woman so +very soon capable of returning an affection as this seems to imply." + +"My dear, dear Fanny, now I have the truth. I know this to be the truth; +and most worthy of you are such feelings. I had attributed them to you +before. I thought I could understand you. You have now given exactly +the explanation which I ventured to make for you to your friend and Mrs. +Grant, and they were both better satisfied, though your warm-hearted +friend was still run away with a little by the enthusiasm of her +fondness for Henry. I told them that you were of all human creatures the +one over whom habit had most power and novelty least; and that the very +circumstance of the novelty of Crawford's addresses was against him. +Their being so new and so recent was all in their disfavour; that you +could tolerate nothing that you were not used to; and a great deal more +to the same purpose, to give them a knowledge of your character. Miss +Crawford made us laugh by her plans of encouragement for her brother. +She meant to urge him to persevere in the hope of being loved in time, +and of having his addresses most kindly received at the end of about ten +years' happy marriage." + +Fanny could with difficulty give the smile that was here asked for. Her +feelings were all in revolt. She feared she had been doing wrong: saying +too much, overacting the caution which she had been fancying necessary; +in guarding against one evil, laying herself open to another; and to +have Miss Crawford's liveliness repeated to her at such a moment, and on +such a subject, was a bitter aggravation. + +Edmund saw weariness and distress in her face, and immediately resolved +to forbear all farther discussion; and not even to mention the name +of Crawford again, except as it might be connected with what _must_ be +agreeable to her. On this principle, he soon afterwards observed--"They +go on Monday. You are sure, therefore, of seeing your friend either +to-morrow or Sunday. They really go on Monday; and I was within a trifle +of being persuaded to stay at Lessingby till that very day! I had almost +promised it. What a difference it might have made! Those five or six +days more at Lessingby might have been felt all my life." + +"You were near staying there?" + +"Very. I was most kindly pressed, and had nearly consented. Had I +received any letter from Mansfield, to tell me how you were all going +on, I believe I should certainly have staid; but I knew nothing that +had happened here for a fortnight, and felt that I had been away long +enough." + +"You spent your time pleasantly there?" + +"Yes; that is, it was the fault of my own mind if I did not. They were +all very pleasant. I doubt their finding me so. I took uneasiness with +me, and there was no getting rid of it till I was in Mansfield again." + +"The Miss Owens--you liked them, did not you?" + +"Yes, very well. Pleasant, good-humoured, unaffected girls. But I am +spoilt, Fanny, for common female society. Good-humoured, unaffected +girls will not do for a man who has been used to sensible women. They +are two distinct orders of being. You and Miss Crawford have made me too +nice." + +Still, however, Fanny was oppressed and wearied; he saw it in her looks, +it could not be talked away; and attempting it no more, he led her +directly, with the kind authority of a privileged guardian, into the +house. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +Edmund now believed himself perfectly acquainted with all that Fanny +could tell, or could leave to be conjectured of her sentiments, and he +was satisfied. It had been, as he before presumed, too hasty a measure +on Crawford's side, and time must be given to make the idea first +familiar, and then agreeable to her. She must be used to the +consideration of his being in love with her, and then a return of +affection might not be very distant. + +He gave this opinion as the result of the conversation to his father; +and recommended there being nothing more said to her: no farther +attempts to influence or persuade; but that everything should be left to +Crawford's assiduities, and the natural workings of her own mind. + +Sir Thomas promised that it should be so. Edmund's account of Fanny's +disposition he could believe to be just; he supposed she had all those +feelings, but he must consider it as very unfortunate that she _had_; +for, less willing than his son to trust to the future, he could not +help fearing that if such very long allowances of time and habit were +necessary for her, she might not have persuaded herself into receiving +his addresses properly before the young man's inclination for paying +them were over. There was nothing to be done, however, but to submit +quietly and hope the best. + +The promised visit from "her friend," as Edmund called Miss Crawford, +was a formidable threat to Fanny, and she lived in continual terror of +it. As a sister, so partial and so angry, and so little scrupulous of +what she said, and in another light so triumphant and secure, she was in +every way an object of painful alarm. Her displeasure, her penetration, +and her happiness were all fearful to encounter; and the dependence of +having others present when they met was Fanny's only support in looking +forward to it. She absented herself as little as possible from Lady +Bertram, kept away from the East room, and took no solitary walk in the +shrubbery, in her caution to avoid any sudden attack. + +She succeeded. She was safe in the breakfast-room, with her aunt, when +Miss Crawford did come; and the first misery over, and Miss Crawford +looking and speaking with much less particularity of expression than she +had anticipated, Fanny began to hope there would be nothing worse to be +endured than a half-hour of moderate agitation. But here she hoped too +much; Miss Crawford was not the slave of opportunity. She was determined +to see Fanny alone, and therefore said to her tolerably soon, in a low +voice, "I must speak to you for a few minutes somewhere"; words that +Fanny felt all over her, in all her pulses and all her nerves. Denial +was impossible. Her habits of ready submission, on the contrary, made +her almost instantly rise and lead the way out of the room. She did it +with wretched feelings, but it was inevitable. + +They were no sooner in the hall than all restraint of countenance was +over on Miss Crawford's side. She immediately shook her head at Fanny +with arch, yet affectionate reproach, and taking her hand, seemed hardly +able to help beginning directly. She said nothing, however, but, "Sad, +sad girl! I do not know when I shall have done scolding you," and had +discretion enough to reserve the rest till they might be secure of +having four walls to themselves. Fanny naturally turned upstairs, and +took her guest to the apartment which was now always fit for comfortable +use; opening the door, however, with a most aching heart, and feeling +that she had a more distressing scene before her than ever that spot had +yet witnessed. But the evil ready to burst on her was at least delayed +by the sudden change in Miss Crawford's ideas; by the strong effect on +her mind which the finding herself in the East room again produced. + +"Ha!" she cried, with instant animation, "am I here again? The East +room! Once only was I in this room before"; and after stopping to look +about her, and seemingly to retrace all that had then passed, she added, +"Once only before. Do you remember it? I came to rehearse. Your cousin +came too; and we had a rehearsal. You were our audience and prompter. +A delightful rehearsal. I shall never forget it. Here we were, just in +this part of the room: here was your cousin, here was I, here were the +chairs. Oh! why will such things ever pass away?" + +Happily for her companion, she wanted no answer. Her mind was entirely +self-engrossed. She was in a reverie of sweet remembrances. + +"The scene we were rehearsing was so very remarkable! The subject of +it so very--very--what shall I say? He was to be describing and +recommending matrimony to me. I think I see him now, trying to be as +demure and composed as Anhalt ought, through the two long speeches. +'When two sympathetic hearts meet in the marriage state, matrimony +may be called a happy life.' I suppose no time can ever wear out the +impression I have of his looks and voice as he said those words. It was +curious, very curious, that we should have such a scene to play! If I +had the power of recalling any one week of my existence, it should be +that week--that acting week. Say what you would, Fanny, it should be +_that_; for I never knew such exquisite happiness in any other. His +sturdy spirit to bend as it did! Oh! it was sweet beyond expression. But +alas, that very evening destroyed it all. That very evening brought your +most unwelcome uncle. Poor Sir Thomas, who was glad to see you? Yet, +Fanny, do not imagine I would now speak disrespectfully of Sir Thomas, +though I certainly did hate him for many a week. No, I do him justice +now. He is just what the head of such a family should be. Nay, in sober +sadness, I believe I now love you all." And having said so, with a +degree of tenderness and consciousness which Fanny had never seen in her +before, and now thought only too becoming, she turned away for a moment +to recover herself. "I have had a little fit since I came into this +room, as you may perceive," said she presently, with a playful smile, +"but it is over now; so let us sit down and be comfortable; for as to +scolding you, Fanny, which I came fully intending to do, I have not +the heart for it when it comes to the point." And embracing her very +affectionately, "Good, gentle Fanny! when I think of this being the +last time of seeing you for I do not know how long, I feel it quite +impossible to do anything but love you." + +Fanny was affected. She had not foreseen anything of this, and her +feelings could seldom withstand the melancholy influence of the word +"last." She cried as if she had loved Miss Crawford more than she +possibly could; and Miss Crawford, yet farther softened by the sight of +such emotion, hung about her with fondness, and said, "I hate to leave +you. I shall see no one half so amiable where I am going. Who says we +shall not be sisters? I know we shall. I feel that we are born to +be connected; and those tears convince me that you feel it too, dear +Fanny." + +Fanny roused herself, and replying only in part, said, "But you are +only going from one set of friends to another. You are going to a very +particular friend." + +"Yes, very true. Mrs. Fraser has been my intimate friend for years. But +I have not the least inclination to go near her. I can think only of the +friends I am leaving: my excellent sister, yourself, and the Bertrams in +general. You have all so much more _heart_ among you than one finds in +the world at large. You all give me a feeling of being able to trust and +confide in you, which in common intercourse one knows nothing of. I wish +I had settled with Mrs. Fraser not to go to her till after Easter, a +much better time for the visit, but now I cannot put her off. And when +I have done with her I must go to her sister, Lady Stornaway, because +_she_ was rather my most particular friend of the two, but I have not +cared much for _her_ these three years." + +After this speech the two girls sat many minutes silent, each +thoughtful: Fanny meditating on the different sorts of friendship in the +world, Mary on something of less philosophic tendency. _She_ first spoke +again. + +"How perfectly I remember my resolving to look for you upstairs, and +setting off to find my way to the East room, without having an idea +whereabouts it was! How well I remember what I was thinking of as I came +along, and my looking in and seeing you here sitting at this table at +work; and then your cousin's astonishment, when he opened the door, at +seeing me here! To be sure, your uncle's returning that very evening! +There never was anything quite like it." + +Another short fit of abstraction followed, when, shaking it off, she +thus attacked her companion. + +"Why, Fanny, you are absolutely in a reverie. Thinking, I hope, of one +who is always thinking of you. Oh! that I could transport you for a +short time into our circle in town, that you might understand how your +power over Henry is thought of there! Oh! the envyings and heartburnings +of dozens and dozens; the wonder, the incredulity that will be felt at +hearing what you have done! For as to secrecy, Henry is quite the hero +of an old romance, and glories in his chains. You should come to London +to know how to estimate your conquest. If you were to see how he is +courted, and how I am courted for his sake! Now, I am well aware that +I shall not be half so welcome to Mrs. Fraser in consequence of his +situation with you. When she comes to know the truth she will, very +likely, wish me in Northamptonshire again; for there is a daughter of +Mr. Fraser, by a first wife, whom she is wild to get married, and +wants Henry to take. Oh! she has been trying for him to such a degree. +Innocent and quiet as you sit here, you cannot have an idea of the +_sensation_ that you will be occasioning, of the curiosity there will +be to see you, of the endless questions I shall have to answer! Poor +Margaret Fraser will be at me for ever about your eyes and your teeth, +and how you do your hair, and who makes your shoes. I wish Margaret were +married, for my poor friend's sake, for I look upon the Frasers to be +about as unhappy as most other married people. And yet it was a most +desirable match for Janet at the time. We were all delighted. She could +not do otherwise than accept him, for he was rich, and she had nothing; +but he turns out ill-tempered and _exigeant_, and wants a young woman, +a beautiful young woman of five-and-twenty, to be as steady as himself. +And my friend does not manage him well; she does not seem to know how +to make the best of it. There is a spirit of irritation which, to say +nothing worse, is certainly very ill-bred. In their house I shall call +to mind the conjugal manners of Mansfield Parsonage with respect. Even +Dr. Grant does shew a thorough confidence in my sister, and a certain +consideration for her judgment, which makes one feel there _is_ +attachment; but of that I shall see nothing with the Frasers. I shall +be at Mansfield for ever, Fanny. My own sister as a wife, Sir Thomas +Bertram as a husband, are my standards of perfection. Poor Janet has +been sadly taken in, and yet there was nothing improper on her side: +she did not run into the match inconsiderately; there was no want of +foresight. She took three days to consider of his proposals, and during +those three days asked the advice of everybody connected with her whose +opinion was worth having, and especially applied to my late dear aunt, +whose knowledge of the world made her judgment very generally and +deservedly looked up to by all the young people of her acquaintance, and +she was decidedly in favour of Mr. Fraser. This seems as if nothing were +a security for matrimonial comfort. I have not so much to say for my +friend Flora, who jilted a very nice young man in the Blues for the sake +of that horrid Lord Stornaway, who has about as much sense, Fanny, as +Mr. Rushworth, but much worse-looking, and with a blackguard character. +I _had_ my doubts at the time about her being right, for he has not even +the air of a gentleman, and now I am sure she was wrong. By the bye, +Flora Ross was dying for Henry the first winter she came out. But were I +to attempt to tell you of all the women whom I have known to be in love +with him, I should never have done. It is you, only you, insensible +Fanny, who can think of him with anything like indifference. But are you +so insensible as you profess yourself? No, no, I see you are not." + +There was, indeed, so deep a blush over Fanny's face at that moment as +might warrant strong suspicion in a predisposed mind. + +"Excellent creature! I will not tease you. Everything shall take its +course. But, dear Fanny, you must allow that you were not so absolutely +unprepared to have the question asked as your cousin fancies. It is not +possible but that you must have had some thoughts on the subject, some +surmises as to what might be. You must have seen that he was trying to +please you by every attention in his power. Was not he devoted to you +at the ball? And then before the ball, the necklace! Oh! you received +it just as it was meant. You were as conscious as heart could desire. I +remember it perfectly." + +"Do you mean, then, that your brother knew of the necklace beforehand? +Oh! Miss Crawford, _that_ was not fair." + +"Knew of it! It was his own doing entirely, his own thought. I am +ashamed to say that it had never entered my head, but I was delighted to +act on his proposal for both your sakes." + +"I will not say," replied Fanny, "that I was not half afraid at the time +of its being so, for there was something in your look that frightened +me, but not at first; I was as unsuspicious of it at first--indeed, +indeed I was. It is as true as that I sit here. And had I had an idea +of it, nothing should have induced me to accept the necklace. As to your +brother's behaviour, certainly I was sensible of a particularity: I had +been sensible of it some little time, perhaps two or three weeks; but +then I considered it as meaning nothing: I put it down as simply being +his way, and was as far from supposing as from wishing him to have any +serious thoughts of me. I had not, Miss Crawford, been an inattentive +observer of what was passing between him and some part of this family in +the summer and autumn. I was quiet, but I was not blind. I could not +but see that Mr. Crawford allowed himself in gallantries which did mean +nothing." + +"Ah! I cannot deny it. He has now and then been a sad flirt, and +cared very little for the havoc he might be making in young ladies' +affections. I have often scolded him for it, but it is his only fault; +and there is this to be said, that very few young ladies have any +affections worth caring for. And then, Fanny, the glory of fixing one +who has been shot at by so many; of having it in one's power to pay off +the debts of one's sex! Oh! I am sure it is not in woman's nature to +refuse such a triumph." + +Fanny shook her head. "I cannot think well of a man who sports with any +woman's feelings; and there may often be a great deal more suffered than +a stander-by can judge of." + +"I do not defend him. I leave him entirely to your mercy, and when he +has got you at Everingham, I do not care how much you lecture him. But +this I will say, that his fault, the liking to make girls a little +in love with him, is not half so dangerous to a wife's happiness as a +tendency to fall in love himself, which he has never been addicted to. +And I do seriously and truly believe that he is attached to you in a way +that he never was to any woman before; that he loves you with all his +heart, and will love you as nearly for ever as possible. If any man ever +loved a woman for ever, I think Henry will do as much for you." + +Fanny could not avoid a faint smile, but had nothing to say. + +"I cannot imagine Henry ever to have been happier," continued Mary +presently, "than when he had succeeded in getting your brother's +commission." + +She had made a sure push at Fanny's feelings here. + +"Oh! yes. How very, very kind of him." + +"I know he must have exerted himself very much, for I know the parties +he had to move. The Admiral hates trouble, and scorns asking favours; +and there are so many young men's claims to be attended to in the same +way, that a friendship and energy, not very determined, is easily put +by. What a happy creature William must be! I wish we could see him." + +Poor Fanny's mind was thrown into the most distressing of all its +varieties. The recollection of what had been done for William was always +the most powerful disturber of every decision against Mr. Crawford; and +she sat thinking deeply of it till Mary, who had been first watching +her complacently, and then musing on something else, suddenly called +her attention by saying: "I should like to sit talking with you here all +day, but we must not forget the ladies below, and so good-bye, my dear, +my amiable, my excellent Fanny, for though we shall nominally part in +the breakfast-parlour, I must take leave of you here. And I do take +leave, longing for a happy reunion, and trusting that when we meet +again, it will be under circumstances which may open our hearts to each +other without any remnant or shadow of reserve." + +A very, very kind embrace, and some agitation of manner, accompanied +these words. + +"I shall see your cousin in town soon: he talks of being there tolerably +soon; and Sir Thomas, I dare say, in the course of the spring; and your +eldest cousin, and the Rushworths, and Julia, I am sure of meeting again +and again, and all but you. I have two favours to ask, Fanny: one is +your correspondence. You must write to me. And the other, that you will +often call on Mrs. Grant, and make her amends for my being gone." + +The first, at least, of these favours Fanny would rather not have been +asked; but it was impossible for her to refuse the correspondence; it +was impossible for her even not to accede to it more readily than +her own judgment authorised. There was no resisting so much apparent +affection. Her disposition was peculiarly calculated to value a fond +treatment, and from having hitherto known so little of it, she was the +more overcome by Miss Crawford's. Besides, there was gratitude towards +her, for having made their _tete-a-tete_ so much less painful than her +fears had predicted. + +It was over, and she had escaped without reproaches and without +detection. Her secret was still her own; and while that was the case, +she thought she could resign herself to almost everything. + +In the evening there was another parting. Henry Crawford came and +sat some time with them; and her spirits not being previously in the +strongest state, her heart was softened for a while towards him, because +he really seemed to feel. Quite unlike his usual self, he scarcely said +anything. He was evidently oppressed, and Fanny must grieve for him, +though hoping she might never see him again till he were the husband of +some other woman. + +When it came to the moment of parting, he would take her hand, he would +not be denied it; he said nothing, however, or nothing that she heard, +and when he had left the room, she was better pleased that such a token +of friendship had passed. + +On the morrow the Crawfords were gone. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +Mr. Crawford gone, Sir Thomas's next object was that he should be +missed; and he entertained great hope that his niece would find a blank +in the loss of those attentions which at the time she had felt, or +fancied, an evil. She had tasted of consequence in its most flattering +form; and he did hope that the loss of it, the sinking again into +nothing, would awaken very wholesome regrets in her mind. He watched her +with this idea; but he could hardly tell with what success. He hardly +knew whether there were any difference in her spirits or not. She +was always so gentle and retiring that her emotions were beyond his +discrimination. He did not understand her: he felt that he did not; and +therefore applied to Edmund to tell him how she stood affected on the +present occasion, and whether she were more or less happy than she had +been. + +Edmund did not discern any symptoms of regret, and thought his father +a little unreasonable in supposing the first three or four days could +produce any. + +What chiefly surprised Edmund was, that Crawford's sister, the friend +and companion who had been so much to her, should not be more visibly +regretted. He wondered that Fanny spoke so seldom of _her_, and had so +little voluntarily to say of her concern at this separation. + +Alas! it was this sister, this friend and companion, who was now the +chief bane of Fanny's comfort. If she could have believed Mary's future +fate as unconnected with Mansfield as she was determined the brother's +should be, if she could have hoped her return thither to be as distant +as she was much inclined to think his, she would have been light of +heart indeed; but the more she recollected and observed, the more deeply +was she convinced that everything was now in a fairer train for Miss +Crawford's marrying Edmund than it had ever been before. On his side the +inclination was stronger, on hers less equivocal. His objections, the +scruples of his integrity, seemed all done away, nobody could tell +how; and the doubts and hesitations of her ambition were equally got +over--and equally without apparent reason. It could only be imputed to +increasing attachment. His good and her bad feelings yielded to love, +and such love must unite them. He was to go to town as soon as some +business relative to Thornton Lacey were completed--perhaps within a +fortnight; he talked of going, he loved to talk of it; and when once +with her again, Fanny could not doubt the rest. Her acceptance must be +as certain as his offer; and yet there were bad feelings still remaining +which made the prospect of it most sorrowful to her, independently, she +believed, independently of self. + +In their very last conversation, Miss Crawford, in spite of some amiable +sensations, and much personal kindness, had still been Miss Crawford; +still shewn a mind led astray and bewildered, and without any suspicion +of being so; darkened, yet fancying itself light. She might love, but +she did not deserve Edmund by any other sentiment. Fanny believed there +was scarcely a second feeling in common between them; and she may be +forgiven by older sages for looking on the chance of Miss Crawford's +future improvement as nearly desperate, for thinking that if Edmund's +influence in this season of love had already done so little in clearing +her judgment, and regulating her notions, his worth would be finally +wasted on her even in years of matrimony. + +Experience might have hoped more for any young people so circumstanced, +and impartiality would not have denied to Miss Crawford's nature that +participation of the general nature of women which would lead her to +adopt the opinions of the man she loved and respected as her own. But +as such were Fanny's persuasions, she suffered very much from them, and +could never speak of Miss Crawford without pain. + +Sir Thomas, meanwhile, went on with his own hopes and his own +observations, still feeling a right, by all his knowledge of human +nature, to expect to see the effect of the loss of power and consequence +on his niece's spirits, and the past attentions of the lover producing a +craving for their return; and he was soon afterwards able to account for +his not yet completely and indubitably seeing all this, by the prospect +of another visitor, whose approach he could allow to be quite enough to +support the spirits he was watching. William had obtained a ten days' +leave of absence, to be given to Northamptonshire, and was coming, the +happiest of lieutenants, because the latest made, to shew his happiness +and describe his uniform. + +He came; and he would have been delighted to shew his uniform there too, +had not cruel custom prohibited its appearance except on duty. So the +uniform remained at Portsmouth, and Edmund conjectured that before Fanny +had any chance of seeing it, all its own freshness and all the freshness +of its wearer's feelings must be worn away. It would be sunk into a +badge of disgrace; for what can be more unbecoming, or more worthless, +than the uniform of a lieutenant, who has been a lieutenant a year or +two, and sees others made commanders before him? So reasoned Edmund, +till his father made him the confidant of a scheme which placed Fanny's +chance of seeing the second lieutenant of H.M.S. Thrush in all his glory +in another light. + +This scheme was that she should accompany her brother back to +Portsmouth, and spend a little time with her own family. It had occurred +to Sir Thomas, in one of his dignified musings, as a right and desirable +measure; but before he absolutely made up his mind, he consulted his +son. Edmund considered it every way, and saw nothing but what was right. +The thing was good in itself, and could not be done at a better time; +and he had no doubt of it being highly agreeable to Fanny. This was +enough to determine Sir Thomas; and a decisive "then so it shall be" +closed that stage of the business; Sir Thomas retiring from it with some +feelings of satisfaction, and views of good over and above what he had +communicated to his son; for his prime motive in sending her away had +very little to do with the propriety of her seeing her parents again, +and nothing at all with any idea of making her happy. He certainly +wished her to go willingly, but he as certainly wished her to be +heartily sick of home before her visit ended; and that a little +abstinence from the elegancies and luxuries of Mansfield Park would +bring her mind into a sober state, and incline her to a juster estimate +of the value of that home of greater permanence, and equal comfort, of +which she had the offer. + +It was a medicinal project upon his niece's understanding, which he must +consider as at present diseased. A residence of eight or nine years in +the abode of wealth and plenty had a little disordered her powers of +comparing and judging. Her father's house would, in all probability, +teach her the value of a good income; and he trusted that she would be +the wiser and happier woman, all her life, for the experiment he had +devised. + +Had Fanny been at all addicted to raptures, she must have had a strong +attack of them when she first understood what was intended, when her +uncle first made her the offer of visiting the parents, and brothers, +and sisters, from whom she had been divided almost half her life; of +returning for a couple of months to the scenes of her infancy, with +William for the protector and companion of her journey, and the +certainty of continuing to see William to the last hour of his remaining +on land. Had she ever given way to bursts of delight, it must have been +then, for she was delighted, but her happiness was of a quiet, deep, +heart-swelling sort; and though never a great talker, she was always +more inclined to silence when feeling most strongly. At the moment she +could only thank and accept. Afterwards, when familiarised with the +visions of enjoyment so suddenly opened, she could speak more largely +to William and Edmund of what she felt; but still there were emotions +of tenderness that could not be clothed in words. The remembrance of all +her earliest pleasures, and of what she had suffered in being torn from +them, came over her with renewed strength, and it seemed as if to be +at home again would heal every pain that had since grown out of the +separation. To be in the centre of such a circle, loved by so many, +and more loved by all than she had ever been before; to feel affection +without fear or restraint; to feel herself the equal of those who +surrounded her; to be at peace from all mention of the Crawfords, safe +from every look which could be fancied a reproach on their account. This +was a prospect to be dwelt on with a fondness that could be but half +acknowledged. + +Edmund, too--to be two months from _him_ (and perhaps she might be +allowed to make her absence three) must do her good. At a distance, +unassailed by his looks or his kindness, and safe from the perpetual +irritation of knowing his heart, and striving to avoid his confidence, +she should be able to reason herself into a properer state; she should +be able to think of him as in London, and arranging everything there, +without wretchedness. What might have been hard to bear at Mansfield was +to become a slight evil at Portsmouth. + +The only drawback was the doubt of her aunt Bertram's being comfortable +without her. She was of use to no one else; but _there_ she might be +missed to a degree that she did not like to think of; and that part of +the arrangement was, indeed, the hardest for Sir Thomas to accomplish, +and what only _he_ could have accomplished at all. + +But he was master at Mansfield Park. When he had really resolved on +any measure, he could always carry it through; and now by dint of long +talking on the subject, explaining and dwelling on the duty of Fanny's +sometimes seeing her family, he did induce his wife to let her go; +obtaining it rather from submission, however, than conviction, for Lady +Bertram was convinced of very little more than that Sir Thomas thought +Fanny ought to go, and therefore that she must. In the calmness of +her own dressing-room, in the impartial flow of her own meditations, +unbiassed by his bewildering statements, she could not acknowledge any +necessity for Fanny's ever going near a father and mother who had done +without her so long, while she was so useful to herself. And as to the +not missing her, which under Mrs. Norris's discussion was the point +attempted to be proved, she set herself very steadily against admitting +any such thing. + +Sir Thomas had appealed to her reason, conscience, and dignity. He +called it a sacrifice, and demanded it of her goodness and self-command +as such. But Mrs. Norris wanted to persuade her that Fanny could be very +well spared--_she_ being ready to give up all her own time to her as +requested--and, in short, could not really be wanted or missed. + +"That may be, sister," was all Lady Bertram's reply. "I dare say you are +very right; but I am sure I shall miss her very much." + +The next step was to communicate with Portsmouth. Fanny wrote to offer +herself; and her mother's answer, though short, was so kind--a few +simple lines expressed so natural and motherly a joy in the prospect +of seeing her child again, as to confirm all the daughter's views of +happiness in being with her--convincing her that she should now find a +warm and affectionate friend in the "mama" who had certainly shewn no +remarkable fondness for her formerly; but this she could easily suppose +to have been her own fault or her own fancy. She had probably alienated +love by the helplessness and fretfulness of a fearful temper, or been +unreasonable in wanting a larger share than any one among so many could +deserve. Now, when she knew better how to be useful, and how to forbear, +and when her mother could be no longer occupied by the incessant +demands of a house full of little children, there would be leisure and +inclination for every comfort, and they should soon be what mother and +daughter ought to be to each other. + +William was almost as happy in the plan as his sister. It would be the +greatest pleasure to him to have her there to the last moment before he +sailed, and perhaps find her there still when he came in from his first +cruise. And besides, he wanted her so very much to see the Thrush before +she went out of harbour--the Thrush was certainly the finest sloop in +the service--and there were several improvements in the dockyard, too, +which he quite longed to shew her. + +He did not scruple to add that her being at home for a while would be a +great advantage to everybody. + +"I do not know how it is," said he; "but we seem to want some of +your nice ways and orderliness at my father's. The house is always in +confusion. You will set things going in a better way, I am sure. You +will tell my mother how it all ought to be, and you will be so useful to +Susan, and you will teach Betsey, and make the boys love and mind you. +How right and comfortable it will all be!" + +By the time Mrs. Price's answer arrived, there remained but a very few +days more to be spent at Mansfield; and for part of one of those days +the young travellers were in a good deal of alarm on the subject of +their journey, for when the mode of it came to be talked of, and Mrs. +Norris found that all her anxiety to save her brother-in-law's money +was vain, and that in spite of her wishes and hints for a less expensive +conveyance of Fanny, they were to travel post; when she saw Sir Thomas +actually give William notes for the purpose, she was struck with the +idea of there being room for a third in the carriage, and suddenly +seized with a strong inclination to go with them, to go and see her poor +dear sister Price. She proclaimed her thoughts. She must say that she +had more than half a mind to go with the young people; it would be such +an indulgence to her; she had not seen her poor dear sister Price for +more than twenty years; and it would be a help to the young people in +their journey to have her older head to manage for them; and she could +not help thinking her poor dear sister Price would feel it very unkind +of her not to come by such an opportunity. + +William and Fanny were horror-struck at the idea. + +All the comfort of their comfortable journey would be destroyed at +once. With woeful countenances they looked at each other. Their suspense +lasted an hour or two. No one interfered to encourage or dissuade. Mrs. +Norris was left to settle the matter by herself; and it ended, to the +infinite joy of her nephew and niece, in the recollection that she could +not possibly be spared from Mansfield Park at present; that she was a +great deal too necessary to Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram for her to +be able to answer it to herself to leave them even for a week, and +therefore must certainly sacrifice every other pleasure to that of being +useful to them. + +It had, in fact, occurred to her, that though taken to Portsmouth for +nothing, it would be hardly possible for her to avoid paying her own +expenses back again. So her poor dear sister Price was left to all the +disappointment of her missing such an opportunity, and another twenty +years' absence, perhaps, begun. + +Edmund's plans were affected by this Portsmouth journey, this absence of +Fanny's. He too had a sacrifice to make to Mansfield Park as well as his +aunt. He had intended, about this time, to be going to London; but he +could not leave his father and mother just when everybody else of most +importance to their comfort was leaving them; and with an effort, felt +but not boasted of, he delayed for a week or two longer a journey which +he was looking forward to with the hope of its fixing his happiness for +ever. + +He told Fanny of it. She knew so much already, that she must know +everything. It made the substance of one other confidential discourse +about Miss Crawford; and Fanny was the more affected from feeling it to +be the last time in which Miss Crawford's name would ever be mentioned +between them with any remains of liberty. Once afterwards she was +alluded to by him. Lady Bertram had been telling her niece in the +evening to write to her soon and often, and promising to be a good +correspondent herself; and Edmund, at a convenient moment, then added +in a whisper, "And _I_ shall write to you, Fanny, when I have anything +worth writing about, anything to say that I think you will like to hear, +and that you will not hear so soon from any other quarter." Had she +doubted his meaning while she listened, the glow in his face, when she +looked up at him, would have been decisive. + +For this letter she must try to arm herself. That a letter from Edmund +should be a subject of terror! She began to feel that she had not yet +gone through all the changes of opinion and sentiment which the progress +of time and variation of circumstances occasion in this world of +changes. The vicissitudes of the human mind had not yet been exhausted +by her. + +Poor Fanny! though going as she did willingly and eagerly, the last +evening at Mansfield Park must still be wretchedness. Her heart was +completely sad at parting. She had tears for every room in the house, +much more for every beloved inhabitant. She clung to her aunt, because +she would miss her; she kissed the hand of her uncle with struggling +sobs, because she had displeased him; and as for Edmund, she could +neither speak, nor look, nor think, when the last moment came with +_him_; and it was not till it was over that she knew he was giving her +the affectionate farewell of a brother. + +All this passed overnight, for the journey was to begin very early in +the morning; and when the small, diminished party met at breakfast, +William and Fanny were talked of as already advanced one stage. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +The novelty of travelling, and the happiness of being with William, soon +produced their natural effect on Fanny's spirits, when Mansfield Park +was fairly left behind; and by the time their first stage was ended, and +they were to quit Sir Thomas's carriage, she was able to take leave of +the old coachman, and send back proper messages, with cheerful looks. + +Of pleasant talk between the brother and sister there was no end. +Everything supplied an amusement to the high glee of William's mind, and +he was full of frolic and joke in the intervals of their higher-toned +subjects, all of which ended, if they did not begin, in praise of the +Thrush, conjectures how she would be employed, schemes for an action +with some superior force, which (supposing the first lieutenant out of +the way, and William was not very merciful to the first lieutenant) was +to give himself the next step as soon as possible, or speculations upon +prize-money, which was to be generously distributed at home, with only +the reservation of enough to make the little cottage comfortable, +in which he and Fanny were to pass all their middle and later life +together. + +Fanny's immediate concerns, as far as they involved Mr. Crawford, made +no part of their conversation. William knew what had passed, and from +his heart lamented that his sister's feelings should be so cold towards +a man whom he must consider as the first of human characters; but he was +of an age to be all for love, and therefore unable to blame; and knowing +her wish on the subject, he would not distress her by the slightest +allusion. + +She had reason to suppose herself not yet forgotten by Mr. Crawford. She +had heard repeatedly from his sister within the three weeks which had +passed since their leaving Mansfield, and in each letter there had been +a few lines from himself, warm and determined like his speeches. It +was a correspondence which Fanny found quite as unpleasant as she had +feared. Miss Crawford's style of writing, lively and affectionate, was +itself an evil, independent of what she was thus forced into reading +from the brother's pen, for Edmund would never rest till she had read +the chief of the letter to him; and then she had to listen to his +admiration of her language, and the warmth of her attachments. There +had, in fact, been so much of message, of allusion, of recollection, so +much of Mansfield in every letter, that Fanny could not but suppose it +meant for him to hear; and to find herself forced into a purpose of +that kind, compelled into a correspondence which was bringing her the +addresses of the man she did not love, and obliging her to administer +to the adverse passion of the man she did, was cruelly mortifying. Here, +too, her present removal promised advantage. When no longer under the +same roof with Edmund, she trusted that Miss Crawford would have no +motive for writing strong enough to overcome the trouble, and that at +Portsmouth their correspondence would dwindle into nothing. + +With such thoughts as these, among ten hundred others, Fanny proceeded +in her journey safely and cheerfully, and as expeditiously as could +rationally be hoped in the dirty month of February. They entered Oxford, +but she could take only a hasty glimpse of Edmund's college as they +passed along, and made no stop anywhere till they reached Newbury, where +a comfortable meal, uniting dinner and supper, wound up the enjoyments +and fatigues of the day. + +The next morning saw them off again at an early hour; and with no +events, and no delays, they regularly advanced, and were in the environs +of Portsmouth while there was yet daylight for Fanny to look around her, +and wonder at the new buildings. They passed the drawbridge, and +entered the town; and the light was only beginning to fail as, guided +by William's powerful voice, they were rattled into a narrow street, +leading from the High Street, and drawn up before the door of a small +house now inhabited by Mr. Price. + +Fanny was all agitation and flutter; all hope and apprehension. The +moment they stopped, a trollopy-looking maidservant, seemingly in +waiting for them at the door, stepped forward, and more intent on +telling the news than giving them any help, immediately began with, "The +Thrush is gone out of harbour, please sir, and one of the officers has +been here to--" She was interrupted by a fine tall boy of eleven years +old, who, rushing out of the house, pushed the maid aside, and while +William was opening the chaise-door himself, called out, "You are just +in time. We have been looking for you this half-hour. The Thrush went +out of harbour this morning. I saw her. It was a beautiful sight. And +they think she will have her orders in a day or two. And Mr. Campbell +was here at four o'clock to ask for you: he has got one of the Thrush's +boats, and is going off to her at six, and hoped you would be here in +time to go with him." + +A stare or two at Fanny, as William helped her out of the carriage, was +all the voluntary notice which this brother bestowed; but he made no +objection to her kissing him, though still entirely engaged in detailing +farther particulars of the Thrush's going out of harbour, in which +he had a strong right of interest, being to commence his career of +seamanship in her at this very time. + +Another moment and Fanny was in the narrow entrance-passage of the +house, and in her mother's arms, who met her there with looks of true +kindness, and with features which Fanny loved the more, because they +brought her aunt Bertram's before her, and there were her two sisters: +Susan, a well-grown fine girl of fourteen, and Betsey, the youngest of +the family, about five--both glad to see her in their way, though with +no advantage of manner in receiving her. But manner Fanny did not want. +Would they but love her, she should be satisfied. + +She was then taken into a parlour, so small that her first conviction +was of its being only a passage-room to something better, and she stood +for a moment expecting to be invited on; but when she saw there was +no other door, and that there were signs of habitation before her, she +called back her thoughts, reproved herself, and grieved lest they should +have been suspected. Her mother, however, could not stay long enough +to suspect anything. She was gone again to the street-door, to welcome +William. "Oh! my dear William, how glad I am to see you. But have you +heard about the Thrush? She is gone out of harbour already; three days +before we had any thought of it; and I do not know what I am to do about +Sam's things, they will never be ready in time; for she may have her +orders to-morrow, perhaps. It takes me quite unawares. And now you must +be off for Spithead too. Campbell has been here, quite in a worry about +you; and now what shall we do? I thought to have had such a comfortable +evening with you, and here everything comes upon me at once." + +Her son answered cheerfully, telling her that everything was always for +the best; and making light of his own inconvenience in being obliged to +hurry away so soon. + +"To be sure, I had much rather she had stayed in harbour, that I might +have sat a few hours with you in comfort; but as there is a boat ashore, +I had better go off at once, and there is no help for it. Whereabouts +does the Thrush lay at Spithead? Near the Canopus? But no matter; here's +Fanny in the parlour, and why should we stay in the passage? Come, +mother, you have hardly looked at your own dear Fanny yet." + +In they both came, and Mrs. Price having kindly kissed her daughter +again, and commented a little on her growth, began with very natural +solicitude to feel for their fatigues and wants as travellers. + +"Poor dears! how tired you must both be! and now, what will you have? I +began to think you would never come. Betsey and I have been watching for +you this half-hour. And when did you get anything to eat? And what would +you like to have now? I could not tell whether you would be for some +meat, or only a dish of tea, after your journey, or else I would have +got something ready. And now I am afraid Campbell will be here before +there is time to dress a steak, and we have no butcher at hand. It is +very inconvenient to have no butcher in the street. We were better off +in our last house. Perhaps you would like some tea as soon as it can be +got." + +They both declared they should prefer it to anything. "Then, Betsey, my +dear, run into the kitchen and see if Rebecca has put the water on; and +tell her to bring in the tea-things as soon as she can. I wish we could +get the bell mended; but Betsey is a very handy little messenger." + +Betsey went with alacrity, proud to shew her abilities before her fine +new sister. + +"Dear me!" continued the anxious mother, "what a sad fire we have got, +and I dare say you are both starved with cold. Draw your chair nearer, +my dear. I cannot think what Rebecca has been about. I am sure I told +her to bring some coals half an hour ago. Susan, you should have taken +care of the fire." + +"I was upstairs, mama, moving my things," said Susan, in a fearless, +self-defending tone, which startled Fanny. "You know you had but just +settled that my sister Fanny and I should have the other room; and I +could not get Rebecca to give me any help." + +Farther discussion was prevented by various bustles: first, the driver +came to be paid; then there was a squabble between Sam and Rebecca about +the manner of carrying up his sister's trunk, which he would manage all +his own way; and lastly, in walked Mr. Price himself, his own loud voice +preceding him, as with something of the oath kind he kicked away his +son's port-manteau and his daughter's bandbox in the passage, and called +out for a candle; no candle was brought, however, and he walked into the +room. + +Fanny with doubting feelings had risen to meet him, but sank down again +on finding herself undistinguished in the dusk, and unthought of. With +a friendly shake of his son's hand, and an eager voice, he instantly +began--"Ha! welcome back, my boy. Glad to see you. Have you heard the +news? The Thrush went out of harbour this morning. Sharp is the +word, you see! By G--, you are just in time! The doctor has been here +inquiring for you: he has got one of the boats, and is to be off for +Spithead by six, so you had better go with him. I have been to Turner's +about your mess; it is all in a way to be done. I should not wonder if +you had your orders to-morrow: but you cannot sail with this wind, if +you are to cruise to the westward; and Captain Walsh thinks you will +certainly have a cruise to the westward, with the Elephant. By G--, I +wish you may! But old Scholey was saying, just now, that he thought you +would be sent first to the Texel. Well, well, we are ready, whatever +happens. But by G--, you lost a fine sight by not being here in the +morning to see the Thrush go out of harbour! I would not have been out +of the way for a thousand pounds. Old Scholey ran in at breakfast-time, +to say she had slipped her moorings and was coming out, I jumped up, and +made but two steps to the platform. If ever there was a perfect beauty +afloat, she is one; and there she lays at Spithead, and anybody in +England would take her for an eight-and-twenty. I was upon the platform +two hours this afternoon looking at her. She lays close to the Endymion, +between her and the Cleopatra, just to the eastward of the sheer hulk." + +"Ha!" cried William, "_that's_ just where I should have put her myself. +It's the best berth at Spithead. But here is my sister, sir; here is +Fanny," turning and leading her forward; "it is so dark you do not see +her." + +With an acknowledgment that he had quite forgot her, Mr. Price now +received his daughter; and having given her a cordial hug, and observed +that she was grown into a woman, and he supposed would be wanting a +husband soon, seemed very much inclined to forget her again. Fanny +shrunk back to her seat, with feelings sadly pained by his language and +his smell of spirits; and he talked on only to his son, and only of the +Thrush, though William, warmly interested as he was in that subject, +more than once tried to make his father think of Fanny, and her long +absence and long journey. + +After sitting some time longer, a candle was obtained; but as there was +still no appearance of tea, nor, from Betsey's reports from the kitchen, +much hope of any under a considerable period, William determined to +go and change his dress, and make the necessary preparations for +his removal on board directly, that he might have his tea in comfort +afterwards. + +As he left the room, two rosy-faced boys, ragged and dirty, about eight +and nine years old, rushed into it just released from school, and coming +eagerly to see their sister, and tell that the Thrush was gone out of +harbour; Tom and Charles. Charles had been born since Fanny's going +away, but Tom she had often helped to nurse, and now felt a particular +pleasure in seeing again. Both were kissed very tenderly, but Tom she +wanted to keep by her, to try to trace the features of the baby she had +loved, and talked to, of his infant preference of herself. Tom, however, +had no mind for such treatment: he came home not to stand and be talked +to, but to run about and make a noise; and both boys had soon burst from +her, and slammed the parlour-door till her temples ached. + +She had now seen all that were at home; there remained only two brothers +between herself and Susan, one of whom was a clerk in a public office +in London, and the other midshipman on board an Indiaman. But though she +had _seen_ all the members of the family, she had not yet _heard_ all +the noise they could make. Another quarter of an hour brought her a +great deal more. William was soon calling out from the landing-place of +the second story for his mother and for Rebecca. He was in distress +for something that he had left there, and did not find again. A key was +mislaid, Betsey accused of having got at his new hat, and some slight, +but essential alteration of his uniform waistcoat, which he had been +promised to have done for him, entirely neglected. + +Mrs. Price, Rebecca, and Betsey all went up to defend themselves, all +talking together, but Rebecca loudest, and the job was to be done as +well as it could in a great hurry; William trying in vain to send Betsey +down again, or keep her from being troublesome where she was; the whole +of which, as almost every door in the house was open, could be plainly +distinguished in the parlour, except when drowned at intervals by the +superior noise of Sam, Tom, and Charles chasing each other up and down +stairs, and tumbling about and hallooing. + +Fanny was almost stunned. The smallness of the house and thinness of the +walls brought everything so close to her, that, added to the fatigue of +her journey, and all her recent agitation, she hardly knew how to +bear it. _Within_ the room all was tranquil enough, for Susan having +disappeared with the others, there were soon only her father and herself +remaining; and he, taking out a newspaper, the accustomary loan of a +neighbour, applied himself to studying it, without seeming to recollect +her existence. The solitary candle was held between himself and the +paper, without any reference to her possible convenience; but she had +nothing to do, and was glad to have the light screened from her aching +head, as she sat in bewildered, broken, sorrowful contemplation. + +She was at home. But, alas! it was not such a home, she had not such a +welcome, as--she checked herself; she was unreasonable. What right had +she to be of importance to her family? She could have none, so long lost +sight of! William's concerns must be dearest, they always had been, and +he had every right. Yet to have so little said or asked about herself, +to have scarcely an inquiry made after Mansfield! It did pain her to +have Mansfield forgotten; the friends who had done so much--the dear, +dear friends! But here, one subject swallowed up all the rest. Perhaps +it must be so. The destination of the Thrush must be now preeminently +interesting. A day or two might shew the difference. _She_ only was to +blame. Yet she thought it would not have been so at Mansfield. No, in +her uncle's house there would have been a consideration of times and +seasons, a regulation of subject, a propriety, an attention towards +everybody which there was not here. + +The only interruption which thoughts like these received for nearly half +an hour was from a sudden burst of her father's, not at all calculated +to compose them. At a more than ordinary pitch of thumping and hallooing +in the passage, he exclaimed, "Devil take those young dogs! How they are +singing out! Ay, Sam's voice louder than all the rest! That boy is fit +for a boatswain. Holla, you there! Sam, stop your confounded pipe, or I +shall be after you." + +This threat was so palpably disregarded, that though within five minutes +afterwards the three boys all burst into the room together and sat down, +Fanny could not consider it as a proof of anything more than their +being for the time thoroughly fagged, which their hot faces and panting +breaths seemed to prove, especially as they were still kicking each +other's shins, and hallooing out at sudden starts immediately under +their father's eye. + +The next opening of the door brought something more welcome: it was for +the tea-things, which she had begun almost to despair of seeing that +evening. Susan and an attendant girl, whose inferior appearance informed +Fanny, to her great surprise, that she had previously seen the upper +servant, brought in everything necessary for the meal; Susan looking, as +she put the kettle on the fire and glanced at her sister, as if divided +between the agreeable triumph of shewing her activity and usefulness, +and the dread of being thought to demean herself by such an office. "She +had been into the kitchen," she said, "to hurry Sally and help make the +toast, and spread the bread and butter, or she did not know when they +should have got tea, and she was sure her sister must want something +after her journey." + +Fanny was very thankful. She could not but own that she should be very +glad of a little tea, and Susan immediately set about making it, as if +pleased to have the employment all to herself; and with only a little +unnecessary bustle, and some few injudicious attempts at keeping her +brothers in better order than she could, acquitted herself very well. +Fanny's spirit was as much refreshed as her body; her head and heart +were soon the better for such well-timed kindness. Susan had an open, +sensible countenance; she was like William, and Fanny hoped to find her +like him in disposition and goodwill towards herself. + +In this more placid state of things William reentered, followed not +far behind by his mother and Betsey. He, complete in his lieutenant's +uniform, looking and moving all the taller, firmer, and more graceful +for it, and with the happiest smile over his face, walked up directly +to Fanny, who, rising from her seat, looked at him for a moment in +speechless admiration, and then threw her arms round his neck to sob out +her various emotions of pain and pleasure. + +Anxious not to appear unhappy, she soon recovered herself; and wiping +away her tears, was able to notice and admire all the striking parts +of his dress; listening with reviving spirits to his cheerful hopes of +being on shore some part of every day before they sailed, and even of +getting her to Spithead to see the sloop. + +The next bustle brought in Mr. Campbell, the surgeon of the Thrush, a +very well-behaved young man, who came to call for his friend, and for +whom there was with some contrivance found a chair, and with some hasty +washing of the young tea-maker's, a cup and saucer; and after another +quarter of an hour of earnest talk between the gentlemen, noise rising +upon noise, and bustle upon bustle, men and boys at last all in motion +together, the moment came for setting off; everything was ready, William +took leave, and all of them were gone; for the three boys, in spite +of their mother's entreaty, determined to see their brother and Mr. +Campbell to the sally-port; and Mr. Price walked off at the same time to +carry back his neighbour's newspaper. + +Something like tranquillity might now be hoped for; and accordingly, +when Rebecca had been prevailed on to carry away the tea-things, +and Mrs. Price had walked about the room some time looking for a +shirt-sleeve, which Betsey at last hunted out from a drawer in the +kitchen, the small party of females were pretty well composed, and the +mother having lamented again over the impossibility of getting Sam ready +in time, was at leisure to think of her eldest daughter and the friends +she had come from. + +A few inquiries began: but one of the earliest--"How did sister Bertram +manage about her servants?" "Was she as much plagued as herself to get +tolerable servants?"--soon led her mind away from Northamptonshire, and +fixed it on her own domestic grievances, and the shocking character of +all the Portsmouth servants, of whom she believed her own two were the +very worst, engrossed her completely. The Bertrams were all forgotten +in detailing the faults of Rebecca, against whom Susan had also much +to depose, and little Betsey a great deal more, and who did seem so +thoroughly without a single recommendation, that Fanny could not help +modestly presuming that her mother meant to part with her when her year +was up. + +"Her year!" cried Mrs. Price; "I am sure I hope I shall be rid of her +before she has staid a year, for that will not be up till November. +Servants are come to such a pass, my dear, in Portsmouth, that it is +quite a miracle if one keeps them more than half a year. I have no hope +of ever being settled; and if I was to part with Rebecca, I should +only get something worse. And yet I do not think I am a very difficult +mistress to please; and I am sure the place is easy enough, for there is +always a girl under her, and I often do half the work myself." + +Fanny was silent; but not from being convinced that there might not be a +remedy found for some of these evils. As she now sat looking at Betsey, +she could not but think particularly of another sister, a very pretty +little girl, whom she had left there not much younger when she went into +Northamptonshire, who had died a few years afterwards. There had been +something remarkably amiable about her. Fanny in those early days had +preferred her to Susan; and when the news of her death had at last +reached Mansfield, had for a short time been quite afflicted. The sight +of Betsey brought the image of little Mary back again, but she would +not have pained her mother by alluding to her for the world. While +considering her with these ideas, Betsey, at a small distance, was +holding out something to catch her eyes, meaning to screen it at the +same time from Susan's. + +"What have you got there, my love?" said Fanny; "come and shew it to +me." + +It was a silver knife. Up jumped Susan, claiming it as her own, and +trying to get it away; but the child ran to her mother's protection, +and Susan could only reproach, which she did very warmly, and evidently +hoping to interest Fanny on her side. "It was very hard that she was not +to have her _own_ knife; it was her own knife; little sister Mary had +left it to her upon her deathbed, and she ought to have had it to keep +herself long ago. But mama kept it from her, and was always letting +Betsey get hold of it; and the end of it would be that Betsey would +spoil it, and get it for her own, though mama had _promised_ her that +Betsey should not have it in her own hands." + +Fanny was quite shocked. Every feeling of duty, honour, and tenderness +was wounded by her sister's speech and her mother's reply. + +"Now, Susan," cried Mrs. Price, in a complaining voice, "now, how can +you be so cross? You are always quarrelling about that knife. I wish you +would not be so quarrelsome. Poor little Betsey; how cross Susan is to +you! But you should not have taken it out, my dear, when I sent you to +the drawer. You know I told you not to touch it, because Susan is so +cross about it. I must hide it another time, Betsey. Poor Mary little +thought it would be such a bone of contention when she gave it me to +keep, only two hours before she died. Poor little soul! she could but +just speak to be heard, and she said so prettily, 'Let sister Susan have +my knife, mama, when I am dead and buried.' Poor little dear! she was so +fond of it, Fanny, that she would have it lay by her in bed, all through +her illness. It was the gift of her good godmother, old Mrs. Admiral +Maxwell, only six weeks before she was taken for death. Poor little +sweet creature! Well, she was taken away from evil to come. My own +Betsey" (fondling her), "_you_ have not the luck of such a good +godmother. Aunt Norris lives too far off to think of such little people +as you." + +Fanny had indeed nothing to convey from aunt Norris, but a message to +say she hoped that her god-daughter was a good girl, and learnt her +book. There had been at one moment a slight murmur in the drawing-room +at Mansfield Park about sending her a prayer-book; but no second sound +had been heard of such a purpose. Mrs. Norris, however, had gone home +and taken down two old prayer-books of her husband with that idea; but, +upon examination, the ardour of generosity went off. One was found +to have too small a print for a child's eyes, and the other to be too +cumbersome for her to carry about. + +Fanny, fatigued and fatigued again, was thankful to accept the first +invitation of going to bed; and before Betsey had finished her cry at +being allowed to sit up only one hour extraordinary in honour of sister, +she was off, leaving all below in confusion and noise again; the boys +begging for toasted cheese, her father calling out for his rum and +water, and Rebecca never where she ought to be. + +There was nothing to raise her spirits in the confined and scantily +furnished chamber that she was to share with Susan. The smallness of +the rooms above and below, indeed, and the narrowness of the passage and +staircase, struck her beyond her imagination. She soon learned to think +with respect of her own little attic at Mansfield Park, in _that_ house +reckoned too small for anybody's comfort. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +Could Sir Thomas have seen all his niece's feelings, when she wrote her +first letter to her aunt, he would not have despaired; for though a good +night's rest, a pleasant morning, the hope of soon seeing William again, +and the comparatively quiet state of the house, from Tom and Charles +being gone to school, Sam on some project of his own, and her father +on his usual lounges, enabled her to express herself cheerfully on the +subject of home, there were still, to her own perfect consciousness, +many drawbacks suppressed. Could he have seen only half that she felt +before the end of a week, he would have thought Mr. Crawford sure of +her, and been delighted with his own sagacity. + +Before the week ended, it was all disappointment. In the first place, +William was gone. The Thrush had had her orders, the wind had changed, +and he was sailed within four days from their reaching Portsmouth; and +during those days she had seen him only twice, in a short and +hurried way, when he had come ashore on duty. There had been no free +conversation, no walk on the ramparts, no visit to the dockyard, no +acquaintance with the Thrush, nothing of all that they had planned and +depended on. Everything in that quarter failed her, except William's +affection. His last thought on leaving home was for her. He stepped back +again to the door to say, "Take care of Fanny, mother. She is tender, +and not used to rough it like the rest of us. I charge you, take care of +Fanny." + +William was gone: and the home he had left her in was, Fanny could not +conceal it from herself, in almost every respect the very reverse of +what she could have wished. It was the abode of noise, disorder, and +impropriety. Nobody was in their right place, nothing was done as it +ought to be. She could not respect her parents as she had hoped. On her +father, her confidence had not been sanguine, but he was more negligent +of his family, his habits were worse, and his manners coarser, than +she had been prepared for. He did not want abilities but he had no +curiosity, and no information beyond his profession; he read only +the newspaper and the navy-list; he talked only of the dockyard, the +harbour, Spithead, and the Motherbank; he swore and he drank, he was +dirty and gross. She had never been able to recall anything approaching +to tenderness in his former treatment of herself. There had remained +only a general impression of roughness and loudness; and now he scarcely +ever noticed her, but to make her the object of a coarse joke. + +Her disappointment in her mother was greater: _there_ she had hoped +much, and found almost nothing. Every flattering scheme of being of +consequence to her soon fell to the ground. Mrs. Price was not unkind; +but, instead of gaining on her affection and confidence, and becoming +more and more dear, her daughter never met with greater kindness from +her than on the first day of her arrival. The instinct of nature was +soon satisfied, and Mrs. Price's attachment had no other source. Her +heart and her time were already quite full; she had neither leisure nor +affection to bestow on Fanny. Her daughters never had been much to her. +She was fond of her sons, especially of William, but Betsey was the +first of her girls whom she had ever much regarded. To her she was most +injudiciously indulgent. William was her pride; Betsey her darling; +and John, Richard, Sam, Tom, and Charles occupied all the rest of her +maternal solicitude, alternately her worries and her comforts. These +shared her heart: her time was given chiefly to her house and her +servants. Her days were spent in a kind of slow bustle; all was busy +without getting on, always behindhand and lamenting it, without altering +her ways; wishing to be an economist, without contrivance or regularity; +dissatisfied with her servants, without skill to make them better, and +whether helping, or reprimanding, or indulging them, without any power +of engaging their respect. + +Of her two sisters, Mrs. Price very much more resembled Lady Bertram +than Mrs. Norris. She was a manager by necessity, without any of Mrs. +Norris's inclination for it, or any of her activity. Her disposition +was naturally easy and indolent, like Lady Bertram's; and a situation of +similar affluence and do-nothingness would have been much more suited +to her capacity than the exertions and self-denials of the one which her +imprudent marriage had placed her in. She might have made just as good a +woman of consequence as Lady Bertram, but Mrs. Norris would have been a +more respectable mother of nine children on a small income. + +Much of all this Fanny could not but be sensible of. She might scruple +to make use of the words, but she must and did feel that her mother was +a partial, ill-judging parent, a dawdle, a slattern, who neither taught +nor restrained her children, whose house was the scene of mismanagement +and discomfort from beginning to end, and who had no talent, no +conversation, no affection towards herself; no curiosity to know her +better, no desire of her friendship, and no inclination for her company +that could lessen her sense of such feelings. + +Fanny was very anxious to be useful, and not to appear above her home, +or in any way disqualified or disinclined, by her foreign education, +from contributing her help to its comforts, and therefore set about +working for Sam immediately; and by working early and late, with +perseverance and great despatch, did so much that the boy was shipped +off at last, with more than half his linen ready. She had great pleasure +in feeling her usefulness, but could not conceive how they would have +managed without her. + +Sam, loud and overbearing as he was, she rather regretted when he went, +for he was clever and intelligent, and glad to be employed in any errand +in the town; and though spurning the remonstrances of Susan, given as +they were, though very reasonable in themselves, with ill-timed and +powerless warmth, was beginning to be influenced by Fanny's services +and gentle persuasions; and she found that the best of the three younger +ones was gone in him: Tom and Charles being at least as many years as +they were his juniors distant from that age of feeling and reason, which +might suggest the expediency of making friends, and of endeavouring to +be less disagreeable. Their sister soon despaired of making the smallest +impression on _them_; they were quite untameable by any means of address +which she had spirits or time to attempt. Every afternoon brought a +return of their riotous games all over the house; and she very early +learned to sigh at the approach of Saturday's constant half-holiday. + +Betsey, too, a spoiled child, trained up to think the alphabet her +greatest enemy, left to be with the servants at her pleasure, and +then encouraged to report any evil of them, she was almost as ready to +despair of being able to love or assist; and of Susan's temper she +had many doubts. Her continual disagreements with her mother, her rash +squabbles with Tom and Charles, and petulance with Betsey, were at least +so distressing to Fanny that, though admitting they were by no means +without provocation, she feared the disposition that could push them to +such length must be far from amiable, and from affording any repose to +herself. + +Such was the home which was to put Mansfield out of her head, and +teach her to think of her cousin Edmund with moderated feelings. On the +contrary, she could think of nothing but Mansfield, its beloved inmates, +its happy ways. Everything where she now was in full contrast to it. The +elegance, propriety, regularity, harmony, and perhaps, above all, the +peace and tranquillity of Mansfield, were brought to her remembrance +every hour of the day, by the prevalence of everything opposite to them +_here_. + +The living in incessant noise was, to a frame and temper delicate and +nervous like Fanny's, an evil which no superadded elegance or harmony +could have entirely atoned for. It was the greatest misery of all. At +Mansfield, no sounds of contention, no raised voice, no abrupt bursts, +no tread of violence, was ever heard; all proceeded in a regular course +of cheerful orderliness; everybody had their due importance; everybody's +feelings were consulted. If tenderness could be ever supposed wanting, +good sense and good breeding supplied its place; and as to the little +irritations sometimes introduced by aunt Norris, they were short, they +were trifling, they were as a drop of water to the ocean, compared with +the ceaseless tumult of her present abode. Here everybody was noisy, +every voice was loud (excepting, perhaps, her mother's, which resembled +the soft monotony of Lady Bertram's, only worn into fretfulness). +Whatever was wanted was hallooed for, and the servants hallooed out +their excuses from the kitchen. The doors were in constant banging, the +stairs were never at rest, nothing was done without a clatter, nobody +sat still, and nobody could command attention when they spoke. + +In a review of the two houses, as they appeared to her before the end +of a week, Fanny was tempted to apply to them Dr. Johnson's celebrated +judgment as to matrimony and celibacy, and say, that though Mansfield +Park might have some pains, Portsmouth could have no pleasures. + + + +CHAPTER XL + +Fanny was right enough in not expecting to hear from Miss Crawford now +at the rapid rate in which their correspondence had begun; Mary's next +letter was after a decidedly longer interval than the last, but she +was not right in supposing that such an interval would be felt a great +relief to herself. Here was another strange revolution of mind! She was +really glad to receive the letter when it did come. In her present exile +from good society, and distance from everything that had been wont to +interest her, a letter from one belonging to the set where her heart +lived, written with affection, and some degree of elegance, was +thoroughly acceptable. The usual plea of increasing engagements was made +in excuse for not having written to her earlier; "And now that I have +begun," she continued, "my letter will not be worth your reading, for +there will be no little offering of love at the end, no three or four +lines _passionnees_ from the most devoted H. C. in the world, for +Henry is in Norfolk; business called him to Everingham ten days ago, or +perhaps he only pretended to call, for the sake of being travelling +at the same time that you were. But there he is, and, by the bye, his +absence may sufficiently account for any remissness of his sister's in +writing, for there has been no 'Well, Mary, when do you write to Fanny? +Is not it time for you to write to Fanny?' to spur me on. At last, after +various attempts at meeting, I have seen your cousins, 'dear Julia and +dearest Mrs. Rushworth'; they found me at home yesterday, and we were +glad to see each other again. We _seemed_ _very_ glad to see each other, +and I do really think we were a little. We had a vast deal to say. Shall +I tell you how Mrs. Rushworth looked when your name was mentioned? I did +not use to think her wanting in self-possession, but she had not quite +enough for the demands of yesterday. Upon the whole, Julia was in the +best looks of the two, at least after you were spoken of. There was no +recovering the complexion from the moment that I spoke of 'Fanny,' and +spoke of her as a sister should. But Mrs. Rushworth's day of good looks +will come; we have cards for her first party on the 28th. Then she +will be in beauty, for she will open one of the best houses in Wimpole +Street. I was in it two years ago, when it was Lady Lascelle's, and +prefer it to almost any I know in London, and certainly she will then +feel, to use a vulgar phrase, that she has got her pennyworth for her +penny. Henry could not have afforded her such a house. I hope she will +recollect it, and be satisfied, as well as she may, with moving the +queen of a palace, though the king may appear best in the background; +and as I have no desire to tease her, I shall never _force_ your name +upon her again. She will grow sober by degrees. From all that I hear +and guess, Baron Wildenheim's attentions to Julia continue, but I do not +know that he has any serious encouragement. She ought to do better. +A poor honourable is no catch, and I cannot imagine any liking in the +case, for take away his rants, and the poor baron has nothing. What a +difference a vowel makes! If his rents were but equal to his rants! Your +cousin Edmund moves slowly; detained, perchance, by parish duties. There +may be some old woman at Thornton Lacey to be converted. I am unwilling +to fancy myself neglected for a _young_ one. Adieu! my dear sweet Fanny, +this is a long letter from London: write me a pretty one in reply to +gladden Henry's eyes, when he comes back, and send me an account of all +the dashing young captains whom you disdain for his sake." + +There was great food for meditation in this letter, and chiefly for +unpleasant meditation; and yet, with all the uneasiness it supplied, it +connected her with the absent, it told her of people and things about +whom she had never felt so much curiosity as now, and she would +have been glad to have been sure of such a letter every week. Her +correspondence with her aunt Bertram was her only concern of higher +interest. + +As for any society in Portsmouth, that could at all make amends for +deficiencies at home, there were none within the circle of her father's +and mother's acquaintance to afford her the smallest satisfaction: she +saw nobody in whose favour she could wish to overcome her own shyness +and reserve. The men appeared to her all coarse, the women all pert, +everybody underbred; and she gave as little contentment as she received +from introductions either to old or new acquaintance. The young ladies +who approached her at first with some respect, in consideration of her +coming from a baronet's family, were soon offended by what they termed +"airs"; for, as she neither played on the pianoforte nor wore fine +pelisses, they could, on farther observation, admit no right of +superiority. + +The first solid consolation which Fanny received for the evils of home, +the first which her judgment could entirely approve, and which gave any +promise of durability, was in a better knowledge of Susan, and a hope of +being of service to her. Susan had always behaved pleasantly to herself, +but the determined character of her general manners had astonished +and alarmed her, and it was at least a fortnight before she began to +understand a disposition so totally different from her own. Susan saw +that much was wrong at home, and wanted to set it right. That a girl of +fourteen, acting only on her own unassisted reason, should err in the +method of reform, was not wonderful; and Fanny soon became more disposed +to admire the natural light of the mind which could so early distinguish +justly, than to censure severely the faults of conduct to which it led. +Susan was only acting on the same truths, and pursuing the same system, +which her own judgment acknowledged, but which her more supine and +yielding temper would have shrunk from asserting. Susan tried to be +useful, where _she_ could only have gone away and cried; and that Susan +was useful she could perceive; that things, bad as they were, would +have been worse but for such interposition, and that both her mother and +Betsey were restrained from some excesses of very offensive indulgence +and vulgarity. + +In every argument with her mother, Susan had in point of reason the +advantage, and never was there any maternal tenderness to buy her off. +The blind fondness which was for ever producing evil around her she had +never known. There was no gratitude for affection past or present to +make her better bear with its excesses to the others. + +All this became gradually evident, and gradually placed Susan before her +sister as an object of mingled compassion and respect. That her manner +was wrong, however, at times very wrong, her measures often ill-chosen +and ill-timed, and her looks and language very often indefensible, Fanny +could not cease to feel; but she began to hope they might be rectified. +Susan, she found, looked up to her and wished for her good opinion; and +new as anything like an office of authority was to Fanny, new as it +was to imagine herself capable of guiding or informing any one, she did +resolve to give occasional hints to Susan, and endeavour to exercise for +her advantage the juster notions of what was due to everybody, and what +would be wisest for herself, which her own more favoured education had +fixed in her. + +Her influence, or at least the consciousness and use of it, originated +in an act of kindness by Susan, which, after many hesitations of +delicacy, she at last worked herself up to. It had very early occurred +to her that a small sum of money might, perhaps, restore peace for +ever on the sore subject of the silver knife, canvassed as it now was +continually, and the riches which she was in possession of herself, +her uncle having given her 10 at parting, made her as able as she was +willing to be generous. But she was so wholly unused to confer favours, +except on the very poor, so unpractised in removing evils, or bestowing +kindnesses among her equals, and so fearful of appearing to elevate +herself as a great lady at home, that it took some time to determine +that it would not be unbecoming in her to make such a present. It +was made, however, at last: a silver knife was bought for Betsey, and +accepted with great delight, its newness giving it every advantage +over the other that could be desired; Susan was established in the full +possession of her own, Betsey handsomely declaring that now she had got +one so much prettier herself, she should never want _that_ again; and +no reproach seemed conveyed to the equally satisfied mother, which Fanny +had almost feared to be impossible. The deed thoroughly answered: a +source of domestic altercation was entirely done away, and it was the +means of opening Susan's heart to her, and giving her something more to +love and be interested in. Susan shewed that she had delicacy: pleased +as she was to be mistress of property which she had been struggling for +at least two years, she yet feared that her sister's judgment had been +against her, and that a reproof was designed her for having so struggled +as to make the purchase necessary for the tranquillity of the house. + +Her temper was open. She acknowledged her fears, blamed herself for +having contended so warmly; and from that hour Fanny, understanding the +worth of her disposition and perceiving how fully she was inclined to +seek her good opinion and refer to her judgment, began to feel again the +blessing of affection, and to entertain the hope of being useful to a +mind so much in need of help, and so much deserving it. She gave advice, +advice too sound to be resisted by a good understanding, and given so +mildly and considerately as not to irritate an imperfect temper, and she +had the happiness of observing its good effects not unfrequently. +More was not expected by one who, while seeing all the obligation and +expediency of submission and forbearance, saw also with sympathetic +acuteness of feeling all that must be hourly grating to a girl like +Susan. Her greatest wonder on the subject soon became--not that Susan +should have been provoked into disrespect and impatience against her +better knowledge--but that so much better knowledge, so many good +notions should have been hers at all; and that, brought up in the midst +of negligence and error, she should have formed such proper opinions +of what ought to be; she, who had had no cousin Edmund to direct her +thoughts or fix her principles. + +The intimacy thus begun between them was a material advantage to +each. By sitting together upstairs, they avoided a great deal of the +disturbance of the house; Fanny had peace, and Susan learned to think it +no misfortune to be quietly employed. They sat without a fire; but +that was a privation familiar even to Fanny, and she suffered the +less because reminded by it of the East room. It was the only point of +resemblance. In space, light, furniture, and prospect, there was +nothing alike in the two apartments; and she often heaved a sigh at the +remembrance of all her books and boxes, and various comforts there. By +degrees the girls came to spend the chief of the morning upstairs, at +first only in working and talking, but after a few days, the remembrance +of the said books grew so potent and stimulative that Fanny found it +impossible not to try for books again. There were none in her father's +house; but wealth is luxurious and daring, and some of hers found its +way to a circulating library. She became a subscriber; amazed at being +anything _in propria persona_, amazed at her own doings in every way, to +be a renter, a chuser of books! And to be having any one's improvement +in view in her choice! But so it was. Susan had read nothing, and Fanny +longed to give her a share in her own first pleasures, and inspire a +taste for the biography and poetry which she delighted in herself. + +In this occupation she hoped, moreover, to bury some of the +recollections of Mansfield, which were too apt to seize her mind if her +fingers only were busy; and, especially at this time, hoped it might +be useful in diverting her thoughts from pursuing Edmund to London, +whither, on the authority of her aunt's last letter, she knew he was +gone. She had no doubt of what would ensue. The promised notification +was hanging over her head. The postman's knock within the neighbourhood +was beginning to bring its daily terrors, and if reading could banish +the idea for even half an hour, it was something gained. + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +A week was gone since Edmund might be supposed in town, and Fanny had +heard nothing of him. There were three different conclusions to be drawn +from his silence, between which her mind was in fluctuation; each of +them at times being held the most probable. Either his going had been +again delayed, or he had yet procured no opportunity of seeing Miss +Crawford alone, or he was too happy for letter-writing! + +One morning, about this time, Fanny having now been nearly four weeks +from Mansfield, a point which she never failed to think over and +calculate every day, as she and Susan were preparing to remove, as +usual, upstairs, they were stopped by the knock of a visitor, whom they +felt they could not avoid, from Rebecca's alertness in going to the +door, a duty which always interested her beyond any other. + +It was a gentleman's voice; it was a voice that Fanny was just turning +pale about, when Mr. Crawford walked into the room. + +Good sense, like hers, will always act when really called upon; and she +found that she had been able to name him to her mother, and recall her +remembrance of the name, as that of "William's friend," though she could +not previously have believed herself capable of uttering a syllable +at such a moment. The consciousness of his being known there only as +William's friend was some support. Having introduced him, however, and +being all reseated, the terrors that occurred of what this visit might +lead to were overpowering, and she fancied herself on the point of +fainting away. + +While trying to keep herself alive, their visitor, who had at first +approached her with as animated a countenance as ever, was wisely and +kindly keeping his eyes away, and giving her time to recover, while he +devoted himself entirely to her mother, addressing her, and attending +to her with the utmost politeness and propriety, at the same time with +a degree of friendliness, of interest at least, which was making his +manner perfect. + +Mrs. Price's manners were also at their best. Warmed by the sight of +such a friend to her son, and regulated by the wish of appearing to +advantage before him, she was overflowing with gratitude--artless, +maternal gratitude--which could not be unpleasing. Mr. Price was out, +which she regretted very much. Fanny was just recovered enough to +feel that _she_ could not regret it; for to her many other sources of +uneasiness was added the severe one of shame for the home in which he +found her. She might scold herself for the weakness, but there was no +scolding it away. She was ashamed, and she would have been yet more +ashamed of her father than of all the rest. + +They talked of William, a subject on which Mrs. Price could never tire; +and Mr. Crawford was as warm in his commendation as even her heart could +wish. She felt that she had never seen so agreeable a man in her life; +and was only astonished to find that, so great and so agreeable as he +was, he should be come down to Portsmouth neither on a visit to the +port-admiral, nor the commissioner, nor yet with the intention of going +over to the island, nor of seeing the dockyard. Nothing of all that she +had been used to think of as the proof of importance, or the employment +of wealth, had brought him to Portsmouth. He had reached it late the +night before, was come for a day or two, was staying at the Crown, had +accidentally met with a navy officer or two of his acquaintance since +his arrival, but had no object of that kind in coming. + +By the time he had given all this information, it was not unreasonable +to suppose that Fanny might be looked at and spoken to; and she was +tolerably able to bear his eye, and hear that he had spent half an hour +with his sister the evening before his leaving London; that she had +sent her best and kindest love, but had had no time for writing; that he +thought himself lucky in seeing Mary for even half an hour, having spent +scarcely twenty-four hours in London, after his return from Norfolk, +before he set off again; that her cousin Edmund was in town, had been in +town, he understood, a few days; that he had not seen him himself, but +that he was well, had left them all well at Mansfield, and was to dine, +as yesterday, with the Frasers. + +Fanny listened collectedly, even to the last-mentioned circumstance; +nay, it seemed a relief to her worn mind to be at any certainty; and the +words, "then by this time it is all settled," passed internally, without +more evidence of emotion than a faint blush. + +After talking a little more about Mansfield, a subject in which her +interest was most apparent, Crawford began to hint at the expediency of +an early walk. "It was a lovely morning, and at that season of the year +a fine morning so often turned off, that it was wisest for everybody +not to delay their exercise"; and such hints producing nothing, he soon +proceeded to a positive recommendation to Mrs. Price and her +daughters to take their walk without loss of time. Now they came to an +understanding. Mrs. Price, it appeared, scarcely ever stirred out of +doors, except of a Sunday; she owned she could seldom, with her large +family, find time for a walk. "Would she not, then, persuade her +daughters to take advantage of such weather, and allow him the pleasure +of attending them?" Mrs. Price was greatly obliged and very complying. +"Her daughters were very much confined; Portsmouth was a sad place; they +did not often get out; and she knew they had some errands in the town, +which they would be very glad to do." And the consequence was, that +Fanny, strange as it was--strange, awkward, and distressing--found +herself and Susan, within ten minutes, walking towards the High Street +with Mr. Crawford. + +It was soon pain upon pain, confusion upon confusion; for they were +hardly in the High Street before they met her father, whose +appearance was not the better from its being Saturday. He stopt; and, +ungentlemanlike as he looked, Fanny was obliged to introduce him to Mr. +Crawford. She could not have a doubt of the manner in which Mr. Crawford +must be struck. He must be ashamed and disgusted altogether. He must +soon give her up, and cease to have the smallest inclination for the +match; and yet, though she had been so much wanting his affection to +be cured, this was a sort of cure that would be almost as bad as the +complaint; and I believe there is scarcely a young lady in the United +Kingdoms who would not rather put up with the misfortune of being sought +by a clever, agreeable man, than have him driven away by the vulgarity +of her nearest relations. + +Mr. Crawford probably could not regard his future father-in-law with any +idea of taking him for a model in dress; but (as Fanny instantly, and to +her great relief, discerned) her father was a very different man, a +very different Mr. Price in his behaviour to this most highly respected +stranger, from what he was in his own family at home. His manners +now, though not polished, were more than passable: they were grateful, +animated, manly; his expressions were those of an attached father, and +a sensible man; his loud tones did very well in the open air, and there +was not a single oath to be heard. Such was his instinctive compliment +to the good manners of Mr. Crawford; and, be the consequence what it +might, Fanny's immediate feelings were infinitely soothed. + +The conclusion of the two gentlemen's civilities was an offer of Mr. +Price's to take Mr. Crawford into the dockyard, which Mr. Crawford, +desirous of accepting as a favour what was intended as such, though +he had seen the dockyard again and again, and hoping to be so much the +longer with Fanny, was very gratefully disposed to avail himself of, if +the Miss Prices were not afraid of the fatigue; and as it was somehow or +other ascertained, or inferred, or at least acted upon, that they were +not at all afraid, to the dockyard they were all to go; and but for +Mr. Crawford, Mr. Price would have turned thither directly, without the +smallest consideration for his daughters' errands in the High Street. He +took care, however, that they should be allowed to go to the shops they +came out expressly to visit; and it did not delay them long, for Fanny +could so little bear to excite impatience, or be waited for, that before +the gentlemen, as they stood at the door, could do more than begin upon +the last naval regulations, or settle the number of three-deckers now in +commission, their companions were ready to proceed. + +They were then to set forward for the dockyard at once, and the walk +would have been conducted--according to Mr. Crawford's opinion--in a +singular manner, had Mr. Price been allowed the entire regulation of it, +as the two girls, he found, would have been left to follow, and keep up +with them or not, as they could, while they walked on together at their +own hasty pace. He was able to introduce some improvement occasionally, +though by no means to the extent he wished; he absolutely would not walk +away from them; and at any crossing or any crowd, when Mr. Price was +only calling out, "Come, girls; come, Fan; come, Sue, take care of +yourselves; keep a sharp lookout!" he would give them his particular +attendance. + +Once fairly in the dockyard, he began to reckon upon some happy +intercourse with Fanny, as they were very soon joined by a brother +lounger of Mr. Price's, who was come to take his daily survey of how +things went on, and who must prove a far more worthy companion than +himself; and after a time the two officers seemed very well satisfied +going about together, and discussing matters of equal and never-failing +interest, while the young people sat down upon some timbers in the yard, +or found a seat on board a vessel in the stocks which they all went to +look at. Fanny was most conveniently in want of rest. Crawford could not +have wished her more fatigued or more ready to sit down; but he could +have wished her sister away. A quick-looking girl of Susan's age was the +very worst third in the world: totally different from Lady Bertram, all +eyes and ears; and there was no introducing the main point before her. +He must content himself with being only generally agreeable, and letting +Susan have her share of entertainment, with the indulgence, now and +then, of a look or hint for the better-informed and conscious Fanny. +Norfolk was what he had mostly to talk of: there he had been some time, +and everything there was rising in importance from his present schemes. +Such a man could come from no place, no society, without importing +something to amuse; his journeys and his acquaintance were all of use, +and Susan was entertained in a way quite new to her. For Fanny, somewhat +more was related than the accidental agreeableness of the parties he had +been in. For her approbation, the particular reason of his going into +Norfolk at all, at this unusual time of year, was given. It had been +real business, relative to the renewal of a lease in which the welfare +of a large and--he believed--industrious family was at stake. He had +suspected his agent of some underhand dealing; of meaning to bias +him against the deserving; and he had determined to go himself, and +thoroughly investigate the merits of the case. He had gone, had done +even more good than he had foreseen, had been useful to more than his +first plan had comprehended, and was now able to congratulate himself +upon it, and to feel that in performing a duty, he had secured agreeable +recollections for his own mind. He had introduced himself to some +tenants whom he had never seen before; he had begun making acquaintance +with cottages whose very existence, though on his own estate, had been +hitherto unknown to him. This was aimed, and well aimed, at Fanny. It +was pleasing to hear him speak so properly; here he had been acting as +he ought to do. To be the friend of the poor and the oppressed! Nothing +could be more grateful to her; and she was on the point of giving him an +approving look, when it was all frightened off by his adding a something +too pointed of his hoping soon to have an assistant, a friend, a guide +in every plan of utility or charity for Everingham: a somebody that +would make Everingham and all about it a dearer object than it had ever +been yet. + +She turned away, and wished he would not say such things. She was +willing to allow he might have more good qualities than she had been +wont to suppose. She began to feel the possibility of his turning out +well at last; but he was and must ever be completely unsuited to her, +and ought not to think of her. + +He perceived that enough had been said of Everingham, and that it would +be as well to talk of something else, and turned to Mansfield. He could +not have chosen better; that was a topic to bring back her attention and +her looks almost instantly. It was a real indulgence to her to hear or +to speak of Mansfield. Now so long divided from everybody who knew the +place, she felt it quite the voice of a friend when he mentioned it, +and led the way to her fond exclamations in praise of its beauties and +comforts, and by his honourable tribute to its inhabitants allowed her +to gratify her own heart in the warmest eulogium, in speaking of her +uncle as all that was clever and good, and her aunt as having the +sweetest of all sweet tempers. + +He had a great attachment to Mansfield himself; he said so; he looked +forward with the hope of spending much, very much, of his time there; +always there, or in the neighbourhood. He particularly built upon a very +happy summer and autumn there this year; he felt that it would be so: he +depended upon it; a summer and autumn infinitely superior to the last. +As animated, as diversified, as social, but with circumstances of +superiority undescribable. + +"Mansfield, Sotherton, Thornton Lacey," he continued; "what a society +will be comprised in those houses! And at Michaelmas, perhaps, a fourth +may be added: some small hunting-box in the vicinity of everything so +dear; for as to any partnership in Thornton Lacey, as Edmund Bertram +once good-humouredly proposed, I hope I foresee two objections: two +fair, excellent, irresistible objections to that plan." + +Fanny was doubly silenced here; though when the moment was passed, +could regret that she had not forced herself into the acknowledged +comprehension of one half of his meaning, and encouraged him to say +something more of his sister and Edmund. It was a subject which she must +learn to speak of, and the weakness that shrunk from it would soon be +quite unpardonable. + +When Mr. Price and his friend had seen all that they wished, or had time +for, the others were ready to return; and in the course of their walk +back, Mr. Crawford contrived a minute's privacy for telling Fanny that +his only business in Portsmouth was to see her; that he was come down +for a couple of days on her account, and hers only, and because he could +not endure a longer total separation. She was sorry, really sorry; and +yet in spite of this and the two or three other things which she wished +he had not said, she thought him altogether improved since she had seen +him; he was much more gentle, obliging, and attentive to other people's +feelings than he had ever been at Mansfield; she had never seen him so +agreeable--so _near_ being agreeable; his behaviour to her father could +not offend, and there was something particularly kind and proper in the +notice he took of Susan. He was decidedly improved. She wished the next +day over, she wished he had come only for one day; but it was not +so very bad as she would have expected: the pleasure of talking of +Mansfield was so very great! + +Before they parted, she had to thank him for another pleasure, and one +of no trivial kind. Her father asked him to do them the honour of taking +his mutton with them, and Fanny had time for only one thrill of horror, +before he declared himself prevented by a prior engagement. He was +engaged to dinner already both for that day and the next; he had met +with some acquaintance at the Crown who would not be denied; he should +have the honour, however, of waiting on them again on the morrow, etc., +and so they parted--Fanny in a state of actual felicity from escaping so +horrible an evil! + +To have had him join their family dinner-party, and see all their +deficiencies, would have been dreadful! Rebecca's cookery and Rebecca's +waiting, and Betsey's eating at table without restraint, and pulling +everything about as she chose, were what Fanny herself was not yet +enough inured to for her often to make a tolerable meal. _She_ was nice +only from natural delicacy, but _he_ had been brought up in a school of +luxury and epicurism. + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +The Prices were just setting off for church the next day when Mr. +Crawford appeared again. He came, not to stop, but to join them; he was +asked to go with them to the Garrison chapel, which was exactly what he +had intended, and they all walked thither together. + +The family were now seen to advantage. Nature had given them no +inconsiderable share of beauty, and every Sunday dressed them in their +cleanest skins and best attire. Sunday always brought this comfort to +Fanny, and on this Sunday she felt it more than ever. Her poor mother +now did not look so very unworthy of being Lady Bertram's sister as she +was but too apt to look. It often grieved her to the heart to think of +the contrast between them; to think that where nature had made so little +difference, circumstances should have made so much, and that her mother, +as handsome as Lady Bertram, and some years her junior, should have an +appearance so much more worn and faded, so comfortless, so slatternly, +so shabby. But Sunday made her a very creditable and tolerably +cheerful-looking Mrs. Price, coming abroad with a fine family of +children, feeling a little respite of her weekly cares, and only +discomposed if she saw her boys run into danger, or Rebecca pass by with +a flower in her hat. + +In chapel they were obliged to divide, but Mr. Crawford took care not to +be divided from the female branch; and after chapel he still continued +with them, and made one in the family party on the ramparts. + +Mrs. Price took her weekly walk on the ramparts every fine Sunday +throughout the year, always going directly after morning service and +staying till dinner-time. It was her public place: there she met her +acquaintance, heard a little news, talked over the badness of the +Portsmouth servants, and wound up her spirits for the six days ensuing. + +Thither they now went; Mr. Crawford most happy to consider the Miss +Prices as his peculiar charge; and before they had been there long, +somehow or other, there was no saying how, Fanny could not have believed +it, but he was walking between them with an arm of each under his, +and she did not know how to prevent or put an end to it. It made her +uncomfortable for a time, but yet there were enjoyments in the day and +in the view which would be felt. + +The day was uncommonly lovely. It was really March; but it was April in +its mild air, brisk soft wind, and bright sun, occasionally clouded for +a minute; and everything looked so beautiful under the influence of such +a sky, the effects of the shadows pursuing each other on the ships at +Spithead and the island beyond, with the ever-varying hues of the sea, +now at high water, dancing in its glee and dashing against the ramparts +with so fine a sound, produced altogether such a combination of charms +for Fanny, as made her gradually almost careless of the circumstances +under which she felt them. Nay, had she been without his arm, she would +soon have known that she needed it, for she wanted strength for a two +hours' saunter of this kind, coming, as it generally did, upon a week's +previous inactivity. Fanny was beginning to feel the effect of being +debarred from her usual regular exercise; she had lost ground as to +health since her being in Portsmouth; and but for Mr. Crawford and the +beauty of the weather would soon have been knocked up now. + +The loveliness of the day, and of the view, he felt like herself. They +often stopt with the same sentiment and taste, leaning against the wall, +some minutes, to look and admire; and considering he was not Edmund, +Fanny could not but allow that he was sufficiently open to the charms +of nature, and very well able to express his admiration. She had a few +tender reveries now and then, which he could sometimes take advantage +of to look in her face without detection; and the result of these looks +was, that though as bewitching as ever, her face was less blooming than +it ought to be. She _said_ she was very well, and did not like to be +supposed otherwise; but take it all in all, he was convinced that her +present residence could not be comfortable, and therefore could not +be salutary for her, and he was growing anxious for her being again at +Mansfield, where her own happiness, and his in seeing her, must be so +much greater. + +"You have been here a month, I think?" said he. + +"No; not quite a month. It is only four weeks to-morrow since I left +Mansfield." + +"You are a most accurate and honest reckoner. I should call that a +month." + +"I did not arrive here till Tuesday evening." + +"And it is to be a two months' visit, is not?" + +"Yes. My uncle talked of two months. I suppose it will not be less." + +"And how are you to be conveyed back again? Who comes for you?" + +"I do not know. I have heard nothing about it yet from my aunt. Perhaps +I may be to stay longer. It may not be convenient for me to be fetched +exactly at the two months' end." + +After a moment's reflection, Mr. Crawford replied, "I know Mansfield, I +know its way, I know its faults towards _you_. I know the danger of +your being so far forgotten, as to have your comforts give way to the +imaginary convenience of any single being in the family. I am aware +that you may be left here week after week, if Sir Thomas cannot settle +everything for coming himself, or sending your aunt's maid for you, +without involving the slightest alteration of the arrangements which he +may have laid down for the next quarter of a year. This will not do. Two +months is an ample allowance; I should think six weeks quite enough. +I am considering your sister's health," said he, addressing himself to +Susan, "which I think the confinement of Portsmouth unfavourable to. She +requires constant air and exercise. When you know her as well as I do, +I am sure you will agree that she does, and that she ought never to +be long banished from the free air and liberty of the country. If, +therefore" (turning again to Fanny), "you find yourself growing unwell, +and any difficulties arise about your returning to Mansfield, without +waiting for the two months to be ended, _that_ must not be regarded +as of any consequence, if you feel yourself at all less strong or +comfortable than usual, and will only let my sister know it, give her +only the slightest hint, she and I will immediately come down, and take +you back to Mansfield. You know the ease and the pleasure with which +this would be done. You know all that would be felt on the occasion." + +Fanny thanked him, but tried to laugh it off. + +"I am perfectly serious," he replied, "as you perfectly know. And I +hope you will not be cruelly concealing any tendency to indisposition. +Indeed, you shall _not_; it shall not be in your power; for so long only +as you positively say, in every letter to Mary, 'I am well,' and I +know you cannot speak or write a falsehood, so long only shall you be +considered as well." + +Fanny thanked him again, but was affected and distressed to a degree +that made it impossible for her to say much, or even to be certain of +what she ought to say. This was towards the close of their walk. He +attended them to the last, and left them only at the door of their own +house, when he knew them to be going to dinner, and therefore pretended +to be waited for elsewhere. + +"I wish you were not so tired," said he, still detaining Fanny after all +the others were in the house--"I wish I left you in stronger health. Is +there anything I can do for you in town? I have half an idea of going +into Norfolk again soon. I am not satisfied about Maddison. I am sure +he still means to impose on me if possible, and get a cousin of his own +into a certain mill, which I design for somebody else. I must come to an +understanding with him. I must make him know that I will not be tricked +on the south side of Everingham, any more than on the north: that I will +be master of my own property. I was not explicit enough with him before. +The mischief such a man does on an estate, both as to the credit of his +employer and the welfare of the poor, is inconceivable. I have a great +mind to go back into Norfolk directly, and put everything at once on +such a footing as cannot be afterwards swerved from. Maddison is a +clever fellow; I do not wish to displace him, provided he does not try +to displace _me_; but it would be simple to be duped by a man who has no +right of creditor to dupe me, and worse than simple to let him give me a +hard-hearted, griping fellow for a tenant, instead of an honest man, +to whom I have given half a promise already. Would it not be worse than +simple? Shall I go? Do you advise it?" + +"I advise! You know very well what is right." + +"Yes. When you give me your opinion, I always know what is right. Your +judgment is my rule of right." + +"Oh, no! do not say so. We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we +would attend to it, than any other person can be. Good-bye; I wish you a +pleasant journey to-morrow." + +"Is there nothing I can do for you in town?" + +"Nothing; I am much obliged to you." + +"Have you no message for anybody?" + +"My love to your sister, if you please; and when you see my cousin, my +cousin Edmund, I wish you would be so good as to say that I suppose I +shall soon hear from him." + +"Certainly; and if he is lazy or negligent, I will write his excuses +myself." + +He could say no more, for Fanny would be no longer detained. He pressed +her hand, looked at her, and was gone. _He_ went to while away the next +three hours as he could, with his other acquaintance, till the best +dinner that a capital inn afforded was ready for their enjoyment, and +_she_ turned in to her more simple one immediately. + +Their general fare bore a very different character; and could he have +suspected how many privations, besides that of exercise, she endured in +her father's house, he would have wondered that her looks were not much +more affected than he found them. She was so little equal to Rebecca's +puddings and Rebecca's hashes, brought to table, as they all were, with +such accompaniments of half-cleaned plates, and not half-cleaned knives +and forks, that she was very often constrained to defer her heartiest +meal till she could send her brothers in the evening for biscuits and +buns. After being nursed up at Mansfield, it was too late in the day +to be hardened at Portsmouth; and though Sir Thomas, had he known all, +might have thought his niece in the most promising way of being starved, +both mind and body, into a much juster value for Mr. Crawford's good +company and good fortune, he would probably have feared to push his +experiment farther, lest she might die under the cure. + +Fanny was out of spirits all the rest of the day. Though tolerably +secure of not seeing Mr. Crawford again, she could not help being low. +It was parting with somebody of the nature of a friend; and though, in +one light, glad to have him gone, it seemed as if she was now deserted +by everybody; it was a sort of renewed separation from Mansfield; and +she could not think of his returning to town, and being frequently with +Mary and Edmund, without feelings so near akin to envy as made her hate +herself for having them. + +Her dejection had no abatement from anything passing around her; a +friend or two of her father's, as always happened if he was not with +them, spent the long, long evening there; and from six o'clock till +half-past nine, there was little intermission of noise or grog. She +was very low. The wonderful improvement which she still fancied in Mr. +Crawford was the nearest to administering comfort of anything within the +current of her thoughts. Not considering in how different a circle she +had been just seeing him, nor how much might be owing to contrast, she +was quite persuaded of his being astonishingly more gentle and regardful +of others than formerly. And, if in little things, must it not be so in +great? So anxious for her health and comfort, so very feeling as he now +expressed himself, and really seemed, might not it be fairly supposed +that he would not much longer persevere in a suit so distressing to her? + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +It was presumed that Mr. Crawford was travelling back, to London, on the +morrow, for nothing more was seen of him at Mr. Price's; and two days +afterwards, it was a fact ascertained to Fanny by the following letter +from his sister, opened and read by her, on another account, with the +most anxious curiosity:-- + +"I have to inform you, my dearest Fanny, that Henry has been down to +Portsmouth to see you; that he had a delightful walk with you to the +dockyard last Saturday, and one still more to be dwelt on the next day, +on the ramparts; when the balmy air, the sparkling sea, and your sweet +looks and conversation were altogether in the most delicious harmony, +and afforded sensations which are to raise ecstasy even in retrospect. +This, as well as I understand, is to be the substance of my information. +He makes me write, but I do not know what else is to be communicated, +except this said visit to Portsmouth, and these two said walks, and his +introduction to your family, especially to a fair sister of yours, a +fine girl of fifteen, who was of the party on the ramparts, taking her +first lesson, I presume, in love. I have not time for writing much, but +it would be out of place if I had, for this is to be a mere letter of +business, penned for the purpose of conveying necessary information, +which could not be delayed without risk of evil. My dear, dear Fanny, +if I had you here, how I would talk to you! You should listen to me till +you were tired, and advise me till you were still tired more; but it is +impossible to put a hundredth part of my great mind on paper, so I will +abstain altogether, and leave you to guess what you like. I have no news +for you. You have politics, of course; and it would be too bad to plague +you with the names of people and parties that fill up my time. I ought +to have sent you an account of your cousin's first party, but I was +lazy, and now it is too long ago; suffice it, that everything was just +as it ought to be, in a style that any of her connexions must have been +gratified to witness, and that her own dress and manners did her the +greatest credit. My friend, Mrs. Fraser, is mad for such a house, and it +would not make _me_ miserable. I go to Lady Stornaway after Easter; +she seems in high spirits, and very happy. I fancy Lord S. is very +good-humoured and pleasant in his own family, and I do not think him so +very ill-looking as I did--at least, one sees many worse. He will not +do by the side of your cousin Edmund. Of the last-mentioned hero, what +shall I say? If I avoided his name entirely, it would look suspicious. +I will say, then, that we have seen him two or three times, and that +my friends here are very much struck with his gentlemanlike appearance. +Mrs. Fraser (no bad judge) declares she knows but three men in town +who have so good a person, height, and air; and I must confess, when he +dined here the other day, there were none to compare with him, and +we were a party of sixteen. Luckily there is no distinction of dress +nowadays to tell tales, but--but--but Yours affectionately." + +"I had almost forgot (it was Edmund's fault: he gets into my head more +than does me good) one very material thing I had to say from Henry and +myself--I mean about our taking you back into Northamptonshire. My dear +little creature, do not stay at Portsmouth to lose your pretty looks. +Those vile sea-breezes are the ruin of beauty and health. My poor aunt +always felt affected if within ten miles of the sea, which the Admiral +of course never believed, but I know it was so. I am at your service +and Henry's, at an hour's notice. I should like the scheme, and we would +make a little circuit, and shew you Everingham in our way, and perhaps +you would not mind passing through London, and seeing the inside of St. +George's, Hanover Square. Only keep your cousin Edmund from me at such +a time: I should not like to be tempted. What a long letter! one word +more. Henry, I find, has some idea of going into Norfolk again upon +some business that _you_ approve; but this cannot possibly be permitted +before the middle of next week; that is, he cannot anyhow be spared till +after the 14th, for _we_ have a party that evening. The value of a man +like Henry, on such an occasion, is what you can have no conception +of; so you must take it upon my word to be inestimable. He will see the +Rushworths, which own I am not sorry for--having a little curiosity, and +so I think has he--though he will not acknowledge it." + +This was a letter to be run through eagerly, to be read deliberately, +to supply matter for much reflection, and to leave everything in greater +suspense than ever. The only certainty to be drawn from it was, that +nothing decisive had yet taken place. Edmund had not yet spoken. How +Miss Crawford really felt, how she meant to act, or might act without +or against her meaning; whether his importance to her were quite what +it had been before the last separation; whether, if lessened, it were +likely to lessen more, or to recover itself, were subjects for endless +conjecture, and to be thought of on that day and many days to come, +without producing any conclusion. The idea that returned the oftenest +was that Miss Crawford, after proving herself cooled and staggered by +a return to London habits, would yet prove herself in the end too much +attached to him to give him up. She would try to be more ambitious than +her heart would allow. She would hesitate, she would tease, she would +condition, she would require a great deal, but she would finally accept. + +This was Fanny's most frequent expectation. A house in town--that, she +thought, must be impossible. Yet there was no saying what Miss Crawford +might not ask. The prospect for her cousin grew worse and worse. The +woman who could speak of him, and speak only of his appearance! What an +unworthy attachment! To be deriving support from the commendations of +Mrs. Fraser! _She_ who had known him intimately half a year! Fanny was +ashamed of her. Those parts of the letter which related only to Mr. +Crawford and herself, touched her, in comparison, slightly. Whether Mr. +Crawford went into Norfolk before or after the 14th was certainly no +concern of hers, though, everything considered, she thought he _would_ +go without delay. That Miss Crawford should endeavour to secure a +meeting between him and Mrs. Rushworth, was all in her worst line of +conduct, and grossly unkind and ill-judged; but she hoped _he_ would +not be actuated by any such degrading curiosity. He acknowledged no such +inducement, and his sister ought to have given him credit for better +feelings than her own. + +She was yet more impatient for another letter from town after receiving +this than she had been before; and for a few days was so unsettled by +it altogether, by what had come, and what might come, that her usual +readings and conversation with Susan were much suspended. She could +not command her attention as she wished. If Mr. Crawford remembered her +message to her cousin, she thought it very likely, most likely, that he +would write to her at all events; it would be most consistent with his +usual kindness; and till she got rid of this idea, till it gradually +wore off, by no letters appearing in the course of three or four days +more, she was in a most restless, anxious state. + +At length, a something like composure succeeded. Suspense must be +submitted to, and must not be allowed to wear her out, and make her +useless. Time did something, her own exertions something more, and she +resumed her attentions to Susan, and again awakened the same interest in +them. + +Susan was growing very fond of her, and though without any of the early +delight in books which had been so strong in Fanny, with a disposition +much less inclined to sedentary pursuits, or to information for +information's sake, she had so strong a desire of not _appearing_ +ignorant, as, with a good clear understanding, made her a most +attentive, profitable, thankful pupil. Fanny was her oracle. Fanny's +explanations and remarks were a most important addition to every essay, +or every chapter of history. What Fanny told her of former times dwelt +more on her mind than the pages of Goldsmith; and she paid her sister +the compliment of preferring her style to that of any printed author. +The early habit of reading was wanting. + +Their conversations, however, were not always on subjects so high as +history or morals. Others had their hour; and of lesser matters, none +returned so often, or remained so long between them, as Mansfield Park, +a description of the people, the manners, the amusements, the ways +of Mansfield Park. Susan, who had an innate taste for the genteel and +well-appointed, was eager to hear, and Fanny could not but indulge +herself in dwelling on so beloved a theme. She hoped it was not wrong; +though, after a time, Susan's very great admiration of everything +said or done in her uncle's house, and earnest longing to go into +Northamptonshire, seemed almost to blame her for exciting feelings which +could not be gratified. + +Poor Susan was very little better fitted for home than her elder sister; +and as Fanny grew thoroughly to understand this, she began to feel that +when her own release from Portsmouth came, her happiness would have a +material drawback in leaving Susan behind. That a girl so capable of +being made everything good should be left in such hands, distressed her +more and more. Were _she_ likely to have a home to invite her to, what +a blessing it would be! And had it been possible for her to return Mr. +Crawford's regard, the probability of his being very far from objecting +to such a measure would have been the greatest increase of all her own +comforts. She thought he was really good-tempered, and could fancy his +entering into a plan of that sort most pleasantly. + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one +letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny's +hands. As she opened, and saw its length, she prepared herself for a +minute detail of happiness and a profusion of love and praise towards +the fortunate creature who was now mistress of his fate. These were the +contents-- + +"My Dear Fanny,--Excuse me that I have not written before. Crawford told +me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to +write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my +silence. Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been +wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power. I am returned +to Mansfield in a less assured state than when I left it. My hopes are +much weaker. You are probably aware of this already. So very fond of you +as Miss Crawford is, it is most natural that she should tell you enough +of her own feelings to furnish a tolerable guess at mine. I will not be +prevented, however, from making my own communication. Our confidences in +you need not clash. I ask no questions. There is something soothing +in the idea that we have the same friend, and that whatever unhappy +differences of opinion may exist between us, we are united in our love +of you. It will be a comfort to me to tell you how things now are, and +what are my present plans, if plans I can be said to have. I have been +returned since Saturday. I was three weeks in London, and saw her (for +London) very often. I had every attention from the Frasers that could be +reasonably expected. I dare say I was not reasonable in carrying with +me hopes of an intercourse at all like that of Mansfield. It was her +manner, however, rather than any unfrequency of meeting. Had she been +different when I did see her, I should have made no complaint, but from +the very first she was altered: my first reception was so unlike what I +had hoped, that I had almost resolved on leaving London again directly. +I need not particularise. You know the weak side of her character, and +may imagine the sentiments and expressions which were torturing me. She +was in high spirits, and surrounded by those who were giving all the +support of their own bad sense to her too lively mind. I do not like +Mrs. Fraser. She is a cold-hearted, vain woman, who has married entirely +from convenience, and though evidently unhappy in her marriage, +places her disappointment not to faults of judgment, or temper, or +disproportion of age, but to her being, after all, less affluent than +many of her acquaintance, especially than her sister, Lady Stornaway, +and is the determined supporter of everything mercenary and ambitious, +provided it be only mercenary and ambitious enough. I look upon her +intimacy with those two sisters as the greatest misfortune of her life +and mine. They have been leading her astray for years. Could she be +detached from them!--and sometimes I do not despair of it, for the +affection appears to me principally on their side. They are very fond of +her; but I am sure she does not love them as she loves you. When I think +of her great attachment to you, indeed, and the whole of her judicious, +upright conduct as a sister, she appears a very different creature, +capable of everything noble, and I am ready to blame myself for a too +harsh construction of a playful manner. I cannot give her up, Fanny. She +is the only woman in the world whom I could ever think of as a wife. If +I did not believe that she had some regard for me, of course I should +not say this, but I do believe it. I am convinced that she is not +without a decided preference. I have no jealousy of any individual. It +is the influence of the fashionable world altogether that I am jealous +of. It is the habits of wealth that I fear. Her ideas are not higher +than her own fortune may warrant, but they are beyond what our incomes +united could authorise. There is comfort, however, even here. I could +better bear to lose her because not rich enough, than because of my +profession. That would only prove her affection not equal to sacrifices, +which, in fact, I am scarcely justified in asking; and, if I am refused, +that, I think, will be the honest motive. Her prejudices, I trust, are +not so strong as they were. You have my thoughts exactly as they arise, +my dear Fanny; perhaps they are sometimes contradictory, but it will +not be a less faithful picture of my mind. Having once begun, it is a +pleasure to me to tell you all I feel. I cannot give her up. Connected +as we already are, and, I hope, are to be, to give up Mary Crawford +would be to give up the society of some of those most dear to me; to +banish myself from the very houses and friends whom, under any other +distress, I should turn to for consolation. The loss of Mary I must +consider as comprehending the loss of Crawford and of Fanny. Were it a +decided thing, an actual refusal, I hope I should know how to bear it, +and how to endeavour to weaken her hold on my heart, and in the course +of a few years--but I am writing nonsense. Were I refused, I must bear +it; and till I am, I can never cease to try for her. This is the truth. +The only question is _how_? What may be the likeliest means? I have +sometimes thought of going to London again after Easter, and sometimes +resolved on doing nothing till she returns to Mansfield. Even now, she +speaks with pleasure of being in Mansfield in June; but June is at +a great distance, and I believe I shall write to her. I have nearly +determined on explaining myself by letter. To be at an early certainty +is a material object. My present state is miserably irksome. Considering +everything, I think a letter will be decidedly the best method of +explanation. I shall be able to write much that I could not say, and +shall be giving her time for reflection before she resolves on her +answer, and I am less afraid of the result of reflection than of an +immediate hasty impulse; I think I am. My greatest danger would lie in +her consulting Mrs. Fraser, and I at a distance unable to help my own +cause. A letter exposes to all the evil of consultation, and where +the mind is anything short of perfect decision, an adviser may, in an +unlucky moment, lead it to do what it may afterwards regret. I must +think this matter over a little. This long letter, full of my own +concerns alone, will be enough to tire even the friendship of a Fanny. +The last time I saw Crawford was at Mrs. Fraser's party. I am more +and more satisfied with all that I see and hear of him. There is not a +shadow of wavering. He thoroughly knows his own mind, and acts up to his +resolutions: an inestimable quality. I could not see him and my eldest +sister in the same room without recollecting what you once told me, +and I acknowledge that they did not meet as friends. There was +marked coolness on her side. They scarcely spoke. I saw him draw back +surprised, and I was sorry that Mrs. Rushworth should resent any former +supposed slight to Miss Bertram. You will wish to hear my opinion +of Maria's degree of comfort as a wife. There is no appearance of +unhappiness. I hope they get on pretty well together. I dined twice in +Wimpole Street, and might have been there oftener, but it is mortifying +to be with Rushworth as a brother. Julia seems to enjoy London +exceedingly. I had little enjoyment there, but have less here. We are +not a lively party. You are very much wanted. I miss you more than I +can express. My mother desires her best love, and hopes to hear from +you soon. She talks of you almost every hour, and I am sorry to find +how many weeks more she is likely to be without you. My father means +to fetch you himself, but it will not be till after Easter, when he has +business in town. You are happy at Portsmouth, I hope, but this must +not be a yearly visit. I want you at home, that I may have your opinion +about Thornton Lacey. I have little heart for extensive improvements +till I know that it will ever have a mistress. I think I shall certainly +write. It is quite settled that the Grants go to Bath; they leave +Mansfield on Monday. I am glad of it. I am not comfortable enough to be +fit for anybody; but your aunt seems to feel out of luck that such an +article of Mansfield news should fall to my pen instead of hers.--Yours +ever, my dearest Fanny." + +"I never will, no, I certainly never will wish for a letter again," was +Fanny's secret declaration as she finished this. "What do they bring but +disappointment and sorrow? Not till after Easter! How shall I bear it? +And my poor aunt talking of me every hour!" + +Fanny checked the tendency of these thoughts as well as she could, but +she was within half a minute of starting the idea that Sir Thomas was +quite unkind, both to her aunt and to herself. As for the main subject +of the letter, there was nothing in that to soothe irritation. She was +almost vexed into displeasure and anger against Edmund. "There is no +good in this delay," said she. "Why is not it settled? He is blinded, +and nothing will open his eyes; nothing can, after having had truths +before him so long in vain. He will marry her, and be poor and +miserable. God grant that her influence do not make him cease to be +respectable!" She looked over the letter again. "'So very fond of me!' +'tis nonsense all. She loves nobody but herself and her brother. Her +friends leading her astray for years! She is quite as likely to have led +_them_ astray. They have all, perhaps, been corrupting one another; but +if they are so much fonder of her than she is of them, she is the less +likely to have been hurt, except by their flattery. 'The only woman in +the world whom he could ever think of as a wife.' I firmly believe it. +It is an attachment to govern his whole life. Accepted or refused, his +heart is wedded to her for ever. 'The loss of Mary I must consider as +comprehending the loss of Crawford and Fanny.' Edmund, you do not know +me. The families would never be connected if you did not connect +them! Oh! write, write. Finish it at once. Let there be an end of this +suspense. Fix, commit, condemn yourself." + +Such sensations, however, were too near akin to resentment to be long +guiding Fanny's soliloquies. She was soon more softened and sorrowful. +His warm regard, his kind expressions, his confidential treatment, +touched her strongly. He was only too good to everybody. It was a +letter, in short, which she would not but have had for the world, and +which could never be valued enough. This was the end of it. + +Everybody at all addicted to letter-writing, without having much to say, +which will include a large proportion of the female world at least, must +feel with Lady Bertram that she was out of luck in having such a capital +piece of Mansfield news as the certainty of the Grants going to Bath, +occur at a time when she could make no advantage of it, and will admit +that it must have been very mortifying to her to see it fall to the +share of her thankless son, and treated as concisely as possible at the +end of a long letter, instead of having it to spread over the largest +part of a page of her own. For though Lady Bertram rather shone in the +epistolary line, having early in her marriage, from the want of other +employment, and the circumstance of Sir Thomas's being in Parliament, +got into the way of making and keeping correspondents, and formed for +herself a very creditable, common-place, amplifying style, so that a +very little matter was enough for her: she could not do entirely without +any; she must have something to write about, even to her niece; and +being so soon to lose all the benefit of Dr. Grant's gouty symptoms and +Mrs. Grant's morning calls, it was very hard upon her to be deprived of +one of the last epistolary uses she could put them to. + +There was a rich amends, however, preparing for her. Lady Bertram's +hour of good luck came. Within a few days from the receipt of Edmund's +letter, Fanny had one from her aunt, beginning thus-- + +"My Dear Fanny,--I take up my pen to communicate some very alarming +intelligence, which I make no doubt will give you much concern". + +This was a great deal better than to have to take up the pen to acquaint +her with all the particulars of the Grants' intended journey, for the +present intelligence was of a nature to promise occupation for the pen +for many days to come, being no less than the dangerous illness of her +eldest son, of which they had received notice by express a few hours +before. + +Tom had gone from London with a party of young men to Newmarket, where +a neglected fall and a good deal of drinking had brought on a fever; and +when the party broke up, being unable to move, had been left by himself +at the house of one of these young men to the comforts of sickness and +solitude, and the attendance only of servants. Instead of being soon +well enough to follow his friends, as he had then hoped, his disorder +increased considerably, and it was not long before he thought so ill of +himself as to be as ready as his physician to have a letter despatched +to Mansfield. + +"This distressing intelligence, as you may suppose," observed +her ladyship, after giving the substance of it, "has agitated us +exceedingly, and we cannot prevent ourselves from being greatly alarmed +and apprehensive for the poor invalid, whose state Sir Thomas fears +may be very critical; and Edmund kindly proposes attending his brother +immediately, but I am happy to add that Sir Thomas will not leave me on +this distressing occasion, as it would be too trying for me. We shall +greatly miss Edmund in our small circle, but I trust and hope he +will find the poor invalid in a less alarming state than might be +apprehended, and that he will be able to bring him to Mansfield shortly, +which Sir Thomas proposes should be done, and thinks best on every +account, and I flatter myself the poor sufferer will soon be able to +bear the removal without material inconvenience or injury. As I +have little doubt of your feeling for us, my dear Fanny, under these +distressing circumstances, I will write again very soon." + +Fanny's feelings on the occasion were indeed considerably more warm and +genuine than her aunt's style of writing. She felt truly for them all. +Tom dangerously ill, Edmund gone to attend him, and the sadly small +party remaining at Mansfield, were cares to shut out every other care, +or almost every other. She could just find selfishness enough to wonder +whether Edmund _had_ written to Miss Crawford before this summons came, +but no sentiment dwelt long with her that was not purely affectionate +and disinterestedly anxious. Her aunt did not neglect her: she wrote +again and again; they were receiving frequent accounts from Edmund, +and these accounts were as regularly transmitted to Fanny, in the same +diffuse style, and the same medley of trusts, hopes, and fears, all +following and producing each other at haphazard. It was a sort of +playing at being frightened. The sufferings which Lady Bertram did not +see had little power over her fancy; and she wrote very comfortably +about agitation, and anxiety, and poor invalids, till Tom was actually +conveyed to Mansfield, and her own eyes had beheld his altered +appearance. Then a letter which she had been previously preparing for +Fanny was finished in a different style, in the language of real feeling +and alarm; then she wrote as she might have spoken. "He is just come, my +dear Fanny, and is taken upstairs; and I am so shocked to see him, that +I do not know what to do. I am sure he has been very ill. Poor Tom! I am +quite grieved for him, and very much frightened, and so is Sir Thomas; +and how glad I should be if you were here to comfort me. But Sir +Thomas hopes he will be better to-morrow, and says we must consider his +journey." + +The real solicitude now awakened in the maternal bosom was not +soon over. Tom's extreme impatience to be removed to Mansfield, and +experience those comforts of home and family which had been little +thought of in uninterrupted health, had probably induced his being +conveyed thither too early, as a return of fever came on, and for a week +he was in a more alarming state than ever. They were all very seriously +frightened. Lady Bertram wrote her daily terrors to her niece, who +might now be said to live upon letters, and pass all her time between +suffering from that of to-day and looking forward to to-morrow's. +Without any particular affection for her eldest cousin, her tenderness +of heart made her feel that she could not spare him, and the purity of +her principles added yet a keener solicitude, when she considered how +little useful, how little self-denying his life had (apparently) been. + +Susan was her only companion and listener on this, as on more common +occasions. Susan was always ready to hear and to sympathise. Nobody else +could be interested in so remote an evil as illness in a family above an +hundred miles off; not even Mrs. Price, beyond a brief question or two, +if she saw her daughter with a letter in her hand, and now and then the +quiet observation of, "My poor sister Bertram must be in a great deal of +trouble." + +So long divided and so differently situated, the ties of blood were +little more than nothing. An attachment, originally as tranquil as their +tempers, was now become a mere name. Mrs. Price did quite as much for +Lady Bertram as Lady Bertram would have done for Mrs. Price. Three or +four Prices might have been swept away, any or all except Fanny and +William, and Lady Bertram would have thought little about it; or perhaps +might have caught from Mrs. Norris's lips the cant of its being a very +happy thing and a great blessing to their poor dear sister Price to have +them so well provided for. + + + +CHAPTER XLV + +At about the week's end from his return to Mansfield, Tom's immediate +danger was over, and he was so far pronounced safe as to make his mother +perfectly easy; for being now used to the sight of him in his suffering, +helpless state, and hearing only the best, and never thinking beyond +what she heard, with no disposition for alarm and no aptitude at a hint, +Lady Bertram was the happiest subject in the world for a little medical +imposition. The fever was subdued; the fever had been his complaint; +of course he would soon be well again. Lady Bertram could think nothing +less, and Fanny shared her aunt's security, till she received a few +lines from Edmund, written purposely to give her a clearer idea of his +brother's situation, and acquaint her with the apprehensions which +he and his father had imbibed from the physician with respect to some +strong hectic symptoms, which seemed to seize the frame on the departure +of the fever. They judged it best that Lady Bertram should not be +harassed by alarms which, it was to be hoped, would prove unfounded; +but there was no reason why Fanny should not know the truth. They were +apprehensive for his lungs. + +A very few lines from Edmund shewed her the patient and the sickroom +in a juster and stronger light than all Lady Bertram's sheets of paper +could do. There was hardly any one in the house who might not have +described, from personal observation, better than herself; not one who +was not more useful at times to her son. She could do nothing but glide +in quietly and look at him; but when able to talk or be talked to, or +read to, Edmund was the companion he preferred. His aunt worried him by +her cares, and Sir Thomas knew not how to bring down his conversation or +his voice to the level of irritation and feebleness. Edmund was all in +all. Fanny would certainly believe him so at least, and must find that +her estimation of him was higher than ever when he appeared as the +attendant, supporter, cheerer of a suffering brother. There was not only +the debility of recent illness to assist: there was also, as she now +learnt, nerves much affected, spirits much depressed to calm and raise, +and her own imagination added that there must be a mind to be properly +guided. + +The family were not consumptive, and she was more inclined to hope than +fear for her cousin, except when she thought of Miss Crawford; but Miss +Crawford gave her the idea of being the child of good luck, and to her +selfishness and vanity it would be good luck to have Edmund the only +son. + +Even in the sick chamber the fortunate Mary was not forgotten. Edmund's +letter had this postscript. "On the subject of my last, I had actually +begun a letter when called away by Tom's illness, but I have now changed +my mind, and fear to trust the influence of friends. When Tom is better, +I shall go." + +Such was the state of Mansfield, and so it continued, with scarcely any +change, till Easter. A line occasionally added by Edmund to his +mother's letter was enough for Fanny's information. Tom's amendment was +alarmingly slow. + +Easter came particularly late this year, as Fanny had most sorrowfully +considered, on first learning that she had no chance of leaving +Portsmouth till after it. It came, and she had yet heard nothing of her +return--nothing even of the going to London, which was to precede +her return. Her aunt often expressed a wish for her, but there was no +notice, no message from the uncle on whom all depended. She supposed +he could not yet leave his son, but it was a cruel, a terrible delay +to her. The end of April was coming on; it would soon be almost three +months, instead of two, that she had been absent from them all, and that +her days had been passing in a state of penance, which she loved them +too well to hope they would thoroughly understand; and who could yet say +when there might be leisure to think of or fetch her? + +Her eagerness, her impatience, her longings to be with them, were such +as to bring a line or two of Cowper's Tirocinium for ever before her. +"With what intense desire she wants her home," was continually on her +tongue, as the truest description of a yearning which she could not +suppose any schoolboy's bosom to feel more keenly. + +When she had been coming to Portsmouth, she had loved to call it her +home, had been fond of saying that she was going home; the word had +been very dear to her, and so it still was, but it must be applied to +Mansfield. _That_ was now the home. Portsmouth was Portsmouth; Mansfield +was home. They had been long so arranged in the indulgence of her secret +meditations, and nothing was more consolatory to her than to find her +aunt using the same language: "I cannot but say I much regret your being +from home at this distressing time, so very trying to my spirits. I +trust and hope, and sincerely wish you may never be absent from home so +long again," were most delightful sentences to her. Still, however, it +was her private regale. Delicacy to her parents made her careful not to +betray such a preference of her uncle's house. It was always: "When I go +back into Northamptonshire, or when I return to Mansfield, I shall do +so and so." For a great while it was so, but at last the longing grew +stronger, it overthrew caution, and she found herself talking of what +she should do when she went home before she was aware. She reproached +herself, coloured, and looked fearfully towards her father and mother. +She need not have been uneasy. There was no sign of displeasure, or even +of hearing her. They were perfectly free from any jealousy of Mansfield. +She was as welcome to wish herself there as to be there. + +It was sad to Fanny to lose all the pleasures of spring. She had not +known before what pleasures she _had_ to lose in passing March and April +in a town. She had not known before how much the beginnings and progress +of vegetation had delighted her. What animation, both of body and mind, +she had derived from watching the advance of that season which cannot, +in spite of its capriciousness, be unlovely, and seeing its increasing +beauties from the earliest flowers in the warmest divisions of her +aunt's garden, to the opening of leaves of her uncle's plantations, and +the glory of his woods. To be losing such pleasures was no trifle; to +be losing them, because she was in the midst of closeness and noise, +to have confinement, bad air, bad smells, substituted for liberty, +freshness, fragrance, and verdure, was infinitely worse: but even these +incitements to regret were feeble, compared with what arose from the +conviction of being missed by her best friends, and the longing to be +useful to those who were wanting her! + +Could she have been at home, she might have been of service to every +creature in the house. She felt that she must have been of use to all. +To all she must have saved some trouble of head or hand; and were it +only in supporting the spirits of her aunt Bertram, keeping her from +the evil of solitude, or the still greater evil of a restless, officious +companion, too apt to be heightening danger in order to enhance her own +importance, her being there would have been a general good. She loved to +fancy how she could have read to her aunt, how she could have talked to +her, and tried at once to make her feel the blessing of what was, and +prepare her mind for what might be; and how many walks up and down +stairs she might have saved her, and how many messages she might have +carried. + +It astonished her that Tom's sisters could be satisfied with remaining +in London at such a time, through an illness which had now, under +different degrees of danger, lasted several weeks. _They_ might return +to Mansfield when they chose; travelling could be no difficulty to +_them_, and she could not comprehend how both could still keep away. +If Mrs. Rushworth could imagine any interfering obligations, Julia was +certainly able to quit London whenever she chose. It appeared from one +of her aunt's letters that Julia had offered to return if wanted, but +this was all. It was evident that she would rather remain where she was. + +Fanny was disposed to think the influence of London very much at war +with all respectable attachments. She saw the proof of it in Miss +Crawford, as well as in her cousins; _her_ attachment to Edmund had been +respectable, the most respectable part of her character; her friendship +for herself had at least been blameless. Where was either sentiment now? +It was so long since Fanny had had any letter from her, that she had +some reason to think lightly of the friendship which had been so dwelt +on. It was weeks since she had heard anything of Miss Crawford or of +her other connexions in town, except through Mansfield, and she was +beginning to suppose that she might never know whether Mr. Crawford had +gone into Norfolk again or not till they met, and might never hear from +his sister any more this spring, when the following letter was received +to revive old and create some new sensations-- + +"Forgive me, my dear Fanny, as soon as you can, for my long silence, and +behave as if you could forgive me directly. This is my modest request +and expectation, for you are so good, that I depend upon being treated +better than I deserve, and I write now to beg an immediate answer. I +want to know the state of things at Mansfield Park, and you, no doubt, +are perfectly able to give it. One should be a brute not to feel for the +distress they are in; and from what I hear, poor Mr. Bertram has a bad +chance of ultimate recovery. I thought little of his illness at first. +I looked upon him as the sort of person to be made a fuss with, and to +make a fuss himself in any trifling disorder, and was chiefly concerned +for those who had to nurse him; but now it is confidently asserted that +he is really in a decline, that the symptoms are most alarming, and that +part of the family, at least, are aware of it. If it be so, I am sure +you must be included in that part, that discerning part, and therefore +entreat you to let me know how far I have been rightly informed. I need +not say how rejoiced I shall be to hear there has been any mistake, but +the report is so prevalent that I confess I cannot help trembling. To +have such a fine young man cut off in the flower of his days is most +melancholy. Poor Sir Thomas will feel it dreadfully. I really am quite +agitated on the subject. Fanny, Fanny, I see you smile and look cunning, +but, upon my honour, I never bribed a physician in my life. Poor young +man! If he is to die, there will be _two_ poor young men less in the +world; and with a fearless face and bold voice would I say to any one, +that wealth and consequence could fall into no hands more deserving of +them. It was a foolish precipitation last Christmas, but the evil of +a few days may be blotted out in part. Varnish and gilding hide many +stains. It will be but the loss of the Esquire after his name. With real +affection, Fanny, like mine, more might be overlooked. Write to me by +return of post, judge of my anxiety, and do not trifle with it. Tell me +the real truth, as you have it from the fountainhead. And now, do +not trouble yourself to be ashamed of either my feelings or your own. +Believe me, they are not only natural, they are philanthropic and +virtuous. I put it to your conscience, whether 'Sir Edmund' would not do +more good with all the Bertram property than any other possible 'Sir.' +Had the Grants been at home I would not have troubled you, but you are +now the only one I can apply to for the truth, his sisters not being +within my reach. Mrs. R. has been spending the Easter with the Aylmers +at Twickenham (as to be sure you know), and is not yet returned; and +Julia is with the cousins who live near Bedford Square, but I forget +their name and street. Could I immediately apply to either, however, I +should still prefer you, because it strikes me that they have all along +been so unwilling to have their own amusements cut up, as to shut their +eyes to the truth. I suppose Mrs. R.'s Easter holidays will not last +much longer; no doubt they are thorough holidays to her. The Aylmers +are pleasant people; and her husband away, she can have nothing but +enjoyment. I give her credit for promoting his going dutifully down to +Bath, to fetch his mother; but how will she and the dowager agree in one +house? Henry is not at hand, so I have nothing to say from him. Do not +you think Edmund would have been in town again long ago, but for this +illness?--Yours ever, Mary." + +"I had actually begun folding my letter when Henry walked in, but he +brings no intelligence to prevent my sending it. Mrs. R. knows a decline +is apprehended; he saw her this morning: she returns to Wimpole Street +to-day; the old lady is come. Now do not make yourself uneasy with any +queer fancies because he has been spending a few days at Richmond. He +does it every spring. Be assured he cares for nobody but you. At this +very moment he is wild to see you, and occupied only in contriving the +means for doing so, and for making his pleasure conduce to yours. In +proof, he repeats, and more eagerly, what he said at Portsmouth about +our conveying you home, and I join him in it with all my soul. Dear +Fanny, write directly, and tell us to come. It will do us all good. +He and I can go to the Parsonage, you know, and be no trouble to our +friends at Mansfield Park. It would really be gratifying to see them +all again, and a little addition of society might be of infinite use to +them; and as to yourself, you must feel yourself to be so wanted there, +that you cannot in conscience--conscientious as you are--keep away, when +you have the means of returning. I have not time or patience to give +half Henry's messages; be satisfied that the spirit of each and every +one is unalterable affection." + +Fanny's disgust at the greater part of this letter, with her extreme +reluctance to bring the writer of it and her cousin Edmund together, +would have made her (as she felt) incapable of judging impartially +whether the concluding offer might be accepted or not. To herself, +individually, it was most tempting. To be finding herself, perhaps +within three days, transported to Mansfield, was an image of the +greatest felicity, but it would have been a material drawback to be +owing such felicity to persons in whose feelings and conduct, at the +present moment, she saw so much to condemn: the sister's feelings, +the brother's conduct, _her_ cold-hearted ambition, _his_ thoughtless +vanity. To have him still the acquaintance, the flirt perhaps, of Mrs. +Rushworth! She was mortified. She had thought better of him. Happily, +however, she was not left to weigh and decide between opposite +inclinations and doubtful notions of right; there was no occasion to +determine whether she ought to keep Edmund and Mary asunder or not. She +had a rule to apply to, which settled everything. Her awe of her uncle, +and her dread of taking a liberty with him, made it instantly plain to +her what she had to do. She must absolutely decline the proposal. If he +wanted, he would send for her; and even to offer an early return was +a presumption which hardly anything would have seemed to justify. She +thanked Miss Crawford, but gave a decided negative. "Her uncle, +she understood, meant to fetch her; and as her cousin's illness had +continued so many weeks without her being thought at all necessary, +she must suppose her return would be unwelcome at present, and that she +should be felt an encumbrance." + +Her representation of her cousin's state at this time was exactly +according to her own belief of it, and such as she supposed would convey +to the sanguine mind of her correspondent the hope of everything she was +wishing for. Edmund would be forgiven for being a clergyman, it seemed, +under certain conditions of wealth; and this, she suspected, was all +the conquest of prejudice which he was so ready to congratulate himself +upon. She had only learnt to think nothing of consequence but money. + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +As Fanny could not doubt that her answer was conveying a real +disappointment, she was rather in expectation, from her knowledge of +Miss Crawford's temper, of being urged again; and though no second +letter arrived for the space of a week, she had still the same feeling +when it did come. + +On receiving it, she could instantly decide on its containing little +writing, and was persuaded of its having the air of a letter of haste +and business. Its object was unquestionable; and two moments were enough +to start the probability of its being merely to give her notice that +they should be in Portsmouth that very day, and to throw her into all +the agitation of doubting what she ought to do in such a case. If two +moments, however, can surround with difficulties, a third can disperse +them; and before she had opened the letter, the possibility of Mr. and +Miss Crawford's having applied to her uncle and obtained his permission +was giving her ease. This was the letter-- + +"A most scandalous, ill-natured rumour has just reached me, and I write, +dear Fanny, to warn you against giving the least credit to it, should it +spread into the country. Depend upon it, there is some mistake, and that +a day or two will clear it up; at any rate, that Henry is blameless, and +in spite of a moment's _etourderie_, thinks of nobody but you. Say not a +word of it; hear nothing, surmise nothing, whisper nothing till I +write again. I am sure it will be all hushed up, and nothing proved but +Rushworth's folly. If they are gone, I would lay my life they are only +gone to Mansfield Park, and Julia with them. But why would not you let +us come for you? I wish you may not repent it.--Yours, etc." + +Fanny stood aghast. As no scandalous, ill-natured rumour had reached +her, it was impossible for her to understand much of this strange +letter. She could only perceive that it must relate to Wimpole Street +and Mr. Crawford, and only conjecture that something very imprudent had +just occurred in that quarter to draw the notice of the world, and to +excite her jealousy, in Miss Crawford's apprehension, if she heard it. +Miss Crawford need not be alarmed for her. She was only sorry for the +parties concerned and for Mansfield, if the report should spread so far; +but she hoped it might not. If the Rushworths were gone themselves to +Mansfield, as was to be inferred from what Miss Crawford said, it was +not likely that anything unpleasant should have preceded them, or at +least should make any impression. + +As to Mr. Crawford, she hoped it might give him a knowledge of his own +disposition, convince him that he was not capable of being steadily +attached to any one woman in the world, and shame him from persisting +any longer in addressing herself. + +It was very strange! She had begun to think he really loved her, and to +fancy his affection for her something more than common; and his sister +still said that he cared for nobody else. Yet there must have been some +marked display of attentions to her cousin, there must have been some +strong indiscretion, since her correspondent was not of a sort to regard +a slight one. + +Very uncomfortable she was, and must continue, till she heard from +Miss Crawford again. It was impossible to banish the letter from her +thoughts, and she could not relieve herself by speaking of it to any +human being. Miss Crawford need not have urged secrecy with so much +warmth; she might have trusted to her sense of what was due to her +cousin. + +The next day came and brought no second letter. Fanny was disappointed. +She could still think of little else all the morning; but, when her +father came back in the afternoon with the daily newspaper as usual, she +was so far from expecting any elucidation through such a channel that +the subject was for a moment out of her head. + +She was deep in other musing. The remembrance of her first evening in +that room, of her father and his newspaper, came across her. No candle +was now wanted. The sun was yet an hour and half above the horizon. She +felt that she had, indeed, been three months there; and the sun's rays +falling strongly into the parlour, instead of cheering, made her still +more melancholy, for sunshine appeared to her a totally different +thing in a town and in the country. Here, its power was only a glare: +a stifling, sickly glare, serving but to bring forward stains and dirt +that might otherwise have slept. There was neither health nor gaiety in +sunshine in a town. She sat in a blaze of oppressive heat, in a cloud +of moving dust, and her eyes could only wander from the walls, marked by +her father's head, to the table cut and notched by her brothers, where +stood the tea-board never thoroughly cleaned, the cups and saucers wiped +in streaks, the milk a mixture of motes floating in thin blue, and the +bread and butter growing every minute more greasy than even Rebecca's +hands had first produced it. Her father read his newspaper, and her +mother lamented over the ragged carpet as usual, while the tea was +in preparation, and wished Rebecca would mend it; and Fanny was first +roused by his calling out to her, after humphing and considering over +a particular paragraph: "What's the name of your great cousins in town, +Fan?" + +A moment's recollection enabled her to say, "Rushworth, sir." + +"And don't they live in Wimpole Street?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then, there's the devil to pay among them, that's all! There" (holding +out the paper to her); "much good may such fine relations do you. I +don't know what Sir Thomas may think of such matters; he may be too much +of the courtier and fine gentleman to like his daughter the less. But, +by G--! if she belonged to _me_, I'd give her the rope's end as long as +I could stand over her. A little flogging for man and woman too would be +the best way of preventing such things." + +Fanny read to herself that "it was with infinite concern the newspaper +had to announce to the world a matrimonial _fracas_ in the family of +Mr. R. of Wimpole Street; the beautiful Mrs. R., whose name had not long +been enrolled in the lists of Hymen, and who had promised to become +so brilliant a leader in the fashionable world, having quitted her +husband's roof in company with the well-known and captivating Mr. C., +the intimate friend and associate of Mr. R., and it was not known even +to the editor of the newspaper whither they were gone." + +"It is a mistake, sir," said Fanny instantly; "it must be a mistake, it +cannot be true; it must mean some other people." + +She spoke from the instinctive wish of delaying shame; she spoke with +a resolution which sprung from despair, for she spoke what she did not, +could not believe herself. It had been the shock of conviction as she +read. The truth rushed on her; and how she could have spoken at all, +how she could even have breathed, was afterwards matter of wonder to +herself. + +Mr. Price cared too little about the report to make her much answer. +"It might be all a lie," he acknowledged; "but so many fine ladies were +going to the devil nowadays that way, that there was no answering for +anybody." + +"Indeed, I hope it is not true," said Mrs. Price plaintively; "it would +be so very shocking! If I have spoken once to Rebecca about that carpet, +I am sure I have spoke at least a dozen times; have not I, Betsey? And +it would not be ten minutes' work." + +The horror of a mind like Fanny's, as it received the conviction of such +guilt, and began to take in some part of the misery that must ensue, can +hardly be described. At first, it was a sort of stupefaction; but every +moment was quickening her perception of the horrible evil. She could not +doubt, she dared not indulge a hope, of the paragraph being false. Miss +Crawford's letter, which she had read so often as to make every line +her own, was in frightful conformity with it. Her eager defence of her +brother, her hope of its being _hushed_ _up_, her evident agitation, +were all of a piece with something very bad; and if there was a woman +of character in existence, who could treat as a trifle this sin of the +first magnitude, who would try to gloss it over, and desire to have it +unpunished, she could believe Miss Crawford to be the woman! Now she +could see her own mistake as to _who_ were gone, or _said_ to be +gone. It was not Mr. and Mrs. Rushworth; it was Mrs. Rushworth and Mr. +Crawford. + +Fanny seemed to herself never to have been shocked before. There was no +possibility of rest. The evening passed without a pause of misery, the +night was totally sleepless. She passed only from feelings of sickness +to shudderings of horror; and from hot fits of fever to cold. The event +was so shocking, that there were moments even when her heart revolted +from it as impossible: when she thought it could not be. A woman married +only six months ago; a man professing himself devoted, even _engaged_ to +another; that other her near relation; the whole family, both families +connected as they were by tie upon tie; all friends, all intimate +together! It was too horrible a confusion of guilt, too gross a +complication of evil, for human nature, not in a state of utter +barbarism, to be capable of! yet her judgment told her it was so. +_His_ unsettled affections, wavering with his vanity, _Maria's_ +decided attachment, and no sufficient principle on either side, gave it +possibility: Miss Crawford's letter stampt it a fact. + +What would be the consequence? Whom would it not injure? Whose views +might it not affect? Whose peace would it not cut up for ever? Miss +Crawford, herself, Edmund; but it was dangerous, perhaps, to tread +such ground. She confined herself, or tried to confine herself, to the +simple, indubitable family misery which must envelop all, if it were +indeed a matter of certified guilt and public exposure. The mother's +sufferings, the father's; there she paused. Julia's, Tom's, Edmund's; +there a yet longer pause. They were the two on whom it would fall most +horribly. Sir Thomas's parental solicitude and high sense of honour and +decorum, Edmund's upright principles, unsuspicious temper, and genuine +strength of feeling, made her think it scarcely possible for them to +support life and reason under such disgrace; and it appeared to her +that, as far as this world alone was concerned, the greatest blessing to +every one of kindred with Mrs. Rushworth would be instant annihilation. + +Nothing happened the next day, or the next, to weaken her terrors. Two +posts came in, and brought no refutation, public or private. There was +no second letter to explain away the first from Miss Crawford; there was +no intelligence from Mansfield, though it was now full time for her +to hear again from her aunt. This was an evil omen. She had, indeed, +scarcely the shadow of a hope to soothe her mind, and was reduced to so +low and wan and trembling a condition, as no mother, not unkind, except +Mrs. Price could have overlooked, when the third day did bring the +sickening knock, and a letter was again put into her hands. It bore the +London postmark, and came from Edmund. + +"Dear Fanny,--You know our present wretchedness. May God support you +under your share! We have been here two days, but there is nothing to +be done. They cannot be traced. You may not have heard of the last +blow--Julia's elopement; she is gone to Scotland with Yates. She left +London a few hours before we entered it. At any other time this would +have been felt dreadfully. Now it seems nothing; yet it is an heavy +aggravation. My father is not overpowered. More cannot be hoped. He is +still able to think and act; and I write, by his desire, to propose your +returning home. He is anxious to get you there for my mother's sake. I +shall be at Portsmouth the morning after you receive this, and hope to +find you ready to set off for Mansfield. My father wishes you to invite +Susan to go with you for a few months. Settle it as you like; say what +is proper; I am sure you will feel such an instance of his kindness at +such a moment! Do justice to his meaning, however I may confuse it. You +may imagine something of my present state. There is no end of the evil +let loose upon us. You will see me early by the mail.--Yours, etc." + +Never had Fanny more wanted a cordial. Never had she felt such a one +as this letter contained. To-morrow! to leave Portsmouth to-morrow! +She was, she felt she was, in the greatest danger of being exquisitely +happy, while so many were miserable. The evil which brought such good +to her! She dreaded lest she should learn to be insensible of it. To be +going so soon, sent for so kindly, sent for as a comfort, and with leave +to take Susan, was altogether such a combination of blessings as set her +heart in a glow, and for a time seemed to distance every pain, and +make her incapable of suitably sharing the distress even of those +whose distress she thought of most. Julia's elopement could affect her +comparatively but little; she was amazed and shocked; but it could not +occupy her, could not dwell on her mind. She was obliged to call herself +to think of it, and acknowledge it to be terrible and grievous, or it +was escaping her, in the midst of all the agitating pressing joyful +cares attending this summons to herself. + +There is nothing like employment, active indispensable employment, for +relieving sorrow. Employment, even melancholy, may dispel melancholy, +and her occupations were hopeful. She had so much to do, that not even +the horrible story of Mrs. Rushworth--now fixed to the last point of +certainty could affect her as it had done before. She had not time to +be miserable. Within twenty-four hours she was hoping to be gone; her +father and mother must be spoken to, Susan prepared, everything got +ready. Business followed business; the day was hardly long enough. The +happiness she was imparting, too, happiness very little alloyed by the +black communication which must briefly precede it--the joyful consent +of her father and mother to Susan's going with her--the general +satisfaction with which the going of both seemed regarded, and the +ecstasy of Susan herself, was all serving to support her spirits. + +The affliction of the Bertrams was little felt in the family. Mrs. Price +talked of her poor sister for a few minutes, but how to find anything to +hold Susan's clothes, because Rebecca took away all the boxes and spoilt +them, was much more in her thoughts: and as for Susan, now unexpectedly +gratified in the first wish of her heart, and knowing nothing personally +of those who had sinned, or of those who were sorrowing--if she could +help rejoicing from beginning to end, it was as much as ought to be +expected from human virtue at fourteen. + +As nothing was really left for the decision of Mrs. Price, or the good +offices of Rebecca, everything was rationally and duly accomplished, +and the girls were ready for the morrow. The advantage of much sleep +to prepare them for their journey was impossible. The cousin who was +travelling towards them could hardly have less than visited their +agitated spirits--one all happiness, the other all varying and +indescribable perturbation. + +By eight in the morning Edmund was in the house. The girls heard his +entrance from above, and Fanny went down. The idea of immediately seeing +him, with the knowledge of what he must be suffering, brought back all +her own first feelings. He so near her, and in misery. She was ready to +sink as she entered the parlour. He was alone, and met her instantly; +and she found herself pressed to his heart with only these words, just +articulate, "My Fanny, my only sister; my only comfort now!" She could +say nothing; nor for some minutes could he say more. + +He turned away to recover himself, and when he spoke again, though his +voice still faltered, his manner shewed the wish of self-command, and +the resolution of avoiding any farther allusion. "Have you breakfasted? +When shall you be ready? Does Susan go?" were questions following each +other rapidly. His great object was to be off as soon as possible. When +Mansfield was considered, time was precious; and the state of his own +mind made him find relief only in motion. It was settled that he should +order the carriage to the door in half an hour. Fanny answered for their +having breakfasted and being quite ready in half an hour. He had already +ate, and declined staying for their meal. He would walk round the +ramparts, and join them with the carriage. He was gone again; glad to +get away even from Fanny. + +He looked very ill; evidently suffering under violent emotions, which he +was determined to suppress. She knew it must be so, but it was terrible +to her. + +The carriage came; and he entered the house again at the same +moment, just in time to spend a few minutes with the family, and be a +witness--but that he saw nothing--of the tranquil manner in which the +daughters were parted with, and just in time to prevent their sitting +down to the breakfast-table, which, by dint of much unusual activity, +was quite and completely ready as the carriage drove from the door. +Fanny's last meal in her father's house was in character with her first: +she was dismissed from it as hospitably as she had been welcomed. + +How her heart swelled with joy and gratitude as she passed the barriers +of Portsmouth, and how Susan's face wore its broadest smiles, may be +easily conceived. Sitting forwards, however, and screened by her bonnet, +those smiles were unseen. + +The journey was likely to be a silent one. Edmund's deep sighs often +reached Fanny. Had he been alone with her, his heart must have opened +in spite of every resolution; but Susan's presence drove him quite into +himself, and his attempts to talk on indifferent subjects could never be +long supported. + +Fanny watched him with never-failing solicitude, and sometimes catching +his eye, revived an affectionate smile, which comforted her; but the +first day's journey passed without her hearing a word from him on the +subjects that were weighing him down. The next morning produced a +little more. Just before their setting out from Oxford, while Susan was +stationed at a window, in eager observation of the departure of a +large family from the inn, the other two were standing by the fire; and +Edmund, particularly struck by the alteration in Fanny's looks, and from +his ignorance of the daily evils of her father's house, attributing an +undue share of the change, attributing _all_ to the recent event, took +her hand, and said in a low, but very expressive tone, "No wonder--you +must feel it--you must suffer. How a man who had once loved, could +desert you! But _yours_--your regard was new compared with----Fanny, +think of _me_!" + +The first division of their journey occupied a long day, and brought +them, almost knocked up, to Oxford; but the second was over at a much +earlier hour. They were in the environs of Mansfield long before the +usual dinner-time, and as they approached the beloved place, the hearts +of both sisters sank a little. Fanny began to dread the meeting with her +aunts and Tom, under so dreadful a humiliation; and Susan to feel +with some anxiety, that all her best manners, all her lately acquired +knowledge of what was practised here, was on the point of being called +into action. Visions of good and ill breeding, of old vulgarisms and new +gentilities, were before her; and she was meditating much upon silver +forks, napkins, and finger-glasses. Fanny had been everywhere awake to +the difference of the country since February; but when they entered the +Park her perceptions and her pleasures were of the keenest sort. It was +three months, full three months, since her quitting it, and the +change was from winter to summer. Her eye fell everywhere on lawns +and plantations of the freshest green; and the trees, though not fully +clothed, were in that delightful state when farther beauty is known to +be at hand, and when, while much is actually given to the sight, more +yet remains for the imagination. Her enjoyment, however, was for herself +alone. Edmund could not share it. She looked at him, but he was leaning +back, sunk in a deeper gloom than ever, and with eyes closed, as if the +view of cheerfulness oppressed him, and the lovely scenes of home must +be shut out. + +It made her melancholy again; and the knowledge of what must be enduring +there, invested even the house, modern, airy, and well situated as it +was, with a melancholy aspect. + +By one of the suffering party within they were expected with such +impatience as she had never known before. Fanny had scarcely passed the +solemn-looking servants, when Lady Bertram came from the drawing-room +to meet her; came with no indolent step; and falling on her neck, said, +"Dear Fanny! now I shall be comfortable." + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + +It had been a miserable party, each of the three believing themselves +most miserable. Mrs. Norris, however, as most attached to Maria, was +really the greatest sufferer. Maria was her first favourite, the dearest +of all; the match had been her own contriving, as she had been wont with +such pride of heart to feel and say, and this conclusion of it almost +overpowered her. + +She was an altered creature, quieted, stupefied, indifferent to +everything that passed. The being left with her sister and nephew, and +all the house under her care, had been an advantage entirely thrown +away; she had been unable to direct or dictate, or even fancy herself +useful. When really touched by affliction, her active powers had been +all benumbed; and neither Lady Bertram nor Tom had received from her the +smallest support or attempt at support. She had done no more for them +than they had done for each other. They had been all solitary, helpless, +and forlorn alike; and now the arrival of the others only established +her superiority in wretchedness. Her companions were relieved, but there +was no good for _her_. Edmund was almost as welcome to his brother +as Fanny to her aunt; but Mrs. Norris, instead of having comfort from +either, was but the more irritated by the sight of the person whom, in +the blindness of her anger, she could have charged as the daemon of the +piece. Had Fanny accepted Mr. Crawford this could not have happened. + +Susan too was a grievance. She had not spirits to notice her in more +than a few repulsive looks, but she felt her as a spy, and an intruder, +and an indigent niece, and everything most odious. By her other aunt, +Susan was received with quiet kindness. Lady Bertram could not give her +much time, or many words, but she felt her, as Fanny's sister, to have +a claim at Mansfield, and was ready to kiss and like her; and Susan +was more than satisfied, for she came perfectly aware that nothing but +ill-humour was to be expected from aunt Norris; and was so provided +with happiness, so strong in that best of blessings, an escape from +many certain evils, that she could have stood against a great deal more +indifference than she met with from the others. + +She was now left a good deal to herself, to get acquainted with the +house and grounds as she could, and spent her days very happily in so +doing, while those who might otherwise have attended to her were shut +up, or wholly occupied each with the person quite dependent on them, at +this time, for everything like comfort; Edmund trying to bury his own +feelings in exertions for the relief of his brother's, and Fanny devoted +to her aunt Bertram, returning to every former office with more than +former zeal, and thinking she could never do enough for one who seemed +so much to want her. + +To talk over the dreadful business with Fanny, talk and lament, was all +Lady Bertram's consolation. To be listened to and borne with, and hear +the voice of kindness and sympathy in return, was everything that could +be done for her. To be otherwise comforted was out of the question. The +case admitted of no comfort. Lady Bertram did not think deeply, but, +guided by Sir Thomas, she thought justly on all important points; and +she saw, therefore, in all its enormity, what had happened, and neither +endeavoured herself, nor required Fanny to advise her, to think little +of guilt and infamy. + +Her affections were not acute, nor was her mind tenacious. After a time, +Fanny found it not impossible to direct her thoughts to other subjects, +and revive some interest in the usual occupations; but whenever Lady +Bertram _was_ fixed on the event, she could see it only in one light, as +comprehending the loss of a daughter, and a disgrace never to be wiped +off. + +Fanny learnt from her all the particulars which had yet transpired. Her +aunt was no very methodical narrator, but with the help of some letters +to and from Sir Thomas, and what she already knew herself, and could +reasonably combine, she was soon able to understand quite as much as she +wished of the circumstances attending the story. + +Mrs. Rushworth had gone, for the Easter holidays, to Twickenham, with +a family whom she had just grown intimate with: a family of lively, +agreeable manners, and probably of morals and discretion to suit, for to +_their_ house Mr. Crawford had constant access at all times. His having +been in the same neighbourhood Fanny already knew. Mr. Rushworth had +been gone at this time to Bath, to pass a few days with his mother, and +bring her back to town, and Maria was with these friends without any +restraint, without even Julia; for Julia had removed from Wimpole Street +two or three weeks before, on a visit to some relations of Sir Thomas; +a removal which her father and mother were now disposed to attribute +to some view of convenience on Mr. Yates's account. Very soon after the +Rushworths' return to Wimpole Street, Sir Thomas had received a letter +from an old and most particular friend in London, who hearing and +witnessing a good deal to alarm him in that quarter, wrote to recommend +Sir Thomas's coming to London himself, and using his influence with his +daughter to put an end to the intimacy which was already exposing her to +unpleasant remarks, and evidently making Mr. Rushworth uneasy. + +Sir Thomas was preparing to act upon this letter, without communicating +its contents to any creature at Mansfield, when it was followed by +another, sent express from the same friend, to break to him the almost +desperate situation in which affairs then stood with the young people. +Mrs. Rushworth had left her husband's house: Mr. Rushworth had been +in great anger and distress to _him_ (Mr. Harding) for his advice; Mr. +Harding feared there had been _at_ _least_ very flagrant indiscretion. +The maidservant of Mrs. Rushworth, senior, threatened alarmingly. He +was doing all in his power to quiet everything, with the hope of Mrs. +Rushworth's return, but was so much counteracted in Wimpole Street by +the influence of Mr. Rushworth's mother, that the worst consequences +might be apprehended. + +This dreadful communication could not be kept from the rest of the +family. Sir Thomas set off, Edmund would go with him, and the others had +been left in a state of wretchedness, inferior only to what followed +the receipt of the next letters from London. Everything was by that time +public beyond a hope. The servant of Mrs. Rushworth, the mother, had +exposure in her power, and supported by her mistress, was not to be +silenced. The two ladies, even in the short time they had been +together, had disagreed; and the bitterness of the elder against her +daughter-in-law might perhaps arise almost as much from the personal +disrespect with which she had herself been treated as from sensibility +for her son. + +However that might be, she was unmanageable. But had she been less +obstinate, or of less weight with her son, who was always guided by the +last speaker, by the person who could get hold of and shut him up, the +case would still have been hopeless, for Mrs. Rushworth did not appear +again, and there was every reason to conclude her to be concealed +somewhere with Mr. Crawford, who had quitted his uncle's house, as for a +journey, on the very day of her absenting herself. + +Sir Thomas, however, remained yet a little longer in town, in the hope +of discovering and snatching her from farther vice, though all was lost +on the side of character. + +_His_ present state Fanny could hardly bear to think of. There was but +one of his children who was not at this time a source of misery to +him. Tom's complaints had been greatly heightened by the shock of his +sister's conduct, and his recovery so much thrown back by it, that even +Lady Bertram had been struck by the difference, and all her alarms were +regularly sent off to her husband; and Julia's elopement, the additional +blow which had met him on his arrival in London, though its force had +been deadened at the moment, must, she knew, be sorely felt. She saw +that it was. His letters expressed how much he deplored it. Under any +circumstances it would have been an unwelcome alliance; but to have it +so clandestinely formed, and such a period chosen for its completion, +placed Julia's feelings in a most unfavourable light, and severely +aggravated the folly of her choice. He called it a bad thing, done in +the worst manner, and at the worst time; and though Julia was yet as +more pardonable than Maria as folly than vice, he could not but +regard the step she had taken as opening the worst probabilities of a +conclusion hereafter like her sister's. Such was his opinion of the set +into which she had thrown herself. + +Fanny felt for him most acutely. He could have no comfort but in Edmund. +Every other child must be racking his heart. His displeasure against +herself she trusted, reasoning differently from Mrs. Norris, would now +be done away. _She_ should be justified. Mr. Crawford would have fully +acquitted her conduct in refusing him; but this, though most material +to herself, would be poor consolation to Sir Thomas. Her uncle's +displeasure was terrible to her; but what could her justification or her +gratitude and attachment do for him? His stay must be on Edmund alone. + +She was mistaken, however, in supposing that Edmund gave his father no +present pain. It was of a much less poignant nature than what the others +excited; but Sir Thomas was considering his happiness as very deeply +involved in the offence of his sister and friend; cut off by it, as +he must be, from the woman whom he had been pursuing with undoubted +attachment and strong probability of success; and who, in everything but +this despicable brother, would have been so eligible a connexion. He was +aware of what Edmund must be suffering on his own behalf, in addition +to all the rest, when they were in town: he had seen or conjectured +his feelings; and, having reason to think that one interview with Miss +Crawford had taken place, from which Edmund derived only increased +distress, had been as anxious on that account as on others to get him +out of town, and had engaged him in taking Fanny home to her aunt, with +a view to his relief and benefit, no less than theirs. Fanny was not in +the secret of her uncle's feelings, Sir Thomas not in the secret of Miss +Crawford's character. Had he been privy to her conversation with his +son, he would not have wished her to belong to him, though her twenty +thousand pounds had been forty. + +That Edmund must be for ever divided from Miss Crawford did not admit +of a doubt with Fanny; and yet, till she knew that he felt the same, her +own conviction was insufficient. She thought he did, but she wanted to +be assured of it. If he would now speak to her with the unreserve which +had sometimes been too much for her before, it would be most consoling; +but _that_ she found was not to be. She seldom saw him: never alone. He +probably avoided being alone with her. What was to be inferred? That +his judgment submitted to all his own peculiar and bitter share of this +family affliction, but that it was too keenly felt to be a subject of +the slightest communication. This must be his state. He yielded, but it +was with agonies which did not admit of speech. Long, long would it be +ere Miss Crawford's name passed his lips again, or she could hope for a +renewal of such confidential intercourse as had been. + +It _was_ long. They reached Mansfield on Thursday, and it was not till +Sunday evening that Edmund began to talk to her on the subject. Sitting +with her on Sunday evening--a wet Sunday evening--the very time of +all others when, if a friend is at hand, the heart must be opened, and +everything told; no one else in the room, except his mother, who, +after hearing an affecting sermon, had cried herself to sleep, it was +impossible not to speak; and so, with the usual beginnings, hardly to +be traced as to what came first, and the usual declaration that if she +would listen to him for a few minutes, he should be very brief, and +certainly never tax her kindness in the same way again; she need not +fear a repetition; it would be a subject prohibited entirely: he entered +upon the luxury of relating circumstances and sensations of the first +interest to himself, to one of whose affectionate sympathy he was quite +convinced. + +How Fanny listened, with what curiosity and concern, what pain and what +delight, how the agitation of his voice was watched, and how carefully +her own eyes were fixed on any object but himself, may be imagined. The +opening was alarming. He had seen Miss Crawford. He had been invited to +see her. He had received a note from Lady Stornaway to beg him to call; +and regarding it as what was meant to be the last, last interview +of friendship, and investing her with all the feelings of shame and +wretchedness which Crawford's sister ought to have known, he had gone to +her in such a state of mind, so softened, so devoted, as made it for a +few moments impossible to Fanny's fears that it should be the last. But +as he proceeded in his story, these fears were over. She had met him, +he said, with a serious--certainly a serious--even an agitated air; +but before he had been able to speak one intelligible sentence, she had +introduced the subject in a manner which he owned had shocked him. "'I +heard you were in town,' said she; 'I wanted to see you. Let us talk +over this sad business. What can equal the folly of our two relations?' +I could not answer, but I believe my looks spoke. She felt reproved. +Sometimes how quick to feel! With a graver look and voice she then +added, 'I do not mean to defend Henry at your sister's expense.' So +she began, but how she went on, Fanny, is not fit, is hardly fit to be +repeated to you. I cannot recall all her words. I would not dwell upon +them if I could. Their substance was great anger at the _folly_ of each. +She reprobated her brother's folly in being drawn on by a woman whom he +had never cared for, to do what must lose him the woman he adored; but +still more the folly of poor Maria, in sacrificing such a situation, +plunging into such difficulties, under the idea of being really loved +by a man who had long ago made his indifference clear. Guess what I must +have felt. To hear the woman whom--no harsher name than folly given! +So voluntarily, so freely, so coolly to canvass it! No reluctance, no +horror, no feminine, shall I say, no modest loathings? This is what the +world does. For where, Fanny, shall we find a woman whom nature had so +richly endowed? Spoilt, spoilt!" + +After a little reflection, he went on with a sort of desperate calmness. +"I will tell you everything, and then have done for ever. She saw it +only as folly, and that folly stamped only by exposure. The want of +common discretion, of caution: his going down to Richmond for the whole +time of her being at Twickenham; her putting herself in the power of +a servant; it was the detection, in short--oh, Fanny! it was the +detection, not the offence, which she reprobated. It was the imprudence +which had brought things to extremity, and obliged her brother to give +up every dearer plan in order to fly with her." + +He stopt. "And what," said Fanny (believing herself required to speak), +"what could you say?" + +"Nothing, nothing to be understood. I was like a man stunned. She +went on, began to talk of you; yes, then she began to talk of you, +regretting, as well she might, the loss of such a--. There she spoke +very rationally. But she has always done justice to you. 'He has thrown +away,' said she, 'such a woman as he will never see again. She would +have fixed him; she would have made him happy for ever.' My dearest +Fanny, I am giving you, I hope, more pleasure than pain by this +retrospect of what might have been--but what never can be now. You do +not wish me to be silent? If you do, give me but a look, a word, and I +have done." + +No look or word was given. + +"Thank God," said he. "We were all disposed to wonder, but it seems to +have been the merciful appointment of Providence that the heart which +knew no guile should not suffer. She spoke of you with high praise and +warm affection; yet, even here, there was alloy, a dash of evil; for in +the midst of it she could exclaim, 'Why would not she have him? It is +all her fault. Simple girl! I shall never forgive her. Had she accepted +him as she ought, they might now have been on the point of marriage, and +Henry would have been too happy and too busy to want any other object. +He would have taken no pains to be on terms with Mrs. Rushworth again. +It would have all ended in a regular standing flirtation, in yearly +meetings at Sotherton and Everingham.' Could you have believed it +possible? But the charm is broken. My eyes are opened." + +"Cruel!" said Fanny, "quite cruel. At such a moment to give way to +gaiety, to speak with lightness, and to you! Absolute cruelty." + +"Cruelty, do you call it? We differ there. No, hers is not a cruel +nature. I do not consider her as meaning to wound my feelings. The evil +lies yet deeper: in her total ignorance, unsuspiciousness of there being +such feelings; in a perversion of mind which made it natural to her to +treat the subject as she did. She was speaking only as she had been used +to hear others speak, as she imagined everybody else would speak. Hers +are not faults of temper. She would not voluntarily give unnecessary +pain to any one, and though I may deceive myself, I cannot but think +that for me, for my feelings, she would--Hers are faults of principle, +Fanny; of blunted delicacy and a corrupted, vitiated mind. Perhaps it +is best for me, since it leaves me so little to regret. Not so, however. +Gladly would I submit to all the increased pain of losing her, rather +than have to think of her as I do. I told her so." + +"Did you?" + +"Yes; when I left her I told her so." + +"How long were you together?" + +"Five-and-twenty minutes. Well, she went on to say that what remained +now to be done was to bring about a marriage between them. She spoke of +it, Fanny, with a steadier voice than I can." He was obliged to pause +more than once as he continued. "'We must persuade Henry to marry +her,' said she; 'and what with honour, and the certainty of having shut +himself out for ever from Fanny, I do not despair of it. Fanny he must +give up. I do not think that even _he_ could now hope to succeed with +one of her stamp, and therefore I hope we may find no insuperable +difficulty. My influence, which is not small shall all go that way; and +when once married, and properly supported by her own family, people of +respectability as they are, she may recover her footing in society to a +certain degree. In some circles, we know, she would never be admitted, +but with good dinners, and large parties, there will always be those +who will be glad of her acquaintance; and there is, undoubtedly, more +liberality and candour on those points than formerly. What I advise +is, that your father be quiet. Do not let him injure his own cause by +interference. Persuade him to let things take their course. If by any +officious exertions of his, she is induced to leave Henry's protection, +there will be much less chance of his marrying her than if she remain +with him. I know how he is likely to be influenced. Let Sir Thomas trust +to his honour and compassion, and it may all end well; but if he get his +daughter away, it will be destroying the chief hold.'" + +After repeating this, Edmund was so much affected that Fanny, watching +him with silent, but most tender concern, was almost sorry that the +subject had been entered on at all. It was long before he could speak +again. At last, "Now, Fanny," said he, "I shall soon have done. I have +told you the substance of all that she said. As soon as I could speak, +I replied that I had not supposed it possible, coming in such a state of +mind into that house as I had done, that anything could occur to make +me suffer more, but that she had been inflicting deeper wounds in almost +every sentence. That though I had, in the course of our acquaintance, +been often sensible of some difference in our opinions, on points, +too, of some moment, it had not entered my imagination to conceive the +difference could be such as she had now proved it. That the manner in +which she treated the dreadful crime committed by her brother and my +sister (with whom lay the greater seduction I pretended not to say), +but the manner in which she spoke of the crime itself, giving it every +reproach but the right; considering its ill consequences only as they +were to be braved or overborne by a defiance of decency and impudence in +wrong; and last of all, and above all, recommending to us a compliance, +a compromise, an acquiescence in the continuance of the sin, on the +chance of a marriage which, thinking as I now thought of her brother, +should rather be prevented than sought; all this together most +grievously convinced me that I had never understood her before, and +that, as far as related to mind, it had been the creature of my own +imagination, not Miss Crawford, that I had been too apt to dwell on +for many months past. That, perhaps, it was best for me; I had less to +regret in sacrificing a friendship, feelings, hopes which must, at any +rate, have been torn from me now. And yet, that I must and would confess +that, could I have restored her to what she had appeared to me before, +I would infinitely prefer any increase of the pain of parting, for the +sake of carrying with me the right of tenderness and esteem. This is +what I said, the purport of it; but, as you may imagine, not spoken +so collectedly or methodically as I have repeated it to you. She was +astonished, exceedingly astonished--more than astonished. I saw her +change countenance. She turned extremely red. I imagined I saw a +mixture of many feelings: a great, though short struggle; half a wish of +yielding to truths, half a sense of shame, but habit, habit carried +it. She would have laughed if she could. It was a sort of laugh, as she +answered, 'A pretty good lecture, upon my word. Was it part of your last +sermon? At this rate you will soon reform everybody at Mansfield and +Thornton Lacey; and when I hear of you next, it may be as a celebrated +preacher in some great society of Methodists, or as a missionary into +foreign parts.' She tried to speak carelessly, but she was not so +careless as she wanted to appear. I only said in reply, that from my +heart I wished her well, and earnestly hoped that she might soon learn +to think more justly, and not owe the most valuable knowledge we could +any of us acquire, the knowledge of ourselves and of our duty, to the +lessons of affliction, and immediately left the room. I had gone a few +steps, Fanny, when I heard the door open behind me. 'Mr. Bertram,' said +she. I looked back. 'Mr. Bertram,' said she, with a smile; but it was +a smile ill-suited to the conversation that had passed, a saucy playful +smile, seeming to invite in order to subdue me; at least it appeared so +to me. I resisted; it was the impulse of the moment to resist, and still +walked on. I have since, sometimes, for a moment, regretted that I did +not go back, but I know I was right, and such has been the end of our +acquaintance. And what an acquaintance has it been! How have I been +deceived! Equally in brother and sister deceived! I thank you for your +patience, Fanny. This has been the greatest relief, and now we will have +done." + +And such was Fanny's dependence on his words, that for five minutes +she thought they _had_ done. Then, however, it all came on again, or +something very like it, and nothing less than Lady Bertram's rousing +thoroughly up could really close such a conversation. Till that +happened, they continued to talk of Miss Crawford alone, and how she had +attached him, and how delightful nature had made her, and how excellent +she would have been, had she fallen into good hands earlier. Fanny, now +at liberty to speak openly, felt more than justified in adding to +his knowledge of her real character, by some hint of what share his +brother's state of health might be supposed to have in her wish for a +complete reconciliation. This was not an agreeable intimation. Nature +resisted it for a while. It would have been a vast deal pleasanter to +have had her more disinterested in her attachment; but his vanity was +not of a strength to fight long against reason. He submitted to believe +that Tom's illness had influenced her, only reserving for himself this +consoling thought, that considering the many counteractions of opposing +habits, she had certainly been _more_ attached to him than could have +been expected, and for his sake been more near doing right. Fanny +thought exactly the same; and they were also quite agreed in their +opinion of the lasting effect, the indelible impression, which such +a disappointment must make on his mind. Time would undoubtedly abate +somewhat of his sufferings, but still it was a sort of thing which he +never could get entirely the better of; and as to his ever meeting with +any other woman who could--it was too impossible to be named but with +indignation. Fanny's friendship was all that he had to cling to. + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects +as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody, not greatly in fault +themselves, to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest. + +My Fanny, indeed, at this very time, I have the satisfaction of knowing, +must have been happy in spite of everything. She must have been a happy +creature in spite of all that she felt, or thought she felt, for the +distress of those around her. She had sources of delight that must force +their way. She was returned to Mansfield Park, she was useful, she was +beloved; she was safe from Mr. Crawford; and when Sir Thomas came back +she had every proof that could be given in his then melancholy state of +spirits, of his perfect approbation and increased regard; and happy as +all this must make her, she would still have been happy without any of +it, for Edmund was no longer the dupe of Miss Crawford. + +It is true that Edmund was very far from happy himself. He was suffering +from disappointment and regret, grieving over what was, and wishing for +what could never be. She knew it was so, and was sorry; but it was with +a sorrow so founded on satisfaction, so tending to ease, and so much in +harmony with every dearest sensation, that there are few who might not +have been glad to exchange their greatest gaiety for it. + +Sir Thomas, poor Sir Thomas, a parent, and conscious of errors in his +own conduct as a parent, was the longest to suffer. He felt that he +ought not to have allowed the marriage; that his daughter's sentiments +had been sufficiently known to him to render him culpable in authorising +it; that in so doing he had sacrificed the right to the expedient, and +been governed by motives of selfishness and worldly wisdom. These were +reflections that required some time to soften; but time will do almost +everything; and though little comfort arose on Mrs. Rushworth's side for +the misery she had occasioned, comfort was to be found greater than +he had supposed in his other children. Julia's match became a less +desperate business than he had considered it at first. She was humble, +and wishing to be forgiven; and Mr. Yates, desirous of being really +received into the family, was disposed to look up to him and be guided. +He was not very solid; but there was a hope of his becoming less +trifling, of his being at least tolerably domestic and quiet; and at any +rate, there was comfort in finding his estate rather more, and his debts +much less, than he had feared, and in being consulted and treated as +the friend best worth attending to. There was comfort also in Tom, who +gradually regained his health, without regaining the thoughtlessness and +selfishness of his previous habits. He was the better for ever for his +illness. He had suffered, and he had learned to think: two advantages +that he had never known before; and the self-reproach arising from the +deplorable event in Wimpole Street, to which he felt himself accessory +by all the dangerous intimacy of his unjustifiable theatre, made an +impression on his mind which, at the age of six-and-twenty, with no want +of sense or good companions, was durable in its happy effects. He became +what he ought to be: useful to his father, steady and quiet, and not +living merely for himself. + +Here was comfort indeed! and quite as soon as Sir Thomas could place +dependence on such sources of good, Edmund was contributing to his +father's ease by improvement in the only point in which he had given +him pain before--improvement in his spirits. After wandering about and +sitting under trees with Fanny all the summer evenings, he had so well +talked his mind into submission as to be very tolerably cheerful again. + +These were the circumstances and the hopes which gradually brought their +alleviation to Sir Thomas, deadening his sense of what was lost, and +in part reconciling him to himself; though the anguish arising from the +conviction of his own errors in the education of his daughters was never +to be entirely done away. + +Too late he became aware how unfavourable to the character of any young +people must be the totally opposite treatment which Maria and Julia had +been always experiencing at home, where the excessive indulgence and +flattery of their aunt had been continually contrasted with his own +severity. He saw how ill he had judged, in expecting to counteract what +was wrong in Mrs. Norris by its reverse in himself; clearly saw that he +had but increased the evil by teaching them to repress their spirits in +his presence so as to make their real disposition unknown to him, and +sending them for all their indulgences to a person who had been able to +attach them only by the blindness of her affection, and the excess of +her praise. + +Here had been grievous mismanagement; but, bad as it was, he gradually +grew to feel that it had not been the most direful mistake in his plan +of education. Something must have been wanting _within_, or time would +have worn away much of its ill effect. He feared that principle, active +principle, had been wanting; that they had never been properly taught +to govern their inclinations and tempers by that sense of duty which can +alone suffice. They had been instructed theoretically in their religion, +but never required to bring it into daily practice. To be distinguished +for elegance and accomplishments, the authorised object of their youth, +could have had no useful influence that way, no moral effect on the +mind. He had meant them to be good, but his cares had been directed to +the understanding and manners, not the disposition; and of the necessity +of self-denial and humility, he feared they had never heard from any +lips that could profit them. + +Bitterly did he deplore a deficiency which now he could scarcely +comprehend to have been possible. Wretchedly did he feel, that with all +the cost and care of an anxious and expensive education, he had brought +up his daughters without their understanding their first duties, or his +being acquainted with their character and temper. + +The high spirit and strong passions of Mrs. Rushworth, especially, were +made known to him only in their sad result. She was not to be prevailed +on to leave Mr. Crawford. She hoped to marry him, and they continued +together till she was obliged to be convinced that such hope was vain, +and till the disappointment and wretchedness arising from the conviction +rendered her temper so bad, and her feelings for him so like hatred, +as to make them for a while each other's punishment, and then induce a +voluntary separation. + +She had lived with him to be reproached as the ruin of all his happiness +in Fanny, and carried away no better consolation in leaving him than +that she _had_ divided them. What can exceed the misery of such a mind +in such a situation? + +Mr. Rushworth had no difficulty in procuring a divorce; and so ended a +marriage contracted under such circumstances as to make any better end +the effect of good luck not to be reckoned on. She had despised him, +and loved another; and he had been very much aware that it was so. The +indignities of stupidity, and the disappointments of selfish passion, +can excite little pity. His punishment followed his conduct, as did a +deeper punishment the deeper guilt of his wife. _He_ was released from +the engagement to be mortified and unhappy, till some other pretty girl +could attract him into matrimony again, and he might set forward on a +second, and, it is to be hoped, more prosperous trial of the state: if +duped, to be duped at least with good humour and good luck; while she +must withdraw with infinitely stronger feelings to a retirement and +reproach which could allow no second spring of hope or character. + +Where she could be placed became a subject of most melancholy and +momentous consultation. Mrs. Norris, whose attachment seemed to augment +with the demerits of her niece, would have had her received at home +and countenanced by them all. Sir Thomas would not hear of it; and Mrs. +Norris's anger against Fanny was so much the greater, from considering +_her_ residence there as the motive. She persisted in placing his +scruples to _her_ account, though Sir Thomas very solemnly assured her +that, had there been no young woman in question, had there been no young +person of either sex belonging to him, to be endangered by the society +or hurt by the character of Mrs. Rushworth, he would never have offered +so great an insult to the neighbourhood as to expect it to notice her. +As a daughter, he hoped a penitent one, she should be protected by him, +and secured in every comfort, and supported by every encouragement to do +right, which their relative situations admitted; but farther than _that_ +he could not go. Maria had destroyed her own character, and he would +not, by a vain attempt to restore what never could be restored, by +affording his sanction to vice, or in seeking to lessen its disgrace, be +anywise accessory to introducing such misery in another man's family as +he had known himself. + +It ended in Mrs. Norris's resolving to quit Mansfield and devote herself +to her unfortunate Maria, and in an establishment being formed for them +in another country, remote and private, where, shut up together with +little society, on one side no affection, on the other no judgment, +it may be reasonably supposed that their tempers became their mutual +punishment. + +Mrs. Norris's removal from Mansfield was the great supplementary comfort +of Sir Thomas's life. His opinion of her had been sinking from the day +of his return from Antigua: in every transaction together from that +period, in their daily intercourse, in business, or in chat, she had +been regularly losing ground in his esteem, and convincing him that +either time had done her much disservice, or that he had considerably +over-rated her sense, and wonderfully borne with her manners before. He +had felt her as an hourly evil, which was so much the worse, as there +seemed no chance of its ceasing but with life; she seemed a part of +himself that must be borne for ever. To be relieved from her, therefore, +was so great a felicity that, had she not left bitter remembrances +behind her, there might have been danger of his learning almost to +approve the evil which produced such a good. + +She was regretted by no one at Mansfield. She had never been able to +attach even those she loved best; and since Mrs. Rushworth's elopement, +her temper had been in a state of such irritation as to make her +everywhere tormenting. Not even Fanny had tears for aunt Norris, not +even when she was gone for ever. + +That Julia escaped better than Maria was owing, in some measure, to a +favourable difference of disposition and circumstance, but in a greater +to her having been less the darling of that very aunt, less flattered +and less spoilt. Her beauty and acquirements had held but a second +place. She had been always used to think herself a little inferior to +Maria. Her temper was naturally the easiest of the two; her feelings, +though quick, were more controllable, and education had not given her so +very hurtful a degree of self-consequence. + +She had submitted the best to the disappointment in Henry Crawford. +After the first bitterness of the conviction of being slighted was over, +she had been tolerably soon in a fair way of not thinking of him again; +and when the acquaintance was renewed in town, and Mr. Rushworth's house +became Crawford's object, she had had the merit of withdrawing herself +from it, and of chusing that time to pay a visit to her other friends, +in order to secure herself from being again too much attracted. This had +been her motive in going to her cousin's. Mr. Yates's convenience had +had nothing to do with it. She had been allowing his attentions some +time, but with very little idea of ever accepting him; and had not her +sister's conduct burst forth as it did, and her increased dread of her +father and of home, on that event, imagining its certain consequence +to herself would be greater severity and restraint, made her hastily +resolve on avoiding such immediate horrors at all risks, it is probable +that Mr. Yates would never have succeeded. She had not eloped with any +worse feelings than those of selfish alarm. It had appeared to her the +only thing to be done. Maria's guilt had induced Julia's folly. + +Henry Crawford, ruined by early independence and bad domestic example, +indulged in the freaks of a cold-blooded vanity a little too long. Once +it had, by an opening undesigned and unmerited, led him into the way of +happiness. Could he have been satisfied with the conquest of one +amiable woman's affections, could he have found sufficient exultation +in overcoming the reluctance, in working himself into the esteem and +tenderness of Fanny Price, there would have been every probability of +success and felicity for him. His affection had already done something. +Her influence over him had already given him some influence over her. +Would he have deserved more, there can be no doubt that more would have +been obtained, especially when that marriage had taken place, which +would have given him the assistance of her conscience in subduing her +first inclination, and brought them very often together. Would he have +persevered, and uprightly, Fanny must have been his reward, and a reward +very voluntarily bestowed, within a reasonable period from Edmund's +marrying Mary. + +Had he done as he intended, and as he knew he ought, by going down to +Everingham after his return from Portsmouth, he might have been deciding +his own happy destiny. But he was pressed to stay for Mrs. Fraser's +party; his staying was made of flattering consequence, and he was to +meet Mrs. Rushworth there. Curiosity and vanity were both engaged, and +the temptation of immediate pleasure was too strong for a mind unused to +make any sacrifice to right: he resolved to defer his Norfolk journey, +resolved that writing should answer the purpose of it, or that its +purpose was unimportant, and staid. He saw Mrs. Rushworth, was received +by her with a coldness which ought to have been repulsive, and have +established apparent indifference between them for ever; but he was +mortified, he could not bear to be thrown off by the woman whose smiles +had been so wholly at his command: he must exert himself to subdue so +proud a display of resentment; it was anger on Fanny's account; he must +get the better of it, and make Mrs. Rushworth Maria Bertram again in her +treatment of himself. + +In this spirit he began the attack, and by animated perseverance had +soon re-established the sort of familiar intercourse, of gallantry, +of flirtation, which bounded his views; but in triumphing over the +discretion which, though beginning in anger, might have saved them both, +he had put himself in the power of feelings on her side more strong +than he had supposed. She loved him; there was no withdrawing attentions +avowedly dear to her. He was entangled by his own vanity, with as little +excuse of love as possible, and without the smallest inconstancy of mind +towards her cousin. To keep Fanny and the Bertrams from a knowledge of +what was passing became his first object. Secrecy could not have been +more desirable for Mrs. Rushworth's credit than he felt it for his own. +When he returned from Richmond, he would have been glad to see Mrs. +Rushworth no more. All that followed was the result of her imprudence; +and he went off with her at last, because he could not help it, +regretting Fanny even at the moment, but regretting her infinitely more +when all the bustle of the intrigue was over, and a very few months had +taught him, by the force of contrast, to place a yet higher value on the +sweetness of her temper, the purity of her mind, and the excellence of +her principles. + +That punishment, the public punishment of disgrace, should in a just +measure attend _his_ share of the offence is, we know, not one of the +barriers which society gives to virtue. In this world the penalty is +less equal than could be wished; but without presuming to look forward +to a juster appointment hereafter, we may fairly consider a man of +sense, like Henry Crawford, to be providing for himself no small +portion of vexation and regret: vexation that must rise sometimes +to self-reproach, and regret to wretchedness, in having so requited +hospitality, so injured family peace, so forfeited his best, most +estimable, and endeared acquaintance, and so lost the woman whom he had +rationally as well as passionately loved. + +After what had passed to wound and alienate the two families, the +continuance of the Bertrams and Grants in such close neighbourhood would +have been most distressing; but the absence of the latter, for some +months purposely lengthened, ended very fortunately in the necessity, or +at least the practicability, of a permanent removal. Dr. Grant, through +an interest on which he had almost ceased to form hopes, succeeded to +a stall in Westminster, which, as affording an occasion for leaving +Mansfield, an excuse for residence in London, and an increase of income +to answer the expenses of the change, was highly acceptable to those who +went and those who staid. + +Mrs. Grant, with a temper to love and be loved, must have gone with some +regret from the scenes and people she had been used to; but the same +happiness of disposition must in any place, and any society, secure her +a great deal to enjoy, and she had again a home to offer Mary; and Mary +had had enough of her own friends, enough of vanity, ambition, love, and +disappointment in the course of the last half-year, to be in need of the +true kindness of her sister's heart, and the rational tranquillity +of her ways. They lived together; and when Dr. Grant had brought on +apoplexy and death, by three great institutionary dinners in one week, +they still lived together; for Mary, though perfectly resolved against +ever attaching herself to a younger brother again, was long in finding +among the dashing representatives, or idle heir-apparents, who were at +the command of her beauty, and her 20,000, any one who could satisfy the +better taste she had acquired at Mansfield, whose character and manners +could authorise a hope of the domestic happiness she had there learned +to estimate, or put Edmund Bertram sufficiently out of her head. + +Edmund had greatly the advantage of her in this respect. He had not to +wait and wish with vacant affections for an object worthy to succeed her +in them. Scarcely had he done regretting Mary Crawford, and observing to +Fanny how impossible it was that he should ever meet with such another +woman, before it began to strike him whether a very different kind of +woman might not do just as well, or a great deal better: whether Fanny +herself were not growing as dear, as important to him in all her smiles +and all her ways, as Mary Crawford had ever been; and whether it might +not be a possible, an hopeful undertaking to persuade her that her warm +and sisterly regard for him would be foundation enough for wedded love. + +I purposely abstain from dates on this occasion, that every one may +be at liberty to fix their own, aware that the cure of unconquerable +passions, and the transfer of unchanging attachments, must vary much as +to time in different people. I only entreat everybody to believe that +exactly at the time when it was quite natural that it should be so, and +not a week earlier, Edmund did cease to care about Miss Crawford, and +became as anxious to marry Fanny as Fanny herself could desire. + +With such a regard for her, indeed, as his had long been, a regard +founded on the most endearing claims of innocence and helplessness, and +completed by every recommendation of growing worth, what could be more +natural than the change? Loving, guiding, protecting her, as he had been +doing ever since her being ten years old, her mind in so great a degree +formed by his care, and her comfort depending on his kindness, an +object to him of such close and peculiar interest, dearer by all his own +importance with her than any one else at Mansfield, what was there now +to add, but that he should learn to prefer soft light eyes to sparkling +dark ones. And being always with her, and always talking confidentially, +and his feelings exactly in that favourable state which a recent +disappointment gives, those soft light eyes could not be very long in +obtaining the pre-eminence. + +Having once set out, and felt that he had done so on this road to +happiness, there was nothing on the side of prudence to stop him or make +his progress slow; no doubts of her deserving, no fears of opposition of +taste, no need of drawing new hopes of happiness from dissimilarity +of temper. Her mind, disposition, opinions, and habits wanted no +half-concealment, no self-deception on the present, no reliance on +future improvement. Even in the midst of his late infatuation, he had +acknowledged Fanny's mental superiority. What must be his sense of it +now, therefore? She was of course only too good for him; but as nobody +minds having what is too good for them, he was very steadily earnest in +the pursuit of the blessing, and it was not possible that encouragement +from her should be long wanting. Timid, anxious, doubting as she was, it +was still impossible that such tenderness as hers should not, at times, +hold out the strongest hope of success, though it remained for a later +period to tell him the whole delightful and astonishing truth. His +happiness in knowing himself to have been so long the beloved of such a +heart, must have been great enough to warrant any strength of language +in which he could clothe it to her or to himself; it must have been +a delightful happiness. But there was happiness elsewhere which no +description can reach. Let no one presume to give the feelings of a +young woman on receiving the assurance of that affection of which she +has scarcely allowed herself to entertain a hope. + +Their own inclinations ascertained, there were no difficulties behind, +no drawback of poverty or parent. It was a match which Sir Thomas's +wishes had even forestalled. Sick of ambitious and mercenary connexions, +prizing more and more the sterling good of principle and temper, and +chiefly anxious to bind by the strongest securities all that remained to +him of domestic felicity, he had pondered with genuine satisfaction on +the more than possibility of the two young friends finding their natural +consolation in each other for all that had occurred of disappointment to +either; and the joyful consent which met Edmund's application, the high +sense of having realised a great acquisition in the promise of Fanny for +a daughter, formed just such a contrast with his early opinion on the +subject when the poor little girl's coming had been first agitated, as +time is for ever producing between the plans and decisions of mortals, +for their own instruction, and their neighbours' entertainment. + +Fanny was indeed the daughter that he wanted. His charitable kindness +had been rearing a prime comfort for himself. His liberality had a rich +repayment, and the general goodness of his intentions by her deserved +it. He might have made her childhood happier; but it had been an error +of judgment only which had given him the appearance of harshness, and +deprived him of her early love; and now, on really knowing each other, +their mutual attachment became very strong. After settling her at +Thornton Lacey with every kind attention to her comfort, the object of +almost every day was to see her there, or to get her away from it. + +Selfishly dear as she had long been to Lady Bertram, she could not be +parted with willingly by _her_. No happiness of son or niece could make +her wish the marriage. But it was possible to part with her, because +Susan remained to supply her place. Susan became the stationary niece, +delighted to be so; and equally well adapted for it by a readiness of +mind, and an inclination for usefulness, as Fanny had been by sweetness +of temper, and strong feelings of gratitude. Susan could never be +spared. First as a comfort to Fanny, then as an auxiliary, and last as +her substitute, she was established at Mansfield, with every appearance +of equal permanency. Her more fearless disposition and happier nerves +made everything easy to her there. With quickness in understanding +the tempers of those she had to deal with, and no natural timidity to +restrain any consequent wishes, she was soon welcome and useful to all; +and after Fanny's removal succeeded so naturally to her influence over +the hourly comfort of her aunt, as gradually to become, perhaps, the +most beloved of the two. In _her_ usefulness, in Fanny's excellence, +in William's continued good conduct and rising fame, and in the general +well-doing and success of the other members of the family, all assisting +to advance each other, and doing credit to his countenance and aid, Sir +Thomas saw repeated, and for ever repeated, reason to rejoice in what he +had done for them all, and acknowledge the advantages of early hardship +and discipline, and the consciousness of being born to struggle and +endure. + +With so much true merit and true love, and no want of fortune and +friends, the happiness of the married cousins must appear as secure as +earthly happiness can be. Equally formed for domestic life, and attached +to country pleasures, their home was the home of affection and comfort; +and to complete the picture of good, the acquisition of Mansfield +living, by the death of Dr. Grant, occurred just after they had been +married long enough to begin to want an increase of income, and feel +their distance from the paternal abode an inconvenience. + +On that event they removed to Mansfield; and the Parsonage there, +which, under each of its two former owners, Fanny had never been able +to approach but with some painful sensation of restraint or alarm, soon +grew as dear to her heart, and as thoroughly perfect in her eyes, as +everything else within the view and patronage of Mansfield Park had long +been. + + +THE END + + + + + + + + +EMMA + +By Jane Austen + + + + +VOLUME I + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home +and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of +existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very +little to distress or vex her. + +She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, +indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been +mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died +too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of +her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as +governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection. + +Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a +governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly +of Emma. Between _them_ it was more the intimacy of sisters. Even before +Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of governess, the +mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; +and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been +living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma +doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but +directed chiefly by her own. + +The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having +rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too +well of herself; these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to +her many enjoyments. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, +that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her. + +Sorrow came--a gentle sorrow--but not at all in the shape of any +disagreeable consciousness.--Miss Taylor married. It was Miss Taylor's +loss which first brought grief. It was on the wedding-day of this +beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought of any +continuance. The wedding over, and the bride-people gone, her father and +herself were left to dine together, with no prospect of a third to cheer +a long evening. Her father composed himself to sleep after dinner, as +usual, and she had then only to sit and think of what she had lost. + +The event had every promise of happiness for her friend. Mr. Weston +was a man of unexceptionable character, easy fortune, suitable age, and +pleasant manners; and there was some satisfaction in considering +with what self-denying, generous friendship she had always wished and +promoted the match; but it was a black morning's work for her. The want +of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day. She recalled her +past kindness--the kindness, the affection of sixteen years--how she had +taught and how she had played with her from five years old--how she had +devoted all her powers to attach and amuse her in health--and how +nursed her through the various illnesses of childhood. A large debt of +gratitude was owing here; but the intercourse of the last seven +years, the equal footing and perfect unreserve which had soon followed +Isabella's marriage, on their being left to each other, was yet a +dearer, tenderer recollection. She had been a friend and companion such +as few possessed: intelligent, well-informed, useful, gentle, knowing +all the ways of the family, interested in all its concerns, and +peculiarly interested in herself, in every pleasure, every scheme of +hers--one to whom she could speak every thought as it arose, and who had +such an affection for her as could never find fault. + +How was she to bear the change?--It was true that her friend was going +only half a mile from them; but Emma was aware that great must be the +difference between a Mrs. Weston, only half a mile from them, and a Miss +Taylor in the house; and with all her advantages, natural and domestic, +she was now in great danger of suffering from intellectual solitude. She +dearly loved her father, but he was no companion for her. He could not +meet her in conversation, rational or playful. + +The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had +not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits; +for having been a valetudinarian all his life, without activity of +mind or body, he was a much older man in ways than in years; and though +everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable +temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time. + +Her sister, though comparatively but little removed by matrimony, being +settled in London, only sixteen miles off, was much beyond her daily +reach; and many a long October and November evening must be struggled +through at Hartfield, before Christmas brought the next visit from +Isabella and her husband, and their little children, to fill the house, +and give her pleasant society again. + +Highbury, the large and populous village, almost amounting to a town, +to which Hartfield, in spite of its separate lawn, and shrubberies, and +name, did really belong, afforded her no equals. The Woodhouses +were first in consequence there. All looked up to them. She had many +acquaintance in the place, for her father was universally civil, but +not one among them who could be accepted in lieu of Miss Taylor for even +half a day. It was a melancholy change; and Emma could not but sigh over +it, and wish for impossible things, till her father awoke, and made it +necessary to be cheerful. His spirits required support. He was a nervous +man, easily depressed; fond of every body that he was used to, and +hating to part with them; hating change of every kind. Matrimony, as the +origin of change, was always disagreeable; and he was by no means yet +reconciled to his own daughter's marrying, nor could ever speak of her +but with compassion, though it had been entirely a match of affection, +when he was now obliged to part with Miss Taylor too; and from his +habits of gentle selfishness, and of being never able to suppose that +other people could feel differently from himself, he was very much +disposed to think Miss Taylor had done as sad a thing for herself as for +them, and would have been a great deal happier if she had spent all the +rest of her life at Hartfield. Emma smiled and chatted as cheerfully +as she could, to keep him from such thoughts; but when tea came, it was +impossible for him not to say exactly as he had said at dinner, + +"Poor Miss Taylor!--I wish she were here again. What a pity it is that +Mr. Weston ever thought of her!" + +"I cannot agree with you, papa; you know I cannot. Mr. Weston is such +a good-humoured, pleasant, excellent man, that he thoroughly deserves +a good wife;--and you would not have had Miss Taylor live with us for +ever, and bear all my odd humours, when she might have a house of her +own?" + +"A house of her own!--But where is the advantage of a house of her own? +This is three times as large.--And you have never any odd humours, my +dear." + +"How often we shall be going to see them, and they coming to see us!--We +shall be always meeting! _We_ must begin; we must go and pay wedding +visit very soon." + +"My dear, how am I to get so far? Randalls is such a distance. I could +not walk half so far." + +"No, papa, nobody thought of your walking. We must go in the carriage, +to be sure." + +"The carriage! But James will not like to put the horses to for such a +little way;--and where are the poor horses to be while we are paying our +visit?" + +"They are to be put into Mr. Weston's stable, papa. You know we have +settled all that already. We talked it all over with Mr. Weston last +night. And as for James, you may be very sure he will always like going +to Randalls, because of his daughter's being housemaid there. I only +doubt whether he will ever take us anywhere else. That was your doing, +papa. You got Hannah that good place. Nobody thought of Hannah till you +mentioned her--James is so obliged to you!" + +"I am very glad I did think of her. It was very lucky, for I would not +have had poor James think himself slighted upon any account; and I am +sure she will make a very good servant: she is a civil, pretty-spoken +girl; I have a great opinion of her. Whenever I see her, she always +curtseys and asks me how I do, in a very pretty manner; and when you +have had her here to do needlework, I observe she always turns the lock +of the door the right way and never bangs it. I am sure she will be an +excellent servant; and it will be a great comfort to poor Miss Taylor +to have somebody about her that she is used to see. Whenever James goes +over to see his daughter, you know, she will be hearing of us. He will +be able to tell her how we all are." + +Emma spared no exertions to maintain this happier flow of ideas, and +hoped, by the help of backgammon, to get her father tolerably +through the evening, and be attacked by no regrets but her own. The +backgammon-table was placed; but a visitor immediately afterwards walked +in and made it unnecessary. + +Mr. Knightley, a sensible man about seven or eight-and-thirty, was not +only a very old and intimate friend of the family, but particularly +connected with it, as the elder brother of Isabella's husband. He lived +about a mile from Highbury, was a frequent visitor, and always welcome, +and at this time more welcome than usual, as coming directly from their +mutual connexions in London. He had returned to a late dinner, after +some days' absence, and now walked up to Hartfield to say that all were +well in Brunswick Square. It was a happy circumstance, and animated +Mr. Woodhouse for some time. Mr. Knightley had a cheerful manner, which +always did him good; and his many inquiries after "poor Isabella" and +her children were answered most satisfactorily. When this was over, Mr. +Woodhouse gratefully observed, "It is very kind of you, Mr. Knightley, +to come out at this late hour to call upon us. I am afraid you must have +had a shocking walk." + +"Not at all, sir. It is a beautiful moonlight night; and so mild that I +must draw back from your great fire." + +"But you must have found it very damp and dirty. I wish you may not +catch cold." + +"Dirty, sir! Look at my shoes. Not a speck on them." + +"Well! that is quite surprising, for we have had a vast deal of rain +here. It rained dreadfully hard for half an hour while we were at +breakfast. I wanted them to put off the wedding." + +"By the bye--I have not wished you joy. Being pretty well aware of what +sort of joy you must both be feeling, I have been in no hurry with my +congratulations; but I hope it all went off tolerably well. How did you +all behave? Who cried most?" + +"Ah! poor Miss Taylor! 'Tis a sad business." + +"Poor Mr. and Miss Woodhouse, if you please; but I cannot possibly say +'poor Miss Taylor.' I have a great regard for you and Emma; but when it +comes to the question of dependence or independence!--At any rate, it +must be better to have only one to please than two." + +"Especially when _one_ of those two is such a fanciful, troublesome +creature!" said Emma playfully. "That is what you have in your head, I +know--and what you would certainly say if my father were not by." + +"I believe it is very true, my dear, indeed," said Mr. Woodhouse, with a +sigh. "I am afraid I am sometimes very fanciful and troublesome." + +"My dearest papa! You do not think I could mean _you_, or suppose Mr. +Knightley to mean _you_. What a horrible idea! Oh no! I meant only +myself. Mr. Knightley loves to find fault with me, you know--in a +joke--it is all a joke. We always say what we like to one another." + +Mr. Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults +in Emma Woodhouse, and the only one who ever told her of them: and +though this was not particularly agreeable to Emma herself, she knew +it would be so much less so to her father, that she would not have him +really suspect such a circumstance as her not being thought perfect by +every body. + +"Emma knows I never flatter her," said Mr. Knightley, "but I meant no +reflection on any body. Miss Taylor has been used to have two persons +to please; she will now have but one. The chances are that she must be a +gainer." + +"Well," said Emma, willing to let it pass--"you want to hear about +the wedding; and I shall be happy to tell you, for we all behaved +charmingly. Every body was punctual, every body in their best looks: not +a tear, and hardly a long face to be seen. Oh no; we all felt that we +were going to be only half a mile apart, and were sure of meeting every +day." + +"Dear Emma bears every thing so well," said her father. "But, Mr. +Knightley, she is really very sorry to lose poor Miss Taylor, and I am +sure she _will_ miss her more than she thinks for." + +Emma turned away her head, divided between tears and smiles. "It +is impossible that Emma should not miss such a companion," said Mr. +Knightley. "We should not like her so well as we do, sir, if we could +suppose it; but she knows how much the marriage is to Miss Taylor's +advantage; she knows how very acceptable it must be, at Miss Taylor's +time of life, to be settled in a home of her own, and how important to +her to be secure of a comfortable provision, and therefore cannot allow +herself to feel so much pain as pleasure. Every friend of Miss Taylor +must be glad to have her so happily married." + +"And you have forgotten one matter of joy to me," said Emma, "and a very +considerable one--that I made the match myself. I made the match, you +know, four years ago; and to have it take place, and be proved in the +right, when so many people said Mr. Weston would never marry again, may +comfort me for any thing." + +Mr. Knightley shook his head at her. Her father fondly replied, "Ah! +my dear, I wish you would not make matches and foretell things, for +whatever you say always comes to pass. Pray do not make any more +matches." + +"I promise you to make none for myself, papa; but I must, indeed, for +other people. It is the greatest amusement in the world! And after such +success, you know!--Every body said that Mr. Weston would never marry +again. Oh dear, no! Mr. Weston, who had been a widower so long, and who +seemed so perfectly comfortable without a wife, so constantly occupied +either in his business in town or among his friends here, always +acceptable wherever he went, always cheerful--Mr. Weston need not spend +a single evening in the year alone if he did not like it. Oh no! Mr. +Weston certainly would never marry again. Some people even talked of a +promise to his wife on her deathbed, and others of the son and the +uncle not letting him. All manner of solemn nonsense was talked on the +subject, but I believed none of it. + +"Ever since the day--about four years ago--that Miss Taylor and I met +with him in Broadway Lane, when, because it began to drizzle, he darted +away with so much gallantry, and borrowed two umbrellas for us from +Farmer Mitchell's, I made up my mind on the subject. I planned the match +from that hour; and when such success has blessed me in this instance, +dear papa, you cannot think that I shall leave off match-making." + +"I do not understand what you mean by 'success,'" said Mr. Knightley. +"Success supposes endeavour. Your time has been properly and delicately +spent, if you have been endeavouring for the last four years to bring +about this marriage. A worthy employment for a young lady's mind! But +if, which I rather imagine, your making the match, as you call it, means +only your planning it, your saying to yourself one idle day, 'I think it +would be a very good thing for Miss Taylor if Mr. Weston were to marry +her,' and saying it again to yourself every now and then afterwards, why +do you talk of success? Where is your merit? What are you proud of? You +made a lucky guess; and _that_ is all that can be said." + +"And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess?--I +pity you.--I thought you cleverer--for, depend upon it a lucky guess is +never merely luck. There is always some talent in it. And as to my +poor word 'success,' which you quarrel with, I do not know that I am so +entirely without any claim to it. You have drawn two pretty pictures; +but I think there may be a third--a something between the do-nothing and +the do-all. If I had not promoted Mr. Weston's visits here, and given +many little encouragements, and smoothed many little matters, it might +not have come to any thing after all. I think you must know Hartfield +enough to comprehend that." + +"A straightforward, open-hearted man like Weston, and a rational, +unaffected woman like Miss Taylor, may be safely left to manage their +own concerns. You are more likely to have done harm to yourself, than +good to them, by interference." + +"Emma never thinks of herself, if she can do good to others," rejoined +Mr. Woodhouse, understanding but in part. "But, my dear, pray do not +make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up one's family +circle grievously." + +"Only one more, papa; only for Mr. Elton. Poor Mr. Elton! You like Mr. +Elton, papa,--I must look about for a wife for him. There is nobody in +Highbury who deserves him--and he has been here a whole year, and has +fitted up his house so comfortably, that it would be a shame to have him +single any longer--and I thought when he was joining their hands to-day, +he looked so very much as if he would like to have the same kind office +done for him! I think very well of Mr. Elton, and this is the only way I +have of doing him a service." + +"Mr. Elton is a very pretty young man, to be sure, and a very good young +man, and I have a great regard for him. But if you want to shew him any +attention, my dear, ask him to come and dine with us some day. That will +be a much better thing. I dare say Mr. Knightley will be so kind as to +meet him." + +"With a great deal of pleasure, sir, at any time," said Mr. Knightley, +laughing, "and I agree with you entirely, that it will be a much better +thing. Invite him to dinner, Emma, and help him to the best of the fish +and the chicken, but leave him to chuse his own wife. Depend upon it, a +man of six or seven-and-twenty can take care of himself." + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Mr. Weston was a native of Highbury, and born of a respectable family, +which for the last two or three generations had been rising into +gentility and property. He had received a good education, but, on +succeeding early in life to a small independence, had become indisposed +for any of the more homely pursuits in which his brothers were engaged, +and had satisfied an active, cheerful mind and social temper by entering +into the militia of his county, then embodied. + +Captain Weston was a general favourite; and when the chances of his +military life had introduced him to Miss Churchill, of a great Yorkshire +family, and Miss Churchill fell in love with him, nobody was surprized, +except her brother and his wife, who had never seen him, and who were +full of pride and importance, which the connexion would offend. + +Miss Churchill, however, being of age, and with the full command of her +fortune--though her fortune bore no proportion to the family-estate--was +not to be dissuaded from the marriage, and it took place, to the +infinite mortification of Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, who threw her off with +due decorum. It was an unsuitable connexion, and did not produce much +happiness. Mrs. Weston ought to have found more in it, for she had a +husband whose warm heart and sweet temper made him think every thing due +to her in return for the great goodness of being in love with him; +but though she had one sort of spirit, she had not the best. She had +resolution enough to pursue her own will in spite of her brother, +but not enough to refrain from unreasonable regrets at that brother's +unreasonable anger, nor from missing the luxuries of her former home. +They lived beyond their income, but still it was nothing in comparison +of Enscombe: she did not cease to love her husband, but she wanted at +once to be the wife of Captain Weston, and Miss Churchill of Enscombe. + +Captain Weston, who had been considered, especially by the Churchills, +as making such an amazing match, was proved to have much the worst of +the bargain; for when his wife died, after a three years' marriage, he +was rather a poorer man than at first, and with a child to maintain. +From the expense of the child, however, he was soon relieved. The boy +had, with the additional softening claim of a lingering illness of his +mother's, been the means of a sort of reconciliation; and Mr. and Mrs. +Churchill, having no children of their own, nor any other young creature +of equal kindred to care for, offered to take the whole charge of the +little Frank soon after her decease. Some scruples and some reluctance +the widower-father may be supposed to have felt; but as they were +overcome by other considerations, the child was given up to the care and +the wealth of the Churchills, and he had only his own comfort to seek, +and his own situation to improve as he could. + +A complete change of life became desirable. He quitted the militia and +engaged in trade, having brothers already established in a good way in +London, which afforded him a favourable opening. It was a concern which +brought just employment enough. He had still a small house in Highbury, +where most of his leisure days were spent; and between useful occupation +and the pleasures of society, the next eighteen or twenty years of his +life passed cheerfully away. He had, by that time, realised an easy +competence--enough to secure the purchase of a little estate adjoining +Highbury, which he had always longed for--enough to marry a woman as +portionless even as Miss Taylor, and to live according to the wishes of +his own friendly and social disposition. + +It was now some time since Miss Taylor had begun to influence his +schemes; but as it was not the tyrannic influence of youth on youth, +it had not shaken his determination of never settling till he could +purchase Randalls, and the sale of Randalls was long looked forward to; +but he had gone steadily on, with these objects in view, till they were +accomplished. He had made his fortune, bought his house, and obtained +his wife; and was beginning a new period of existence, with every +probability of greater happiness than in any yet passed through. He had +never been an unhappy man; his own temper had secured him from that, +even in his first marriage; but his second must shew him how delightful +a well-judging and truly amiable woman could be, and must give him the +pleasantest proof of its being a great deal better to choose than to be +chosen, to excite gratitude than to feel it. + +He had only himself to please in his choice: his fortune was his own; +for as to Frank, it was more than being tacitly brought up as his +uncle's heir, it had become so avowed an adoption as to have him assume +the name of Churchill on coming of age. It was most unlikely, therefore, +that he should ever want his father's assistance. His father had no +apprehension of it. The aunt was a capricious woman, and governed her +husband entirely; but it was not in Mr. Weston's nature to imagine that +any caprice could be strong enough to affect one so dear, and, as he +believed, so deservedly dear. He saw his son every year in London, and +was proud of him; and his fond report of him as a very fine young man +had made Highbury feel a sort of pride in him too. He was looked on as +sufficiently belonging to the place to make his merits and prospects a +kind of common concern. + +Mr. Frank Churchill was one of the boasts of Highbury, and a lively +curiosity to see him prevailed, though the compliment was so little +returned that he had never been there in his life. His coming to visit +his father had been often talked of but never achieved. + +Now, upon his father's marriage, it was very generally proposed, as a +most proper attention, that the visit should take place. There was not a +dissentient voice on the subject, either when Mrs. Perry drank tea with +Mrs. and Miss Bates, or when Mrs. and Miss Bates returned the visit. Now +was the time for Mr. Frank Churchill to come among them; and the hope +strengthened when it was understood that he had written to his new +mother on the occasion. For a few days, every morning visit in Highbury +included some mention of the handsome letter Mrs. Weston had received. +"I suppose you have heard of the handsome letter Mr. Frank Churchill +has written to Mrs. Weston? I understand it was a very handsome letter, +indeed. Mr. Woodhouse told me of it. Mr. Woodhouse saw the letter, and +he says he never saw such a handsome letter in his life." + +It was, indeed, a highly prized letter. Mrs. Weston had, of course, +formed a very favourable idea of the young man; and such a pleasing +attention was an irresistible proof of his great good sense, and a most +welcome addition to every source and every expression of congratulation +which her marriage had already secured. She felt herself a most +fortunate woman; and she had lived long enough to know how fortunate +she might well be thought, where the only regret was for a partial +separation from friends whose friendship for her had never cooled, and +who could ill bear to part with her. + +She knew that at times she must be missed; and could not think, without +pain, of Emma's losing a single pleasure, or suffering an hour's ennui, +from the want of her companionableness: but dear Emma was of no feeble +character; she was more equal to her situation than most girls would +have been, and had sense, and energy, and spirits that might be hoped +would bear her well and happily through its little difficulties and +privations. And then there was such comfort in the very easy distance of +Randalls from Hartfield, so convenient for even solitary female walking, +and in Mr. Weston's disposition and circumstances, which would make the +approaching season no hindrance to their spending half the evenings in +the week together. + +Her situation was altogether the subject of hours of gratitude to Mrs. +Weston, and of moments only of regret; and her satisfaction--her more +than satisfaction--her cheerful enjoyment, was so just and so apparent, +that Emma, well as she knew her father, was sometimes taken by surprize +at his being still able to pity 'poor Miss Taylor,' when they left her +at Randalls in the centre of every domestic comfort, or saw her go away +in the evening attended by her pleasant husband to a carriage of her +own. But never did she go without Mr. Woodhouse's giving a gentle sigh, +and saying, "Ah, poor Miss Taylor! She would be very glad to stay." + +There was no recovering Miss Taylor--nor much likelihood of ceasing to +pity her; but a few weeks brought some alleviation to Mr. Woodhouse. +The compliments of his neighbours were over; he was no longer teased by +being wished joy of so sorrowful an event; and the wedding-cake, which +had been a great distress to him, was all eat up. His own stomach +could bear nothing rich, and he could never believe other people to be +different from himself. What was unwholesome to him he regarded as unfit +for any body; and he had, therefore, earnestly tried to dissuade them +from having any wedding-cake at all, and when that proved vain, as +earnestly tried to prevent any body's eating it. He had been at the +pains of consulting Mr. Perry, the apothecary, on the subject. Mr. Perry +was an intelligent, gentlemanlike man, whose frequent visits were one +of the comforts of Mr. Woodhouse's life; and upon being applied to, he +could not but acknowledge (though it seemed rather against the bias +of inclination) that wedding-cake might certainly disagree with +many--perhaps with most people, unless taken moderately. With such an +opinion, in confirmation of his own, Mr. Woodhouse hoped to influence +every visitor of the newly married pair; but still the cake was eaten; +and there was no rest for his benevolent nerves till it was all gone. + +There was a strange rumour in Highbury of all the little Perrys being +seen with a slice of Mrs. Weston's wedding-cake in their hands: but Mr. +Woodhouse would never believe it. + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Mr. Woodhouse was fond of society in his own way. He liked very much to +have his friends come and see him; and from various united causes, from +his long residence at Hartfield, and his good nature, from his fortune, +his house, and his daughter, he could command the visits of his +own little circle, in a great measure, as he liked. He had not much +intercourse with any families beyond that circle; his horror of late +hours, and large dinner-parties, made him unfit for any acquaintance but +such as would visit him on his own terms. Fortunately for him, Highbury, +including Randalls in the same parish, and Donwell Abbey in the parish +adjoining, the seat of Mr. Knightley, comprehended many such. Not +unfrequently, through Emma's persuasion, he had some of the chosen and +the best to dine with him: but evening parties were what he preferred; +and, unless he fancied himself at any time unequal to company, there +was scarcely an evening in the week in which Emma could not make up a +card-table for him. + +Real, long-standing regard brought the Westons and Mr. Knightley; and by +Mr. Elton, a young man living alone without liking it, the privilege +of exchanging any vacant evening of his own blank solitude for the +elegancies and society of Mr. Woodhouse's drawing-room, and the smiles +of his lovely daughter, was in no danger of being thrown away. + +After these came a second set; among the most come-at-able of whom were +Mrs. and Miss Bates, and Mrs. Goddard, three ladies almost always at +the service of an invitation from Hartfield, and who were fetched and +carried home so often, that Mr. Woodhouse thought it no hardship for +either James or the horses. Had it taken place only once a year, it +would have been a grievance. + +Mrs. Bates, the widow of a former vicar of Highbury, was a very old +lady, almost past every thing but tea and quadrille. She lived with her +single daughter in a very small way, and was considered with all the +regard and respect which a harmless old lady, under such untoward +circumstances, can excite. Her daughter enjoyed a most uncommon degree +of popularity for a woman neither young, handsome, rich, nor married. +Miss Bates stood in the very worst predicament in the world for having +much of the public favour; and she had no intellectual superiority to +make atonement to herself, or frighten those who might hate her into +outward respect. She had never boasted either beauty or cleverness. Her +youth had passed without distinction, and her middle of life was devoted +to the care of a failing mother, and the endeavour to make a small +income go as far as possible. And yet she was a happy woman, and a woman +whom no one named without good-will. It was her own universal good-will +and contented temper which worked such wonders. She loved every body, +was interested in every body's happiness, quicksighted to every body's +merits; thought herself a most fortunate creature, and surrounded with +blessings in such an excellent mother, and so many good neighbours +and friends, and a home that wanted for nothing. The simplicity and +cheerfulness of her nature, her contented and grateful spirit, were a +recommendation to every body, and a mine of felicity to herself. She was +a great talker upon little matters, which exactly suited Mr. Woodhouse, +full of trivial communications and harmless gossip. + +Mrs. Goddard was the mistress of a School--not of a seminary, or an +establishment, or any thing which professed, in long sentences of +refined nonsense, to combine liberal acquirements with elegant morality, +upon new principles and new systems--and where young ladies for enormous +pay might be screwed out of health and into vanity--but a real, +honest, old-fashioned Boarding-school, where a reasonable quantity of +accomplishments were sold at a reasonable price, and where girls might +be sent to be out of the way, and scramble themselves into a little +education, without any danger of coming back prodigies. Mrs. Goddard's +school was in high repute--and very deservedly; for Highbury was +reckoned a particularly healthy spot: she had an ample house and garden, +gave the children plenty of wholesome food, let them run about a great +deal in the summer, and in winter dressed their chilblains with her own +hands. It was no wonder that a train of twenty young couple now walked +after her to church. She was a plain, motherly kind of woman, who +had worked hard in her youth, and now thought herself entitled to the +occasional holiday of a tea-visit; and having formerly owed much to Mr. +Woodhouse's kindness, felt his particular claim on her to leave her neat +parlour, hung round with fancy-work, whenever she could, and win or lose +a few sixpences by his fireside. + +These were the ladies whom Emma found herself very frequently able to +collect; and happy was she, for her father's sake, in the power; though, +as far as she was herself concerned, it was no remedy for the absence of +Mrs. Weston. She was delighted to see her father look comfortable, and +very much pleased with herself for contriving things so well; but the +quiet prosings of three such women made her feel that every evening so +spent was indeed one of the long evenings she had fearfully anticipated. + +As she sat one morning, looking forward to exactly such a close of the +present day, a note was brought from Mrs. Goddard, requesting, in most +respectful terms, to be allowed to bring Miss Smith with her; a most +welcome request: for Miss Smith was a girl of seventeen, whom Emma knew +very well by sight, and had long felt an interest in, on account of +her beauty. A very gracious invitation was returned, and the evening no +longer dreaded by the fair mistress of the mansion. + +Harriet Smith was the natural daughter of somebody. Somebody had placed +her, several years back, at Mrs. Goddard's school, and somebody +had lately raised her from the condition of scholar to that of +parlour-boarder. This was all that was generally known of her history. +She had no visible friends but what had been acquired at Highbury, and +was now just returned from a long visit in the country to some young +ladies who had been at school there with her. + +She was a very pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be of a sort +which Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump, and fair, with a +fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great +sweetness, and, before the end of the evening, Emma was as much pleased +with her manners as her person, and quite determined to continue the +acquaintance. + +She was not struck by any thing remarkably clever in Miss Smith's +conversation, but she found her altogether very engaging--not +inconveniently shy, not unwilling to talk--and yet so far from pushing, +shewing so proper and becoming a deference, seeming so pleasantly +grateful for being admitted to Hartfield, and so artlessly impressed +by the appearance of every thing in so superior a style to what she had +been used to, that she must have good sense, and deserve encouragement. +Encouragement should be given. Those soft blue eyes, and all those +natural graces, should not be wasted on the inferior society of Highbury +and its connexions. The acquaintance she had already formed were +unworthy of her. The friends from whom she had just parted, though very +good sort of people, must be doing her harm. They were a family of the +name of Martin, whom Emma well knew by character, as renting a large +farm of Mr. Knightley, and residing in the parish of Donwell--very +creditably, she believed--she knew Mr. Knightley thought highly of +them--but they must be coarse and unpolished, and very unfit to be the +intimates of a girl who wanted only a little more knowledge and elegance +to be quite perfect. _She_ would notice her; she would improve her; she +would detach her from her bad acquaintance, and introduce her into good +society; she would form her opinions and her manners. It would be an +interesting, and certainly a very kind undertaking; highly becoming her +own situation in life, her leisure, and powers. + +She was so busy in admiring those soft blue eyes, in talking and +listening, and forming all these schemes in the in-betweens, that the +evening flew away at a very unusual rate; and the supper-table, which +always closed such parties, and for which she had been used to sit and +watch the due time, was all set out and ready, and moved forwards to the +fire, before she was aware. With an alacrity beyond the common impulse +of a spirit which yet was never indifferent to the credit of doing every +thing well and attentively, with the real good-will of a mind delighted +with its own ideas, did she then do all the honours of the meal, and +help and recommend the minced chicken and scalloped oysters, with an +urgency which she knew would be acceptable to the early hours and civil +scruples of their guests. + +Upon such occasions poor Mr. Woodhouses feelings were in sad warfare. +He loved to have the cloth laid, because it had been the fashion of his +youth, but his conviction of suppers being very unwholesome made him +rather sorry to see any thing put on it; and while his hospitality would +have welcomed his visitors to every thing, his care for their health +made him grieve that they would eat. + +Such another small basin of thin gruel as his own was all that he could, +with thorough self-approbation, recommend; though he might constrain +himself, while the ladies were comfortably clearing the nicer things, to +say: + +"Mrs. Bates, let me propose your venturing on one of these eggs. An egg +boiled very soft is not unwholesome. Serle understands boiling an egg +better than any body. I would not recommend an egg boiled by any body +else; but you need not be afraid, they are very small, you see--one of +our small eggs will not hurt you. Miss Bates, let Emma help you to a +_little_ bit of tart--a _very_ little bit. Ours are all apple-tarts. You +need not be afraid of unwholesome preserves here. I do not advise the +custard. Mrs. Goddard, what say you to _half_ a glass of wine? A +_small_ half-glass, put into a tumbler of water? I do not think it could +disagree with you." + +Emma allowed her father to talk--but supplied her visitors in a much +more satisfactory style, and on the present evening had particular +pleasure in sending them away happy. The happiness of Miss Smith was +quite equal to her intentions. Miss Woodhouse was so great a personage +in Highbury, that the prospect of the introduction had given as much +panic as pleasure; but the humble, grateful little girl went off with +highly gratified feelings, delighted with the affability with which Miss +Woodhouse had treated her all the evening, and actually shaken hands +with her at last! + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Harriet Smith's intimacy at Hartfield was soon a settled thing. Quick +and decided in her ways, Emma lost no time in inviting, encouraging, and +telling her to come very often; and as their acquaintance increased, so +did their satisfaction in each other. As a walking companion, Emma had +very early foreseen how useful she might find her. In that respect +Mrs. Weston's loss had been important. Her father never went beyond the +shrubbery, where two divisions of the ground sufficed him for his long +walk, or his short, as the year varied; and since Mrs. Weston's marriage +her exercise had been too much confined. She had ventured once alone to +Randalls, but it was not pleasant; and a Harriet Smith, therefore, +one whom she could summon at any time to a walk, would be a valuable +addition to her privileges. But in every respect, as she saw more of +her, she approved her, and was confirmed in all her kind designs. + +Harriet certainly was not clever, but she had a sweet, docile, grateful +disposition, was totally free from conceit, and only desiring to be +guided by any one she looked up to. Her early attachment to herself +was very amiable; and her inclination for good company, and power of +appreciating what was elegant and clever, shewed that there was no +want of taste, though strength of understanding must not be expected. +Altogether she was quite convinced of Harriet Smith's being exactly the +young friend she wanted--exactly the something which her home required. +Such a friend as Mrs. Weston was out of the question. Two such could +never be granted. Two such she did not want. It was quite a different +sort of thing, a sentiment distinct and independent. Mrs. Weston was the +object of a regard which had its basis in gratitude and esteem. Harriet +would be loved as one to whom she could be useful. For Mrs. Weston there +was nothing to be done; for Harriet every thing. + +Her first attempts at usefulness were in an endeavour to find out who +were the parents, but Harriet could not tell. She was ready to tell +every thing in her power, but on this subject questions were vain. Emma +was obliged to fancy what she liked--but she could never believe that in +the same situation _she_ should not have discovered the truth. Harriet +had no penetration. She had been satisfied to hear and believe just what +Mrs. Goddard chose to tell her; and looked no farther. + +Mrs. Goddard, and the teachers, and the girls and the affairs of +the school in general, formed naturally a great part of the +conversation--and but for her acquaintance with the Martins of +Abbey-Mill Farm, it must have been the whole. But the Martins occupied +her thoughts a good deal; she had spent two very happy months with them, +and now loved to talk of the pleasures of her visit, and describe +the many comforts and wonders of the place. Emma encouraged her +talkativeness--amused by such a picture of another set of beings, +and enjoying the youthful simplicity which could speak with so much +exultation of Mrs. Martin's having "_two_ parlours, two very good +parlours, indeed; one of them quite as large as Mrs. Goddard's +drawing-room; and of her having an upper maid who had lived +five-and-twenty years with her; and of their having eight cows, two of +them Alderneys, and one a little Welch cow, a very pretty little Welch +cow indeed; and of Mrs. Martin's saying as she was so fond of it, +it should be called _her_ cow; and of their having a very handsome +summer-house in their garden, where some day next year they were all to +drink tea:--a very handsome summer-house, large enough to hold a dozen +people." + +For some time she was amused, without thinking beyond the immediate +cause; but as she came to understand the family better, other feelings +arose. She had taken up a wrong idea, fancying it was a mother and +daughter, a son and son's wife, who all lived together; but when it +appeared that the Mr. Martin, who bore a part in the narrative, and was +always mentioned with approbation for his great good-nature in doing +something or other, was a single man; that there was no young Mrs. +Martin, no wife in the case; she did suspect danger to her poor little +friend from all this hospitality and kindness, and that, if she were not +taken care of, she might be required to sink herself forever. + +With this inspiriting notion, her questions increased in number and +meaning; and she particularly led Harriet to talk more of Mr. Martin, +and there was evidently no dislike to it. Harriet was very ready to +speak of the share he had had in their moonlight walks and merry evening +games; and dwelt a good deal upon his being so very good-humoured and +obliging. He had gone three miles round one day in order to bring her +some walnuts, because she had said how fond she was of them, and in +every thing else he was so very obliging. He had his shepherd's son into +the parlour one night on purpose to sing to her. She was very fond +of singing. He could sing a little himself. She believed he was very +clever, and understood every thing. He had a very fine flock, and, while +she was with them, he had been bid more for his wool than any body in +the country. She believed every body spoke well of him. His mother and +sisters were very fond of him. Mrs. Martin had told her one day (and +there was a blush as she said it,) that it was impossible for any body +to be a better son, and therefore she was sure, whenever he married, he +would make a good husband. Not that she _wanted_ him to marry. She was +in no hurry at all. + +"Well done, Mrs. Martin!" thought Emma. "You know what you are about." + +"And when she had come away, Mrs. Martin was so very kind as to send +Mrs. Goddard a beautiful goose--the finest goose Mrs. Goddard had ever +seen. Mrs. Goddard had dressed it on a Sunday, and asked all the three +teachers, Miss Nash, and Miss Prince, and Miss Richardson, to sup with +her." + +"Mr. Martin, I suppose, is not a man of information beyond the line of +his own business? He does not read?" + +"Oh yes!--that is, no--I do not know--but I believe he has read a +good deal--but not what you would think any thing of. He reads the +Agricultural Reports, and some other books that lay in one of the window +seats--but he reads all _them_ to himself. But sometimes of an evening, +before we went to cards, he would read something aloud out of the +Elegant Extracts, very entertaining. And I know he has read the Vicar of +Wakefield. He never read the Romance of the Forest, nor The Children of +the Abbey. He had never heard of such books before I mentioned them, but +he is determined to get them now as soon as ever he can." + +The next question was-- + +"What sort of looking man is Mr. Martin?" + +"Oh! not handsome--not at all handsome. I thought him very plain at +first, but I do not think him so plain now. One does not, you know, +after a time. But did you never see him? He is in Highbury every now and +then, and he is sure to ride through every week in his way to Kingston. +He has passed you very often." + +"That may be, and I may have seen him fifty times, but without having +any idea of his name. A young farmer, whether on horseback or on foot, +is the very last sort of person to raise my curiosity. The yeomanry are +precisely the order of people with whom I feel I can have nothing to do. +A degree or two lower, and a creditable appearance might interest me; +I might hope to be useful to their families in some way or other. But +a farmer can need none of my help, and is, therefore, in one sense, as +much above my notice as in every other he is below it." + +"To be sure. Oh yes! It is not likely you should ever have observed him; +but he knows you very well indeed--I mean by sight." + +"I have no doubt of his being a very respectable young man. I know, +indeed, that he is so, and, as such, wish him well. What do you imagine +his age to be?" + +"He was four-and-twenty the 8th of last June, and my birthday is the +23rd just a fortnight and a day's difference--which is very odd." + +"Only four-and-twenty. That is too young to settle. His mother is +perfectly right not to be in a hurry. They seem very comfortable as they +are, and if she were to take any pains to marry him, she would probably +repent it. Six years hence, if he could meet with a good sort of young +woman in the same rank as his own, with a little money, it might be very +desirable." + +"Six years hence! Dear Miss Woodhouse, he would be thirty years old!" + +"Well, and that is as early as most men can afford to marry, who are not +born to an independence. Mr. Martin, I imagine, has his fortune entirely +to make--cannot be at all beforehand with the world. Whatever money he +might come into when his father died, whatever his share of the family +property, it is, I dare say, all afloat, all employed in his stock, and +so forth; and though, with diligence and good luck, he may be rich in +time, it is next to impossible that he should have realised any thing +yet." + +"To be sure, so it is. But they live very comfortably. They have no +indoors man, else they do not want for any thing; and Mrs. Martin talks +of taking a boy another year." + +"I wish you may not get into a scrape, Harriet, whenever he does +marry;--I mean, as to being acquainted with his wife--for though his +sisters, from a superior education, are not to be altogether objected +to, it does not follow that he might marry any body at all fit for you +to notice. The misfortune of your birth ought to make you particularly +careful as to your associates. There can be no doubt of your being a +gentleman's daughter, and you must support your claim to that station by +every thing within your own power, or there will be plenty of people who +would take pleasure in degrading you." + +"Yes, to be sure, I suppose there are. But while I visit at Hartfield, +and you are so kind to me, Miss Woodhouse, I am not afraid of what any +body can do." + +"You understand the force of influence pretty well, Harriet; but I would +have you so firmly established in good society, as to be independent +even of Hartfield and Miss Woodhouse. I want to see you permanently +well connected, and to that end it will be advisable to have as few odd +acquaintance as may be; and, therefore, I say that if you should still +be in this country when Mr. Martin marries, I wish you may not be drawn +in by your intimacy with the sisters, to be acquainted with the wife, +who will probably be some mere farmer's daughter, without education." + +"To be sure. Yes. Not that I think Mr. Martin would ever marry any body +but what had had some education--and been very well brought up. However, +I do not mean to set up my opinion against yours--and I am sure I shall +not wish for the acquaintance of his wife. I shall always have a great +regard for the Miss Martins, especially Elizabeth, and should be very +sorry to give them up, for they are quite as well educated as me. But +if he marries a very ignorant, vulgar woman, certainly I had better not +visit her, if I can help it." + +Emma watched her through the fluctuations of this speech, and saw no +alarming symptoms of love. The young man had been the first admirer, but +she trusted there was no other hold, and that there would be no serious +difficulty, on Harriet's side, to oppose any friendly arrangement of her +own. + +They met Mr. Martin the very next day, as they were walking on the +Donwell road. He was on foot, and after looking very respectfully at +her, looked with most unfeigned satisfaction at her companion. Emma was +not sorry to have such an opportunity of survey; and walking a few +yards forward, while they talked together, soon made her quick eye +sufficiently acquainted with Mr. Robert Martin. His appearance was very +neat, and he looked like a sensible young man, but his person had no +other advantage; and when he came to be contrasted with gentlemen, +she thought he must lose all the ground he had gained in Harriet's +inclination. Harriet was not insensible of manner; she had voluntarily +noticed her father's gentleness with admiration as well as wonder. Mr. +Martin looked as if he did not know what manner was. + +They remained but a few minutes together, as Miss Woodhouse must not be +kept waiting; and Harriet then came running to her with a smiling face, +and in a flutter of spirits, which Miss Woodhouse hoped very soon to +compose. + +"Only think of our happening to meet him!--How very odd! It was quite +a chance, he said, that he had not gone round by Randalls. He did not +think we ever walked this road. He thought we walked towards Randalls +most days. He has not been able to get the Romance of the Forest yet. +He was so busy the last time he was at Kingston that he quite forgot it, +but he goes again to-morrow. So very odd we should happen to meet! Well, +Miss Woodhouse, is he like what you expected? What do you think of him? +Do you think him so very plain?" + +"He is very plain, undoubtedly--remarkably plain:--but that is nothing +compared with his entire want of gentility. I had no right to expect +much, and I did not expect much; but I had no idea that he could be so +very clownish, so totally without air. I had imagined him, I confess, a +degree or two nearer gentility." + +"To be sure," said Harriet, in a mortified voice, "he is not so genteel +as real gentlemen." + +"I think, Harriet, since your acquaintance with us, you have been +repeatedly in the company of some such very real gentlemen, that you +must yourself be struck with the difference in Mr. Martin. At Hartfield, +you have had very good specimens of well educated, well bred men. I +should be surprized if, after seeing them, you could be in company +with Mr. Martin again without perceiving him to be a very inferior +creature--and rather wondering at yourself for having ever thought him +at all agreeable before. Do not you begin to feel that now? Were not +you struck? I am sure you must have been struck by his awkward look and +abrupt manner, and the uncouthness of a voice which I heard to be wholly +unmodulated as I stood here." + +"Certainly, he is not like Mr. Knightley. He has not such a fine air and +way of walking as Mr. Knightley. I see the difference plain enough. But +Mr. Knightley is so very fine a man!" + +"Mr. Knightley's air is so remarkably good that it is not fair to +compare Mr. Martin with _him_. You might not see one in a hundred with +_gentleman_ so plainly written as in Mr. Knightley. But he is not the +only gentleman you have been lately used to. What say you to Mr. Weston +and Mr. Elton? Compare Mr. Martin with either of _them_. Compare their +manner of carrying themselves; of walking; of speaking; of being silent. +You must see the difference." + +"Oh yes!--there is a great difference. But Mr. Weston is almost an old +man. Mr. Weston must be between forty and fifty." + +"Which makes his good manners the more valuable. The older a person +grows, Harriet, the more important it is that their manners should not +be bad; the more glaring and disgusting any loudness, or coarseness, or +awkwardness becomes. What is passable in youth is detestable in later +age. Mr. Martin is now awkward and abrupt; what will he be at Mr. +Weston's time of life?" + +"There is no saying, indeed," replied Harriet rather solemnly. + +"But there may be pretty good guessing. He will be a completely gross, +vulgar farmer, totally inattentive to appearances, and thinking of +nothing but profit and loss." + +"Will he, indeed? That will be very bad." + +"How much his business engrosses him already is very plain from the +circumstance of his forgetting to inquire for the book you recommended. +He was a great deal too full of the market to think of any thing +else--which is just as it should be, for a thriving man. What has he to +do with books? And I have no doubt that he _will_ thrive, and be a very +rich man in time--and his being illiterate and coarse need not disturb +_us_." + +"I wonder he did not remember the book"--was all Harriet's answer, and +spoken with a degree of grave displeasure which Emma thought might be +safely left to itself. She, therefore, said no more for some time. Her +next beginning was, + +"In one respect, perhaps, Mr. Elton's manners are superior to Mr. +Knightley's or Mr. Weston's. They have more gentleness. They might be +more safely held up as a pattern. There is an openness, a quickness, +almost a bluntness in Mr. Weston, which every body likes in _him_, +because there is so much good-humour with it--but that would not do to +be copied. Neither would Mr. Knightley's downright, decided, commanding +sort of manner, though it suits _him_ very well; his figure, and look, +and situation in life seem to allow it; but if any young man were to set +about copying him, he would not be sufferable. On the contrary, I think +a young man might be very safely recommended to take Mr. Elton as a +model. Mr. Elton is good-humoured, cheerful, obliging, and gentle. +He seems to me to be grown particularly gentle of late. I do not know +whether he has any design of ingratiating himself with either of us, +Harriet, by additional softness, but it strikes me that his manners are +softer than they used to be. If he means any thing, it must be to please +you. Did not I tell you what he said of you the other day?" + +She then repeated some warm personal praise which she had drawn from Mr. +Elton, and now did full justice to; and Harriet blushed and smiled, and +said she had always thought Mr. Elton very agreeable. + +Mr. Elton was the very person fixed on by Emma for driving the young +farmer out of Harriet's head. She thought it would be an excellent +match; and only too palpably desirable, natural, and probable, for her +to have much merit in planning it. She feared it was what every body +else must think of and predict. It was not likely, however, that any +body should have equalled her in the date of the plan, as it had +entered her brain during the very first evening of Harriet's coming to +Hartfield. The longer she considered it, the greater was her sense +of its expediency. Mr. Elton's situation was most suitable, quite the +gentleman himself, and without low connexions; at the same time, not of +any family that could fairly object to the doubtful birth of Harriet. +He had a comfortable home for her, and Emma imagined a very sufficient +income; for though the vicarage of Highbury was not large, he was known +to have some independent property; and she thought very highly of him +as a good-humoured, well-meaning, respectable young man, without any +deficiency of useful understanding or knowledge of the world. + +She had already satisfied herself that he thought Harriet a beautiful +girl, which she trusted, with such frequent meetings at Hartfield, was +foundation enough on his side; and on Harriet's there could be little +doubt that the idea of being preferred by him would have all the usual +weight and efficacy. And he was really a very pleasing young man, a +young man whom any woman not fastidious might like. He was reckoned very +handsome; his person much admired in general, though not by her, +there being a want of elegance of feature which she could not dispense +with:--but the girl who could be gratified by a Robert Martin's riding +about the country to get walnuts for her might very well be conquered by +Mr. Elton's admiration. + + + +CHAPTER V + + +"I do not know what your opinion may be, Mrs. Weston," said Mr. +Knightley, "of this great intimacy between Emma and Harriet Smith, but I +think it a bad thing." + +"A bad thing! Do you really think it a bad thing?--why so?" + +"I think they will neither of them do the other any good." + +"You surprize me! Emma must do Harriet good: and by supplying her with a +new object of interest, Harriet may be said to do Emma good. I have been +seeing their intimacy with the greatest pleasure. How very differently +we feel!--Not think they will do each other any good! This will +certainly be the beginning of one of our quarrels about Emma, Mr. +Knightley." + +"Perhaps you think I am come on purpose to quarrel with you, knowing +Weston to be out, and that you must still fight your own battle." + +"Mr. Weston would undoubtedly support me, if he were here, for he thinks +exactly as I do on the subject. We were speaking of it only yesterday, +and agreeing how fortunate it was for Emma, that there should be such a +girl in Highbury for her to associate with. Mr. Knightley, I shall not +allow you to be a fair judge in this case. You are so much used to live +alone, that you do not know the value of a companion; and, perhaps no +man can be a good judge of the comfort a woman feels in the society of +one of her own sex, after being used to it all her life. I can imagine +your objection to Harriet Smith. She is not the superior young woman +which Emma's friend ought to be. But on the other hand, as Emma wants +to see her better informed, it will be an inducement to her to read more +herself. They will read together. She means it, I know." + +"Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. +I have seen a great many lists of her drawing-up at various times of +books that she meant to read regularly through--and very good lists +they were--very well chosen, and very neatly arranged--sometimes +alphabetically, and sometimes by some other rule. The list she drew +up when only fourteen--I remember thinking it did her judgment so much +credit, that I preserved it some time; and I dare say she may have made +out a very good list now. But I have done with expecting any course of +steady reading from Emma. She will never submit to any thing +requiring industry and patience, and a subjection of the fancy to the +understanding. Where Miss Taylor failed to stimulate, I may safely +affirm that Harriet Smith will do nothing.--You never could persuade her +to read half so much as you wished.--You know you could not." + +"I dare say," replied Mrs. Weston, smiling, "that I thought so +_then_;--but since we have parted, I can never remember Emma's omitting +to do any thing I wished." + +"There is hardly any desiring to refresh such a memory as _that_,"--said +Mr. Knightley, feelingly; and for a moment or two he had done. "But I," +he soon added, "who have had no such charm thrown over my senses, must +still see, hear, and remember. Emma is spoiled by being the cleverest +of her family. At ten years old, she had the misfortune of being able to +answer questions which puzzled her sister at seventeen. She was always +quick and assured: Isabella slow and diffident. And ever since she +was twelve, Emma has been mistress of the house and of you all. In her +mother she lost the only person able to cope with her. She inherits her +mother's talents, and must have been under subjection to her." + +"I should have been sorry, Mr. Knightley, to be dependent on _your_ +recommendation, had I quitted Mr. Woodhouse's family and wanted another +situation; I do not think you would have spoken a good word for me to +any body. I am sure you always thought me unfit for the office I held." + +"Yes," said he, smiling. "You are better placed _here_; very fit for a +wife, but not at all for a governess. But you were preparing yourself to +be an excellent wife all the time you were at Hartfield. You might +not give Emma such a complete education as your powers would seem to +promise; but you were receiving a very good education from _her_, on the +very material matrimonial point of submitting your own will, and doing +as you were bid; and if Weston had asked me to recommend him a wife, I +should certainly have named Miss Taylor." + +"Thank you. There will be very little merit in making a good wife to +such a man as Mr. Weston." + +"Why, to own the truth, I am afraid you are rather thrown away, and that +with every disposition to bear, there will be nothing to be borne. We +will not despair, however. Weston may grow cross from the wantonness of +comfort, or his son may plague him." + +"I hope not _that_.--It is not likely. No, Mr. Knightley, do not +foretell vexation from that quarter." + +"Not I, indeed. I only name possibilities. I do not pretend to Emma's +genius for foretelling and guessing. I hope, with all my heart, the +young man may be a Weston in merit, and a Churchill in fortune.--But +Harriet Smith--I have not half done about Harriet Smith. I think her the +very worst sort of companion that Emma could possibly have. She knows +nothing herself, and looks upon Emma as knowing every thing. She is a +flatterer in all her ways; and so much the worse, because undesigned. +Her ignorance is hourly flattery. How can Emma imagine she has any +thing to learn herself, while Harriet is presenting such a delightful +inferiority? And as for Harriet, I will venture to say that _she_ cannot +gain by the acquaintance. Hartfield will only put her out of conceit +with all the other places she belongs to. She will grow just refined +enough to be uncomfortable with those among whom birth and circumstances +have placed her home. I am much mistaken if Emma's doctrines give any +strength of mind, or tend at all to make a girl adapt herself rationally +to the varieties of her situation in life.--They only give a little +polish." + +"I either depend more upon Emma's good sense than you do, or am more +anxious for her present comfort; for I cannot lament the acquaintance. +How well she looked last night!" + +"Oh! you would rather talk of her person than her mind, would you? Very +well; I shall not attempt to deny Emma's being pretty." + +"Pretty! say beautiful rather. Can you imagine any thing nearer perfect +beauty than Emma altogether--face and figure?" + +"I do not know what I could imagine, but I confess that I have seldom +seen a face or figure more pleasing to me than hers. But I am a partial +old friend." + +"Such an eye!--the true hazle eye--and so brilliant! regular features, +open countenance, with a complexion! oh! what a bloom of full health, +and such a pretty height and size; such a firm and upright figure! +There is health, not merely in her bloom, but in her air, her head, her +glance. One hears sometimes of a child being 'the picture of health;' +now, Emma always gives me the idea of being the complete picture of +grown-up health. She is loveliness itself. Mr. Knightley, is not she?" + +"I have not a fault to find with her person," he replied. "I think her +all you describe. I love to look at her; and I will add this praise, +that I do not think her personally vain. Considering how very handsome +she is, she appears to be little occupied with it; her vanity lies +another way. Mrs. Weston, I am not to be talked out of my dislike of +Harriet Smith, or my dread of its doing them both harm." + +"And I, Mr. Knightley, am equally stout in my confidence of its not +doing them any harm. With all dear Emma's little faults, she is an +excellent creature. Where shall we see a better daughter, or a kinder +sister, or a truer friend? No, no; she has qualities which may be +trusted; she will never lead any one really wrong; she will make no +lasting blunder; where Emma errs once, she is in the right a hundred +times." + +"Very well; I will not plague you any more. Emma shall be an angel, and +I will keep my spleen to myself till Christmas brings John and Isabella. +John loves Emma with a reasonable and therefore not a blind affection, +and Isabella always thinks as he does; except when he is not quite +frightened enough about the children. I am sure of having their opinions +with me." + +"I know that you all love her really too well to be unjust or unkind; +but excuse me, Mr. Knightley, if I take the liberty (I consider myself, +you know, as having somewhat of the privilege of speech that Emma's +mother might have had) the liberty of hinting that I do not think any +possible good can arise from Harriet Smith's intimacy being made a +matter of much discussion among you. Pray excuse me; but supposing any +little inconvenience may be apprehended from the intimacy, it cannot be +expected that Emma, accountable to nobody but her father, who perfectly +approves the acquaintance, should put an end to it, so long as it is a +source of pleasure to herself. It has been so many years my province to +give advice, that you cannot be surprized, Mr. Knightley, at this little +remains of office." + +"Not at all," cried he; "I am much obliged to you for it. It is very +good advice, and it shall have a better fate than your advice has often +found; for it shall be attended to." + +"Mrs. John Knightley is easily alarmed, and might be made unhappy about +her sister." + +"Be satisfied," said he, "I will not raise any outcry. I will keep my +ill-humour to myself. I have a very sincere interest in Emma. Isabella +does not seem more my sister; has never excited a greater interest; +perhaps hardly so great. There is an anxiety, a curiosity in what one +feels for Emma. I wonder what will become of her!" + +"So do I," said Mrs. Weston gently, "very much." + +"She always declares she will never marry, which, of course, means just +nothing at all. But I have no idea that she has yet ever seen a man she +cared for. It would not be a bad thing for her to be very much in love +with a proper object. I should like to see Emma in love, and in some +doubt of a return; it would do her good. But there is nobody hereabouts +to attach her; and she goes so seldom from home." + +"There does, indeed, seem as little to tempt her to break her resolution +at present," said Mrs. Weston, "as can well be; and while she is so +happy at Hartfield, I cannot wish her to be forming any attachment which +would be creating such difficulties on poor Mr. Woodhouse's account. I +do not recommend matrimony at present to Emma, though I mean no slight +to the state, I assure you." + +Part of her meaning was to conceal some favourite thoughts of her own +and Mr. Weston's on the subject, as much as possible. There were wishes +at Randalls respecting Emma's destiny, but it was not desirable to +have them suspected; and the quiet transition which Mr. Knightley soon +afterwards made to "What does Weston think of the weather; shall we have +rain?" convinced her that he had nothing more to say or surmise about +Hartfield. + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Emma could not feel a doubt of having given Harriet's fancy a proper +direction and raised the gratitude of her young vanity to a very good +purpose, for she found her decidedly more sensible than before of Mr. +Elton's being a remarkably handsome man, with most agreeable manners; +and as she had no hesitation in following up the assurance of his +admiration by agreeable hints, she was soon pretty confident of creating +as much liking on Harriet's side, as there could be any occasion for. +She was quite convinced of Mr. Elton's being in the fairest way of +falling in love, if not in love already. She had no scruple with regard +to him. He talked of Harriet, and praised her so warmly, that she could +not suppose any thing wanting which a little time would not add. His +perception of the striking improvement of Harriet's manner, since her +introduction at Hartfield, was not one of the least agreeable proofs of +his growing attachment. + +"You have given Miss Smith all that she required," said he; "you have +made her graceful and easy. She was a beautiful creature when she +came to you, but, in my opinion, the attractions you have added are +infinitely superior to what she received from nature." + +"I am glad you think I have been useful to her; but Harriet only wanted +drawing out, and receiving a few, very few hints. She had all the +natural grace of sweetness of temper and artlessness in herself. I have +done very little." + +"If it were admissible to contradict a lady," said the gallant Mr. +Elton-- + +"I have perhaps given her a little more decision of character, have +taught her to think on points which had not fallen in her way before." + +"Exactly so; that is what principally strikes me. So much superadded +decision of character! Skilful has been the hand!" + +"Great has been the pleasure, I am sure. I never met with a disposition +more truly amiable." + +"I have no doubt of it." And it was spoken with a sort of sighing +animation, which had a vast deal of the lover. She was not less pleased +another day with the manner in which he seconded a sudden wish of hers, +to have Harriet's picture. + +"Did you ever have your likeness taken, Harriet?" said she: "did you +ever sit for your picture?" + +Harriet was on the point of leaving the room, and only stopt to say, +with a very interesting naivete, + +"Oh! dear, no, never." + +No sooner was she out of sight, than Emma exclaimed, + +"What an exquisite possession a good picture of her would be! I would +give any money for it. I almost long to attempt her likeness myself. +You do not know it I dare say, but two or three years ago I had a great +passion for taking likenesses, and attempted several of my friends, and +was thought to have a tolerable eye in general. But from one cause or +another, I gave it up in disgust. But really, I could almost venture, +if Harriet would sit to me. It would be such a delight to have her +picture!" + +"Let me entreat you," cried Mr. Elton; "it would indeed be a delight! +Let me entreat you, Miss Woodhouse, to exercise so charming a talent +in favour of your friend. I know what your drawings are. How could +you suppose me ignorant? Is not this room rich in specimens of your +landscapes and flowers; and has not Mrs. Weston some inimitable +figure-pieces in her drawing-room, at Randalls?" + +Yes, good man!--thought Emma--but what has all that to do with taking +likenesses? You know nothing of drawing. Don't pretend to be in raptures +about mine. Keep your raptures for Harriet's face. "Well, if you give me +such kind encouragement, Mr. Elton, I believe I shall try what I can do. +Harriet's features are very delicate, which makes a likeness difficult; +and yet there is a peculiarity in the shape of the eye and the lines +about the mouth which one ought to catch." + +"Exactly so--The shape of the eye and the lines about the mouth--I have +not a doubt of your success. Pray, pray attempt it. As you will do it, +it will indeed, to use your own words, be an exquisite possession." + +"But I am afraid, Mr. Elton, Harriet will not like to sit. She thinks +so little of her own beauty. Did not you observe her manner of answering +me? How completely it meant, 'why should my picture be drawn?'" + +"Oh! yes, I observed it, I assure you. It was not lost on me. But still +I cannot imagine she would not be persuaded." + +Harriet was soon back again, and the proposal almost immediately made; +and she had no scruples which could stand many minutes against the +earnest pressing of both the others. Emma wished to go to work directly, +and therefore produced the portfolio containing her various attempts at +portraits, for not one of them had ever been finished, that they might +decide together on the best size for Harriet. Her many beginnings were +displayed. Miniatures, half-lengths, whole-lengths, pencil, crayon, and +water-colours had been all tried in turn. She had always wanted to do +every thing, and had made more progress both in drawing and music than +many might have done with so little labour as she would ever submit to. +She played and sang;--and drew in almost every style; but steadiness +had always been wanting; and in nothing had she approached the degree of +excellence which she would have been glad to command, and ought not to +have failed of. She was not much deceived as to her own skill either +as an artist or a musician, but she was not unwilling to have others +deceived, or sorry to know her reputation for accomplishment often +higher than it deserved. + +There was merit in every drawing--in the least finished, perhaps the +most; her style was spirited; but had there been much less, or had there +been ten times more, the delight and admiration of her two companions +would have been the same. They were both in ecstasies. A likeness +pleases every body; and Miss Woodhouse's performances must be capital. + +"No great variety of faces for you," said Emma. "I had only my own +family to study from. There is my father--another of my father--but the +idea of sitting for his picture made him so nervous, that I could only +take him by stealth; neither of them very like therefore. Mrs. Weston +again, and again, and again, you see. Dear Mrs. Weston! always my +kindest friend on every occasion. She would sit whenever I asked her. +There is my sister; and really quite her own little elegant figure!--and +the face not unlike. I should have made a good likeness of her, if she +would have sat longer, but she was in such a hurry to have me draw +her four children that she would not be quiet. Then, here come all my +attempts at three of those four children;--there they are, Henry and +John and Bella, from one end of the sheet to the other, and any one of +them might do for any one of the rest. She was so eager to have them +drawn that I could not refuse; but there is no making children of three +or four years old stand still you know; nor can it be very easy to take +any likeness of them, beyond the air and complexion, unless they are +coarser featured than any of mama's children ever were. Here is my +sketch of the fourth, who was a baby. I took him as he was sleeping on +the sofa, and it is as strong a likeness of his cockade as you would +wish to see. He had nestled down his head most conveniently. That's very +like. I am rather proud of little George. The corner of the sofa is very +good. Then here is my last,"--unclosing a pretty sketch of a gentleman +in small size, whole-length--"my last and my best--my brother, Mr. John +Knightley.--This did not want much of being finished, when I put it away +in a pet, and vowed I would never take another likeness. I could not +help being provoked; for after all my pains, and when I had really made +a very good likeness of it--(Mrs. Weston and I were quite agreed in +thinking it _very_ like)--only too handsome--too flattering--but +that was a fault on the right side"--after all this, came poor dear +Isabella's cold approbation of--"Yes, it was a little like--but to be +sure it did not do him justice. We had had a great deal of trouble +in persuading him to sit at all. It was made a great favour of; and +altogether it was more than I could bear; and so I never would finish +it, to have it apologised over as an unfavourable likeness, to every +morning visitor in Brunswick Square;--and, as I said, I did then +forswear ever drawing any body again. But for Harriet's sake, or rather +for my own, and as there are no husbands and wives in the case _at_ +_present_, I will break my resolution now." + +Mr. Elton seemed very properly struck and delighted by the idea, and was +repeating, "No husbands and wives in the case at present indeed, as +you observe. Exactly so. No husbands and wives," with so interesting a +consciousness, that Emma began to consider whether she had not better +leave them together at once. But as she wanted to be drawing, the +declaration must wait a little longer. + +She had soon fixed on the size and sort of portrait. It was to be +a whole-length in water-colours, like Mr. John Knightley's, and was +destined, if she could please herself, to hold a very honourable station +over the mantelpiece. + +The sitting began; and Harriet, smiling and blushing, and afraid of not +keeping her attitude and countenance, presented a very sweet mixture of +youthful expression to the steady eyes of the artist. But there was no +doing any thing, with Mr. Elton fidgeting behind her and watching every +touch. She gave him credit for stationing himself where he might gaze +and gaze again without offence; but was really obliged to put an end to +it, and request him to place himself elsewhere. It then occurred to her +to employ him in reading. + +"If he would be so good as to read to them, it would be a kindness +indeed! It would amuse away the difficulties of her part, and lessen the +irksomeness of Miss Smith's." + +Mr. Elton was only too happy. Harriet listened, and Emma drew in peace. +She must allow him to be still frequently coming to look; any thing less +would certainly have been too little in a lover; and he was ready at the +smallest intermission of the pencil, to jump up and see the progress, +and be charmed.--There was no being displeased with such an encourager, +for his admiration made him discern a likeness almost before it +was possible. She could not respect his eye, but his love and his +complaisance were unexceptionable. + +The sitting was altogether very satisfactory; she was quite enough +pleased with the first day's sketch to wish to go on. There was no want +of likeness, she had been fortunate in the attitude, and as she meant +to throw in a little improvement to the figure, to give a little more +height, and considerably more elegance, she had great confidence of +its being in every way a pretty drawing at last, and of its filling +its destined place with credit to them both--a standing memorial of the +beauty of one, the skill of the other, and the friendship of both; +with as many other agreeable associations as Mr. Elton's very promising +attachment was likely to add. + +Harriet was to sit again the next day; and Mr. Elton, just as he ought, +entreated for the permission of attending and reading to them again. + +"By all means. We shall be most happy to consider you as one of the +party." + +The same civilities and courtesies, the same success and satisfaction, +took place on the morrow, and accompanied the whole progress of the +picture, which was rapid and happy. Every body who saw it was pleased, +but Mr. Elton was in continual raptures, and defended it through every +criticism. + +"Miss Woodhouse has given her friend the only beauty she +wanted,"--observed Mrs. Weston to him--not in the least suspecting that +she was addressing a lover.--"The expression of the eye is most correct, +but Miss Smith has not those eyebrows and eyelashes. It is the fault of +her face that she has them not." + +"Do you think so?" replied he. "I cannot agree with you. It appears +to me a most perfect resemblance in every feature. I never saw such a +likeness in my life. We must allow for the effect of shade, you know." + +"You have made her too tall, Emma," said Mr. Knightley. + +Emma knew that she had, but would not own it; and Mr. Elton warmly +added, + +"Oh no! certainly not too tall; not in the least too tall. Consider, she +is sitting down--which naturally presents a different--which in short +gives exactly the idea--and the proportions must be preserved, you know. +Proportions, fore-shortening.--Oh no! it gives one exactly the idea of +such a height as Miss Smith's. Exactly so indeed!" + +"It is very pretty," said Mr. Woodhouse. "So prettily done! Just as your +drawings always are, my dear. I do not know any body who draws so well +as you do. The only thing I do not thoroughly like is, that she seems +to be sitting out of doors, with only a little shawl over her +shoulders--and it makes one think she must catch cold." + +"But, my dear papa, it is supposed to be summer; a warm day in summer. +Look at the tree." + +"But it is never safe to sit out of doors, my dear." + +"You, sir, may say any thing," cried Mr. Elton, "but I must confess that +I regard it as a most happy thought, the placing of Miss Smith out of +doors; and the tree is touched with such inimitable spirit! Any other +situation would have been much less in character. The naivete of Miss +Smith's manners--and altogether--Oh, it is most admirable! I cannot keep +my eyes from it. I never saw such a likeness." + +The next thing wanted was to get the picture framed; and here were a few +difficulties. It must be done directly; it must be done in London; the +order must go through the hands of some intelligent person whose taste +could be depended on; and Isabella, the usual doer of all commissions, +must not be applied to, because it was December, and Mr. Woodhouse +could not bear the idea of her stirring out of her house in the fogs of +December. But no sooner was the distress known to Mr. Elton, than it +was removed. His gallantry was always on the alert. "Might he be trusted +with the commission, what infinite pleasure should he have in executing +it! he could ride to London at any time. It was impossible to say how +much he should be gratified by being employed on such an errand." + +"He was too good!--she could not endure the thought!--she would not give +him such a troublesome office for the world,"--brought on the desired +repetition of entreaties and assurances,--and a very few minutes settled +the business. + +Mr. Elton was to take the drawing to London, chuse the frame, and give +the directions; and Emma thought she could so pack it as to ensure its +safety without much incommoding him, while he seemed mostly fearful of +not being incommoded enough. + +"What a precious deposit!" said he with a tender sigh, as he received +it. + +"This man is almost too gallant to be in love," thought Emma. "I should +say so, but that I suppose there may be a hundred different ways of +being in love. He is an excellent young man, and will suit Harriet +exactly; it will be an 'Exactly so,' as he says himself; but he does +sigh and languish, and study for compliments rather more than I could +endure as a principal. I come in for a pretty good share as a second. +But it is his gratitude on Harriet's account." + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +The very day of Mr. Elton's going to London produced a fresh occasion +for Emma's services towards her friend. Harriet had been at Hartfield, +as usual, soon after breakfast; and, after a time, had gone home to +return again to dinner: she returned, and sooner than had been +talked of, and with an agitated, hurried look, announcing something +extraordinary to have happened which she was longing to tell. Half a +minute brought it all out. She had heard, as soon as she got back to +Mrs. Goddard's, that Mr. Martin had been there an hour before, and +finding she was not at home, nor particularly expected, had left a +little parcel for her from one of his sisters, and gone away; and on +opening this parcel, she had actually found, besides the two songs which +she had lent Elizabeth to copy, a letter to herself; and this letter was +from him, from Mr. Martin, and contained a direct proposal of marriage. +"Who could have thought it? She was so surprized she did not know what +to do. Yes, quite a proposal of marriage; and a very good letter, +at least she thought so. And he wrote as if he really loved her very +much--but she did not know--and so, she was come as fast as she could to +ask Miss Woodhouse what she should do.--" Emma was half-ashamed of her +friend for seeming so pleased and so doubtful. + +"Upon my word," she cried, "the young man is determined not to lose any +thing for want of asking. He will connect himself well if he can." + +"Will you read the letter?" cried Harriet. "Pray do. I'd rather you +would." + +Emma was not sorry to be pressed. She read, and was surprized. The style +of the letter was much above her expectation. There were not merely no +grammatical errors, but as a composition it would not have disgraced a +gentleman; the language, though plain, was strong and unaffected, and +the sentiments it conveyed very much to the credit of the writer. It was +short, but expressed good sense, warm attachment, liberality, propriety, +even delicacy of feeling. She paused over it, while Harriet stood +anxiously watching for her opinion, with a "Well, well," and was at last +forced to add, "Is it a good letter? or is it too short?" + +"Yes, indeed, a very good letter," replied Emma rather slowly--"so +good a letter, Harriet, that every thing considered, I think one of his +sisters must have helped him. I can hardly imagine the young man whom +I saw talking with you the other day could express himself so well, if +left quite to his own powers, and yet it is not the style of a woman; +no, certainly, it is too strong and concise; not diffuse enough for a +woman. No doubt he is a sensible man, and I suppose may have a natural +talent for--thinks strongly and clearly--and when he takes a pen in +hand, his thoughts naturally find proper words. It is so with some men. +Yes, I understand the sort of mind. Vigorous, decided, with sentiments +to a certain point, not coarse. A better written letter, Harriet +(returning it,) than I had expected." + +"Well," said the still waiting Harriet;--"well--and--and what shall I +do?" + +"What shall you do! In what respect? Do you mean with regard to this +letter?" + +"Yes." + +"But what are you in doubt of? You must answer it of course--and +speedily." + +"Yes. But what shall I say? Dear Miss Woodhouse, do advise me." + +"Oh no, no! the letter had much better be all your own. You will express +yourself very properly, I am sure. There is no danger of your not +being intelligible, which is the first thing. Your meaning must be +unequivocal; no doubts or demurs: and such expressions of gratitude +and concern for the pain you are inflicting as propriety requires, will +present themselves unbidden to _your_ mind, I am persuaded. You need +not be prompted to write with the appearance of sorrow for his +disappointment." + +"You think I ought to refuse him then," said Harriet, looking down. + +"Ought to refuse him! My dear Harriet, what do you mean? Are you in any +doubt as to that? I thought--but I beg your pardon, perhaps I have been +under a mistake. I certainly have been misunderstanding you, if you feel +in doubt as to the _purport_ of your answer. I had imagined you were +consulting me only as to the wording of it." + +Harriet was silent. With a little reserve of manner, Emma continued: + +"You mean to return a favourable answer, I collect." + +"No, I do not; that is, I do not mean--What shall I do? What would you +advise me to do? Pray, dear Miss Woodhouse, tell me what I ought to do." + +"I shall not give you any advice, Harriet. I will have nothing to do +with it. This is a point which you must settle with your feelings." + +"I had no notion that he liked me so very much," said Harriet, +contemplating the letter. For a little while Emma persevered in her +silence; but beginning to apprehend the bewitching flattery of that +letter might be too powerful, she thought it best to say, + +"I lay it down as a general rule, Harriet, that if a woman _doubts_ as +to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse +him. If she can hesitate as to 'Yes,' she ought to say 'No' directly. +It is not a state to be safely entered into with doubtful feelings, with +half a heart. I thought it my duty as a friend, and older than yourself, +to say thus much to you. But do not imagine that I want to influence +you." + +"Oh! no, I am sure you are a great deal too kind to--but if you would +just advise me what I had best do--No, no, I do not mean that--As +you say, one's mind ought to be quite made up--One should not be +hesitating--It is a very serious thing.--It will be safer to say 'No,' +perhaps.--Do you think I had better say 'No?'" + +"Not for the world," said Emma, smiling graciously, "would I advise you +either way. You must be the best judge of your own happiness. If you +prefer Mr. Martin to every other person; if you think him the most +agreeable man you have ever been in company with, why should you +hesitate? You blush, Harriet.--Does any body else occur to you at +this moment under such a definition? Harriet, Harriet, do not deceive +yourself; do not be run away with by gratitude and compassion. At this +moment whom are you thinking of?" + +The symptoms were favourable.--Instead of answering, Harriet turned away +confused, and stood thoughtfully by the fire; and though the letter was +still in her hand, it was now mechanically twisted about without regard. +Emma waited the result with impatience, but not without strong hopes. At +last, with some hesitation, Harriet said-- + +"Miss Woodhouse, as you will not give me your opinion, I must do as well +as I can by myself; and I have now quite determined, and really almost +made up my mind--to refuse Mr. Martin. Do you think I am right?" + +"Perfectly, perfectly right, my dearest Harriet; you are doing just +what you ought. While you were at all in suspense I kept my feelings to +myself, but now that you are so completely decided I have no hesitation +in approving. Dear Harriet, I give myself joy of this. It would +have grieved me to lose your acquaintance, which must have been the +consequence of your marrying Mr. Martin. While you were in the smallest +degree wavering, I said nothing about it, because I would not influence; +but it would have been the loss of a friend to me. I could not have +visited Mrs. Robert Martin, of Abbey-Mill Farm. Now I am secure of you +for ever." + +Harriet had not surmised her own danger, but the idea of it struck her +forcibly. + +"You could not have visited me!" she cried, looking aghast. "No, to be +sure you could not; but I never thought of that before. That would have +been too dreadful!--What an escape!--Dear Miss Woodhouse, I would not +give up the pleasure and honour of being intimate with you for any thing +in the world." + +"Indeed, Harriet, it would have been a severe pang to lose you; but it +must have been. You would have thrown yourself out of all good society. +I must have given you up." + +"Dear me!--How should I ever have borne it! It would have killed me +never to come to Hartfield any more!" + +"Dear affectionate creature!--_You_ banished to Abbey-Mill Farm!--_You_ +confined to the society of the illiterate and vulgar all your life! I +wonder how the young man could have the assurance to ask it. He must +have a pretty good opinion of himself." + +"I do not think he is conceited either, in general," said Harriet, her +conscience opposing such censure; "at least, he is very good natured, +and I shall always feel much obliged to him, and have a great regard +for--but that is quite a different thing from--and you know, though +he may like me, it does not follow that I should--and certainly I must +confess that since my visiting here I have seen people--and if one comes +to compare them, person and manners, there is no comparison at all, +_one_ is so very handsome and agreeable. However, I do really think Mr. +Martin a very amiable young man, and have a great opinion of him; and +his being so much attached to me--and his writing such a letter--but as +to leaving you, it is what I would not do upon any consideration." + +"Thank you, thank you, my own sweet little friend. We will not be +parted. A woman is not to marry a man merely because she is asked, or +because he is attached to her, and can write a tolerable letter." + +"Oh no;--and it is but a short letter too." + +Emma felt the bad taste of her friend, but let it pass with a "very +true; and it would be a small consolation to her, for the clownish +manner which might be offending her every hour of the day, to know that +her husband could write a good letter." + +"Oh! yes, very. Nobody cares for a letter; the thing is, to be always +happy with pleasant companions. I am quite determined to refuse him. But +how shall I do? What shall I say?" + +Emma assured her there would be no difficulty in the answer, and advised +its being written directly, which was agreed to, in the hope of her +assistance; and though Emma continued to protest against any assistance +being wanted, it was in fact given in the formation of every sentence. +The looking over his letter again, in replying to it, had such a +softening tendency, that it was particularly necessary to brace her up +with a few decisive expressions; and she was so very much concerned at +the idea of making him unhappy, and thought so much of what his mother +and sisters would think and say, and was so anxious that they should not +fancy her ungrateful, that Emma believed if the young man had come in +her way at that moment, he would have been accepted after all. + +This letter, however, was written, and sealed, and sent. The business +was finished, and Harriet safe. She was rather low all the evening, but +Emma could allow for her amiable regrets, and sometimes relieved them by +speaking of her own affection, sometimes by bringing forward the idea of +Mr. Elton. + +"I shall never be invited to Abbey-Mill again," was said in rather a +sorrowful tone. + +"Nor, if you were, could I ever bear to part with you, my Harriet. You +are a great deal too necessary at Hartfield to be spared to Abbey-Mill." + +"And I am sure I should never want to go there; for I am never happy but +at Hartfield." + +Some time afterwards it was, "I think Mrs. Goddard would be very much +surprized if she knew what had happened. I am sure Miss Nash would--for +Miss Nash thinks her own sister very well married, and it is only a +linen-draper." + +"One should be sorry to see greater pride or refinement in the teacher +of a school, Harriet. I dare say Miss Nash would envy you such an +opportunity as this of being married. Even this conquest would appear +valuable in her eyes. As to any thing superior for you, I suppose she +is quite in the dark. The attentions of a certain person can hardly be +among the tittle-tattle of Highbury yet. Hitherto I fancy you and I +are the only people to whom his looks and manners have explained +themselves." + +Harriet blushed and smiled, and said something about wondering that +people should like her so much. The idea of Mr. Elton was certainly +cheering; but still, after a time, she was tender-hearted again towards +the rejected Mr. Martin. + +"Now he has got my letter," said she softly. "I wonder what they are all +doing--whether his sisters know--if he is unhappy, they will be unhappy +too. I hope he will not mind it so very much." + +"Let us think of those among our absent friends who are more cheerfully +employed," cried Emma. "At this moment, perhaps, Mr. Elton is shewing +your picture to his mother and sisters, telling how much more beautiful +is the original, and after being asked for it five or six times, +allowing them to hear your name, your own dear name." + +"My picture!--But he has left my picture in Bond-street." + +"Has he so!--Then I know nothing of Mr. Elton. No, my dear little modest +Harriet, depend upon it the picture will not be in Bond-street till +just before he mounts his horse to-morrow. It is his companion all this +evening, his solace, his delight. It opens his designs to his family, +it introduces you among them, it diffuses through the party those +pleasantest feelings of our nature, eager curiosity and warm +prepossession. How cheerful, how animated, how suspicious, how busy +their imaginations all are!" + +Harriet smiled again, and her smiles grew stronger. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Harriet slept at Hartfield that night. For some weeks past she had been +spending more than half her time there, and gradually getting to have +a bed-room appropriated to herself; and Emma judged it best in every +respect, safest and kindest, to keep her with them as much as possible +just at present. She was obliged to go the next morning for an hour or +two to Mrs. Goddard's, but it was then to be settled that she should +return to Hartfield, to make a regular visit of some days. + +While she was gone, Mr. Knightley called, and sat some time with Mr. +Woodhouse and Emma, till Mr. Woodhouse, who had previously made up his +mind to walk out, was persuaded by his daughter not to defer it, and was +induced by the entreaties of both, though against the scruples of his +own civility, to leave Mr. Knightley for that purpose. Mr. Knightley, +who had nothing of ceremony about him, was offering by his short, +decided answers, an amusing contrast to the protracted apologies and +civil hesitations of the other. + +"Well, I believe, if you will excuse me, Mr. Knightley, if you will not +consider me as doing a very rude thing, I shall take Emma's advice and +go out for a quarter of an hour. As the sun is out, I believe I had +better take my three turns while I can. I treat you without ceremony, +Mr. Knightley. We invalids think we are privileged people." + +"My dear sir, do not make a stranger of me." + +"I leave an excellent substitute in my daughter. Emma will be happy to +entertain you. And therefore I think I will beg your excuse and take my +three turns--my winter walk." + +"You cannot do better, sir." + +"I would ask for the pleasure of your company, Mr. Knightley, but I am a +very slow walker, and my pace would be tedious to you; and, besides, you +have another long walk before you, to Donwell Abbey." + +"Thank you, sir, thank you; I am going this moment myself; and I think +the sooner _you_ go the better. I will fetch your greatcoat and open the +garden door for you." + +Mr. Woodhouse at last was off; but Mr. Knightley, instead of being +immediately off likewise, sat down again, seemingly inclined for more +chat. He began speaking of Harriet, and speaking of her with more +voluntary praise than Emma had ever heard before. + +"I cannot rate her beauty as you do," said he; "but she is a +pretty little creature, and I am inclined to think very well of her +disposition. Her character depends upon those she is with; but in good +hands she will turn out a valuable woman." + +"I am glad you think so; and the good hands, I hope, may not be +wanting." + +"Come," said he, "you are anxious for a compliment, so I will tell you +that you have improved her. You have cured her of her school-girl's +giggle; she really does you credit." + +"Thank you. I should be mortified indeed if I did not believe I had been +of some use; but it is not every body who will bestow praise where they +may. _You_ do not often overpower me with it." + +"You are expecting her again, you say, this morning?" + +"Almost every moment. She has been gone longer already than she +intended." + +"Something has happened to delay her; some visitors perhaps." + +"Highbury gossips!--Tiresome wretches!" + +"Harriet may not consider every body tiresome that you would." + +Emma knew this was too true for contradiction, and therefore said +nothing. He presently added, with a smile, + +"I do not pretend to fix on times or places, but I must tell you that +I have good reason to believe your little friend will soon hear of +something to her advantage." + +"Indeed! how so? of what sort?" + +"A very serious sort, I assure you;" still smiling. + +"Very serious! I can think of but one thing--Who is in love with her? +Who makes you their confidant?" + +Emma was more than half in hopes of Mr. Elton's having dropt a hint. +Mr. Knightley was a sort of general friend and adviser, and she knew Mr. +Elton looked up to him. + +"I have reason to think," he replied, "that Harriet Smith will soon have +an offer of marriage, and from a most unexceptionable quarter:--Robert +Martin is the man. Her visit to Abbey-Mill, this summer, seems to have +done his business. He is desperately in love and means to marry her." + +"He is very obliging," said Emma; "but is he sure that Harriet means to +marry him?" + +"Well, well, means to make her an offer then. Will that do? He came to +the Abbey two evenings ago, on purpose to consult me about it. He knows +I have a thorough regard for him and all his family, and, I believe, +considers me as one of his best friends. He came to ask me whether +I thought it would be imprudent in him to settle so early; whether +I thought her too young: in short, whether I approved his choice +altogether; having some apprehension perhaps of her being considered +(especially since _your_ making so much of her) as in a line of society +above him. I was very much pleased with all that he said. I never hear +better sense from any one than Robert Martin. He always speaks to the +purpose; open, straightforward, and very well judging. He told me every +thing; his circumstances and plans, and what they all proposed doing in +the event of his marriage. He is an excellent young man, both as son and +brother. I had no hesitation in advising him to marry. He proved to me +that he could afford it; and that being the case, I was convinced he +could not do better. I praised the fair lady too, and altogether sent +him away very happy. If he had never esteemed my opinion before, he +would have thought highly of me then; and, I dare say, left the house +thinking me the best friend and counsellor man ever had. This happened +the night before last. Now, as we may fairly suppose, he would not allow +much time to pass before he spoke to the lady, and as he does not appear +to have spoken yesterday, it is not unlikely that he should be at Mrs. +Goddard's to-day; and she may be detained by a visitor, without thinking +him at all a tiresome wretch." + +"Pray, Mr. Knightley," said Emma, who had been smiling to herself +through a great part of this speech, "how do you know that Mr. Martin +did not speak yesterday?" + +"Certainly," replied he, surprized, "I do not absolutely know it; but it +may be inferred. Was not she the whole day with you?" + +"Come," said she, "I will tell you something, in return for what +you have told me. He did speak yesterday--that is, he wrote, and was +refused." + +This was obliged to be repeated before it could be believed; and Mr. +Knightley actually looked red with surprize and displeasure, as he stood +up, in tall indignation, and said, + +"Then she is a greater simpleton than I ever believed her. What is the +foolish girl about?" + +"Oh! to be sure," cried Emma, "it is always incomprehensible to a man +that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage. A man always +imagines a woman to be ready for any body who asks her." + +"Nonsense! a man does not imagine any such thing. But what is the +meaning of this? Harriet Smith refuse Robert Martin? madness, if it is +so; but I hope you are mistaken." + +"I saw her answer!--nothing could be clearer." + +"You saw her answer!--you wrote her answer too. Emma, this is your +doing. You persuaded her to refuse him." + +"And if I did, (which, however, I am far from allowing) I should not +feel that I had done wrong. Mr. Martin is a very respectable young man, +but I cannot admit him to be Harriet's equal; and am rather surprized +indeed that he should have ventured to address her. By your account, he +does seem to have had some scruples. It is a pity that they were ever +got over." + +"Not Harriet's equal!" exclaimed Mr. Knightley loudly and warmly; and +with calmer asperity, added, a few moments afterwards, "No, he is +not her equal indeed, for he is as much her superior in sense as in +situation. Emma, your infatuation about that girl blinds you. What are +Harriet Smith's claims, either of birth, nature or education, to any +connexion higher than Robert Martin? She is the natural daughter of +nobody knows whom, with probably no settled provision at all, and +certainly no respectable relations. She is known only as parlour-boarder +at a common school. She is not a sensible girl, nor a girl of any +information. She has been taught nothing useful, and is too young and +too simple to have acquired any thing herself. At her age she can have +no experience, and with her little wit, is not very likely ever to have +any that can avail her. She is pretty, and she is good tempered, and +that is all. My only scruple in advising the match was on his account, +as being beneath his deserts, and a bad connexion for him. I felt that, +as to fortune, in all probability he might do much better; and that as +to a rational companion or useful helpmate, he could not do worse. But I +could not reason so to a man in love, and was willing to trust to there +being no harm in her, to her having that sort of disposition, which, in +good hands, like his, might be easily led aright and turn out very well. +The advantage of the match I felt to be all on her side; and had not the +smallest doubt (nor have I now) that there would be a general cry-out +upon her extreme good luck. Even _your_ satisfaction I made sure of. +It crossed my mind immediately that you would not regret your friend's +leaving Highbury, for the sake of her being settled so well. I remember +saying to myself, 'Even Emma, with all her partiality for Harriet, will +think this a good match.'" + +"I cannot help wondering at your knowing so little of Emma as to say any +such thing. What! think a farmer, (and with all his sense and all his +merit Mr. Martin is nothing more,) a good match for my intimate friend! +Not regret her leaving Highbury for the sake of marrying a man whom +I could never admit as an acquaintance of my own! I wonder you should +think it possible for me to have such feelings. I assure you mine are +very different. I must think your statement by no means fair. You are +not just to Harriet's claims. They would be estimated very differently +by others as well as myself; Mr. Martin may be the richest of the two, +but he is undoubtedly her inferior as to rank in society.--The sphere in +which she moves is much above his.--It would be a degradation." + +"A degradation to illegitimacy and ignorance, to be married to a +respectable, intelligent gentleman-farmer!" + +"As to the circumstances of her birth, though in a legal sense she may +be called Nobody, it will not hold in common sense. She is not to pay +for the offence of others, by being held below the level of those with +whom she is brought up.--There can scarcely be a doubt that her father +is a gentleman--and a gentleman of fortune.--Her allowance is +very liberal; nothing has ever been grudged for her improvement or +comfort.--That she is a gentleman's daughter, is indubitable to me; that +she associates with gentlemen's daughters, no one, I apprehend, will +deny.--She is superior to Mr. Robert Martin." + +"Whoever might be her parents," said Mr. Knightley, "whoever may have +had the charge of her, it does not appear to have been any part of +their plan to introduce her into what you would call good society. After +receiving a very indifferent education she is left in Mrs. Goddard's +hands to shift as she can;--to move, in short, in Mrs. Goddard's line, +to have Mrs. Goddard's acquaintance. Her friends evidently thought +this good enough for her; and it _was_ good enough. She desired nothing +better herself. Till you chose to turn her into a friend, her mind had +no distaste for her own set, nor any ambition beyond it. She was as +happy as possible with the Martins in the summer. She had no sense of +superiority then. If she has it now, you have given it. You have been no +friend to Harriet Smith, Emma. Robert Martin would never have proceeded +so far, if he had not felt persuaded of her not being disinclined to +him. I know him well. He has too much real feeling to address any +woman on the haphazard of selfish passion. And as to conceit, he is +the farthest from it of any man I know. Depend upon it he had +encouragement." + +It was most convenient to Emma not to make a direct reply to this +assertion; she chose rather to take up her own line of the subject +again. + +"You are a very warm friend to Mr. Martin; but, as I said before, +are unjust to Harriet. Harriet's claims to marry well are not so +contemptible as you represent them. She is not a clever girl, but she +has better sense than you are aware of, and does not deserve to have her +understanding spoken of so slightingly. Waiving that point, however, and +supposing her to be, as you describe her, only pretty and good-natured, +let me tell you, that in the degree she possesses them, they are not +trivial recommendations to the world in general, for she is, in fact, a +beautiful girl, and must be thought so by ninety-nine people out of an +hundred; and till it appears that men are much more philosophic on the +subject of beauty than they are generally supposed; till they do fall +in love with well-informed minds instead of handsome faces, a girl, with +such loveliness as Harriet, has a certainty of being admired and sought +after, of having the power of chusing from among many, consequently a +claim to be nice. Her good-nature, too, is not so very slight a claim, +comprehending, as it does, real, thorough sweetness of temper and +manner, a very humble opinion of herself, and a great readiness to +be pleased with other people. I am very much mistaken if your sex in +general would not think such beauty, and such temper, the highest claims +a woman could possess." + +"Upon my word, Emma, to hear you abusing the reason you have, is almost +enough to make me think so too. Better be without sense, than misapply +it as you do." + +"To be sure!" cried she playfully. "I know _that_ is the feeling of +you all. I know that such a girl as Harriet is exactly what every +man delights in--what at once bewitches his senses and satisfies his +judgment. Oh! Harriet may pick and chuse. Were you, yourself, ever to +marry, she is the very woman for you. And is she, at seventeen, just +entering into life, just beginning to be known, to be wondered at +because she does not accept the first offer she receives? No--pray let +her have time to look about her." + +"I have always thought it a very foolish intimacy," said Mr. Knightley +presently, "though I have kept my thoughts to myself; but I now perceive +that it will be a very unfortunate one for Harriet. You will puff her up +with such ideas of her own beauty, and of what she has a claim to, that, +in a little while, nobody within her reach will be good enough for her. +Vanity working on a weak head, produces every sort of mischief. Nothing +so easy as for a young lady to raise her expectations too high. Miss +Harriet Smith may not find offers of marriage flow in so fast, though +she is a very pretty girl. Men of sense, whatever you may chuse to +say, do not want silly wives. Men of family would not be very fond of +connecting themselves with a girl of such obscurity--and most prudent +men would be afraid of the inconvenience and disgrace they might be +involved in, when the mystery of her parentage came to be revealed. Let +her marry Robert Martin, and she is safe, respectable, and happy for +ever; but if you encourage her to expect to marry greatly, and teach her +to be satisfied with nothing less than a man of consequence and large +fortune, she may be a parlour-boarder at Mrs. Goddard's all the rest +of her life--or, at least, (for Harriet Smith is a girl who will marry +somebody or other,) till she grow desperate, and is glad to catch at the +old writing-master's son." + +"We think so very differently on this point, Mr. Knightley, that there +can be no use in canvassing it. We shall only be making each other more +angry. But as to my _letting_ her marry Robert Martin, it is impossible; +she has refused him, and so decidedly, I think, as must prevent any +second application. She must abide by the evil of having refused him, +whatever it may be; and as to the refusal itself, I will not pretend to +say that I might not influence her a little; but I assure you there +was very little for me or for any body to do. His appearance is so much +against him, and his manner so bad, that if she ever were disposed to +favour him, she is not now. I can imagine, that before she had seen +any body superior, she might tolerate him. He was the brother of her +friends, and he took pains to please her; and altogether, having seen +nobody better (that must have been his great assistant) she might not, +while she was at Abbey-Mill, find him disagreeable. But the case +is altered now. She knows now what gentlemen are; and nothing but a +gentleman in education and manner has any chance with Harriet." + +"Nonsense, errant nonsense, as ever was talked!" cried Mr. +Knightley.--"Robert Martin's manners have sense, sincerity, and +good-humour to recommend them; and his mind has more true gentility than +Harriet Smith could understand." + +Emma made no answer, and tried to look cheerfully unconcerned, but was +really feeling uncomfortable and wanting him very much to be gone. She +did not repent what she had done; she still thought herself a better +judge of such a point of female right and refinement than he could be; +but yet she had a sort of habitual respect for his judgment in general, +which made her dislike having it so loudly against her; and to have him +sitting just opposite to her in angry state, was very disagreeable. +Some minutes passed in this unpleasant silence, with only one attempt +on Emma's side to talk of the weather, but he made no answer. He was +thinking. The result of his thoughts appeared at last in these words. + +"Robert Martin has no great loss--if he can but think so; and I hope it +will not be long before he does. Your views for Harriet are best known +to yourself; but as you make no secret of your love of match-making, it +is fair to suppose that views, and plans, and projects you have;--and as +a friend I shall just hint to you that if Elton is the man, I think it +will be all labour in vain." + +Emma laughed and disclaimed. He continued, + +"Depend upon it, Elton will not do. Elton is a very good sort of man, +and a very respectable vicar of Highbury, but not at all likely to make +an imprudent match. He knows the value of a good income as well as any +body. Elton may talk sentimentally, but he will act rationally. He is +as well acquainted with his own claims, as you can be with Harriet's. +He knows that he is a very handsome young man, and a great favourite +wherever he goes; and from his general way of talking in unreserved +moments, when there are only men present, I am convinced that he does +not mean to throw himself away. I have heard him speak with great +animation of a large family of young ladies that his sisters are +intimate with, who have all twenty thousand pounds apiece." + +"I am very much obliged to you," said Emma, laughing again. "If I had +set my heart on Mr. Elton's marrying Harriet, it would have been very +kind to open my eyes; but at present I only want to keep Harriet to +myself. I have done with match-making indeed. I could never hope to +equal my own doings at Randalls. I shall leave off while I am well." + +"Good morning to you,"--said he, rising and walking off abruptly. He was +very much vexed. He felt the disappointment of the young man, and was +mortified to have been the means of promoting it, by the sanction he had +given; and the part which he was persuaded Emma had taken in the affair, +was provoking him exceedingly. + +Emma remained in a state of vexation too; but there was more +indistinctness in the causes of her's, than in his. She did not always +feel so absolutely satisfied with herself, so entirely convinced that +her opinions were right and her adversary's wrong, as Mr. Knightley. He +walked off in more complete self-approbation than he left for her. She +was not so materially cast down, however, but that a little time and +the return of Harriet were very adequate restoratives. Harriet's staying +away so long was beginning to make her uneasy. The possibility of the +young man's coming to Mrs. Goddard's that morning, and meeting with +Harriet and pleading his own cause, gave alarming ideas. The dread +of such a failure after all became the prominent uneasiness; and when +Harriet appeared, and in very good spirits, and without having any +such reason to give for her long absence, she felt a satisfaction which +settled her with her own mind, and convinced her, that let Mr. +Knightley think or say what he would, she had done nothing which woman's +friendship and woman's feelings would not justify. + +He had frightened her a little about Mr. Elton; but when she considered +that Mr. Knightley could not have observed him as she had done, neither +with the interest, nor (she must be allowed to tell herself, in spite of +Mr. Knightley's pretensions) with the skill of such an observer on such +a question as herself, that he had spoken it hastily and in anger, she +was able to believe, that he had rather said what he wished resentfully +to be true, than what he knew any thing about. He certainly might have +heard Mr. Elton speak with more unreserve than she had ever done, and +Mr. Elton might not be of an imprudent, inconsiderate disposition as to +money matters; he might naturally be rather attentive than otherwise +to them; but then, Mr. Knightley did not make due allowance for the +influence of a strong passion at war with all interested motives. Mr. +Knightley saw no such passion, and of course thought nothing of its +effects; but she saw too much of it to feel a doubt of its overcoming +any hesitations that a reasonable prudence might originally suggest; and +more than a reasonable, becoming degree of prudence, she was very sure +did not belong to Mr. Elton. + +Harriet's cheerful look and manner established hers: she came back, not +to think of Mr. Martin, but to talk of Mr. Elton. Miss Nash had been +telling her something, which she repeated immediately with great +delight. Mr. Perry had been to Mrs. Goddard's to attend a sick child, +and Miss Nash had seen him, and he had told Miss Nash, that as he was +coming back yesterday from Clayton Park, he had met Mr. Elton, and +found to his great surprize, that Mr. Elton was actually on his road +to London, and not meaning to return till the morrow, though it was the +whist-club night, which he had been never known to miss before; and Mr. +Perry had remonstrated with him about it, and told him how shabby it +was in him, their best player, to absent himself, and tried very much to +persuade him to put off his journey only one day; but it would not +do; Mr. Elton had been determined to go on, and had said in a _very_ +_particular_ way indeed, that he was going on business which he would +not put off for any inducement in the world; and something about a +very enviable commission, and being the bearer of something exceedingly +precious. Mr. Perry could not quite understand him, but he was very sure +there must be a _lady_ in the case, and he told him so; and Mr. Elton +only looked very conscious and smiling, and rode off in great spirits. +Miss Nash had told her all this, and had talked a great deal more about +Mr. Elton; and said, looking so very significantly at her, "that she did +not pretend to understand what his business might be, but she only +knew that any woman whom Mr. Elton could prefer, she should think the +luckiest woman in the world; for, beyond a doubt, Mr. Elton had not his +equal for beauty or agreeableness." + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Mr. Knightley might quarrel with her, but Emma could not quarrel with +herself. He was so much displeased, that it was longer than usual before +he came to Hartfield again; and when they did meet, his grave looks +shewed that she was not forgiven. She was sorry, but could not repent. +On the contrary, her plans and proceedings were more and more justified +and endeared to her by the general appearances of the next few days. + +The Picture, elegantly framed, came safely to hand soon after Mr. +Elton's return, and being hung over the mantelpiece of the common +sitting-room, he got up to look at it, and sighed out his half sentences +of admiration just as he ought; and as for Harriet's feelings, they were +visibly forming themselves into as strong and steady an attachment as +her youth and sort of mind admitted. Emma was soon perfectly satisfied +of Mr. Martin's being no otherwise remembered, than as he furnished a +contrast with Mr. Elton, of the utmost advantage to the latter. + +Her views of improving her little friend's mind, by a great deal of +useful reading and conversation, had never yet led to more than a few +first chapters, and the intention of going on to-morrow. It was much +easier to chat than to study; much pleasanter to let her imagination +range and work at Harriet's fortune, than to be labouring to enlarge +her comprehension or exercise it on sober facts; and the only literary +pursuit which engaged Harriet at present, the only mental provision she +was making for the evening of life, was the collecting and transcribing +all the riddles of every sort that she could meet with, into a thin +quarto of hot-pressed paper, made up by her friend, and ornamented with +ciphers and trophies. + +In this age of literature, such collections on a very grand scale are +not uncommon. Miss Nash, head-teacher at Mrs. Goddard's, had written out +at least three hundred; and Harriet, who had taken the first hint of it +from her, hoped, with Miss Woodhouse's help, to get a great many more. +Emma assisted with her invention, memory and taste; and as Harriet wrote +a very pretty hand, it was likely to be an arrangement of the first +order, in form as well as quantity. + +Mr. Woodhouse was almost as much interested in the business as the +girls, and tried very often to recollect something worth their putting +in. "So many clever riddles as there used to be when he was young--he +wondered he could not remember them! but he hoped he should in time." +And it always ended in "Kitty, a fair but frozen maid." + +His good friend Perry, too, whom he had spoken to on the subject, +did not at present recollect any thing of the riddle kind; but he +had desired Perry to be upon the watch, and as he went about so much, +something, he thought, might come from that quarter. + +It was by no means his daughter's wish that the intellects of Highbury +in general should be put under requisition. Mr. Elton was the only one +whose assistance she asked. He was invited to contribute any really good +enigmas, charades, or conundrums that he might recollect; and she had +the pleasure of seeing him most intently at work with his recollections; +and at the same time, as she could perceive, most earnestly careful that +nothing ungallant, nothing that did not breathe a compliment to the +sex should pass his lips. They owed to him their two or three politest +puzzles; and the joy and exultation with which at last he recalled, and +rather sentimentally recited, that well-known charade, + + My first doth affliction denote, + Which my second is destin'd to feel + And my whole is the best antidote + That affliction to soften and heal.-- + +made her quite sorry to acknowledge that they had transcribed it some +pages ago already. + +"Why will not you write one yourself for us, Mr. Elton?" said she; "that +is the only security for its freshness; and nothing could be easier to +you." + +"Oh no! he had never written, hardly ever, any thing of the kind in his +life. The stupidest fellow! He was afraid not even Miss Woodhouse"--he +stopt a moment--"or Miss Smith could inspire him." + +The very next day however produced some proof of inspiration. He +called for a few moments, just to leave a piece of paper on the table +containing, as he said, a charade, which a friend of his had addressed +to a young lady, the object of his admiration, but which, from his +manner, Emma was immediately convinced must be his own. + +"I do not offer it for Miss Smith's collection," said he. "Being my +friend's, I have no right to expose it in any degree to the public eye, +but perhaps you may not dislike looking at it." + +The speech was more to Emma than to Harriet, which Emma could +understand. There was deep consciousness about him, and he found +it easier to meet her eye than her friend's. He was gone the next +moment:--after another moment's pause, + +"Take it," said Emma, smiling, and pushing the paper towards +Harriet--"it is for you. Take your own." + +But Harriet was in a tremor, and could not touch it; and Emma, never +loth to be first, was obliged to examine it herself. + + To Miss-- + + CHARADE. + + My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings, + Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease. + Another view of man, my second brings, + Behold him there, the monarch of the seas! + + But ah! united, what reverse we have! + Man's boasted power and freedom, all are flown; + Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave, + And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone. + + Thy ready wit the word will soon supply, + May its approval beam in that soft eye! + +She cast her eye over it, pondered, caught the meaning, read it through +again to be quite certain, and quite mistress of the lines, and then +passing it to Harriet, sat happily smiling, and saying to herself, while +Harriet was puzzling over the paper in all the confusion of hope and +dulness, "Very well, Mr. Elton, very well indeed. I have read worse +charades. _Courtship_--a very good hint. I give you credit for it. This +is feeling your way. This is saying very plainly--'Pray, Miss Smith, +give me leave to pay my addresses to you. Approve my charade and my +intentions in the same glance.' + + May its approval beam in that soft eye! + +Harriet exactly. Soft is the very word for her eye--of all epithets, the +justest that could be given. + + Thy ready wit the word will soon supply. + +Humph--Harriet's ready wit! All the better. A man must be very much in +love, indeed, to describe her so. Ah! Mr. Knightley, I wish you had the +benefit of this; I think this would convince you. For once in your life +you would be obliged to own yourself mistaken. An excellent charade +indeed! and very much to the purpose. Things must come to a crisis soon +now." + +She was obliged to break off from these very pleasant observations, +which were otherwise of a sort to run into great length, by the +eagerness of Harriet's wondering questions. + +"What can it be, Miss Woodhouse?--what can it be? I have not an idea--I +cannot guess it in the least. What can it possibly be? Do try to find +it out, Miss Woodhouse. Do help me. I never saw any thing so hard. Is it +kingdom? I wonder who the friend was--and who could be the young lady. +Do you think it is a good one? Can it be woman? + + And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone. + +Can it be Neptune? + + Behold him there, the monarch of the seas! + +Or a trident? or a mermaid? or a shark? Oh, no! shark is only one +syllable. It must be very clever, or he would not have brought it. Oh! +Miss Woodhouse, do you think we shall ever find it out?" + +"Mermaids and sharks! Nonsense! My dear Harriet, what are you thinking +of? Where would be the use of his bringing us a charade made by a friend +upon a mermaid or a shark? Give me the paper and listen. + +For Miss ------, read Miss Smith. + + My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings, + Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease. + +That is _court_. + + Another view of man, my second brings; + Behold him there, the monarch of the seas! + +That is _ship_;--plain as it can be.--Now for the cream. + + But ah! united, (_courtship_, you know,) what reverse we have! + Man's boasted power and freedom, all are flown. + Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave, + And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone. + +A very proper compliment!--and then follows the application, which +I think, my dear Harriet, you cannot find much difficulty in +comprehending. Read it in comfort to yourself. There can be no doubt of +its being written for you and to you." + +Harriet could not long resist so delightful a persuasion. She read +the concluding lines, and was all flutter and happiness. She could not +speak. But she was not wanted to speak. It was enough for her to feel. +Emma spoke for her. + +"There is so pointed, and so particular a meaning in this compliment," +said she, "that I cannot have a doubt as to Mr. Elton's intentions. You +are his object--and you will soon receive the completest proof of it. I +thought it must be so. I thought I could not be so deceived; but now, it +is clear; the state of his mind is as clear and decided, as my wishes on +the subject have been ever since I knew you. Yes, Harriet, just so long +have I been wanting the very circumstance to happen what has happened. +I could never tell whether an attachment between you and Mr. Elton were +most desirable or most natural. Its probability and its eligibility have +really so equalled each other! I am very happy. I congratulate you, my +dear Harriet, with all my heart. This is an attachment which a woman may +well feel pride in creating. This is a connexion which offers nothing +but good. It will give you every thing that you want--consideration, +independence, a proper home--it will fix you in the centre of all your +real friends, close to Hartfield and to me, and confirm our intimacy +for ever. This, Harriet, is an alliance which can never raise a blush in +either of us." + +"Dear Miss Woodhouse!"--and "Dear Miss Woodhouse," was all that Harriet, +with many tender embraces could articulate at first; but when they did +arrive at something more like conversation, it was sufficiently clear to +her friend that she saw, felt, anticipated, and remembered just as she +ought. Mr. Elton's superiority had very ample acknowledgment. + +"Whatever you say is always right," cried Harriet, "and therefore I +suppose, and believe, and hope it must be so; but otherwise I could not +have imagined it. It is so much beyond any thing I deserve. Mr. Elton, +who might marry any body! There cannot be two opinions about _him_. He +is so very superior. Only think of those sweet verses--'To Miss ------.' +Dear me, how clever!--Could it really be meant for me?" + +"I cannot make a question, or listen to a question about that. It is a +certainty. Receive it on my judgment. It is a sort of prologue to +the play, a motto to the chapter; and will be soon followed by +matter-of-fact prose." + +"It is a sort of thing which nobody could have expected. I am sure, +a month ago, I had no more idea myself!--The strangest things do take +place!" + +"When Miss Smiths and Mr. Eltons get acquainted--they do indeed--and +really it is strange; it is out of the common course that what is so +evidently, so palpably desirable--what courts the pre-arrangement of +other people, should so immediately shape itself into the proper form. +You and Mr. Elton are by situation called together; you belong to one +another by every circumstance of your respective homes. Your marrying +will be equal to the match at Randalls. There does seem to be a +something in the air of Hartfield which gives love exactly the right +direction, and sends it into the very channel where it ought to flow. + + The course of true love never did run smooth-- + +A Hartfield edition of Shakespeare would have a long note on that +passage." + +"That Mr. Elton should really be in love with me,--me, of all people, +who did not know him, to speak to him, at Michaelmas! And he, the very +handsomest man that ever was, and a man that every body looks up to, +quite like Mr. Knightley! His company so sought after, that every body +says he need not eat a single meal by himself if he does not chuse it; +that he has more invitations than there are days in the week. And so +excellent in the Church! Miss Nash has put down all the texts he has +ever preached from since he came to Highbury. Dear me! When I look back +to the first time I saw him! How little did I think!--The two Abbots and +I ran into the front room and peeped through the blind when we heard he +was going by, and Miss Nash came and scolded us away, and staid to look +through herself; however, she called me back presently, and let me +look too, which was very good-natured. And how beautiful we thought he +looked! He was arm-in-arm with Mr. Cole." + +"This is an alliance which, whoever--whatever your friends may be, must +be agreeable to them, provided at least they have common sense; and we +are not to be addressing our conduct to fools. If they are anxious to +see you _happily_ married, here is a man whose amiable character gives +every assurance of it;--if they wish to have you settled in the same +country and circle which they have chosen to place you in, here it will +be accomplished; and if their only object is that you should, in the +common phrase, be _well_ married, here is the comfortable fortune, the +respectable establishment, the rise in the world which must satisfy +them." + +"Yes, very true. How nicely you talk; I love to hear you. You understand +every thing. You and Mr. Elton are one as clever as the other. This +charade!--If I had studied a twelvemonth, I could never have made any +thing like it." + +"I thought he meant to try his skill, by his manner of declining it +yesterday." + +"I do think it is, without exception, the best charade I ever read." + +"I never read one more to the purpose, certainly." + +"It is as long again as almost all we have had before." + +"I do not consider its length as particularly in its favour. Such things +in general cannot be too short." + +Harriet was too intent on the lines to hear. The most satisfactory +comparisons were rising in her mind. + +"It is one thing," said she, presently--her cheeks in a glow--"to have +very good sense in a common way, like every body else, and if there is +any thing to say, to sit down and write a letter, and say just what you +must, in a short way; and another, to write verses and charades like +this." + +Emma could not have desired a more spirited rejection of Mr. Martin's +prose. + +"Such sweet lines!" continued Harriet--"these two last!--But how shall I +ever be able to return the paper, or say I have found it out?--Oh! Miss +Woodhouse, what can we do about that?" + +"Leave it to me. You do nothing. He will be here this evening, I dare +say, and then I will give it him back, and some nonsense or other will +pass between us, and you shall not be committed.--Your soft eyes shall +chuse their own time for beaming. Trust to me." + +"Oh! Miss Woodhouse, what a pity that I must not write this beautiful +charade into my book! I am sure I have not got one half so good." + +"Leave out the two last lines, and there is no reason why you should not +write it into your book." + +"Oh! but those two lines are"-- + +--"The best of all. Granted;--for private enjoyment; and for private +enjoyment keep them. They are not at all the less written you know, +because you divide them. The couplet does not cease to be, nor does its +meaning change. But take it away, and all _appropriation_ ceases, and a +very pretty gallant charade remains, fit for any collection. Depend upon +it, he would not like to have his charade slighted, much better than his +passion. A poet in love must be encouraged in both capacities, or +neither. Give me the book, I will write it down, and then there can be +no possible reflection on you." + +Harriet submitted, though her mind could hardly separate the parts, +so as to feel quite sure that her friend were not writing down a +declaration of love. It seemed too precious an offering for any degree +of publicity. + +"I shall never let that book go out of my own hands," said she. + +"Very well," replied Emma; "a most natural feeling; and the longer it +lasts, the better I shall be pleased. But here is my father coming: you +will not object to my reading the charade to him. It will be giving him +so much pleasure! He loves any thing of the sort, and especially any +thing that pays woman a compliment. He has the tenderest spirit of +gallantry towards us all!--You must let me read it to him." + +Harriet looked grave. + +"My dear Harriet, you must not refine too much upon this charade.--You +will betray your feelings improperly, if you are too conscious and too +quick, and appear to affix more meaning, or even quite all the meaning +which may be affixed to it. Do not be overpowered by such a little +tribute of admiration. If he had been anxious for secrecy, he would not +have left the paper while I was by; but he rather pushed it towards me +than towards you. Do not let us be too solemn on the business. He has +encouragement enough to proceed, without our sighing out our souls over +this charade." + +"Oh! no--I hope I shall not be ridiculous about it. Do as you please." + +Mr. Woodhouse came in, and very soon led to the subject again, by the +recurrence of his very frequent inquiry of "Well, my dears, how does +your book go on?--Have you got any thing fresh?" + +"Yes, papa; we have something to read you, something quite fresh. A +piece of paper was found on the table this morning--(dropt, we suppose, +by a fairy)--containing a very pretty charade, and we have just copied +it in." + +She read it to him, just as he liked to have any thing read, slowly and +distinctly, and two or three times over, with explanations of every +part as she proceeded--and he was very much pleased, and, as she had +foreseen, especially struck with the complimentary conclusion. + +"Aye, that's very just, indeed, that's very properly said. Very true. +'Woman, lovely woman.' It is such a pretty charade, my dear, that I +can easily guess what fairy brought it.--Nobody could have written so +prettily, but you, Emma." + +Emma only nodded, and smiled.--After a little thinking, and a very +tender sigh, he added, + +"Ah! it is no difficulty to see who you take after! Your dear mother +was so clever at all those things! If I had but her memory! But I can +remember nothing;--not even that particular riddle which you have +heard me mention; I can only recollect the first stanza; and there are +several. + + Kitty, a fair but frozen maid, + Kindled a flame I yet deplore, + The hood-wink'd boy I called to aid, + Though of his near approach afraid, + So fatal to my suit before. + +And that is all that I can recollect of it--but it is very clever all +the way through. But I think, my dear, you said you had got it." + +"Yes, papa, it is written out in our second page. We copied it from the +Elegant Extracts. It was Garrick's, you know." + +"Aye, very true.--I wish I could recollect more of it. + + Kitty, a fair but frozen maid. + +The name makes me think of poor Isabella; for she was very near being +christened Catherine after her grandmama. I hope we shall have her here +next week. Have you thought, my dear, where you shall put her--and what +room there will be for the children?" + +"Oh! yes--she will have her own room, of course; the room she always +has;--and there is the nursery for the children,--just as usual, you +know. Why should there be any change?" + +"I do not know, my dear--but it is so long since she was here!--not +since last Easter, and then only for a few days.--Mr. John Knightley's +being a lawyer is very inconvenient.--Poor Isabella!--she is sadly taken +away from us all!--and how sorry she will be when she comes, not to see +Miss Taylor here!" + +"She will not be surprized, papa, at least." + +"I do not know, my dear. I am sure I was very much surprized when I +first heard she was going to be married." + +"We must ask Mr. and Mrs. Weston to dine with us, while Isabella is +here." + +"Yes, my dear, if there is time.--But--(in a very depressed tone)--she +is coming for only one week. There will not be time for any thing." + +"It is unfortunate that they cannot stay longer--but it seems a case of +necessity. Mr. John Knightley must be in town again on the 28th, and we +ought to be thankful, papa, that we are to have the whole of the time +they can give to the country, that two or three days are not to be taken +out for the Abbey. Mr. Knightley promises to give up his claim this +Christmas--though you know it is longer since they were with him, than +with us." + +"It would be very hard, indeed, my dear, if poor Isabella were to be +anywhere but at Hartfield." + +Mr. Woodhouse could never allow for Mr. Knightley's claims on his +brother, or any body's claims on Isabella, except his own. He sat musing +a little while, and then said, + +"But I do not see why poor Isabella should be obliged to go back so +soon, though he does. I think, Emma, I shall try and persuade her to +stay longer with us. She and the children might stay very well." + +"Ah! papa--that is what you never have been able to accomplish, and I +do not think you ever will. Isabella cannot bear to stay behind her +husband." + +This was too true for contradiction. Unwelcome as it was, Mr. Woodhouse +could only give a submissive sigh; and as Emma saw his spirits affected +by the idea of his daughter's attachment to her husband, she immediately +led to such a branch of the subject as must raise them. + +"Harriet must give us as much of her company as she can while my brother +and sister are here. I am sure she will be pleased with the children. +We are very proud of the children, are not we, papa? I wonder which she +will think the handsomest, Henry or John?" + +"Aye, I wonder which she will. Poor little dears, how glad they will be +to come. They are very fond of being at Hartfield, Harriet." + +"I dare say they are, sir. I am sure I do not know who is not." + +"Henry is a fine boy, but John is very like his mama. Henry is the +eldest, he was named after me, not after his father. John, the second, +is named after his father. Some people are surprized, I believe, that +the eldest was not, but Isabella would have him called Henry, which I +thought very pretty of her. And he is a very clever boy, indeed. They +are all remarkably clever; and they have so many pretty ways. They will +come and stand by my chair, and say, 'Grandpapa, can you give me a bit +of string?' and once Henry asked me for a knife, but I told him knives +were only made for grandpapas. I think their father is too rough with +them very often." + +"He appears rough to you," said Emma, "because you are so very gentle +yourself; but if you could compare him with other papas, you would not +think him rough. He wishes his boys to be active and hardy; and if +they misbehave, can give them a sharp word now and then; but he is an +affectionate father--certainly Mr. John Knightley is an affectionate +father. The children are all fond of him." + +"And then their uncle comes in, and tosses them up to the ceiling in a +very frightful way!" + +"But they like it, papa; there is nothing they like so much. It is such +enjoyment to them, that if their uncle did not lay down the rule of +their taking turns, whichever began would never give way to the other." + +"Well, I cannot understand it." + +"That is the case with us all, papa. One half of the world cannot +understand the pleasures of the other." + +Later in the morning, and just as the girls were going to separate +in preparation for the regular four o'clock dinner, the hero of this +inimitable charade walked in again. Harriet turned away; but Emma could +receive him with the usual smile, and her quick eye soon discerned in +his the consciousness of having made a push--of having thrown a die; +and she imagined he was come to see how it might turn up. His ostensible +reason, however, was to ask whether Mr. Woodhouse's party could be made +up in the evening without him, or whether he should be in the smallest +degree necessary at Hartfield. If he were, every thing else must give +way; but otherwise his friend Cole had been saying so much about his +dining with him--had made such a point of it, that he had promised him +conditionally to come. + +Emma thanked him, but could not allow of his disappointing his friend +on their account; her father was sure of his rubber. He re-urged--she +re-declined; and he seemed then about to make his bow, when taking the +paper from the table, she returned it-- + +"Oh! here is the charade you were so obliging as to leave with us; thank +you for the sight of it. We admired it so much, that I have ventured +to write it into Miss Smith's collection. Your friend will not take it +amiss I hope. Of course I have not transcribed beyond the first eight +lines." + +Mr. Elton certainly did not very well know what to say. He looked rather +doubtingly--rather confused; said something about "honour,"--glanced at +Emma and at Harriet, and then seeing the book open on the table, took +it up, and examined it very attentively. With the view of passing off an +awkward moment, Emma smilingly said, + +"You must make my apologies to your friend; but so good a charade +must not be confined to one or two. He may be sure of every woman's +approbation while he writes with such gallantry." + +"I have no hesitation in saying," replied Mr. Elton, though hesitating +a good deal while he spoke; "I have no hesitation in saying--at least +if my friend feels at all as _I_ do--I have not the smallest doubt that, +could he see his little effusion honoured as _I_ see it, (looking at the +book again, and replacing it on the table), he would consider it as the +proudest moment of his life." + +After this speech he was gone as soon as possible. Emma could not think +it too soon; for with all his good and agreeable qualities, there was +a sort of parade in his speeches which was very apt to incline her to +laugh. She ran away to indulge the inclination, leaving the tender and +the sublime of pleasure to Harriet's share. + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Though now the middle of December, there had yet been no weather to +prevent the young ladies from tolerably regular exercise; and on the +morrow, Emma had a charitable visit to pay to a poor sick family, who +lived a little way out of Highbury. + +Their road to this detached cottage was down Vicarage Lane, a lane +leading at right angles from the broad, though irregular, main street of +the place; and, as may be inferred, containing the blessed abode of Mr. +Elton. A few inferior dwellings were first to be passed, and then, about +a quarter of a mile down the lane rose the Vicarage, an old and not +very good house, almost as close to the road as it could be. It had +no advantage of situation; but had been very much smartened up by the +present proprietor; and, such as it was, there could be no possibility +of the two friends passing it without a slackened pace and observing +eyes.--Emma's remark was-- + +"There it is. There go you and your riddle-book one of these +days."--Harriet's was-- + +"Oh, what a sweet house!--How very beautiful!--There are the yellow +curtains that Miss Nash admires so much." + +"I do not often walk this way _now_," said Emma, as they proceeded, "but +_then_ there will be an inducement, and I shall gradually get intimately +acquainted with all the hedges, gates, pools and pollards of this part +of Highbury." + +Harriet, she found, had never in her life been within side the Vicarage, +and her curiosity to see it was so extreme, that, considering exteriors +and probabilities, Emma could only class it, as a proof of love, with +Mr. Elton's seeing ready wit in her. + +"I wish we could contrive it," said she; "but I cannot think of any +tolerable pretence for going in;--no servant that I want to inquire +about of his housekeeper--no message from my father." + +She pondered, but could think of nothing. After a mutual silence of some +minutes, Harriet thus began again-- + +"I do so wonder, Miss Woodhouse, that you should not be married, or +going to be married! so charming as you are!"-- + +Emma laughed, and replied, + +"My being charming, Harriet, is not quite enough to induce me to marry; +I must find other people charming--one other person at least. And I +am not only, not going to be married, at present, but have very little +intention of ever marrying at all." + +"Ah!--so you say; but I cannot believe it." + +"I must see somebody very superior to any one I have seen yet, to be +tempted; Mr. Elton, you know, (recollecting herself,) is out of the +question: and I do _not_ wish to see any such person. I would rather not +be tempted. I cannot really change for the better. If I were to marry, I +must expect to repent it." + +"Dear me!--it is so odd to hear a woman talk so!"-- + +"I have none of the usual inducements of women to marry. Were I to fall +in love, indeed, it would be a different thing! but I never have been in +love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall. +And, without love, I am sure I should be a fool to change such a +situation as mine. Fortune I do not want; employment I do not want; +consequence I do not want: I believe few married women are half as much +mistress of their husband's house as I am of Hartfield; and never, never +could I expect to be so truly beloved and important; so always first and +always right in any man's eyes as I am in my father's." + +"But then, to be an old maid at last, like Miss Bates!" + +"That is as formidable an image as you could present, Harriet; and if +I thought I should ever be like Miss Bates! so silly--so satisfied--so +smiling--so prosing--so undistinguishing and unfastidious--and so apt +to tell every thing relative to every body about me, I would marry +to-morrow. But between _us_, I am convinced there never can be any +likeness, except in being unmarried." + +"But still, you will be an old maid! and that's so dreadful!" + +"Never mind, Harriet, I shall not be a poor old maid; and it is poverty +only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public! A single +woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable old +maid! the proper sport of boys and girls, but a single woman, of good +fortune, is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant +as any body else. And the distinction is not quite so much against the +candour and common sense of the world as appears at first; for a very +narrow income has a tendency to contract the mind, and sour the temper. +Those who can barely live, and who live perforce in a very small, and +generally very inferior, society, may well be illiberal and cross. This +does not apply, however, to Miss Bates; she is only too good natured and +too silly to suit me; but, in general, she is very much to the taste +of every body, though single and though poor. Poverty certainly has not +contracted her mind: I really believe, if she had only a shilling in the +world, she would be very likely to give away sixpence of it; and nobody +is afraid of her: that is a great charm." + +"Dear me! but what shall you do? how shall you employ yourself when you +grow old?" + +"If I know myself, Harriet, mine is an active, busy mind, with a great +many independent resources; and I do not perceive why I should be more +in want of employment at forty or fifty than one-and-twenty. Woman's +usual occupations of hand and mind will be as open to me then as they +are now; or with no important variation. If I draw less, I shall read +more; if I give up music, I shall take to carpet-work. And as for +objects of interest, objects for the affections, which is in truth the +great point of inferiority, the want of which is really the great evil +to be avoided in _not_ marrying, I shall be very well off, with all the +children of a sister I love so much, to care about. There will be enough +of them, in all probability, to supply every sort of sensation that +declining life can need. There will be enough for every hope and every +fear; and though my attachment to none can equal that of a parent, it +suits my ideas of comfort better than what is warmer and blinder. My +nephews and nieces!--I shall often have a niece with me." + +"Do you know Miss Bates's niece? That is, I know you must have seen her +a hundred times--but are you acquainted?" + +"Oh! yes; we are always forced to be acquainted whenever she comes to +Highbury. By the bye, _that_ is almost enough to put one out of conceit +with a niece. Heaven forbid! at least, that I should ever bore people +half so much about all the Knightleys together, as she does about Jane +Fairfax. One is sick of the very name of Jane Fairfax. Every letter from +her is read forty times over; her compliments to all friends go round +and round again; and if she does but send her aunt the pattern of a +stomacher, or knit a pair of garters for her grandmother, one hears of +nothing else for a month. I wish Jane Fairfax very well; but she tires +me to death." + +They were now approaching the cottage, and all idle topics were +superseded. Emma was very compassionate; and the distresses of the poor +were as sure of relief from her personal attention and kindness, her +counsel and her patience, as from her purse. She understood their ways, +could allow for their ignorance and their temptations, had no romantic +expectations of extraordinary virtue from those for whom education had +done so little; entered into their troubles with ready sympathy, and +always gave her assistance with as much intelligence as good-will. In +the present instance, it was sickness and poverty together which she +came to visit; and after remaining there as long as she could give +comfort or advice, she quitted the cottage with such an impression of +the scene as made her say to Harriet, as they walked away, + +"These are the sights, Harriet, to do one good. How trifling they make +every thing else appear!--I feel now as if I could think of nothing but +these poor creatures all the rest of the day; and yet, who can say how +soon it may all vanish from my mind?" + +"Very true," said Harriet. "Poor creatures! one can think of nothing +else." + +"And really, I do not think the impression will soon be over," said +Emma, as she crossed the low hedge, and tottering footstep which ended +the narrow, slippery path through the cottage garden, and brought them +into the lane again. "I do not think it will," stopping to look once +more at all the outward wretchedness of the place, and recall the still +greater within. + +"Oh! dear, no," said her companion. + +They walked on. The lane made a slight bend; and when that bend was +passed, Mr. Elton was immediately in sight; and so near as to give Emma +time only to say farther, + +"Ah! Harriet, here comes a very sudden trial of our stability in good +thoughts. Well, (smiling,) I hope it may be allowed that if compassion +has produced exertion and relief to the sufferers, it has done all that +is truly important. If we feel for the wretched, enough to do all we can +for them, the rest is empty sympathy, only distressing to ourselves." + +Harriet could just answer, "Oh! dear, yes," before the gentleman joined +them. The wants and sufferings of the poor family, however, were the +first subject on meeting. He had been going to call on them. His visit +he would now defer; but they had a very interesting parley about +what could be done and should be done. Mr. Elton then turned back to +accompany them. + +"To fall in with each other on such an errand as this," thought Emma; +"to meet in a charitable scheme; this will bring a great increase +of love on each side. I should not wonder if it were to bring on the +declaration. It must, if I were not here. I wish I were anywhere else." + +Anxious to separate herself from them as far as she could, she soon +afterwards took possession of a narrow footpath, a little raised on one +side of the lane, leaving them together in the main road. But she had +not been there two minutes when she found that Harriet's habits of +dependence and imitation were bringing her up too, and that, in short, +they would both be soon after her. This would not do; she immediately +stopped, under pretence of having some alteration to make in the lacing +of her half-boot, and stooping down in complete occupation of the +footpath, begged them to have the goodness to walk on, and she would +follow in half a minute. They did as they were desired; and by the time +she judged it reasonable to have done with her boot, she had the comfort +of farther delay in her power, being overtaken by a child from the +cottage, setting out, according to orders, with her pitcher, to fetch +broth from Hartfield. To walk by the side of this child, and talk to +and question her, was the most natural thing in the world, or would have +been the most natural, had she been acting just then without design; +and by this means the others were still able to keep ahead, without +any obligation of waiting for her. She gained on them, however, +involuntarily: the child's pace was quick, and theirs rather slow; +and she was the more concerned at it, from their being evidently in +a conversation which interested them. Mr. Elton was speaking with +animation, Harriet listening with a very pleased attention; and Emma, +having sent the child on, was beginning to think how she might draw back +a little more, when they both looked around, and she was obliged to join +them. + +Mr. Elton was still talking, still engaged in some interesting detail; +and Emma experienced some disappointment when she found that he was only +giving his fair companion an account of the yesterday's party at his +friend Cole's, and that she was come in herself for the Stilton cheese, +the north Wiltshire, the butter, the celery, the beet-root, and all the +dessert. + +"This would soon have led to something better, of course," was her +consoling reflection; "any thing interests between those who love; and +any thing will serve as introduction to what is near the heart. If I +could but have kept longer away!" + +They now walked on together quietly, till within view of the vicarage +pales, when a sudden resolution, of at least getting Harriet into the +house, made her again find something very much amiss about her boot, and +fall behind to arrange it once more. She then broke the lace off short, +and dexterously throwing it into a ditch, was presently obliged to +entreat them to stop, and acknowledged her inability to put herself to +rights so as to be able to walk home in tolerable comfort. + +"Part of my lace is gone," said she, "and I do not know how I am to +contrive. I really am a most troublesome companion to you both, but I +hope I am not often so ill-equipped. Mr. Elton, I must beg leave to stop +at your house, and ask your housekeeper for a bit of ribband or string, +or any thing just to keep my boot on." + +Mr. Elton looked all happiness at this proposition; and nothing could +exceed his alertness and attention in conducting them into his house and +endeavouring to make every thing appear to advantage. The room they were +taken into was the one he chiefly occupied, and looking forwards; behind +it was another with which it immediately communicated; the door between +them was open, and Emma passed into it with the housekeeper to receive +her assistance in the most comfortable manner. She was obliged to leave +the door ajar as she found it; but she fully intended that Mr. Elton +should close it. It was not closed, however, it still remained ajar; but +by engaging the housekeeper in incessant conversation, she hoped to make +it practicable for him to chuse his own subject in the adjoining +room. For ten minutes she could hear nothing but herself. It could be +protracted no longer. She was then obliged to be finished, and make her +appearance. + +The lovers were standing together at one of the windows. It had a most +favourable aspect; and, for half a minute, Emma felt the glory of having +schemed successfully. But it would not do; he had not come to the point. +He had been most agreeable, most delightful; he had told Harriet that +he had seen them go by, and had purposely followed them; other little +gallantries and allusions had been dropt, but nothing serious. + +"Cautious, very cautious," thought Emma; "he advances inch by inch, and +will hazard nothing till he believes himself secure." + +Still, however, though every thing had not been accomplished by her +ingenious device, she could not but flatter herself that it had been +the occasion of much present enjoyment to both, and must be leading them +forward to the great event. + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Mr. Elton must now be left to himself. It was no longer in Emma's power +to superintend his happiness or quicken his measures. The coming of her +sister's family was so very near at hand, that first in anticipation, +and then in reality, it became henceforth her prime object of interest; +and during the ten days of their stay at Hartfield it was not to be +expected--she did not herself expect--that any thing beyond occasional, +fortuitous assistance could be afforded by her to the lovers. They might +advance rapidly if they would, however; they must advance somehow or +other whether they would or no. She hardly wished to have more leisure +for them. There are people, who the more you do for them, the less they +will do for themselves. + +Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley, from having been longer than usual absent +from Surry, were exciting of course rather more than the usual interest. +Till this year, every long vacation since their marriage had been +divided between Hartfield and Donwell Abbey; but all the holidays of +this autumn had been given to sea-bathing for the children, and it was +therefore many months since they had been seen in a regular way by their +Surry connexions, or seen at all by Mr. Woodhouse, who could not be +induced to get so far as London, even for poor Isabella's sake; and +who consequently was now most nervously and apprehensively happy in +forestalling this too short visit. + +He thought much of the evils of the journey for her, and not a little +of the fatigues of his own horses and coachman who were to bring some +of the party the last half of the way; but his alarms were needless; +the sixteen miles being happily accomplished, and Mr. and Mrs. John +Knightley, their five children, and a competent number of nursery-maids, +all reaching Hartfield in safety. The bustle and joy of such an arrival, +the many to be talked to, welcomed, encouraged, and variously dispersed +and disposed of, produced a noise and confusion which his nerves could +not have borne under any other cause, nor have endured much longer even +for this; but the ways of Hartfield and the feelings of her father +were so respected by Mrs. John Knightley, that in spite of maternal +solicitude for the immediate enjoyment of her little ones, and for their +having instantly all the liberty and attendance, all the eating and +drinking, and sleeping and playing, which they could possibly wish for, +without the smallest delay, the children were never allowed to be long +a disturbance to him, either in themselves or in any restless attendance +on them. + +Mrs. John Knightley was a pretty, elegant little woman, of gentle, quiet +manners, and a disposition remarkably amiable and affectionate; wrapt +up in her family; a devoted wife, a doating mother, and so tenderly +attached to her father and sister that, but for these higher ties, a +warmer love might have seemed impossible. She could never see a fault +in any of them. She was not a woman of strong understanding or any +quickness; and with this resemblance of her father, she inherited also +much of his constitution; was delicate in her own health, over-careful +of that of her children, had many fears and many nerves, and was as fond +of her own Mr. Wingfield in town as her father could be of Mr. Perry. +They were alike too, in a general benevolence of temper, and a strong +habit of regard for every old acquaintance. + +Mr. John Knightley was a tall, gentleman-like, and very clever man; +rising in his profession, domestic, and respectable in his private +character; but with reserved manners which prevented his being generally +pleasing; and capable of being sometimes out of humour. He was not an +ill-tempered man, not so often unreasonably cross as to deserve such a +reproach; but his temper was not his great perfection; and, indeed, with +such a worshipping wife, it was hardly possible that any natural defects +in it should not be increased. The extreme sweetness of her temper +must hurt his. He had all the clearness and quickness of mind which she +wanted, and he could sometimes act an ungracious, or say a severe thing. + +He was not a great favourite with his fair sister-in-law. Nothing wrong +in him escaped her. She was quick in feeling the little injuries to +Isabella, which Isabella never felt herself. Perhaps she might have +passed over more had his manners been flattering to Isabella's sister, +but they were only those of a calmly kind brother and friend, without +praise and without blindness; but hardly any degree of personal +compliment could have made her regardless of that greatest fault of +all in her eyes which he sometimes fell into, the want of respectful +forbearance towards her father. There he had not always the patience +that could have been wished. Mr. Woodhouse's peculiarities and +fidgetiness were sometimes provoking him to a rational remonstrance or +sharp retort equally ill-bestowed. It did not often happen; for Mr. John +Knightley had really a great regard for his father-in-law, and generally +a strong sense of what was due to him; but it was too often for Emma's +charity, especially as there was all the pain of apprehension frequently +to be endured, though the offence came not. The beginning, however, of +every visit displayed none but the properest feelings, and this being of +necessity so short might be hoped to pass away in unsullied cordiality. +They had not been long seated and composed when Mr. Woodhouse, with a +melancholy shake of the head and a sigh, called his daughter's attention +to the sad change at Hartfield since she had been there last. + +"Ah, my dear," said he, "poor Miss Taylor--It is a grievous business." + +"Oh yes, sir," cried she with ready sympathy, "how you must miss her! +And dear Emma, too!--What a dreadful loss to you both!--I have been so +grieved for you.--I could not imagine how you could possibly do without +her.--It is a sad change indeed.--But I hope she is pretty well, sir." + +"Pretty well, my dear--I hope--pretty well.--I do not know but that the +place agrees with her tolerably." + +Mr. John Knightley here asked Emma quietly whether there were any doubts +of the air of Randalls. + +"Oh! no--none in the least. I never saw Mrs. Weston better in my +life--never looking so well. Papa is only speaking his own regret." + +"Very much to the honour of both," was the handsome reply. + +"And do you see her, sir, tolerably often?" asked Isabella in the +plaintive tone which just suited her father. + +Mr. Woodhouse hesitated.--"Not near so often, my dear, as I could wish." + +"Oh! papa, we have missed seeing them but one entire day since they +married. Either in the morning or evening of every day, excepting one, +have we seen either Mr. Weston or Mrs. Weston, and generally both, +either at Randalls or here--and as you may suppose, Isabella, most +frequently here. They are very, very kind in their visits. Mr. Weston +is really as kind as herself. Papa, if you speak in that melancholy way, +you will be giving Isabella a false idea of us all. Every body must be +aware that Miss Taylor must be missed, but every body ought also to be +assured that Mr. and Mrs. Weston do really prevent our missing her by +any means to the extent we ourselves anticipated--which is the exact +truth." + +"Just as it should be," said Mr. John Knightley, "and just as I hoped +it was from your letters. Her wish of shewing you attention could not be +doubted, and his being a disengaged and social man makes it all easy. I +have been always telling you, my love, that I had no idea of the change +being so very material to Hartfield as you apprehended; and now you have +Emma's account, I hope you will be satisfied." + +"Why, to be sure," said Mr. Woodhouse--"yes, certainly--I cannot +deny that Mrs. Weston, poor Mrs. Weston, does come and see us pretty +often--but then--she is always obliged to go away again." + +"It would be very hard upon Mr. Weston if she did not, papa.--You quite +forget poor Mr. Weston." + +"I think, indeed," said John Knightley pleasantly, "that Mr. Weston has +some little claim. You and I, Emma, will venture to take the part of the +poor husband. I, being a husband, and you not being a wife, the claims +of the man may very likely strike us with equal force. As for Isabella, +she has been married long enough to see the convenience of putting all +the Mr. Westons aside as much as she can." + +"Me, my love," cried his wife, hearing and understanding only in part.-- +"Are you talking about me?--I am sure nobody ought to be, or can be, a +greater advocate for matrimony than I am; and if it had not been for +the misery of her leaving Hartfield, I should never have thought of Miss +Taylor but as the most fortunate woman in the world; and as to slighting +Mr. Weston, that excellent Mr. Weston, I think there is nothing he does +not deserve. I believe he is one of the very best-tempered men that ever +existed. Excepting yourself and your brother, I do not know his equal +for temper. I shall never forget his flying Henry's kite for him that +very windy day last Easter--and ever since his particular kindness last +September twelvemonth in writing that note, at twelve o'clock at night, +on purpose to assure me that there was no scarlet fever at Cobham, I +have been convinced there could not be a more feeling heart nor a better +man in existence.--If any body can deserve him, it must be Miss Taylor." + +"Where is the young man?" said John Knightley. "Has he been here on this +occasion--or has he not?" + +"He has not been here yet," replied Emma. "There was a strong +expectation of his coming soon after the marriage, but it ended in +nothing; and I have not heard him mentioned lately." + +"But you should tell them of the letter, my dear," said her father. +"He wrote a letter to poor Mrs. Weston, to congratulate her, and a very +proper, handsome letter it was. She shewed it to me. I thought it very +well done of him indeed. Whether it was his own idea you know, one +cannot tell. He is but young, and his uncle, perhaps--" + +"My dear papa, he is three-and-twenty. You forget how time passes." + +"Three-and-twenty!--is he indeed?--Well, I could not have thought +it--and he was but two years old when he lost his poor mother! Well, +time does fly indeed!--and my memory is very bad. However, it was an +exceeding good, pretty letter, and gave Mr. and Mrs. Weston a great deal +of pleasure. I remember it was written from Weymouth, and dated Sept. +28th--and began, 'My dear Madam,' but I forget how it went on; and it +was signed 'F. C. Weston Churchill.'--I remember that perfectly." + +"How very pleasing and proper of him!" cried the good-hearted Mrs. John +Knightley. "I have no doubt of his being a most amiable young man. But +how sad it is that he should not live at home with his father! There is +something so shocking in a child's being taken away from his parents and +natural home! I never could comprehend how Mr. Weston could part with +him. To give up one's child! I really never could think well of any body +who proposed such a thing to any body else." + +"Nobody ever did think well of the Churchills, I fancy," observed Mr. +John Knightley coolly. "But you need not imagine Mr. Weston to have felt +what you would feel in giving up Henry or John. Mr. Weston is rather +an easy, cheerful-tempered man, than a man of strong feelings; he takes +things as he finds them, and makes enjoyment of them somehow or other, +depending, I suspect, much more upon what is called society for his +comforts, that is, upon the power of eating and drinking, and playing +whist with his neighbours five times a week, than upon family affection, +or any thing that home affords." + +Emma could not like what bordered on a reflection on Mr. Weston, and had +half a mind to take it up; but she struggled, and let it pass. She +would keep the peace if possible; and there was something honourable and +valuable in the strong domestic habits, the all-sufficiency of home to +himself, whence resulted her brother's disposition to look down on +the common rate of social intercourse, and those to whom it was +important.--It had a high claim to forbearance. + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Mr. Knightley was to dine with them--rather against the inclination of +Mr. Woodhouse, who did not like that any one should share with him in +Isabella's first day. Emma's sense of right however had decided it; +and besides the consideration of what was due to each brother, she had +particular pleasure, from the circumstance of the late disagreement +between Mr. Knightley and herself, in procuring him the proper +invitation. + +She hoped they might now become friends again. She thought it was time +to make up. Making-up indeed would not do. _She_ certainly had not been +in the wrong, and _he_ would never own that he had. Concession must be +out of the question; but it was time to appear to forget that they had +ever quarrelled; and she hoped it might rather assist the restoration of +friendship, that when he came into the room she had one of the children +with her--the youngest, a nice little girl about eight months old, who +was now making her first visit to Hartfield, and very happy to be danced +about in her aunt's arms. It did assist; for though he began with grave +looks and short questions, he was soon led on to talk of them all in +the usual way, and to take the child out of her arms with all the +unceremoniousness of perfect amity. Emma felt they were friends again; +and the conviction giving her at first great satisfaction, and then +a little sauciness, she could not help saying, as he was admiring the +baby, + +"What a comfort it is, that we think alike about our nephews and nieces. +As to men and women, our opinions are sometimes very different; but with +regard to these children, I observe we never disagree." + +"If you were as much guided by nature in your estimate of men and women, +and as little under the power of fancy and whim in your dealings with +them, as you are where these children are concerned, we might always +think alike." + +"To be sure--our discordancies must always arise from my being in the +wrong." + +"Yes," said he, smiling--"and reason good. I was sixteen years old when +you were born." + +"A material difference then," she replied--"and no doubt you were much +my superior in judgment at that period of our lives; but does not the +lapse of one-and-twenty years bring our understandings a good deal +nearer?" + +"Yes--a good deal _nearer_." + +"But still, not near enough to give me a chance of being right, if we +think differently." + +"I have still the advantage of you by sixteen years' experience, and by +not being a pretty young woman and a spoiled child. Come, my dear Emma, +let us be friends, and say no more about it. Tell your aunt, little +Emma, that she ought to set you a better example than to be renewing old +grievances, and that if she were not wrong before, she is now." + +"That's true," she cried--"very true. Little Emma, grow up a better +woman than your aunt. Be infinitely cleverer and not half so conceited. +Now, Mr. Knightley, a word or two more, and I have done. As far as good +intentions went, we were _both_ right, and I must say that no effects on +my side of the argument have yet proved wrong. I only want to know that +Mr. Martin is not very, very bitterly disappointed." + +"A man cannot be more so," was his short, full answer. + +"Ah!--Indeed I am very sorry.--Come, shake hands with me." + +This had just taken place and with great cordiality, when John Knightley +made his appearance, and "How d'ye do, George?" and "John, how are +you?" succeeded in the true English style, burying under a calmness that +seemed all but indifference, the real attachment which would have led +either of them, if requisite, to do every thing for the good of the +other. + +The evening was quiet and conversable, as Mr. Woodhouse declined cards +entirely for the sake of comfortable talk with his dear Isabella, and +the little party made two natural divisions; on one side he and his +daughter; on the other the two Mr. Knightleys; their subjects totally +distinct, or very rarely mixing--and Emma only occasionally joining in +one or the other. + +The brothers talked of their own concerns and pursuits, but principally +of those of the elder, whose temper was by much the most communicative, +and who was always the greater talker. As a magistrate, he had generally +some point of law to consult John about, or, at least, some curious +anecdote to give; and as a farmer, as keeping in hand the home-farm at +Donwell, he had to tell what every field was to bear next year, and to +give all such local information as could not fail of being interesting +to a brother whose home it had equally been the longest part of his +life, and whose attachments were strong. The plan of a drain, the change +of a fence, the felling of a tree, and the destination of every acre for +wheat, turnips, or spring corn, was entered into with as much equality +of interest by John, as his cooler manners rendered possible; and if his +willing brother ever left him any thing to inquire about, his inquiries +even approached a tone of eagerness. + +While they were thus comfortably occupied, Mr. Woodhouse was enjoying a +full flow of happy regrets and fearful affection with his daughter. + +"My poor dear Isabella," said he, fondly taking her hand, and +interrupting, for a few moments, her busy labours for some one of her +five children--"How long it is, how terribly long since you were here! +And how tired you must be after your journey! You must go to bed early, +my dear--and I recommend a little gruel to you before you go.--You and +I will have a nice basin of gruel together. My dear Emma, suppose we all +have a little gruel." + +Emma could not suppose any such thing, knowing as she did, that both the +Mr. Knightleys were as unpersuadable on that article as herself;--and +two basins only were ordered. After a little more discourse in praise of +gruel, with some wondering at its not being taken every evening by every +body, he proceeded to say, with an air of grave reflection, + +"It was an awkward business, my dear, your spending the autumn at South +End instead of coming here. I never had much opinion of the sea air." + +"Mr. Wingfield most strenuously recommended it, sir--or we should not +have gone. He recommended it for all the children, but particularly for +the weakness in little Bella's throat,--both sea air and bathing." + +"Ah! my dear, but Perry had many doubts about the sea doing her any +good; and as to myself, I have been long perfectly convinced, though +perhaps I never told you so before, that the sea is very rarely of use +to any body. I am sure it almost killed me once." + +"Come, come," cried Emma, feeling this to be an unsafe subject, "I must +beg you not to talk of the sea. It makes me envious and miserable;--I +who have never seen it! South End is prohibited, if you please. My dear +Isabella, I have not heard you make one inquiry about Mr. Perry yet; and +he never forgets you." + +"Oh! good Mr. Perry--how is he, sir?" + +"Why, pretty well; but not quite well. Poor Perry is bilious, and he has +not time to take care of himself--he tells me he has not time to take +care of himself--which is very sad--but he is always wanted all round +the country. I suppose there is not a man in such practice anywhere. But +then there is not so clever a man any where." + +"And Mrs. Perry and the children, how are they? do the children grow? +I have a great regard for Mr. Perry. I hope he will be calling soon. He +will be so pleased to see my little ones." + +"I hope he will be here to-morrow, for I have a question or two to ask +him about myself of some consequence. And, my dear, whenever he comes, +you had better let him look at little Bella's throat." + +"Oh! my dear sir, her throat is so much better that I have hardly any +uneasiness about it. Either bathing has been of the greatest service to +her, or else it is to be attributed to an excellent embrocation of Mr. +Wingfield's, which we have been applying at times ever since August." + +"It is not very likely, my dear, that bathing should have been of use +to her--and if I had known you were wanting an embrocation, I would have +spoken to-- + +"You seem to me to have forgotten Mrs. and Miss Bates," said Emma, "I +have not heard one inquiry after them." + +"Oh! the good Bateses--I am quite ashamed of myself--but you mention +them in most of your letters. I hope they are quite well. Good old Mrs. +Bates--I will call upon her to-morrow, and take my children.--They +are always so pleased to see my children.--And that excellent Miss +Bates!--such thorough worthy people!--How are they, sir?" + +"Why, pretty well, my dear, upon the whole. But poor Mrs. Bates had a +bad cold about a month ago." + +"How sorry I am! But colds were never so prevalent as they have been +this autumn. Mr. Wingfield told me that he has never known them more +general or heavy--except when it has been quite an influenza." + +"That has been a good deal the case, my dear; but not to the degree you +mention. Perry says that colds have been very general, but not so heavy +as he has very often known them in November. Perry does not call it +altogether a sickly season." + +"No, I do not know that Mr. Wingfield considers it _very_ sickly +except-- + +"Ah! my poor dear child, the truth is, that in London it is always +a sickly season. Nobody is healthy in London, nobody can be. It is a +dreadful thing to have you forced to live there! so far off!--and the +air so bad!" + +"No, indeed--_we_ are not at all in a bad air. Our part of London is +very superior to most others!--You must not confound us with London +in general, my dear sir. The neighbourhood of Brunswick Square is very +different from almost all the rest. We are so very airy! I should be +unwilling, I own, to live in any other part of the town;--there is +hardly any other that I could be satisfied to have my children in: +but _we_ are so remarkably airy!--Mr. Wingfield thinks the vicinity of +Brunswick Square decidedly the most favourable as to air." + +"Ah! my dear, it is not like Hartfield. You make the best of it--but +after you have been a week at Hartfield, you are all of you different +creatures; you do not look like the same. Now I cannot say, that I think +you are any of you looking well at present." + +"I am sorry to hear you say so, sir; but I assure you, excepting those +little nervous head-aches and palpitations which I am never entirely +free from anywhere, I am quite well myself; and if the children were +rather pale before they went to bed, it was only because they were a +little more tired than usual, from their journey and the happiness of +coming. I hope you will think better of their looks to-morrow; for I +assure you Mr. Wingfield told me, that he did not believe he had ever +sent us off altogether, in such good case. I trust, at least, that +you do not think Mr. Knightley looking ill," turning her eyes with +affectionate anxiety towards her husband. + +"Middling, my dear; I cannot compliment you. I think Mr. John Knightley +very far from looking well." + +"What is the matter, sir?--Did you speak to me?" cried Mr. John +Knightley, hearing his own name. + +"I am sorry to find, my love, that my father does not think you looking +well--but I hope it is only from being a little fatigued. I could have +wished, however, as you know, that you had seen Mr. Wingfield before you +left home." + +"My dear Isabella,"--exclaimed he hastily--"pray do not concern yourself +about my looks. Be satisfied with doctoring and coddling yourself and +the children, and let me look as I chuse." + +"I did not thoroughly understand what you were telling your brother," +cried Emma, "about your friend Mr. Graham's intending to have a bailiff +from Scotland, to look after his new estate. What will it answer? Will +not the old prejudice be too strong?" + +And she talked in this way so long and successfully that, when forced to +give her attention again to her father and sister, she had nothing +worse to hear than Isabella's kind inquiry after Jane Fairfax; and Jane +Fairfax, though no great favourite with her in general, she was at that +moment very happy to assist in praising. + +"That sweet, amiable Jane Fairfax!" said Mrs. John Knightley.--"It +is so long since I have seen her, except now and then for a moment +accidentally in town! What happiness it must be to her good old +grandmother and excellent aunt, when she comes to visit them! I always +regret excessively on dear Emma's account that she cannot be more at +Highbury; but now their daughter is married, I suppose Colonel and Mrs. +Campbell will not be able to part with her at all. She would be such a +delightful companion for Emma." + +Mr. Woodhouse agreed to it all, but added, + +"Our little friend Harriet Smith, however, is just such another pretty +kind of young person. You will like Harriet. Emma could not have a +better companion than Harriet." + +"I am most happy to hear it--but only Jane Fairfax one knows to be so +very accomplished and superior!--and exactly Emma's age." + +This topic was discussed very happily, and others succeeded of similar +moment, and passed away with similar harmony; but the evening did not +close without a little return of agitation. The gruel came and supplied +a great deal to be said--much praise and many comments--undoubting +decision of its wholesomeness for every constitution, and pretty +severe Philippics upon the many houses where it was never met with +tolerable;--but, unfortunately, among the failures which the daughter +had to instance, the most recent, and therefore most prominent, was in +her own cook at South End, a young woman hired for the time, who never +had been able to understand what she meant by a basin of nice smooth +gruel, thin, but not too thin. Often as she had wished for and ordered +it, she had never been able to get any thing tolerable. Here was a +dangerous opening. + +"Ah!" said Mr. Woodhouse, shaking his head and fixing his eyes on her +with tender concern.--The ejaculation in Emma's ear expressed, "Ah! +there is no end of the sad consequences of your going to South End. It +does not bear talking of." And for a little while she hoped he would not +talk of it, and that a silent rumination might suffice to restore him to +the relish of his own smooth gruel. After an interval of some minutes, +however, he began with, + +"I shall always be very sorry that you went to the sea this autumn, +instead of coming here." + +"But why should you be sorry, sir?--I assure you, it did the children a +great deal of good." + +"And, moreover, if you must go to the sea, it had better not have been +to South End. South End is an unhealthy place. Perry was surprized to +hear you had fixed upon South End." + +"I know there is such an idea with many people, but indeed it is quite +a mistake, sir.--We all had our health perfectly well there, never +found the least inconvenience from the mud; and Mr. Wingfield says it is +entirely a mistake to suppose the place unhealthy; and I am sure he may +be depended on, for he thoroughly understands the nature of the air, and +his own brother and family have been there repeatedly." + +"You should have gone to Cromer, my dear, if you went anywhere.--Perry +was a week at Cromer once, and he holds it to be the best of all the +sea-bathing places. A fine open sea, he says, and very pure air. And, by +what I understand, you might have had lodgings there quite away from +the sea--a quarter of a mile off--very comfortable. You should have +consulted Perry." + +"But, my dear sir, the difference of the journey;--only consider how +great it would have been.--An hundred miles, perhaps, instead of forty." + +"Ah! my dear, as Perry says, where health is at stake, nothing else +should be considered; and if one is to travel, there is not much to +chuse between forty miles and an hundred.--Better not move at all, +better stay in London altogether than travel forty miles to get into +a worse air. This is just what Perry said. It seemed to him a very +ill-judged measure." + +Emma's attempts to stop her father had been vain; and when he +had reached such a point as this, she could not wonder at her +brother-in-law's breaking out. + +"Mr. Perry," said he, in a voice of very strong displeasure, "would do +as well to keep his opinion till it is asked for. Why does he make it +any business of his, to wonder at what I do?--at my taking my family to +one part of the coast or another?--I may be allowed, I hope, the use of +my judgment as well as Mr. Perry.--I want his directions no more than +his drugs." He paused--and growing cooler in a moment, added, with only +sarcastic dryness, "If Mr. Perry can tell me how to convey a wife and +five children a distance of an hundred and thirty miles with no greater +expense or inconvenience than a distance of forty, I should be as +willing to prefer Cromer to South End as he could himself." + +"True, true," cried Mr. Knightley, with most ready interposition--"very +true. That's a consideration indeed.--But John, as to what I was telling +you of my idea of moving the path to Langham, of turning it more to the +right that it may not cut through the home meadows, I cannot conceive +any difficulty. I should not attempt it, if it were to be the means of +inconvenience to the Highbury people, but if you call to mind exactly +the present line of the path.... The only way of proving it, however, +will be to turn to our maps. I shall see you at the Abbey to-morrow +morning I hope, and then we will look them over, and you shall give me +your opinion." + +Mr. Woodhouse was rather agitated by such harsh reflections on his +friend Perry, to whom he had, in fact, though unconsciously, been +attributing many of his own feelings and expressions;--but the soothing +attentions of his daughters gradually removed the present evil, and +the immediate alertness of one brother, and better recollections of the +other, prevented any renewal of it. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +There could hardly be a happier creature in the world than Mrs. John +Knightley, in this short visit to Hartfield, going about every morning +among her old acquaintance with her five children, and talking over what +she had done every evening with her father and sister. She had nothing +to wish otherwise, but that the days did not pass so swiftly. It was a +delightful visit;--perfect, in being much too short. + +In general their evenings were less engaged with friends than their +mornings; but one complete dinner engagement, and out of the house too, +there was no avoiding, though at Christmas. Mr. Weston would take no +denial; they must all dine at Randalls one day;--even Mr. Woodhouse was +persuaded to think it a possible thing in preference to a division of +the party. + +How they were all to be conveyed, he would have made a difficulty if he +could, but as his son and daughter's carriage and horses were actually +at Hartfield, he was not able to make more than a simple question on +that head; it hardly amounted to a doubt; nor did it occupy Emma long +to convince him that they might in one of the carriages find room for +Harriet also. + +Harriet, Mr. Elton, and Mr. Knightley, their own especial set, were the +only persons invited to meet them;--the hours were to be early, as +well as the numbers few; Mr. Woodhouse's habits and inclination being +consulted in every thing. + +The evening before this great event (for it was a very great event that +Mr. Woodhouse should dine out, on the 24th of December) had been spent +by Harriet at Hartfield, and she had gone home so much indisposed with +a cold, that, but for her own earnest wish of being nursed by Mrs. +Goddard, Emma could not have allowed her to leave the house. Emma called +on her the next day, and found her doom already signed with regard to +Randalls. She was very feverish and had a bad sore throat: Mrs. Goddard +was full of care and affection, Mr. Perry was talked of, and Harriet +herself was too ill and low to resist the authority which excluded her +from this delightful engagement, though she could not speak of her loss +without many tears. + +Emma sat with her as long as she could, to attend her in Mrs. Goddard's +unavoidable absences, and raise her spirits by representing how much Mr. +Elton's would be depressed when he knew her state; and left her at last +tolerably comfortable, in the sweet dependence of his having a most +comfortless visit, and of their all missing her very much. She had not +advanced many yards from Mrs. Goddard's door, when she was met by Mr. +Elton himself, evidently coming towards it, and as they walked on slowly +together in conversation about the invalid--of whom he, on the rumour +of considerable illness, had been going to inquire, that he might +carry some report of her to Hartfield--they were overtaken by Mr. John +Knightley returning from the daily visit to Donwell, with his two eldest +boys, whose healthy, glowing faces shewed all the benefit of a country +run, and seemed to ensure a quick despatch of the roast mutton and rice +pudding they were hastening home for. They joined company and +proceeded together. Emma was just describing the nature of her friend's +complaint;--"a throat very much inflamed, with a great deal of heat +about her, a quick, low pulse, &c. and she was sorry to find from Mrs. +Goddard that Harriet was liable to very bad sore-throats, and had often +alarmed her with them." Mr. Elton looked all alarm on the occasion, as +he exclaimed, + +"A sore-throat!--I hope not infectious. I hope not of a putrid +infectious sort. Has Perry seen her? Indeed you should take care of +yourself as well as of your friend. Let me entreat you to run no risks. +Why does not Perry see her?" + +Emma, who was not really at all frightened herself, tranquillised this +excess of apprehension by assurances of Mrs. Goddard's experience and +care; but as there must still remain a degree of uneasiness which she +could not wish to reason away, which she would rather feed and assist +than not, she added soon afterwards--as if quite another subject, + +"It is so cold, so very cold--and looks and feels so very much like +snow, that if it were to any other place or with any other party, I +should really try not to go out to-day--and dissuade my father from +venturing; but as he has made up his mind, and does not seem to feel the +cold himself, I do not like to interfere, as I know it would be so great +a disappointment to Mr. and Mrs. Weston. But, upon my word, Mr. Elton, +in your case, I should certainly excuse myself. You appear to me a +little hoarse already, and when you consider what demand of voice and +what fatigues to-morrow will bring, I think it would be no more than +common prudence to stay at home and take care of yourself to-night." + +Mr. Elton looked as if he did not very well know what answer to make; +which was exactly the case; for though very much gratified by the kind +care of such a fair lady, and not liking to resist any advice of her's, +he had not really the least inclination to give up the visit;--but Emma, +too eager and busy in her own previous conceptions and views to hear him +impartially, or see him with clear vision, was very well satisfied with +his muttering acknowledgment of its being "very cold, certainly very +cold," and walked on, rejoicing in having extricated him from Randalls, +and secured him the power of sending to inquire after Harriet every hour +of the evening. + +"You do quite right," said she;--"we will make your apologies to Mr. and +Mrs. Weston." + +But hardly had she so spoken, when she found her brother was civilly +offering a seat in his carriage, if the weather were Mr. Elton's only +objection, and Mr. Elton actually accepting the offer with much prompt +satisfaction. It was a done thing; Mr. Elton was to go, and never had +his broad handsome face expressed more pleasure than at this moment; +never had his smile been stronger, nor his eyes more exulting than when +he next looked at her. + +"Well," said she to herself, "this is most strange!--After I had got +him off so well, to chuse to go into company, and leave Harriet ill +behind!--Most strange indeed!--But there is, I believe, in many men, +especially single men, such an inclination--such a passion for dining +out--a dinner engagement is so high in the class of their pleasures, +their employments, their dignities, almost their duties, that any +thing gives way to it--and this must be the case with Mr. Elton; a most +valuable, amiable, pleasing young man undoubtedly, and very much in love +with Harriet; but still, he cannot refuse an invitation, he must dine +out wherever he is asked. What a strange thing love is! he can see ready +wit in Harriet, but will not dine alone for her." + +Soon afterwards Mr. Elton quitted them, and she could not but do him +the justice of feeling that there was a great deal of sentiment in his +manner of naming Harriet at parting; in the tone of his voice while +assuring her that he should call at Mrs. Goddard's for news of her fair +friend, the last thing before he prepared for the happiness of meeting +her again, when he hoped to be able to give a better report; and +he sighed and smiled himself off in a way that left the balance of +approbation much in his favour. + +After a few minutes of entire silence between them, John Knightley began +with-- + +"I never in my life saw a man more intent on being agreeable than Mr. +Elton. It is downright labour to him where ladies are concerned. With +men he can be rational and unaffected, but when he has ladies to please, +every feature works." + +"Mr. Elton's manners are not perfect," replied Emma; "but where there is +a wish to please, one ought to overlook, and one does overlook a great +deal. Where a man does his best with only moderate powers, he will +have the advantage over negligent superiority. There is such perfect +good-temper and good-will in Mr. Elton as one cannot but value." + +"Yes," said Mr. John Knightley presently, with some slyness, "he seems +to have a great deal of good-will towards you." + +"Me!" she replied with a smile of astonishment, "are you imagining me to +be Mr. Elton's object?" + +"Such an imagination has crossed me, I own, Emma; and if it never +occurred to you before, you may as well take it into consideration now." + +"Mr. Elton in love with me!--What an idea!" + +"I do not say it is so; but you will do well to consider whether it +is so or not, and to regulate your behaviour accordingly. I think your +manners to him encouraging. I speak as a friend, Emma. You had better +look about you, and ascertain what you do, and what you mean to do." + +"I thank you; but I assure you you are quite mistaken. Mr. Elton and +I are very good friends, and nothing more;" and she walked on, amusing +herself in the consideration of the blunders which often arise from a +partial knowledge of circumstances, of the mistakes which people of high +pretensions to judgment are for ever falling into; and not very well +pleased with her brother for imagining her blind and ignorant, and in +want of counsel. He said no more. + +Mr. Woodhouse had so completely made up his mind to the visit, that in +spite of the increasing coldness, he seemed to have no idea of shrinking +from it, and set forward at last most punctually with his eldest +daughter in his own carriage, with less apparent consciousness of the +weather than either of the others; too full of the wonder of his own +going, and the pleasure it was to afford at Randalls to see that it was +cold, and too well wrapt up to feel it. The cold, however, was severe; +and by the time the second carriage was in motion, a few flakes of snow +were finding their way down, and the sky had the appearance of being so +overcharged as to want only a milder air to produce a very white world +in a very short time. + +Emma soon saw that her companion was not in the happiest humour. The +preparing and the going abroad in such weather, with the sacrifice of +his children after dinner, were evils, were disagreeables at least, +which Mr. John Knightley did not by any means like; he anticipated +nothing in the visit that could be at all worth the purchase; and the +whole of their drive to the vicarage was spent by him in expressing his +discontent. + +"A man," said he, "must have a very good opinion of himself when he asks +people to leave their own fireside, and encounter such a day as +this, for the sake of coming to see him. He must think himself a most +agreeable fellow; I could not do such a thing. It is the greatest +absurdity--Actually snowing at this moment!--The folly of not allowing +people to be comfortable at home--and the folly of people's not staying +comfortably at home when they can! If we were obliged to go out such +an evening as this, by any call of duty or business, what a hardship we +should deem it;--and here are we, probably with rather thinner clothing +than usual, setting forward voluntarily, without excuse, in defiance of +the voice of nature, which tells man, in every thing given to his view +or his feelings, to stay at home himself, and keep all under shelter +that he can;--here are we setting forward to spend five dull hours in +another man's house, with nothing to say or to hear that was not said +and heard yesterday, and may not be said and heard again to-morrow. +Going in dismal weather, to return probably in worse;--four horses and +four servants taken out for nothing but to convey five idle, shivering +creatures into colder rooms and worse company than they might have had +at home." + +Emma did not find herself equal to give the pleased assent, which no +doubt he was in the habit of receiving, to emulate the "Very true, +my love," which must have been usually administered by his travelling +companion; but she had resolution enough to refrain from making +any answer at all. She could not be complying, she dreaded being +quarrelsome; her heroism reached only to silence. She allowed him to +talk, and arranged the glasses, and wrapped herself up, without opening +her lips. + +They arrived, the carriage turned, the step was let down, and Mr. Elton, +spruce, black, and smiling, was with them instantly. Emma thought with +pleasure of some change of subject. Mr. Elton was all obligation and +cheerfulness; he was so very cheerful in his civilities indeed, that she +began to think he must have received a different account of Harriet from +what had reached her. She had sent while dressing, and the answer had +been, "Much the same--not better." + +"_My_ report from Mrs. Goddard's," said she presently, "was not so +pleasant as I had hoped--'Not better' was _my_ answer." + +His face lengthened immediately; and his voice was the voice of +sentiment as he answered. + +"Oh! no--I am grieved to find--I was on the point of telling you that +when I called at Mrs. Goddard's door, which I did the very last thing +before I returned to dress, I was told that Miss Smith was not better, +by no means better, rather worse. Very much grieved and concerned--I +had flattered myself that she must be better after such a cordial as I +knew had been given her in the morning." + +Emma smiled and answered--"My visit was of use to the nervous part of +her complaint, I hope; but not even I can charm away a sore throat; +it is a most severe cold indeed. Mr. Perry has been with her, as you +probably heard." + +"Yes--I imagined--that is--I did not--" + +"He has been used to her in these complaints, and I hope to-morrow +morning will bring us both a more comfortable report. But it is +impossible not to feel uneasiness. Such a sad loss to our party to-day!" + +"Dreadful!--Exactly so, indeed.--She will be missed every moment." + +This was very proper; the sigh which accompanied it was really +estimable; but it should have lasted longer. Emma was rather in dismay +when only half a minute afterwards he began to speak of other things, +and in a voice of the greatest alacrity and enjoyment. + +"What an excellent device," said he, "the use of a sheepskin for +carriages. How very comfortable they make it;--impossible to feel cold +with such precautions. The contrivances of modern days indeed have +rendered a gentleman's carriage perfectly complete. One is so fenced +and guarded from the weather, that not a breath of air can find its way +unpermitted. Weather becomes absolutely of no consequence. It is a very +cold afternoon--but in this carriage we know nothing of the matter.--Ha! +snows a little I see." + +"Yes," said John Knightley, "and I think we shall have a good deal of +it." + +"Christmas weather," observed Mr. Elton. "Quite seasonable; and +extremely fortunate we may think ourselves that it did not begin +yesterday, and prevent this day's party, which it might very possibly +have done, for Mr. Woodhouse would hardly have ventured had there been +much snow on the ground; but now it is of no consequence. This is quite +the season indeed for friendly meetings. At Christmas every body invites +their friends about them, and people think little of even the worst +weather. I was snowed up at a friend's house once for a week. Nothing +could be pleasanter. I went for only one night, and could not get away +till that very day se'nnight." + +Mr. John Knightley looked as if he did not comprehend the pleasure, but +said only, coolly, + +"I cannot wish to be snowed up a week at Randalls." + +At another time Emma might have been amused, but she was too much +astonished now at Mr. Elton's spirits for other feelings. Harriet seemed +quite forgotten in the expectation of a pleasant party. + +"We are sure of excellent fires," continued he, "and every thing in the +greatest comfort. Charming people, Mr. and Mrs. Weston;--Mrs. Weston +indeed is much beyond praise, and he is exactly what one values, so +hospitable, and so fond of society;--it will be a small party, but where +small parties are select, they are perhaps the most agreeable of any. +Mr. Weston's dining-room does not accommodate more than ten comfortably; +and for my part, I would rather, under such circumstances, fall short by +two than exceed by two. I think you will agree with me, (turning with +a soft air to Emma,) I think I shall certainly have your approbation, +though Mr. Knightley perhaps, from being used to the large parties of +London, may not quite enter into our feelings." + +"I know nothing of the large parties of London, sir--I never dine with +any body." + +"Indeed! (in a tone of wonder and pity,) I had no idea that the law had +been so great a slavery. Well, sir, the time must come when you will +be paid for all this, when you will have little labour and great +enjoyment." + +"My first enjoyment," replied John Knightley, as they passed through the +sweep-gate, "will be to find myself safe at Hartfield again." + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Some change of countenance was necessary for each gentleman as they +walked into Mrs. Weston's drawing-room;--Mr. Elton must compose his +joyous looks, and Mr. John Knightley disperse his ill-humour. Mr. +Elton must smile less, and Mr. John Knightley more, to fit them for the +place.--Emma only might be as nature prompted, and shew herself just as +happy as she was. To her it was real enjoyment to be with the Westons. +Mr. Weston was a great favourite, and there was not a creature in the +world to whom she spoke with such unreserve, as to his wife; not any +one, to whom she related with such conviction of being listened to and +understood, of being always interesting and always intelligible, the +little affairs, arrangements, perplexities, and pleasures of her father +and herself. She could tell nothing of Hartfield, in which Mrs. Weston +had not a lively concern; and half an hour's uninterrupted communication +of all those little matters on which the daily happiness of private life +depends, was one of the first gratifications of each. + +This was a pleasure which perhaps the whole day's visit might not +afford, which certainly did not belong to the present half-hour; but the +very sight of Mrs. Weston, her smile, her touch, her voice was grateful +to Emma, and she determined to think as little as possible of Mr. +Elton's oddities, or of any thing else unpleasant, and enjoy all that +was enjoyable to the utmost. + +The misfortune of Harriet's cold had been pretty well gone through +before her arrival. Mr. Woodhouse had been safely seated long enough +to give the history of it, besides all the history of his own and +Isabella's coming, and of Emma's being to follow, and had indeed just +got to the end of his satisfaction that James should come and see his +daughter, when the others appeared, and Mrs. Weston, who had been almost +wholly engrossed by her attentions to him, was able to turn away and +welcome her dear Emma. + +Emma's project of forgetting Mr. Elton for a while made her rather sorry +to find, when they had all taken their places, that he was close to her. +The difficulty was great of driving his strange insensibility towards +Harriet, from her mind, while he not only sat at her elbow, but +was continually obtruding his happy countenance on her notice, and +solicitously addressing her upon every occasion. Instead of forgetting +him, his behaviour was such that she could not avoid the internal +suggestion of "Can it really be as my brother imagined? can it be +possible for this man to be beginning to transfer his affections from +Harriet to me?--Absurd and insufferable!"--Yet he would be so anxious +for her being perfectly warm, would be so interested about her father, +and so delighted with Mrs. Weston; and at last would begin admiring her +drawings with so much zeal and so little knowledge as seemed terribly +like a would-be lover, and made it some effort with her to preserve her +good manners. For her own sake she could not be rude; and for Harriet's, +in the hope that all would yet turn out right, she was even positively +civil; but it was an effort; especially as something was going on +amongst the others, in the most overpowering period of Mr. Elton's +nonsense, which she particularly wished to listen to. She heard enough +to know that Mr. Weston was giving some information about his son; she +heard the words "my son," and "Frank," and "my son," repeated several +times over; and, from a few other half-syllables very much suspected +that he was announcing an early visit from his son; but before she could +quiet Mr. Elton, the subject was so completely past that any reviving +question from her would have been awkward. + +Now, it so happened that in spite of Emma's resolution of never +marrying, there was something in the name, in the idea of Mr. +Frank Churchill, which always interested her. She had frequently +thought--especially since his father's marriage with Miss Taylor--that +if she _were_ to marry, he was the very person to suit her in age, +character and condition. He seemed by this connexion between the +families, quite to belong to her. She could not but suppose it to be +a match that every body who knew them must think of. That Mr. and Mrs. +Weston did think of it, she was very strongly persuaded; and though +not meaning to be induced by him, or by any body else, to give up a +situation which she believed more replete with good than any she could +change it for, she had a great curiosity to see him, a decided intention +of finding him pleasant, of being liked by him to a certain degree, and +a sort of pleasure in the idea of their being coupled in their friends' +imaginations. + +With such sensations, Mr. Elton's civilities were dreadfully ill-timed; +but she had the comfort of appearing very polite, while feeling very +cross--and of thinking that the rest of the visit could not possibly +pass without bringing forward the same information again, or the +substance of it, from the open-hearted Mr. Weston.--So it proved;--for +when happily released from Mr. Elton, and seated by Mr. Weston, +at dinner, he made use of the very first interval in the cares of +hospitality, the very first leisure from the saddle of mutton, to say to +her, + +"We want only two more to be just the right number. I should like to see +two more here,--your pretty little friend, Miss Smith, and my son--and +then I should say we were quite complete. I believe you did not hear me +telling the others in the drawing-room that we are expecting Frank. +I had a letter from him this morning, and he will be with us within a +fortnight." + +Emma spoke with a very proper degree of pleasure; and fully assented to +his proposition of Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Smith making their party +quite complete. + +"He has been wanting to come to us," continued Mr. Weston, "ever since +September: every letter has been full of it; but he cannot command his +own time. He has those to please who must be pleased, and who (between +ourselves) are sometimes to be pleased only by a good many sacrifices. +But now I have no doubt of seeing him here about the second week in +January." + +"What a very great pleasure it will be to you! and Mrs. Weston is so +anxious to be acquainted with him, that she must be almost as happy as +yourself." + +"Yes, she would be, but that she thinks there will be another put-off. +She does not depend upon his coming so much as I do: but she does not +know the parties so well as I do. The case, you see, is--(but this is +quite between ourselves: I did not mention a syllable of it in the other +room. There are secrets in all families, you know)--The case is, that a +party of friends are invited to pay a visit at Enscombe in January; and +that Frank's coming depends upon their being put off. If they are not +put off, he cannot stir. But I know they will, because it is a family +that a certain lady, of some consequence, at Enscombe, has a particular +dislike to: and though it is thought necessary to invite them once in +two or three years, they always are put off when it comes to the point. +I have not the smallest doubt of the issue. I am as confident of seeing +Frank here before the middle of January, as I am of being here myself: +but your good friend there (nodding towards the upper end of the table) +has so few vagaries herself, and has been so little used to them at +Hartfield, that she cannot calculate on their effects, as I have been +long in the practice of doing." + +"I am sorry there should be any thing like doubt in the case," replied +Emma; "but am disposed to side with you, Mr. Weston. If you think he +will come, I shall think so too; for you know Enscombe." + +"Yes--I have some right to that knowledge; though I have never been at +the place in my life.--She is an odd woman!--But I never allow myself +to speak ill of her, on Frank's account; for I do believe her to be very +fond of him. I used to think she was not capable of being fond of +any body, except herself: but she has always been kind to him (in her +way--allowing for little whims and caprices, and expecting every thing +to be as she likes). And it is no small credit, in my opinion, to him, +that he should excite such an affection; for, though I would not say +it to any body else, she has no more heart than a stone to people in +general; and the devil of a temper." + +Emma liked the subject so well, that she began upon it, to Mrs. Weston, +very soon after their moving into the drawing-room: wishing her joy--yet +observing, that she knew the first meeting must be rather alarming.-- +Mrs. Weston agreed to it; but added, that she should be very glad to be +secure of undergoing the anxiety of a first meeting at the time talked +of: "for I cannot depend upon his coming. I cannot be so sanguine as +Mr. Weston. I am very much afraid that it will all end in nothing. Mr. +Weston, I dare say, has been telling you exactly how the matter stands?" + +"Yes--it seems to depend upon nothing but the ill-humour of Mrs. +Churchill, which I imagine to be the most certain thing in the world." + +"My Emma!" replied Mrs. Weston, smiling, "what is the certainty +of caprice?" Then turning to Isabella, who had not been attending +before--"You must know, my dear Mrs. Knightley, that we are by no means +so sure of seeing Mr. Frank Churchill, in my opinion, as his father +thinks. It depends entirely upon his aunt's spirits and pleasure; in +short, upon her temper. To you--to my two daughters--I may venture on +the truth. Mrs. Churchill rules at Enscombe, and is a very odd-tempered +woman; and his coming now, depends upon her being willing to spare him." + +"Oh, Mrs. Churchill; every body knows Mrs. Churchill," replied Isabella: +"and I am sure I never think of that poor young man without the greatest +compassion. To be constantly living with an ill-tempered person, must +be dreadful. It is what we happily have never known any thing of; but +it must be a life of misery. What a blessing, that she never had any +children! Poor little creatures, how unhappy she would have made them!" + +Emma wished she had been alone with Mrs. Weston. She should then have +heard more: Mrs. Weston would speak to her, with a degree of unreserve +which she would not hazard with Isabella; and, she really believed, +would scarcely try to conceal any thing relative to the Churchills +from her, excepting those views on the young man, of which her own +imagination had already given her such instinctive knowledge. But at +present there was nothing more to be said. Mr. Woodhouse very soon +followed them into the drawing-room. To be sitting long after +dinner, was a confinement that he could not endure. Neither wine nor +conversation was any thing to him; and gladly did he move to those with +whom he was always comfortable. + +While he talked to Isabella, however, Emma found an opportunity of +saying, + +"And so you do not consider this visit from your son as by any means +certain. I am sorry for it. The introduction must be unpleasant, +whenever it takes place; and the sooner it could be over, the better." + +"Yes; and every delay makes one more apprehensive of other delays. Even +if this family, the Braithwaites, are put off, I am still afraid that +some excuse may be found for disappointing us. I cannot bear to imagine +any reluctance on his side; but I am sure there is a great wish on +the Churchills' to keep him to themselves. There is jealousy. They +are jealous even of his regard for his father. In short, I can feel no +dependence on his coming, and I wish Mr. Weston were less sanguine." + +"He ought to come," said Emma. "If he could stay only a couple of days, +he ought to come; and one can hardly conceive a young man's not having +it in his power to do as much as that. A young _woman_, if she fall into +bad hands, may be teased, and kept at a distance from those she wants +to be with; but one cannot comprehend a young _man_'s being under such +restraint, as not to be able to spend a week with his father, if he +likes it." + +"One ought to be at Enscombe, and know the ways of the family, before +one decides upon what he can do," replied Mrs. Weston. "One ought to +use the same caution, perhaps, in judging of the conduct of any one +individual of any one family; but Enscombe, I believe, certainly must +not be judged by general rules: _she_ is so very unreasonable; and every +thing gives way to her." + +"But she is so fond of the nephew: he is so very great a favourite. Now, +according to my idea of Mrs. Churchill, it would be most natural, that +while she makes no sacrifice for the comfort of the husband, to whom she +owes every thing, while she exercises incessant caprice towards _him_, +she should frequently be governed by the nephew, to whom she owes +nothing at all." + +"My dearest Emma, do not pretend, with your sweet temper, to understand +a bad one, or to lay down rules for it: you must let it go its own way. +I have no doubt of his having, at times, considerable influence; but it +may be perfectly impossible for him to know beforehand _when_ it will +be." + +Emma listened, and then coolly said, "I shall not be satisfied, unless +he comes." + +"He may have a great deal of influence on some points," continued Mrs. +Weston, "and on others, very little: and among those, on which she is +beyond his reach, it is but too likely, may be this very circumstance of +his coming away from them to visit us." + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Mr. Woodhouse was soon ready for his tea; and when he had drank his +tea he was quite ready to go home; and it was as much as his three +companions could do, to entertain away his notice of the lateness of +the hour, before the other gentlemen appeared. Mr. Weston was chatty and +convivial, and no friend to early separations of any sort; but at last +the drawing-room party did receive an augmentation. Mr. Elton, in very +good spirits, was one of the first to walk in. Mrs. Weston and Emma +were sitting together on a sofa. He joined them immediately, and, with +scarcely an invitation, seated himself between them. + +Emma, in good spirits too, from the amusement afforded her mind by +the expectation of Mr. Frank Churchill, was willing to forget his late +improprieties, and be as well satisfied with him as before, and on his +making Harriet his very first subject, was ready to listen with most +friendly smiles. + +He professed himself extremely anxious about her fair friend--her fair, +lovely, amiable friend. "Did she know?--had she heard any thing about +her, since their being at Randalls?--he felt much anxiety--he must +confess that the nature of her complaint alarmed him considerably." +And in this style he talked on for some time very properly, not much +attending to any answer, but altogether sufficiently awake to the terror +of a bad sore throat; and Emma was quite in charity with him. + +But at last there seemed a perverse turn; it seemed all at once as if he +were more afraid of its being a bad sore throat on her account, than on +Harriet's--more anxious that she should escape the infection, than +that there should be no infection in the complaint. He began with great +earnestness to entreat her to refrain from visiting the sick-chamber +again, for the present--to entreat her to _promise_ _him_ not to venture +into such hazard till he had seen Mr. Perry and learnt his opinion; and +though she tried to laugh it off and bring the subject back into its +proper course, there was no putting an end to his extreme solicitude +about her. She was vexed. It did appear--there was no concealing +it--exactly like the pretence of being in love with her, instead of +Harriet; an inconstancy, if real, the most contemptible and abominable! +and she had difficulty in behaving with temper. He turned to Mrs. Weston +to implore her assistance, "Would not she give him her support?--would +not she add her persuasions to his, to induce Miss Woodhouse not to go +to Mrs. Goddard's till it were certain that Miss Smith's disorder had +no infection? He could not be satisfied without a promise--would not she +give him her influence in procuring it?" + +"So scrupulous for others," he continued, "and yet so careless for +herself! She wanted me to nurse my cold by staying at home to-day, and +yet will not promise to avoid the danger of catching an ulcerated sore +throat herself. Is this fair, Mrs. Weston?--Judge between us. Have not I +some right to complain? I am sure of your kind support and aid." + +Emma saw Mrs. Weston's surprize, and felt that it must be great, at an +address which, in words and manner, was assuming to himself the right of +first interest in her; and as for herself, she was too much provoked and +offended to have the power of directly saying any thing to the purpose. +She could only give him a look; but it was such a look as she thought +must restore him to his senses, and then left the sofa, removing to a +seat by her sister, and giving her all her attention. + +She had not time to know how Mr. Elton took the reproof, so rapidly did +another subject succeed; for Mr. John Knightley now came into the room +from examining the weather, and opened on them all with the information +of the ground being covered with snow, and of its still snowing +fast, with a strong drifting wind; concluding with these words to Mr. +Woodhouse: + +"This will prove a spirited beginning of your winter engagements, +sir. Something new for your coachman and horses to be making their way +through a storm of snow." + +Poor Mr. Woodhouse was silent from consternation; but every body else +had something to say; every body was either surprized or not surprized, +and had some question to ask, or some comfort to offer. Mrs. Weston +and Emma tried earnestly to cheer him and turn his attention from his +son-in-law, who was pursuing his triumph rather unfeelingly. + +"I admired your resolution very much, sir," said he, "in venturing out +in such weather, for of course you saw there would be snow very soon. +Every body must have seen the snow coming on. I admired your spirit; and +I dare say we shall get home very well. Another hour or two's snow can +hardly make the road impassable; and we are two carriages; if one is +blown over in the bleak part of the common field there will be the other +at hand. I dare say we shall be all safe at Hartfield before midnight." + +Mr. Weston, with triumph of a different sort, was confessing that he +had known it to be snowing some time, but had not said a word, lest +it should make Mr. Woodhouse uncomfortable, and be an excuse for his +hurrying away. As to there being any quantity of snow fallen or likely +to fall to impede their return, that was a mere joke; he was afraid they +would find no difficulty. He wished the road might be impassable, that +he might be able to keep them all at Randalls; and with the utmost +good-will was sure that accommodation might be found for every body, +calling on his wife to agree with him, that with a little contrivance, +every body might be lodged, which she hardly knew how to do, from the +consciousness of there being but two spare rooms in the house. + +"What is to be done, my dear Emma?--what is to be done?" was Mr. +Woodhouse's first exclamation, and all that he could say for some +time. To her he looked for comfort; and her assurances of safety, her +representation of the excellence of the horses, and of James, and of +their having so many friends about them, revived him a little. + +His eldest daughter's alarm was equal to his own. The horror of being +blocked up at Randalls, while her children were at Hartfield, was full +in her imagination; and fancying the road to be now just passable for +adventurous people, but in a state that admitted no delay, she was eager +to have it settled, that her father and Emma should remain at Randalls, +while she and her husband set forward instantly through all the possible +accumulations of drifted snow that might impede them. + +"You had better order the carriage directly, my love," said she; "I dare +say we shall be able to get along, if we set off directly; and if we +do come to any thing very bad, I can get out and walk. I am not at all +afraid. I should not mind walking half the way. I could change my shoes, +you know, the moment I got home; and it is not the sort of thing that +gives me cold." + +"Indeed!" replied he. "Then, my dear Isabella, it is the most +extraordinary sort of thing in the world, for in general every thing +does give you cold. Walk home!--you are prettily shod for walking home, +I dare say. It will be bad enough for the horses." + +Isabella turned to Mrs. Weston for her approbation of the plan. Mrs. +Weston could only approve. Isabella then went to Emma; but Emma could +not so entirely give up the hope of their being all able to get away; +and they were still discussing the point, when Mr. Knightley, who had +left the room immediately after his brother's first report of the snow, +came back again, and told them that he had been out of doors to examine, +and could answer for there not being the smallest difficulty in their +getting home, whenever they liked it, either now or an hour hence. He +had gone beyond the sweep--some way along the Highbury road--the snow +was nowhere above half an inch deep--in many places hardly enough to +whiten the ground; a very few flakes were falling at present, but the +clouds were parting, and there was every appearance of its being soon +over. He had seen the coachmen, and they both agreed with him in there +being nothing to apprehend. + +To Isabella, the relief of such tidings was very great, and they were +scarcely less acceptable to Emma on her father's account, who +was immediately set as much at ease on the subject as his nervous +constitution allowed; but the alarm that had been raised could not be +appeased so as to admit of any comfort for him while he continued at +Randalls. He was satisfied of there being no present danger in returning +home, but no assurances could convince him that it was safe to stay; and +while the others were variously urging and recommending, Mr. Knightley +and Emma settled it in a few brief sentences: thus-- + +"Your father will not be easy; why do not you go?" + +"I am ready, if the others are." + +"Shall I ring the bell?" + +"Yes, do." + +And the bell was rung, and the carriages spoken for. A few minutes more, +and Emma hoped to see one troublesome companion deposited in his own +house, to get sober and cool, and the other recover his temper and +happiness when this visit of hardship were over. + +The carriage came: and Mr. Woodhouse, always the first object on such +occasions, was carefully attended to his own by Mr. Knightley and Mr. +Weston; but not all that either could say could prevent some renewal +of alarm at the sight of the snow which had actually fallen, and the +discovery of a much darker night than he had been prepared for. "He was +afraid they should have a very bad drive. He was afraid poor Isabella +would not like it. And there would be poor Emma in the carriage behind. +He did not know what they had best do. They must keep as much together +as they could;" and James was talked to, and given a charge to go very +slow and wait for the other carriage. + +Isabella stept in after her father; John Knightley, forgetting that he +did not belong to their party, stept in after his wife very naturally; +so that Emma found, on being escorted and followed into the second +carriage by Mr. Elton, that the door was to be lawfully shut on them, +and that they were to have a tete-a-tete drive. It would not have been +the awkwardness of a moment, it would have been rather a pleasure, +previous to the suspicions of this very day; she could have talked to +him of Harriet, and the three-quarters of a mile would have seemed but +one. But now, she would rather it had not happened. She believed he had +been drinking too much of Mr. Weston's good wine, and felt sure that he +would want to be talking nonsense. + +To restrain him as much as might be, by her own manners, she was +immediately preparing to speak with exquisite calmness and gravity of +the weather and the night; but scarcely had she begun, scarcely had they +passed the sweep-gate and joined the other carriage, than she found her +subject cut up--her hand seized--her attention demanded, and Mr. Elton +actually making violent love to her: availing himself of the precious +opportunity, declaring sentiments which must be already well known, +hoping--fearing--adoring--ready to die if she refused him; but +flattering himself that his ardent attachment and unequalled love and +unexampled passion could not fail of having some effect, and in short, +very much resolved on being seriously accepted as soon as possible. It +really was so. Without scruple--without apology--without much apparent +diffidence, Mr. Elton, the lover of Harriet, was professing himself +_her_ lover. She tried to stop him; but vainly; he would go on, and say +it all. Angry as she was, the thought of the moment made her resolve to +restrain herself when she did speak. She felt that half this folly must +be drunkenness, and therefore could hope that it might belong only to +the passing hour. Accordingly, with a mixture of the serious and the +playful, which she hoped would best suit his half and half state, she +replied, + +"I am very much astonished, Mr. Elton. This to _me_! you forget +yourself--you take me for my friend--any message to Miss Smith I shall +be happy to deliver; but no more of this to _me_, if you please." + +"Miss Smith!--message to Miss Smith!--What could she possibly +mean!"--And he repeated her words with such assurance of accent, such +boastful pretence of amazement, that she could not help replying with +quickness, + +"Mr. Elton, this is the most extraordinary conduct! and I can account +for it only in one way; you are not yourself, or you could not speak +either to me, or of Harriet, in such a manner. Command yourself enough +to say no more, and I will endeavour to forget it." + +But Mr. Elton had only drunk wine enough to elevate his spirits, not at +all to confuse his intellects. He perfectly knew his own meaning; and +having warmly protested against her suspicion as most injurious, and +slightly touched upon his respect for Miss Smith as her friend,--but +acknowledging his wonder that Miss Smith should be mentioned at all,--he +resumed the subject of his own passion, and was very urgent for a +favourable answer. + +As she thought less of his inebriety, she thought more of his +inconstancy and presumption; and with fewer struggles for politeness, +replied, + +"It is impossible for me to doubt any longer. You have made yourself +too clear. Mr. Elton, my astonishment is much beyond any thing I can +express. After such behaviour, as I have witnessed during the last +month, to Miss Smith--such attentions as I have been in the daily +habit of observing--to be addressing me in this manner--this is an +unsteadiness of character, indeed, which I had not supposed possible! +Believe me, sir, I am far, very far, from gratified in being the object +of such professions." + +"Good Heaven!" cried Mr. Elton, "what can be the meaning of this?--Miss +Smith!--I never thought of Miss Smith in the whole course of my +existence--never paid her any attentions, but as your friend: never +cared whether she were dead or alive, but as your friend. If she +has fancied otherwise, her own wishes have misled her, and I am very +sorry--extremely sorry--But, Miss Smith, indeed!--Oh! Miss Woodhouse! +who can think of Miss Smith, when Miss Woodhouse is near! No, upon my +honour, there is no unsteadiness of character. I have thought only of +you. I protest against having paid the smallest attention to any one +else. Every thing that I have said or done, for many weeks past, has +been with the sole view of marking my adoration of yourself. You +cannot really, seriously, doubt it. No!--(in an accent meant to be +insinuating)--I am sure you have seen and understood me." + +It would be impossible to say what Emma felt, on hearing this--which +of all her unpleasant sensations was uppermost. She was too completely +overpowered to be immediately able to reply: and two moments of silence +being ample encouragement for Mr. Elton's sanguine state of mind, he +tried to take her hand again, as he joyously exclaimed-- + +"Charming Miss Woodhouse! allow me to interpret this interesting +silence. It confesses that you have long understood me." + +"No, sir," cried Emma, "it confesses no such thing. So far from having +long understood you, I have been in a most complete error with respect +to your views, till this moment. As to myself, I am very sorry that you +should have been giving way to any feelings--Nothing could be farther +from my wishes--your attachment to my friend Harriet--your pursuit of +her, (pursuit, it appeared,) gave me great pleasure, and I have been +very earnestly wishing you success: but had I supposed that she were not +your attraction to Hartfield, I should certainly have thought you judged +ill in making your visits so frequent. Am I to believe that you have +never sought to recommend yourself particularly to Miss Smith?--that you +have never thought seriously of her?" + +"Never, madam," cried he, affronted in his turn: "never, I assure you. +_I_ think seriously of Miss Smith!--Miss Smith is a very good sort of +girl; and I should be happy to see her respectably settled. I wish +her extremely well: and, no doubt, there are men who might not object +to--Every body has their level: but as for myself, I am not, I think, +quite so much at a loss. I need not so totally despair of an equal +alliance, as to be addressing myself to Miss Smith!--No, madam, my +visits to Hartfield have been for yourself only; and the encouragement I +received--" + +"Encouragement!--I give you encouragement!--Sir, you have been entirely +mistaken in supposing it. I have seen you only as the admirer of my +friend. In no other light could you have been more to me than a common +acquaintance. I am exceedingly sorry: but it is well that the mistake +ends where it does. Had the same behaviour continued, Miss Smith might +have been led into a misconception of your views; not being aware, +probably, any more than myself, of the very great inequality which you +are so sensible of. But, as it is, the disappointment is single, and, I +trust, will not be lasting. I have no thoughts of matrimony at present." + +He was too angry to say another word; her manner too decided to invite +supplication; and in this state of swelling resentment, and mutually +deep mortification, they had to continue together a few minutes longer, +for the fears of Mr. Woodhouse had confined them to a foot-pace. If +there had not been so much anger, there would have been desperate +awkwardness; but their straightforward emotions left no room for the +little zigzags of embarrassment. Without knowing when the carriage +turned into Vicarage Lane, or when it stopped, they found themselves, +all at once, at the door of his house; and he was out before another +syllable passed.--Emma then felt it indispensable to wish him a good +night. The compliment was just returned, coldly and proudly; and, under +indescribable irritation of spirits, she was then conveyed to Hartfield. + +There she was welcomed, with the utmost delight, by her father, who +had been trembling for the dangers of a solitary drive from Vicarage +Lane--turning a corner which he could never bear to think of--and in +strange hands--a mere common coachman--no James; and there it seemed as +if her return only were wanted to make every thing go well: for Mr. +John Knightley, ashamed of his ill-humour, was now all kindness and +attention; and so particularly solicitous for the comfort of her +father, as to seem--if not quite ready to join him in a basin of +gruel--perfectly sensible of its being exceedingly wholesome; and the +day was concluding in peace and comfort to all their little party, +except herself.--But her mind had never been in such perturbation; and +it needed a very strong effort to appear attentive and cheerful till the +usual hour of separating allowed her the relief of quiet reflection. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +The hair was curled, and the maid sent away, and Emma sat down to think +and be miserable.--It was a wretched business indeed!--Such an overthrow +of every thing she had been wishing for!--Such a development of every +thing most unwelcome!--Such a blow for Harriet!--that was the worst +of all. Every part of it brought pain and humiliation, of some sort or +other; but, compared with the evil to Harriet, all was light; and +she would gladly have submitted to feel yet more mistaken--more in +error--more disgraced by mis-judgment, than she actually was, could the +effects of her blunders have been confined to herself. + +"If I had not persuaded Harriet into liking the man, I could have +borne any thing. He might have doubled his presumption to me--but poor +Harriet!" + +How she could have been so deceived!--He protested that he had never +thought seriously of Harriet--never! She looked back as well as +she could; but it was all confusion. She had taken up the idea, she +supposed, and made every thing bend to it. His manners, however, must +have been unmarked, wavering, dubious, or she could not have been so +misled. + +The picture!--How eager he had been about the picture!--and the +charade!--and an hundred other circumstances;--how clearly they had +seemed to point at Harriet. To be sure, the charade, with its "ready +wit"--but then the "soft eyes"--in fact it suited neither; it was +a jumble without taste or truth. Who could have seen through such +thick-headed nonsense? + +Certainly she had often, especially of late, thought his manners to +herself unnecessarily gallant; but it had passed as his way, as a mere +error of judgment, of knowledge, of taste, as one proof among others +that he had not always lived in the best society, that with all the +gentleness of his address, true elegance was sometimes wanting; but, +till this very day, she had never, for an instant, suspected it to mean +any thing but grateful respect to her as Harriet's friend. + +To Mr. John Knightley was she indebted for her first idea on the +subject, for the first start of its possibility. There was no denying +that those brothers had penetration. She remembered what Mr. Knightley +had once said to her about Mr. Elton, the caution he had given, +the conviction he had professed that Mr. Elton would never marry +indiscreetly; and blushed to think how much truer a knowledge of his +character had been there shewn than any she had reached herself. It +was dreadfully mortifying; but Mr. Elton was proving himself, in many +respects, the very reverse of what she had meant and believed him; +proud, assuming, conceited; very full of his own claims, and little +concerned about the feelings of others. + +Contrary to the usual course of things, Mr. Elton's wanting to pay his +addresses to her had sunk him in her opinion. His professions and his +proposals did him no service. She thought nothing of his attachment, +and was insulted by his hopes. He wanted to marry well, and having the +arrogance to raise his eyes to her, pretended to be in love; but she was +perfectly easy as to his not suffering any disappointment that need be +cared for. There had been no real affection either in his language or +manners. Sighs and fine words had been given in abundance; but she could +hardly devise any set of expressions, or fancy any tone of voice, less +allied with real love. She need not trouble herself to pity him. He +only wanted to aggrandise and enrich himself; and if Miss Woodhouse +of Hartfield, the heiress of thirty thousand pounds, were not quite so +easily obtained as he had fancied, he would soon try for Miss Somebody +else with twenty, or with ten. + +But--that he should talk of encouragement, should consider her as aware +of his views, accepting his attentions, meaning (in short), to marry +him!--should suppose himself her equal in connexion or mind!--look down +upon her friend, so well understanding the gradations of rank below +him, and be so blind to what rose above, as to fancy himself shewing no +presumption in addressing her!--It was most provoking. + +Perhaps it was not fair to expect him to feel how very much he was her +inferior in talent, and all the elegancies of mind. The very want of +such equality might prevent his perception of it; but he must know that +in fortune and consequence she was greatly his superior. He must +know that the Woodhouses had been settled for several generations at +Hartfield, the younger branch of a very ancient family--and that the +Eltons were nobody. The landed property of Hartfield certainly was +inconsiderable, being but a sort of notch in the Donwell Abbey estate, +to which all the rest of Highbury belonged; but their fortune, from +other sources, was such as to make them scarcely secondary to Donwell +Abbey itself, in every other kind of consequence; and the Woodhouses had +long held a high place in the consideration of the neighbourhood which +Mr. Elton had first entered not two years ago, to make his way as he +could, without any alliances but in trade, or any thing to recommend him +to notice but his situation and his civility.--But he had fancied her +in love with him; that evidently must have been his dependence; and +after raving a little about the seeming incongruity of gentle manners +and a conceited head, Emma was obliged in common honesty to stop +and admit that her own behaviour to him had been so complaisant and +obliging, so full of courtesy and attention, as (supposing her real +motive unperceived) might warrant a man of ordinary observation and +delicacy, like Mr. Elton, in fancying himself a very decided favourite. +If _she_ had so misinterpreted his feelings, she had little right to +wonder that _he_, with self-interest to blind him, should have mistaken +hers. + +The first error and the worst lay at her door. It was foolish, it was +wrong, to take so active a part in bringing any two people together. It +was adventuring too far, assuming too much, making light of what +ought to be serious, a trick of what ought to be simple. She was quite +concerned and ashamed, and resolved to do such things no more. + +"Here have I," said she, "actually talked poor Harriet into being very +much attached to this man. She might never have thought of him but for +me; and certainly never would have thought of him with hope, if I had +not assured her of his attachment, for she is as modest and humble as I +used to think him. Oh! that I had been satisfied with persuading her not +to accept young Martin. There I was quite right. That was well done +of me; but there I should have stopped, and left the rest to time and +chance. I was introducing her into good company, and giving her the +opportunity of pleasing some one worth having; I ought not to have +attempted more. But now, poor girl, her peace is cut up for some time. +I have been but half a friend to her; and if she were _not_ to feel this +disappointment so very much, I am sure I have not an idea of any body +else who would be at all desirable for her;--William Coxe--Oh! no, I +could not endure William Coxe--a pert young lawyer." + +She stopt to blush and laugh at her own relapse, and then resumed a more +serious, more dispiriting cogitation upon what had been, and might be, +and must be. The distressing explanation she had to make to Harriet, and +all that poor Harriet would be suffering, with the awkwardness of +future meetings, the difficulties of continuing or discontinuing the +acquaintance, of subduing feelings, concealing resentment, and avoiding +eclat, were enough to occupy her in most unmirthful reflections some +time longer, and she went to bed at last with nothing settled but the +conviction of her having blundered most dreadfully. + +To youth and natural cheerfulness like Emma's, though under temporary +gloom at night, the return of day will hardly fail to bring return of +spirits. The youth and cheerfulness of morning are in happy analogy, +and of powerful operation; and if the distress be not poignant enough +to keep the eyes unclosed, they will be sure to open to sensations of +softened pain and brighter hope. + +Emma got up on the morrow more disposed for comfort than she had gone +to bed, more ready to see alleviations of the evil before her, and to +depend on getting tolerably out of it. + +It was a great consolation that Mr. Elton should not be really in +love with her, or so particularly amiable as to make it shocking to +disappoint him--that Harriet's nature should not be of that superior +sort in which the feelings are most acute and retentive--and that there +could be no necessity for any body's knowing what had passed except the +three principals, and especially for her father's being given a moment's +uneasiness about it. + +These were very cheering thoughts; and the sight of a great deal of snow +on the ground did her further service, for any thing was welcome that +might justify their all three being quite asunder at present. + +The weather was most favourable for her; though Christmas Day, she +could not go to church. Mr. Woodhouse would have been miserable had his +daughter attempted it, and she was therefore safe from either exciting +or receiving unpleasant and most unsuitable ideas. The ground covered +with snow, and the atmosphere in that unsettled state between frost and +thaw, which is of all others the most unfriendly for exercise, every +morning beginning in rain or snow, and every evening setting in to +freeze, she was for many days a most honourable prisoner. No intercourse +with Harriet possible but by note; no church for her on Sunday any +more than on Christmas Day; and no need to find excuses for Mr. Elton's +absenting himself. + +It was weather which might fairly confine every body at home; and though +she hoped and believed him to be really taking comfort in some society +or other, it was very pleasant to have her father so well satisfied with +his being all alone in his own house, too wise to stir out; and to +hear him say to Mr. Knightley, whom no weather could keep entirely from +them,-- + +"Ah! Mr. Knightley, why do not you stay at home like poor Mr. Elton?" + +These days of confinement would have been, but for her private +perplexities, remarkably comfortable, as such seclusion exactly suited +her brother, whose feelings must always be of great importance to +his companions; and he had, besides, so thoroughly cleared off his +ill-humour at Randalls, that his amiableness never failed him during the +rest of his stay at Hartfield. He was always agreeable and obliging, +and speaking pleasantly of every body. But with all the hopes of +cheerfulness, and all the present comfort of delay, there was still such +an evil hanging over her in the hour of explanation with Harriet, as +made it impossible for Emma to be ever perfectly at ease. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley were not detained long at Hartfield. The +weather soon improved enough for those to move who must move; and Mr. +Woodhouse having, as usual, tried to persuade his daughter to stay +behind with all her children, was obliged to see the whole party +set off, and return to his lamentations over the destiny of poor +Isabella;--which poor Isabella, passing her life with those she doated +on, full of their merits, blind to their faults, and always innocently +busy, might have been a model of right feminine happiness. + +The evening of the very day on which they went brought a note from Mr. +Elton to Mr. Woodhouse, a long, civil, ceremonious note, to say, with +Mr. Elton's best compliments, "that he was proposing to leave Highbury +the following morning in his way to Bath; where, in compliance with +the pressing entreaties of some friends, he had engaged to spend a few +weeks, and very much regretted the impossibility he was under, from +various circumstances of weather and business, of taking a personal +leave of Mr. Woodhouse, of whose friendly civilities he should ever +retain a grateful sense--and had Mr. Woodhouse any commands, should be +happy to attend to them." + +Emma was most agreeably surprized.--Mr. Elton's absence just at this +time was the very thing to be desired. She admired him for contriving +it, though not able to give him much credit for the manner in which it +was announced. Resentment could not have been more plainly spoken than +in a civility to her father, from which she was so pointedly excluded. +She had not even a share in his opening compliments.--Her name was not +mentioned;--and there was so striking a change in all this, and such an +ill-judged solemnity of leave-taking in his graceful acknowledgments, as +she thought, at first, could not escape her father's suspicion. + +It did, however.--Her father was quite taken up with the surprize of so +sudden a journey, and his fears that Mr. Elton might never get safely to +the end of it, and saw nothing extraordinary in his language. It was a +very useful note, for it supplied them with fresh matter for thought +and conversation during the rest of their lonely evening. Mr. Woodhouse +talked over his alarms, and Emma was in spirits to persuade them away +with all her usual promptitude. + +She now resolved to keep Harriet no longer in the dark. She had reason +to believe her nearly recovered from her cold, and it was desirable that +she should have as much time as possible for getting the better of +her other complaint before the gentleman's return. She went to Mrs. +Goddard's accordingly the very next day, to undergo the necessary +penance of communication; and a severe one it was.--She had to destroy +all the hopes which she had been so industriously feeding--to appear in +the ungracious character of the one preferred--and acknowledge herself +grossly mistaken and mis-judging in all her ideas on one subject, all +her observations, all her convictions, all her prophecies for the last +six weeks. + +The confession completely renewed her first shame--and the sight of +Harriet's tears made her think that she should never be in charity with +herself again. + +Harriet bore the intelligence very well--blaming nobody--and in every +thing testifying such an ingenuousness of disposition and lowly opinion +of herself, as must appear with particular advantage at that moment to +her friend. + +Emma was in the humour to value simplicity and modesty to the utmost; +and all that was amiable, all that ought to be attaching, seemed on +Harriet's side, not her own. Harriet did not consider herself as having +any thing to complain of. The affection of such a man as Mr. Elton +would have been too great a distinction.--She never could have deserved +him--and nobody but so partial and kind a friend as Miss Woodhouse would +have thought it possible. + +Her tears fell abundantly--but her grief was so truly artless, that +no dignity could have made it more respectable in Emma's eyes--and +she listened to her and tried to console her with all her heart and +understanding--really for the time convinced that Harriet was the +superior creature of the two--and that to resemble her would be more for +her own welfare and happiness than all that genius or intelligence could +do. + +It was rather too late in the day to set about being simple-minded and +ignorant; but she left her with every previous resolution confirmed of +being humble and discreet, and repressing imagination all the rest of +her life. Her second duty now, inferior only to her father's claims, was +to promote Harriet's comfort, and endeavour to prove her own affection +in some better method than by match-making. She got her to Hartfield, +and shewed her the most unvarying kindness, striving to occupy and +amuse her, and by books and conversation, to drive Mr. Elton from her +thoughts. + +Time, she knew, must be allowed for this being thoroughly done; and +she could suppose herself but an indifferent judge of such matters in +general, and very inadequate to sympathise in an attachment to Mr. Elton +in particular; but it seemed to her reasonable that at Harriet's age, +and with the entire extinction of all hope, such a progress might be +made towards a state of composure by the time of Mr. Elton's return, as +to allow them all to meet again in the common routine of acquaintance, +without any danger of betraying sentiments or increasing them. + +Harriet did think him all perfection, and maintained the non-existence +of any body equal to him in person or goodness--and did, in truth, +prove herself more resolutely in love than Emma had foreseen; but yet +it appeared to her so natural, so inevitable to strive against an +inclination of that sort _unrequited_, that she could not comprehend its +continuing very long in equal force. + +If Mr. Elton, on his return, made his own indifference as evident and +indubitable as she could not doubt he would anxiously do, she could not +imagine Harriet's persisting to place her happiness in the sight or the +recollection of him. + +Their being fixed, so absolutely fixed, in the same place, was bad for +each, for all three. Not one of them had the power of removal, or of +effecting any material change of society. They must encounter each +other, and make the best of it. + +Harriet was farther unfortunate in the tone of her companions at Mrs. +Goddard's; Mr. Elton being the adoration of all the teachers and great +girls in the school; and it must be at Hartfield only that she could +have any chance of hearing him spoken of with cooling moderation or +repellent truth. Where the wound had been given, there must the cure be +found if anywhere; and Emma felt that, till she saw her in the way of +cure, there could be no true peace for herself. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +Mr. Frank Churchill did not come. When the time proposed drew near, Mrs. +Weston's fears were justified in the arrival of a letter of excuse. For +the present, he could not be spared, to his "very great mortification +and regret; but still he looked forward with the hope of coming to +Randalls at no distant period." + +Mrs. Weston was exceedingly disappointed--much more disappointed, in +fact, than her husband, though her dependence on seeing the young man +had been so much more sober: but a sanguine temper, though for ever +expecting more good than occurs, does not always pay for its hopes by +any proportionate depression. It soon flies over the present failure, +and begins to hope again. For half an hour Mr. Weston was surprized and +sorry; but then he began to perceive that Frank's coming two or three +months later would be a much better plan; better time of year; +better weather; and that he would be able, without any doubt, to stay +considerably longer with them than if he had come sooner. + +These feelings rapidly restored his comfort, while Mrs. Weston, of +a more apprehensive disposition, foresaw nothing but a repetition of +excuses and delays; and after all her concern for what her husband was +to suffer, suffered a great deal more herself. + +Emma was not at this time in a state of spirits to care really about Mr. +Frank Churchill's not coming, except as a disappointment at Randalls. +The acquaintance at present had no charm for her. She wanted, rather, to +be quiet, and out of temptation; but still, as it was desirable that she +should appear, in general, like her usual self, she took care to express +as much interest in the circumstance, and enter as warmly into Mr. +and Mrs. Weston's disappointment, as might naturally belong to their +friendship. + +She was the first to announce it to Mr. Knightley; and exclaimed quite +as much as was necessary, (or, being acting a part, perhaps rather +more,) at the conduct of the Churchills, in keeping him away. She then +proceeded to say a good deal more than she felt, of the advantage of +such an addition to their confined society in Surry; the pleasure of +looking at somebody new; the gala-day to Highbury entire, which the +sight of him would have made; and ending with reflections on the +Churchills again, found herself directly involved in a disagreement +with Mr. Knightley; and, to her great amusement, perceived that she was +taking the other side of the question from her real opinion, and making +use of Mrs. Weston's arguments against herself. + +"The Churchills are very likely in fault," said Mr. Knightley, coolly; +"but I dare say he might come if he would." + +"I do not know why you should say so. He wishes exceedingly to come; but +his uncle and aunt will not spare him." + +"I cannot believe that he has not the power of coming, if he made a +point of it. It is too unlikely, for me to believe it without proof." + +"How odd you are! What has Mr. Frank Churchill done, to make you suppose +him such an unnatural creature?" + +"I am not supposing him at all an unnatural creature, in suspecting that +he may have learnt to be above his connexions, and to care very little +for any thing but his own pleasure, from living with those who have +always set him the example of it. It is a great deal more natural than +one could wish, that a young man, brought up by those who are proud, +luxurious, and selfish, should be proud, luxurious, and selfish too. If +Frank Churchill had wanted to see his father, he would have contrived it +between September and January. A man at his age--what is he?--three or +four-and-twenty--cannot be without the means of doing as much as that. +It is impossible." + +"That's easily said, and easily felt by you, who have always been your +own master. You are the worst judge in the world, Mr. Knightley, of the +difficulties of dependence. You do not know what it is to have tempers +to manage." + +"It is not to be conceived that a man of three or four-and-twenty +should not have liberty of mind or limb to that amount. He cannot want +money--he cannot want leisure. We know, on the contrary, that he has so +much of both, that he is glad to get rid of them at the idlest haunts in +the kingdom. We hear of him for ever at some watering-place or other. A +little while ago, he was at Weymouth. This proves that he can leave the +Churchills." + +"Yes, sometimes he can." + +"And those times are whenever he thinks it worth his while; whenever +there is any temptation of pleasure." + +"It is very unfair to judge of any body's conduct, without an intimate +knowledge of their situation. Nobody, who has not been in the interior +of a family, can say what the difficulties of any individual of that +family may be. We ought to be acquainted with Enscombe, and with Mrs. +Churchill's temper, before we pretend to decide upon what her nephew +can do. He may, at times, be able to do a great deal more than he can at +others." + +"There is one thing, Emma, which a man can always do, if he chuses, and +that is, his duty; not by manoeuvring and finessing, but by vigour and +resolution. It is Frank Churchill's duty to pay this attention to his +father. He knows it to be so, by his promises and messages; but if he +wished to do it, it might be done. A man who felt rightly would say at +once, simply and resolutely, to Mrs. Churchill--'Every sacrifice of +mere pleasure you will always find me ready to make to your convenience; +but I must go and see my father immediately. I know he would be hurt by +my failing in such a mark of respect to him on the present occasion. +I shall, therefore, set off to-morrow.'--If he would say so to her +at once, in the tone of decision becoming a man, there would be no +opposition made to his going." + +"No," said Emma, laughing; "but perhaps there might be some made to his +coming back again. Such language for a young man entirely dependent, to +use!--Nobody but you, Mr. Knightley, would imagine it possible. But you +have not an idea of what is requisite in situations directly opposite to +your own. Mr. Frank Churchill to be making such a speech as that to +the uncle and aunt, who have brought him up, and are to provide for +him!--Standing up in the middle of the room, I suppose, and speaking as +loud as he could!--How can you imagine such conduct practicable?" + +"Depend upon it, Emma, a sensible man would find no difficulty in it. He +would feel himself in the right; and the declaration--made, of course, +as a man of sense would make it, in a proper manner--would do him more +good, raise him higher, fix his interest stronger with the people he +depended on, than all that a line of shifts and expedients can ever do. +Respect would be added to affection. They would feel that they could +trust him; that the nephew who had done rightly by his father, would do +rightly by them; for they know, as well as he does, as well as all the +world must know, that he ought to pay this visit to his father; and +while meanly exerting their power to delay it, are in their hearts not +thinking the better of him for submitting to their whims. Respect for +right conduct is felt by every body. If he would act in this sort of +manner, on principle, consistently, regularly, their little minds would +bend to his." + +"I rather doubt that. You are very fond of bending little minds; but +where little minds belong to rich people in authority, I think they have +a knack of swelling out, till they are quite as unmanageable as great +ones. I can imagine, that if you, as you are, Mr. Knightley, were to be +transported and placed all at once in Mr. Frank Churchill's situation, +you would be able to say and do just what you have been recommending for +him; and it might have a very good effect. The Churchills might not have +a word to say in return; but then, you would have no habits of early +obedience and long observance to break through. To him who has, it might +not be so easy to burst forth at once into perfect independence, and set +all their claims on his gratitude and regard at nought. He may have as +strong a sense of what would be right, as you can have, without being so +equal, under particular circumstances, to act up to it." + +"Then it would not be so strong a sense. If it failed to produce equal +exertion, it could not be an equal conviction." + +"Oh, the difference of situation and habit! I wish you would try to +understand what an amiable young man may be likely to feel in directly +opposing those, whom as child and boy he has been looking up to all his +life." + +"Our amiable young man is a very weak young man, if this be the first +occasion of his carrying through a resolution to do right against the +will of others. It ought to have been a habit with him by this time, of +following his duty, instead of consulting expediency. I can allow for +the fears of the child, but not of the man. As he became rational, he +ought to have roused himself and shaken off all that was unworthy in +their authority. He ought to have opposed the first attempt on their +side to make him slight his father. Had he begun as he ought, there +would have been no difficulty now." + +"We shall never agree about him," cried Emma; "but that is nothing +extraordinary. I have not the least idea of his being a weak young man: +I feel sure that he is not. Mr. Weston would not be blind to folly, +though in his own son; but he is very likely to have a more yielding, +complying, mild disposition than would suit your notions of man's +perfection. I dare say he has; and though it may cut him off from some +advantages, it will secure him many others." + +"Yes; all the advantages of sitting still when he ought to move, and +of leading a life of mere idle pleasure, and fancying himself extremely +expert in finding excuses for it. He can sit down and write a fine +flourishing letter, full of professions and falsehoods, and persuade +himself that he has hit upon the very best method in the world of +preserving peace at home and preventing his father's having any right to +complain. His letters disgust me." + +"Your feelings are singular. They seem to satisfy every body else." + +"I suspect they do not satisfy Mrs. Weston. They hardly can satisfy +a woman of her good sense and quick feelings: standing in a mother's +place, but without a mother's affection to blind her. It is on her +account that attention to Randalls is doubly due, and she must doubly +feel the omission. Had she been a person of consequence herself, he +would have come I dare say; and it would not have signified whether +he did or no. Can you think your friend behindhand in these sort of +considerations? Do you suppose she does not often say all this to +herself? No, Emma, your amiable young man can be amiable only in French, +not in English. He may be very 'aimable,' have very good manners, and be +very agreeable; but he can have no English delicacy towards the feelings +of other people: nothing really amiable about him." + +"You seem determined to think ill of him." + +"Me!--not at all," replied Mr. Knightley, rather displeased; "I do not +want to think ill of him. I should be as ready to acknowledge his merits +as any other man; but I hear of none, except what are merely personal; +that he is well-grown and good-looking, with smooth, plausible manners." + +"Well, if he have nothing else to recommend him, he will be a treasure +at Highbury. We do not often look upon fine young men, well-bred and +agreeable. We must not be nice and ask for all the virtues into the +bargain. Cannot you imagine, Mr. Knightley, what a _sensation_ his +coming will produce? There will be but one subject throughout the +parishes of Donwell and Highbury; but one interest--one object of +curiosity; it will be all Mr. Frank Churchill; we shall think and speak +of nobody else." + +"You will excuse my being so much over-powered. If I find him +conversable, I shall be glad of his acquaintance; but if he is only a +chattering coxcomb, he will not occupy much of my time or thoughts." + +"My idea of him is, that he can adapt his conversation to the taste of +every body, and has the power as well as the wish of being universally +agreeable. To you, he will talk of farming; to me, of drawing or music; +and so on to every body, having that general information on all subjects +which will enable him to follow the lead, or take the lead, just as +propriety may require, and to speak extremely well on each; that is my +idea of him." + +"And mine," said Mr. Knightley warmly, "is, that if he turn out any +thing like it, he will be the most insufferable fellow breathing! What! +at three-and-twenty to be the king of his company--the great man--the +practised politician, who is to read every body's character, and make +every body's talents conduce to the display of his own superiority; to +be dispensing his flatteries around, that he may make all appear like +fools compared with himself! My dear Emma, your own good sense could not +endure such a puppy when it came to the point." + +"I will say no more about him," cried Emma, "you turn every thing to +evil. We are both prejudiced; you against, I for him; and we have no +chance of agreeing till he is really here." + +"Prejudiced! I am not prejudiced." + +"But I am very much, and without being at all ashamed of it. My love for +Mr. and Mrs. Weston gives me a decided prejudice in his favour." + +"He is a person I never think of from one month's end to another," said +Mr. Knightley, with a degree of vexation, which made Emma immediately +talk of something else, though she could not comprehend why he should be +angry. + +To take a dislike to a young man, only because he appeared to be of a +different disposition from himself, was unworthy the real liberality of +mind which she was always used to acknowledge in him; for with all the +high opinion of himself, which she had often laid to his charge, she had +never before for a moment supposed it could make him unjust to the merit +of another. + + + + +VOLUME II + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Emma and Harriet had been walking together one morning, and, in Emma's +opinion, had been talking enough of Mr. Elton for that day. She could +not think that Harriet's solace or her own sins required more; and +she was therefore industriously getting rid of the subject as they +returned;--but it burst out again when she thought she had succeeded, +and after speaking some time of what the poor must suffer in winter, and +receiving no other answer than a very plaintive--"Mr. Elton is so good +to the poor!" she found something else must be done. + +They were just approaching the house where lived Mrs. and Miss Bates. +She determined to call upon them and seek safety in numbers. There was +always sufficient reason for such an attention; Mrs. and Miss Bates +loved to be called on, and she knew she was considered by the very few +who presumed ever to see imperfection in her, as rather negligent in +that respect, and as not contributing what she ought to the stock of +their scanty comforts. + +She had had many a hint from Mr. Knightley and some from her own heart, +as to her deficiency--but none were equal to counteract the persuasion +of its being very disagreeable,--a waste of time--tiresome women--and +all the horror of being in danger of falling in with the second-rate and +third-rate of Highbury, who were calling on them for ever, and therefore +she seldom went near them. But now she made the sudden resolution of not +passing their door without going in--observing, as she proposed it to +Harriet, that, as well as she could calculate, they were just now quite +safe from any letter from Jane Fairfax. + +The house belonged to people in business. Mrs. and Miss Bates occupied +the drawing-room floor; and there, in the very moderate-sized apartment, +which was every thing to them, the visitors were most cordially and even +gratefully welcomed; the quiet neat old lady, who with her knitting was +seated in the warmest corner, wanting even to give up her place to +Miss Woodhouse, and her more active, talking daughter, almost ready +to overpower them with care and kindness, thanks for their visit, +solicitude for their shoes, anxious inquiries after Mr. Woodhouse's +health, cheerful communications about her mother's, and sweet-cake from +the beaufet--"Mrs. Cole had just been there, just called in for ten +minutes, and had been so good as to sit an hour with them, and _she_ had +taken a piece of cake and been so kind as to say she liked it very much; +and, therefore, she hoped Miss Woodhouse and Miss Smith would do them +the favour to eat a piece too." + +The mention of the Coles was sure to be followed by that of Mr. Elton. +There was intimacy between them, and Mr. Cole had heard from Mr. Elton +since his going away. Emma knew what was coming; they must have the +letter over again, and settle how long he had been gone, and how much +he was engaged in company, and what a favourite he was wherever he went, +and how full the Master of the Ceremonies' ball had been; and she went +through it very well, with all the interest and all the commendation +that could be requisite, and always putting forward to prevent Harriet's +being obliged to say a word. + +This she had been prepared for when she entered the house; but meant, +having once talked him handsomely over, to be no farther incommoded by +any troublesome topic, and to wander at large amongst all the Mistresses +and Misses of Highbury, and their card-parties. She had not been +prepared to have Jane Fairfax succeed Mr. Elton; but he was actually +hurried off by Miss Bates, she jumped away from him at last abruptly to +the Coles, to usher in a letter from her niece. + +"Oh! yes--Mr. Elton, I understand--certainly as to dancing--Mrs. Cole +was telling me that dancing at the rooms at Bath was--Mrs. Cole was so +kind as to sit some time with us, talking of Jane; for as soon as +she came in, she began inquiring after her, Jane is so very great a +favourite there. Whenever she is with us, Mrs. Cole does not know how to +shew her kindness enough; and I must say that Jane deserves it as much +as any body can. And so she began inquiring after her directly, saying, +'I know you cannot have heard from Jane lately, because it is not her +time for writing;' and when I immediately said, 'But indeed we have, we +had a letter this very morning,' I do not know that I ever saw any body +more surprized. 'Have you, upon your honour?' said she; 'well, that is +quite unexpected. Do let me hear what she says.'" + +Emma's politeness was at hand directly, to say, with smiling interest-- + +"Have you heard from Miss Fairfax so lately? I am extremely happy. I +hope she is well?" + +"Thank you. You are so kind!" replied the happily deceived aunt, while +eagerly hunting for the letter.--"Oh! here it is. I was sure it could +not be far off; but I had put my huswife upon it, you see, without being +aware, and so it was quite hid, but I had it in my hand so very lately +that I was almost sure it must be on the table. I was reading it to Mrs. +Cole, and since she went away, I was reading it again to my mother, for +it is such a pleasure to her--a letter from Jane--that she can never +hear it often enough; so I knew it could not be far off, and here it is, +only just under my huswife--and since you are so kind as to wish to hear +what she says;--but, first of all, I really must, in justice to +Jane, apologise for her writing so short a letter--only two pages you +see--hardly two--and in general she fills the whole paper and crosses +half. My mother often wonders that I can make it out so well. She often +says, when the letter is first opened, 'Well, Hetty, now I think +you will be put to it to make out all that checker-work'--don't you, +ma'am?--And then I tell her, I am sure she would contrive to make it out +herself, if she had nobody to do it for her--every word of it--I am sure +she would pore over it till she had made out every word. And, indeed, +though my mother's eyes are not so good as they were, she can see +amazingly well still, thank God! with the help of spectacles. It is such +a blessing! My mother's are really very good indeed. Jane often says, +when she is here, 'I am sure, grandmama, you must have had very strong +eyes to see as you do--and so much fine work as you have done too!--I +only wish my eyes may last me as well.'" + +All this spoken extremely fast obliged Miss Bates to stop for breath; +and Emma said something very civil about the excellence of Miss +Fairfax's handwriting. + +"You are extremely kind," replied Miss Bates, highly gratified; "you who +are such a judge, and write so beautifully yourself. I am sure there is +nobody's praise that could give us so much pleasure as Miss Woodhouse's. +My mother does not hear; she is a little deaf you know. Ma'am," +addressing her, "do you hear what Miss Woodhouse is so obliging to say +about Jane's handwriting?" + +And Emma had the advantage of hearing her own silly compliment repeated +twice over before the good old lady could comprehend it. She was +pondering, in the meanwhile, upon the possibility, without seeming very +rude, of making her escape from Jane Fairfax's letter, and had almost +resolved on hurrying away directly under some slight excuse, when Miss +Bates turned to her again and seized her attention. + +"My mother's deafness is very trifling you see--just nothing at all. By +only raising my voice, and saying any thing two or three times over, +she is sure to hear; but then she is used to my voice. But it is very +remarkable that she should always hear Jane better than she does me. +Jane speaks so distinct! However, she will not find her grandmama at all +deafer than she was two years ago; which is saying a great deal at my +mother's time of life--and it really is full two years, you know, since +she was here. We never were so long without seeing her before, and as +I was telling Mrs. Cole, we shall hardly know how to make enough of her +now." + +"Are you expecting Miss Fairfax here soon?" + +"Oh yes; next week." + +"Indeed!--that must be a very great pleasure." + +"Thank you. You are very kind. Yes, next week. Every body is so +surprized; and every body says the same obliging things. I am sure she +will be as happy to see her friends at Highbury, as they can be to see +her. Yes, Friday or Saturday; she cannot say which, because Colonel +Campbell will be wanting the carriage himself one of those days. So very +good of them to send her the whole way! But they always do, you know. Oh +yes, Friday or Saturday next. That is what she writes about. That is +the reason of her writing out of rule, as we call it; for, in the +common course, we should not have heard from her before next Tuesday or +Wednesday." + +"Yes, so I imagined. I was afraid there could be little chance of my +hearing any thing of Miss Fairfax to-day." + +"So obliging of you! No, we should not have heard, if it had not been +for this particular circumstance, of her being to come here so soon. My +mother is so delighted!--for she is to be three months with us at +least. Three months, she says so, positively, as I am going to have the +pleasure of reading to you. The case is, you see, that the Campbells are +going to Ireland. Mrs. Dixon has persuaded her father and mother to come +over and see her directly. They had not intended to go over till the +summer, but she is so impatient to see them again--for till she married, +last October, she was never away from them so much as a week, which must +make it very strange to be in different kingdoms, I was going to say, +but however different countries, and so she wrote a very urgent letter +to her mother--or her father, I declare I do not know which it was, but +we shall see presently in Jane's letter--wrote in Mr. Dixon's name as +well as her own, to press their coming over directly, and they would +give them the meeting in Dublin, and take them back to their country +seat, Baly-craig, a beautiful place, I fancy. Jane has heard a great +deal of its beauty; from Mr. Dixon, I mean--I do not know that she ever +heard about it from any body else; but it was very natural, you know, +that he should like to speak of his own place while he was paying his +addresses--and as Jane used to be very often walking out with them--for +Colonel and Mrs. Campbell were very particular about their daughter's +not walking out often with only Mr. Dixon, for which I do not at all +blame them; of course she heard every thing he might be telling Miss +Campbell about his own home in Ireland; and I think she wrote us word +that he had shewn them some drawings of the place, views that he had +taken himself. He is a most amiable, charming young man, I believe. Jane +was quite longing to go to Ireland, from his account of things." + +At this moment, an ingenious and animating suspicion entering Emma's +brain with regard to Jane Fairfax, this charming Mr. Dixon, and the +not going to Ireland, she said, with the insidious design of farther +discovery, + +"You must feel it very fortunate that Miss Fairfax should be allowed to +come to you at such a time. Considering the very particular friendship +between her and Mrs. Dixon, you could hardly have expected her to be +excused from accompanying Colonel and Mrs. Campbell." + +"Very true, very true, indeed. The very thing that we have always been +rather afraid of; for we should not have liked to have her at such a +distance from us, for months together--not able to come if any thing was +to happen. But you see, every thing turns out for the best. They want +her (Mr. and Mrs. Dixon) excessively to come over with Colonel and Mrs. +Campbell; quite depend upon it; nothing can be more kind or pressing +than their _joint_ invitation, Jane says, as you will hear presently; +Mr. Dixon does not seem in the least backward in any attention. He is +a most charming young man. Ever since the service he rendered Jane at +Weymouth, when they were out in that party on the water, and she, by the +sudden whirling round of something or other among the sails, would have +been dashed into the sea at once, and actually was all but gone, if he +had not, with the greatest presence of mind, caught hold of her habit-- +(I can never think of it without trembling!)--But ever since we had the +history of that day, I have been so fond of Mr. Dixon!" + +"But, in spite of all her friends' urgency, and her own wish of seeing +Ireland, Miss Fairfax prefers devoting the time to you and Mrs. Bates?" + +"Yes--entirely her own doing, entirely her own choice; and Colonel +and Mrs. Campbell think she does quite right, just what they should +recommend; and indeed they particularly _wish_ her to try her native +air, as she has not been quite so well as usual lately." + +"I am concerned to hear of it. I think they judge wisely. But Mrs. +Dixon must be very much disappointed. Mrs. Dixon, I understand, has +no remarkable degree of personal beauty; is not, by any means, to be +compared with Miss Fairfax." + +"Oh! no. You are very obliging to say such things--but certainly not. +There is no comparison between them. Miss Campbell always was absolutely +plain--but extremely elegant and amiable." + +"Yes, that of course." + +"Jane caught a bad cold, poor thing! so long ago as the 7th of November, +(as I am going to read to you,) and has never been well since. A long +time, is not it, for a cold to hang upon her? She never mentioned +it before, because she would not alarm us. Just like her! so +considerate!--But however, she is so far from well, that her kind +friends the Campbells think she had better come home, and try an air +that always agrees with her; and they have no doubt that three or four +months at Highbury will entirely cure her--and it is certainly a great +deal better that she should come here, than go to Ireland, if she is +unwell. Nobody could nurse her, as we should do." + +"It appears to me the most desirable arrangement in the world." + +"And so she is to come to us next Friday or Saturday, and the Campbells +leave town in their way to Holyhead the Monday following--as you will +find from Jane's letter. So sudden!--You may guess, dear Miss Woodhouse, +what a flurry it has thrown me in! If it was not for the drawback of +her illness--but I am afraid we must expect to see her grown thin, and +looking very poorly. I must tell you what an unlucky thing happened to +me, as to that. I always make a point of reading Jane's letters through +to myself first, before I read them aloud to my mother, you know, for +fear of there being any thing in them to distress her. Jane desired me +to do it, so I always do: and so I began to-day with my usual caution; +but no sooner did I come to the mention of her being unwell, than I +burst out, quite frightened, with 'Bless me! poor Jane is ill!'--which +my mother, being on the watch, heard distinctly, and was sadly alarmed +at. However, when I read on, I found it was not near so bad as I had +fancied at first; and I make so light of it now to her, that she does +not think much about it. But I cannot imagine how I could be so off my +guard. If Jane does not get well soon, we will call in Mr. Perry. The +expense shall not be thought of; and though he is so liberal, and so +fond of Jane that I dare say he would not mean to charge any thing for +attendance, we could not suffer it to be so, you know. He has a wife and +family to maintain, and is not to be giving away his time. Well, now I +have just given you a hint of what Jane writes about, we will turn to +her letter, and I am sure she tells her own story a great deal better +than I can tell it for her." + +"I am afraid we must be running away," said Emma, glancing at Harriet, +and beginning to rise--"My father will be expecting us. I had no +intention, I thought I had no power of staying more than five minutes, +when I first entered the house. I merely called, because I would not +pass the door without inquiring after Mrs. Bates; but I have been so +pleasantly detained! Now, however, we must wish you and Mrs. Bates good +morning." + +And not all that could be urged to detain her succeeded. She regained +the street--happy in this, that though much had been forced on her +against her will, though she had in fact heard the whole substance of +Jane Fairfax's letter, she had been able to escape the letter itself. + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Jane Fairfax was an orphan, the only child of Mrs. Bates's youngest +daughter. + +The marriage of Lieut. Fairfax of the ----regiment of infantry, +and Miss Jane Bates, had had its day of fame and pleasure, hope +and interest; but nothing now remained of it, save the melancholy +remembrance of him dying in action abroad--of his widow sinking under +consumption and grief soon afterwards--and this girl. + +By birth she belonged to Highbury: and when at three years old, on +losing her mother, she became the property, the charge, the consolation, +the fondling of her grandmother and aunt, there had seemed every +probability of her being permanently fixed there; of her being taught +only what very limited means could command, and growing up with no +advantages of connexion or improvement, to be engrafted on what +nature had given her in a pleasing person, good understanding, and +warm-hearted, well-meaning relations. + +But the compassionate feelings of a friend of her father gave a change +to her destiny. This was Colonel Campbell, who had very highly regarded +Fairfax, as an excellent officer and most deserving young man; and +farther, had been indebted to him for such attentions, during a severe +camp-fever, as he believed had saved his life. These were claims which +he did not learn to overlook, though some years passed away from the +death of poor Fairfax, before his own return to England put any thing in +his power. When he did return, he sought out the child and took notice +of her. He was a married man, with only one living child, a girl, about +Jane's age: and Jane became their guest, paying them long visits and +growing a favourite with all; and before she was nine years old, his +daughter's great fondness for her, and his own wish of being a real +friend, united to produce an offer from Colonel Campbell of undertaking +the whole charge of her education. It was accepted; and from that period +Jane had belonged to Colonel Campbell's family, and had lived with them +entirely, only visiting her grandmother from time to time. + +The plan was that she should be brought up for educating others; the +very few hundred pounds which she inherited from her father making +independence impossible. To provide for her otherwise was out of Colonel +Campbell's power; for though his income, by pay and appointments, was +handsome, his fortune was moderate and must be all his daughter's; +but, by giving her an education, he hoped to be supplying the means of +respectable subsistence hereafter. + +Such was Jane Fairfax's history. She had fallen into good hands, known +nothing but kindness from the Campbells, and been given an excellent +education. Living constantly with right-minded and well-informed people, +her heart and understanding had received every advantage of discipline +and culture; and Colonel Campbell's residence being in London, every +lighter talent had been done full justice to, by the attendance of +first-rate masters. Her disposition and abilities were equally worthy +of all that friendship could do; and at eighteen or nineteen she was, +as far as such an early age can be qualified for the care of children, +fully competent to the office of instruction herself; but she was too +much beloved to be parted with. Neither father nor mother could promote, +and the daughter could not endure it. The evil day was put off. It was +easy to decide that she was still too young; and Jane remained with +them, sharing, as another daughter, in all the rational pleasures of +an elegant society, and a judicious mixture of home and amusement, with +only the drawback of the future, the sobering suggestions of her own +good understanding to remind her that all this might soon be over. + +The affection of the whole family, the warm attachment of Miss +Campbell in particular, was the more honourable to each party from +the circumstance of Jane's decided superiority both in beauty and +acquirements. That nature had given it in feature could not be unseen +by the young woman, nor could her higher powers of mind be unfelt by the +parents. They continued together with unabated regard however, till the +marriage of Miss Campbell, who by that chance, that luck which so often +defies anticipation in matrimonial affairs, giving attraction to what is +moderate rather than to what is superior, engaged the affections of +Mr. Dixon, a young man, rich and agreeable, almost as soon as they were +acquainted; and was eligibly and happily settled, while Jane Fairfax had +yet her bread to earn. + +This event had very lately taken place; too lately for any thing to be +yet attempted by her less fortunate friend towards entering on her path +of duty; though she had now reached the age which her own judgment had +fixed on for beginning. She had long resolved that one-and-twenty +should be the period. With the fortitude of a devoted novitiate, she had +resolved at one-and-twenty to complete the sacrifice, and retire from +all the pleasures of life, of rational intercourse, equal society, peace +and hope, to penance and mortification for ever. + +The good sense of Colonel and Mrs. Campbell could not oppose such +a resolution, though their feelings did. As long as they lived, no +exertions would be necessary, their home might be hers for ever; and for +their own comfort they would have retained her wholly; but this would +be selfishness:--what must be at last, had better be soon. Perhaps they +began to feel it might have been kinder and wiser to have resisted the +temptation of any delay, and spared her from a taste of such enjoyments +of ease and leisure as must now be relinquished. Still, however, +affection was glad to catch at any reasonable excuse for not hurrying +on the wretched moment. She had never been quite well since the time of +their daughter's marriage; and till she should have completely recovered +her usual strength, they must forbid her engaging in duties, which, so +far from being compatible with a weakened frame and varying spirits, +seemed, under the most favourable circumstances, to require something +more than human perfection of body and mind to be discharged with +tolerable comfort. + +With regard to her not accompanying them to Ireland, her account to her +aunt contained nothing but truth, though there might be some truths +not told. It was her own choice to give the time of their absence to +Highbury; to spend, perhaps, her last months of perfect liberty with +those kind relations to whom she was so very dear: and the Campbells, +whatever might be their motive or motives, whether single, or double, or +treble, gave the arrangement their ready sanction, and said, that they +depended more on a few months spent in her native air, for the recovery +of her health, than on any thing else. Certain it was that she was to +come; and that Highbury, instead of welcoming that perfect novelty which +had been so long promised it--Mr. Frank Churchill--must put up for the +present with Jane Fairfax, who could bring only the freshness of a two +years' absence. + +Emma was sorry;--to have to pay civilities to a person she did not like +through three long months!--to be always doing more than she wished, +and less than she ought! Why she did not like Jane Fairfax might be a +difficult question to answer; Mr. Knightley had once told her it was +because she saw in her the really accomplished young woman, which she +wanted to be thought herself; and though the accusation had been eagerly +refuted at the time, there were moments of self-examination in which +her conscience could not quite acquit her. But "she could never get +acquainted with her: she did not know how it was, but there was such +coldness and reserve--such apparent indifference whether she pleased or +not--and then, her aunt was such an eternal talker!--and she was made +such a fuss with by every body!--and it had been always imagined that +they were to be so intimate--because their ages were the same, every +body had supposed they must be so fond of each other." These were her +reasons--she had no better. + +It was a dislike so little just--every imputed fault was so magnified +by fancy, that she never saw Jane Fairfax the first time after any +considerable absence, without feeling that she had injured her; and +now, when the due visit was paid, on her arrival, after a two years' +interval, she was particularly struck with the very appearance and +manners, which for those two whole years she had been depreciating. Jane +Fairfax was very elegant, remarkably elegant; and she had herself the +highest value for elegance. Her height was pretty, just such as almost +every body would think tall, and nobody could think very tall; her +figure particularly graceful; her size a most becoming medium, between +fat and thin, though a slight appearance of ill-health seemed to point +out the likeliest evil of the two. Emma could not but feel all this; and +then, her face--her features--there was more beauty in them altogether +than she had remembered; it was not regular, but it was very pleasing +beauty. Her eyes, a deep grey, with dark eye-lashes and eyebrows, had +never been denied their praise; but the skin, which she had been used to +cavil at, as wanting colour, had a clearness and delicacy which really +needed no fuller bloom. It was a style of beauty, of which elegance was +the reigning character, and as such, she must, in honour, by all her +principles, admire it:--elegance, which, whether of person or of mind, +she saw so little in Highbury. There, not to be vulgar, was distinction, +and merit. + +In short, she sat, during the first visit, looking at Jane Fairfax with +twofold complacency; the sense of pleasure and the sense of rendering +justice, and was determining that she would dislike her no longer. When +she took in her history, indeed, her situation, as well as her beauty; +when she considered what all this elegance was destined to, what she was +going to sink from, how she was going to live, it seemed impossible +to feel any thing but compassion and respect; especially, if to every +well-known particular entitling her to interest, were added the highly +probable circumstance of an attachment to Mr. Dixon, which she had +so naturally started to herself. In that case, nothing could be more +pitiable or more honourable than the sacrifices she had resolved on. +Emma was very willing now to acquit her of having seduced Mr. Dixon's +actions from his wife, or of any thing mischievous which her imagination +had suggested at first. If it were love, it might be simple, single, +successless love on her side alone. She might have been unconsciously +sucking in the sad poison, while a sharer of his conversation with her +friend; and from the best, the purest of motives, might now be +denying herself this visit to Ireland, and resolving to divide herself +effectually from him and his connexions by soon beginning her career of +laborious duty. + +Upon the whole, Emma left her with such softened, charitable feelings, +as made her look around in walking home, and lament that Highbury +afforded no young man worthy of giving her independence; nobody that she +could wish to scheme about for her. + +These were charming feelings--but not lasting. Before she had committed +herself by any public profession of eternal friendship for Jane Fairfax, +or done more towards a recantation of past prejudices and errors, than +saying to Mr. Knightley, "She certainly is handsome; she is better than +handsome!" Jane had spent an evening at Hartfield with her grandmother +and aunt, and every thing was relapsing much into its usual state. +Former provocations reappeared. The aunt was as tiresome as ever; more +tiresome, because anxiety for her health was now added to admiration +of her powers; and they had to listen to the description of exactly how +little bread and butter she ate for breakfast, and how small a slice +of mutton for dinner, as well as to see exhibitions of new caps and new +workbags for her mother and herself; and Jane's offences rose again. +They had music; Emma was obliged to play; and the thanks and praise +which necessarily followed appeared to her an affectation of candour, an +air of greatness, meaning only to shew off in higher style her own very +superior performance. She was, besides, which was the worst of all, so +cold, so cautious! There was no getting at her real opinion. Wrapt up in +a cloak of politeness, she seemed determined to hazard nothing. She was +disgustingly, was suspiciously reserved. + +If any thing could be more, where all was most, she was more reserved on +the subject of Weymouth and the Dixons than any thing. She seemed bent +on giving no real insight into Mr. Dixon's character, or her own value +for his company, or opinion of the suitableness of the match. It was all +general approbation and smoothness; nothing delineated or distinguished. +It did her no service however. Her caution was thrown away. Emma saw +its artifice, and returned to her first surmises. There probably _was_ +something more to conceal than her own preference; Mr. Dixon, perhaps, +had been very near changing one friend for the other, or been fixed only +to Miss Campbell, for the sake of the future twelve thousand pounds. + +The like reserve prevailed on other topics. She and Mr. Frank Churchill +had been at Weymouth at the same time. It was known that they were a +little acquainted; but not a syllable of real information could Emma +procure as to what he truly was. "Was he handsome?"--"She believed +he was reckoned a very fine young man." "Was he agreeable?"--"He was +generally thought so." "Did he appear a sensible young man; a young +man of information?"--"At a watering-place, or in a common London +acquaintance, it was difficult to decide on such points. Manners were +all that could be safely judged of, under a much longer knowledge than +they had yet had of Mr. Churchill. She believed every body found his +manners pleasing." Emma could not forgive her. + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Emma could not forgive her;--but as neither provocation nor resentment +were discerned by Mr. Knightley, who had been of the party, and had +seen only proper attention and pleasing behaviour on each side, he was +expressing the next morning, being at Hartfield again on business with +Mr. Woodhouse, his approbation of the whole; not so openly as he might +have done had her father been out of the room, but speaking plain enough +to be very intelligible to Emma. He had been used to think her unjust to +Jane, and had now great pleasure in marking an improvement. + +"A very pleasant evening," he began, as soon as Mr. Woodhouse had been +talked into what was necessary, told that he understood, and the papers +swept away;--"particularly pleasant. You and Miss Fairfax gave us some +very good music. I do not know a more luxurious state, sir, than sitting +at one's ease to be entertained a whole evening by two such young women; +sometimes with music and sometimes with conversation. I am sure Miss +Fairfax must have found the evening pleasant, Emma. You left nothing +undone. I was glad you made her play so much, for having no instrument +at her grandmother's, it must have been a real indulgence." + +"I am happy you approved," said Emma, smiling; "but I hope I am not +often deficient in what is due to guests at Hartfield." + +"No, my dear," said her father instantly; "_that_ I am sure you are not. +There is nobody half so attentive and civil as you are. If any thing, +you are too attentive. The muffin last night--if it had been handed +round once, I think it would have been enough." + +"No," said Mr. Knightley, nearly at the same time; "you are not often +deficient; not often deficient either in manner or comprehension. I +think you understand me, therefore." + +An arch look expressed--"I understand you well enough;" but she said +only, "Miss Fairfax is reserved." + +"I always told you she was--a little; but you will soon overcome all +that part of her reserve which ought to be overcome, all that has its +foundation in diffidence. What arises from discretion must be honoured." + +"You think her diffident. I do not see it." + +"My dear Emma," said he, moving from his chair into one close by her, +"you are not going to tell me, I hope, that you had not a pleasant +evening." + +"Oh! no; I was pleased with my own perseverance in asking questions; and +amused to think how little information I obtained." + +"I am disappointed," was his only answer. + +"I hope every body had a pleasant evening," said Mr. Woodhouse, in his +quiet way. "I had. Once, I felt the fire rather too much; but then I +moved back my chair a little, a very little, and it did not disturb me. +Miss Bates was very chatty and good-humoured, as she always is, though +she speaks rather too quick. However, she is very agreeable, and Mrs. +Bates too, in a different way. I like old friends; and Miss Jane +Fairfax is a very pretty sort of young lady, a very pretty and a +very well-behaved young lady indeed. She must have found the evening +agreeable, Mr. Knightley, because she had Emma." + +"True, sir; and Emma, because she had Miss Fairfax." + +Emma saw his anxiety, and wishing to appease it, at least for the +present, said, and with a sincerity which no one could question-- + +"She is a sort of elegant creature that one cannot keep one's eyes from. +I am always watching her to admire; and I do pity her from my heart." + +Mr. Knightley looked as if he were more gratified than he cared to +express; and before he could make any reply, Mr. Woodhouse, whose +thoughts were on the Bates's, said-- + +"It is a great pity that their circumstances should be so confined! a +great pity indeed! and I have often wished--but it is so little one can +venture to do--small, trifling presents, of any thing uncommon--Now we +have killed a porker, and Emma thinks of sending them a loin or a leg; +it is very small and delicate--Hartfield pork is not like any other +pork--but still it is pork--and, my dear Emma, unless one could be sure +of their making it into steaks, nicely fried, as ours are fried, without +the smallest grease, and not roast it, for no stomach can bear roast +pork--I think we had better send the leg--do not you think so, my dear?" + +"My dear papa, I sent the whole hind-quarter. I knew you would wish it. +There will be the leg to be salted, you know, which is so very nice, and +the loin to be dressed directly in any manner they like." + +"That's right, my dear, very right. I had not thought of it before, but +that is the best way. They must not over-salt the leg; and then, if it +is not over-salted, and if it is very thoroughly boiled, just as Serle +boils ours, and eaten very moderately of, with a boiled turnip, and a +little carrot or parsnip, I do not consider it unwholesome." + +"Emma," said Mr. Knightley presently, "I have a piece of news for you. +You like news--and I heard an article in my way hither that I think will +interest you." + +"News! Oh! yes, I always like news. What is it?--why do you smile +so?--where did you hear it?--at Randalls?" + +He had time only to say, + +"No, not at Randalls; I have not been near Randalls," when the door was +thrown open, and Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax walked into the room. Full +of thanks, and full of news, Miss Bates knew not which to give quickest. +Mr. Knightley soon saw that he had lost his moment, and that not another +syllable of communication could rest with him. + +"Oh! my dear sir, how are you this morning? My dear Miss Woodhouse--I +come quite over-powered. Such a beautiful hind-quarter of pork! You +are too bountiful! Have you heard the news? Mr. Elton is going to be +married." + +Emma had not had time even to think of Mr. Elton, and she was so +completely surprized that she could not avoid a little start, and a +little blush, at the sound. + +"There is my news:--I thought it would interest you," said Mr. +Knightley, with a smile which implied a conviction of some part of what +had passed between them. + +"But where could _you_ hear it?" cried Miss Bates. "Where could you +possibly hear it, Mr. Knightley? For it is not five minutes since I +received Mrs. Cole's note--no, it cannot be more than five--or at least +ten--for I had got my bonnet and spencer on, just ready to come out--I +was only gone down to speak to Patty again about the pork--Jane was +standing in the passage--were not you, Jane?--for my mother was so +afraid that we had not any salting-pan large enough. So I said I would +go down and see, and Jane said, 'Shall I go down instead? for I think +you have a little cold, and Patty has been washing the kitchen.'--'Oh! +my dear,' said I--well, and just then came the note. A Miss +Hawkins--that's all I know. A Miss Hawkins of Bath. But, Mr. Knightley, +how could you possibly have heard it? for the very moment Mr. Cole told +Mrs. Cole of it, she sat down and wrote to me. A Miss Hawkins--" + +"I was with Mr. Cole on business an hour and a half ago. He had just +read Elton's letter as I was shewn in, and handed it to me directly." + +"Well! that is quite--I suppose there never was a piece of news more +generally interesting. My dear sir, you really are too bountiful. My +mother desires her very best compliments and regards, and a thousand +thanks, and says you really quite oppress her." + +"We consider our Hartfield pork," replied Mr. Woodhouse--"indeed it +certainly is, so very superior to all other pork, that Emma and I cannot +have a greater pleasure than--" + +"Oh! my dear sir, as my mother says, our friends are only too good +to us. If ever there were people who, without having great wealth +themselves, had every thing they could wish for, I am sure it is us. +We may well say that 'our lot is cast in a goodly heritage.' Well, Mr. +Knightley, and so you actually saw the letter; well--" + +"It was short--merely to announce--but cheerful, exulting, of course."-- +Here was a sly glance at Emma. "He had been so fortunate as to--I forget +the precise words--one has no business to remember them. The information +was, as you state, that he was going to be married to a Miss Hawkins. By +his style, I should imagine it just settled." + +"Mr. Elton going to be married!" said Emma, as soon as she could speak. +"He will have every body's wishes for his happiness." + +"He is very young to settle," was Mr. Woodhouse's observation. "He had +better not be in a hurry. He seemed to me very well off as he was. We +were always glad to see him at Hartfield." + +"A new neighbour for us all, Miss Woodhouse!" said Miss Bates, joyfully; +"my mother is so pleased!--she says she cannot bear to have the poor old +Vicarage without a mistress. This is great news, indeed. Jane, you have +never seen Mr. Elton!--no wonder that you have such a curiosity to see +him." + +Jane's curiosity did not appear of that absorbing nature as wholly to +occupy her. + +"No--I have never seen Mr. Elton," she replied, starting on this appeal; +"is he--is he a tall man?" + +"Who shall answer that question?" cried Emma. "My father would say +'yes,' Mr. Knightley 'no;' and Miss Bates and I that he is just the +happy medium. When you have been here a little longer, Miss Fairfax, +you will understand that Mr. Elton is the standard of perfection in +Highbury, both in person and mind." + +"Very true, Miss Woodhouse, so she will. He is the very best young +man--But, my dear Jane, if you remember, I told you yesterday he +was precisely the height of Mr. Perry. Miss Hawkins,--I dare say, an +excellent young woman. His extreme attention to my mother--wanting +her to sit in the vicarage pew, that she might hear the better, for my +mother is a little deaf, you know--it is not much, but she does not +hear quite quick. Jane says that Colonel Campbell is a little deaf. He +fancied bathing might be good for it--the warm bath--but she says it did +him no lasting benefit. Colonel Campbell, you know, is quite our angel. +And Mr. Dixon seems a very charming young man, quite worthy of him. It +is such a happiness when good people get together--and they always do. +Now, here will be Mr. Elton and Miss Hawkins; and there are the Coles, +such very good people; and the Perrys--I suppose there never was a +happier or a better couple than Mr. and Mrs. Perry. I say, sir," turning +to Mr. Woodhouse, "I think there are few places with such society as +Highbury. I always say, we are quite blessed in our neighbours.--My dear +sir, if there is one thing my mother loves better than another, it is +pork--a roast loin of pork--" + +"As to who, or what Miss Hawkins is, or how long he has been acquainted +with her," said Emma, "nothing I suppose can be known. One feels that it +cannot be a very long acquaintance. He has been gone only four weeks." + +Nobody had any information to give; and, after a few more wonderings, +Emma said, + +"You are silent, Miss Fairfax--but I hope you mean to take an interest +in this news. You, who have been hearing and seeing so much of late +on these subjects, who must have been so deep in the business on Miss +Campbell's account--we shall not excuse your being indifferent about Mr. +Elton and Miss Hawkins." + +"When I have seen Mr. Elton," replied Jane, "I dare say I shall be +interested--but I believe it requires _that_ with me. And as it is some +months since Miss Campbell married, the impression may be a little worn +off." + +"Yes, he has been gone just four weeks, as you observe, Miss Woodhouse," +said Miss Bates, "four weeks yesterday.--A Miss Hawkins!--Well, I had +always rather fancied it would be some young lady hereabouts; not that +I ever--Mrs. Cole once whispered to me--but I immediately said, 'No, Mr. +Elton is a most worthy young man--but'--In short, I do not think I am +particularly quick at those sort of discoveries. I do not pretend to it. +What is before me, I see. At the same time, nobody could wonder if +Mr. Elton should have aspired--Miss Woodhouse lets me chatter on, so +good-humouredly. She knows I would not offend for the world. How does +Miss Smith do? She seems quite recovered now. Have you heard from Mrs. +John Knightley lately? Oh! those dear little children. Jane, do you +know I always fancy Mr. Dixon like Mr. John Knightley. I mean in +person--tall, and with that sort of look--and not very talkative." + +"Quite wrong, my dear aunt; there is no likeness at all." + +"Very odd! but one never does form a just idea of any body beforehand. +One takes up a notion, and runs away with it. Mr. Dixon, you say, is +not, strictly speaking, handsome?" + +"Handsome! Oh! no--far from it--certainly plain. I told you he was +plain." + +"My dear, you said that Miss Campbell would not allow him to be plain, +and that you yourself--" + +"Oh! as for me, my judgment is worth nothing. Where I have a regard, +I always think a person well-looking. But I gave what I believed the +general opinion, when I called him plain." + +"Well, my dear Jane, I believe we must be running away. The weather does +not look well, and grandmama will be uneasy. You are too obliging, my +dear Miss Woodhouse; but we really must take leave. This has been a most +agreeable piece of news indeed. I shall just go round by Mrs. Cole's; +but I shall not stop three minutes: and, Jane, you had better go home +directly--I would not have you out in a shower!--We think she is the +better for Highbury already. Thank you, we do indeed. I shall not +attempt calling on Mrs. Goddard, for I really do not think she cares for +any thing but _boiled_ pork: when we dress the leg it will be another +thing. Good morning to you, my dear sir. Oh! Mr. Knightley is coming +too. Well, that is so very!--I am sure if Jane is tired, you will be +so kind as to give her your arm.--Mr. Elton, and Miss Hawkins!--Good +morning to you." + +Emma, alone with her father, had half her attention wanted by him while +he lamented that young people would be in such a hurry to marry--and to +marry strangers too--and the other half she could give to her own view +of the subject. It was to herself an amusing and a very welcome piece +of news, as proving that Mr. Elton could not have suffered long; but she +was sorry for Harriet: Harriet must feel it--and all that she could hope +was, by giving the first information herself, to save her from hearing +it abruptly from others. It was now about the time that she was likely +to call. If she were to meet Miss Bates in her way!--and upon its +beginning to rain, Emma was obliged to expect that the weather would +be detaining her at Mrs. Goddard's, and that the intelligence would +undoubtedly rush upon her without preparation. + +The shower was heavy, but short; and it had not been over five minutes, +when in came Harriet, with just the heated, agitated look which +hurrying thither with a full heart was likely to give; and the "Oh! Miss +Woodhouse, what do you think has happened!" which instantly burst forth, +had all the evidence of corresponding perturbation. As the blow was +given, Emma felt that she could not now shew greater kindness than in +listening; and Harriet, unchecked, ran eagerly through what she had to +tell. "She had set out from Mrs. Goddard's half an hour ago--she had +been afraid it would rain--she had been afraid it would pour down +every moment--but she thought she might get to Hartfield first--she +had hurried on as fast as possible; but then, as she was passing by the +house where a young woman was making up a gown for her, she thought she +would just step in and see how it went on; and though she did not seem +to stay half a moment there, soon after she came out it began to rain, +and she did not know what to do; so she ran on directly, as fast as +she could, and took shelter at Ford's."--Ford's was the principal +woollen-draper, linen-draper, and haberdasher's shop united; the shop +first in size and fashion in the place.--"And so, there she had +set, without an idea of any thing in the world, full ten minutes, +perhaps--when, all of a sudden, who should come in--to be sure it was +so very odd!--but they always dealt at Ford's--who should come in, but +Elizabeth Martin and her brother!--Dear Miss Woodhouse! only think. I +thought I should have fainted. I did not know what to do. I was sitting +near the door--Elizabeth saw me directly; but he did not; he was busy +with the umbrella. I am sure she saw me, but she looked away directly, +and took no notice; and they both went to quite the farther end of the +shop; and I kept sitting near the door!--Oh! dear; I was so miserable! +I am sure I must have been as white as my gown. I could not go away +you know, because of the rain; but I did so wish myself anywhere in the +world but there.--Oh! dear, Miss Woodhouse--well, at last, I fancy, he +looked round and saw me; for instead of going on with her buyings, they +began whispering to one another. I am sure they were talking of me; and +I could not help thinking that he was persuading her to speak to me--(do +you think he was, Miss Woodhouse?)--for presently she came forward--came +quite up to me, and asked me how I did, and seemed ready to shake hands, +if I would. She did not do any of it in the same way that she used; I +could see she was altered; but, however, she seemed to _try_ to be very +friendly, and we shook hands, and stood talking some time; but I know no +more what I said--I was in such a tremble!--I remember she said she +was sorry we never met now; which I thought almost too kind! Dear, Miss +Woodhouse, I was absolutely miserable! By that time, it was beginning to +hold up, and I was determined that nothing should stop me from getting +away--and then--only think!--I found he was coming up towards me +too--slowly you know, and as if he did not quite know what to do; and +so he came and spoke, and I answered--and I stood for a minute, feeling +dreadfully, you know, one can't tell how; and then I took courage, and +said it did not rain, and I must go; and so off I set; and I had not got +three yards from the door, when he came after me, only to say, if I was +going to Hartfield, he thought I had much better go round by Mr. Cole's +stables, for I should find the near way quite floated by this rain. Oh! +dear, I thought it would have been the death of me! So I said, I was +very much obliged to him: you know I could not do less; and then he went +back to Elizabeth, and I came round by the stables--I believe I did--but +I hardly knew where I was, or any thing about it. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, +I would rather done any thing than have it happen: and yet, you know, +there was a sort of satisfaction in seeing him behave so pleasantly and +so kindly. And Elizabeth, too. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, do talk to me and +make me comfortable again." + +Very sincerely did Emma wish to do so; but it was not immediately in +her power. She was obliged to stop and think. She was not thoroughly +comfortable herself. The young man's conduct, and his sister's, seemed +the result of real feeling, and she could not but pity them. As Harriet +described it, there had been an interesting mixture of wounded affection +and genuine delicacy in their behaviour. But she had believed them to be +well-meaning, worthy people before; and what difference did this make +in the evils of the connexion? It was folly to be disturbed by it. Of +course, he must be sorry to lose her--they must be all sorry. Ambition, +as well as love, had probably been mortified. They might all have hoped +to rise by Harriet's acquaintance: and besides, what was the value of +Harriet's description?--So easily pleased--so little discerning;--what +signified her praise? + +She exerted herself, and did try to make her comfortable, by considering +all that had passed as a mere trifle, and quite unworthy of being dwelt +on, + +"It might be distressing, for the moment," said she; "but you seem to +have behaved extremely well; and it is over--and may never--can never, +as a first meeting, occur again, and therefore you need not think about +it." + +Harriet said, "very true," and she "would not think about it;" but still +she talked of it--still she could talk of nothing else; and Emma, at +last, in order to put the Martins out of her head, was obliged to hurry +on the news, which she had meant to give with so much tender caution; +hardly knowing herself whether to rejoice or be angry, ashamed or only +amused, at such a state of mind in poor Harriet--such a conclusion of +Mr. Elton's importance with her! + +Mr. Elton's rights, however, gradually revived. Though she did not feel +the first intelligence as she might have done the day before, or an hour +before, its interest soon increased; and before their first conversation +was over, she had talked herself into all the sensations of curiosity, +wonder and regret, pain and pleasure, as to this fortunate Miss Hawkins, +which could conduce to place the Martins under proper subordination in +her fancy. + +Emma learned to be rather glad that there had been such a meeting. It +had been serviceable in deadening the first shock, without retaining any +influence to alarm. As Harriet now lived, the Martins could not get +at her, without seeking her, where hitherto they had wanted either the +courage or the condescension to seek her; for since her refusal of the +brother, the sisters never had been at Mrs. Goddard's; and a twelvemonth +might pass without their being thrown together again, with any +necessity, or even any power of speech. + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Human nature is so well disposed towards those who are in interesting +situations, that a young person, who either marries or dies, is sure of +being kindly spoken of. + +A week had not passed since Miss Hawkins's name was first mentioned in +Highbury, before she was, by some means or other, discovered to have +every recommendation of person and mind; to be handsome, elegant, highly +accomplished, and perfectly amiable: and when Mr. Elton himself arrived +to triumph in his happy prospects, and circulate the fame of her merits, +there was very little more for him to do, than to tell her Christian +name, and say whose music she principally played. + +Mr. Elton returned, a very happy man. He had gone away rejected and +mortified--disappointed in a very sanguine hope, after a series of what +appeared to him strong encouragement; and not only losing the right +lady, but finding himself debased to the level of a very wrong one. He +had gone away deeply offended--he came back engaged to another--and +to another as superior, of course, to the first, as under such +circumstances what is gained always is to what is lost. He came back gay +and self-satisfied, eager and busy, caring nothing for Miss Woodhouse, +and defying Miss Smith. + +The charming Augusta Hawkins, in addition to all the usual advantages of +perfect beauty and merit, was in possession of an independent fortune, +of so many thousands as would always be called ten; a point of some +dignity, as well as some convenience: the story told well; he had not +thrown himself away--he had gained a woman of 10,000 l. or thereabouts; +and he had gained her with such delightful rapidity--the first hour of +introduction had been so very soon followed by distinguishing notice; +the history which he had to give Mrs. Cole of the rise and progress +of the affair was so glorious--the steps so quick, from the accidental +rencontre, to the dinner at Mr. Green's, and the party at Mrs. +Brown's--smiles and blushes rising in importance--with consciousness and +agitation richly scattered--the lady had been so easily impressed--so +sweetly disposed--had in short, to use a most intelligible phrase, +been so very ready to have him, that vanity and prudence were equally +contented. + +He had caught both substance and shadow--both fortune and affection, and +was just the happy man he ought to be; talking only of himself and +his own concerns--expecting to be congratulated--ready to be laughed +at--and, with cordial, fearless smiles, now addressing all the young +ladies of the place, to whom, a few weeks ago, he would have been more +cautiously gallant. + +The wedding was no distant event, as the parties had only themselves to +please, and nothing but the necessary preparations to wait for; and +when he set out for Bath again, there was a general expectation, which +a certain glance of Mrs. Cole's did not seem to contradict, that when he +next entered Highbury he would bring his bride. + +During his present short stay, Emma had barely seen him; but just enough +to feel that the first meeting was over, and to give her the impression +of his not being improved by the mixture of pique and pretension, now +spread over his air. She was, in fact, beginning very much to wonder +that she had ever thought him pleasing at all; and his sight was so +inseparably connected with some very disagreeable feelings, that, +except in a moral light, as a penance, a lesson, a source of profitable +humiliation to her own mind, she would have been thankful to be assured +of never seeing him again. She wished him very well; but he gave +her pain, and his welfare twenty miles off would administer most +satisfaction. + +The pain of his continued residence in Highbury, however, must +certainly be lessened by his marriage. Many vain solicitudes would be +prevented--many awkwardnesses smoothed by it. A _Mrs._ _Elton_ would +be an excuse for any change of intercourse; former intimacy might sink +without remark. It would be almost beginning their life of civility +again. + +Of the lady, individually, Emma thought very little. She was good enough +for Mr. Elton, no doubt; accomplished enough for Highbury--handsome +enough--to look plain, probably, by Harriet's side. As to connexion, +there Emma was perfectly easy; persuaded, that after all his own vaunted +claims and disdain of Harriet, he had done nothing. On that article, +truth seemed attainable. _What_ she was, must be uncertain; but _who_ +she was, might be found out; and setting aside the 10,000 l., it did not +appear that she was at all Harriet's superior. She brought no name, no +blood, no alliance. Miss Hawkins was the youngest of the two daughters +of a Bristol--merchant, of course, he must be called; but, as the whole +of the profits of his mercantile life appeared so very moderate, it +was not unfair to guess the dignity of his line of trade had been very +moderate also. Part of every winter she had been used to spend in Bath; +but Bristol was her home, the very heart of Bristol; for though the +father and mother had died some years ago, an uncle remained--in the law +line--nothing more distinctly honourable was hazarded of him, than +that he was in the law line; and with him the daughter had lived. Emma +guessed him to be the drudge of some attorney, and too stupid to rise. +And all the grandeur of the connexion seemed dependent on the elder +sister, who was _very_ _well_ _married_, to a gentleman in a _great_ +_way_, near Bristol, who kept two carriages! That was the wind-up of the +history; that was the glory of Miss Hawkins. + +Could she but have given Harriet her feelings about it all! She had +talked her into love; but, alas! she was not so easily to be talked out +of it. The charm of an object to occupy the many vacancies of Harriet's +mind was not to be talked away. He might be superseded by another; he +certainly would indeed; nothing could be clearer; even a Robert Martin +would have been sufficient; but nothing else, she feared, would cure +her. Harriet was one of those, who, having once begun, would be always +in love. And now, poor girl! she was considerably worse from this +reappearance of Mr. Elton. She was always having a glimpse of him +somewhere or other. Emma saw him only once; but two or three times every +day Harriet was sure _just_ to meet with him, or _just_ to miss him, +_just_ to hear his voice, or see his shoulder, _just_ to have something +occur to preserve him in her fancy, in all the favouring warmth of +surprize and conjecture. She was, moreover, perpetually hearing about +him; for, excepting when at Hartfield, she was always among those who +saw no fault in Mr. Elton, and found nothing so interesting as +the discussion of his concerns; and every report, therefore, every +guess--all that had already occurred, all that might occur in the +arrangement of his affairs, comprehending income, servants, and +furniture, was continually in agitation around her. Her regard was +receiving strength by invariable praise of him, and her regrets kept +alive, and feelings irritated by ceaseless repetitions of Miss +Hawkins's happiness, and continual observation of, how much he seemed +attached!--his air as he walked by the house--the very sitting of his +hat, being all in proof of how much he was in love! + +Had it been allowable entertainment, had there been no pain to her +friend, or reproach to herself, in the waverings of Harriet's mind, +Emma would have been amused by its variations. Sometimes Mr. Elton +predominated, sometimes the Martins; and each was occasionally useful +as a check to the other. Mr. Elton's engagement had been the cure of +the agitation of meeting Mr. Martin. The unhappiness produced by the +knowledge of that engagement had been a little put aside by Elizabeth +Martin's calling at Mrs. Goddard's a few days afterwards. Harriet had +not been at home; but a note had been prepared and left for her, written +in the very style to touch; a small mixture of reproach, with a great +deal of kindness; and till Mr. Elton himself appeared, she had been much +occupied by it, continually pondering over what could be done in return, +and wishing to do more than she dared to confess. But Mr. Elton, in +person, had driven away all such cares. While he staid, the Martins were +forgotten; and on the very morning of his setting off for Bath again, +Emma, to dissipate some of the distress it occasioned, judged it best +for her to return Elizabeth Martin's visit. + +How that visit was to be acknowledged--what would be necessary--and +what might be safest, had been a point of some doubtful consideration. +Absolute neglect of the mother and sisters, when invited to come, would +be ingratitude. It must not be: and yet the danger of a renewal of the +acquaintance--! + +After much thinking, she could determine on nothing better, than +Harriet's returning the visit; but in a way that, if they had +understanding, should convince them that it was to be only a formal +acquaintance. She meant to take her in the carriage, leave her at the +Abbey Mill, while she drove a little farther, and call for her again +so soon, as to allow no time for insidious applications or dangerous +recurrences to the past, and give the most decided proof of what degree +of intimacy was chosen for the future. + +She could think of nothing better: and though there was something in it +which her own heart could not approve--something of ingratitude, merely +glossed over--it must be done, or what would become of Harriet? + + + +CHAPTER V + + +Small heart had Harriet for visiting. Only half an hour before her +friend called for her at Mrs. Goddard's, her evil stars had led her +to the very spot where, at that moment, a trunk, directed to _The Rev. +Philip Elton, White-Hart, Bath_, was to be seen under the operation of +being lifted into the butcher's cart, which was to convey it to where +the coaches past; and every thing in this world, excepting that trunk +and the direction, was consequently a blank. + +She went, however; and when they reached the farm, and she was to be +put down, at the end of the broad, neat gravel walk, which led between +espalier apple-trees to the front door, the sight of every thing which +had given her so much pleasure the autumn before, was beginning to +revive a little local agitation; and when they parted, Emma observed her +to be looking around with a sort of fearful curiosity, which determined +her not to allow the visit to exceed the proposed quarter of an hour. +She went on herself, to give that portion of time to an old servant who +was married, and settled in Donwell. + +The quarter of an hour brought her punctually to the white gate again; +and Miss Smith receiving her summons, was with her without delay, and +unattended by any alarming young man. She came solitarily down the +gravel walk--a Miss Martin just appearing at the door, and parting with +her seemingly with ceremonious civility. + +Harriet could not very soon give an intelligible account. She was +feeling too much; but at last Emma collected from her enough to +understand the sort of meeting, and the sort of pain it was creating. +She had seen only Mrs. Martin and the two girls. They had received her +doubtingly, if not coolly; and nothing beyond the merest commonplace had +been talked almost all the time--till just at last, when Mrs. Martin's +saying, all of a sudden, that she thought Miss Smith was grown, had +brought on a more interesting subject, and a warmer manner. In that very +room she had been measured last September, with her two friends. There +were the pencilled marks and memorandums on the wainscot by the window. +_He_ had done it. They all seemed to remember the day, the hour, +the party, the occasion--to feel the same consciousness, the same +regrets--to be ready to return to the same good understanding; and they +were just growing again like themselves, (Harriet, as Emma must suspect, +as ready as the best of them to be cordial and happy,) when the carriage +reappeared, and all was over. The style of the visit, and the shortness +of it, were then felt to be decisive. Fourteen minutes to be given +to those with whom she had thankfully passed six weeks not six months +ago!--Emma could not but picture it all, and feel how justly they might +resent, how naturally Harriet must suffer. It was a bad business. She +would have given a great deal, or endured a great deal, to have had +the Martins in a higher rank of life. They were so deserving, that a +_little_ higher should have been enough: but as it was, how could she +have done otherwise?--Impossible!--She could not repent. They must be +separated; but there was a great deal of pain in the process--so much +to herself at this time, that she soon felt the necessity of a little +consolation, and resolved on going home by way of Randalls to +procure it. Her mind was quite sick of Mr. Elton and the Martins. The +refreshment of Randalls was absolutely necessary. + +It was a good scheme; but on driving to the door they heard that neither +"master nor mistress was at home;" they had both been out some time; the +man believed they were gone to Hartfield. + +"This is too bad," cried Emma, as they turned away. "And now we shall +just miss them; too provoking!--I do not know when I have been so +disappointed." And she leaned back in the corner, to indulge her +murmurs, or to reason them away; probably a little of both--such being +the commonest process of a not ill-disposed mind. Presently the carriage +stopt; she looked up; it was stopt by Mr. and Mrs. Weston, who were +standing to speak to her. There was instant pleasure in the sight of +them, and still greater pleasure was conveyed in sound--for Mr. Weston +immediately accosted her with, + +"How d'ye do?--how d'ye do?--We have been sitting with your father--glad +to see him so well. Frank comes to-morrow--I had a letter this +morning--we see him to-morrow by dinner-time to a certainty--he is at +Oxford to-day, and he comes for a whole fortnight; I knew it would be +so. If he had come at Christmas he could not have staid three days; I +was always glad he did not come at Christmas; now we are going to have +just the right weather for him, fine, dry, settled weather. We shall +enjoy him completely; every thing has turned out exactly as we could +wish." + +There was no resisting such news, no possibility of avoiding the +influence of such a happy face as Mr. Weston's, confirmed as it all was +by the words and the countenance of his wife, fewer and quieter, but not +less to the purpose. To know that _she_ thought his coming certain was +enough to make Emma consider it so, and sincerely did she rejoice in +their joy. It was a most delightful reanimation of exhausted spirits. +The worn-out past was sunk in the freshness of what was coming; and in +the rapidity of half a moment's thought, she hoped Mr. Elton would now +be talked of no more. + +Mr. Weston gave her the history of the engagements at Enscombe, which +allowed his son to answer for having an entire fortnight at his command, +as well as the route and the method of his journey; and she listened, +and smiled, and congratulated. + +"I shall soon bring him over to Hartfield," said he, at the conclusion. + +Emma could imagine she saw a touch of the arm at this speech, from his +wife. + +"We had better move on, Mr. Weston," said she, "we are detaining the +girls." + +"Well, well, I am ready;"--and turning again to Emma, "but you must +not be expecting such a _very_ fine young man; you have only +had _my_ account you know; I dare say he is really nothing +extraordinary:"--though his own sparkling eyes at the moment were +speaking a very different conviction. + +Emma could look perfectly unconscious and innocent, and answer in a +manner that appropriated nothing. + +"Think of me to-morrow, my dear Emma, about four o'clock," was Mrs. +Weston's parting injunction; spoken with some anxiety, and meant only +for her. + +"Four o'clock!--depend upon it he will be here by three," was Mr. +Weston's quick amendment; and so ended a most satisfactory meeting. +Emma's spirits were mounted quite up to happiness; every thing wore +a different air; James and his horses seemed not half so sluggish as +before. When she looked at the hedges, she thought the elder at least +must soon be coming out; and when she turned round to Harriet, she saw +something like a look of spring, a tender smile even there. + +"Will Mr. Frank Churchill pass through Bath as well as Oxford?"--was a +question, however, which did not augur much. + +But neither geography nor tranquillity could come all at once, and Emma +was now in a humour to resolve that they should both come in time. + +The morning of the interesting day arrived, and Mrs. Weston's faithful +pupil did not forget either at ten, or eleven, or twelve o'clock, that +she was to think of her at four. + +"My dear, dear anxious friend,"--said she, in mental soliloquy, while +walking downstairs from her own room, "always overcareful for every +body's comfort but your own; I see you now in all your little fidgets, +going again and again into his room, to be sure that all is right." +The clock struck twelve as she passed through the hall. "'Tis twelve; +I shall not forget to think of you four hours hence; and by this +time to-morrow, perhaps, or a little later, I may be thinking of the +possibility of their all calling here. I am sure they will bring him +soon." + +She opened the parlour door, and saw two gentlemen sitting with her +father--Mr. Weston and his son. They had been arrived only a few +minutes, and Mr. Weston had scarcely finished his explanation of Frank's +being a day before his time, and her father was yet in the midst of his +very civil welcome and congratulations, when she appeared, to have her +share of surprize, introduction, and pleasure. + +The Frank Churchill so long talked of, so high in interest, was actually +before her--he was presented to her, and she did not think too much had +been said in his praise; he was a _very_ good looking young man; height, +air, address, all were unexceptionable, and his countenance had a great +deal of the spirit and liveliness of his father's; he looked quick and +sensible. She felt immediately that she should like him; and there was +a well-bred ease of manner, and a readiness to talk, which convinced her +that he came intending to be acquainted with her, and that acquainted +they soon must be. + +He had reached Randalls the evening before. She was pleased with the +eagerness to arrive which had made him alter his plan, and travel +earlier, later, and quicker, that he might gain half a day. + +"I told you yesterday," cried Mr. Weston with exultation, "I told you +all that he would be here before the time named. I remembered what I +used to do myself. One cannot creep upon a journey; one cannot help +getting on faster than one has planned; and the pleasure of coming in +upon one's friends before the look-out begins, is worth a great deal +more than any little exertion it needs." + +"It is a great pleasure where one can indulge in it," said the young +man, "though there are not many houses that I should presume on so far; +but in coming _home_ I felt I might do any thing." + +The word _home_ made his father look on him with fresh complacency. +Emma was directly sure that he knew how to make himself agreeable; the +conviction was strengthened by what followed. He was very much pleased +with Randalls, thought it a most admirably arranged house, would hardly +allow it even to be very small, admired the situation, the walk to +Highbury, Highbury itself, Hartfield still more, and professed himself +to have always felt the sort of interest in the country which none but +one's _own_ country gives, and the greatest curiosity to visit it. That +he should never have been able to indulge so amiable a feeling before, +passed suspiciously through Emma's brain; but still, if it were a +falsehood, it was a pleasant one, and pleasantly handled. His manner had +no air of study or exaggeration. He did really look and speak as if in a +state of no common enjoyment. + +Their subjects in general were such as belong to an opening +acquaintance. On his side were the inquiries,--"Was she a +horsewoman?--Pleasant rides?--Pleasant walks?--Had they a large +neighbourhood?--Highbury, perhaps, afforded society enough?--There were +several very pretty houses in and about it.--Balls--had they balls?--Was +it a musical society?" + +But when satisfied on all these points, and their acquaintance +proportionably advanced, he contrived to find an opportunity, while +their two fathers were engaged with each other, of introducing his +mother-in-law, and speaking of her with so much handsome praise, so much +warm admiration, so much gratitude for the happiness she secured to his +father, and her very kind reception of himself, as was an additional +proof of his knowing how to please--and of his certainly thinking it +worth while to try to please her. He did not advance a word of praise +beyond what she knew to be thoroughly deserved by Mrs. Weston; but, +undoubtedly he could know very little of the matter. He understood +what would be welcome; he could be sure of little else. "His father's +marriage," he said, "had been the wisest measure, every friend must +rejoice in it; and the family from whom he had received such a blessing +must be ever considered as having conferred the highest obligation on +him." + +He got as near as he could to thanking her for Miss Taylor's merits, +without seeming quite to forget that in the common course of things it +was to be rather supposed that Miss Taylor had formed Miss Woodhouse's +character, than Miss Woodhouse Miss Taylor's. And at last, as if +resolved to qualify his opinion completely for travelling round to its +object, he wound it all up with astonishment at the youth and beauty of +her person. + +"Elegant, agreeable manners, I was prepared for," said he; "but I +confess that, considering every thing, I had not expected more than a +very tolerably well-looking woman of a certain age; I did not know that +I was to find a pretty young woman in Mrs. Weston." + +"You cannot see too much perfection in Mrs. Weston for my feelings," +said Emma; "were you to guess her to be _eighteen_, I should listen with +pleasure; but _she_ would be ready to quarrel with you for using such +words. Don't let her imagine that you have spoken of her as a pretty +young woman." + +"I hope I should know better," he replied; "no, depend upon it, (with a +gallant bow,) that in addressing Mrs. Weston I should understand whom +I might praise without any danger of being thought extravagant in my +terms." + +Emma wondered whether the same suspicion of what might be expected from +their knowing each other, which had taken strong possession of her mind, +had ever crossed his; and whether his compliments were to be considered +as marks of acquiescence, or proofs of defiance. She must see more +of him to understand his ways; at present she only felt they were +agreeable. + +She had no doubt of what Mr. Weston was often thinking about. His quick +eye she detected again and again glancing towards them with a happy +expression; and even, when he might have determined not to look, she was +confident that he was often listening. + +Her own father's perfect exemption from any thought of the kind, the +entire deficiency in him of all such sort of penetration or suspicion, +was a most comfortable circumstance. Happily he was not farther from +approving matrimony than from foreseeing it.--Though always objecting +to every marriage that was arranged, he never suffered beforehand from +the apprehension of any; it seemed as if he could not think so ill of +any two persons' understanding as to suppose they meant to marry till it +were proved against them. She blessed the favouring blindness. He could +now, without the drawback of a single unpleasant surmise, without a +glance forward at any possible treachery in his guest, give way to all +his natural kind-hearted civility in solicitous inquiries after Mr. +Frank Churchill's accommodation on his journey, through the sad evils +of sleeping two nights on the road, and express very genuine unmixed +anxiety to know that he had certainly escaped catching cold--which, +however, he could not allow him to feel quite assured of himself till +after another night. + +A reasonable visit paid, Mr. Weston began to move.--"He must be going. +He had business at the Crown about his hay, and a great many errands for +Mrs. Weston at Ford's, but he need not hurry any body else." His son, +too well bred to hear the hint, rose immediately also, saying, + +"As you are going farther on business, sir, I will take the opportunity +of paying a visit, which must be paid some day or other, and therefore +may as well be paid now. I have the honour of being acquainted with +a neighbour of yours, (turning to Emma,) a lady residing in or near +Highbury; a family of the name of Fairfax. I shall have no difficulty, +I suppose, in finding the house; though Fairfax, I believe, is not +the proper name--I should rather say Barnes, or Bates. Do you know any +family of that name?" + +"To be sure we do," cried his father; "Mrs. Bates--we passed her +house--I saw Miss Bates at the window. True, true, you are acquainted +with Miss Fairfax; I remember you knew her at Weymouth, and a fine girl +she is. Call upon her, by all means." + +"There is no necessity for my calling this morning," said the young man; +"another day would do as well; but there was that degree of acquaintance +at Weymouth which--" + +"Oh! go to-day, go to-day. Do not defer it. What is right to be done +cannot be done too soon. And, besides, I must give you a hint, Frank; +any want of attention to her _here_ should be carefully avoided. You saw +her with the Campbells, when she was the equal of every body she mixed +with, but here she is with a poor old grandmother, who has barely enough +to live on. If you do not call early it will be a slight." + +The son looked convinced. + +"I have heard her speak of the acquaintance," said Emma; "she is a very +elegant young woman." + +He agreed to it, but with so quiet a "Yes," as inclined her almost to +doubt his real concurrence; and yet there must be a very distinct sort +of elegance for the fashionable world, if Jane Fairfax could be thought +only ordinarily gifted with it. + +"If you were never particularly struck by her manners before," said she, +"I think you will to-day. You will see her to advantage; see her and +hear her--no, I am afraid you will not hear her at all, for she has an +aunt who never holds her tongue." + +"You are acquainted with Miss Jane Fairfax, sir, are you?" said Mr. +Woodhouse, always the last to make his way in conversation; "then give +me leave to assure you that you will find her a very agreeable young +lady. She is staying here on a visit to her grandmama and aunt, very +worthy people; I have known them all my life. They will be extremely +glad to see you, I am sure; and one of my servants shall go with you to +shew you the way." + +"My dear sir, upon no account in the world; my father can direct me." + +"But your father is not going so far; he is only going to the Crown, +quite on the other side of the street, and there are a great many +houses; you might be very much at a loss, and it is a very dirty walk, +unless you keep on the footpath; but my coachman can tell you where you +had best cross the street." + +Mr. Frank Churchill still declined it, looking as serious as he could, +and his father gave his hearty support by calling out, "My good friend, +this is quite unnecessary; Frank knows a puddle of water when he sees +it, and as to Mrs. Bates's, he may get there from the Crown in a hop, +step, and jump." + +They were permitted to go alone; and with a cordial nod from one, and a +graceful bow from the other, the two gentlemen took leave. Emma remained +very well pleased with this beginning of the acquaintance, and could now +engage to think of them all at Randalls any hour of the day, with full +confidence in their comfort. + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The next morning brought Mr. Frank Churchill again. He came with Mrs. +Weston, to whom and to Highbury he seemed to take very cordially. He had +been sitting with her, it appeared, most companionably at home, till +her usual hour of exercise; and on being desired to chuse their walk, +immediately fixed on Highbury.--"He did not doubt there being very +pleasant walks in every direction, but if left to him, he should always +chuse the same. Highbury, that airy, cheerful, happy-looking Highbury, +would be his constant attraction."--Highbury, with Mrs. Weston, stood +for Hartfield; and she trusted to its bearing the same construction with +him. They walked thither directly. + +Emma had hardly expected them: for Mr. Weston, who had called in for +half a minute, in order to hear that his son was very handsome, knew +nothing of their plans; and it was an agreeable surprize to her, +therefore, to perceive them walking up to the house together, arm in +arm. She was wanting to see him again, and especially to see him in +company with Mrs. Weston, upon his behaviour to whom her opinion of him +was to depend. If he were deficient there, nothing should make amends +for it. But on seeing them together, she became perfectly satisfied. It +was not merely in fine words or hyperbolical compliment that he paid his +duty; nothing could be more proper or pleasing than his whole manner to +her--nothing could more agreeably denote his wish of considering her as +a friend and securing her affection. And there was time enough for Emma +to form a reasonable judgment, as their visit included all the rest of +the morning. They were all three walking about together for an hour +or two--first round the shrubberies of Hartfield, and afterwards +in Highbury. He was delighted with every thing; admired Hartfield +sufficiently for Mr. Woodhouse's ear; and when their going farther was +resolved on, confessed his wish to be made acquainted with the whole +village, and found matter of commendation and interest much oftener than +Emma could have supposed. + +Some of the objects of his curiosity spoke very amiable feelings. He +begged to be shewn the house which his father had lived in so long, and +which had been the home of his father's father; and on recollecting that +an old woman who had nursed him was still living, walked in quest of +her cottage from one end of the street to the other; and though in +some points of pursuit or observation there was no positive merit, they +shewed, altogether, a good-will towards Highbury in general, which must +be very like a merit to those he was with. + +Emma watched and decided, that with such feelings as were now shewn, it +could not be fairly supposed that he had been ever voluntarily absenting +himself; that he had not been acting a part, or making a parade of +insincere professions; and that Mr. Knightley certainly had not done him +justice. + +Their first pause was at the Crown Inn, an inconsiderable house, though +the principal one of the sort, where a couple of pair of post-horses +were kept, more for the convenience of the neighbourhood than from any +run on the road; and his companions had not expected to be detained by +any interest excited there; but in passing it they gave the history of +the large room visibly added; it had been built many years ago for +a ball-room, and while the neighbourhood had been in a particularly +populous, dancing state, had been occasionally used as such;--but such +brilliant days had long passed away, and now the highest purpose for +which it was ever wanted was to accommodate a whist club established +among the gentlemen and half-gentlemen of the place. He was immediately +interested. Its character as a ball-room caught him; and instead of +passing on, he stopt for several minutes at the two superior sashed +windows which were open, to look in and contemplate its capabilities, +and lament that its original purpose should have ceased. He saw no fault +in the room, he would acknowledge none which they suggested. No, it +was long enough, broad enough, handsome enough. It would hold the +very number for comfort. They ought to have balls there at least every +fortnight through the winter. Why had not Miss Woodhouse revived +the former good old days of the room?--She who could do any thing in +Highbury! The want of proper families in the place, and the conviction +that none beyond the place and its immediate environs could be tempted +to attend, were mentioned; but he was not satisfied. He could not be +persuaded that so many good-looking houses as he saw around him, could +not furnish numbers enough for such a meeting; and even when particulars +were given and families described, he was still unwilling to admit that +the inconvenience of such a mixture would be any thing, or that there +would be the smallest difficulty in every body's returning into their +proper place the next morning. He argued like a young man very much bent +on dancing; and Emma was rather surprized to see the constitution of +the Weston prevail so decidedly against the habits of the Churchills. +He seemed to have all the life and spirit, cheerful feelings, and social +inclinations of his father, and nothing of the pride or reserve of +Enscombe. Of pride, indeed, there was, perhaps, scarcely enough; his +indifference to a confusion of rank, bordered too much on inelegance of +mind. He could be no judge, however, of the evil he was holding cheap. +It was but an effusion of lively spirits. + +At last he was persuaded to move on from the front of the Crown; +and being now almost facing the house where the Bateses lodged, Emma +recollected his intended visit the day before, and asked him if he had +paid it. + +"Yes, oh! yes"--he replied; "I was just going to mention it. A very +successful visit:--I saw all the three ladies; and felt very much +obliged to you for your preparatory hint. If the talking aunt had taken +me quite by surprize, it must have been the death of me. As it was, I +was only betrayed into paying a most unreasonable visit. Ten minutes +would have been all that was necessary, perhaps all that was proper; and +I had told my father I should certainly be at home before him--but there +was no getting away, no pause; and, to my utter astonishment, I found, +when he (finding me nowhere else) joined me there at last, that I had +been actually sitting with them very nearly three-quarters of an hour. +The good lady had not given me the possibility of escape before." + +"And how did you think Miss Fairfax looking?" + +"Ill, very ill--that is, if a young lady can ever be allowed to look +ill. But the expression is hardly admissible, Mrs. Weston, is it? Ladies +can never look ill. And, seriously, Miss Fairfax is naturally so +pale, as almost always to give the appearance of ill health.--A most +deplorable want of complexion." + +Emma would not agree to this, and began a warm defence of Miss Fairfax's +complexion. "It was certainly never brilliant, but she would not +allow it to have a sickly hue in general; and there was a softness and +delicacy in her skin which gave peculiar elegance to the character of +her face." He listened with all due deference; acknowledged that he had +heard many people say the same--but yet he must confess, that to him +nothing could make amends for the want of the fine glow of health. Where +features were indifferent, a fine complexion gave beauty to them all; +and where they were good, the effect was--fortunately he need not +attempt to describe what the effect was. + +"Well," said Emma, "there is no disputing about taste.--At least you +admire her except her complexion." + +He shook his head and laughed.--"I cannot separate Miss Fairfax and her +complexion." + +"Did you see her often at Weymouth? Were you often in the same society?" + +At this moment they were approaching Ford's, and he hastily exclaimed, +"Ha! this must be the very shop that every body attends every day of +their lives, as my father informs me. He comes to Highbury himself, he +says, six days out of the seven, and has always business at Ford's. +If it be not inconvenient to you, pray let us go in, that I may prove +myself to belong to the place, to be a true citizen of Highbury. I must +buy something at Ford's. It will be taking out my freedom.--I dare say +they sell gloves." + +"Oh! yes, gloves and every thing. I do admire your patriotism. You will +be adored in Highbury. You were very popular before you came, because +you were Mr. Weston's son--but lay out half a guinea at Ford's, and your +popularity will stand upon your own virtues." + +They went in; and while the sleek, well-tied parcels of "Men's Beavers" +and "York Tan" were bringing down and displaying on the counter, he +said--"But I beg your pardon, Miss Woodhouse, you were speaking to me, +you were saying something at the very moment of this burst of my _amor_ +_patriae_. Do not let me lose it. I assure you the utmost stretch of +public fame would not make me amends for the loss of any happiness in +private life." + +"I merely asked, whether you had known much of Miss Fairfax and her +party at Weymouth." + +"And now that I understand your question, I must pronounce it to be a +very unfair one. It is always the lady's right to decide on the degree +of acquaintance. Miss Fairfax must already have given her account.--I +shall not commit myself by claiming more than she may chuse to allow." + +"Upon my word! you answer as discreetly as she could do herself. But +her account of every thing leaves so much to be guessed, she is so very +reserved, so very unwilling to give the least information about any +body, that I really think you may say what you like of your acquaintance +with her." + +"May I, indeed?--Then I will speak the truth, and nothing suits me so +well. I met her frequently at Weymouth. I had known the Campbells a +little in town; and at Weymouth we were very much in the same set. +Colonel Campbell is a very agreeable man, and Mrs. Campbell a friendly, +warm-hearted woman. I like them all." + +"You know Miss Fairfax's situation in life, I conclude; what she is +destined to be?" + +"Yes--(rather hesitatingly)--I believe I do." + +"You get upon delicate subjects, Emma," said Mrs. Weston smiling; +"remember that I am here.--Mr. Frank Churchill hardly knows what to say +when you speak of Miss Fairfax's situation in life. I will move a little +farther off." + +"I certainly do forget to think of _her_," said Emma, "as having ever +been any thing but my friend and my dearest friend." + +He looked as if he fully understood and honoured such a sentiment. + +When the gloves were bought, and they had quitted the shop again, "Did +you ever hear the young lady we were speaking of, play?" said Frank +Churchill. + +"Ever hear her!" repeated Emma. "You forget how much she belongs to +Highbury. I have heard her every year of our lives since we both began. +She plays charmingly." + +"You think so, do you?--I wanted the opinion of some one who +could really judge. She appeared to me to play well, that is, with +considerable taste, but I know nothing of the matter myself.--I am +excessively fond of music, but without the smallest skill or right +of judging of any body's performance.--I have been used to hear her's +admired; and I remember one proof of her being thought to play well:--a +man, a very musical man, and in love with another woman--engaged to +her--on the point of marriage--would yet never ask that other woman +to sit down to the instrument, if the lady in question could sit down +instead--never seemed to like to hear one if he could hear the other. +That, I thought, in a man of known musical talent, was some proof." + +"Proof indeed!" said Emma, highly amused.--"Mr. Dixon is very musical, +is he? We shall know more about them all, in half an hour, from you, +than Miss Fairfax would have vouchsafed in half a year." + +"Yes, Mr. Dixon and Miss Campbell were the persons; and I thought it a +very strong proof." + +"Certainly--very strong it was; to own the truth, a great deal stronger +than, if _I_ had been Miss Campbell, would have been at all agreeable +to me. I could not excuse a man's having more music than love--more ear +than eye--a more acute sensibility to fine sounds than to my feelings. +How did Miss Campbell appear to like it?" + +"It was her very particular friend, you know." + +"Poor comfort!" said Emma, laughing. "One would rather have a stranger +preferred than one's very particular friend--with a stranger it might +not recur again--but the misery of having a very particular friend +always at hand, to do every thing better than one does oneself!--Poor +Mrs. Dixon! Well, I am glad she is gone to settle in Ireland." + +"You are right. It was not very flattering to Miss Campbell; but she +really did not seem to feel it." + +"So much the better--or so much the worse:--I do not know which. But +be it sweetness or be it stupidity in her--quickness of friendship, or +dulness of feeling--there was one person, I think, who must have felt +it: Miss Fairfax herself. She must have felt the improper and dangerous +distinction." + +"As to that--I do not--" + +"Oh! do not imagine that I expect an account of Miss Fairfax's +sensations from you, or from any body else. They are known to no human +being, I guess, but herself. But if she continued to play whenever she +was asked by Mr. Dixon, one may guess what one chuses." + +"There appeared such a perfectly good understanding among them all--" +he began rather quickly, but checking himself, added, "however, it is +impossible for me to say on what terms they really were--how it might +all be behind the scenes. I can only say that there was smoothness +outwardly. But you, who have known Miss Fairfax from a child, must be +a better judge of her character, and of how she is likely to conduct +herself in critical situations, than I can be." + +"I have known her from a child, undoubtedly; we have been children +and women together; and it is natural to suppose that we should be +intimate,--that we should have taken to each other whenever she visited +her friends. But we never did. I hardly know how it has happened; a +little, perhaps, from that wickedness on my side which was prone to take +disgust towards a girl so idolized and so cried up as she always was, +by her aunt and grandmother, and all their set. And then, her reserve--I +never could attach myself to any one so completely reserved." + +"It is a most repulsive quality, indeed," said he. "Oftentimes very +convenient, no doubt, but never pleasing. There is safety in reserve, +but no attraction. One cannot love a reserved person." + +"Not till the reserve ceases towards oneself; and then the attraction +may be the greater. But I must be more in want of a friend, or an +agreeable companion, than I have yet been, to take the trouble of +conquering any body's reserve to procure one. Intimacy between Miss +Fairfax and me is quite out of the question. I have no reason to think +ill of her--not the least--except that such extreme and perpetual +cautiousness of word and manner, such a dread of giving a distinct idea +about any body, is apt to suggest suspicions of there being something to +conceal." + +He perfectly agreed with her: and after walking together so long, and +thinking so much alike, Emma felt herself so well acquainted with him, +that she could hardly believe it to be only their second meeting. He was +not exactly what she had expected; less of the man of the world in some +of his notions, less of the spoiled child of fortune, therefore better +than she had expected. His ideas seemed more moderate--his feelings +warmer. She was particularly struck by his manner of considering Mr. +Elton's house, which, as well as the church, he would go and look at, +and would not join them in finding much fault with. No, he could not +believe it a bad house; not such a house as a man was to be pitied for +having. If it were to be shared with the woman he loved, he could not +think any man to be pitied for having that house. There must be ample +room in it for every real comfort. The man must be a blockhead who +wanted more. + +Mrs. Weston laughed, and said he did not know what he was talking about. +Used only to a large house himself, and without ever thinking how many +advantages and accommodations were attached to its size, he could be no +judge of the privations inevitably belonging to a small one. But Emma, +in her own mind, determined that he _did_ know what he was talking +about, and that he shewed a very amiable inclination to settle early in +life, and to marry, from worthy motives. He might not be aware of the +inroads on domestic peace to be occasioned by no housekeeper's room, or +a bad butler's pantry, but no doubt he did perfectly feel that Enscombe +could not make him happy, and that whenever he were attached, he would +willingly give up much of wealth to be allowed an early establishment. + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Emma's very good opinion of Frank Churchill was a little shaken the +following day, by hearing that he was gone off to London, merely to have +his hair cut. A sudden freak seemed to have seized him at breakfast, and +he had sent for a chaise and set off, intending to return to dinner, +but with no more important view that appeared than having his hair cut. +There was certainly no harm in his travelling sixteen miles twice over +on such an errand; but there was an air of foppery and nonsense in it +which she could not approve. It did not accord with the rationality of +plan, the moderation in expense, or even the unselfish warmth of heart, +which she had believed herself to discern in him yesterday. Vanity, +extravagance, love of change, restlessness of temper, which must be +doing something, good or bad; heedlessness as to the pleasure of his +father and Mrs. Weston, indifferent as to how his conduct might appear +in general; he became liable to all these charges. His father only +called him a coxcomb, and thought it a very good story; but that Mrs. +Weston did not like it, was clear enough, by her passing it over as +quickly as possible, and making no other comment than that "all young +people would have their little whims." + +With the exception of this little blot, Emma found that his visit +hitherto had given her friend only good ideas of him. Mrs. Weston +was very ready to say how attentive and pleasant a companion he made +himself--how much she saw to like in his disposition altogether. He +appeared to have a very open temper--certainly a very cheerful and +lively one; she could observe nothing wrong in his notions, a great deal +decidedly right; he spoke of his uncle with warm regard, was fond of +talking of him--said he would be the best man in the world if he were +left to himself; and though there was no being attached to the aunt, he +acknowledged her kindness with gratitude, and seemed to mean always to +speak of her with respect. This was all very promising; and, but for +such an unfortunate fancy for having his hair cut, there was nothing to +denote him unworthy of the distinguished honour which her imagination +had given him; the honour, if not of being really in love with her, +of being at least very near it, and saved only by her own +indifference--(for still her resolution held of never marrying)--the +honour, in short, of being marked out for her by all their joint +acquaintance. + +Mr. Weston, on his side, added a virtue to the account which must +have some weight. He gave her to understand that Frank admired her +extremely--thought her very beautiful and very charming; and with so +much to be said for him altogether, she found she must not judge him +harshly. As Mrs. Weston observed, "all young people would have their +little whims." + +There was one person among his new acquaintance in Surry, not so +leniently disposed. In general he was judged, throughout the parishes of +Donwell and Highbury, with great candour; liberal allowances were made +for the little excesses of such a handsome young man--one who smiled so +often and bowed so well; but there was one spirit among them not to be +softened, from its power of censure, by bows or smiles--Mr. Knightley. +The circumstance was told him at Hartfield; for the moment, he was +silent; but Emma heard him almost immediately afterwards say to himself, +over a newspaper he held in his hand, "Hum! just the trifling, silly +fellow I took him for." She had half a mind to resent; but an instant's +observation convinced her that it was really said only to relieve his +own feelings, and not meant to provoke; and therefore she let it pass. + +Although in one instance the bearers of not good tidings, Mr. and +Mrs. Weston's visit this morning was in another respect particularly +opportune. Something occurred while they were at Hartfield, to make Emma +want their advice; and, which was still more lucky, she wanted exactly +the advice they gave. + +This was the occurrence:--The Coles had been settled some years in +Highbury, and were very good sort of people--friendly, liberal, and +unpretending; but, on the other hand, they were of low origin, in trade, +and only moderately genteel. On their first coming into the country, +they had lived in proportion to their income, quietly, keeping little +company, and that little unexpensively; but the last year or two had +brought them a considerable increase of means--the house in town had +yielded greater profits, and fortune in general had smiled on them. With +their wealth, their views increased; their want of a larger house, their +inclination for more company. They added to their house, to their number +of servants, to their expenses of every sort; and by this time were, +in fortune and style of living, second only to the family at Hartfield. +Their love of society, and their new dining-room, prepared every body +for their keeping dinner-company; and a few parties, chiefly among the +single men, had already taken place. The regular and best families Emma +could hardly suppose they would presume to invite--neither Donwell, nor +Hartfield, nor Randalls. Nothing should tempt _her_ to go, if they did; +and she regretted that her father's known habits would be giving +her refusal less meaning than she could wish. The Coles were very +respectable in their way, but they ought to be taught that it was not +for them to arrange the terms on which the superior families would visit +them. This lesson, she very much feared, they would receive only from +herself; she had little hope of Mr. Knightley, none of Mr. Weston. + +But she had made up her mind how to meet this presumption so many weeks +before it appeared, that when the insult came at last, it found her +very differently affected. Donwell and Randalls had received their +invitation, and none had come for her father and herself; and Mrs. +Weston's accounting for it with "I suppose they will not take the +liberty with you; they know you do not dine out," was not quite +sufficient. She felt that she should like to have had the power of +refusal; and afterwards, as the idea of the party to be assembled there, +consisting precisely of those whose society was dearest to her, occurred +again and again, she did not know that she might not have been tempted +to accept. Harriet was to be there in the evening, and the Bateses. They +had been speaking of it as they walked about Highbury the day before, +and Frank Churchill had most earnestly lamented her absence. Might +not the evening end in a dance? had been a question of his. The bare +possibility of it acted as a farther irritation on her spirits; and +her being left in solitary grandeur, even supposing the omission to be +intended as a compliment, was but poor comfort. + +It was the arrival of this very invitation while the Westons were at +Hartfield, which made their presence so acceptable; for though her first +remark, on reading it, was that "of course it must be declined," she so +very soon proceeded to ask them what they advised her to do, that their +advice for her going was most prompt and successful. + +She owned that, considering every thing, she was not absolutely +without inclination for the party. The Coles expressed themselves so +properly--there was so much real attention in the manner of it--so much +consideration for her father. "They would have solicited the honour +earlier, but had been waiting the arrival of a folding-screen from +London, which they hoped might keep Mr. Woodhouse from any draught of +air, and therefore induce him the more readily to give them the honour +of his company." Upon the whole, she was very persuadable; and it being +briefly settled among themselves how it might be done without neglecting +his comfort--how certainly Mrs. Goddard, if not Mrs. Bates, might be +depended on for bearing him company--Mr. Woodhouse was to be talked +into an acquiescence of his daughter's going out to dinner on a day now +near at hand, and spending the whole evening away from him. As for _his_ +going, Emma did not wish him to think it possible, the hours would be +too late, and the party too numerous. He was soon pretty well resigned. + +"I am not fond of dinner-visiting," said he--"I never was. No more is +Emma. Late hours do not agree with us. I am sorry Mr. and Mrs. Cole +should have done it. I think it would be much better if they would come +in one afternoon next summer, and take their tea with us--take us +in their afternoon walk; which they might do, as our hours are so +reasonable, and yet get home without being out in the damp of the +evening. The dews of a summer evening are what I would not expose any +body to. However, as they are so very desirous to have dear Emma dine +with them, and as you will both be there, and Mr. Knightley too, to take +care of her, I cannot wish to prevent it, provided the weather be what +it ought, neither damp, nor cold, nor windy." Then turning to Mrs. +Weston, with a look of gentle reproach--"Ah! Miss Taylor, if you had not +married, you would have staid at home with me." + +"Well, sir," cried Mr. Weston, "as I took Miss Taylor away, it is +incumbent on me to supply her place, if I can; and I will step to Mrs. +Goddard in a moment, if you wish it." + +But the idea of any thing to be done in a _moment_, was increasing, +not lessening, Mr. Woodhouse's agitation. The ladies knew better how +to allay it. Mr. Weston must be quiet, and every thing deliberately +arranged. + +With this treatment, Mr. Woodhouse was soon composed enough for talking +as usual. "He should be happy to see Mrs. Goddard. He had a great regard +for Mrs. Goddard; and Emma should write a line, and invite her. James +could take the note. But first of all, there must be an answer written +to Mrs. Cole." + +"You will make my excuses, my dear, as civilly as possible. You will say +that I am quite an invalid, and go no where, and therefore must decline +their obliging invitation; beginning with my _compliments_, of course. +But you will do every thing right. I need not tell you what is to be +done. We must remember to let James know that the carriage will be +wanted on Tuesday. I shall have no fears for you with him. We have never +been there above once since the new approach was made; but still I have +no doubt that James will take you very safely. And when you get there, +you must tell him at what time you would have him come for you again; +and you had better name an early hour. You will not like staying late. +You will get very tired when tea is over." + +"But you would not wish me to come away before I am tired, papa?" + +"Oh! no, my love; but you will soon be tired. There will be a great many +people talking at once. You will not like the noise." + +"But, my dear sir," cried Mr. Weston, "if Emma comes away early, it will +be breaking up the party." + +"And no great harm if it does," said Mr. Woodhouse. "The sooner every +party breaks up, the better." + +"But you do not consider how it may appear to the Coles. Emma's going +away directly after tea might be giving offence. They are good-natured +people, and think little of their own claims; but still they must +feel that any body's hurrying away is no great compliment; and Miss +Woodhouse's doing it would be more thought of than any other person's in +the room. You would not wish to disappoint and mortify the Coles, I am +sure, sir; friendly, good sort of people as ever lived, and who have +been your neighbours these _ten_ years." + +"No, upon no account in the world, Mr. Weston; I am much obliged to +you for reminding me. I should be extremely sorry to be giving them any +pain. I know what worthy people they are. Perry tells me that Mr. Cole +never touches malt liquor. You would not think it to look at him, but +he is bilious--Mr. Cole is very bilious. No, I would not be the means +of giving them any pain. My dear Emma, we must consider this. I am sure, +rather than run the risk of hurting Mr. and Mrs. Cole, you would stay a +little longer than you might wish. You will not regard being tired. You +will be perfectly safe, you know, among your friends." + +"Oh yes, papa. I have no fears at all for myself; and I should have no +scruples of staying as late as Mrs. Weston, but on your account. I am +only afraid of your sitting up for me. I am not afraid of your not being +exceedingly comfortable with Mrs. Goddard. She loves piquet, you +know; but when she is gone home, I am afraid you will be sitting up by +yourself, instead of going to bed at your usual time--and the idea of +that would entirely destroy my comfort. You must promise me not to sit +up." + +He did, on the condition of some promises on her side: such as that, +if she came home cold, she would be sure to warm herself thoroughly; if +hungry, that she would take something to eat; that her own maid should +sit up for her; and that Serle and the butler should see that every +thing were safe in the house, as usual. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Frank Churchill came back again; and if he kept his father's dinner +waiting, it was not known at Hartfield; for Mrs. Weston was too anxious +for his being a favourite with Mr. Woodhouse, to betray any imperfection +which could be concealed. + +He came back, had had his hair cut, and laughed at himself with a very +good grace, but without seeming really at all ashamed of what he had +done. He had no reason to wish his hair longer, to conceal any confusion +of face; no reason to wish the money unspent, to improve his spirits. +He was quite as undaunted and as lively as ever; and, after seeing him, +Emma thus moralised to herself:-- + +"I do not know whether it ought to be so, but certainly silly things +do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent +way. Wickedness is always wickedness, but folly is not always folly.--It +depends upon the character of those who handle it. Mr. Knightley, he is +_not_ a trifling, silly young man. If he were, he would have done this +differently. He would either have gloried in the achievement, or +been ashamed of it. There would have been either the ostentation of +a coxcomb, or the evasions of a mind too weak to defend its own +vanities.--No, I am perfectly sure that he is not trifling or silly." + +With Tuesday came the agreeable prospect of seeing him again, and for +a longer time than hitherto; of judging of his general manners, and by +inference, of the meaning of his manners towards herself; of guessing +how soon it might be necessary for her to throw coldness into her air; +and of fancying what the observations of all those might be, who were +now seeing them together for the first time. + +She meant to be very happy, in spite of the scene being laid at Mr. +Cole's; and without being able to forget that among the failings of Mr. +Elton, even in the days of his favour, none had disturbed her more than +his propensity to dine with Mr. Cole. + +Her father's comfort was amply secured, Mrs. Bates as well as Mrs. +Goddard being able to come; and her last pleasing duty, before she left +the house, was to pay her respects to them as they sat together after +dinner; and while her father was fondly noticing the beauty of her +dress, to make the two ladies all the amends in her power, by helping +them to large slices of cake and full glasses of wine, for whatever +unwilling self-denial his care of their constitution might have obliged +them to practise during the meal.--She had provided a plentiful dinner +for them; she wished she could know that they had been allowed to eat +it. + +She followed another carriage to Mr. Cole's door; and was pleased to see +that it was Mr. Knightley's; for Mr. Knightley keeping no horses, +having little spare money and a great deal of health, activity, and +independence, was too apt, in Emma's opinion, to get about as he could, +and not use his carriage so often as became the owner of Donwell Abbey. +She had an opportunity now of speaking her approbation while warm from +her heart, for he stopped to hand her out. + +"This is coming as you should do," said she; "like a gentleman.--I am +quite glad to see you." + +He thanked her, observing, "How lucky that we should arrive at the same +moment! for, if we had met first in the drawing-room, I doubt whether +you would have discerned me to be more of a gentleman than usual.--You +might not have distinguished how I came, by my look or manner." + +"Yes I should, I am sure I should. There is always a look of +consciousness or bustle when people come in a way which they know to be +beneath them. You think you carry it off very well, I dare say, but +with you it is a sort of bravado, an air of affected unconcern; I always +observe it whenever I meet you under those circumstances. _Now_ you have +nothing to try for. You are not afraid of being supposed ashamed. You +are not striving to look taller than any body else. _Now_ I shall really +be very happy to walk into the same room with you." + +"Nonsensical girl!" was his reply, but not at all in anger. + +Emma had as much reason to be satisfied with the rest of the party as +with Mr. Knightley. She was received with a cordial respect which could +not but please, and given all the consequence she could wish for. +When the Westons arrived, the kindest looks of love, the strongest of +admiration were for her, from both husband and wife; the son approached +her with a cheerful eagerness which marked her as his peculiar object, +and at dinner she found him seated by her--and, as she firmly believed, +not without some dexterity on his side. + +The party was rather large, as it included one other family, a proper +unobjectionable country family, whom the Coles had the advantage of +naming among their acquaintance, and the male part of Mr. Cox's family, +the lawyer of Highbury. The less worthy females were to come in the +evening, with Miss Bates, Miss Fairfax, and Miss Smith; but already, +at dinner, they were too numerous for any subject of conversation to be +general; and, while politics and Mr. Elton were talked over, Emma could +fairly surrender all her attention to the pleasantness of her neighbour. +The first remote sound to which she felt herself obliged to attend, was +the name of Jane Fairfax. Mrs. Cole seemed to be relating something of +her that was expected to be very interesting. She listened, and found +it well worth listening to. That very dear part of Emma, her fancy, +received an amusing supply. Mrs. Cole was telling that she had been +calling on Miss Bates, and as soon as she entered the room had +been struck by the sight of a pianoforte--a very elegant looking +instrument--not a grand, but a large-sized square pianoforte; and the +substance of the story, the end of all the dialogue which ensued of +surprize, and inquiry, and congratulations on her side, and explanations +on Miss Bates's, was, that this pianoforte had arrived from +Broadwood's the day before, to the great astonishment of both aunt and +niece--entirely unexpected; that at first, by Miss Bates's account, +Jane herself was quite at a loss, quite bewildered to think who could +possibly have ordered it--but now, they were both perfectly satisfied +that it could be from only one quarter;--of course it must be from +Colonel Campbell. + +"One can suppose nothing else," added Mrs. Cole, "and I was only +surprized that there could ever have been a doubt. But Jane, it seems, +had a letter from them very lately, and not a word was said about it. +She knows their ways best; but I should not consider their silence as +any reason for their not meaning to make the present. They might chuse +to surprize her." + +Mrs. Cole had many to agree with her; every body who spoke on the +subject was equally convinced that it must come from Colonel Campbell, +and equally rejoiced that such a present had been made; and there were +enough ready to speak to allow Emma to think her own way, and still +listen to Mrs. Cole. + +"I declare, I do not know when I have heard any thing that has given me +more satisfaction!--It always has quite hurt me that Jane Fairfax, who +plays so delightfully, should not have an instrument. It seemed quite +a shame, especially considering how many houses there are where fine +instruments are absolutely thrown away. This is like giving ourselves +a slap, to be sure! and it was but yesterday I was telling Mr. Cole, +I really was ashamed to look at our new grand pianoforte in the +drawing-room, while I do not know one note from another, and our little +girls, who are but just beginning, perhaps may never make any thing of +it; and there is poor Jane Fairfax, who is mistress of music, has not +any thing of the nature of an instrument, not even the pitifullest old +spinet in the world, to amuse herself with.--I was saying this to +Mr. Cole but yesterday, and he quite agreed with me; only he is so +particularly fond of music that he could not help indulging himself +in the purchase, hoping that some of our good neighbours might be so +obliging occasionally to put it to a better use than we can; and that +really is the reason why the instrument was bought--or else I am sure +we ought to be ashamed of it.--We are in great hopes that Miss Woodhouse +may be prevailed with to try it this evening." + +Miss Woodhouse made the proper acquiescence; and finding that nothing +more was to be entrapped from any communication of Mrs. Cole's, turned +to Frank Churchill. + +"Why do you smile?" said she. + +"Nay, why do you?" + +"Me!--I suppose I smile for pleasure at Colonel Campbell's being so rich +and so liberal.--It is a handsome present." + +"Very." + +"I rather wonder that it was never made before." + +"Perhaps Miss Fairfax has never been staying here so long before." + +"Or that he did not give her the use of their own instrument--which must +now be shut up in London, untouched by any body." + +"That is a grand pianoforte, and he might think it too large for Mrs. +Bates's house." + +"You may _say_ what you chuse--but your countenance testifies that your +_thoughts_ on this subject are very much like mine." + +"I do not know. I rather believe you are giving me more credit for +acuteness than I deserve. I smile because you smile, and shall probably +suspect whatever I find you suspect; but at present I do not see what +there is to question. If Colonel Campbell is not the person, who can +be?" + +"What do you say to Mrs. Dixon?" + +"Mrs. Dixon! very true indeed. I had not thought of Mrs. Dixon. She must +know as well as her father, how acceptable an instrument would be; and +perhaps the mode of it, the mystery, the surprize, is more like a young +woman's scheme than an elderly man's. It is Mrs. Dixon, I dare say. I +told you that your suspicions would guide mine." + +"If so, you must extend your suspicions and comprehend _Mr_. Dixon in +them." + +"Mr. Dixon.--Very well. Yes, I immediately perceive that it must be the +joint present of Mr. and Mrs. Dixon. We were speaking the other day, you +know, of his being so warm an admirer of her performance." + +"Yes, and what you told me on that head, confirmed an idea which I had +entertained before.--I do not mean to reflect upon the good intentions +of either Mr. Dixon or Miss Fairfax, but I cannot help suspecting either +that, after making his proposals to her friend, he had the misfortune +to fall in love with _her_, or that he became conscious of a little +attachment on her side. One might guess twenty things without guessing +exactly the right; but I am sure there must be a particular cause for +her chusing to come to Highbury instead of going with the Campbells +to Ireland. Here, she must be leading a life of privation and penance; +there it would have been all enjoyment. As to the pretence of trying her +native air, I look upon that as a mere excuse.--In the summer it might +have passed; but what can any body's native air do for them in the +months of January, February, and March? Good fires and carriages would +be much more to the purpose in most cases of delicate health, and I dare +say in her's. I do not require you to adopt all my suspicions, though +you make so noble a profession of doing it, but I honestly tell you what +they are." + +"And, upon my word, they have an air of great probability. Mr. Dixon's +preference of her music to her friend's, I can answer for being very +decided." + +"And then, he saved her life. Did you ever hear of that?--A water +party; and by some accident she was falling overboard. He caught her." + +"He did. I was there--one of the party." + +"Were you really?--Well!--But you observed nothing of course, for it +seems to be a new idea to you.--If I had been there, I think I should +have made some discoveries." + +"I dare say you would; but I, simple I, saw nothing but the fact, that +Miss Fairfax was nearly dashed from the vessel and that Mr. Dixon caught +her.--It was the work of a moment. And though the consequent shock and +alarm was very great and much more durable--indeed I believe it was +half an hour before any of us were comfortable again--yet that was too +general a sensation for any thing of peculiar anxiety to be +observable. I do not mean to say, however, that you might not have made +discoveries." + +The conversation was here interrupted. They were called on to share +in the awkwardness of a rather long interval between the courses, and +obliged to be as formal and as orderly as the others; but when the table +was again safely covered, when every corner dish was placed exactly +right, and occupation and ease were generally restored, Emma said, + +"The arrival of this pianoforte is decisive with me. I wanted to know +a little more, and this tells me quite enough. Depend upon it, we shall +soon hear that it is a present from Mr. and Mrs. Dixon." + +"And if the Dixons should absolutely deny all knowledge of it we must +conclude it to come from the Campbells." + +"No, I am sure it is not from the Campbells. Miss Fairfax knows it is +not from the Campbells, or they would have been guessed at first. She +would not have been puzzled, had she dared fix on them. I may not have +convinced you perhaps, but I am perfectly convinced myself that Mr. +Dixon is a principal in the business." + +"Indeed you injure me if you suppose me unconvinced. Your reasonings +carry my judgment along with them entirely. At first, while I supposed +you satisfied that Colonel Campbell was the giver, I saw it only as +paternal kindness, and thought it the most natural thing in the world. +But when you mentioned Mrs. Dixon, I felt how much more probable that it +should be the tribute of warm female friendship. And now I can see it in +no other light than as an offering of love." + +There was no occasion to press the matter farther. The conviction seemed +real; he looked as if he felt it. She said no more, other subjects +took their turn; and the rest of the dinner passed away; the dessert +succeeded, the children came in, and were talked to and admired amid the +usual rate of conversation; a few clever things said, a few downright +silly, but by much the larger proportion neither the one nor the +other--nothing worse than everyday remarks, dull repetitions, old news, +and heavy jokes. + +The ladies had not been long in the drawing-room, before the other +ladies, in their different divisions, arrived. Emma watched the entree +of her own particular little friend; and if she could not exult in her +dignity and grace, she could not only love the blooming sweetness and +the artless manner, but could most heartily rejoice in that light, +cheerful, unsentimental disposition which allowed her so many +alleviations of pleasure, in the midst of the pangs of disappointed +affection. There she sat--and who would have guessed how many tears she +had been lately shedding? To be in company, nicely dressed herself and +seeing others nicely dressed, to sit and smile and look pretty, and say +nothing, was enough for the happiness of the present hour. Jane Fairfax +did look and move superior; but Emma suspected she might have been +glad to change feelings with Harriet, very glad to have purchased the +mortification of having loved--yes, of having loved even Mr. Elton in +vain--by the surrender of all the dangerous pleasure of knowing herself +beloved by the husband of her friend. + +In so large a party it was not necessary that Emma should approach her. +She did not wish to speak of the pianoforte, she felt too much in the +secret herself, to think the appearance of curiosity or interest fair, +and therefore purposely kept at a distance; but by the others, the +subject was almost immediately introduced, and she saw the blush of +consciousness with which congratulations were received, the blush +of guilt which accompanied the name of "my excellent friend Colonel +Campbell." + +Mrs. Weston, kind-hearted and musical, was particularly interested +by the circumstance, and Emma could not help being amused at her +perseverance in dwelling on the subject; and having so much to ask and +to say as to tone, touch, and pedal, totally unsuspicious of that wish +of saying as little about it as possible, which she plainly read in the +fair heroine's countenance. + +They were soon joined by some of the gentlemen; and the very first +of the early was Frank Churchill. In he walked, the first and the +handsomest; and after paying his compliments en passant to Miss Bates +and her niece, made his way directly to the opposite side of the circle, +where sat Miss Woodhouse; and till he could find a seat by her, would +not sit at all. Emma divined what every body present must be thinking. +She was his object, and every body must perceive it. She introduced him +to her friend, Miss Smith, and, at convenient moments afterwards, heard +what each thought of the other. "He had never seen so lovely a face, and +was delighted with her naivete." And she, "Only to be sure it was paying +him too great a compliment, but she did think there were some looks a +little like Mr. Elton." Emma restrained her indignation, and only turned +from her in silence. + +Smiles of intelligence passed between her and the gentleman on first +glancing towards Miss Fairfax; but it was most prudent to avoid speech. +He told her that he had been impatient to leave the dining-room--hated +sitting long--was always the first to move when he could--that his +father, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Cox, and Mr. Cole, were left very busy over +parish business--that as long as he had staid, however, it had been +pleasant enough, as he had found them in general a set of gentlemanlike, +sensible men; and spoke so handsomely of Highbury altogether--thought it +so abundant in agreeable families--that Emma began to feel she had been +used to despise the place rather too much. She questioned him as to the +society in Yorkshire--the extent of the neighbourhood about Enscombe, +and the sort; and could make out from his answers that, as far as +Enscombe was concerned, there was very little going on, that their +visitings were among a range of great families, none very near; and +that even when days were fixed, and invitations accepted, it was an even +chance that Mrs. Churchill were not in health and spirits for going; +that they made a point of visiting no fresh person; and that, though +he had his separate engagements, it was not without difficulty, without +considerable address _at_ _times_, that he could get away, or introduce +an acquaintance for a night. + +She saw that Enscombe could not satisfy, and that Highbury, taken at +its best, might reasonably please a young man who had more retirement at +home than he liked. His importance at Enscombe was very evident. He did +not boast, but it naturally betrayed itself, that he had persuaded his +aunt where his uncle could do nothing, and on her laughing and noticing +it, he owned that he believed (excepting one or two points) he could +_with_ _time_ persuade her to any thing. One of those points on which +his influence failed, he then mentioned. He had wanted very much to +go abroad--had been very eager indeed to be allowed to travel--but she +would not hear of it. This had happened the year before. _Now_, he said, +he was beginning to have no longer the same wish. + +The unpersuadable point, which he did not mention, Emma guessed to be +good behaviour to his father. + +"I have made a most wretched discovery," said he, after a short pause.-- +"I have been here a week to-morrow--half my time. I never knew days fly +so fast. A week to-morrow!--And I have hardly begun to enjoy myself. +But just got acquainted with Mrs. Weston, and others!--I hate the +recollection." + +"Perhaps you may now begin to regret that you spent one whole day, out +of so few, in having your hair cut." + +"No," said he, smiling, "that is no subject of regret at all. I have +no pleasure in seeing my friends, unless I can believe myself fit to be +seen." + +The rest of the gentlemen being now in the room, Emma found herself +obliged to turn from him for a few minutes, and listen to Mr. Cole. When +Mr. Cole had moved away, and her attention could be restored as before, +she saw Frank Churchill looking intently across the room at Miss +Fairfax, who was sitting exactly opposite. + +"What is the matter?" said she. + +He started. "Thank you for rousing me," he replied. "I believe I have +been very rude; but really Miss Fairfax has done her hair in so odd a +way--so very odd a way--that I cannot keep my eyes from her. I never saw +any thing so outree!--Those curls!--This must be a fancy of her own. I +see nobody else looking like her!--I must go and ask her whether it +is an Irish fashion. Shall I?--Yes, I will--I declare I will--and you +shall see how she takes it;--whether she colours." + +He was gone immediately; and Emma soon saw him standing before Miss +Fairfax, and talking to her; but as to its effect on the young lady, +as he had improvidently placed himself exactly between them, exactly in +front of Miss Fairfax, she could absolutely distinguish nothing. + +Before he could return to his chair, it was taken by Mrs. Weston. + +"This is the luxury of a large party," said she:--"one can get near +every body, and say every thing. My dear Emma, I am longing to talk +to you. I have been making discoveries and forming plans, just like +yourself, and I must tell them while the idea is fresh. Do you know how +Miss Bates and her niece came here?" + +"How?--They were invited, were not they?" + +"Oh! yes--but how they were conveyed hither?--the manner of their +coming?" + +"They walked, I conclude. How else could they come?" + +"Very true.--Well, a little while ago it occurred to me how very sad +it would be to have Jane Fairfax walking home again, late at night, and +cold as the nights are now. And as I looked at her, though I never saw +her appear to more advantage, it struck me that she was heated, and +would therefore be particularly liable to take cold. Poor girl! I could +not bear the idea of it; so, as soon as Mr. Weston came into the room, +and I could get at him, I spoke to him about the carriage. You may guess +how readily he came into my wishes; and having his approbation, I made +my way directly to Miss Bates, to assure her that the carriage would be +at her service before it took us home; for I thought it would be making +her comfortable at once. Good soul! she was as grateful as possible, you +may be sure. 'Nobody was ever so fortunate as herself!'--but with many, +many thanks--'there was no occasion to trouble us, for Mr. Knightley's +carriage had brought, and was to take them home again.' I was quite +surprized;--very glad, I am sure; but really quite surprized. Such a +very kind attention--and so thoughtful an attention!--the sort of thing +that so few men would think of. And, in short, from knowing his +usual ways, I am very much inclined to think that it was for their +accommodation the carriage was used at all. I do suspect he would not +have had a pair of horses for himself, and that it was only as an excuse +for assisting them." + +"Very likely," said Emma--"nothing more likely. I know no man more +likely than Mr. Knightley to do the sort of thing--to do any thing +really good-natured, useful, considerate, or benevolent. He is not a +gallant man, but he is a very humane one; and this, considering Jane +Fairfax's ill-health, would appear a case of humanity to him;--and for +an act of unostentatious kindness, there is nobody whom I would fix on +more than on Mr. Knightley. I know he had horses to-day--for we arrived +together; and I laughed at him about it, but he said not a word that +could betray." + +"Well," said Mrs. Weston, smiling, "you give him credit for more simple, +disinterested benevolence in this instance than I do; for while Miss +Bates was speaking, a suspicion darted into my head, and I have never +been able to get it out again. The more I think of it, the more probable +it appears. In short, I have made a match between Mr. Knightley and Jane +Fairfax. See the consequence of keeping you company!--What do you say to +it?" + +"Mr. Knightley and Jane Fairfax!" exclaimed Emma. "Dear Mrs. Weston, how +could you think of such a thing?--Mr. Knightley!--Mr. Knightley must not +marry!--You would not have little Henry cut out from Donwell?--Oh! no, +no, Henry must have Donwell. I cannot at all consent to Mr. Knightley's +marrying; and I am sure it is not at all likely. I am amazed that you +should think of such a thing." + +"My dear Emma, I have told you what led me to think of it. I do not want +the match--I do not want to injure dear little Henry--but the idea has +been given me by circumstances; and if Mr. Knightley really wished to +marry, you would not have him refrain on Henry's account, a boy of six +years old, who knows nothing of the matter?" + +"Yes, I would. I could not bear to have Henry supplanted.--Mr. +Knightley marry!--No, I have never had such an idea, and I cannot adopt +it now. And Jane Fairfax, too, of all women!" + +"Nay, she has always been a first favourite with him, as you very well +know." + +"But the imprudence of such a match!" + +"I am not speaking of its prudence; merely its probability." + +"I see no probability in it, unless you have any better foundation than +what you mention. His good-nature, his humanity, as I tell you, would +be quite enough to account for the horses. He has a great regard for the +Bateses, you know, independent of Jane Fairfax--and is always glad to +shew them attention. My dear Mrs. Weston, do not take to match-making. +You do it very ill. Jane Fairfax mistress of the Abbey!--Oh! no, +no;--every feeling revolts. For his own sake, I would not have him do so +mad a thing." + +"Imprudent, if you please--but not mad. Excepting inequality of fortune, +and perhaps a little disparity of age, I can see nothing unsuitable." + +"But Mr. Knightley does not want to marry. I am sure he has not the +least idea of it. Do not put it into his head. Why should he marry?--He +is as happy as possible by himself; with his farm, and his sheep, and +his library, and all the parish to manage; and he is extremely fond of +his brother's children. He has no occasion to marry, either to fill up +his time or his heart." + +"My dear Emma, as long as he thinks so, it is so; but if he really loves +Jane Fairfax--" + +"Nonsense! He does not care about Jane Fairfax. In the way of love, I am +sure he does not. He would do any good to her, or her family; but--" + +"Well," said Mrs. Weston, laughing, "perhaps the greatest good he could +do them, would be to give Jane such a respectable home." + +"If it would be good to her, I am sure it would be evil to himself; a +very shameful and degrading connexion. How would he bear to have Miss +Bates belonging to him?--To have her haunting the Abbey, and thanking +him all day long for his great kindness in marrying Jane?--'So very +kind and obliging!--But he always had been such a very kind neighbour!' +And then fly off, through half a sentence, to her mother's old +petticoat. 'Not that it was such a very old petticoat either--for still +it would last a great while--and, indeed, she must thankfully say that +their petticoats were all very strong.'" + +"For shame, Emma! Do not mimic her. You divert me against my conscience. +And, upon my word, I do not think Mr. Knightley would be much disturbed +by Miss Bates. Little things do not irritate him. She might talk on; and +if he wanted to say any thing himself, he would only talk louder, and +drown her voice. But the question is not, whether it would be a bad +connexion for him, but whether he wishes it; and I think he does. I have +heard him speak, and so must you, so very highly of Jane Fairfax! The +interest he takes in her--his anxiety about her health--his concern that +she should have no happier prospect! I have heard him express himself +so warmly on those points!--Such an admirer of her performance on the +pianoforte, and of her voice! I have heard him say that he could listen +to her for ever. Oh! and I had almost forgotten one idea that occurred +to me--this pianoforte that has been sent here by somebody--though +we have all been so well satisfied to consider it a present from the +Campbells, may it not be from Mr. Knightley? I cannot help suspecting +him. I think he is just the person to do it, even without being in +love." + +"Then it can be no argument to prove that he is in love. But I do not +think it is at all a likely thing for him to do. Mr. Knightley does +nothing mysteriously." + +"I have heard him lamenting her having no instrument repeatedly; oftener +than I should suppose such a circumstance would, in the common course of +things, occur to him." + +"Very well; and if he had intended to give her one, he would have told +her so." + +"There might be scruples of delicacy, my dear Emma. I have a very strong +notion that it comes from him. I am sure he was particularly silent when +Mrs. Cole told us of it at dinner." + +"You take up an idea, Mrs. Weston, and run away with it; as you have +many a time reproached me with doing. I see no sign of attachment--I +believe nothing of the pianoforte--and proof only shall convince me that +Mr. Knightley has any thought of marrying Jane Fairfax." + +They combated the point some time longer in the same way; Emma rather +gaining ground over the mind of her friend; for Mrs. Weston was the most +used of the two to yield; till a little bustle in the room shewed them +that tea was over, and the instrument in preparation;--and at the same +moment Mr. Cole approaching to entreat Miss Woodhouse would do them the +honour of trying it. Frank Churchill, of whom, in the eagerness of her +conversation with Mrs. Weston, she had been seeing nothing, except that +he had found a seat by Miss Fairfax, followed Mr. Cole, to add his very +pressing entreaties; and as, in every respect, it suited Emma best to +lead, she gave a very proper compliance. + +She knew the limitations of her own powers too well to attempt more than +she could perform with credit; she wanted neither taste nor spirit in +the little things which are generally acceptable, and could accompany +her own voice well. One accompaniment to her song took her agreeably by +surprize--a second, slightly but correctly taken by Frank Churchill. Her +pardon was duly begged at the close of the song, and every thing usual +followed. He was accused of having a delightful voice, and a perfect +knowledge of music; which was properly denied; and that he knew nothing +of the matter, and had no voice at all, roundly asserted. They sang +together once more; and Emma would then resign her place to Miss +Fairfax, whose performance, both vocal and instrumental, she never could +attempt to conceal from herself, was infinitely superior to her own. + +With mixed feelings, she seated herself at a little distance from the +numbers round the instrument, to listen. Frank Churchill sang again. +They had sung together once or twice, it appeared, at Weymouth. But the +sight of Mr. Knightley among the most attentive, soon drew away half +Emma's mind; and she fell into a train of thinking on the subject of +Mrs. Weston's suspicions, to which the sweet sounds of the united voices +gave only momentary interruptions. Her objections to Mr. Knightley's +marrying did not in the least subside. She could see nothing but evil +in it. It would be a great disappointment to Mr. John Knightley; +consequently to Isabella. A real injury to the children--a most +mortifying change, and material loss to them all;--a very great +deduction from her father's daily comfort--and, as to herself, she could +not at all endure the idea of Jane Fairfax at Donwell Abbey. A Mrs. +Knightley for them all to give way to!--No--Mr. Knightley must never +marry. Little Henry must remain the heir of Donwell. + +Presently Mr. Knightley looked back, and came and sat down by her. They +talked at first only of the performance. His admiration was certainly +very warm; yet she thought, but for Mrs. Weston, it would not have +struck her. As a sort of touchstone, however, she began to speak of his +kindness in conveying the aunt and niece; and though his answer was in +the spirit of cutting the matter short, she believed it to indicate only +his disinclination to dwell on any kindness of his own. + +"I often feel concern," said she, "that I dare not make our carriage +more useful on such occasions. It is not that I am without the wish; but +you know how impossible my father would deem it that James should put-to +for such a purpose." + +"Quite out of the question, quite out of the question," he +replied;--"but you must often wish it, I am sure." And he smiled with +such seeming pleasure at the conviction, that she must proceed another +step. + +"This present from the Campbells," said she--"this pianoforte is very +kindly given." + +"Yes," he replied, and without the smallest apparent +embarrassment.--"But they would have done better had they given +her notice of it. Surprizes are foolish things. The pleasure is not +enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable. I should have +expected better judgment in Colonel Campbell." + +From that moment, Emma could have taken her oath that Mr. Knightley had +had no concern in giving the instrument. But whether he were +entirely free from peculiar attachment--whether there were no actual +preference--remained a little longer doubtful. Towards the end of Jane's +second song, her voice grew thick. + +"That will do," said he, when it was finished, thinking aloud--"you have +sung quite enough for one evening--now be quiet." + +Another song, however, was soon begged for. "One more;--they would not +fatigue Miss Fairfax on any account, and would only ask for one more." +And Frank Churchill was heard to say, "I think you could manage this +without effort; the first part is so very trifling. The strength of the +song falls on the second." + +Mr. Knightley grew angry. + +"That fellow," said he, indignantly, "thinks of nothing but shewing off +his own voice. This must not be." And touching Miss Bates, who at that +moment passed near--"Miss Bates, are you mad, to let your niece sing +herself hoarse in this manner? Go, and interfere. They have no mercy on +her." + +Miss Bates, in her real anxiety for Jane, could hardly stay even to +be grateful, before she stept forward and put an end to all farther +singing. Here ceased the concert part of the evening, for Miss Woodhouse +and Miss Fairfax were the only young lady performers; but soon (within +five minutes) the proposal of dancing--originating nobody exactly knew +where--was so effectually promoted by Mr. and Mrs. Cole, that every +thing was rapidly clearing away, to give proper space. Mrs. Weston, +capital in her country-dances, was seated, and beginning an irresistible +waltz; and Frank Churchill, coming up with most becoming gallantry to +Emma, had secured her hand, and led her up to the top. + +While waiting till the other young people could pair themselves off, +Emma found time, in spite of the compliments she was receiving on +her voice and her taste, to look about, and see what became of Mr. +Knightley. This would be a trial. He was no dancer in general. If he +were to be very alert in engaging Jane Fairfax now, it might augur +something. There was no immediate appearance. No; he was talking to Mrs. +Cole--he was looking on unconcerned; Jane was asked by somebody else, +and he was still talking to Mrs. Cole. + +Emma had no longer an alarm for Henry; his interest was yet safe; and +she led off the dance with genuine spirit and enjoyment. Not more than +five couple could be mustered; but the rarity and the suddenness of +it made it very delightful, and she found herself well matched in a +partner. They were a couple worth looking at. + +Two dances, unfortunately, were all that could be allowed. It was +growing late, and Miss Bates became anxious to get home, on her mother's +account. After some attempts, therefore, to be permitted to begin again, +they were obliged to thank Mrs. Weston, look sorrowful, and have done. + +"Perhaps it is as well," said Frank Churchill, as he attended Emma to +her carriage. "I must have asked Miss Fairfax, and her languid dancing +would not have agreed with me, after yours." + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Emma did not repent her condescension in going to the Coles. The visit +afforded her many pleasant recollections the next day; and all that she +might be supposed to have lost on the side of dignified seclusion, must +be amply repaid in the splendour of popularity. She must have delighted +the Coles--worthy people, who deserved to be made happy!--And left a +name behind her that would not soon die away. + +Perfect happiness, even in memory, is not common; and there were two +points on which she was not quite easy. She doubted whether she had not +transgressed the duty of woman by woman, in betraying her suspicions of +Jane Fairfax's feelings to Frank Churchill. It was hardly right; but it +had been so strong an idea, that it would escape her, and his submission +to all that she told, was a compliment to her penetration, which made +it difficult for her to be quite certain that she ought to have held her +tongue. + +The other circumstance of regret related also to Jane Fairfax; and +there she had no doubt. She did unfeignedly and unequivocally regret the +inferiority of her own playing and singing. She did most heartily +grieve over the idleness of her childhood--and sat down and practised +vigorously an hour and a half. + +She was then interrupted by Harriet's coming in; and if Harriet's praise +could have satisfied her, she might soon have been comforted. + +"Oh! if I could but play as well as you and Miss Fairfax!" + +"Don't class us together, Harriet. My playing is no more like her's, +than a lamp is like sunshine." + +"Oh! dear--I think you play the best of the two. I think you play quite +as well as she does. I am sure I had much rather hear you. Every body +last night said how well you played." + +"Those who knew any thing about it, must have felt the difference. The +truth is, Harriet, that my playing is just good enough to be praised, +but Jane Fairfax's is much beyond it." + +"Well, I always shall think that you play quite as well as she does, or +that if there is any difference nobody would ever find it out. Mr. Cole +said how much taste you had; and Mr. Frank Churchill talked a great deal +about your taste, and that he valued taste much more than execution." + +"Ah! but Jane Fairfax has them both, Harriet." + +"Are you sure? I saw she had execution, but I did not know she had any +taste. Nobody talked about it. And I hate Italian singing.--There is no +understanding a word of it. Besides, if she does play so very well, you +know, it is no more than she is obliged to do, because she will have to +teach. The Coxes were wondering last night whether she would get into +any great family. How did you think the Coxes looked?" + +"Just as they always do--very vulgar." + +"They told me something," said Harriet rather hesitatingly; "but it is +nothing of any consequence." + +Emma was obliged to ask what they had told her, though fearful of its +producing Mr. Elton. + +"They told me--that Mr. Martin dined with them last Saturday." + +"Oh!" + +"He came to their father upon some business, and he asked him to stay to +dinner." + +"Oh!" + +"They talked a great deal about him, especially Anne Cox. I do not know +what she meant, but she asked me if I thought I should go and stay there +again next summer." + +"She meant to be impertinently curious, just as such an Anne Cox should +be." + +"She said he was very agreeable the day he dined there. He sat by her at +dinner. Miss Nash thinks either of the Coxes would be very glad to marry +him." + +"Very likely.--I think they are, without exception, the most vulgar +girls in Highbury." + +Harriet had business at Ford's.--Emma thought it most prudent to go with +her. Another accidental meeting with the Martins was possible, and in +her present state, would be dangerous. + +Harriet, tempted by every thing and swayed by half a word, was always +very long at a purchase; and while she was still hanging over muslins +and changing her mind, Emma went to the door for amusement.--Much could +not be hoped from the traffic of even the busiest part of Highbury;--Mr. +Perry walking hastily by, Mr. William Cox letting himself in at the +office-door, Mr. Cole's carriage-horses returning from exercise, or a +stray letter-boy on an obstinate mule, were the liveliest objects she +could presume to expect; and when her eyes fell only on the butcher with +his tray, a tidy old woman travelling homewards from shop with her full +basket, two curs quarrelling over a dirty bone, and a string of dawdling +children round the baker's little bow-window eyeing the gingerbread, she +knew she had no reason to complain, and was amused enough; quite enough +still to stand at the door. A mind lively and at ease, can do with +seeing nothing, and can see nothing that does not answer. + +She looked down the Randalls road. The scene enlarged; two persons +appeared; Mrs. Weston and her son-in-law; they were walking into +Highbury;--to Hartfield of course. They were stopping, however, in the +first place at Mrs. Bates's; whose house was a little nearer +Randalls than Ford's; and had all but knocked, when Emma caught their +eye.--Immediately they crossed the road and came forward to her; and the +agreeableness of yesterday's engagement seemed to give fresh pleasure to +the present meeting. Mrs. Weston informed her that she was going to call +on the Bateses, in order to hear the new instrument. + +"For my companion tells me," said she, "that I absolutely promised Miss +Bates last night, that I would come this morning. I was not aware of it +myself. I did not know that I had fixed a day, but as he says I did, I +am going now." + +"And while Mrs. Weston pays her visit, I may be allowed, I hope," said +Frank Churchill, "to join your party and wait for her at Hartfield--if +you are going home." + +Mrs. Weston was disappointed. + +"I thought you meant to go with me. They would be very much pleased." + +"Me! I should be quite in the way. But, perhaps--I may be equally in the +way here. Miss Woodhouse looks as if she did not want me. My aunt always +sends me off when she is shopping. She says I fidget her to death; and +Miss Woodhouse looks as if she could almost say the same. What am I to +do?" + +"I am here on no business of my own," said Emma; "I am only waiting for +my friend. She will probably have soon done, and then we shall go home. +But you had better go with Mrs. Weston and hear the instrument." + +"Well--if you advise it.--But (with a smile) if Colonel Campbell should +have employed a careless friend, and if it should prove to have an +indifferent tone--what shall I say? I shall be no support to Mrs. +Weston. She might do very well by herself. A disagreeable truth would be +palatable through her lips, but I am the wretchedest being in the world +at a civil falsehood." + +"I do not believe any such thing," replied Emma.--"I am persuaded that +you can be as insincere as your neighbours, when it is necessary; but +there is no reason to suppose the instrument is indifferent. Quite +otherwise indeed, if I understood Miss Fairfax's opinion last night." + +"Do come with me," said Mrs. Weston, "if it be not very disagreeable to +you. It need not detain us long. We will go to Hartfield afterwards. +We will follow them to Hartfield. I really wish you to call with me. It +will be felt so great an attention! and I always thought you meant it." + +He could say no more; and with the hope of Hartfield to reward him, +returned with Mrs. Weston to Mrs. Bates's door. Emma watched them in, +and then joined Harriet at the interesting counter,--trying, with all +the force of her own mind, to convince her that if she wanted plain +muslin it was of no use to look at figured; and that a blue ribbon, be +it ever so beautiful, would still never match her yellow pattern. At +last it was all settled, even to the destination of the parcel. + +"Should I send it to Mrs. Goddard's, ma'am?" asked Mrs. +Ford.--"Yes--no--yes, to Mrs. Goddard's. Only my pattern gown is at +Hartfield. No, you shall send it to Hartfield, if you please. But then, +Mrs. Goddard will want to see it.--And I could take the pattern gown +home any day. But I shall want the ribbon directly--so it had better go +to Hartfield--at least the ribbon. You could make it into two parcels, +Mrs. Ford, could not you?" + +"It is not worth while, Harriet, to give Mrs. Ford the trouble of two +parcels." + +"No more it is." + +"No trouble in the world, ma'am," said the obliging Mrs. Ford. + +"Oh! but indeed I would much rather have it only in one. Then, if you +please, you shall send it all to Mrs. Goddard's--I do not know--No, I +think, Miss Woodhouse, I may just as well have it sent to Hartfield, and +take it home with me at night. What do you advise?" + +"That you do not give another half-second to the subject. To Hartfield, +if you please, Mrs. Ford." + +"Aye, that will be much best," said Harriet, quite satisfied, "I should +not at all like to have it sent to Mrs. Goddard's." + +Voices approached the shop--or rather one voice and two ladies: Mrs. +Weston and Miss Bates met them at the door. + +"My dear Miss Woodhouse," said the latter, "I am just run across to +entreat the favour of you to come and sit down with us a little while, +and give us your opinion of our new instrument; you and Miss Smith. How +do you do, Miss Smith?--Very well I thank you.--And I begged Mrs. Weston +to come with me, that I might be sure of succeeding." + +"I hope Mrs. Bates and Miss Fairfax are--" + +"Very well, I am much obliged to you. My mother is delightfully well; +and Jane caught no cold last night. How is Mr. Woodhouse?--I am so glad +to hear such a good account. Mrs. Weston told me you were here.--Oh! +then, said I, I must run across, I am sure Miss Woodhouse will allow me +just to run across and entreat her to come in; my mother will be so +very happy to see her--and now we are such a nice party, she cannot +refuse.--'Aye, pray do,' said Mr. Frank Churchill, 'Miss Woodhouse's +opinion of the instrument will be worth having.'--But, said I, I shall +be more sure of succeeding if one of you will go with me.--'Oh,' said +he, 'wait half a minute, till I have finished my job;'--For, would you +believe it, Miss Woodhouse, there he is, in the most obliging manner in +the world, fastening in the rivet of my mother's spectacles.--The rivet +came out, you know, this morning.--So very obliging!--For my mother had +no use of her spectacles--could not put them on. And, by the bye, every +body ought to have two pair of spectacles; they should indeed. Jane said +so. I meant to take them over to John Saunders the first thing I did, +but something or other hindered me all the morning; first one thing, +then another, there is no saying what, you know. At one time Patty came +to say she thought the kitchen chimney wanted sweeping. Oh, said I, +Patty do not come with your bad news to me. Here is the rivet of your +mistress's spectacles out. Then the baked apples came home, Mrs. Wallis +sent them by her boy; they are extremely civil and obliging to us, the +Wallises, always--I have heard some people say that Mrs. Wallis can be +uncivil and give a very rude answer, but we have never known any thing +but the greatest attention from them. And it cannot be for the value +of our custom now, for what is our consumption of bread, you know? +Only three of us.--besides dear Jane at present--and she really eats +nothing--makes such a shocking breakfast, you would be quite frightened +if you saw it. I dare not let my mother know how little she eats--so I +say one thing and then I say another, and it passes off. But about the +middle of the day she gets hungry, and there is nothing she likes so +well as these baked apples, and they are extremely wholesome, for I took +the opportunity the other day of asking Mr. Perry; I happened to meet +him in the street. Not that I had any doubt before--I have so often +heard Mr. Woodhouse recommend a baked apple. I believe it is the only +way that Mr. Woodhouse thinks the fruit thoroughly wholesome. We +have apple-dumplings, however, very often. Patty makes an excellent +apple-dumpling. Well, Mrs. Weston, you have prevailed, I hope, and these +ladies will oblige us." + +Emma would be "very happy to wait on Mrs. Bates, &c.," and they did at +last move out of the shop, with no farther delay from Miss Bates than, + +"How do you do, Mrs. Ford? I beg your pardon. I did not see you before. +I hear you have a charming collection of new ribbons from town. Jane +came back delighted yesterday. Thank ye, the gloves do very well--only a +little too large about the wrist; but Jane is taking them in." + +"What was I talking of?" said she, beginning again when they were all in +the street. + +Emma wondered on what, of all the medley, she would fix. + +"I declare I cannot recollect what I was talking of.--Oh! my mother's +spectacles. So very obliging of Mr. Frank Churchill! 'Oh!' said he, +'I do think I can fasten the rivet; I like a job of this kind +excessively.'--Which you know shewed him to be so very.... Indeed I must +say that, much as I had heard of him before and much as I had expected, +he very far exceeds any thing.... I do congratulate you, Mrs. Weston, +most warmly. He seems every thing the fondest parent could.... +'Oh!' said he, 'I can fasten the rivet. I like a job of that sort +excessively.' I never shall forget his manner. And when I brought out +the baked apples from the closet, and hoped our friends would be so very +obliging as to take some, 'Oh!' said he directly, 'there is nothing +in the way of fruit half so good, and these are the finest-looking +home-baked apples I ever saw in my life.' That, you know, was so +very.... And I am sure, by his manner, it was no compliment. Indeed they +are very delightful apples, and Mrs. Wallis does them full justice--only +we do not have them baked more than twice, and Mr. Woodhouse made us +promise to have them done three times--but Miss Woodhouse will be so +good as not to mention it. The apples themselves are the very finest +sort for baking, beyond a doubt; all from Donwell--some of Mr. +Knightley's most liberal supply. He sends us a sack every year; and +certainly there never was such a keeping apple anywhere as one of his +trees--I believe there is two of them. My mother says the orchard was +always famous in her younger days. But I was really quite shocked the +other day--for Mr. Knightley called one morning, and Jane was eating +these apples, and we talked about them and said how much she enjoyed +them, and he asked whether we were not got to the end of our stock. 'I +am sure you must be,' said he, 'and I will send you another supply; for +I have a great many more than I can ever use. William Larkins let me +keep a larger quantity than usual this year. I will send you some more, +before they get good for nothing.' So I begged he would not--for really +as to ours being gone, I could not absolutely say that we had a great +many left--it was but half a dozen indeed; but they should be all kept +for Jane; and I could not at all bear that he should be sending us more, +so liberal as he had been already; and Jane said the same. And when +he was gone, she almost quarrelled with me--No, I should not say +quarrelled, for we never had a quarrel in our lives; but she was quite +distressed that I had owned the apples were so nearly gone; she wished +I had made him believe we had a great many left. Oh, said I, my dear, +I did say as much as I could. However, the very same evening William +Larkins came over with a large basket of apples, the same sort of +apples, a bushel at least, and I was very much obliged, and went down +and spoke to William Larkins and said every thing, as you may suppose. +William Larkins is such an old acquaintance! I am always glad to see +him. But, however, I found afterwards from Patty, that William said it +was all the apples of _that_ sort his master had; he had brought them +all--and now his master had not one left to bake or boil. William did +not seem to mind it himself, he was so pleased to think his master had +sold so many; for William, you know, thinks more of his master's profit +than any thing; but Mrs. Hodges, he said, was quite displeased at their +being all sent away. She could not bear that her master should not be +able to have another apple-tart this spring. He told Patty this, but bid +her not mind it, and be sure not to say any thing to us about it, for +Mrs. Hodges _would_ be cross sometimes, and as long as so many sacks +were sold, it did not signify who ate the remainder. And so Patty told +me, and I was excessively shocked indeed! I would not have Mr. Knightley +know any thing about it for the world! He would be so very.... I wanted +to keep it from Jane's knowledge; but, unluckily, I had mentioned it +before I was aware." + +Miss Bates had just done as Patty opened the door; and her visitors +walked upstairs without having any regular narration to attend to, +pursued only by the sounds of her desultory good-will. + +"Pray take care, Mrs. Weston, there is a step at the turning. Pray take +care, Miss Woodhouse, ours is rather a dark staircase--rather darker +and narrower than one could wish. Miss Smith, pray take care. Miss +Woodhouse, I am quite concerned, I am sure you hit your foot. Miss +Smith, the step at the turning." + + + +CHAPTER X + + +The appearance of the little sitting-room as they entered, was +tranquillity itself; Mrs. Bates, deprived of her usual employment, +slumbering on one side of the fire, Frank Churchill, at a table near +her, most deedily occupied about her spectacles, and Jane Fairfax, +standing with her back to them, intent on her pianoforte. + +Busy as he was, however, the young man was yet able to shew a most happy +countenance on seeing Emma again. + +"This is a pleasure," said he, in rather a low voice, "coming at least +ten minutes earlier than I had calculated. You find me trying to be +useful; tell me if you think I shall succeed." + +"What!" said Mrs. Weston, "have not you finished it yet? you would not +earn a very good livelihood as a working silversmith at this rate." + +"I have not been working uninterruptedly," he replied, "I have been +assisting Miss Fairfax in trying to make her instrument stand steadily, +it was not quite firm; an unevenness in the floor, I believe. You see +we have been wedging one leg with paper. This was very kind of you to be +persuaded to come. I was almost afraid you would be hurrying home." + +He contrived that she should be seated by him; and was sufficiently +employed in looking out the best baked apple for her, and trying to make +her help or advise him in his work, till Jane Fairfax was quite ready +to sit down to the pianoforte again. That she was not immediately ready, +Emma did suspect to arise from the state of her nerves; she had not yet +possessed the instrument long enough to touch it without emotion; she +must reason herself into the power of performance; and Emma could not +but pity such feelings, whatever their origin, and could not but resolve +never to expose them to her neighbour again. + +At last Jane began, and though the first bars were feebly given, the +powers of the instrument were gradually done full justice to. Mrs. +Weston had been delighted before, and was delighted again; Emma +joined her in all her praise; and the pianoforte, with every proper +discrimination, was pronounced to be altogether of the highest promise. + +"Whoever Colonel Campbell might employ," said Frank Churchill, with a +smile at Emma, "the person has not chosen ill. I heard a good deal of +Colonel Campbell's taste at Weymouth; and the softness of the upper +notes I am sure is exactly what he and _all_ _that_ _party_ would +particularly prize. I dare say, Miss Fairfax, that he either gave his +friend very minute directions, or wrote to Broadwood himself. Do not you +think so?" + +Jane did not look round. She was not obliged to hear. Mrs. Weston had +been speaking to her at the same moment. + +"It is not fair," said Emma, in a whisper; "mine was a random guess. Do +not distress her." + +He shook his head with a smile, and looked as if he had very little +doubt and very little mercy. Soon afterwards he began again, + +"How much your friends in Ireland must be enjoying your pleasure on this +occasion, Miss Fairfax. I dare say they often think of you, and wonder +which will be the day, the precise day of the instrument's coming to +hand. Do you imagine Colonel Campbell knows the business to be going +forward just at this time?--Do you imagine it to be the consequence +of an immediate commission from him, or that he may have sent only +a general direction, an order indefinite as to time, to depend upon +contingencies and conveniences?" + +He paused. She could not but hear; she could not avoid answering, + +"Till I have a letter from Colonel Campbell," said she, in a voice of +forced calmness, "I can imagine nothing with any confidence. It must be +all conjecture." + +"Conjecture--aye, sometimes one conjectures right, and sometimes one +conjectures wrong. I wish I could conjecture how soon I shall make this +rivet quite firm. What nonsense one talks, Miss Woodhouse, when hard +at work, if one talks at all;--your real workmen, I suppose, hold their +tongues; but we gentlemen labourers if we get hold of a word--Miss +Fairfax said something about conjecturing. There, it is done. I have the +pleasure, madam, (to Mrs. Bates,) of restoring your spectacles, healed +for the present." + +He was very warmly thanked both by mother and daughter; to escape a +little from the latter, he went to the pianoforte, and begged Miss +Fairfax, who was still sitting at it, to play something more. + +"If you are very kind," said he, "it will be one of the waltzes we +danced last night;--let me live them over again. You did not enjoy them +as I did; you appeared tired the whole time. I believe you were glad we +danced no longer; but I would have given worlds--all the worlds one ever +has to give--for another half-hour." + +She played. + +"What felicity it is to hear a tune again which _has_ made one +happy!--If I mistake not that was danced at Weymouth." + +She looked up at him for a moment, coloured deeply, and played something +else. He took some music from a chair near the pianoforte, and turning +to Emma, said, + +"Here is something quite new to me. Do you know it?--Cramer.--And here +are a new set of Irish melodies. That, from such a quarter, one might +expect. This was all sent with the instrument. Very thoughtful of +Colonel Campbell, was not it?--He knew Miss Fairfax could have no music +here. I honour that part of the attention particularly; it shews it to +have been so thoroughly from the heart. Nothing hastily done; nothing +incomplete. True affection only could have prompted it." + +Emma wished he would be less pointed, yet could not help being amused; +and when on glancing her eye towards Jane Fairfax she caught the remains +of a smile, when she saw that with all the deep blush of consciousness, +there had been a smile of secret delight, she had less scruple in the +amusement, and much less compunction with respect to her.--This +amiable, upright, perfect Jane Fairfax was apparently cherishing very +reprehensible feelings. + +He brought all the music to her, and they looked it over together.--Emma +took the opportunity of whispering, + +"You speak too plain. She must understand you." + +"I hope she does. I would have her understand me. I am not in the least +ashamed of my meaning." + +"But really, I am half ashamed, and wish I had never taken up the idea." + +"I am very glad you did, and that you communicated it to me. I have now +a key to all her odd looks and ways. Leave shame to her. If she does +wrong, she ought to feel it." + +"She is not entirely without it, I think." + +"I do not see much sign of it. She is playing _Robin_ _Adair_ at this +moment--_his_ favourite." + +Shortly afterwards Miss Bates, passing near the window, descried Mr. +Knightley on horse-back not far off. + +"Mr. Knightley I declare!--I must speak to him if possible, just to +thank him. I will not open the window here; it would give you all cold; +but I can go into my mother's room you know. I dare say he will come +in when he knows who is here. Quite delightful to have you all meet +so!--Our little room so honoured!" + +She was in the adjoining chamber while she still spoke, and opening the +casement there, immediately called Mr. Knightley's attention, and every +syllable of their conversation was as distinctly heard by the others, as +if it had passed within the same apartment. + +"How d' ye do?--how d'ye do?--Very well, I thank you. So obliged to you +for the carriage last night. We were just in time; my mother just ready +for us. Pray come in; do come in. You will find some friends here." + +So began Miss Bates; and Mr. Knightley seemed determined to be heard in +his turn, for most resolutely and commandingly did he say, + +"How is your niece, Miss Bates?--I want to inquire after you all, but +particularly your niece. How is Miss Fairfax?--I hope she caught no cold +last night. How is she to-day? Tell me how Miss Fairfax is." + +And Miss Bates was obliged to give a direct answer before he would hear +her in any thing else. The listeners were amused; and Mrs. Weston gave +Emma a look of particular meaning. But Emma still shook her head in +steady scepticism. + +"So obliged to you!--so very much obliged to you for the carriage," +resumed Miss Bates. + +He cut her short with, + +"I am going to Kingston. Can I do any thing for you?" + +"Oh! dear, Kingston--are you?--Mrs. Cole was saying the other day she +wanted something from Kingston." + +"Mrs. Cole has servants to send. Can I do any thing for _you_?" + +"No, I thank you. But do come in. Who do you think is here?--Miss +Woodhouse and Miss Smith; so kind as to call to hear the new pianoforte. +Do put up your horse at the Crown, and come in." + +"Well," said he, in a deliberating manner, "for five minutes, perhaps." + +"And here is Mrs. Weston and Mr. Frank Churchill too!--Quite delightful; +so many friends!" + +"No, not now, I thank you. I could not stay two minutes. I must get on +to Kingston as fast as I can." + +"Oh! do come in. They will be so very happy to see you." + +"No, no; your room is full enough. I will call another day, and hear the +pianoforte." + +"Well, I am so sorry!--Oh! Mr. Knightley, what a delightful party last +night; how extremely pleasant.--Did you ever see such dancing?--Was not +it delightful?--Miss Woodhouse and Mr. Frank Churchill; I never saw any +thing equal to it." + +"Oh! very delightful indeed; I can say nothing less, for I suppose Miss +Woodhouse and Mr. Frank Churchill are hearing every thing that passes. +And (raising his voice still more) I do not see why Miss Fairfax should +not be mentioned too. I think Miss Fairfax dances very well; and Mrs. +Weston is the very best country-dance player, without exception, +in England. Now, if your friends have any gratitude, they will say +something pretty loud about you and me in return; but I cannot stay to +hear it." + +"Oh! Mr. Knightley, one moment more; something of consequence--so +shocked!--Jane and I are both so shocked about the apples!" + +"What is the matter now?" + +"To think of your sending us all your store apples. You said you had +a great many, and now you have not one left. We really are so shocked! +Mrs. Hodges may well be angry. William Larkins mentioned it here. You +should not have done it, indeed you should not. Ah! he is off. He never +can bear to be thanked. But I thought he would have staid now, and it +would have been a pity not to have mentioned.... Well, (returning to the +room,) I have not been able to succeed. Mr. Knightley cannot stop. He is +going to Kingston. He asked me if he could do any thing...." + +"Yes," said Jane, "we heard his kind offers, we heard every thing." + +"Oh! yes, my dear, I dare say you might, because you know, the door was +open, and the window was open, and Mr. Knightley spoke loud. You must +have heard every thing to be sure. 'Can I do any thing for you at +Kingston?' said he; so I just mentioned.... Oh! Miss Woodhouse, must you +be going?--You seem but just come--so very obliging of you." + +Emma found it really time to be at home; the visit had already lasted +long; and on examining watches, so much of the morning was perceived +to be gone, that Mrs. Weston and her companion taking leave also, could +allow themselves only to walk with the two young ladies to Hartfield +gates, before they set off for Randalls. + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +It may be possible to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been +known of young people passing many, many months successively, without +being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue +either to body or mind;--but when a beginning is made--when the +felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly, felt--it +must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more. + +Frank Churchill had danced once at Highbury, and longed to dance again; +and the last half-hour of an evening which Mr. Woodhouse was persuaded +to spend with his daughter at Randalls, was passed by the two young +people in schemes on the subject. Frank's was the first idea; and his +the greatest zeal in pursuing it; for the lady was the best judge of the +difficulties, and the most solicitous for accommodation and appearance. +But still she had inclination enough for shewing people again how +delightfully Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse danced--for +doing that in which she need not blush to compare herself with Jane +Fairfax--and even for simple dancing itself, without any of the wicked +aids of vanity--to assist him first in pacing out the room they were in +to see what it could be made to hold--and then in taking the dimensions +of the other parlour, in the hope of discovering, in spite of all that +Mr. Weston could say of their exactly equal size, that it was a little +the largest. + +His first proposition and request, that the dance begun at Mr. Cole's +should be finished there--that the same party should be collected, +and the same musician engaged, met with the readiest acquiescence. Mr. +Weston entered into the idea with thorough enjoyment, and Mrs. Weston +most willingly undertook to play as long as they could wish to dance; +and the interesting employment had followed, of reckoning up exactly who +there would be, and portioning out the indispensable division of space +to every couple. + +"You and Miss Smith, and Miss Fairfax, will be three, and the two Miss +Coxes five," had been repeated many times over. "And there will be the +two Gilberts, young Cox, my father, and myself, besides Mr. Knightley. +Yes, that will be quite enough for pleasure. You and Miss Smith, and +Miss Fairfax, will be three, and the two Miss Coxes five; and for five +couple there will be plenty of room." + +But soon it came to be on one side, + +"But will there be good room for five couple?--I really do not think +there will." + +On another, + +"And after all, five couple are not enough to make it worth while to +stand up. Five couple are nothing, when one thinks seriously about it. +It will not do to _invite_ five couple. It can be allowable only as the +thought of the moment." + +Somebody said that _Miss_ Gilbert was expected at her brother's, and +must be invited with the rest. Somebody else believed _Mrs_. Gilbert +would have danced the other evening, if she had been asked. A word was +put in for a second young Cox; and at last, Mr. Weston naming one family +of cousins who must be included, and another of very old acquaintance +who could not be left out, it became a certainty that the five couple +would be at least ten, and a very interesting speculation in what +possible manner they could be disposed of. + +The doors of the two rooms were just opposite each other. "Might not +they use both rooms, and dance across the passage?" It seemed the +best scheme; and yet it was not so good but that many of them wanted a +better. Emma said it would be awkward; Mrs. Weston was in distress about +the supper; and Mr. Woodhouse opposed it earnestly, on the score of +health. It made him so very unhappy, indeed, that it could not be +persevered in. + +"Oh! no," said he; "it would be the extreme of imprudence. I could not +bear it for Emma!--Emma is not strong. She would catch a dreadful cold. +So would poor little Harriet. So you would all. Mrs. Weston, you would +be quite laid up; do not let them talk of such a wild thing. Pray do +not let them talk of it. That young man (speaking lower) is very +thoughtless. Do not tell his father, but that young man is not quite +the thing. He has been opening the doors very often this evening, +and keeping them open very inconsiderately. He does not think of the +draught. I do not mean to set you against him, but indeed he is not +quite the thing!" + +Mrs. Weston was sorry for such a charge. She knew the importance of +it, and said every thing in her power to do it away. Every door was now +closed, the passage plan given up, and the first scheme of dancing only +in the room they were in resorted to again; and with such good-will on +Frank Churchill's part, that the space which a quarter of an hour before +had been deemed barely sufficient for five couple, was now endeavoured +to be made out quite enough for ten. + +"We were too magnificent," said he. "We allowed unnecessary room. Ten +couple may stand here very well." + +Emma demurred. "It would be a crowd--a sad crowd; and what could be +worse than dancing without space to turn in?" + +"Very true," he gravely replied; "it was very bad." But still he went on +measuring, and still he ended with, + +"I think there will be very tolerable room for ten couple." + +"No, no," said she, "you are quite unreasonable. It would be dreadful +to be standing so close! Nothing can be farther from pleasure than to be +dancing in a crowd--and a crowd in a little room!" + +"There is no denying it," he replied. "I agree with you exactly. A crowd +in a little room--Miss Woodhouse, you have the art of giving pictures +in a few words. Exquisite, quite exquisite!--Still, however, having +proceeded so far, one is unwilling to give the matter up. It would be +a disappointment to my father--and altogether--I do not know that--I am +rather of opinion that ten couple might stand here very well." + +Emma perceived that the nature of his gallantry was a little +self-willed, and that he would rather oppose than lose the pleasure of +dancing with her; but she took the compliment, and forgave the rest. +Had she intended ever to _marry_ him, it might have been worth while to +pause and consider, and try to understand the value of his preference, +and the character of his temper; but for all the purposes of their +acquaintance, he was quite amiable enough. + +Before the middle of the next day, he was at Hartfield; and he entered +the room with such an agreeable smile as certified the continuance of +the scheme. It soon appeared that he came to announce an improvement. + +"Well, Miss Woodhouse," he almost immediately began, "your inclination +for dancing has not been quite frightened away, I hope, by the terrors +of my father's little rooms. I bring a new proposal on the subject:--a +thought of my father's, which waits only your approbation to be acted +upon. May I hope for the honour of your hand for the two first dances +of this little projected ball, to be given, not at Randalls, but at the +Crown Inn?" + +"The Crown!" + +"Yes; if you and Mr. Woodhouse see no objection, and I trust you cannot, +my father hopes his friends will be so kind as to visit him there. +Better accommodations, he can promise them, and not a less grateful +welcome than at Randalls. It is his own idea. Mrs. Weston sees no +objection to it, provided you are satisfied. This is what we all feel. +Oh! you were perfectly right! Ten couple, in either of the Randalls +rooms, would have been insufferable!--Dreadful!--I felt how right you +were the whole time, but was too anxious for securing _any_ _thing_ +to like to yield. Is not it a good exchange?--You consent--I hope you +consent?" + +"It appears to me a plan that nobody can object to, if Mr. and Mrs. +Weston do not. I think it admirable; and, as far as I can answer for +myself, shall be most happy--It seems the only improvement that could +be. Papa, do you not think it an excellent improvement?" + +She was obliged to repeat and explain it, before it was fully +comprehended; and then, being quite new, farther representations were +necessary to make it acceptable. + +"No; he thought it very far from an improvement--a very bad plan--much +worse than the other. A room at an inn was always damp and dangerous; +never properly aired, or fit to be inhabited. If they must dance, they +had better dance at Randalls. He had never been in the room at the Crown +in his life--did not know the people who kept it by sight.--Oh! no--a +very bad plan. They would catch worse colds at the Crown than anywhere." + +"I was going to observe, sir," said Frank Churchill, "that one of the +great recommendations of this change would be the very little danger +of any body's catching cold--so much less danger at the Crown than at +Randalls! Mr. Perry might have reason to regret the alteration, but +nobody else could." + +"Sir," said Mr. Woodhouse, rather warmly, "you are very much mistaken +if you suppose Mr. Perry to be that sort of character. Mr. Perry is +extremely concerned when any of us are ill. But I do not understand how +the room at the Crown can be safer for you than your father's house." + +"From the very circumstance of its being larger, sir. We shall have no +occasion to open the windows at all--not once the whole evening; and it +is that dreadful habit of opening the windows, letting in cold air upon +heated bodies, which (as you well know, sir) does the mischief." + +"Open the windows!--but surely, Mr. Churchill, nobody would think of +opening the windows at Randalls. Nobody could be so imprudent! I never +heard of such a thing. Dancing with open windows!--I am sure, neither +your father nor Mrs. Weston (poor Miss Taylor that was) would suffer +it." + +"Ah! sir--but a thoughtless young person will sometimes step behind a +window-curtain, and throw up a sash, without its being suspected. I have +often known it done myself." + +"Have you indeed, sir?--Bless me! I never could have supposed it. But I +live out of the world, and am often astonished at what I hear. However, +this does make a difference; and, perhaps, when we come to talk it +over--but these sort of things require a good deal of consideration. One +cannot resolve upon them in a hurry. If Mr. and Mrs. Weston will be so +obliging as to call here one morning, we may talk it over, and see what +can be done." + +"But, unfortunately, sir, my time is so limited--" + +"Oh!" interrupted Emma, "there will be plenty of time for talking every +thing over. There is no hurry at all. If it can be contrived to be at +the Crown, papa, it will be very convenient for the horses. They will be +so near their own stable." + +"So they will, my dear. That is a great thing. Not that James ever +complains; but it is right to spare our horses when we can. If I could +be sure of the rooms being thoroughly aired--but is Mrs. Stokes to be +trusted? I doubt it. I do not know her, even by sight." + +"I can answer for every thing of that nature, sir, because it will be +under Mrs. Weston's care. Mrs. Weston undertakes to direct the whole." + +"There, papa!--Now you must be satisfied--Our own dear Mrs. Weston, who +is carefulness itself. Do not you remember what Mr. Perry said, so many +years ago, when I had the measles? 'If _Miss_ _Taylor_ undertakes to +wrap Miss Emma up, you need not have any fears, sir.' How often have I +heard you speak of it as such a compliment to her!" + +"Aye, very true. Mr. Perry did say so. I shall never forget it. Poor +little Emma! You were very bad with the measles; that is, you would have +been very bad, but for Perry's great attention. He came four times a day +for a week. He said, from the first, it was a very good sort--which +was our great comfort; but the measles are a dreadful complaint. I hope +whenever poor Isabella's little ones have the measles, she will send for +Perry." + +"My father and Mrs. Weston are at the Crown at this moment," said Frank +Churchill, "examining the capabilities of the house. I left them there +and came on to Hartfield, impatient for your opinion, and hoping you +might be persuaded to join them and give your advice on the spot. I was +desired to say so from both. It would be the greatest pleasure to +them, if you could allow me to attend you there. They can do nothing +satisfactorily without you." + +Emma was most happy to be called to such a council; and her father, +engaging to think it all over while she was gone, the two young people +set off together without delay for the Crown. There were Mr. and Mrs. +Weston; delighted to see her and receive her approbation, very busy and +very happy in their different way; she, in some little distress; and he, +finding every thing perfect. + +"Emma," said she, "this paper is worse than I expected. Look! in places +you see it is dreadfully dirty; and the wainscot is more yellow and +forlorn than any thing I could have imagined." + +"My dear, you are too particular," said her husband. "What does all that +signify? You will see nothing of it by candlelight. It will be as +clean as Randalls by candlelight. We never see any thing of it on our +club-nights." + +The ladies here probably exchanged looks which meant, "Men never know +when things are dirty or not;" and the gentlemen perhaps thought each to +himself, "Women will have their little nonsenses and needless cares." + +One perplexity, however, arose, which the gentlemen did not disdain. +It regarded a supper-room. At the time of the ballroom's being built, +suppers had not been in question; and a small card-room adjoining, was +the only addition. What was to be done? This card-room would be wanted +as a card-room now; or, if cards were conveniently voted unnecessary +by their four selves, still was it not too small for any comfortable +supper? Another room of much better size might be secured for the +purpose; but it was at the other end of the house, and a long awkward +passage must be gone through to get at it. This made a difficulty. Mrs. +Weston was afraid of draughts for the young people in that passage; +and neither Emma nor the gentlemen could tolerate the prospect of being +miserably crowded at supper. + +Mrs. Weston proposed having no regular supper; merely sandwiches, +&c., set out in the little room; but that was scouted as a wretched +suggestion. A private dance, without sitting down to supper, was +pronounced an infamous fraud upon the rights of men and women; and +Mrs. Weston must not speak of it again. She then took another line of +expediency, and looking into the doubtful room, observed, + +"I do not think it _is_ so very small. We shall not be many, you know." + +And Mr. Weston at the same time, walking briskly with long steps through +the passage, was calling out, + +"You talk a great deal of the length of this passage, my dear. It is a +mere nothing after all; and not the least draught from the stairs." + +"I wish," said Mrs. Weston, "one could know which arrangement our guests +in general would like best. To do what would be most generally pleasing +must be our object--if one could but tell what that would be." + +"Yes, very true," cried Frank, "very true. You want your neighbours' +opinions. I do not wonder at you. If one could ascertain what the chief +of them--the Coles, for instance. They are not far off. Shall I call +upon them? Or Miss Bates? She is still nearer.--And I do not know +whether Miss Bates is not as likely to understand the inclinations of +the rest of the people as any body. I think we do want a larger council. +Suppose I go and invite Miss Bates to join us?" + +"Well--if you please," said Mrs. Weston rather hesitating, "if you think +she will be of any use." + +"You will get nothing to the purpose from Miss Bates," said Emma. "She +will be all delight and gratitude, but she will tell you nothing. She +will not even listen to your questions. I see no advantage in consulting +Miss Bates." + +"But she is so amusing, so extremely amusing! I am very fond of hearing +Miss Bates talk. And I need not bring the whole family, you know." + +Here Mr. Weston joined them, and on hearing what was proposed, gave it +his decided approbation. + +"Aye, do, Frank.--Go and fetch Miss Bates, and let us end the matter at +once. She will enjoy the scheme, I am sure; and I do not know a properer +person for shewing us how to do away difficulties. Fetch Miss Bates. +We are growing a little too nice. She is a standing lesson of how to be +happy. But fetch them both. Invite them both." + +"Both sir! Can the old lady?"... + +"The old lady! No, the young lady, to be sure. I shall think you a great +blockhead, Frank, if you bring the aunt without the niece." + +"Oh! I beg your pardon, sir. I did not immediately recollect. +Undoubtedly if you wish it, I will endeavour to persuade them both." And +away he ran. + +Long before he reappeared, attending the short, neat, brisk-moving aunt, +and her elegant niece,--Mrs. Weston, like a sweet-tempered woman and +a good wife, had examined the passage again, and found the evils of it +much less than she had supposed before--indeed very trifling; and here +ended the difficulties of decision. All the rest, in speculation at +least, was perfectly smooth. All the minor arrangements of table and +chair, lights and music, tea and supper, made themselves; or were left +as mere trifles to be settled at any time between Mrs. Weston and Mrs. +Stokes.--Every body invited, was certainly to come; Frank had already +written to Enscombe to propose staying a few days beyond his fortnight, +which could not possibly be refused. And a delightful dance it was to +be. + +Most cordially, when Miss Bates arrived, did she agree that it must. +As a counsellor she was not wanted; but as an approver, (a much safer +character,) she was truly welcome. Her approbation, at once general +and minute, warm and incessant, could not but please; and for another +half-hour they were all walking to and fro, between the different rooms, +some suggesting, some attending, and all in happy enjoyment of the +future. The party did not break up without Emma's being positively +secured for the two first dances by the hero of the evening, nor without +her overhearing Mr. Weston whisper to his wife, "He has asked her, my +dear. That's right. I knew he would!" + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +One thing only was wanting to make the prospect of the ball completely +satisfactory to Emma--its being fixed for a day within the granted +term of Frank Churchill's stay in Surry; for, in spite of Mr. Weston's +confidence, she could not think it so very impossible that the +Churchills might not allow their nephew to remain a day beyond his +fortnight. But this was not judged feasible. The preparations must take +their time, nothing could be properly ready till the third week were +entered on, and for a few days they must be planning, proceeding and +hoping in uncertainty--at the risk--in her opinion, the great risk, of +its being all in vain. + +Enscombe however was gracious, gracious in fact, if not in word. His +wish of staying longer evidently did not please; but it was not opposed. +All was safe and prosperous; and as the removal of one solicitude +generally makes way for another, Emma, being now certain of her +ball, began to adopt as the next vexation Mr. Knightley's provoking +indifference about it. Either because he did not dance himself, or +because the plan had been formed without his being consulted, he +seemed resolved that it should not interest him, determined against its +exciting any present curiosity, or affording him any future amusement. +To her voluntary communications Emma could get no more approving reply, +than, + +"Very well. If the Westons think it worth while to be at all this +trouble for a few hours of noisy entertainment, I have nothing to say +against it, but that they shall not chuse pleasures for me.--Oh! yes, +I must be there; I could not refuse; and I will keep as much awake as +I can; but I would rather be at home, looking over William Larkins's +week's account; much rather, I confess.--Pleasure in seeing +dancing!--not I, indeed--I never look at it--I do not know who +does.--Fine dancing, I believe, like virtue, must be its own reward. +Those who are standing by are usually thinking of something very +different." + +This Emma felt was aimed at her; and it made her quite angry. It was not +in compliment to Jane Fairfax however that he was so indifferent, or so +indignant; he was not guided by _her_ feelings in reprobating the ball, +for _she_ enjoyed the thought of it to an extraordinary degree. It made +her animated--open hearted--she voluntarily said;-- + +"Oh! Miss Woodhouse, I hope nothing may happen to prevent the ball. +What a disappointment it would be! I do look forward to it, I own, with +_very_ great pleasure." + +It was not to oblige Jane Fairfax therefore that he would have preferred +the society of William Larkins. No!--she was more and more convinced +that Mrs. Weston was quite mistaken in that surmise. There was a great +deal of friendly and of compassionate attachment on his side--but no +love. + +Alas! there was soon no leisure for quarrelling with Mr. Knightley. Two +days of joyful security were immediately followed by the over-throw of +every thing. A letter arrived from Mr. Churchill to urge his nephew's +instant return. Mrs. Churchill was unwell--far too unwell to do without +him; she had been in a very suffering state (so said her husband) +when writing to her nephew two days before, though from her usual +unwillingness to give pain, and constant habit of never thinking of +herself, she had not mentioned it; but now she was too ill to trifle, +and must entreat him to set off for Enscombe without delay. + +The substance of this letter was forwarded to Emma, in a note from Mrs. +Weston, instantly. As to his going, it was inevitable. He must be gone +within a few hours, though without feeling any real alarm for his aunt, +to lessen his repugnance. He knew her illnesses; they never occurred but +for her own convenience. + +Mrs. Weston added, "that he could only allow himself time to hurry to +Highbury, after breakfast, and take leave of the few friends there +whom he could suppose to feel any interest in him; and that he might be +expected at Hartfield very soon." + +This wretched note was the finale of Emma's breakfast. When once it had +been read, there was no doing any thing, but lament and exclaim. The +loss of the ball--the loss of the young man--and all that the young man +might be feeling!--It was too wretched!--Such a delightful evening as +it would have been!--Every body so happy! and she and her partner the +happiest!--"I said it would be so," was the only consolation. + +Her father's feelings were quite distinct. He thought principally of +Mrs. Churchill's illness, and wanted to know how she was treated; and as +for the ball, it was shocking to have dear Emma disappointed; but they +would all be safer at home. + +Emma was ready for her visitor some time before he appeared; but if this +reflected at all upon his impatience, his sorrowful look and total want +of spirits when he did come might redeem him. He felt the going away +almost too much to speak of it. His dejection was most evident. He +sat really lost in thought for the first few minutes; and when rousing +himself, it was only to say, + +"Of all horrid things, leave-taking is the worst." + +"But you will come again," said Emma. "This will not be your only visit +to Randalls." + +"Ah!--(shaking his head)--the uncertainty of when I may be able to +return!--I shall try for it with a zeal!--It will be the object of +all my thoughts and cares!--and if my uncle and aunt go to town this +spring--but I am afraid--they did not stir last spring--I am afraid it +is a custom gone for ever." + +"Our poor ball must be quite given up." + +"Ah! that ball!--why did we wait for any thing?--why not seize the +pleasure at once?--How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, +foolish preparation!--You told us it would be so.--Oh! Miss Woodhouse, +why are you always so right?" + +"Indeed, I am very sorry to be right in this instance. I would much +rather have been merry than wise." + +"If I can come again, we are still to have our ball. My father depends +on it. Do not forget your engagement." + +Emma looked graciously. + +"Such a fortnight as it has been!" he continued; "every day more +precious and more delightful than the day before!--every day making +me less fit to bear any other place. Happy those, who can remain at +Highbury!" + +"As you do us such ample justice now," said Emma, laughing, "I will +venture to ask, whether you did not come a little doubtfully at first? +Do not we rather surpass your expectations? I am sure we do. I am sure +you did not much expect to like us. You would not have been so long in +coming, if you had had a pleasant idea of Highbury." + +He laughed rather consciously; and though denying the sentiment, Emma +was convinced that it had been so. + +"And you must be off this very morning?" + +"Yes; my father is to join me here: we shall walk back together, and I +must be off immediately. I am almost afraid that every moment will bring +him." + +"Not five minutes to spare even for your friends Miss Fairfax and Miss +Bates? How unlucky! Miss Bates's powerful, argumentative mind might have +strengthened yours." + +"Yes--I _have_ called there; passing the door, I thought it better. It +was a right thing to do. I went in for three minutes, and was detained +by Miss Bates's being absent. She was out; and I felt it impossible not +to wait till she came in. She is a woman that one may, that one _must_ +laugh at; but that one would not wish to slight. It was better to pay my +visit, then"-- + +He hesitated, got up, walked to a window. + +"In short," said he, "perhaps, Miss Woodhouse--I think you can hardly be +quite without suspicion"-- + +He looked at her, as if wanting to read her thoughts. She hardly knew +what to say. It seemed like the forerunner of something absolutely +serious, which she did not wish. Forcing herself to speak, therefore, in +the hope of putting it by, she calmly said, + +"You are quite in the right; it was most natural to pay your visit, +then"-- + +He was silent. She believed he was looking at her; probably reflecting +on what she had said, and trying to understand the manner. She heard +him sigh. It was natural for him to feel that he had _cause_ to sigh. +He could not believe her to be encouraging him. A few awkward moments +passed, and he sat down again; and in a more determined manner said, + +"It was something to feel that all the rest of my time might be given to +Hartfield. My regard for Hartfield is most warm"-- + +He stopt again, rose again, and seemed quite embarrassed.--He was more +in love with her than Emma had supposed; and who can say how it might +have ended, if his father had not made his appearance? Mr. Woodhouse +soon followed; and the necessity of exertion made him composed. + +A very few minutes more, however, completed the present trial. Mr. +Weston, always alert when business was to be done, and as incapable of +procrastinating any evil that was inevitable, as of foreseeing any that +was doubtful, said, "It was time to go;" and the young man, though he +might and did sigh, could not but agree, to take leave. + +"I shall hear about you all," said he; "that is my chief consolation. +I shall hear of every thing that is going on among you. I have engaged +Mrs. Weston to correspond with me. She has been so kind as to promise +it. Oh! the blessing of a female correspondent, when one is really +interested in the absent!--she will tell me every thing. In her letters +I shall be at dear Highbury again." + +A very friendly shake of the hand, a very earnest "Good-bye," closed the +speech, and the door had soon shut out Frank Churchill. Short had been +the notice--short their meeting; he was gone; and Emma felt so sorry +to part, and foresaw so great a loss to their little society from his +absence as to begin to be afraid of being too sorry, and feeling it too +much. + +It was a sad change. They had been meeting almost every day since his +arrival. Certainly his being at Randalls had given great spirit to +the last two weeks--indescribable spirit; the idea, the expectation +of seeing him which every morning had brought, the assurance of his +attentions, his liveliness, his manners! It had been a very happy +fortnight, and forlorn must be the sinking from it into the common +course of Hartfield days. To complete every other recommendation, he had +_almost_ told her that he loved her. What strength, or what constancy of +affection he might be subject to, was another point; but at present +she could not doubt his having a decidedly warm admiration, a conscious +preference of herself; and this persuasion, joined to all the rest, +made her think that she _must_ be a little in love with him, in spite of +every previous determination against it. + +"I certainly must," said she. "This sensation of listlessness, +weariness, stupidity, this disinclination to sit down and employ myself, +this feeling of every thing's being dull and insipid about the house!-- +I must be in love; I should be the oddest creature in the world if I +were not--for a few weeks at least. Well! evil to some is always good to +others. I shall have many fellow-mourners for the ball, if not for Frank +Churchill; but Mr. Knightley will be happy. He may spend the evening +with his dear William Larkins now if he likes." + +Mr. Knightley, however, shewed no triumphant happiness. He could not say +that he was sorry on his own account; his very cheerful look would have +contradicted him if he had; but he said, and very steadily, that he +was sorry for the disappointment of the others, and with considerable +kindness added, + +"You, Emma, who have so few opportunities of dancing, you are really out +of luck; you are very much out of luck!" + +It was some days before she saw Jane Fairfax, to judge of her honest +regret in this woeful change; but when they did meet, her composure +was odious. She had been particularly unwell, however, suffering from +headache to a degree, which made her aunt declare, that had the ball +taken place, she did not think Jane could have attended it; and it was +charity to impute some of her unbecoming indifference to the languor of +ill-health. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Emma continued to entertain no doubt of her being in love. Her ideas +only varied as to the how much. At first, she thought it was a good +deal; and afterwards, but little. She had great pleasure in hearing +Frank Churchill talked of; and, for his sake, greater pleasure than ever +in seeing Mr. and Mrs. Weston; she was very often thinking of him, and +quite impatient for a letter, that she might know how he was, how were +his spirits, how was his aunt, and what was the chance of his coming to +Randalls again this spring. But, on the other hand, she could not admit +herself to be unhappy, nor, after the first morning, to be less disposed +for employment than usual; she was still busy and cheerful; and, +pleasing as he was, she could yet imagine him to have faults; and +farther, though thinking of him so much, and, as she sat drawing or +working, forming a thousand amusing schemes for the progress and close +of their attachment, fancying interesting dialogues, and inventing +elegant letters; the conclusion of every imaginary declaration on his +side was that she _refused_ _him_. Their affection was always to subside +into friendship. Every thing tender and charming was to mark their +parting; but still they were to part. When she became sensible of this, +it struck her that she could not be very much in love; for in spite of +her previous and fixed determination never to quit her father, never +to marry, a strong attachment certainly must produce more of a struggle +than she could foresee in her own feelings. + +"I do not find myself making any use of the word _sacrifice_," said +she.--"In not one of all my clever replies, my delicate negatives, is +there any allusion to making a sacrifice. I do suspect that he is not +really necessary to my happiness. So much the better. I certainly will +not persuade myself to feel more than I do. I am quite enough in love. I +should be sorry to be more." + +Upon the whole, she was equally contented with her view of his feelings. + +"_He_ is undoubtedly very much in love--every thing denotes it--very +much in love indeed!--and when he comes again, if his affection +continue, I must be on my guard not to encourage it.--It would be most +inexcusable to do otherwise, as my own mind is quite made up. Not that I +imagine he can think I have been encouraging him hitherto. No, if he +had believed me at all to share his feelings, he would not have been +so wretched. Could he have thought himself encouraged, his looks and +language at parting would have been different.--Still, however, I must +be on my guard. This is in the supposition of his attachment continuing +what it now is; but I do not know that I expect it will; I do not look +upon him to be quite the sort of man--I do not altogether build upon +his steadiness or constancy.--His feelings are warm, but I can imagine +them rather changeable.--Every consideration of the subject, in short, +makes me thankful that my happiness is not more deeply involved.--I +shall do very well again after a little while--and then, it will be a +good thing over; for they say every body is in love once in their lives, +and I shall have been let off easily." + +When his letter to Mrs. Weston arrived, Emma had the perusal of it; and +she read it with a degree of pleasure and admiration which made her +at first shake her head over her own sensations, and think she had +undervalued their strength. It was a long, well-written letter, giving +the particulars of his journey and of his feelings, expressing all the +affection, gratitude, and respect which was natural and honourable, +and describing every thing exterior and local that could be supposed +attractive, with spirit and precision. No suspicious flourishes now of +apology or concern; it was the language of real feeling towards Mrs. +Weston; and the transition from Highbury to Enscombe, the contrast +between the places in some of the first blessings of social life was +just enough touched on to shew how keenly it was felt, and how much more +might have been said but for the restraints of propriety.--The charm +of her own name was not wanting. _Miss_ _Woodhouse_ appeared more than +once, and never without a something of pleasing connexion, either a +compliment to her taste, or a remembrance of what she had said; and in +the very last time of its meeting her eye, unadorned as it was by any +such broad wreath of gallantry, she yet could discern the effect of +her influence and acknowledge the greatest compliment perhaps of all +conveyed. Compressed into the very lowest vacant corner were these +words--"I had not a spare moment on Tuesday, as you know, for Miss +Woodhouse's beautiful little friend. Pray make my excuses and adieus +to her." This, Emma could not doubt, was all for herself. Harriet was +remembered only from being _her_ friend. His information and prospects +as to Enscombe were neither worse nor better than had been anticipated; +Mrs. Churchill was recovering, and he dared not yet, even in his own +imagination, fix a time for coming to Randalls again. + +Gratifying, however, and stimulative as was the letter in the material +part, its sentiments, she yet found, when it was folded up and returned +to Mrs. Weston, that it had not added any lasting warmth, that she could +still do without the writer, and that he must learn to do without her. +Her intentions were unchanged. Her resolution of refusal only grew more +interesting by the addition of a scheme for his subsequent consolation +and happiness. His recollection of Harriet, and the words which +clothed it, the "beautiful little friend," suggested to her the +idea of Harriet's succeeding her in his affections. Was it +impossible?--No.--Harriet undoubtedly was greatly his inferior in +understanding; but he had been very much struck with the loveliness +of her face and the warm simplicity of her manner; and all the +probabilities of circumstance and connexion were in her favour.--For +Harriet, it would be advantageous and delightful indeed. + +"I must not dwell upon it," said she.--"I must not think of it. I know +the danger of indulging such speculations. But stranger things have +happened; and when we cease to care for each other as we do now, it +will be the means of confirming us in that sort of true disinterested +friendship which I can already look forward to with pleasure." + +It was well to have a comfort in store on Harriet's behalf, though it +might be wise to let the fancy touch it seldom; for evil in that quarter +was at hand. As Frank Churchill's arrival had succeeded Mr. Elton's +engagement in the conversation of Highbury, as the latest interest +had entirely borne down the first, so now upon Frank Churchill's +disappearance, Mr. Elton's concerns were assuming the most irresistible +form.--His wedding-day was named. He would soon be among them again; Mr. +Elton and his bride. There was hardly time to talk over the first letter +from Enscombe before "Mr. Elton and his bride" was in every body's +mouth, and Frank Churchill was forgotten. Emma grew sick at the sound. +She had had three weeks of happy exemption from Mr. Elton; and Harriet's +mind, she had been willing to hope, had been lately gaining strength. +With Mr. Weston's ball in view at least, there had been a great deal of +insensibility to other things; but it was now too evident that she had +not attained such a state of composure as could stand against the actual +approach--new carriage, bell-ringing, and all. + +Poor Harriet was in a flutter of spirits which required all the +reasonings and soothings and attentions of every kind that Emma could +give. Emma felt that she could not do too much for her, that Harriet had +a right to all her ingenuity and all her patience; but it was heavy work +to be for ever convincing without producing any effect, for ever agreed +to, without being able to make their opinions the same. Harriet listened +submissively, and said "it was very true--it was just as Miss Woodhouse +described--it was not worth while to think about them--and she would not +think about them any longer" but no change of subject could avail, and +the next half-hour saw her as anxious and restless about the Eltons as +before. At last Emma attacked her on another ground. + +"Your allowing yourself to be so occupied and so unhappy about Mr. +Elton's marrying, Harriet, is the strongest reproach you can make _me_. +You could not give me a greater reproof for the mistake I fell into. +It was all my doing, I know. I have not forgotten it, I assure +you.--Deceived myself, I did very miserably deceive you--and it will +be a painful reflection to me for ever. Do not imagine me in danger of +forgetting it." + +Harriet felt this too much to utter more than a few words of eager +exclamation. Emma continued, + +"I have not said, exert yourself Harriet for my sake; think less, talk +less of Mr. Elton for my sake; because for your own sake rather, I +would wish it to be done, for the sake of what is more important than my +comfort, a habit of self-command in you, a consideration of what is your +duty, an attention to propriety, an endeavour to avoid the suspicions of +others, to save your health and credit, and restore your tranquillity. +These are the motives which I have been pressing on you. They are very +important--and sorry I am that you cannot feel them sufficiently to act +upon them. My being saved from pain is a very secondary consideration. +I want you to save yourself from greater pain. Perhaps I may sometimes +have felt that Harriet would not forget what was due--or rather what +would be kind by me." + +This appeal to her affections did more than all the rest. The idea of +wanting gratitude and consideration for Miss Woodhouse, whom she really +loved extremely, made her wretched for a while, and when the violence +of grief was comforted away, still remained powerful enough to prompt to +what was right and support her in it very tolerably. + +"You, who have been the best friend I ever had in my life--Want +gratitude to you!--Nobody is equal to you!--I care for nobody as I do +for you!--Oh! Miss Woodhouse, how ungrateful I have been!" + +Such expressions, assisted as they were by every thing that look and +manner could do, made Emma feel that she had never loved Harriet so +well, nor valued her affection so highly before. + +"There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart," said she afterwards to +herself. "There is nothing to be compared to it. Warmth and tenderness +of heart, with an affectionate, open manner, will beat all the +clearness of head in the world, for attraction, I am sure it will. It +is tenderness of heart which makes my dear father so generally +beloved--which gives Isabella all her popularity.--I have it not--but +I know how to prize and respect it.--Harriet is my superior in all the +charm and all the felicity it gives. Dear Harriet!--I would not change +you for the clearest-headed, longest-sighted, best-judging female +breathing. Oh! the coldness of a Jane Fairfax!--Harriet is worth a +hundred such--And for a wife--a sensible man's wife--it is invaluable. I +mention no names; but happy the man who changes Emma for Harriet!" + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Mrs. Elton was first seen at church: but though devotion might be +interrupted, curiosity could not be satisfied by a bride in a pew, and +it must be left for the visits in form which were then to be paid, to +settle whether she were very pretty indeed, or only rather pretty, or +not pretty at all. + +Emma had feelings, less of curiosity than of pride or propriety, to make +her resolve on not being the last to pay her respects; and she made a +point of Harriet's going with her, that the worst of the business might +be gone through as soon as possible. + +She could not enter the house again, could not be in the same room to +which she had with such vain artifice retreated three months ago, to +lace up her boot, without _recollecting_. A thousand vexatious thoughts +would recur. Compliments, charades, and horrible blunders; and it was +not to be supposed that poor Harriet should not be recollecting too; but +she behaved very well, and was only rather pale and silent. The visit +was of course short; and there was so much embarrassment and occupation +of mind to shorten it, that Emma would not allow herself entirely to +form an opinion of the lady, and on no account to give one, beyond the +nothing-meaning terms of being "elegantly dressed, and very pleasing." + +She did not really like her. She would not be in a hurry to find fault, +but she suspected that there was no elegance;--ease, but not elegance.-- +She was almost sure that for a young woman, a stranger, a bride, there +was too much ease. Her person was rather good; her face not unpretty; +but neither feature, nor air, nor voice, nor manner, were elegant. Emma +thought at least it would turn out so. + +As for Mr. Elton, his manners did not appear--but no, she would not +permit a hasty or a witty word from herself about his manners. It was an +awkward ceremony at any time to be receiving wedding visits, and a man +had need be all grace to acquit himself well through it. The woman +was better off; she might have the assistance of fine clothes, and the +privilege of bashfulness, but the man had only his own good sense to +depend on; and when she considered how peculiarly unlucky poor Mr. +Elton was in being in the same room at once with the woman he had just +married, the woman he had wanted to marry, and the woman whom he had +been expected to marry, she must allow him to have the right to look as +little wise, and to be as much affectedly, and as little really easy as +could be. + +"Well, Miss Woodhouse," said Harriet, when they had quitted the +house, and after waiting in vain for her friend to begin; "Well, Miss +Woodhouse, (with a gentle sigh,) what do you think of her?--Is not she +very charming?" + +There was a little hesitation in Emma's answer. + +"Oh! yes--very--a very pleasing young woman." + +"I think her beautiful, quite beautiful." + +"Very nicely dressed, indeed; a remarkably elegant gown." + +"I am not at all surprized that he should have fallen in love." + +"Oh! no--there is nothing to surprize one at all.--A pretty fortune; and +she came in his way." + +"I dare say," returned Harriet, sighing again, "I dare say she was very +much attached to him." + +"Perhaps she might; but it is not every man's fate to marry the woman +who loves him best. Miss Hawkins perhaps wanted a home, and thought this +the best offer she was likely to have." + +"Yes," said Harriet earnestly, "and well she might, nobody could ever +have a better. Well, I wish them happy with all my heart. And now, Miss +Woodhouse, I do not think I shall mind seeing them again. He is just as +superior as ever;--but being married, you know, it is quite a different +thing. No, indeed, Miss Woodhouse, you need not be afraid; I can sit and +admire him now without any great misery. To know that he has not thrown +himself away, is such a comfort!--She does seem a charming young woman, +just what he deserves. Happy creature! He called her 'Augusta.' How +delightful!" + +When the visit was returned, Emma made up her mind. She could then see +more and judge better. From Harriet's happening not to be at Hartfield, +and her father's being present to engage Mr. Elton, she had a quarter +of an hour of the lady's conversation to herself, and could composedly +attend to her; and the quarter of an hour quite convinced her that +Mrs. Elton was a vain woman, extremely well satisfied with herself, and +thinking much of her own importance; that she meant to shine and be very +superior, but with manners which had been formed in a bad school, pert +and familiar; that all her notions were drawn from one set of people, +and one style of living; that if not foolish she was ignorant, and that +her society would certainly do Mr. Elton no good. + +Harriet would have been a better match. If not wise or refined herself, +she would have connected him with those who were; but Miss Hawkins, it +might be fairly supposed from her easy conceit, had been the best of +her own set. The rich brother-in-law near Bristol was the pride of the +alliance, and his place and his carriages were the pride of him. + +The very first subject after being seated was Maple Grove, "My brother +Mr. Suckling's seat;"--a comparison of Hartfield to Maple Grove. The +grounds of Hartfield were small, but neat and pretty; and the house was +modern and well-built. Mrs. Elton seemed most favourably impressed +by the size of the room, the entrance, and all that she could see or +imagine. "Very like Maple Grove indeed!--She was quite struck by the +likeness!--That room was the very shape and size of the morning-room +at Maple Grove; her sister's favourite room."--Mr. Elton was appealed +to.--"Was not it astonishingly like?--She could really almost fancy +herself at Maple Grove." + +"And the staircase--You know, as I came in, I observed how very like the +staircase was; placed exactly in the same part of the house. I really +could not help exclaiming! I assure you, Miss Woodhouse, it is very +delightful to me, to be reminded of a place I am so extremely partial to +as Maple Grove. I have spent so many happy months there! (with a little +sigh of sentiment). A charming place, undoubtedly. Every body who +sees it is struck by its beauty; but to me, it has been quite a home. +Whenever you are transplanted, like me, Miss Woodhouse, you will +understand how very delightful it is to meet with any thing at all like +what one has left behind. I always say this is quite one of the evils of +matrimony." + +Emma made as slight a reply as she could; but it was fully sufficient +for Mrs. Elton, who only wanted to be talking herself. + +"So extremely like Maple Grove! And it is not merely the house--the +grounds, I assure you, as far as I could observe, are strikingly like. +The laurels at Maple Grove are in the same profusion as here, and stand +very much in the same way--just across the lawn; and I had a glimpse +of a fine large tree, with a bench round it, which put me so exactly in +mind! My brother and sister will be enchanted with this place. People +who have extensive grounds themselves are always pleased with any thing +in the same style." + +Emma doubted the truth of this sentiment. She had a great idea that +people who had extensive grounds themselves cared very little for the +extensive grounds of any body else; but it was not worth while to attack +an error so double-dyed, and therefore only said in reply, + +"When you have seen more of this country, I am afraid you will think you +have overrated Hartfield. Surry is full of beauties." + +"Oh! yes, I am quite aware of that. It is the garden of England, you +know. Surry is the garden of England." + +"Yes; but we must not rest our claims on that distinction. Many +counties, I believe, are called the garden of England, as well as +Surry." + +"No, I fancy not," replied Mrs. Elton, with a most satisfied smile. +"I never heard any county but Surry called so." + +Emma was silenced. + +"My brother and sister have promised us a visit in the spring, or summer +at farthest," continued Mrs. Elton; "and that will be our time for +exploring. While they are with us, we shall explore a great deal, I dare +say. They will have their barouche-landau, of course, which holds four +perfectly; and therefore, without saying any thing of _our_ carriage, +we should be able to explore the different beauties extremely well. They +would hardly come in their chaise, I think, at that season of the +year. Indeed, when the time draws on, I shall decidedly recommend their +bringing the barouche-landau; it will be so very much preferable. +When people come into a beautiful country of this sort, you know, Miss +Woodhouse, one naturally wishes them to see as much as possible; and Mr. +Suckling is extremely fond of exploring. We explored to King's-Weston +twice last summer, in that way, most delightfully, just after their +first having the barouche-landau. You have many parties of that kind +here, I suppose, Miss Woodhouse, every summer?" + +"No; not immediately here. We are rather out of distance of the very +striking beauties which attract the sort of parties you speak of; and we +are a very quiet set of people, I believe; more disposed to stay at home +than engage in schemes of pleasure." + +"Ah! there is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. Nobody can +be more devoted to home than I am. I was quite a proverb for it at Maple +Grove. Many a time has Selina said, when she has been going to Bristol, +'I really cannot get this girl to move from the house. I absolutely must +go in by myself, though I hate being stuck up in the barouche-landau +without a companion; but Augusta, I believe, with her own good-will, +would never stir beyond the park paling.' Many a time has she said so; +and yet I am no advocate for entire seclusion. I think, on the contrary, +when people shut themselves up entirely from society, it is a very +bad thing; and that it is much more advisable to mix in the world in +a proper degree, without living in it either too much or too little. I +perfectly understand your situation, however, Miss Woodhouse--(looking +towards Mr. Woodhouse), Your father's state of health must be a great +drawback. Why does not he try Bath?--Indeed he should. Let me recommend +Bath to you. I assure you I have no doubt of its doing Mr. Woodhouse +good." + +"My father tried it more than once, formerly; but without receiving any +benefit; and Mr. Perry, whose name, I dare say, is not unknown to you, +does not conceive it would be at all more likely to be useful now." + +"Ah! that's a great pity; for I assure you, Miss Woodhouse, where the +waters do agree, it is quite wonderful the relief they give. In my Bath +life, I have seen such instances of it! And it is so cheerful a place, +that it could not fail of being of use to Mr. Woodhouse's spirits, +which, I understand, are sometimes much depressed. And as to its +recommendations to _you_, I fancy I need not take much pains to dwell +on them. The advantages of Bath to the young are pretty generally +understood. It would be a charming introduction for you, who have lived +so secluded a life; and I could immediately secure you some of the best +society in the place. A line from me would bring you a little host of +acquaintance; and my particular friend, Mrs. Partridge, the lady I have +always resided with when in Bath, would be most happy to shew you any +attentions, and would be the very person for you to go into public +with." + +It was as much as Emma could bear, without being impolite. The idea +of her being indebted to Mrs. Elton for what was called an +_introduction_--of her going into public under the auspices of a friend +of Mrs. Elton's--probably some vulgar, dashing widow, who, with the +help of a boarder, just made a shift to live!--The dignity of Miss +Woodhouse, of Hartfield, was sunk indeed! + +She restrained herself, however, from any of the reproofs she could have +given, and only thanked Mrs. Elton coolly; "but their going to Bath was +quite out of the question; and she was not perfectly convinced that +the place might suit her better than her father." And then, to prevent +farther outrage and indignation, changed the subject directly. + +"I do not ask whether you are musical, Mrs. Elton. Upon these occasions, +a lady's character generally precedes her; and Highbury has long known +that you are a superior performer." + +"Oh! no, indeed; I must protest against any such idea. A superior +performer!--very far from it, I assure you. Consider from how partial +a quarter your information came. I am doatingly fond of +music--passionately fond;--and my friends say I am not entirely devoid +of taste; but as to any thing else, upon my honour my performance is +_mediocre_ to the last degree. You, Miss Woodhouse, I well know, play +delightfully. I assure you it has been the greatest satisfaction, +comfort, and delight to me, to hear what a musical society I am got +into. I absolutely cannot do without music. It is a necessary of life to +me; and having always been used to a very musical society, both at +Maple Grove and in Bath, it would have been a most serious sacrifice. I +honestly said as much to Mr. E. when he was speaking of my future +home, and expressing his fears lest the retirement of it should be +disagreeable; and the inferiority of the house too--knowing what I had +been accustomed to--of course he was not wholly without apprehension. +When he was speaking of it in that way, I honestly said that _the_ +_world_ I could give up--parties, balls, plays--for I had no fear of +retirement. Blessed with so many resources within myself, the world was +not necessary to _me_. I could do very well without it. To those who had +no resources it was a different thing; but my resources made me quite +independent. And as to smaller-sized rooms than I had been used to, I +really could not give it a thought. I hoped I was perfectly equal to any +sacrifice of that description. Certainly I had been accustomed to every +luxury at Maple Grove; but I did assure him that two carriages were not +necessary to my happiness, nor were spacious apartments. 'But,' said I, +'to be quite honest, I do not think I can live without something of a +musical society. I condition for nothing else; but without music, life +would be a blank to me.'" + +"We cannot suppose," said Emma, smiling, "that Mr. Elton would hesitate +to assure you of there being a _very_ musical society in Highbury; and +I hope you will not find he has outstepped the truth more than may be +pardoned, in consideration of the motive." + +"No, indeed, I have no doubts at all on that head. I am delighted to +find myself in such a circle. I hope we shall have many sweet little +concerts together. I think, Miss Woodhouse, you and I must establish a +musical club, and have regular weekly meetings at your house, or ours. +Will not it be a good plan? If _we_ exert ourselves, I think we shall +not be long in want of allies. Something of that nature would be +particularly desirable for _me_, as an inducement to keep me in +practice; for married women, you know--there is a sad story against +them, in general. They are but too apt to give up music." + +"But you, who are so extremely fond of it--there can be no danger, +surely?" + +"I should hope not; but really when I look around among my acquaintance, +I tremble. Selina has entirely given up music--never touches the +instrument--though she played sweetly. And the same may be said of Mrs. +Jeffereys--Clara Partridge, that was--and of the two Milmans, now Mrs. +Bird and Mrs. James Cooper; and of more than I can enumerate. Upon my +word it is enough to put one in a fright. I used to be quite angry with +Selina; but really I begin now to comprehend that a married woman has +many things to call her attention. I believe I was half an hour this +morning shut up with my housekeeper." + +"But every thing of that kind," said Emma, "will soon be in so regular a +train--" + +"Well," said Mrs. Elton, laughing, "we shall see." + +Emma, finding her so determined upon neglecting her music, had nothing +more to say; and, after a moment's pause, Mrs. Elton chose another +subject. + +"We have been calling at Randalls," said she, "and found them both at +home; and very pleasant people they seem to be. I like them extremely. +Mr. Weston seems an excellent creature--quite a first-rate favourite +with me already, I assure you. And _she_ appears so truly good--there is +something so motherly and kind-hearted about her, that it wins upon one +directly. She was your governess, I think?" + +Emma was almost too much astonished to answer; but Mrs. Elton hardly +waited for the affirmative before she went on. + +"Having understood as much, I was rather astonished to find her so very +lady-like! But she is really quite the gentlewoman." + +"Mrs. Weston's manners," said Emma, "were always particularly good. +Their propriety, simplicity, and elegance, would make them the safest +model for any young woman." + +"And who do you think came in while we were there?" + +Emma was quite at a loss. The tone implied some old acquaintance--and +how could she possibly guess? + +"Knightley!" continued Mrs. Elton; "Knightley himself!--Was not it +lucky?--for, not being within when he called the other day, I had never +seen him before; and of course, as so particular a friend of Mr. E.'s, +I had a great curiosity. 'My friend Knightley' had been so often +mentioned, that I was really impatient to see him; and I must do my +caro sposo the justice to say that he need not be ashamed of his friend. +Knightley is quite the gentleman. I like him very much. Decidedly, I +think, a very gentleman-like man." + +Happily, it was now time to be gone. They were off; and Emma could +breathe. + +"Insufferable woman!" was her immediate exclamation. "Worse than I had +supposed. Absolutely insufferable! Knightley!--I could not have +believed it. Knightley!--never seen him in her life before, and call +him Knightley!--and discover that he is a gentleman! A little upstart, +vulgar being, with her Mr. E., and her _caro_ _sposo_, and her +resources, and all her airs of pert pretension and underbred finery. +Actually to discover that Mr. Knightley is a gentleman! I doubt whether +he will return the compliment, and discover her to be a lady. I could +not have believed it! And to propose that she and I should unite to +form a musical club! One would fancy we were bosom friends! And Mrs. +Weston!--Astonished that the person who had brought me up should be a +gentlewoman! Worse and worse. I never met with her equal. Much beyond +my hopes. Harriet is disgraced by any comparison. Oh! what would Frank +Churchill say to her, if he were here? How angry and how diverted he +would be! Ah! there I am--thinking of him directly. Always the first +person to be thought of! How I catch myself out! Frank Churchill comes +as regularly into my mind!"-- + +All this ran so glibly through her thoughts, that by the time her father +had arranged himself, after the bustle of the Eltons' departure, and was +ready to speak, she was very tolerably capable of attending. + +"Well, my dear," he deliberately began, "considering we never saw her +before, she seems a very pretty sort of young lady; and I dare say she +was very much pleased with you. She speaks a little too quick. A little +quickness of voice there is which rather hurts the ear. But I believe +I am nice; I do not like strange voices; and nobody speaks like you and +poor Miss Taylor. However, she seems a very obliging, pretty-behaved +young lady, and no doubt will make him a very good wife. Though I think +he had better not have married. I made the best excuses I could for not +having been able to wait on him and Mrs. Elton on this happy occasion; I +said that I hoped I _should_ in the course of the summer. But I ought to +have gone before. Not to wait upon a bride is very remiss. Ah! it shews +what a sad invalid I am! But I do not like the corner into Vicarage +Lane." + +"I dare say your apologies were accepted, sir. Mr. Elton knows you." + +"Yes: but a young lady--a bride--I ought to have paid my respects to her +if possible. It was being very deficient." + +"But, my dear papa, you are no friend to matrimony; and therefore why +should you be so anxious to pay your respects to a _bride_? It ought to +be no recommendation to _you_. It is encouraging people to marry if you +make so much of them." + +"No, my dear, I never encouraged any body to marry, but I would always +wish to pay every proper attention to a lady--and a bride, especially, +is never to be neglected. More is avowedly due to _her_. A bride, you +know, my dear, is always the first in company, let the others be who +they may." + +"Well, papa, if this is not encouragement to marry, I do not know what +is. And I should never have expected you to be lending your sanction to +such vanity-baits for poor young ladies." + +"My dear, you do not understand me. This is a matter of mere +common politeness and good-breeding, and has nothing to do with any +encouragement to people to marry." + +Emma had done. Her father was growing nervous, and could not understand +_her_. Her mind returned to Mrs. Elton's offences, and long, very long, +did they occupy her. + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Emma was not required, by any subsequent discovery, to retract her ill +opinion of Mrs. Elton. Her observation had been pretty correct. Such as +Mrs. Elton appeared to her on this second interview, such she appeared +whenever they met again,--self-important, presuming, familiar, ignorant, +and ill-bred. She had a little beauty and a little accomplishment, +but so little judgment that she thought herself coming with superior +knowledge of the world, to enliven and improve a country neighbourhood; +and conceived Miss Hawkins to have held such a place in society as Mrs. +Elton's consequence only could surpass. + +There was no reason to suppose Mr. Elton thought at all differently from +his wife. He seemed not merely happy with her, but proud. He had the air +of congratulating himself on having brought such a woman to Highbury, +as not even Miss Woodhouse could equal; and the greater part of her +new acquaintance, disposed to commend, or not in the habit of judging, +following the lead of Miss Bates's good-will, or taking it for granted +that the bride must be as clever and as agreeable as she professed +herself, were very well satisfied; so that Mrs. Elton's praise +passed from one mouth to another as it ought to do, unimpeded by Miss +Woodhouse, who readily continued her first contribution and talked with +a good grace of her being "very pleasant and very elegantly dressed." + +In one respect Mrs. Elton grew even worse than she had appeared at +first. Her feelings altered towards Emma.--Offended, probably, by the +little encouragement which her proposals of intimacy met with, she drew +back in her turn and gradually became much more cold and distant; and +though the effect was agreeable, the ill-will which produced it was +necessarily increasing Emma's dislike. Her manners, too--and Mr. +Elton's, were unpleasant towards Harriet. They were sneering and +negligent. Emma hoped it must rapidly work Harriet's cure; but the +sensations which could prompt such behaviour sunk them both very +much.--It was not to be doubted that poor Harriet's attachment had been +an offering to conjugal unreserve, and her own share in the story, under +a colouring the least favourable to her and the most soothing to him, +had in all likelihood been given also. She was, of course, the object +of their joint dislike.--When they had nothing else to say, it must be +always easy to begin abusing Miss Woodhouse; and the enmity which +they dared not shew in open disrespect to her, found a broader vent in +contemptuous treatment of Harriet. + +Mrs. Elton took a great fancy to Jane Fairfax; and from the first. Not +merely when a state of warfare with one young lady might be supposed to +recommend the other, but from the very first; and she was not satisfied +with expressing a natural and reasonable admiration--but without +solicitation, or plea, or privilege, she must be wanting to assist and +befriend her.--Before Emma had forfeited her confidence, and about the +third time of their meeting, she heard all Mrs. Elton's knight-errantry +on the subject.-- + +"Jane Fairfax is absolutely charming, Miss Woodhouse.--I quite rave +about Jane Fairfax.--A sweet, interesting creature. So mild and +ladylike--and with such talents!--I assure you I think she has very +extraordinary talents. I do not scruple to say that she plays extremely +well. I know enough of music to speak decidedly on that point. Oh! she +is absolutely charming! You will laugh at my warmth--but, upon my word, +I talk of nothing but Jane Fairfax.--And her situation is so calculated +to affect one!--Miss Woodhouse, we must exert ourselves and endeavour +to do something for her. We must bring her forward. Such talent as hers +must not be suffered to remain unknown.--I dare say you have heard those +charming lines of the poet, + + 'Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, + 'And waste its fragrance on the desert air.' + +We must not allow them to be verified in sweet Jane Fairfax." + +"I cannot think there is any danger of it," was Emma's calm answer--"and +when you are better acquainted with Miss Fairfax's situation and +understand what her home has been, with Colonel and Mrs. Campbell, I +have no idea that you will suppose her talents can be unknown." + +"Oh! but dear Miss Woodhouse, she is now in such retirement, such +obscurity, so thrown away.--Whatever advantages she may have enjoyed +with the Campbells are so palpably at an end! And I think she feels it. +I am sure she does. She is very timid and silent. One can see that she +feels the want of encouragement. I like her the better for it. I +must confess it is a recommendation to me. I am a great advocate for +timidity--and I am sure one does not often meet with it.--But in those +who are at all inferior, it is extremely prepossessing. Oh! I assure +you, Jane Fairfax is a very delightful character, and interests me more +than I can express." + +"You appear to feel a great deal--but I am not aware how you or any of +Miss Fairfax's acquaintance here, any of those who have known her longer +than yourself, can shew her any other attention than"-- + +"My dear Miss Woodhouse, a vast deal may be done by those who dare to +act. You and I need not be afraid. If _we_ set the example, many will +follow it as far as they can; though all have not our situations. _We_ +have carriages to fetch and convey her home, and _we_ live in a style +which could not make the addition of Jane Fairfax, at any time, the +least inconvenient.--I should be extremely displeased if Wright were to +send us up such a dinner, as could make me regret having asked _more_ +than Jane Fairfax to partake of it. I have no idea of that sort of +thing. It is not likely that I _should_, considering what I have been +used to. My greatest danger, perhaps, in housekeeping, may be quite the +other way, in doing too much, and being too careless of expense. Maple +Grove will probably be my model more than it ought to be--for we do not +at all affect to equal my brother, Mr. Suckling, in income.--However, my +resolution is taken as to noticing Jane Fairfax.--I shall certainly have +her very often at my house, shall introduce her wherever I can, shall +have musical parties to draw out her talents, and shall be constantly +on the watch for an eligible situation. My acquaintance is so very +extensive, that I have little doubt of hearing of something to suit +her shortly.--I shall introduce her, of course, very particularly to my +brother and sister when they come to us. I am sure they will like her +extremely; and when she gets a little acquainted with them, her fears +will completely wear off, for there really is nothing in the manners +of either but what is highly conciliating.--I shall have her very often +indeed while they are with me, and I dare say we shall sometimes find a +seat for her in the barouche-landau in some of our exploring parties." + +"Poor Jane Fairfax!"--thought Emma.--"You have not deserved this. You +may have done wrong with regard to Mr. Dixon, but this is a punishment +beyond what you can have merited!--The kindness and protection of Mrs. +Elton!--'Jane Fairfax and Jane Fairfax.' Heavens! Let me not suppose +that she dares go about, Emma Woodhouse-ing me!--But upon my honour, +there seems no limits to the licentiousness of that woman's tongue!" + +Emma had not to listen to such paradings again--to any so exclusively +addressed to herself--so disgustingly decorated with a "dear Miss +Woodhouse." The change on Mrs. Elton's side soon afterwards appeared, +and she was left in peace--neither forced to be the very particular +friend of Mrs. Elton, nor, under Mrs. Elton's guidance, the very active +patroness of Jane Fairfax, and only sharing with others in a general +way, in knowing what was felt, what was meditated, what was done. + +She looked on with some amusement.--Miss Bates's gratitude for +Mrs. Elton's attentions to Jane was in the first style of guileless +simplicity and warmth. She was quite one of her worthies--the +most amiable, affable, delightful woman--just as accomplished and +condescending as Mrs. Elton meant to be considered. Emma's only surprize +was that Jane Fairfax should accept those attentions and tolerate Mrs. +Elton as she seemed to do. She heard of her walking with the Eltons, +sitting with the Eltons, spending a day with the Eltons! This was +astonishing!--She could not have believed it possible that the taste or +the pride of Miss Fairfax could endure such society and friendship as +the Vicarage had to offer. + +"She is a riddle, quite a riddle!" said she.--"To chuse to remain here +month after month, under privations of every sort! And now to chuse the +mortification of Mrs. Elton's notice and the penury of her conversation, +rather than return to the superior companions who have always loved her +with such real, generous affection." + +Jane had come to Highbury professedly for three months; the Campbells +were gone to Ireland for three months; but now the Campbells had +promised their daughter to stay at least till Midsummer, and fresh +invitations had arrived for her to join them there. According to Miss +Bates--it all came from her--Mrs. Dixon had written most pressingly. +Would Jane but go, means were to be found, servants sent, friends +contrived--no travelling difficulty allowed to exist; but still she had +declined it! + +"She must have some motive, more powerful than appears, for refusing +this invitation," was Emma's conclusion. "She must be under some sort +of penance, inflicted either by the Campbells or herself. There is great +fear, great caution, great resolution somewhere.--She is _not_ to be +with the _Dixons_. The decree is issued by somebody. But why must she +consent to be with the Eltons?--Here is quite a separate puzzle." + +Upon her speaking her wonder aloud on that part of the subject, before +the few who knew her opinion of Mrs. Elton, Mrs. Weston ventured this +apology for Jane. + +"We cannot suppose that she has any great enjoyment at the Vicarage, +my dear Emma--but it is better than being always at home. Her aunt is a +good creature, but, as a constant companion, must be very tiresome. We +must consider what Miss Fairfax quits, before we condemn her taste for +what she goes to." + +"You are right, Mrs. Weston," said Mr. Knightley warmly, "Miss Fairfax +is as capable as any of us of forming a just opinion of Mrs. Elton. +Could she have chosen with whom to associate, she would not have chosen +her. But (with a reproachful smile at Emma) she receives attentions from +Mrs. Elton, which nobody else pays her." + +Emma felt that Mrs. Weston was giving her a momentary glance; and she +was herself struck by his warmth. With a faint blush, she presently +replied, + +"Such attentions as Mrs. Elton's, I should have imagined, would rather +disgust than gratify Miss Fairfax. Mrs. Elton's invitations I should +have imagined any thing but inviting." + +"I should not wonder," said Mrs. Weston, "if Miss Fairfax were to have +been drawn on beyond her own inclination, by her aunt's eagerness in +accepting Mrs. Elton's civilities for her. Poor Miss Bates may +very likely have committed her niece and hurried her into a greater +appearance of intimacy than her own good sense would have dictated, in +spite of the very natural wish of a little change." + +Both felt rather anxious to hear him speak again; and after a few +minutes silence, he said, + +"Another thing must be taken into consideration too--Mrs. Elton does +not talk _to_ Miss Fairfax as she speaks _of_ her. We all know the +difference between the pronouns he or she and thou, the plainest spoken +amongst us; we all feel the influence of a something beyond common +civility in our personal intercourse with each other--a something more +early implanted. We cannot give any body the disagreeable hints that we +may have been very full of the hour before. We feel things differently. +And besides the operation of this, as a general principle, you may be +sure that Miss Fairfax awes Mrs. Elton by her superiority both of mind +and manner; and that, face to face, Mrs. Elton treats her with all the +respect which she has a claim to. Such a woman as Jane Fairfax probably +never fell in Mrs. Elton's way before--and no degree of vanity can +prevent her acknowledging her own comparative littleness in action, if +not in consciousness." + +"I know how highly you think of Jane Fairfax," said Emma. Little Henry +was in her thoughts, and a mixture of alarm and delicacy made her +irresolute what else to say. + +"Yes," he replied, "any body may know how highly I think of her." + +"And yet," said Emma, beginning hastily and with an arch look, but soon +stopping--it was better, however, to know the worst at once--she hurried +on--"And yet, perhaps, you may hardly be aware yourself how highly it +is. The extent of your admiration may take you by surprize some day or +other." + +Mr. Knightley was hard at work upon the lower buttons of his thick +leather gaiters, and either the exertion of getting them together, or +some other cause, brought the colour into his face, as he answered, + +"Oh! are you there?--But you are miserably behindhand. Mr. Cole gave me +a hint of it six weeks ago." + +He stopped.--Emma felt her foot pressed by Mrs. Weston, and did not +herself know what to think. In a moment he went on-- + +"That will never be, however, I can assure you. Miss Fairfax, I dare +say, would not have me if I were to ask her--and I am very sure I shall +never ask her." + +Emma returned her friend's pressure with interest; and was pleased +enough to exclaim, + +"You are not vain, Mr. Knightley. I will say that for you." + +He seemed hardly to hear her; he was thoughtful--and in a manner which +shewed him not pleased, soon afterwards said, + +"So you have been settling that I should marry Jane Fairfax?" + +"No indeed I have not. You have scolded me too much for match-making, +for me to presume to take such a liberty with you. What I said just now, +meant nothing. One says those sort of things, of course, without any +idea of a serious meaning. Oh! no, upon my word I have not the smallest +wish for your marrying Jane Fairfax or Jane any body. You would not come +in and sit with us in this comfortable way, if you were married." + +Mr. Knightley was thoughtful again. The result of his reverie was, "No, +Emma, I do not think the extent of my admiration for her will ever take +me by surprize.--I never had a thought of her in that way, I assure +you." And soon afterwards, "Jane Fairfax is a very charming young +woman--but not even Jane Fairfax is perfect. She has a fault. She has +not the open temper which a man would wish for in a wife." + +Emma could not but rejoice to hear that she had a fault. "Well," said +she, "and you soon silenced Mr. Cole, I suppose?" + +"Yes, very soon. He gave me a quiet hint; I told him he was mistaken; +he asked my pardon and said no more. Cole does not want to be wiser or +wittier than his neighbours." + +"In that respect how unlike dear Mrs. Elton, who wants to be wiser and +wittier than all the world! I wonder how she speaks of the Coles--what +she calls them! How can she find any appellation for them, deep enough +in familiar vulgarity? She calls you, Knightley--what can she do for +Mr. Cole? And so I am not to be surprized that Jane Fairfax accepts +her civilities and consents to be with her. Mrs. Weston, your argument +weighs most with me. I can much more readily enter into the temptation +of getting away from Miss Bates, than I can believe in the triumph of +Miss Fairfax's mind over Mrs. Elton. I have no faith in Mrs. Elton's +acknowledging herself the inferior in thought, word, or deed; or in her +being under any restraint beyond her own scanty rule of good-breeding. +I cannot imagine that she will not be continually insulting her visitor +with praise, encouragement, and offers of service; that she will not be +continually detailing her magnificent intentions, from the procuring her +a permanent situation to the including her in those delightful exploring +parties which are to take place in the barouche-landau." + +"Jane Fairfax has feeling," said Mr. Knightley--"I do not accuse her +of want of feeling. Her sensibilities, I suspect, are strong--and her +temper excellent in its power of forbearance, patience, self-control; +but it wants openness. She is reserved, more reserved, I think, than +she used to be--And I love an open temper. No--till Cole alluded to my +supposed attachment, it had never entered my head. I saw Jane Fairfax +and conversed with her, with admiration and pleasure always--but with no +thought beyond." + +"Well, Mrs. Weston," said Emma triumphantly when he left them, "what do +you say now to Mr. Knightley's marrying Jane Fairfax?" + +"Why, really, dear Emma, I say that he is so very much occupied by the +idea of _not_ being in love with her, that I should not wonder if it +were to end in his being so at last. Do not beat me." + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Every body in and about Highbury who had ever visited Mr. Elton, was +disposed to pay him attention on his marriage. Dinner-parties and +evening-parties were made for him and his lady; and invitations flowed +in so fast that she had soon the pleasure of apprehending they were +never to have a disengaged day. + +"I see how it is," said she. "I see what a life I am to lead among you. +Upon my word we shall be absolutely dissipated. We really seem quite +the fashion. If this is living in the country, it is nothing very +formidable. From Monday next to Saturday, I assure you we have not a +disengaged day!--A woman with fewer resources than I have, need not have +been at a loss." + +No invitation came amiss to her. Her Bath habits made evening-parties +perfectly natural to her, and Maple Grove had given her a taste for +dinners. She was a little shocked at the want of two drawing rooms, at +the poor attempt at rout-cakes, and there being no ice in the Highbury +card-parties. Mrs. Bates, Mrs. Perry, Mrs. Goddard and others, were a +good deal behind-hand in knowledge of the world, but she would soon shew +them how every thing ought to be arranged. In the course of the spring +she must return their civilities by one very superior party--in which +her card-tables should be set out with their separate candles and +unbroken packs in the true style--and more waiters engaged for the +evening than their own establishment could furnish, to carry round the +refreshments at exactly the proper hour, and in the proper order. + +Emma, in the meanwhile, could not be satisfied without a dinner at +Hartfield for the Eltons. They must not do less than others, or she +should be exposed to odious suspicions, and imagined capable of pitiful +resentment. A dinner there must be. After Emma had talked about it for +ten minutes, Mr. Woodhouse felt no unwillingness, and only made the +usual stipulation of not sitting at the bottom of the table himself, +with the usual regular difficulty of deciding who should do it for him. + +The persons to be invited, required little thought. Besides the +Eltons, it must be the Westons and Mr. Knightley; so far it was all of +course--and it was hardly less inevitable that poor little Harriet must +be asked to make the eighth:--but this invitation was not given with +equal satisfaction, and on many accounts Emma was particularly pleased +by Harriet's begging to be allowed to decline it. "She would rather not +be in his company more than she could help. She was not yet quite +able to see him and his charming happy wife together, without feeling +uncomfortable. If Miss Woodhouse would not be displeased, she would +rather stay at home." It was precisely what Emma would have wished, had +she deemed it possible enough for wishing. She was delighted with the +fortitude of her little friend--for fortitude she knew it was in her to +give up being in company and stay at home; and she could now invite the +very person whom she really wanted to make the eighth, Jane Fairfax.-- +Since her last conversation with Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightley, she +was more conscience-stricken about Jane Fairfax than she had often +been.--Mr. Knightley's words dwelt with her. He had said that Jane +Fairfax received attentions from Mrs. Elton which nobody else paid her. + +"This is very true," said she, "at least as far as relates to me, which +was all that was meant--and it is very shameful.--Of the same age--and +always knowing her--I ought to have been more her friend.--She will +never like me now. I have neglected her too long. But I will shew her +greater attention than I have done." + +Every invitation was successful. They were all disengaged and all +happy.--The preparatory interest of this dinner, however, was not yet +over. A circumstance rather unlucky occurred. The two eldest little +Knightleys were engaged to pay their grandpapa and aunt a visit of some +weeks in the spring, and their papa now proposed bringing them, and +staying one whole day at Hartfield--which one day would be the very day +of this party.--His professional engagements did not allow of his being +put off, but both father and daughter were disturbed by its happening +so. Mr. Woodhouse considered eight persons at dinner together as the +utmost that his nerves could bear--and here would be a ninth--and Emma +apprehended that it would be a ninth very much out of humour at not +being able to come even to Hartfield for forty-eight hours without +falling in with a dinner-party. + +She comforted her father better than she could comfort herself, by +representing that though he certainly would make them nine, yet +he always said so little, that the increase of noise would be very +immaterial. She thought it in reality a sad exchange for herself, to +have him with his grave looks and reluctant conversation opposed to her +instead of his brother. + +The event was more favourable to Mr. Woodhouse than to Emma. John +Knightley came; but Mr. Weston was unexpectedly summoned to town and +must be absent on the very day. He might be able to join them in the +evening, but certainly not to dinner. Mr. Woodhouse was quite at ease; +and the seeing him so, with the arrival of the little boys and the +philosophic composure of her brother on hearing his fate, removed the +chief of even Emma's vexation. + +The day came, the party were punctually assembled, and Mr. John +Knightley seemed early to devote himself to the business of being +agreeable. Instead of drawing his brother off to a window while they +waited for dinner, he was talking to Miss Fairfax. Mrs. Elton, +as elegant as lace and pearls could make her, he looked at in +silence--wanting only to observe enough for Isabella's information--but +Miss Fairfax was an old acquaintance and a quiet girl, and he could talk +to her. He had met her before breakfast as he was returning from a walk +with his little boys, when it had been just beginning to rain. It was +natural to have some civil hopes on the subject, and he said, + +"I hope you did not venture far, Miss Fairfax, this morning, or I am +sure you must have been wet.--We scarcely got home in time. I hope you +turned directly." + +"I went only to the post-office," said she, "and reached home before the +rain was much. It is my daily errand. I always fetch the letters when +I am here. It saves trouble, and is a something to get me out. A walk +before breakfast does me good." + +"Not a walk in the rain, I should imagine." + +"No, but it did not absolutely rain when I set out." + +Mr. John Knightley smiled, and replied, + +"That is to say, you chose to have your walk, for you were not six yards +from your own door when I had the pleasure of meeting you; and Henry +and John had seen more drops than they could count long before. The +post-office has a great charm at one period of our lives. When you have +lived to my age, you will begin to think letters are never worth going +through the rain for." + +There was a little blush, and then this answer, + +"I must not hope to be ever situated as you are, in the midst of every +dearest connexion, and therefore I cannot expect that simply growing +older should make me indifferent about letters." + +"Indifferent! Oh! no--I never conceived you could become indifferent. +Letters are no matter of indifference; they are generally a very +positive curse." + +"You are speaking of letters of business; mine are letters of +friendship." + +"I have often thought them the worst of the two," replied he coolly. +"Business, you know, may bring money, but friendship hardly ever does." + +"Ah! you are not serious now. I know Mr. John Knightley too well--I am +very sure he understands the value of friendship as well as any body. I +can easily believe that letters are very little to you, much less than +to me, but it is not your being ten years older than myself which +makes the difference, it is not age, but situation. You have every +body dearest to you always at hand, I, probably, never shall again; +and therefore till I have outlived all my affections, a post-office, +I think, must always have power to draw me out, in worse weather than +to-day." + +"When I talked of your being altered by time, by the progress of years," +said John Knightley, "I meant to imply the change of situation which +time usually brings. I consider one as including the other. Time will +generally lessen the interest of every attachment not within the daily +circle--but that is not the change I had in view for you. As an old +friend, you will allow me to hope, Miss Fairfax, that ten years hence +you may have as many concentrated objects as I have." + +It was kindly said, and very far from giving offence. A pleasant "thank +you" seemed meant to laugh it off, but a blush, a quivering lip, a tear +in the eye, shewed that it was felt beyond a laugh. Her attention was +now claimed by Mr. Woodhouse, who being, according to his custom on such +occasions, making the circle of his guests, and paying his particular +compliments to the ladies, was ending with her--and with all his mildest +urbanity, said, + +"I am very sorry to hear, Miss Fairfax, of your being out this morning +in the rain. Young ladies should take care of themselves.--Young ladies +are delicate plants. They should take care of their health and their +complexion. My dear, did you change your stockings?" + +"Yes, sir, I did indeed; and I am very much obliged by your kind +solicitude about me." + +"My dear Miss Fairfax, young ladies are very sure to be cared for.--I +hope your good grand-mama and aunt are well. They are some of my very +old friends. I wish my health allowed me to be a better neighbour. You +do us a great deal of honour to-day, I am sure. My daughter and I +are both highly sensible of your goodness, and have the greatest +satisfaction in seeing you at Hartfield." + +The kind-hearted, polite old man might then sit down and feel that he +had done his duty, and made every fair lady welcome and easy. + +By this time, the walk in the rain had reached Mrs. Elton, and her +remonstrances now opened upon Jane. + +"My dear Jane, what is this I hear?--Going to the post-office in the +rain!--This must not be, I assure you.--You sad girl, how could you do +such a thing?--It is a sign I was not there to take care of you." + +Jane very patiently assured her that she had not caught any cold. + +"Oh! do not tell _me_. You really are a very sad girl, and do not know +how to take care of yourself.--To the post-office indeed! Mrs. Weston, +did you ever hear the like? You and I must positively exert our +authority." + +"My advice," said Mrs. Weston kindly and persuasively, "I certainly do +feel tempted to give. Miss Fairfax, you must not run such risks.--Liable +as you have been to severe colds, indeed you ought to be particularly +careful, especially at this time of year. The spring I always think +requires more than common care. Better wait an hour or two, or even +half a day for your letters, than run the risk of bringing on your cough +again. Now do not you feel that you had? Yes, I am sure you are much too +reasonable. You look as if you would not do such a thing again." + +"Oh! she _shall_ _not_ do such a thing again," eagerly rejoined Mrs. +Elton. "We will not allow her to do such a thing again:"--and nodding +significantly--"there must be some arrangement made, there must indeed. +I shall speak to Mr. E. The man who fetches our letters every morning +(one of our men, I forget his name) shall inquire for yours too and +bring them to you. That will obviate all difficulties you know; and from +_us_ I really think, my dear Jane, you can have no scruple to accept +such an accommodation." + +"You are extremely kind," said Jane; "but I cannot give up my early +walk. I am advised to be out of doors as much as I can, I must walk +somewhere, and the post-office is an object; and upon my word, I have +scarcely ever had a bad morning before." + +"My dear Jane, say no more about it. The thing is determined, that is +(laughing affectedly) as far as I can presume to determine any thing +without the concurrence of my lord and master. You know, Mrs. Weston, +you and I must be cautious how we express ourselves. But I do flatter +myself, my dear Jane, that my influence is not entirely worn out. If I +meet with no insuperable difficulties therefore, consider that point as +settled." + +"Excuse me," said Jane earnestly, "I cannot by any means consent to such +an arrangement, so needlessly troublesome to your servant. If the errand +were not a pleasure to me, it could be done, as it always is when I am +not here, by my grandmama's." + +"Oh! my dear; but so much as Patty has to do!--And it is a kindness to +employ our men." + +Jane looked as if she did not mean to be conquered; but instead of +answering, she began speaking again to Mr. John Knightley. + +"The post-office is a wonderful establishment!" said she.--"The +regularity and despatch of it! If one thinks of all that it has to do, +and all that it does so well, it is really astonishing!" + +"It is certainly very well regulated." + +"So seldom that any negligence or blunder appears! So seldom that +a letter, among the thousands that are constantly passing about the +kingdom, is even carried wrong--and not one in a million, I suppose, +actually lost! And when one considers the variety of hands, and of bad +hands too, that are to be deciphered, it increases the wonder." + +"The clerks grow expert from habit.--They must begin with some quickness +of sight and hand, and exercise improves them. If you want any farther +explanation," continued he, smiling, "they are paid for it. That is +the key to a great deal of capacity. The public pays and must be served +well." + +The varieties of handwriting were farther talked of, and the usual +observations made. + +"I have heard it asserted," said John Knightley, "that the same sort +of handwriting often prevails in a family; and where the same master +teaches, it is natural enough. But for that reason, I should imagine +the likeness must be chiefly confined to the females, for boys have very +little teaching after an early age, and scramble into any hand they can +get. Isabella and Emma, I think, do write very much alike. I have not +always known their writing apart." + +"Yes," said his brother hesitatingly, "there is a likeness. I know what +you mean--but Emma's hand is the strongest." + +"Isabella and Emma both write beautifully," said Mr. Woodhouse; "and +always did. And so does poor Mrs. Weston"--with half a sigh and half a +smile at her. + +"I never saw any gentleman's handwriting"--Emma began, looking also at +Mrs. Weston; but stopped, on perceiving that Mrs. Weston was attending +to some one else--and the pause gave her time to reflect, "Now, how am +I going to introduce him?--Am I unequal to speaking his name at once +before all these people? Is it necessary for me to use any roundabout +phrase?--Your Yorkshire friend--your correspondent in Yorkshire;--that +would be the way, I suppose, if I were very bad.--No, I can pronounce +his name without the smallest distress. I certainly get better and +better.--Now for it." + +Mrs. Weston was disengaged and Emma began again--"Mr. Frank Churchill +writes one of the best gentleman's hands I ever saw." + +"I do not admire it," said Mr. Knightley. "It is too small--wants +strength. It is like a woman's writing." + +This was not submitted to by either lady. They vindicated him against +the base aspersion. "No, it by no means wanted strength--it was not a +large hand, but very clear and certainly strong. Had not Mrs. Weston any +letter about her to produce?" No, she had heard from him very lately, +but having answered the letter, had put it away. + +"If we were in the other room," said Emma, "if I had my writing-desk, I +am sure I could produce a specimen. I have a note of his.--Do not you +remember, Mrs. Weston, employing him to write for you one day?" + +"He chose to say he was employed"-- + +"Well, well, I have that note; and can shew it after dinner to convince +Mr. Knightley." + +"Oh! when a gallant young man, like Mr. Frank Churchill," said Mr. +Knightley dryly, "writes to a fair lady like Miss Woodhouse, he will, of +course, put forth his best." + +Dinner was on table.--Mrs. Elton, before she could be spoken to, was +ready; and before Mr. Woodhouse had reached her with his request to be +allowed to hand her into the dining-parlour, was saying-- + +"Must I go first? I really am ashamed of always leading the way." + +Jane's solicitude about fetching her own letters had not escaped Emma. +She had heard and seen it all; and felt some curiosity to know whether +the wet walk of this morning had produced any. She suspected that it +_had_; that it would not have been so resolutely encountered but in full +expectation of hearing from some one very dear, and that it had not been +in vain. She thought there was an air of greater happiness than usual--a +glow both of complexion and spirits. + +She could have made an inquiry or two, as to the expedition and the +expense of the Irish mails;--it was at her tongue's end--but she +abstained. She was quite determined not to utter a word that should hurt +Jane Fairfax's feelings; and they followed the other ladies out of the +room, arm in arm, with an appearance of good-will highly becoming to the +beauty and grace of each. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +When the ladies returned to the drawing-room after dinner, Emma found it +hardly possible to prevent their making two distinct parties;--with so +much perseverance in judging and behaving ill did Mrs. Elton engross +Jane Fairfax and slight herself. She and Mrs. Weston were obliged to +be almost always either talking together or silent together. Mrs. Elton +left them no choice. If Jane repressed her for a little time, she +soon began again; and though much that passed between them was in a +half-whisper, especially on Mrs. Elton's side, there was no avoiding +a knowledge of their principal subjects: The post-office--catching +cold--fetching letters--and friendship, were long under discussion; +and to them succeeded one, which must be at least equally unpleasant +to Jane--inquiries whether she had yet heard of any situation likely to +suit her, and professions of Mrs. Elton's meditated activity. + +"Here is April come!" said she, "I get quite anxious about you. June +will soon be here." + +"But I have never fixed on June or any other month--merely looked +forward to the summer in general." + +"But have you really heard of nothing?" + +"I have not even made any inquiry; I do not wish to make any yet." + +"Oh! my dear, we cannot begin too early; you are not aware of the +difficulty of procuring exactly the desirable thing." + +"I not aware!" said Jane, shaking her head; "dear Mrs. Elton, who can +have thought of it as I have done?" + +"But you have not seen so much of the world as I have. You do not know +how many candidates there always are for the _first_ situations. I saw +a vast deal of that in the neighbourhood round Maple Grove. A cousin of +Mr. Suckling, Mrs. Bragge, had such an infinity of applications; every +body was anxious to be in her family, for she moves in the first circle. +Wax-candles in the schoolroom! You may imagine how desirable! Of all +houses in the kingdom Mrs. Bragge's is the one I would most wish to see +you in." + +"Colonel and Mrs. Campbell are to be in town again by midsummer," +said Jane. "I must spend some time with them; I am sure they will want +it;--afterwards I may probably be glad to dispose of myself. But I would +not wish you to take the trouble of making any inquiries at present." + +"Trouble! aye, I know your scruples. You are afraid of giving me +trouble; but I assure you, my dear Jane, the Campbells can hardly be +more interested about you than I am. I shall write to Mrs. Partridge in +a day or two, and shall give her a strict charge to be on the look-out +for any thing eligible." + +"Thank you, but I would rather you did not mention the subject to +her; till the time draws nearer, I do not wish to be giving any body +trouble." + +"But, my dear child, the time is drawing near; here is April, and June, +or say even July, is very near, with such business to accomplish before +us. Your inexperience really amuses me! A situation such as you deserve, +and your friends would require for you, is no everyday occurrence, +is not obtained at a moment's notice; indeed, indeed, we must begin +inquiring directly." + +"Excuse me, ma'am, but this is by no means my intention; I make no +inquiry myself, and should be sorry to have any made by my friends. When +I am quite determined as to the time, I am not at all afraid of being +long unemployed. There are places in town, offices, where inquiry +would soon produce something--Offices for the sale--not quite of human +flesh--but of human intellect." + +"Oh! my dear, human flesh! You quite shock me; if you mean a fling at +the slave-trade, I assure you Mr. Suckling was always rather a friend to +the abolition." + +"I did not mean, I was not thinking of the slave-trade," replied Jane; +"governess-trade, I assure you, was all that I had in view; widely +different certainly as to the guilt of those who carry it on; but as to +the greater misery of the victims, I do not know where it lies. But +I only mean to say that there are advertising offices, and that by +applying to them I should have no doubt of very soon meeting with +something that would do." + +"Something that would do!" repeated Mrs. Elton. "Aye, _that_ may suit +your humble ideas of yourself;--I know what a modest creature you are; +but it will not satisfy your friends to have you taking up with any +thing that may offer, any inferior, commonplace situation, in a family +not moving in a certain circle, or able to command the elegancies of +life." + +"You are very obliging; but as to all that, I am very indifferent; +it would be no object to me to be with the rich; my mortifications, I +think, would only be the greater; I should suffer more from comparison. +A gentleman's family is all that I should condition for." + +"I know you, I know you; you would take up with any thing; but I shall +be a little more nice, and I am sure the good Campbells will be quite +on my side; with your superior talents, you have a right to move in the +first circle. Your musical knowledge alone would entitle you to name +your own terms, have as many rooms as you like, and mix in the family +as much as you chose;--that is--I do not know--if you knew the harp, you +might do all that, I am very sure; but you sing as well as play;--yes, I +really believe you might, even without the harp, stipulate for what +you chose;--and you must and shall be delightfully, honourably and +comfortably settled before the Campbells or I have any rest." + +"You may well class the delight, the honour, and the comfort of such +a situation together," said Jane, "they are pretty sure to be equal; +however, I am very serious in not wishing any thing to be attempted +at present for me. I am exceedingly obliged to you, Mrs. Elton, I am +obliged to any body who feels for me, but I am quite serious in wishing +nothing to be done till the summer. For two or three months longer I +shall remain where I am, and as I am." + +"And I am quite serious too, I assure you," replied Mrs. Elton gaily, +"in resolving to be always on the watch, and employing my friends to +watch also, that nothing really unexceptionable may pass us." + +In this style she ran on; never thoroughly stopped by any thing till Mr. +Woodhouse came into the room; her vanity had then a change of object, +and Emma heard her saying in the same half-whisper to Jane, + +"Here comes this dear old beau of mine, I protest!--Only think of his +gallantry in coming away before the other men!--what a dear creature +he is;--I assure you I like him excessively. I admire all that quaint, +old-fashioned politeness; it is much more to my taste than modern ease; +modern ease often disgusts me. But this good old Mr. Woodhouse, I wish +you had heard his gallant speeches to me at dinner. Oh! I assure you I +began to think my caro sposo would be absolutely jealous. I fancy I +am rather a favourite; he took notice of my gown. How do you like +it?--Selina's choice--handsome, I think, but I do not know whether it +is not over-trimmed; I have the greatest dislike to the idea of being +over-trimmed--quite a horror of finery. I must put on a few ornaments +now, because it is expected of me. A bride, you know, must appear like +a bride, but my natural taste is all for simplicity; a simple style +of dress is so infinitely preferable to finery. But I am quite in the +minority, I believe; few people seem to value simplicity of dress,--show +and finery are every thing. I have some notion of putting such a +trimming as this to my white and silver poplin. Do you think it will +look well?" + +The whole party were but just reassembled in the drawing-room when Mr. +Weston made his appearance among them. He had returned to a late dinner, +and walked to Hartfield as soon as it was over. He had been too much +expected by the best judges, for surprize--but there was great joy. Mr. +Woodhouse was almost as glad to see him now, as he would have been sorry +to see him before. John Knightley only was in mute astonishment.--That +a man who might have spent his evening quietly at home after a day +of business in London, should set off again, and walk half a mile +to another man's house, for the sake of being in mixed company till +bed-time, of finishing his day in the efforts of civility and the noise +of numbers, was a circumstance to strike him deeply. A man who had been +in motion since eight o'clock in the morning, and might now have been +still, who had been long talking, and might have been silent, who had +been in more than one crowd, and might have been alone!--Such a man, to +quit the tranquillity and independence of his own fireside, and on the +evening of a cold sleety April day rush out again into the world!--Could +he by a touch of his finger have instantly taken back his wife, there +would have been a motive; but his coming would probably prolong rather +than break up the party. John Knightley looked at him with amazement, +then shrugged his shoulders, and said, "I could not have believed it +even of _him_." + +Mr. Weston meanwhile, perfectly unsuspicious of the indignation he was +exciting, happy and cheerful as usual, and with all the right of being +principal talker, which a day spent anywhere from home confers, was +making himself agreeable among the rest; and having satisfied the +inquiries of his wife as to his dinner, convincing her that none of all +her careful directions to the servants had been forgotten, and spread +abroad what public news he had heard, was proceeding to a family +communication, which, though principally addressed to Mrs. Weston, he +had not the smallest doubt of being highly interesting to every body in +the room. He gave her a letter, it was from Frank, and to herself; he +had met with it in his way, and had taken the liberty of opening it. + +"Read it, read it," said he, "it will give you pleasure; only a few +lines--will not take you long; read it to Emma." + +The two ladies looked over it together; and he sat smiling and talking +to them the whole time, in a voice a little subdued, but very audible to +every body. + +"Well, he is coming, you see; good news, I think. Well, what do you say +to it?--I always told you he would be here again soon, did not I?--Anne, +my dear, did not I always tell you so, and you would not believe me?--In +town next week, you see--at the latest, I dare say; for _she_ is as +impatient as the black gentleman when any thing is to be done; most +likely they will be there to-morrow or Saturday. As to her illness, all +nothing of course. But it is an excellent thing to have Frank among us +again, so near as town. They will stay a good while when they do come, +and he will be half his time with us. This is precisely what I wanted. +Well, pretty good news, is not it? Have you finished it? Has Emma read +it all? Put it up, put it up; we will have a good talk about it some +other time, but it will not do now. I shall only just mention the +circumstance to the others in a common way." + +Mrs. Weston was most comfortably pleased on the occasion. Her looks +and words had nothing to restrain them. She was happy, she knew she was +happy, and knew she ought to be happy. Her congratulations were warm and +open; but Emma could not speak so fluently. _She_ was a little occupied +in weighing her own feelings, and trying to understand the degree of her +agitation, which she rather thought was considerable. + +Mr. Weston, however, too eager to be very observant, too communicative +to want others to talk, was very well satisfied with what she did say, +and soon moved away to make the rest of his friends happy by a partial +communication of what the whole room must have overheard already. + +It was well that he took every body's joy for granted, or he might +not have thought either Mr. Woodhouse or Mr. Knightley particularly +delighted. They were the first entitled, after Mrs. Weston and Emma, to +be made happy;--from them he would have proceeded to Miss Fairfax, but +she was so deep in conversation with John Knightley, that it would have +been too positive an interruption; and finding himself close to Mrs. +Elton, and her attention disengaged, he necessarily began on the subject +with her. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +"I hope I shall soon have the pleasure of introducing my son to you," +said Mr. Weston. + +Mrs. Elton, very willing to suppose a particular compliment intended her +by such a hope, smiled most graciously. + +"You have heard of a certain Frank Churchill, I presume," he +continued--"and know him to be my son, though he does not bear my name." + +"Oh! yes, and I shall be very happy in his acquaintance. I am sure Mr. +Elton will lose no time in calling on him; and we shall both have great +pleasure in seeing him at the Vicarage." + +"You are very obliging.--Frank will be extremely happy, I am sure.-- +He is to be in town next week, if not sooner. We have notice of it in a +letter to-day. I met the letters in my way this morning, and seeing my +son's hand, presumed to open it--though it was not directed to me--it +was to Mrs. Weston. She is his principal correspondent, I assure you. I +hardly ever get a letter." + +"And so you absolutely opened what was directed to her! Oh! Mr. +Weston--(laughing affectedly) I must protest against that.--A most +dangerous precedent indeed!--I beg you will not let your neighbours +follow your example.--Upon my word, if this is what I am to expect, we +married women must begin to exert ourselves!--Oh! Mr. Weston, I could +not have believed it of you!" + +"Aye, we men are sad fellows. You must take care of yourself, Mrs. +Elton.--This letter tells us--it is a short letter--written in a hurry, +merely to give us notice--it tells us that they are all coming up to +town directly, on Mrs. Churchill's account--she has not been well the +whole winter, and thinks Enscombe too cold for her--so they are all to +move southward without loss of time." + +"Indeed!--from Yorkshire, I think. Enscombe is in Yorkshire?" + +"Yes, they are about one hundred and ninety miles from London, a +considerable journey." + +"Yes, upon my word, very considerable. Sixty-five miles farther than +from Maple Grove to London. But what is distance, Mr. Weston, to people +of large fortune?--You would be amazed to hear how my brother, Mr. +Suckling, sometimes flies about. You will hardly believe me--but twice +in one week he and Mr. Bragge went to London and back again with four +horses." + +"The evil of the distance from Enscombe," said Mr. Weston, "is, that +Mrs. Churchill, _as_ _we_ _understand_, has not been able to leave the +sofa for a week together. In Frank's last letter she complained, he +said, of being too weak to get into her conservatory without having +both his arm and his uncle's! This, you know, speaks a great degree of +weakness--but now she is so impatient to be in town, that she means to +sleep only two nights on the road.--So Frank writes word. Certainly, +delicate ladies have very extraordinary constitutions, Mrs. Elton. You +must grant me that." + +"No, indeed, I shall grant you nothing. I always take the part of my +own sex. I do indeed. I give you notice--You will find me a formidable +antagonist on that point. I always stand up for women--and I assure you, +if you knew how Selina feels with respect to sleeping at an inn, you +would not wonder at Mrs. Churchill's making incredible exertions to +avoid it. Selina says it is quite horror to her--and I believe I have +caught a little of her nicety. She always travels with her own sheets; +an excellent precaution. Does Mrs. Churchill do the same?" + +"Depend upon it, Mrs. Churchill does every thing that any other fine +lady ever did. Mrs. Churchill will not be second to any lady in the land +for"-- + +Mrs. Elton eagerly interposed with, + +"Oh! Mr. Weston, do not mistake me. Selina is no fine lady, I assure +you. Do not run away with such an idea." + +"Is not she? Then she is no rule for Mrs. Churchill, who is as thorough +a fine lady as any body ever beheld." + +Mrs. Elton began to think she had been wrong in disclaiming so warmly. +It was by no means her object to have it believed that her sister was +_not_ a fine lady; perhaps there was want of spirit in the pretence of +it;--and she was considering in what way she had best retract, when Mr. +Weston went on. + +"Mrs. Churchill is not much in my good graces, as you may suspect--but +this is quite between ourselves. She is very fond of Frank, and +therefore I would not speak ill of her. Besides, she is out of health +now; but _that_ indeed, by her own account, she has always been. I would +not say so to every body, Mrs. Elton, but I have not much faith in Mrs. +Churchill's illness." + +"If she is really ill, why not go to Bath, Mr. Weston?--To Bath, or to +Clifton?" "She has taken it into her head that Enscombe is too cold for +her. The fact is, I suppose, that she is tired of Enscombe. She has now +been a longer time stationary there, than she ever was before, and she +begins to want change. It is a retired place. A fine place, but very +retired." + +"Aye--like Maple Grove, I dare say. Nothing can stand more retired from +the road than Maple Grove. Such an immense plantation all round it! You +seem shut out from every thing--in the most complete retirement.--And +Mrs. Churchill probably has not health or spirits like Selina to enjoy +that sort of seclusion. Or, perhaps she may not have resources enough in +herself to be qualified for a country life. I always say a woman cannot +have too many resources--and I feel very thankful that I have so many +myself as to be quite independent of society." + +"Frank was here in February for a fortnight." + +"So I remember to have heard. He will find an _addition_ to the society +of Highbury when he comes again; that is, if I may presume to call +myself an addition. But perhaps he may never have heard of there being +such a creature in the world." + +This was too loud a call for a compliment to be passed by, and Mr. +Weston, with a very good grace, immediately exclaimed, + +"My dear madam! Nobody but yourself could imagine such a thing possible. +Not heard of you!--I believe Mrs. Weston's letters lately have been full +of very little else than Mrs. Elton." + +He had done his duty and could return to his son. + +"When Frank left us," continued he, "it was quite uncertain when we +might see him again, which makes this day's news doubly welcome. It has +been completely unexpected. That is, _I_ always had a strong persuasion +he would be here again soon, I was sure something favourable would turn +up--but nobody believed me. He and Mrs. Weston were both dreadfully +desponding. 'How could he contrive to come? And how could it be supposed +that his uncle and aunt would spare him again?' and so forth--I always +felt that something would happen in our favour; and so it has, you see. +I have observed, Mrs. Elton, in the course of my life, that if things +are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next." + +"Very true, Mr. Weston, perfectly true. It is just what I used to say to +a certain gentleman in company in the days of courtship, when, because +things did not go quite right, did not proceed with all the rapidity +which suited his feelings, he was apt to be in despair, and exclaim that +he was sure at this rate it would be _May_ before Hymen's saffron robe +would be put on for us. Oh! the pains I have been at to dispel those +gloomy ideas and give him cheerfuller views! The carriage--we had +disappointments about the carriage;--one morning, I remember, he came to +me quite in despair." + +She was stopped by a slight fit of coughing, and Mr. Weston instantly +seized the opportunity of going on. + +"You were mentioning May. May is the very month which Mrs. Churchill +is ordered, or has ordered herself, to spend in some warmer place than +Enscombe--in short, to spend in London; so that we have the agreeable +prospect of frequent visits from Frank the whole spring--precisely the +season of the year which one should have chosen for it: days almost at +the longest; weather genial and pleasant, always inviting one out, and +never too hot for exercise. When he was here before, we made the best +of it; but there was a good deal of wet, damp, cheerless weather; +there always is in February, you know, and we could not do half that we +intended. Now will be the time. This will be complete enjoyment; and I +do not know, Mrs. Elton, whether the uncertainty of our meetings, the +sort of constant expectation there will be of his coming in to-day or +to-morrow, and at any hour, may not be more friendly to happiness than +having him actually in the house. I think it is so. I think it is the +state of mind which gives most spirit and delight. I hope you will be +pleased with my son; but you must not expect a prodigy. He is generally +thought a fine young man, but do not expect a prodigy. Mrs. Weston's +partiality for him is very great, and, as you may suppose, most +gratifying to me. She thinks nobody equal to him." + +"And I assure you, Mr. Weston, I have very little doubt that my opinion +will be decidedly in his favour. I have heard so much in praise of Mr. +Frank Churchill.--At the same time it is fair to observe, that I am one +of those who always judge for themselves, and are by no means implicitly +guided by others. I give you notice that as I find your son, so I shall +judge of him.--I am no flatterer." + +Mr. Weston was musing. + +"I hope," said he presently, "I have not been severe upon poor Mrs. +Churchill. If she is ill I should be sorry to do her injustice; but +there are some traits in her character which make it difficult for me to +speak of her with the forbearance I could wish. You cannot be ignorant, +Mrs. Elton, of my connexion with the family, nor of the treatment I have +met with; and, between ourselves, the whole blame of it is to be laid +to her. She was the instigator. Frank's mother would never have been +slighted as she was but for her. Mr. Churchill has pride; but his pride +is nothing to his wife's: his is a quiet, indolent, gentlemanlike sort +of pride that would harm nobody, and only make himself a little helpless +and tiresome; but her pride is arrogance and insolence! And what +inclines one less to bear, she has no fair pretence of family or blood. +She was nobody when he married her, barely the daughter of a gentleman; +but ever since her being turned into a Churchill she has out-Churchill'd +them all in high and mighty claims: but in herself, I assure you, she is +an upstart." + +"Only think! well, that must be infinitely provoking! I have quite +a horror of upstarts. Maple Grove has given me a thorough disgust to +people of that sort; for there is a family in that neighbourhood who +are such an annoyance to my brother and sister from the airs they give +themselves! Your description of Mrs. Churchill made me think of them +directly. People of the name of Tupman, very lately settled there, and +encumbered with many low connexions, but giving themselves immense airs, +and expecting to be on a footing with the old established families. +A year and a half is the very utmost that they can have lived at West +Hall; and how they got their fortune nobody knows. They came from +Birmingham, which is not a place to promise much, you know, Mr. Weston. +One has not great hopes from Birmingham. I always say there is something +direful in the sound: but nothing more is positively known of the +Tupmans, though a good many things I assure you are suspected; and +yet by their manners they evidently think themselves equal even to +my brother, Mr. Suckling, who happens to be one of their nearest +neighbours. It is infinitely too bad. Mr. Suckling, who has been eleven +years a resident at Maple Grove, and whose father had it before him--I +believe, at least--I am almost sure that old Mr. Suckling had completed +the purchase before his death." + +They were interrupted. Tea was carrying round, and Mr. Weston, having +said all that he wanted, soon took the opportunity of walking away. + +After tea, Mr. and Mrs. Weston, and Mr. Elton sat down with Mr. +Woodhouse to cards. The remaining five were left to their own powers, +and Emma doubted their getting on very well; for Mr. Knightley seemed +little disposed for conversation; Mrs. Elton was wanting notice, which +nobody had inclination to pay, and she was herself in a worry of spirits +which would have made her prefer being silent. + +Mr. John Knightley proved more talkative than his brother. He was to +leave them early the next day; and he soon began with-- + +"Well, Emma, I do not believe I have any thing more to say about the +boys; but you have your sister's letter, and every thing is down at full +length there we may be sure. My charge would be much more concise than +her's, and probably not much in the same spirit; all that I have to +recommend being comprised in, do not spoil them, and do not physic +them." + +"I rather hope to satisfy you both," said Emma, "for I shall do all +in my power to make them happy, which will be enough for Isabella; and +happiness must preclude false indulgence and physic." + +"And if you find them troublesome, you must send them home again." + +"That is very likely. You think so, do not you?" + +"I hope I am aware that they may be too noisy for your father--or even +may be some encumbrance to you, if your visiting engagements continue to +increase as much as they have done lately." + +"Increase!" + +"Certainly; you must be sensible that the last half-year has made a +great difference in your way of life." + +"Difference! No indeed I am not." + +"There can be no doubt of your being much more engaged with company than +you used to be. Witness this very time. Here am I come down for only +one day, and you are engaged with a dinner-party!--When did it happen +before, or any thing like it? Your neighbourhood is increasing, and you +mix more with it. A little while ago, every letter to Isabella brought +an account of fresh gaieties; dinners at Mr. Cole's, or balls at the +Crown. The difference which Randalls, Randalls alone makes in your +goings-on, is very great." + +"Yes," said his brother quickly, "it is Randalls that does it all." + +"Very well--and as Randalls, I suppose, is not likely to have less +influence than heretofore, it strikes me as a possible thing, Emma, that +Henry and John may be sometimes in the way. And if they are, I only beg +you to send them home." + +"No," cried Mr. Knightley, "that need not be the consequence. Let them +be sent to Donwell. I shall certainly be at leisure." + +"Upon my word," exclaimed Emma, "you amuse me! I should like to know how +many of all my numerous engagements take place without your being of +the party; and why I am to be supposed in danger of wanting leisure to +attend to the little boys. These amazing engagements of mine--what have +they been? Dining once with the Coles--and having a ball talked of, +which never took place. I can understand you--(nodding at Mr. John +Knightley)--your good fortune in meeting with so many of your friends at +once here, delights you too much to pass unnoticed. But you, (turning to +Mr. Knightley,) who know how very, very seldom I am ever two hours from +Hartfield, why you should foresee such a series of dissipation for me, I +cannot imagine. And as to my dear little boys, I must say, that if Aunt +Emma has not time for them, I do not think they would fare much better +with Uncle Knightley, who is absent from home about five hours where she +is absent one--and who, when he is at home, is either reading to himself +or settling his accounts." + +Mr. Knightley seemed to be trying not to smile; and succeeded without +difficulty, upon Mrs. Elton's beginning to talk to him. + + + + +VOLUME III + + + +CHAPTER I + + +A very little quiet reflection was enough to satisfy Emma as to the +nature of her agitation on hearing this news of Frank Churchill. She +was soon convinced that it was not for herself she was feeling at all +apprehensive or embarrassed; it was for him. Her own attachment had +really subsided into a mere nothing; it was not worth thinking of;--but +if he, who had undoubtedly been always so much the most in love of the +two, were to be returning with the same warmth of sentiment which he had +taken away, it would be very distressing. If a separation of two +months should not have cooled him, there were dangers and evils before +her:--caution for him and for herself would be necessary. She did +not mean to have her own affections entangled again, and it would be +incumbent on her to avoid any encouragement of his. + +She wished she might be able to keep him from an absolute declaration. +That would be so very painful a conclusion of their present +acquaintance! and yet, she could not help rather anticipating something +decisive. She felt as if the spring would not pass without bringing a +crisis, an event, a something to alter her present composed and tranquil +state. + +It was not very long, though rather longer than Mr. Weston had foreseen, +before she had the power of forming some opinion of Frank Churchill's +feelings. The Enscombe family were not in town quite so soon as had been +imagined, but he was at Highbury very soon afterwards. He rode down +for a couple of hours; he could not yet do more; but as he came from +Randalls immediately to Hartfield, she could then exercise all her quick +observation, and speedily determine how he was influenced, and how she +must act. They met with the utmost friendliness. There could be no doubt +of his great pleasure in seeing her. But she had an almost instant doubt +of his caring for her as he had done, of his feeling the same tenderness +in the same degree. She watched him well. It was a clear thing he was +less in love than he had been. Absence, with the conviction probably +of her indifference, had produced this very natural and very desirable +effect. + +He was in high spirits; as ready to talk and laugh as ever, and seemed +delighted to speak of his former visit, and recur to old stories: and he +was not without agitation. It was not in his calmness that she read +his comparative difference. He was not calm; his spirits were evidently +fluttered; there was restlessness about him. Lively as he was, it seemed +a liveliness that did not satisfy himself; but what decided her belief +on the subject, was his staying only a quarter of an hour, and hurrying +away to make other calls in Highbury. "He had seen a group of old +acquaintance in the street as he passed--he had not stopped, he would +not stop for more than a word--but he had the vanity to think they would +be disappointed if he did not call, and much as he wished to stay longer +at Hartfield, he must hurry off." She had no doubt as to his being less +in love--but neither his agitated spirits, nor his hurrying away, seemed +like a perfect cure; and she was rather inclined to think it implied a +dread of her returning power, and a discreet resolution of not trusting +himself with her long. + +This was the only visit from Frank Churchill in the course of ten days. +He was often hoping, intending to come--but was always prevented. His +aunt could not bear to have him leave her. Such was his own account at +Randall's. If he were quite sincere, if he really tried to come, it was +to be inferred that Mrs. Churchill's removal to London had been of no +service to the wilful or nervous part of her disorder. That she was +really ill was very certain; he had declared himself convinced of it, at +Randalls. Though much might be fancy, he could not doubt, when he looked +back, that she was in a weaker state of health than she had been half a +year ago. He did not believe it to proceed from any thing that care +and medicine might not remove, or at least that she might not have many +years of existence before her; but he could not be prevailed on, by all +his father's doubts, to say that her complaints were merely imaginary, +or that she was as strong as ever. + +It soon appeared that London was not the place for her. She could +not endure its noise. Her nerves were under continual irritation and +suffering; and by the ten days' end, her nephew's letter to Randalls +communicated a change of plan. They were going to remove immediately to +Richmond. Mrs. Churchill had been recommended to the medical skill of +an eminent person there, and had otherwise a fancy for the place. A +ready-furnished house in a favourite spot was engaged, and much benefit +expected from the change. + +Emma heard that Frank wrote in the highest spirits of this arrangement, +and seemed most fully to appreciate the blessing of having two months +before him of such near neighbourhood to many dear friends--for the +house was taken for May and June. She was told that now he wrote with +the greatest confidence of being often with them, almost as often as he +could even wish. + +Emma saw how Mr. Weston understood these joyous prospects. He was +considering her as the source of all the happiness they offered. She +hoped it was not so. Two months must bring it to the proof. + +Mr. Weston's own happiness was indisputable. He was quite delighted. +It was the very circumstance he could have wished for. Now, it would be +really having Frank in their neighbourhood. What were nine miles to +a young man?--An hour's ride. He would be always coming over. The +difference in that respect of Richmond and London was enough to make +the whole difference of seeing him always and seeing him never. Sixteen +miles--nay, eighteen--it must be full eighteen to Manchester-street--was +a serious obstacle. Were he ever able to get away, the day would be +spent in coming and returning. There was no comfort in having him in +London; he might as well be at Enscombe; but Richmond was the very +distance for easy intercourse. Better than nearer! + +One good thing was immediately brought to a certainty by this +removal,--the ball at the Crown. It had not been forgotten before, +but it had been soon acknowledged vain to attempt to fix a day. Now, +however, it was absolutely to be; every preparation was resumed, and +very soon after the Churchills had removed to Richmond, a few lines from +Frank, to say that his aunt felt already much better for the change, and +that he had no doubt of being able to join them for twenty-four hours at +any given time, induced them to name as early a day as possible. + +Mr. Weston's ball was to be a real thing. A very few to-morrows stood +between the young people of Highbury and happiness. + +Mr. Woodhouse was resigned. The time of year lightened the evil to him. +May was better for every thing than February. Mrs. Bates was engaged to +spend the evening at Hartfield, James had due notice, and he sanguinely +hoped that neither dear little Henry nor dear little John would have any +thing the matter with them, while dear Emma were gone. + + + +CHAPTER II + + +No misfortune occurred, again to prevent the ball. The day approached, +the day arrived; and after a morning of some anxious watching, Frank +Churchill, in all the certainty of his own self, reached Randalls before +dinner, and every thing was safe. + +No second meeting had there yet been between him and Emma. The room +at the Crown was to witness it;--but it would be better than a +common meeting in a crowd. Mr. Weston had been so very earnest in his +entreaties for her arriving there as soon as possible after themselves, +for the purpose of taking her opinion as to the propriety and comfort of +the rooms before any other persons came, that she could not refuse him, +and must therefore spend some quiet interval in the young man's company. +She was to convey Harriet, and they drove to the Crown in good time, the +Randalls party just sufficiently before them. + +Frank Churchill seemed to have been on the watch; and though he did not +say much, his eyes declared that he meant to have a delightful evening. +They all walked about together, to see that every thing was as it should +be; and within a few minutes were joined by the contents of another +carriage, which Emma could not hear the sound of at first, without great +surprize. "So unreasonably early!" she was going to exclaim; but she +presently found that it was a family of old friends, who were coming, +like herself, by particular desire, to help Mr. Weston's judgment; and +they were so very closely followed by another carriage of cousins, +who had been entreated to come early with the same distinguishing +earnestness, on the same errand, that it seemed as if half the company +might soon be collected together for the purpose of preparatory +inspection. + +Emma perceived that her taste was not the only taste on which Mr. Weston +depended, and felt, that to be the favourite and intimate of a man +who had so many intimates and confidantes, was not the very first +distinction in the scale of vanity. She liked his open manners, but +a little less of open-heartedness would have made him a higher +character.--General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a +man what he ought to be.--She could fancy such a man. The whole party +walked about, and looked, and praised again; and then, having nothing +else to do, formed a sort of half-circle round the fire, to observe +in their various modes, till other subjects were started, that, though +_May_, a fire in the evening was still very pleasant. + +Emma found that it was not Mr. Weston's fault that the number of privy +councillors was not yet larger. They had stopped at Mrs. Bates's door +to offer the use of their carriage, but the aunt and niece were to be +brought by the Eltons. + +Frank was standing by her, but not steadily; there was a restlessness, +which shewed a mind not at ease. He was looking about, he was going to +the door, he was watching for the sound of other carriages,--impatient +to begin, or afraid of being always near her. + +Mrs. Elton was spoken of. "I think she must be here soon," said he. "I +have a great curiosity to see Mrs. Elton, I have heard so much of her. +It cannot be long, I think, before she comes." + +A carriage was heard. He was on the move immediately; but coming back, +said, + +"I am forgetting that I am not acquainted with her. I have never seen +either Mr. or Mrs. Elton. I have no business to put myself forward." + +Mr. and Mrs. Elton appeared; and all the smiles and the proprieties +passed. + +"But Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax!" said Mr. Weston, looking about. "We +thought you were to bring them." + +The mistake had been slight. The carriage was sent for them now. Emma +longed to know what Frank's first opinion of Mrs. Elton might be; how +he was affected by the studied elegance of her dress, and her smiles of +graciousness. He was immediately qualifying himself to form an opinion, +by giving her very proper attention, after the introduction had passed. + +In a few minutes the carriage returned.--Somebody talked of rain.--"I +will see that there are umbrellas, sir," said Frank to his father: +"Miss Bates must not be forgotten:" and away he went. Mr. Weston was +following; but Mrs. Elton detained him, to gratify him by her opinion +of his son; and so briskly did she begin, that the young man himself, +though by no means moving slowly, could hardly be out of hearing. + +"A very fine young man indeed, Mr. Weston. You know I candidly told you +I should form my own opinion; and I am happy to say that I am extremely +pleased with him.--You may believe me. I never compliment. I think him +a very handsome young man, and his manners are precisely what I like and +approve--so truly the gentleman, without the least conceit or puppyism. +You must know I have a vast dislike to puppies--quite a horror of them. +They were never tolerated at Maple Grove. Neither Mr. Suckling nor +me had ever any patience with them; and we used sometimes to say very +cutting things! Selina, who is mild almost to a fault, bore with them +much better." + +While she talked of his son, Mr. Weston's attention was chained; but +when she got to Maple Grove, he could recollect that there were ladies +just arriving to be attended to, and with happy smiles must hurry away. + +Mrs. Elton turned to Mrs. Weston. "I have no doubt of its being our +carriage with Miss Bates and Jane. Our coachman and horses are so +extremely expeditious!--I believe we drive faster than any body.--What +a pleasure it is to send one's carriage for a friend!--I understand you +were so kind as to offer, but another time it will be quite unnecessary. +You may be very sure I shall always take care of _them_." + +Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax, escorted by the two gentlemen, walked into +the room; and Mrs. Elton seemed to think it as much her duty as Mrs. +Weston's to receive them. Her gestures and movements might be understood +by any one who looked on like Emma; but her words, every body's words, +were soon lost under the incessant flow of Miss Bates, who came in +talking, and had not finished her speech under many minutes after her +being admitted into the circle at the fire. As the door opened she was +heard, + +"So very obliging of you!--No rain at all. Nothing to signify. I do not +care for myself. Quite thick shoes. And Jane declares--Well!--(as soon +as she was within the door) Well! This is brilliant indeed!--This is +admirable!--Excellently contrived, upon my word. Nothing wanting. Could +not have imagined it.--So well lighted up!--Jane, Jane, look!--did you +ever see any thing? Oh! Mr. Weston, you must really have had Aladdin's +lamp. Good Mrs. Stokes would not know her own room again. I saw her as +I came in; she was standing in the entrance. 'Oh! Mrs. Stokes,' said +I--but I had not time for more." She was now met by Mrs. Weston.--"Very +well, I thank you, ma'am. I hope you are quite well. Very happy to hear +it. So afraid you might have a headache!--seeing you pass by so often, +and knowing how much trouble you must have. Delighted to hear it indeed. +Ah! dear Mrs. Elton, so obliged to you for the carriage!--excellent +time. Jane and I quite ready. Did not keep the horses a moment. Most +comfortable carriage.--Oh! and I am sure our thanks are due to you, +Mrs. Weston, on that score. Mrs. Elton had most kindly sent Jane a note, +or we should have been.--But two such offers in one day!--Never were +such neighbours. I said to my mother, 'Upon my word, ma'am--.' Thank +you, my mother is remarkably well. Gone to Mr. Woodhouse's. I made her +take her shawl--for the evenings are not warm--her large new shawl-- +Mrs. Dixon's wedding-present.--So kind of her to think of my mother! +Bought at Weymouth, you know--Mr. Dixon's choice. There were three +others, Jane says, which they hesitated about some time. Colonel +Campbell rather preferred an olive. My dear Jane, are you sure you did +not wet your feet?--It was but a drop or two, but I am so afraid:--but +Mr. Frank Churchill was so extremely--and there was a mat to step +upon--I shall never forget his extreme politeness.--Oh! Mr. Frank +Churchill, I must tell you my mother's spectacles have never been in +fault since; the rivet never came out again. My mother often talks of +your good-nature. Does not she, Jane?--Do not we often talk of Mr. Frank +Churchill?--Ah! here's Miss Woodhouse.--Dear Miss Woodhouse, how do +you do?--Very well I thank you, quite well. This is meeting quite +in fairy-land!--Such a transformation!--Must not compliment, I know +(eyeing Emma most complacently)--that would be rude--but upon my word, +Miss Woodhouse, you do look--how do you like Jane's hair?--You are +a judge.--She did it all herself. Quite wonderful how she does her +hair!--No hairdresser from London I think could.--Ah! Dr. Hughes I +declare--and Mrs. Hughes. Must go and speak to Dr. and Mrs. Hughes for a +moment.--How do you do? How do you do?--Very well, I thank you. This +is delightful, is not it?--Where's dear Mr. Richard?--Oh! there he is. +Don't disturb him. Much better employed talking to the young ladies. How +do you do, Mr. Richard?--I saw you the other day as you rode through +the town--Mrs. Otway, I protest!--and good Mr. Otway, and Miss Otway +and Miss Caroline.--Such a host of friends!--and Mr. George and Mr. +Arthur!--How do you do? How do you all do?--Quite well, I am much +obliged to you. Never better.--Don't I hear another carriage?--Who can +this be?--very likely the worthy Coles.--Upon my word, this is charming +to be standing about among such friends! And such a noble fire!--I am +quite roasted. No coffee, I thank you, for me--never take coffee.--A +little tea if you please, sir, by and bye,--no hurry--Oh! here it comes. +Every thing so good!" + +Frank Churchill returned to his station by Emma; and as soon as Miss +Bates was quiet, she found herself necessarily overhearing the discourse +of Mrs. Elton and Miss Fairfax, who were standing a little way behind +her.--He was thoughtful. Whether he were overhearing too, she could not +determine. After a good many compliments to Jane on her dress and look, +compliments very quietly and properly taken, Mrs. Elton was evidently +wanting to be complimented herself--and it was, "How do you like +my gown?--How do you like my trimming?--How has Wright done my +hair?"--with many other relative questions, all answered with patient +politeness. Mrs. Elton then said, "Nobody can think less of dress in +general than I do--but upon such an occasion as this, when every body's +eyes are so much upon me, and in compliment to the Westons--who I have +no doubt are giving this ball chiefly to do me honour--I would not wish +to be inferior to others. And I see very few pearls in the room except +mine.--So Frank Churchill is a capital dancer, I understand.--We shall +see if our styles suit.--A fine young man certainly is Frank Churchill. +I like him very well." + +At this moment Frank began talking so vigorously, that Emma could not +but imagine he had overheard his own praises, and did not want to hear +more;--and the voices of the ladies were drowned for a while, till +another suspension brought Mrs. Elton's tones again distinctly +forward.--Mr. Elton had just joined them, and his wife was exclaiming, + +"Oh! you have found us out at last, have you, in our seclusion?--I was +this moment telling Jane, I thought you would begin to be impatient for +tidings of us." + +"Jane!"--repeated Frank Churchill, with a look of surprize and +displeasure.--"That is easy--but Miss Fairfax does not disapprove it, I +suppose." + +"How do you like Mrs. Elton?" said Emma in a whisper. + +"Not at all." + +"You are ungrateful." + +"Ungrateful!--What do you mean?" Then changing from a frown to a +smile--"No, do not tell me--I do not want to know what you mean.--Where +is my father?--When are we to begin dancing?" + +Emma could hardly understand him; he seemed in an odd humour. He walked +off to find his father, but was quickly back again with both Mr. and +Mrs. Weston. He had met with them in a little perplexity, which must be +laid before Emma. It had just occurred to Mrs. Weston that Mrs. Elton +must be asked to begin the ball; that she would expect it; which +interfered with all their wishes of giving Emma that distinction.--Emma +heard the sad truth with fortitude. + +"And what are we to do for a proper partner for her?" said Mr. Weston. +"She will think Frank ought to ask her." + +Frank turned instantly to Emma, to claim her former promise; and +boasted himself an engaged man, which his father looked his most perfect +approbation of--and it then appeared that Mrs. Weston was wanting _him_ +to dance with Mrs. Elton himself, and that their business was to help to +persuade him into it, which was done pretty soon.--Mr. Weston and Mrs. +Elton led the way, Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse followed. +Emma must submit to stand second to Mrs. Elton, though she had always +considered the ball as peculiarly for her. It was almost enough to make +her think of marrying. Mrs. Elton had undoubtedly the advantage, at this +time, in vanity completely gratified; for though she had intended to +begin with Frank Churchill, she could not lose by the change. Mr. Weston +might be his son's superior.--In spite of this little rub, however, +Emma was smiling with enjoyment, delighted to see the respectable length +of the set as it was forming, and to feel that she had so many hours +of unusual festivity before her.--She was more disturbed by Mr. +Knightley's not dancing than by any thing else.--There he was, among +the standers-by, where he ought not to be; he ought to be dancing,--not +classing himself with the husbands, and fathers, and whist-players, who +were pretending to feel an interest in the dance till their rubbers were +made up,--so young as he looked!--He could not have appeared to greater +advantage perhaps anywhere, than where he had placed himself. His tall, +firm, upright figure, among the bulky forms and stooping shoulders of +the elderly men, was such as Emma felt must draw every body's eyes; +and, excepting her own partner, there was not one among the whole row of +young men who could be compared with him.--He moved a few steps nearer, +and those few steps were enough to prove in how gentlemanlike a manner, +with what natural grace, he must have danced, would he but take the +trouble.--Whenever she caught his eye, she forced him to smile; but +in general he was looking grave. She wished he could love a ballroom +better, and could like Frank Churchill better.--He seemed often +observing her. She must not flatter herself that he thought of her +dancing, but if he were criticising her behaviour, she did not feel +afraid. There was nothing like flirtation between her and her partner. +They seemed more like cheerful, easy friends, than lovers. That Frank +Churchill thought less of her than he had done, was indubitable. + +The ball proceeded pleasantly. The anxious cares, the incessant +attentions of Mrs. Weston, were not thrown away. Every body seemed +happy; and the praise of being a delightful ball, which is seldom +bestowed till after a ball has ceased to be, was repeatedly given in +the very beginning of the existence of this. Of very important, very +recordable events, it was not more productive than such meetings usually +are. There was one, however, which Emma thought something of.--The two +last dances before supper were begun, and Harriet had no partner;--the +only young lady sitting down;--and so equal had been hitherto the +number of dancers, that how there could be any one disengaged was the +wonder!--But Emma's wonder lessened soon afterwards, on seeing Mr. Elton +sauntering about. He would not ask Harriet to dance if it were possible +to be avoided: she was sure he would not--and she was expecting him +every moment to escape into the card-room. + +Escape, however, was not his plan. He came to the part of the room where +the sitters-by were collected, spoke to some, and walked about in front +of them, as if to shew his liberty, and his resolution of maintaining +it. He did not omit being sometimes directly before Miss Smith, or +speaking to those who were close to her.--Emma saw it. She was not yet +dancing; she was working her way up from the bottom, and had therefore +leisure to look around, and by only turning her head a little she saw +it all. When she was half-way up the set, the whole group were exactly +behind her, and she would no longer allow her eyes to watch; but Mr. +Elton was so near, that she heard every syllable of a dialogue which +just then took place between him and Mrs. Weston; and she perceived that +his wife, who was standing immediately above her, was not only +listening also, but even encouraging him by significant glances.--The +kind-hearted, gentle Mrs. Weston had left her seat to join him and say, +"Do not you dance, Mr. Elton?" to which his prompt reply was, "Most +readily, Mrs. Weston, if you will dance with me." + +"Me!--oh! no--I would get you a better partner than myself. I am no +dancer." + +"If Mrs. Gilbert wishes to dance," said he, "I shall have great +pleasure, I am sure--for, though beginning to feel myself rather an old +married man, and that my dancing days are over, it would give me very +great pleasure at any time to stand up with an old friend like Mrs. +Gilbert." + +"Mrs. Gilbert does not mean to dance, but there is a young lady +disengaged whom I should be very glad to see dancing--Miss Smith." "Miss +Smith!--oh!--I had not observed.--You are extremely obliging--and if I +were not an old married man.--But my dancing days are over, Mrs. Weston. +You will excuse me. Any thing else I should be most happy to do, at your +command--but my dancing days are over." + +Mrs. Weston said no more; and Emma could imagine with what surprize and +mortification she must be returning to her seat. This was Mr. Elton! the +amiable, obliging, gentle Mr. Elton.--She looked round for a moment; he +had joined Mr. Knightley at a little distance, and was arranging himself +for settled conversation, while smiles of high glee passed between him +and his wife. + +She would not look again. Her heart was in a glow, and she feared her +face might be as hot. + +In another moment a happier sight caught her;--Mr. Knightley leading +Harriet to the set!--Never had she been more surprized, seldom more +delighted, than at that instant. She was all pleasure and gratitude, +both for Harriet and herself, and longed to be thanking him; and though +too distant for speech, her countenance said much, as soon as she could +catch his eye again. + +His dancing proved to be just what she had believed it, extremely good; +and Harriet would have seemed almost too lucky, if it had not been for +the cruel state of things before, and for the very complete enjoyment +and very high sense of the distinction which her happy features +announced. It was not thrown away on her, she bounded higher than ever, +flew farther down the middle, and was in a continual course of smiles. + +Mr. Elton had retreated into the card-room, looking (Emma trusted) very +foolish. She did not think he was quite so hardened as his wife, though +growing very like her;--_she_ spoke some of her feelings, by observing +audibly to her partner, + +"Knightley has taken pity on poor little Miss Smith!--Very good-natured, +I declare." + +Supper was announced. The move began; and Miss Bates might be heard from +that moment, without interruption, till her being seated at table and +taking up her spoon. + +"Jane, Jane, my dear Jane, where are you?--Here is your tippet. Mrs. +Weston begs you to put on your tippet. She says she is afraid there will +be draughts in the passage, though every thing has been done--One door +nailed up--Quantities of matting--My dear Jane, indeed you must. +Mr. Churchill, oh! you are too obliging! How well you put it on!--so +gratified! Excellent dancing indeed!--Yes, my dear, I ran home, as I +said I should, to help grandmama to bed, and got back again, and +nobody missed me.--I set off without saying a word, just as I told you. +Grandmama was quite well, had a charming evening with Mr. Woodhouse, a +vast deal of chat, and backgammon.--Tea was made downstairs, biscuits +and baked apples and wine before she came away: amazing luck in some +of her throws: and she inquired a great deal about you, how you were +amused, and who were your partners. 'Oh!' said I, 'I shall not forestall +Jane; I left her dancing with Mr. George Otway; she will love to tell +you all about it herself to-morrow: her first partner was Mr. Elton, +I do not know who will ask her next, perhaps Mr. William Cox.' My dear +sir, you are too obliging.--Is there nobody you would not rather?--I am +not helpless. Sir, you are most kind. Upon my word, Jane on one arm, and +me on the other!--Stop, stop, let us stand a little back, Mrs. Elton is +going; dear Mrs. Elton, how elegant she looks!--Beautiful lace!--Now we +all follow in her train. Quite the queen of the evening!--Well, here we +are at the passage. Two steps, Jane, take care of the two steps. Oh! no, +there is but one. Well, I was persuaded there were two. How very odd! +I was convinced there were two, and there is but one. I never saw any +thing equal to the comfort and style--Candles everywhere.--I was telling +you of your grandmama, Jane,--There was a little disappointment.--The +baked apples and biscuits, excellent in their way, you know; but there +was a delicate fricassee of sweetbread and some asparagus brought in at +first, and good Mr. Woodhouse, not thinking the asparagus quite boiled +enough, sent it all out again. Now there is nothing grandmama loves +better than sweetbread and asparagus--so she was rather disappointed, +but we agreed we would not speak of it to any body, for fear of +its getting round to dear Miss Woodhouse, who would be so very much +concerned!--Well, this is brilliant! I am all amazement! could not have +supposed any thing!--Such elegance and profusion!--I have seen nothing +like it since--Well, where shall we sit? where shall we sit? Anywhere, +so that Jane is not in a draught. Where _I_ sit is of no consequence. +Oh! do you recommend this side?--Well, I am sure, Mr. Churchill--only +it seems too good--but just as you please. What you direct in this house +cannot be wrong. Dear Jane, how shall we ever recollect half the dishes +for grandmama? Soup too! Bless me! I should not be helped so soon, but +it smells most excellent, and I cannot help beginning." + +Emma had no opportunity of speaking to Mr. Knightley till after supper; +but, when they were all in the ballroom again, her eyes invited +him irresistibly to come to her and be thanked. He was warm in his +reprobation of Mr. Elton's conduct; it had been unpardonable rudeness; +and Mrs. Elton's looks also received the due share of censure. + +"They aimed at wounding more than Harriet," said he. "Emma, why is it +that they are your enemies?" + +He looked with smiling penetration; and, on receiving no answer, added, +"_She_ ought not to be angry with you, I suspect, whatever he may +be.--To that surmise, you say nothing, of course; but confess, Emma, +that you did want him to marry Harriet." + +"I did," replied Emma, "and they cannot forgive me." + +He shook his head; but there was a smile of indulgence with it, and he +only said, + +"I shall not scold you. I leave you to your own reflections." + +"Can you trust me with such flatterers?--Does my vain spirit ever tell +me I am wrong?" + +"Not your vain spirit, but your serious spirit.--If one leads you wrong, +I am sure the other tells you of it." + +"I do own myself to have been completely mistaken in Mr. Elton. There is +a littleness about him which you discovered, and which I did not: and I +was fully convinced of his being in love with Harriet. It was through a +series of strange blunders!" + +"And, in return for your acknowledging so much, I will do you the +justice to say, that you would have chosen for him better than he has +chosen for himself.--Harriet Smith has some first-rate qualities, which +Mrs. Elton is totally without. An unpretending, single-minded, artless +girl--infinitely to be preferred by any man of sense and taste to such a +woman as Mrs. Elton. I found Harriet more conversable than I expected." + +Emma was extremely gratified.--They were interrupted by the bustle of +Mr. Weston calling on every body to begin dancing again. + +"Come Miss Woodhouse, Miss Otway, Miss Fairfax, what are you all +doing?--Come Emma, set your companions the example. Every body is lazy! +Every body is asleep!" + +"I am ready," said Emma, "whenever I am wanted." + +"Whom are you going to dance with?" asked Mr. Knightley. + +She hesitated a moment, and then replied, "With you, if you will ask +me." + +"Will you?" said he, offering his hand. + +"Indeed I will. You have shewn that you can dance, and you know we are +not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper." + +"Brother and sister! no, indeed." + + + +CHAPTER III + + +This little explanation with Mr. Knightley gave Emma considerable +pleasure. It was one of the agreeable recollections of the ball, which +she walked about the lawn the next morning to enjoy.--She was extremely +glad that they had come to so good an understanding respecting the +Eltons, and that their opinions of both husband and wife were so much +alike; and his praise of Harriet, his concession in her favour, was +peculiarly gratifying. The impertinence of the Eltons, which for a few +minutes had threatened to ruin the rest of her evening, had been the +occasion of some of its highest satisfactions; and she looked forward +to another happy result--the cure of Harriet's infatuation.--From +Harriet's manner of speaking of the circumstance before they quitted the +ballroom, she had strong hopes. It seemed as if her eyes were suddenly +opened, and she were enabled to see that Mr. Elton was not the superior +creature she had believed him. The fever was over, and Emma could +harbour little fear of the pulse being quickened again by injurious +courtesy. She depended on the evil feelings of the Eltons for +supplying all the discipline of pointed neglect that could be farther +requisite.--Harriet rational, Frank Churchill not too much in love, and +Mr. Knightley not wanting to quarrel with her, how very happy a summer +must be before her! + +She was not to see Frank Churchill this morning. He had told her that he +could not allow himself the pleasure of stopping at Hartfield, as he was +to be at home by the middle of the day. She did not regret it. + +Having arranged all these matters, looked them through, and put them all +to rights, she was just turning to the house with spirits freshened up +for the demands of the two little boys, as well as of their grandpapa, +when the great iron sweep-gate opened, and two persons entered whom she +had never less expected to see together--Frank Churchill, with Harriet +leaning on his arm--actually Harriet!--A moment sufficed to convince +her that something extraordinary had happened. Harriet looked white +and frightened, and he was trying to cheer her.--The iron gates and the +front-door were not twenty yards asunder;--they were all three soon in +the hall, and Harriet immediately sinking into a chair fainted away. + +A young lady who faints, must be recovered; questions must be answered, +and surprizes be explained. Such events are very interesting, but the +suspense of them cannot last long. A few minutes made Emma acquainted +with the whole. + +Miss Smith, and Miss Bickerton, another parlour boarder at Mrs. +Goddard's, who had been also at the ball, had walked out together, and +taken a road, the Richmond road, which, though apparently public enough +for safety, had led them into alarm.--About half a mile beyond Highbury, +making a sudden turn, and deeply shaded by elms on each side, it became +for a considerable stretch very retired; and when the young ladies +had advanced some way into it, they had suddenly perceived at a small +distance before them, on a broader patch of greensward by the side, a +party of gipsies. A child on the watch, came towards them to beg; and +Miss Bickerton, excessively frightened, gave a great scream, and calling +on Harriet to follow her, ran up a steep bank, cleared a slight hedge at +the top, and made the best of her way by a short cut back to Highbury. +But poor Harriet could not follow. She had suffered very much from cramp +after dancing, and her first attempt to mount the bank brought on such +a return of it as made her absolutely powerless--and in this state, and +exceedingly terrified, she had been obliged to remain. + +How the trampers might have behaved, had the young ladies been more +courageous, must be doubtful; but such an invitation for attack could +not be resisted; and Harriet was soon assailed by half a dozen children, +headed by a stout woman and a great boy, all clamorous, and impertinent +in look, though not absolutely in word.--More and more frightened, she +immediately promised them money, and taking out her purse, gave them a +shilling, and begged them not to want more, or to use her ill.--She +was then able to walk, though but slowly, and was moving away--but her +terror and her purse were too tempting, and she was followed, or rather +surrounded, by the whole gang, demanding more. + +In this state Frank Churchill had found her, she trembling and +conditioning, they loud and insolent. By a most fortunate chance his +leaving Highbury had been delayed so as to bring him to her assistance +at this critical moment. The pleasantness of the morning had induced +him to walk forward, and leave his horses to meet him by another road, +a mile or two beyond Highbury--and happening to have borrowed a pair +of scissors the night before of Miss Bates, and to have forgotten to +restore them, he had been obliged to stop at her door, and go in for a +few minutes: he was therefore later than he had intended; and being +on foot, was unseen by the whole party till almost close to them. The +terror which the woman and boy had been creating in Harriet was then +their own portion. He had left them completely frightened; and Harriet +eagerly clinging to him, and hardly able to speak, had just strength +enough to reach Hartfield, before her spirits were quite overcome. +It was his idea to bring her to Hartfield: he had thought of no other +place. + +This was the amount of the whole story,--of his communication and of +Harriet's as soon as she had recovered her senses and speech.--He dared +not stay longer than to see her well; these several delays left him +not another minute to lose; and Emma engaging to give assurance of her +safety to Mrs. Goddard, and notice of there being such a set of people +in the neighbourhood to Mr. Knightley, he set off, with all the grateful +blessings that she could utter for her friend and herself. + +Such an adventure as this,--a fine young man and a lovely young woman +thrown together in such a way, could hardly fail of suggesting certain +ideas to the coldest heart and the steadiest brain. So Emma thought, at +least. Could a linguist, could a grammarian, could even a mathematician +have seen what she did, have witnessed their appearance together, and +heard their history of it, without feeling that circumstances had been +at work to make them peculiarly interesting to each other?--How much +more must an imaginist, like herself, be on fire with speculation and +foresight!--especially with such a groundwork of anticipation as her +mind had already made. + +It was a very extraordinary thing! Nothing of the sort had ever +occurred before to any young ladies in the place, within her memory; no +rencontre, no alarm of the kind;--and now it had happened to the very +person, and at the very hour, when the other very person was chancing +to pass by to rescue her!--It certainly was very extraordinary!--And +knowing, as she did, the favourable state of mind of each at this +period, it struck her the more. He was wishing to get the better of his +attachment to herself, she just recovering from her mania for Mr. Elton. +It seemed as if every thing united to promise the most interesting +consequences. It was not possible that the occurrence should not be +strongly recommending each to the other. + +In the few minutes' conversation which she had yet had with him, while +Harriet had been partially insensible, he had spoken of her terror, +her naivete, her fervour as she seized and clung to his arm, with a +sensibility amused and delighted; and just at last, after Harriet's +own account had been given, he had expressed his indignation at the +abominable folly of Miss Bickerton in the warmest terms. Every thing was +to take its natural course, however, neither impelled nor assisted. +She would not stir a step, nor drop a hint. No, she had had enough of +interference. There could be no harm in a scheme, a mere passive scheme. +It was no more than a wish. Beyond it she would on no account proceed. + +Emma's first resolution was to keep her father from the knowledge of +what had passed,--aware of the anxiety and alarm it would occasion: but +she soon felt that concealment must be impossible. Within half an hour +it was known all over Highbury. It was the very event to engage those +who talk most, the young and the low; and all the youth and servants in +the place were soon in the happiness of frightful news. The last night's +ball seemed lost in the gipsies. Poor Mr. Woodhouse trembled as he sat, +and, as Emma had foreseen, would scarcely be satisfied without their +promising never to go beyond the shrubbery again. It was some comfort +to him that many inquiries after himself and Miss Woodhouse (for his +neighbours knew that he loved to be inquired after), as well as Miss +Smith, were coming in during the rest of the day; and he had +the pleasure of returning for answer, that they were all very +indifferent--which, though not exactly true, for she was perfectly well, +and Harriet not much otherwise, Emma would not interfere with. She had +an unhappy state of health in general for the child of such a man, +for she hardly knew what indisposition was; and if he did not invent +illnesses for her, she could make no figure in a message. + +The gipsies did not wait for the operations of justice; they took +themselves off in a hurry. The young ladies of Highbury might have +walked again in safety before their panic began, and the whole history +dwindled soon into a matter of little importance but to Emma and her +nephews:--in her imagination it maintained its ground, and Henry and +John were still asking every day for the story of Harriet and the +gipsies, and still tenaciously setting her right if she varied in the +slightest particular from the original recital. + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +A very few days had passed after this adventure, when Harriet came one +morning to Emma with a small parcel in her hand, and after sitting down +and hesitating, thus began: + +"Miss Woodhouse--if you are at leisure--I have something that I should +like to tell you--a sort of confession to make--and then, you know, it +will be over." + +Emma was a good deal surprized; but begged her to speak. There was a +seriousness in Harriet's manner which prepared her, quite as much as her +words, for something more than ordinary. + +"It is my duty, and I am sure it is my wish," she continued, "to have +no reserves with you on this subject. As I am happily quite an altered +creature in _one_ _respect_, it is very fit that you should have +the satisfaction of knowing it. I do not want to say more than is +necessary--I am too much ashamed of having given way as I have done, and +I dare say you understand me." + +"Yes," said Emma, "I hope I do." + +"How I could so long a time be fancying myself!..." cried Harriet, +warmly. "It seems like madness! I can see nothing at all extraordinary +in him now.--I do not care whether I meet him or not--except that of the +two I had rather not see him--and indeed I would go any distance round +to avoid him--but I do not envy his wife in the least; I neither admire +her nor envy her, as I have done: she is very charming, I dare say, and +all that, but I think her very ill-tempered and disagreeable--I shall +never forget her look the other night!--However, I assure you, Miss +Woodhouse, I wish her no evil.--No, let them be ever so happy together, +it will not give me another moment's pang: and to convince you that I +have been speaking truth, I am now going to destroy--what I ought to +have destroyed long ago--what I ought never to have kept--I know that +very well (blushing as she spoke).--However, now I will destroy it +all--and it is my particular wish to do it in your presence, that you +may see how rational I am grown. Cannot you guess what this parcel +holds?" said she, with a conscious look. + +"Not the least in the world.--Did he ever give you any thing?" + +"No--I cannot call them gifts; but they are things that I have valued +very much." + +She held the parcel towards her, and Emma read the words _Most_ +_precious_ _treasures_ on the top. Her curiosity was greatly excited. +Harriet unfolded the parcel, and she looked on with impatience. Within +abundance of silver paper was a pretty little Tunbridge-ware box, +which Harriet opened: it was well lined with the softest cotton; but, +excepting the cotton, Emma saw only a small piece of court-plaister. + +"Now," said Harriet, "you _must_ recollect." + +"No, indeed I do not." + +"Dear me! I should not have thought it possible you could forget what +passed in this very room about court-plaister, one of the very last +times we ever met in it!--It was but a very few days before I had my +sore throat--just before Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley came--I think the +very evening.--Do not you remember his cutting his finger with your new +penknife, and your recommending court-plaister?--But, as you had none +about you, and knew I had, you desired me to supply him; and so I took +mine out and cut him a piece; but it was a great deal too large, and he +cut it smaller, and kept playing some time with what was left, before he +gave it back to me. And so then, in my nonsense, I could not help making +a treasure of it--so I put it by never to be used, and looked at it now +and then as a great treat." + +"My dearest Harriet!" cried Emma, putting her hand before her face, +and jumping up, "you make me more ashamed of myself than I can bear. +Remember it? Aye, I remember it all now; all, except your saving this +relic--I knew nothing of that till this moment--but the cutting the +finger, and my recommending court-plaister, and saying I had none +about me!--Oh! my sins, my sins!--And I had plenty all the while in my +pocket!--One of my senseless tricks!--I deserve to be under a continual +blush all the rest of my life.--Well--(sitting down again)--go on--what +else?" + +"And had you really some at hand yourself? I am sure I never suspected +it, you did it so naturally." + +"And so you actually put this piece of court-plaister by for his sake!" +said Emma, recovering from her state of shame and feeling divided +between wonder and amusement. And secretly she added to herself, "Lord +bless me! when should I ever have thought of putting by in cotton a +piece of court-plaister that Frank Churchill had been pulling about! I +never was equal to this." + +"Here," resumed Harriet, turning to her box again, "here is something +still more valuable, I mean that _has_ _been_ more valuable, because +this is what did really once belong to him, which the court-plaister +never did." + +Emma was quite eager to see this superior treasure. It was the end of an +old pencil,--the part without any lead. + +"This was really his," said Harriet.--"Do not you remember one +morning?--no, I dare say you do not. But one morning--I forget exactly +the day--but perhaps it was the Tuesday or Wednesday before _that_ +_evening_, he wanted to make a memorandum in his pocket-book; it was +about spruce-beer. Mr. Knightley had been telling him something about +brewing spruce-beer, and he wanted to put it down; but when he took out +his pencil, there was so little lead that he soon cut it all away, and +it would not do, so you lent him another, and this was left upon the +table as good for nothing. But I kept my eye on it; and, as soon as I +dared, caught it up, and never parted with it again from that moment." + +"I do remember it," cried Emma; "I perfectly remember it.--Talking +about spruce-beer.--Oh! yes--Mr. Knightley and I both saying we +liked it, and Mr. Elton's seeming resolved to learn to like it too. I +perfectly remember it.--Stop; Mr. Knightley was standing just here, was +not he? I have an idea he was standing just here." + +"Ah! I do not know. I cannot recollect.--It is very odd, but I cannot +recollect.--Mr. Elton was sitting here, I remember, much about where I +am now."-- + +"Well, go on." + +"Oh! that's all. I have nothing more to shew you, or to say--except that +I am now going to throw them both behind the fire, and I wish you to see +me do it." + +"My poor dear Harriet! and have you actually found happiness in +treasuring up these things?" + +"Yes, simpleton as I was!--but I am quite ashamed of it now, and wish I +could forget as easily as I can burn them. It was very wrong of me, you +know, to keep any remembrances, after he was married. I knew it was--but +had not resolution enough to part with them." + +"But, Harriet, is it necessary to burn the court-plaister?--I have not +a word to say for the bit of old pencil, but the court-plaister might be +useful." + +"I shall be happier to burn it," replied Harriet. "It has a disagreeable +look to me. I must get rid of every thing.--There it goes, and there is +an end, thank Heaven! of Mr. Elton." + +"And when," thought Emma, "will there be a beginning of Mr. Churchill?" + +She had soon afterwards reason to believe that the beginning was already +made, and could not but hope that the gipsy, though she had _told_ no +fortune, might be proved to have made Harriet's.--About a fortnight +after the alarm, they came to a sufficient explanation, and quite +undesignedly. Emma was not thinking of it at the moment, which made the +information she received more valuable. She merely said, in the course +of some trivial chat, "Well, Harriet, whenever you marry I would advise +you to do so and so"--and thought no more of it, till after a minute's +silence she heard Harriet say in a very serious tone, "I shall never +marry." + +Emma then looked up, and immediately saw how it was; and after a +moment's debate, as to whether it should pass unnoticed or not, replied, + +"Never marry!--This is a new resolution." + +"It is one that I shall never change, however." + +After another short hesitation, "I hope it does not proceed from--I hope +it is not in compliment to Mr. Elton?" + +"Mr. Elton indeed!" cried Harriet indignantly.--"Oh! no"--and Emma could +just catch the words, "so superior to Mr. Elton!" + +She then took a longer time for consideration. Should she proceed no +farther?--should she let it pass, and seem to suspect nothing?--Perhaps +Harriet might think her cold or angry if she did; or perhaps if she were +totally silent, it might only drive Harriet into asking her to hear too +much; and against any thing like such an unreserve as had been, such +an open and frequent discussion of hopes and chances, she was perfectly +resolved.--She believed it would be wiser for her to say and know at +once, all that she meant to say and know. Plain dealing was always +best. She had previously determined how far she would proceed, on any +application of the sort; and it would be safer for both, to have the +judicious law of her own brain laid down with speed.--She was decided, +and thus spoke-- + +"Harriet, I will not affect to be in doubt of your meaning. Your +resolution, or rather your expectation of never marrying, results from +an idea that the person whom you might prefer, would be too greatly your +superior in situation to think of you. Is not it so?" + +"Oh! Miss Woodhouse, believe me I have not the presumption to suppose-- +Indeed I am not so mad.--But it is a pleasure to me to admire him at a +distance--and to think of his infinite superiority to all the rest of +the world, with the gratitude, wonder, and veneration, which are so +proper, in me especially." + +"I am not at all surprized at you, Harriet. The service he rendered you +was enough to warm your heart." + +"Service! oh! it was such an inexpressible obligation!--The very +recollection of it, and all that I felt at the time--when I saw him +coming--his noble look--and my wretchedness before. Such a change! In +one moment such a change! From perfect misery to perfect happiness!" + +"It is very natural. It is natural, and it is honourable.--Yes, +honourable, I think, to chuse so well and so gratefully.--But that +it will be a fortunate preference is more that I can promise. I do not +advise you to give way to it, Harriet. I do not by any means engage +for its being returned. Consider what you are about. Perhaps it will be +wisest in you to check your feelings while you can: at any rate do not +let them carry you far, unless you are persuaded of his liking you. Be +observant of him. Let his behaviour be the guide of your sensations. I +give you this caution now, because I shall never speak to you again on +the subject. I am determined against all interference. Henceforward I +know nothing of the matter. Let no name ever pass our lips. We were very +wrong before; we will be cautious now.--He is your superior, no doubt, +and there do seem objections and obstacles of a very serious nature; but +yet, Harriet, more wonderful things have taken place, there have been +matches of greater disparity. But take care of yourself. I would not +have you too sanguine; though, however it may end, be assured your +raising your thoughts to _him_, is a mark of good taste which I shall +always know how to value." + +Harriet kissed her hand in silent and submissive gratitude. Emma was +very decided in thinking such an attachment no bad thing for her friend. +Its tendency would be to raise and refine her mind--and it must be +saving her from the danger of degradation. + + + +CHAPTER V + + +In this state of schemes, and hopes, and connivance, June opened upon +Hartfield. To Highbury in general it brought no material change. The +Eltons were still talking of a visit from the Sucklings, and of the use +to be made of their barouche-landau; and Jane Fairfax was still at her +grandmother's; and as the return of the Campbells from Ireland was again +delayed, and August, instead of Midsummer, fixed for it, she was likely +to remain there full two months longer, provided at least she were able +to defeat Mrs. Elton's activity in her service, and save herself from +being hurried into a delightful situation against her will. + +Mr. Knightley, who, for some reason best known to himself, had certainly +taken an early dislike to Frank Churchill, was only growing to dislike +him more. He began to suspect him of some double dealing in his pursuit +of Emma. That Emma was his object appeared indisputable. Every thing +declared it; his own attentions, his father's hints, his mother-in-law's +guarded silence; it was all in unison; words, conduct, discretion, and +indiscretion, told the same story. But while so many were devoting him +to Emma, and Emma herself making him over to Harriet, Mr. Knightley +began to suspect him of some inclination to trifle with Jane Fairfax. He +could not understand it; but there were symptoms of intelligence between +them--he thought so at least--symptoms of admiration on his side, which, +having once observed, he could not persuade himself to think entirely +void of meaning, however he might wish to escape any of Emma's errors +of imagination. _She_ was not present when the suspicion first arose. +He was dining with the Randalls family, and Jane, at the Eltons'; and he +had seen a look, more than a single look, at Miss Fairfax, which, from +the admirer of Miss Woodhouse, seemed somewhat out of place. When he was +again in their company, he could not help remembering what he had seen; +nor could he avoid observations which, unless it were like Cowper and +his fire at twilight, + +"Myself creating what I saw," + +brought him yet stronger suspicion of there being a something of private +liking, of private understanding even, between Frank Churchill and Jane. + +He had walked up one day after dinner, as he very often did, to spend +his evening at Hartfield. Emma and Harriet were going to walk; he joined +them; and, on returning, they fell in with a larger party, who, like +themselves, judged it wisest to take their exercise early, as the +weather threatened rain; Mr. and Mrs. Weston and their son, Miss Bates +and her niece, who had accidentally met. They all united; and, on +reaching Hartfield gates, Emma, who knew it was exactly the sort of +visiting that would be welcome to her father, pressed them all to go in +and drink tea with him. The Randalls party agreed to it immediately; and +after a pretty long speech from Miss Bates, which few persons listened +to, she also found it possible to accept dear Miss Woodhouse's most +obliging invitation. + +As they were turning into the grounds, Mr. Perry passed by on horseback. +The gentlemen spoke of his horse. + +"By the bye," said Frank Churchill to Mrs. Weston presently, "what +became of Mr. Perry's plan of setting up his carriage?" + +Mrs. Weston looked surprized, and said, "I did not know that he ever had +any such plan." + +"Nay, I had it from you. You wrote me word of it three months ago." + +"Me! impossible!" + +"Indeed you did. I remember it perfectly. You mentioned it as what +was certainly to be very soon. Mrs. Perry had told somebody, and was +extremely happy about it. It was owing to _her_ persuasion, as she +thought his being out in bad weather did him a great deal of harm. You +must remember it now?" + +"Upon my word I never heard of it till this moment." + +"Never! really, never!--Bless me! how could it be?--Then I must have +dreamt it--but I was completely persuaded--Miss Smith, you walk as if +you were tired. You will not be sorry to find yourself at home." + +"What is this?--What is this?" cried Mr. Weston, "about Perry and a +carriage? Is Perry going to set up his carriage, Frank? I am glad he can +afford it. You had it from himself, had you?" + +"No, sir," replied his son, laughing, "I seem to have had it from +nobody.--Very odd!--I really was persuaded of Mrs. Weston's having +mentioned it in one of her letters to Enscombe, many weeks ago, with all +these particulars--but as she declares she never heard a syllable of +it before, of course it must have been a dream. I am a great dreamer. +I dream of every body at Highbury when I am away--and when I have gone +through my particular friends, then I begin dreaming of Mr. and Mrs. +Perry." + +"It is odd though," observed his father, "that you should have had such +a regular connected dream about people whom it was not very likely you +should be thinking of at Enscombe. Perry's setting up his carriage! and +his wife's persuading him to it, out of care for his health--just +what will happen, I have no doubt, some time or other; only a little +premature. What an air of probability sometimes runs through a dream! +And at others, what a heap of absurdities it is! Well, Frank, your dream +certainly shews that Highbury is in your thoughts when you are absent. +Emma, you are a great dreamer, I think?" + +Emma was out of hearing. She had hurried on before her guests to +prepare her father for their appearance, and was beyond the reach of Mr. +Weston's hint. + +"Why, to own the truth," cried Miss Bates, who had been trying in vain +to be heard the last two minutes, "if I must speak on this subject, +there is no denying that Mr. Frank Churchill might have--I do not mean +to say that he did not dream it--I am sure I have sometimes the oddest +dreams in the world--but if I am questioned about it, I must acknowledge +that there was such an idea last spring; for Mrs. Perry herself +mentioned it to my mother, and the Coles knew of it as well as +ourselves--but it was quite a secret, known to nobody else, and only +thought of about three days. Mrs. Perry was very anxious that he should +have a carriage, and came to my mother in great spirits one morning +because she thought she had prevailed. Jane, don't you remember +grandmama's telling us of it when we got home? I forget where we +had been walking to--very likely to Randalls; yes, I think it was to +Randalls. Mrs. Perry was always particularly fond of my mother--indeed +I do not know who is not--and she had mentioned it to her in confidence; +she had no objection to her telling us, of course, but it was not to go +beyond: and, from that day to this, I never mentioned it to a soul that +I know of. At the same time, I will not positively answer for my having +never dropt a hint, because I know I do sometimes pop out a thing before +I am aware. I am a talker, you know; I am rather a talker; and now and +then I have let a thing escape me which I should not. I am not like +Jane; I wish I were. I will answer for it _she_ never betrayed the least +thing in the world. Where is she?--Oh! just behind. Perfectly remember +Mrs. Perry's coming.--Extraordinary dream, indeed!" + +They were entering the hall. Mr. Knightley's eyes had preceded Miss +Bates's in a glance at Jane. From Frank Churchill's face, where +he thought he saw confusion suppressed or laughed away, he had +involuntarily turned to hers; but she was indeed behind, and too busy +with her shawl. Mr. Weston had walked in. The two other gentlemen waited +at the door to let her pass. Mr. Knightley suspected in Frank +Churchill the determination of catching her eye--he seemed watching her +intently--in vain, however, if it were so--Jane passed between them +into the hall, and looked at neither. + +There was no time for farther remark or explanation. The dream must be +borne with, and Mr. Knightley must take his seat with the rest round the +large modern circular table which Emma had introduced at Hartfield, and +which none but Emma could have had power to place there and persuade her +father to use, instead of the small-sized Pembroke, on which two of his +daily meals had, for forty years been crowded. Tea passed pleasantly, +and nobody seemed in a hurry to move. + +"Miss Woodhouse," said Frank Churchill, after examining a table behind +him, which he could reach as he sat, "have your nephews taken away their +alphabets--their box of letters? It used to stand here. Where is it? +This is a sort of dull-looking evening, that ought to be treated rather +as winter than summer. We had great amusement with those letters one +morning. I want to puzzle you again." + +Emma was pleased with the thought; and producing the box, the table +was quickly scattered over with alphabets, which no one seemed so much +disposed to employ as their two selves. They were rapidly forming words +for each other, or for any body else who would be puzzled. The quietness +of the game made it particularly eligible for Mr. Woodhouse, who had +often been distressed by the more animated sort, which Mr. Weston had +occasionally introduced, and who now sat happily occupied in lamenting, +with tender melancholy, over the departure of the "poor little boys," +or in fondly pointing out, as he took up any stray letter near him, how +beautifully Emma had written it. + +Frank Churchill placed a word before Miss Fairfax. She gave a slight +glance round the table, and applied herself to it. Frank was next to +Emma, Jane opposite to them--and Mr. Knightley so placed as to see them +all; and it was his object to see as much as he could, with as little +apparent observation. The word was discovered, and with a faint smile +pushed away. If meant to be immediately mixed with the others, and +buried from sight, she should have looked on the table instead of +looking just across, for it was not mixed; and Harriet, eager after +every fresh word, and finding out none, directly took it up, and fell to +work. She was sitting by Mr. Knightley, and turned to him for help. The +word was _blunder_; and as Harriet exultingly proclaimed it, there was a +blush on Jane's cheek which gave it a meaning not otherwise ostensible. +Mr. Knightley connected it with the dream; but how it could all be, +was beyond his comprehension. How the delicacy, the discretion of his +favourite could have been so lain asleep! He feared there must be some +decided involvement. Disingenuousness and double dealing seemed to meet +him at every turn. These letters were but the vehicle for gallantry and +trick. It was a child's play, chosen to conceal a deeper game on Frank +Churchill's part. + +With great indignation did he continue to observe him; with great alarm +and distrust, to observe also his two blinded companions. He saw a short +word prepared for Emma, and given to her with a look sly and demure. He +saw that Emma had soon made it out, and found it highly entertaining, +though it was something which she judged it proper to appear to censure; +for she said, "Nonsense! for shame!" He heard Frank Churchill next say, +with a glance towards Jane, "I will give it to her--shall I?"--and as +clearly heard Emma opposing it with eager laughing warmth. "No, no, you +must not; you shall not, indeed." + +It was done however. This gallant young man, who seemed to love without +feeling, and to recommend himself without complaisance, directly handed +over the word to Miss Fairfax, and with a particular degree of sedate +civility entreated her to study it. Mr. Knightley's excessive curiosity +to know what this word might be, made him seize every possible moment +for darting his eye towards it, and it was not long before he saw it +to be _Dixon_. Jane Fairfax's perception seemed to accompany his; +her comprehension was certainly more equal to the covert meaning, +the superior intelligence, of those five letters so arranged. She was +evidently displeased; looked up, and seeing herself watched, blushed +more deeply than he had ever perceived her, and saying only, "I did not +know that proper names were allowed," pushed away the letters with even +an angry spirit, and looked resolved to be engaged by no other word +that could be offered. Her face was averted from those who had made the +attack, and turned towards her aunt. + +"Aye, very true, my dear," cried the latter, though Jane had not spoken +a word--"I was just going to say the same thing. It is time for us to be +going indeed. The evening is closing in, and grandmama will be looking +for us. My dear sir, you are too obliging. We really must wish you good +night." + +Jane's alertness in moving, proved her as ready as her aunt had +preconceived. She was immediately up, and wanting to quit the table; but +so many were also moving, that she could not get away; and Mr. Knightley +thought he saw another collection of letters anxiously pushed towards +her, and resolutely swept away by her unexamined. She was afterwards +looking for her shawl--Frank Churchill was looking also--it was growing +dusk, and the room was in confusion; and how they parted, Mr. Knightley +could not tell. + +He remained at Hartfield after all the rest, his thoughts full of +what he had seen; so full, that when the candles came to assist his +observations, he must--yes, he certainly must, as a friend--an anxious +friend--give Emma some hint, ask her some question. He could not see her +in a situation of such danger, without trying to preserve her. It was +his duty. + +"Pray, Emma," said he, "may I ask in what lay the great amusement, the +poignant sting of the last word given to you and Miss Fairfax? I saw the +word, and am curious to know how it could be so very entertaining to the +one, and so very distressing to the other." + +Emma was extremely confused. She could not endure to give him the true +explanation; for though her suspicions were by no means removed, she was +really ashamed of having ever imparted them. + +"Oh!" she cried in evident embarrassment, "it all meant nothing; a mere +joke among ourselves." + +"The joke," he replied gravely, "seemed confined to you and Mr. +Churchill." + +He had hoped she would speak again, but she did not. She would rather +busy herself about any thing than speak. He sat a little while in +doubt. A variety of evils crossed his mind. Interference--fruitless +interference. Emma's confusion, and the acknowledged intimacy, seemed to +declare her affection engaged. Yet he would speak. He owed it to her, +to risk any thing that might be involved in an unwelcome interference, +rather than her welfare; to encounter any thing, rather than the +remembrance of neglect in such a cause. + +"My dear Emma," said he at last, with earnest kindness, "do you +think you perfectly understand the degree of acquaintance between the +gentleman and lady we have been speaking of?" + +"Between Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax? Oh! yes, perfectly.--Why +do you make a doubt of it?" + +"Have you never at any time had reason to think that he admired her, or +that she admired him?" + +"Never, never!" she cried with a most open eagerness--"Never, for the +twentieth part of a moment, did such an idea occur to me. And how could +it possibly come into your head?" + +"I have lately imagined that I saw symptoms of attachment between +them--certain expressive looks, which I did not believe meant to be +public." + +"Oh! you amuse me excessively. I am delighted to find that you can +vouchsafe to let your imagination wander--but it will not do--very sorry +to check you in your first essay--but indeed it will not do. There is no +admiration between them, I do assure you; and the appearances which +have caught you, have arisen from some peculiar circumstances--feelings +rather of a totally different nature--it is impossible exactly to +explain:--there is a good deal of nonsense in it--but the part which is +capable of being communicated, which is sense, is, that they are as far +from any attachment or admiration for one another, as any two beings in +the world can be. That is, I _presume_ it to be so on her side, and I +can _answer_ for its being so on his. I will answer for the gentleman's +indifference." + +She spoke with a confidence which staggered, with a satisfaction +which silenced, Mr. Knightley. She was in gay spirits, and would have +prolonged the conversation, wanting to hear the particulars of his +suspicions, every look described, and all the wheres and hows of a +circumstance which highly entertained her: but his gaiety did not meet +hers. He found he could not be useful, and his feelings were too much +irritated for talking. That he might not be irritated into an absolute +fever, by the fire which Mr. Woodhouse's tender habits required almost +every evening throughout the year, he soon afterwards took a hasty +leave, and walked home to the coolness and solitude of Donwell Abbey. + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +After being long fed with hopes of a speedy visit from Mr. and Mrs. +Suckling, the Highbury world were obliged to endure the mortification +of hearing that they could not possibly come till the autumn. No such +importation of novelties could enrich their intellectual stores at +present. In the daily interchange of news, they must be again restricted +to the other topics with which for a while the Sucklings' coming had +been united, such as the last accounts of Mrs. Churchill, whose health +seemed every day to supply a different report, and the situation of Mrs. +Weston, whose happiness it was to be hoped might eventually be as much +increased by the arrival of a child, as that of all her neighbours was +by the approach of it. + +Mrs. Elton was very much disappointed. It was the delay of a great deal +of pleasure and parade. Her introductions and recommendations must all +wait, and every projected party be still only talked of. So she thought +at first;--but a little consideration convinced her that every thing +need not be put off. Why should not they explore to Box Hill though +the Sucklings did not come? They could go there again with them in the +autumn. It was settled that they should go to Box Hill. That there was +to be such a party had been long generally known: it had even given the +idea of another. Emma had never been to Box Hill; she wished to see what +every body found so well worth seeing, and she and Mr. Weston had agreed +to chuse some fine morning and drive thither. Two or three more of the +chosen only were to be admitted to join them, and it was to be done in a +quiet, unpretending, elegant way, infinitely superior to the bustle and +preparation, the regular eating and drinking, and picnic parade of the +Eltons and the Sucklings. + +This was so very well understood between them, that Emma could not but +feel some surprise, and a little displeasure, on hearing from Mr. Weston +that he had been proposing to Mrs. Elton, as her brother and sister had +failed her, that the two parties should unite, and go together; and that +as Mrs. Elton had very readily acceded to it, so it was to be, if she +had no objection. Now, as her objection was nothing but her very great +dislike of Mrs. Elton, of which Mr. Weston must already be perfectly +aware, it was not worth bringing forward again:--it could not be done +without a reproof to him, which would be giving pain to his wife; and +she found herself therefore obliged to consent to an arrangement which +she would have done a great deal to avoid; an arrangement which would +probably expose her even to the degradation of being said to be of Mrs. +Elton's party! Every feeling was offended; and the forbearance of her +outward submission left a heavy arrear due of secret severity in her +reflections on the unmanageable goodwill of Mr. Weston's temper. + +"I am glad you approve of what I have done," said he very comfortably. +"But I thought you would. Such schemes as these are nothing without +numbers. One cannot have too large a party. A large party secures its +own amusement. And she is a good-natured woman after all. One could not +leave her out." + +Emma denied none of it aloud, and agreed to none of it in private. + +It was now the middle of June, and the weather fine; and Mrs. Elton +was growing impatient to name the day, and settle with Mr. Weston as to +pigeon-pies and cold lamb, when a lame carriage-horse threw every thing +into sad uncertainty. It might be weeks, it might be only a few days, +before the horse were useable; but no preparations could be ventured +on, and it was all melancholy stagnation. Mrs. Elton's resources were +inadequate to such an attack. + +"Is not this most vexatious, Knightley?" she cried.--"And such weather +for exploring!--These delays and disappointments are quite odious. What +are we to do?--The year will wear away at this rate, and nothing +done. Before this time last year I assure you we had had a delightful +exploring party from Maple Grove to Kings Weston." + +"You had better explore to Donwell," replied Mr. Knightley. "That may +be done without horses. Come, and eat my strawberries. They are ripening +fast." + +If Mr. Knightley did not begin seriously, he was obliged to proceed so, +for his proposal was caught at with delight; and the "Oh! I should like +it of all things," was not plainer in words than manner. Donwell was +famous for its strawberry-beds, which seemed a plea for the invitation: +but no plea was necessary; cabbage-beds would have been enough to tempt +the lady, who only wanted to be going somewhere. She promised him again +and again to come--much oftener than he doubted--and was extremely +gratified by such a proof of intimacy, such a distinguishing compliment +as she chose to consider it. + +"You may depend upon me," said she. "I certainly will come. Name your +day, and I will come. You will allow me to bring Jane Fairfax?" + +"I cannot name a day," said he, "till I have spoken to some others whom +I would wish to meet you." + +"Oh! leave all that to me. Only give me a carte-blanche.--I am Lady +Patroness, you know. It is my party. I will bring friends with me." + +"I hope you will bring Elton," said he: "but I will not trouble you to +give any other invitations." + +"Oh! now you are looking very sly. But consider--you need not be afraid +of delegating power to _me_. I am no young lady on her preferment. +Married women, you know, may be safely authorised. It is my party. Leave +it all to me. I will invite your guests." + +"No,"--he calmly replied,--"there is but one married woman in the world +whom I can ever allow to invite what guests she pleases to Donwell, and +that one is--" + +"--Mrs. Weston, I suppose," interrupted Mrs. Elton, rather mortified. + +"No--Mrs. Knightley;--and till she is in being, I will manage such +matters myself." + +"Ah! you are an odd creature!" she cried, satisfied to have no one +preferred to herself.--"You are a humourist, and may say what you +like. Quite a humourist. Well, I shall bring Jane with me--Jane and her +aunt.--The rest I leave to you. I have no objections at all to meeting +the Hartfield family. Don't scruple. I know you are attached to them." + +"You certainly will meet them if I can prevail; and I shall call on Miss +Bates in my way home." + +"That's quite unnecessary; I see Jane every day:--but as you like. It +is to be a morning scheme, you know, Knightley; quite a simple thing. I +shall wear a large bonnet, and bring one of my little baskets hanging +on my arm. Here,--probably this basket with pink ribbon. Nothing can be +more simple, you see. And Jane will have such another. There is to be +no form or parade--a sort of gipsy party. We are to walk about +your gardens, and gather the strawberries ourselves, and sit under +trees;--and whatever else you may like to provide, it is to be all out +of doors--a table spread in the shade, you know. Every thing as natural +and simple as possible. Is not that your idea?" + +"Not quite. My idea of the simple and the natural will be to have +the table spread in the dining-room. The nature and the simplicity of +gentlemen and ladies, with their servants and furniture, I think is +best observed by meals within doors. When you are tired of eating +strawberries in the garden, there shall be cold meat in the house." + +"Well--as you please; only don't have a great set out. And, by the bye, +can I or my housekeeper be of any use to you with our opinion?--Pray be +sincere, Knightley. If you wish me to talk to Mrs. Hodges, or to inspect +anything--" + +"I have not the least wish for it, I thank you." + +"Well--but if any difficulties should arise, my housekeeper is extremely +clever." + +"I will answer for it, that mine thinks herself full as clever, and +would spurn any body's assistance." + +"I wish we had a donkey. The thing would be for us all to come on +donkeys, Jane, Miss Bates, and me--and my caro sposo walking by. I +really must talk to him about purchasing a donkey. In a country life +I conceive it to be a sort of necessary; for, let a woman have ever +so many resources, it is not possible for her to be always shut up at +home;--and very long walks, you know--in summer there is dust, and in +winter there is dirt." + +"You will not find either, between Donwell and Highbury. Donwell Lane is +never dusty, and now it is perfectly dry. Come on a donkey, however, if +you prefer it. You can borrow Mrs. Cole's. I would wish every thing to +be as much to your taste as possible." + +"That I am sure you would. Indeed I do you justice, my good friend. +Under that peculiar sort of dry, blunt manner, I know you have the +warmest heart. As I tell Mr. E., you are a thorough humourist.--Yes, +believe me, Knightley, I am fully sensible of your attention to me in +the whole of this scheme. You have hit upon the very thing to please +me." + +Mr. Knightley had another reason for avoiding a table in the shade. He +wished to persuade Mr. Woodhouse, as well as Emma, to join the party; +and he knew that to have any of them sitting down out of doors to +eat would inevitably make him ill. Mr. Woodhouse must not, under the +specious pretence of a morning drive, and an hour or two spent at +Donwell, be tempted away to his misery. + +He was invited on good faith. No lurking horrors were to upbraid him for +his easy credulity. He did consent. He had not been at Donwell for two +years. "Some very fine morning, he, and Emma, and Harriet, could go +very well; and he could sit still with Mrs. Weston, while the dear girls +walked about the gardens. He did not suppose they could be damp now, +in the middle of the day. He should like to see the old house again +exceedingly, and should be very happy to meet Mr. and Mrs. Elton, and +any other of his neighbours.--He could not see any objection at all to +his, and Emma's, and Harriet's going there some very fine morning. He +thought it very well done of Mr. Knightley to invite them--very kind +and sensible--much cleverer than dining out.--He was not fond of dining +out." + +Mr. Knightley was fortunate in every body's most ready concurrence. The +invitation was everywhere so well received, that it seemed as if, like +Mrs. Elton, they were all taking the scheme as a particular compliment +to themselves.--Emma and Harriet professed very high expectations of +pleasure from it; and Mr. Weston, unasked, promised to get Frank over to +join them, if possible; a proof of approbation and gratitude which could +have been dispensed with.--Mr. Knightley was then obliged to say that +he should be glad to see him; and Mr. Weston engaged to lose no time in +writing, and spare no arguments to induce him to come. + +In the meanwhile the lame horse recovered so fast, that the party to +Box Hill was again under happy consideration; and at last Donwell was +settled for one day, and Box Hill for the next,--the weather appearing +exactly right. + +Under a bright mid-day sun, at almost Midsummer, Mr. Woodhouse was +safely conveyed in his carriage, with one window down, to partake of +this al-fresco party; and in one of the most comfortable rooms in the +Abbey, especially prepared for him by a fire all the morning, he was +happily placed, quite at his ease, ready to talk with pleasure of what +had been achieved, and advise every body to come and sit down, and not +to heat themselves.--Mrs. Weston, who seemed to have walked there on +purpose to be tired, and sit all the time with him, remained, when +all the others were invited or persuaded out, his patient listener and +sympathiser. + +It was so long since Emma had been at the Abbey, that as soon as she was +satisfied of her father's comfort, she was glad to leave him, and look +around her; eager to refresh and correct her memory with more particular +observation, more exact understanding of a house and grounds which must +ever be so interesting to her and all her family. + +She felt all the honest pride and complacency which her alliance with +the present and future proprietor could fairly warrant, as she viewed +the respectable size and style of the building, its suitable, becoming, +characteristic situation, low and sheltered--its ample gardens +stretching down to meadows washed by a stream, of which the Abbey, with +all the old neglect of prospect, had scarcely a sight--and its abundance +of timber in rows and avenues, which neither fashion nor extravagance +had rooted up.--The house was larger than Hartfield, and totally unlike +it, covering a good deal of ground, rambling and irregular, with many +comfortable, and one or two handsome rooms.--It was just what it ought +to be, and it looked what it was--and Emma felt an increasing respect +for it, as the residence of a family of such true gentility, untainted +in blood and understanding.--Some faults of temper John Knightley had; +but Isabella had connected herself unexceptionably. She had given them +neither men, nor names, nor places, that could raise a blush. These were +pleasant feelings, and she walked about and indulged them till it +was necessary to do as the others did, and collect round the +strawberry-beds.--The whole party were assembled, excepting Frank +Churchill, who was expected every moment from Richmond; and Mrs. Elton, +in all her apparatus of happiness, her large bonnet and her basket, +was very ready to lead the way in gathering, accepting, or +talking--strawberries, and only strawberries, could now be thought or +spoken of.--"The best fruit in England--every body's favourite--always +wholesome.--These the finest beds and finest sorts.--Delightful to +gather for one's self--the only way of really enjoying them.--Morning +decidedly the best time--never tired--every sort good--hautboy +infinitely superior--no comparison--the others hardly eatable--hautboys +very scarce--Chili preferred--white wood finest flavour of all--price +of strawberries in London--abundance about Bristol--Maple +Grove--cultivation--beds when to be renewed--gardeners thinking exactly +different--no general rule--gardeners never to be put out of their +way--delicious fruit--only too rich to be eaten much of--inferior +to cherries--currants more refreshing--only objection to gathering +strawberries the stooping--glaring sun--tired to death--could bear it no +longer--must go and sit in the shade." + +Such, for half an hour, was the conversation--interrupted only once by +Mrs. Weston, who came out, in her solicitude after her son-in-law, to +inquire if he were come--and she was a little uneasy.--She had some +fears of his horse. + +Seats tolerably in the shade were found; and now Emma was obliged +to overhear what Mrs. Elton and Jane Fairfax were talking of.--A +situation, a most desirable situation, was in question. Mrs. Elton had +received notice of it that morning, and was in raptures. It was not +with Mrs. Suckling, it was not with Mrs. Bragge, but in felicity and +splendour it fell short only of them: it was with a cousin of Mrs. +Bragge, an acquaintance of Mrs. Suckling, a lady known at Maple Grove. +Delightful, charming, superior, first circles, spheres, lines, ranks, +every thing--and Mrs. Elton was wild to have the offer closed with +immediately.--On her side, all was warmth, energy, and triumph--and she +positively refused to take her friend's negative, though Miss Fairfax +continued to assure her that she would not at present engage in any +thing, repeating the same motives which she had been heard to urge +before.--Still Mrs. Elton insisted on being authorised to write an +acquiescence by the morrow's post.--How Jane could bear it at all, was +astonishing to Emma.--She did look vexed, she did speak pointedly--and +at last, with a decision of action unusual to her, proposed a +removal.--"Should not they walk? Would not Mr. Knightley shew them the +gardens--all the gardens?--She wished to see the whole extent."--The +pertinacity of her friend seemed more than she could bear. + +It was hot; and after walking some time over the gardens in a scattered, +dispersed way, scarcely any three together, they insensibly followed one +another to the delicious shade of a broad short avenue of limes, which +stretching beyond the garden at an equal distance from the river, seemed +the finish of the pleasure grounds.--It led to nothing; nothing but a +view at the end over a low stone wall with high pillars, which seemed +intended, in their erection, to give the appearance of an approach to +the house, which never had been there. Disputable, however, as might be +the taste of such a termination, it was in itself a charming walk, and +the view which closed it extremely pretty.--The considerable slope, at +nearly the foot of which the Abbey stood, gradually acquired a steeper +form beyond its grounds; and at half a mile distant was a bank of +considerable abruptness and grandeur, well clothed with wood;--and at +the bottom of this bank, favourably placed and sheltered, rose the +Abbey Mill Farm, with meadows in front, and the river making a close and +handsome curve around it. + +It was a sweet view--sweet to the eye and the mind. English verdure, +English culture, English comfort, seen under a sun bright, without being +oppressive. + +In this walk Emma and Mr. Weston found all the others assembled; and +towards this view she immediately perceived Mr. Knightley and Harriet +distinct from the rest, quietly leading the way. Mr. Knightley and +Harriet!--It was an odd tete-a-tete; but she was glad to see it.--There +had been a time when he would have scorned her as a companion, and +turned from her with little ceremony. Now they seemed in pleasant +conversation. There had been a time also when Emma would have been sorry +to see Harriet in a spot so favourable for the Abbey Mill Farm; but now +she feared it not. It might be safely viewed with all its appendages of +prosperity and beauty, its rich pastures, spreading flocks, orchard in +blossom, and light column of smoke ascending.--She joined them at the +wall, and found them more engaged in talking than in looking around. He +was giving Harriet information as to modes of agriculture, etc. and Emma +received a smile which seemed to say, "These are my own concerns. I have +a right to talk on such subjects, without being suspected of +introducing Robert Martin."--She did not suspect him. It was too old +a story.--Robert Martin had probably ceased to think of Harriet.--They +took a few turns together along the walk.--The shade was most +refreshing, and Emma found it the pleasantest part of the day. + +The next remove was to the house; they must all go in and eat;--and they +were all seated and busy, and still Frank Churchill did not come. Mrs. +Weston looked, and looked in vain. His father would not own himself +uneasy, and laughed at her fears; but she could not be cured of wishing +that he would part with his black mare. He had expressed himself as to +coming, with more than common certainty. "His aunt was so much better, +that he had not a doubt of getting over to them."--Mrs. Churchill's +state, however, as many were ready to remind her, was liable to such +sudden variation as might disappoint her nephew in the most reasonable +dependence--and Mrs. Weston was at last persuaded to believe, or to say, +that it must be by some attack of Mrs. Churchill that he was +prevented coming.--Emma looked at Harriet while the point was under +consideration; she behaved very well, and betrayed no emotion. + +The cold repast was over, and the party were to go out once more to see +what had not yet been seen, the old Abbey fish-ponds; perhaps get as far +as the clover, which was to be begun cutting on the morrow, or, at +any rate, have the pleasure of being hot, and growing cool again.--Mr. +Woodhouse, who had already taken his little round in the highest part +of the gardens, where no damps from the river were imagined even by him, +stirred no more; and his daughter resolved to remain with him, that +Mrs. Weston might be persuaded away by her husband to the exercise and +variety which her spirits seemed to need. + +Mr. Knightley had done all in his power for Mr. Woodhouse's +entertainment. Books of engravings, drawers of medals, cameos, corals, +shells, and every other family collection within his cabinets, had been +prepared for his old friend, to while away the morning; and the kindness +had perfectly answered. Mr. Woodhouse had been exceedingly well amused. +Mrs. Weston had been shewing them all to him, and now he would shew them +all to Emma;--fortunate in having no other resemblance to a child, than +in a total want of taste for what he saw, for he was slow, constant, and +methodical.--Before this second looking over was begun, however, Emma +walked into the hall for the sake of a few moments' free observation of +the entrance and ground-plot of the house--and was hardly there, when +Jane Fairfax appeared, coming quickly in from the garden, and with a +look of escape.--Little expecting to meet Miss Woodhouse so soon, there +was a start at first; but Miss Woodhouse was the very person she was in +quest of. + +"Will you be so kind," said she, "when I am missed, as to say that I am +gone home?--I am going this moment.--My aunt is not aware how late it +is, nor how long we have been absent--but I am sure we shall be wanted, +and I am determined to go directly.--I have said nothing about it to any +body. It would only be giving trouble and distress. Some are gone to the +ponds, and some to the lime walk. Till they all come in I shall not be +missed; and when they do, will you have the goodness to say that I am +gone?" + +"Certainly, if you wish it;--but you are not going to walk to Highbury +alone?" + +"Yes--what should hurt me?--I walk fast. I shall be at home in twenty +minutes." + +"But it is too far, indeed it is, to be walking quite alone. Let my +father's servant go with you.--Let me order the carriage. It can be +round in five minutes." + +"Thank you, thank you--but on no account.--I would rather walk.--And +for _me_ to be afraid of walking alone!--I, who may so soon have to +guard others!" + +She spoke with great agitation; and Emma very feelingly replied, "That +can be no reason for your being exposed to danger now. I must order the +carriage. The heat even would be danger.--You are fatigued already." + +"I am,"--she answered--"I am fatigued; but it is not the sort of +fatigue--quick walking will refresh me.--Miss Woodhouse, we all know +at times what it is to be wearied in spirits. Mine, I confess, are +exhausted. The greatest kindness you can shew me, will be to let me have +my own way, and only say that I am gone when it is necessary." + +Emma had not another word to oppose. She saw it all; and entering into +her feelings, promoted her quitting the house immediately, and +watched her safely off with the zeal of a friend. Her parting look was +grateful--and her parting words, "Oh! Miss Woodhouse, the comfort of +being sometimes alone!"--seemed to burst from an overcharged heart, and +to describe somewhat of the continual endurance to be practised by her, +even towards some of those who loved her best. + +"Such a home, indeed! such an aunt!" said Emma, as she turned back into +the hall again. "I do pity you. And the more sensibility you betray of +their just horrors, the more I shall like you." + +Jane had not been gone a quarter of an hour, and they had only +accomplished some views of St. Mark's Place, Venice, when Frank +Churchill entered the room. Emma had not been thinking of him, she had +forgotten to think of him--but she was very glad to see him. Mrs. Weston +would be at ease. The black mare was blameless; _they_ were right +who had named Mrs. Churchill as the cause. He had been detained by +a temporary increase of illness in her; a nervous seizure, which had +lasted some hours--and he had quite given up every thought of coming, +till very late;--and had he known how hot a ride he should have, and +how late, with all his hurry, he must be, he believed he should not have +come at all. The heat was excessive; he had never suffered any thing +like it--almost wished he had staid at home--nothing killed him +like heat--he could bear any degree of cold, etc., but heat was +intolerable--and he sat down, at the greatest possible distance from the +slight remains of Mr. Woodhouse's fire, looking very deplorable. + +"You will soon be cooler, if you sit still," said Emma. + +"As soon as I am cooler I shall go back again. I could very ill be +spared--but such a point had been made of my coming! You will all be +going soon I suppose; the whole party breaking up. I met _one_ as I +came--Madness in such weather!--absolute madness!" + +Emma listened, and looked, and soon perceived that Frank Churchill's +state might be best defined by the expressive phrase of being out of +humour. Some people were always cross when they were hot. Such might be +his constitution; and as she knew that eating and drinking were often +the cure of such incidental complaints, she recommended his taking +some refreshment; he would find abundance of every thing in the +dining-room--and she humanely pointed out the door. + +"No--he should not eat. He was not hungry; it would only make him +hotter." In two minutes, however, he relented in his own favour; and +muttering something about spruce-beer, walked off. Emma returned all her +attention to her father, saying in secret-- + +"I am glad I have done being in love with him. I should not like a man +who is so soon discomposed by a hot morning. Harriet's sweet easy temper +will not mind it." + +He was gone long enough to have had a very comfortable meal, and came +back all the better--grown quite cool--and, with good manners, like +himself--able to draw a chair close to them, take an interest in their +employment; and regret, in a reasonable way, that he should be so late. +He was not in his best spirits, but seemed trying to improve them; and, +at last, made himself talk nonsense very agreeably. They were looking +over views in Swisserland. + +"As soon as my aunt gets well, I shall go abroad," said he. "I shall +never be easy till I have seen some of these places. You will have my +sketches, some time or other, to look at--or my tour to read--or my +poem. I shall do something to expose myself." + +"That may be--but not by sketches in Swisserland. You will never go to +Swisserland. Your uncle and aunt will never allow you to leave England." + +"They may be induced to go too. A warm climate may be prescribed for +her. I have more than half an expectation of our all going abroad. I +assure you I have. I feel a strong persuasion, this morning, that I +shall soon be abroad. I ought to travel. I am tired of doing nothing. I +want a change. I am serious, Miss Woodhouse, whatever your penetrating +eyes may fancy--I am sick of England--and would leave it to-morrow, if +I could." + +"You are sick of prosperity and indulgence. Cannot you invent a few +hardships for yourself, and be contented to stay?" + +"_I_ sick of prosperity and indulgence! You are quite mistaken. I do +not look upon myself as either prosperous or indulged. I am thwarted +in every thing material. I do not consider myself at all a fortunate +person." + +"You are not quite so miserable, though, as when you first came. Go and +eat and drink a little more, and you will do very well. Another slice of +cold meat, another draught of Madeira and water, will make you nearly on +a par with the rest of us." + +"No--I shall not stir. I shall sit by you. You are my best cure." + +"We are going to Box Hill to-morrow;--you will join us. It is not +Swisserland, but it will be something for a young man so much in want of +a change. You will stay, and go with us?" + +"No, certainly not; I shall go home in the cool of the evening." + +"But you may come again in the cool of to-morrow morning." + +"No--It will not be worth while. If I come, I shall be cross." + +"Then pray stay at Richmond." + +"But if I do, I shall be crosser still. I can never bear to think of you +all there without me." + +"These are difficulties which you must settle for yourself. Chuse your +own degree of crossness. I shall press you no more." + +The rest of the party were now returning, and all were soon collected. +With some there was great joy at the sight of Frank Churchill; others +took it very composedly; but there was a very general distress and +disturbance on Miss Fairfax's disappearance being explained. That it was +time for every body to go, concluded the subject; and with a short final +arrangement for the next day's scheme, they parted. Frank Churchill's +little inclination to exclude himself increased so much, that his last +words to Emma were, + +"Well;--if _you_ wish me to stay and join the party, I will." + +She smiled her acceptance; and nothing less than a summons from Richmond +was to take him back before the following evening. + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +They had a very fine day for Box Hill; and all the other outward +circumstances of arrangement, accommodation, and punctuality, were in +favour of a pleasant party. Mr. Weston directed the whole, officiating +safely between Hartfield and the Vicarage, and every body was in good +time. Emma and Harriet went together; Miss Bates and her niece, with +the Eltons; the gentlemen on horseback. Mrs. Weston remained with Mr. +Woodhouse. Nothing was wanting but to be happy when they got there. +Seven miles were travelled in expectation of enjoyment, and every body +had a burst of admiration on first arriving; but in the general amount +of the day there was deficiency. There was a languor, a want of spirits, +a want of union, which could not be got over. They separated too much +into parties. The Eltons walked together; Mr. Knightley took charge of +Miss Bates and Jane; and Emma and Harriet belonged to Frank Churchill. +And Mr. Weston tried, in vain, to make them harmonise better. It seemed +at first an accidental division, but it never materially varied. Mr. and +Mrs. Elton, indeed, shewed no unwillingness to mix, and be as agreeable +as they could; but during the two whole hours that were spent on the +hill, there seemed a principle of separation, between the other parties, +too strong for any fine prospects, or any cold collation, or any +cheerful Mr. Weston, to remove. + +At first it was downright dulness to Emma. She had never seen Frank +Churchill so silent and stupid. He said nothing worth hearing--looked +without seeing--admired without intelligence--listened without knowing +what she said. While he was so dull, it was no wonder that Harriet +should be dull likewise; and they were both insufferable. + +When they all sat down it was better; to her taste a great deal better, +for Frank Churchill grew talkative and gay, making her his first object. +Every distinguishing attention that could be paid, was paid to her. +To amuse her, and be agreeable in her eyes, seemed all that he cared +for--and Emma, glad to be enlivened, not sorry to be flattered, was gay +and easy too, and gave him all the friendly encouragement, the admission +to be gallant, which she had ever given in the first and most animating +period of their acquaintance; but which now, in her own estimation, +meant nothing, though in the judgment of most people looking on it must +have had such an appearance as no English word but flirtation could very +well describe. "Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse flirted together +excessively." They were laying themselves open to that very phrase--and +to having it sent off in a letter to Maple Grove by one lady, to +Ireland by another. Not that Emma was gay and thoughtless from any +real felicity; it was rather because she felt less happy than she had +expected. She laughed because she was disappointed; and though she liked +him for his attentions, and thought them all, whether in friendship, +admiration, or playfulness, extremely judicious, they were not winning +back her heart. She still intended him for her friend. + +"How much I am obliged to you," said he, "for telling me to come +to-day!--If it had not been for you, I should certainly have lost all +the happiness of this party. I had quite determined to go away again." + +"Yes, you were very cross; and I do not know what about, except that you +were too late for the best strawberries. I was a kinder friend than you +deserved. But you were humble. You begged hard to be commanded to come." + +"Don't say I was cross. I was fatigued. The heat overcame me." + +"It is hotter to-day." + +"Not to my feelings. I am perfectly comfortable to-day." + +"You are comfortable because you are under command." + +"Your command?--Yes." + +"Perhaps I intended you to say so, but I meant self-command. You had, +somehow or other, broken bounds yesterday, and run away from your own +management; but to-day you are got back again--and as I cannot be always +with you, it is best to believe your temper under your own command +rather than mine." + +"It comes to the same thing. I can have no self-command without a +motive. You order me, whether you speak or not. And you can be always +with me. You are always with me." + +"Dating from three o'clock yesterday. My perpetual influence could not +begin earlier, or you would not have been so much out of humour before." + +"Three o'clock yesterday! That is your date. I thought I had seen you +first in February." + +"Your gallantry is really unanswerable. But (lowering her voice)--nobody +speaks except ourselves, and it is rather too much to be talking +nonsense for the entertainment of seven silent people." + +"I say nothing of which I am ashamed," replied he, with lively +impudence. "I saw you first in February. Let every body on the Hill +hear me if they can. Let my accents swell to Mickleham on one side, +and Dorking on the other. I saw you first in February." And then +whispering--"Our companions are excessively stupid. What shall we do +to rouse them? Any nonsense will serve. They _shall_ talk. Ladies +and gentlemen, I am ordered by Miss Woodhouse (who, wherever she is, +presides) to say, that she desires to know what you are all thinking +of?" + +Some laughed, and answered good-humouredly. Miss Bates said a great +deal; Mrs. Elton swelled at the idea of Miss Woodhouse's presiding; Mr. +Knightley's answer was the most distinct. + +"Is Miss Woodhouse sure that she would like to hear what we are all +thinking of?" + +"Oh! no, no"--cried Emma, laughing as carelessly as she could--"Upon no +account in the world. It is the very last thing I would stand the brunt +of just now. Let me hear any thing rather than what you are all thinking +of. I will not say quite all. There are one or two, perhaps, (glancing +at Mr. Weston and Harriet,) whose thoughts I might not be afraid of +knowing." + +"It is a sort of thing," cried Mrs. Elton emphatically, "which _I_ +should not have thought myself privileged to inquire into. Though, +perhaps, as the _Chaperon_ of the party--_I_ never was in any +circle--exploring parties--young ladies--married women--" + +Her mutterings were chiefly to her husband; and he murmured, in reply, + +"Very true, my love, very true. Exactly so, indeed--quite unheard +of--but some ladies say any thing. Better pass it off as a joke. Every +body knows what is due to _you_." + +"It will not do," whispered Frank to Emma; "they are most of them +affronted. I will attack them with more address. Ladies and gentlemen--I +am ordered by Miss Woodhouse to say, that she waives her right of +knowing exactly what you may all be thinking of, and only requires +something very entertaining from each of you, in a general way. Here +are seven of you, besides myself, (who, she is pleased to say, am very +entertaining already,) and she only demands from each of you either one +thing very clever, be it prose or verse, original or repeated--or two +things moderately clever--or three things very dull indeed, and she +engages to laugh heartily at them all." + +"Oh! very well," exclaimed Miss Bates, "then I need not be uneasy. +'Three things very dull indeed.' That will just do for me, you know. I +shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth, +shan't I? (looking round with the most good-humoured dependence on every +body's assent)--Do not you all think I shall?" + +Emma could not resist. + +"Ah! ma'am, but there may be a difficulty. Pardon me--but you will be +limited as to number--only three at once." + +Miss Bates, deceived by the mock ceremony of her manner, did not +immediately catch her meaning; but, when it burst on her, it could not +anger, though a slight blush shewed that it could pain her. + +"Ah!--well--to be sure. Yes, I see what she means, (turning to Mr. +Knightley,) and I will try to hold my tongue. I must make myself very +disagreeable, or she would not have said such a thing to an old friend." + +"I like your plan," cried Mr. Weston. "Agreed, agreed. I will do my +best. I am making a conundrum. How will a conundrum reckon?" + +"Low, I am afraid, sir, very low," answered his son;--"but we shall be +indulgent--especially to any one who leads the way." + +"No, no," said Emma, "it will not reckon low. A conundrum of Mr. +Weston's shall clear him and his next neighbour. Come, sir, pray let me +hear it." + +"I doubt its being very clever myself," said Mr. Weston. "It is too much +a matter of fact, but here it is.--What two letters of the alphabet are +there, that express perfection?" + +"What two letters!--express perfection! I am sure I do not know." + +"Ah! you will never guess. You, (to Emma), I am certain, will never +guess.--I will tell you.--M. and A.--Em-ma.--Do you understand?" + +Understanding and gratification came together. It might be a very +indifferent piece of wit, but Emma found a great deal to laugh at and +enjoy in it--and so did Frank and Harriet.--It did not seem to touch +the rest of the party equally; some looked very stupid about it, and Mr. +Knightley gravely said, + +"This explains the sort of clever thing that is wanted, and Mr. Weston +has done very well for himself; but he must have knocked up every body +else. _Perfection_ should not have come quite so soon." + +"Oh! for myself, I protest I must be excused," said Mrs. Elton; "_I_ +really cannot attempt--I am not at all fond of the sort of thing. I had +an acrostic once sent to me upon my own name, which I was not at all +pleased with. I knew who it came from. An abominable puppy!--You know +who I mean (nodding to her husband). These kind of things are very +well at Christmas, when one is sitting round the fire; but quite out of +place, in my opinion, when one is exploring about the country in summer. +Miss Woodhouse must excuse me. I am not one of those who have witty +things at every body's service. I do not pretend to be a wit. I have a +great deal of vivacity in my own way, but I really must be allowed to +judge when to speak and when to hold my tongue. Pass us, if you please, +Mr. Churchill. Pass Mr. E., Knightley, Jane, and myself. We have nothing +clever to say--not one of us. + +"Yes, yes, pray pass _me_," added her husband, with a sort of sneering +consciousness; "_I_ have nothing to say that can entertain Miss +Woodhouse, or any other young lady. An old married man--quite good for +nothing. Shall we walk, Augusta?" + +"With all my heart. I am really tired of exploring so long on one spot. +Come, Jane, take my other arm." + +Jane declined it, however, and the husband and wife walked off. +"Happy couple!" said Frank Churchill, as soon as they were out of +hearing:--"How well they suit one another!--Very lucky--marrying as they +did, upon an acquaintance formed only in a public place!--They only knew +each other, I think, a few weeks in Bath! Peculiarly lucky!--for as to +any real knowledge of a person's disposition that Bath, or any public +place, can give--it is all nothing; there can be no knowledge. It is +only by seeing women in their own homes, among their own set, just as +they always are, that you can form any just judgment. Short of that, it +is all guess and luck--and will generally be ill-luck. How many a man +has committed himself on a short acquaintance, and rued it all the rest +of his life!" + +Miss Fairfax, who had seldom spoken before, except among her own +confederates, spoke now. + +"Such things do occur, undoubtedly."--She was stopped by a cough. Frank +Churchill turned towards her to listen. + +"You were speaking," said he, gravely. She recovered her voice. + +"I was only going to observe, that though such unfortunate circumstances +do sometimes occur both to men and women, I cannot imagine them to be +very frequent. A hasty and imprudent attachment may arise--but there is +generally time to recover from it afterwards. I would be understood to +mean, that it can be only weak, irresolute characters, (whose happiness +must be always at the mercy of chance,) who will suffer an unfortunate +acquaintance to be an inconvenience, an oppression for ever." + +He made no answer; merely looked, and bowed in submission; and soon +afterwards said, in a lively tone, + +"Well, I have so little confidence in my own judgment, that whenever I +marry, I hope some body will chuse my wife for me. Will you? (turning to +Emma.) Will you chuse a wife for me?--I am sure I should like any body +fixed on by you. You provide for the family, you know, (with a smile at +his father). Find some body for me. I am in no hurry. Adopt her, educate +her." + +"And make her like myself." + +"By all means, if you can." + +"Very well. I undertake the commission. You shall have a charming wife." + +"She must be very lively, and have hazle eyes. I care for nothing else. +I shall go abroad for a couple of years--and when I return, I shall come +to you for my wife. Remember." + +Emma was in no danger of forgetting. It was a commission to touch every +favourite feeling. Would not Harriet be the very creature described? +Hazle eyes excepted, two years more might make her all that he wished. +He might even have Harriet in his thoughts at the moment; who could say? +Referring the education to her seemed to imply it. + +"Now, ma'am," said Jane to her aunt, "shall we join Mrs. Elton?" + +"If you please, my dear. With all my heart. I am quite ready. I was +ready to have gone with her, but this will do just as well. We shall +soon overtake her. There she is--no, that's somebody else. That's one +of the ladies in the Irish car party, not at all like her.--Well, I +declare--" + +They walked off, followed in half a minute by Mr. Knightley. Mr. Weston, +his son, Emma, and Harriet, only remained; and the young man's spirits +now rose to a pitch almost unpleasant. Even Emma grew tired at last of +flattery and merriment, and wished herself rather walking quietly about +with any of the others, or sitting almost alone, and quite unattended +to, in tranquil observation of the beautiful views beneath her. The +appearance of the servants looking out for them to give notice of the +carriages was a joyful sight; and even the bustle of collecting and +preparing to depart, and the solicitude of Mrs. Elton to have _her_ +carriage first, were gladly endured, in the prospect of the quiet drive +home which was to close the very questionable enjoyments of this day of +pleasure. Such another scheme, composed of so many ill-assorted people, +she hoped never to be betrayed into again. + +While waiting for the carriage, she found Mr. Knightley by her side. He +looked around, as if to see that no one were near, and then said, + +"Emma, I must once more speak to you as I have been used to do: a +privilege rather endured than allowed, perhaps, but I must still use it. +I cannot see you acting wrong, without a remonstrance. How could you be +so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to +a woman of her character, age, and situation?--Emma, I had not thought +it possible." + +Emma recollected, blushed, was sorry, but tried to laugh it off. + +"Nay, how could I help saying what I did?--Nobody could have helped it. +It was not so very bad. I dare say she did not understand me." + +"I assure you she did. She felt your full meaning. She has talked of +it since. I wish you could have heard how she talked of it--with what +candour and generosity. I wish you could have heard her honouring your +forbearance, in being able to pay her such attentions, as she was for +ever receiving from yourself and your father, when her society must be +so irksome." + +"Oh!" cried Emma, "I know there is not a better creature in the world: +but you must allow, that what is good and what is ridiculous are most +unfortunately blended in her." + +"They are blended," said he, "I acknowledge; and, were she prosperous, +I could allow much for the occasional prevalence of the ridiculous over +the good. Were she a woman of fortune, I would leave every harmless +absurdity to take its chance, I would not quarrel with you for any +liberties of manner. Were she your equal in situation--but, Emma, +consider how far this is from being the case. She is poor; she has sunk +from the comforts she was born to; and, if she live to old age, must +probably sink more. Her situation should secure your compassion. It was +badly done, indeed! You, whom she had known from an infant, whom she had +seen grow up from a period when her notice was an honour, to have you +now, in thoughtless spirits, and the pride of the moment, laugh at her, +humble her--and before her niece, too--and before others, many of whom +(certainly _some_,) would be entirely guided by _your_ treatment +of her.--This is not pleasant to you, Emma--and it is very far from +pleasant to me; but I must, I will,--I will tell you truths while I can; +satisfied with proving myself your friend by very faithful counsel, and +trusting that you will some time or other do me greater justice than you +can do now." + +While they talked, they were advancing towards the carriage; it was +ready; and, before she could speak again, he had handed her in. He had +misinterpreted the feelings which had kept her face averted, and her +tongue motionless. They were combined only of anger against herself, +mortification, and deep concern. She had not been able to speak; and, on +entering the carriage, sunk back for a moment overcome--then reproaching +herself for having taken no leave, making no acknowledgment, parting in +apparent sullenness, she looked out with voice and hand eager to shew a +difference; but it was just too late. He had turned away, and the horses +were in motion. She continued to look back, but in vain; and soon, with +what appeared unusual speed, they were half way down the hill, and +every thing left far behind. She was vexed beyond what could have been +expressed--almost beyond what she could conceal. Never had she felt so +agitated, mortified, grieved, at any circumstance in her life. She was +most forcibly struck. The truth of this representation there was no +denying. She felt it at her heart. How could she have been so brutal, +so cruel to Miss Bates! How could she have exposed herself to such ill +opinion in any one she valued! And how suffer him to leave her without +saying one word of gratitude, of concurrence, of common kindness! + +Time did not compose her. As she reflected more, she seemed but to feel +it more. She never had been so depressed. Happily it was not necessary +to speak. There was only Harriet, who seemed not in spirits herself, +fagged, and very willing to be silent; and Emma felt the tears running +down her cheeks almost all the way home, without being at any trouble to +check them, extraordinary as they were. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +The wretchedness of a scheme to Box Hill was in Emma's thoughts all the +evening. How it might be considered by the rest of the party, she could +not tell. They, in their different homes, and their different ways, +might be looking back on it with pleasure; but in her view it was +a morning more completely misspent, more totally bare of rational +satisfaction at the time, and more to be abhorred in recollection, than +any she had ever passed. A whole evening of back-gammon with her father, +was felicity to it. _There_, indeed, lay real pleasure, for there she +was giving up the sweetest hours of the twenty-four to his comfort; and +feeling that, unmerited as might be the degree of his fond affection and +confiding esteem, she could not, in her general conduct, be open to any +severe reproach. As a daughter, she hoped she was not without a heart. +She hoped no one could have said to her, "How could you be so unfeeling +to your father?--I must, I will tell you truths while I can." Miss +Bates should never again--no, never! If attention, in future, could do +away the past, she might hope to be forgiven. She had been often remiss, +her conscience told her so; remiss, perhaps, more in thought than fact; +scornful, ungracious. But it should be so no more. In the warmth of true +contrition, she would call upon her the very next morning, and it should +be the beginning, on her side, of a regular, equal, kindly intercourse. + +She was just as determined when the morrow came, and went early, that +nothing might prevent her. It was not unlikely, she thought, that she +might see Mr. Knightley in her way; or, perhaps, he might come in +while she were paying her visit. She had no objection. She would not be +ashamed of the appearance of the penitence, so justly and truly hers. +Her eyes were towards Donwell as she walked, but she saw him not. + +"The ladies were all at home." She had never rejoiced at the sound +before, nor ever before entered the passage, nor walked up the stairs, +with any wish of giving pleasure, but in conferring obligation, or of +deriving it, except in subsequent ridicule. + +There was a bustle on her approach; a good deal of moving and talking. +She heard Miss Bates's voice, something was to be done in a hurry; the +maid looked frightened and awkward; hoped she would be pleased to wait a +moment, and then ushered her in too soon. The aunt and niece seemed both +escaping into the adjoining room. Jane she had a distinct glimpse of, +looking extremely ill; and, before the door had shut them out, she heard +Miss Bates saying, "Well, my dear, I shall _say_ you are laid down upon +the bed, and I am sure you are ill enough." + +Poor old Mrs. Bates, civil and humble as usual, looked as if she did not +quite understand what was going on. + +"I am afraid Jane is not very well," said she, "but I do not know; they +_tell_ me she is well. I dare say my daughter will be here presently, +Miss Woodhouse. I hope you find a chair. I wish Hetty had not gone. I am +very little able--Have you a chair, ma'am? Do you sit where you like? I +am sure she will be here presently." + +Emma seriously hoped she would. She had a moment's fear of Miss Bates +keeping away from her. But Miss Bates soon came--"Very happy and +obliged"--but Emma's conscience told her that there was not the same +cheerful volubility as before--less ease of look and manner. A very +friendly inquiry after Miss Fairfax, she hoped, might lead the way to a +return of old feelings. The touch seemed immediate. + +"Ah! Miss Woodhouse, how kind you are!--I suppose you have heard--and +are come to give us joy. This does not seem much like joy, indeed, in +me--(twinkling away a tear or two)--but it will be very trying for us +to part with her, after having had her so long, and she has a dreadful +headache just now, writing all the morning:--such long letters, you +know, to be written to Colonel Campbell, and Mrs. Dixon. 'My dear,' said +I, 'you will blind yourself'--for tears were in her eyes perpetually. +One cannot wonder, one cannot wonder. It is a great change; and though +she is amazingly fortunate--such a situation, I suppose, as no +young woman before ever met with on first going out--do not think us +ungrateful, Miss Woodhouse, for such surprising good fortune--(again +dispersing her tears)--but, poor dear soul! if you were to see what a +headache she has. When one is in great pain, you know one cannot feel +any blessing quite as it may deserve. She is as low as possible. To +look at her, nobody would think how delighted and happy she is to have +secured such a situation. You will excuse her not coming to you--she is +not able--she is gone into her own room--I want her to lie down upon the +bed. 'My dear,' said I, 'I shall say you are laid down upon the bed:' +but, however, she is not; she is walking about the room. But, now that +she has written her letters, she says she shall soon be well. She will +be extremely sorry to miss seeing you, Miss Woodhouse, but your +kindness will excuse her. You were kept waiting at the door--I was quite +ashamed--but somehow there was a little bustle--for it so happened that +we had not heard the knock, and till you were on the stairs, we did not +know any body was coming. 'It is only Mrs. Cole,' said I, 'depend upon +it. Nobody else would come so early.' 'Well,' said she, 'it must be +borne some time or other, and it may as well be now.' But then Patty +came in, and said it was you. 'Oh!' said I, 'it is Miss Woodhouse: I am +sure you will like to see her.'--'I can see nobody,' said she; and +up she got, and would go away; and that was what made us keep you +waiting--and extremely sorry and ashamed we were. 'If you must go, my +dear,' said I, 'you must, and I will say you are laid down upon the +bed.'" + +Emma was most sincerely interested. Her heart had been long growing +kinder towards Jane; and this picture of her present sufferings acted +as a cure of every former ungenerous suspicion, and left her nothing but +pity; and the remembrance of the less just and less gentle sensations of +the past, obliged her to admit that Jane might very naturally resolve on +seeing Mrs. Cole or any other steady friend, when she might not bear +to see herself. She spoke as she felt, with earnest regret and +solicitude--sincerely wishing that the circumstances which she collected +from Miss Bates to be now actually determined on, might be as much for +Miss Fairfax's advantage and comfort as possible. "It must be a severe +trial to them all. She had understood it was to be delayed till Colonel +Campbell's return." + +"So very kind!" replied Miss Bates. "But you are always kind." + +There was no bearing such an "always;" and to break through her dreadful +gratitude, Emma made the direct inquiry of-- + +"Where--may I ask?--is Miss Fairfax going?" + +"To a Mrs. Smallridge--charming woman--most superior--to have the charge +of her three little girls--delightful children. Impossible that any +situation could be more replete with comfort; if we except, perhaps, +Mrs. Suckling's own family, and Mrs. Bragge's; but Mrs. Smallridge is +intimate with both, and in the very same neighbourhood:--lives only four +miles from Maple Grove. Jane will be only four miles from Maple Grove." + +"Mrs. Elton, I suppose, has been the person to whom Miss Fairfax owes--" + +"Yes, our good Mrs. Elton. The most indefatigable, true friend. She +would not take a denial. She would not let Jane say, 'No;' for when Jane +first heard of it, (it was the day before yesterday, the very morning +we were at Donwell,) when Jane first heard of it, she was quite decided +against accepting the offer, and for the reasons you mention; exactly +as you say, she had made up her mind to close with nothing till Colonel +Campbell's return, and nothing should induce her to enter into any +engagement at present--and so she told Mrs. Elton over and over +again--and I am sure I had no more idea that she would change her +mind!--but that good Mrs. Elton, whose judgment never fails her, saw +farther than I did. It is not every body that would have stood out in +such a kind way as she did, and refuse to take Jane's answer; but she +positively declared she would _not_ write any such denial yesterday, as +Jane wished her; she would wait--and, sure enough, yesterday evening it +was all settled that Jane should go. Quite a surprize to me! I had not +the least idea!--Jane took Mrs. Elton aside, and told her at once, that +upon thinking over the advantages of Mrs. Smallridge's situation, she +had come to the resolution of accepting it.--I did not know a word of it +till it was all settled." + +"You spent the evening with Mrs. Elton?" + +"Yes, all of us; Mrs. Elton would have us come. It was settled so, upon +the hill, while we were walking about with Mr. Knightley. 'You _must_ +_all_ spend your evening with us,' said she--'I positively must have you +_all_ come.'" + +"Mr. Knightley was there too, was he?" + +"No, not Mr. Knightley; he declined it from the first; and though I +thought he would come, because Mrs. Elton declared she would not let him +off, he did not;--but my mother, and Jane, and I, were all there, and +a very agreeable evening we had. Such kind friends, you know, Miss +Woodhouse, one must always find agreeable, though every body seemed +rather fagged after the morning's party. Even pleasure, you know, is +fatiguing--and I cannot say that any of them seemed very much to have +enjoyed it. However, _I_ shall always think it a very pleasant party, +and feel extremely obliged to the kind friends who included me in it." + +"Miss Fairfax, I suppose, though you were not aware of it, had been +making up her mind the whole day?" + +"I dare say she had." + +"Whenever the time may come, it must be unwelcome to her and all her +friends--but I hope her engagement will have every alleviation that is +possible--I mean, as to the character and manners of the family." + +"Thank you, dear Miss Woodhouse. Yes, indeed, there is every thing +in the world that can make her happy in it. Except the Sucklings and +Bragges, there is not such another nursery establishment, so liberal +and elegant, in all Mrs. Elton's acquaintance. Mrs. Smallridge, a most +delightful woman!--A style of living almost equal to Maple Grove--and as +to the children, except the little Sucklings and little Bragges, there +are not such elegant sweet children anywhere. Jane will be treated with +such regard and kindness!--It will be nothing but pleasure, a life of +pleasure.--And her salary!--I really cannot venture to name her salary +to you, Miss Woodhouse. Even you, used as you are to great sums, would +hardly believe that so much could be given to a young person like Jane." + +"Ah! madam," cried Emma, "if other children are at all like what I +remember to have been myself, I should think five times the amount of +what I have ever yet heard named as a salary on such occasions, dearly +earned." + +"You are so noble in your ideas!" + +"And when is Miss Fairfax to leave you?" + +"Very soon, very soon, indeed; that's the worst of it. Within a +fortnight. Mrs. Smallridge is in a great hurry. My poor mother does not +know how to bear it. So then, I try to put it out of her thoughts, and +say, Come ma'am, do not let us think about it any more." + +"Her friends must all be sorry to lose her; and will not Colonel and +Mrs. Campbell be sorry to find that she has engaged herself before their +return?" + +"Yes; Jane says she is sure they will; but yet, this is such a situation +as she cannot feel herself justified in declining. I was so astonished +when she first told me what she had been saying to Mrs. Elton, and when +Mrs. Elton at the same moment came congratulating me upon it! It was +before tea--stay--no, it could not be before tea, because we were +just going to cards--and yet it was before tea, because I remember +thinking--Oh! no, now I recollect, now I have it; something happened +before tea, but not that. Mr. Elton was called out of the room before +tea, old John Abdy's son wanted to speak with him. Poor old John, I +have a great regard for him; he was clerk to my poor father twenty-seven +years; and now, poor old man, he is bed-ridden, and very poorly with the +rheumatic gout in his joints--I must go and see him to-day; and so will +Jane, I am sure, if she gets out at all. And poor John's son came to +talk to Mr. Elton about relief from the parish; he is very well to do +himself, you know, being head man at the Crown, ostler, and every thing +of that sort, but still he cannot keep his father without some help; +and so, when Mr. Elton came back, he told us what John ostler had been +telling him, and then it came out about the chaise having been sent to +Randalls to take Mr. Frank Churchill to Richmond. That was what happened +before tea. It was after tea that Jane spoke to Mrs. Elton." + +Miss Bates would hardly give Emma time to say how perfectly new this +circumstance was to her; but as without supposing it possible that she +could be ignorant of any of the particulars of Mr. Frank Churchill's +going, she proceeded to give them all, it was of no consequence. + +What Mr. Elton had learned from the ostler on the subject, being the +accumulation of the ostler's own knowledge, and the knowledge of the +servants at Randalls, was, that a messenger had come over from Richmond +soon after the return of the party from Box Hill--which messenger, +however, had been no more than was expected; and that Mr. Churchill had +sent his nephew a few lines, containing, upon the whole, a tolerable +account of Mrs. Churchill, and only wishing him not to delay coming +back beyond the next morning early; but that Mr. Frank Churchill having +resolved to go home directly, without waiting at all, and his horse +seeming to have got a cold, Tom had been sent off immediately for the +Crown chaise, and the ostler had stood out and seen it pass by, the boy +going a good pace, and driving very steady. + +There was nothing in all this either to astonish or interest, and it +caught Emma's attention only as it united with the subject which already +engaged her mind. The contrast between Mrs. Churchill's importance in +the world, and Jane Fairfax's, struck her; one was every thing, the +other nothing--and she sat musing on the difference of woman's destiny, +and quite unconscious on what her eyes were fixed, till roused by Miss +Bates's saying, + +"Aye, I see what you are thinking of, the pianoforte. What is to become +of that?--Very true. Poor dear Jane was talking of it just now.--'You +must go,' said she. 'You and I must part. You will have no business +here.--Let it stay, however,' said she; 'give it houseroom till Colonel +Campbell comes back. I shall talk about it to him; he will settle for +me; he will help me out of all my difficulties.'--And to this day, I do +believe, she knows not whether it was his present or his daughter's." + +Now Emma was obliged to think of the pianoforte; and the remembrance of +all her former fanciful and unfair conjectures was so little pleasing, +that she soon allowed herself to believe her visit had been long enough; +and, with a repetition of every thing that she could venture to say of +the good wishes which she really felt, took leave. + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Emma's pensive meditations, as she walked home, were not interrupted; +but on entering the parlour, she found those who must rouse her. Mr. +Knightley and Harriet had arrived during her absence, and were sitting +with her father.--Mr. Knightley immediately got up, and in a manner +decidedly graver than usual, said, + +"I would not go away without seeing you, but I have no time to spare, +and therefore must now be gone directly. I am going to London, to spend +a few days with John and Isabella. Have you any thing to send or say, +besides the 'love,' which nobody carries?" + +"Nothing at all. But is not this a sudden scheme?" + +"Yes--rather--I have been thinking of it some little time." + +Emma was sure he had not forgiven her; he looked unlike himself. Time, +however, she thought, would tell him that they ought to be friends +again. While he stood, as if meaning to go, but not going--her father +began his inquiries. + +"Well, my dear, and did you get there safely?--And how did you find my +worthy old friend and her daughter?--I dare say they must have been very +much obliged to you for coming. Dear Emma has been to call on Mrs. +and Miss Bates, Mr. Knightley, as I told you before. She is always so +attentive to them!" + +Emma's colour was heightened by this unjust praise; and with a +smile, and shake of the head, which spoke much, she looked at Mr. +Knightley.--It seemed as if there were an instantaneous impression in +her favour, as if his eyes received the truth from her's, and all that +had passed of good in her feelings were at once caught and honoured.-- +He looked at her with a glow of regard. She was warmly gratified--and in +another moment still more so, by a little movement of more than common +friendliness on his part.--He took her hand;--whether she had not +herself made the first motion, she could not say--she might, perhaps, +have rather offered it--but he took her hand, pressed it, and certainly +was on the point of carrying it to his lips--when, from some fancy or +other, he suddenly let it go.--Why he should feel such a scruple, why +he should change his mind when it was all but done, she could not +perceive.--He would have judged better, she thought, if he had not +stopped.--The intention, however, was indubitable; and whether it was +that his manners had in general so little gallantry, or however else it +happened, but she thought nothing became him more.--It was with him, +of so simple, yet so dignified a nature.--She could not but recall the +attempt with great satisfaction. It spoke such perfect amity.--He left +them immediately afterwards--gone in a moment. He always moved with the +alertness of a mind which could neither be undecided nor dilatory, but +now he seemed more sudden than usual in his disappearance. + +Emma could not regret her having gone to Miss Bates, but she wished she +had left her ten minutes earlier;--it would have been a great pleasure +to talk over Jane Fairfax's situation with Mr. Knightley.--Neither +would she regret that he should be going to Brunswick Square, for she +knew how much his visit would be enjoyed--but it might have happened +at a better time--and to have had longer notice of it, would have been +pleasanter.--They parted thorough friends, however; she could not +be deceived as to the meaning of his countenance, and his unfinished +gallantry;--it was all done to assure her that she had fully recovered +his good opinion.--He had been sitting with them half an hour, she +found. It was a pity that she had not come back earlier! + +In the hope of diverting her father's thoughts from the disagreeableness +of Mr. Knightley's going to London; and going so suddenly; and going on +horseback, which she knew would be all very bad; Emma communicated her +news of Jane Fairfax, and her dependence on the effect was justified; +it supplied a very useful check,--interested, without disturbing him. He +had long made up his mind to Jane Fairfax's going out as governess, and +could talk of it cheerfully, but Mr. Knightley's going to London had +been an unexpected blow. + +"I am very glad, indeed, my dear, to hear she is to be so comfortably +settled. Mrs. Elton is very good-natured and agreeable, and I dare say +her acquaintance are just what they ought to be. I hope it is a dry +situation, and that her health will be taken good care of. It ought to +be a first object, as I am sure poor Miss Taylor's always was with me. +You know, my dear, she is going to be to this new lady what Miss Taylor +was to us. And I hope she will be better off in one respect, and not be +induced to go away after it has been her home so long." + +The following day brought news from Richmond to throw every thing else +into the background. An express arrived at Randalls to announce the +death of Mrs. Churchill! Though her nephew had had no particular reason +to hasten back on her account, she had not lived above six-and-thirty +hours after his return. A sudden seizure of a different nature from any +thing foreboded by her general state, had carried her off after a short +struggle. The great Mrs. Churchill was no more. + +It was felt as such things must be felt. Every body had a degree of +gravity and sorrow; tenderness towards the departed, solicitude for the +surviving friends; and, in a reasonable time, curiosity to know where +she would be buried. Goldsmith tells us, that when lovely woman stoops +to folly, she has nothing to do but to die; and when she stoops to be +disagreeable, it is equally to be recommended as a clearer of ill-fame. +Mrs. Churchill, after being disliked at least twenty-five years, was +now spoken of with compassionate allowances. In one point she was fully +justified. She had never been admitted before to be seriously ill. The +event acquitted her of all the fancifulness, and all the selfishness of +imaginary complaints. + +"Poor Mrs. Churchill! no doubt she had been suffering a great deal: +more than any body had ever supposed--and continual pain would try the +temper. It was a sad event--a great shock--with all her faults, what +would Mr. Churchill do without her? Mr. Churchill's loss would be +dreadful indeed. Mr. Churchill would never get over it."--Even Mr. +Weston shook his head, and looked solemn, and said, "Ah! poor woman, +who would have thought it!" and resolved, that his mourning should be as +handsome as possible; and his wife sat sighing and moralising over her +broad hems with a commiseration and good sense, true and steady. How it +would affect Frank was among the earliest thoughts of both. It was also +a very early speculation with Emma. The character of Mrs. Churchill, +the grief of her husband--her mind glanced over them both with awe and +compassion--and then rested with lightened feelings on how Frank might +be affected by the event, how benefited, how freed. She saw in a moment +all the possible good. Now, an attachment to Harriet Smith would have +nothing to encounter. Mr. Churchill, independent of his wife, was feared +by nobody; an easy, guidable man, to be persuaded into any thing by his +nephew. All that remained to be wished was, that the nephew should form +the attachment, as, with all her goodwill in the cause, Emma could feel +no certainty of its being already formed. + +Harriet behaved extremely well on the occasion, with great self-command. +What ever she might feel of brighter hope, she betrayed nothing. Emma +was gratified, to observe such a proof in her of strengthened character, +and refrained from any allusion that might endanger its maintenance. +They spoke, therefore, of Mrs. Churchill's death with mutual +forbearance. + +Short letters from Frank were received at Randalls, communicating all +that was immediately important of their state and plans. Mr. Churchill +was better than could be expected; and their first removal, on the +departure of the funeral for Yorkshire, was to be to the house of a very +old friend in Windsor, to whom Mr. Churchill had been promising a +visit the last ten years. At present, there was nothing to be done for +Harriet; good wishes for the future were all that could yet be possible +on Emma's side. + +It was a more pressing concern to shew attention to Jane Fairfax, whose +prospects were closing, while Harriet's opened, and whose engagements +now allowed of no delay in any one at Highbury, who wished to shew her +kindness--and with Emma it was grown into a first wish. She had scarcely +a stronger regret than for her past coldness; and the person, whom she +had been so many months neglecting, was now the very one on whom she +would have lavished every distinction of regard or sympathy. She wanted +to be of use to her; wanted to shew a value for her society, and testify +respect and consideration. She resolved to prevail on her to spend a day +at Hartfield. A note was written to urge it. The invitation was refused, +and by a verbal message. "Miss Fairfax was not well enough to write;" +and when Mr. Perry called at Hartfield, the same morning, it appeared +that she was so much indisposed as to have been visited, though against +her own consent, by himself, and that she was suffering under severe +headaches, and a nervous fever to a degree, which made him doubt the +possibility of her going to Mrs. Smallridge's at the time proposed. +Her health seemed for the moment completely deranged--appetite quite +gone--and though there were no absolutely alarming symptoms, nothing +touching the pulmonary complaint, which was the standing apprehension +of the family, Mr. Perry was uneasy about her. He thought she had +undertaken more than she was equal to, and that she felt it so herself, +though she would not own it. Her spirits seemed overcome. Her +present home, he could not but observe, was unfavourable to a nervous +disorder:--confined always to one room;--he could have wished it +otherwise--and her good aunt, though his very old friend, he must +acknowledge to be not the best companion for an invalid of that +description. Her care and attention could not be questioned; they were, +in fact, only too great. He very much feared that Miss Fairfax derived +more evil than good from them. Emma listened with the warmest concern; +grieved for her more and more, and looked around eager to discover some +way of being useful. To take her--be it only an hour or two--from +her aunt, to give her change of air and scene, and quiet rational +conversation, even for an hour or two, might do her good; and the +following morning she wrote again to say, in the most feeling language +she could command, that she would call for her in the carriage at any +hour that Jane would name--mentioning that she had Mr. Perry's decided +opinion, in favour of such exercise for his patient. The answer was only +in this short note: + +"Miss Fairfax's compliments and thanks, but is quite unequal to any +exercise." + +Emma felt that her own note had deserved something better; but it was +impossible to quarrel with words, whose tremulous inequality shewed +indisposition so plainly, and she thought only of how she might best +counteract this unwillingness to be seen or assisted. In spite of the +answer, therefore, she ordered the carriage, and drove to Mrs. Bates's, +in the hope that Jane would be induced to join her--but it would not +do;--Miss Bates came to the carriage door, all gratitude, and agreeing +with her most earnestly in thinking an airing might be of the greatest +service--and every thing that message could do was tried--but all in +vain. Miss Bates was obliged to return without success; Jane was +quite unpersuadable; the mere proposal of going out seemed to make her +worse.--Emma wished she could have seen her, and tried her own powers; +but, almost before she could hint the wish, Miss Bates made it appear +that she had promised her niece on no account to let Miss Woodhouse in. +"Indeed, the truth was, that poor dear Jane could not bear to see any +body--any body at all--Mrs. Elton, indeed, could not be denied--and +Mrs. Cole had made such a point--and Mrs. Perry had said so much--but, +except them, Jane would really see nobody." + +Emma did not want to be classed with the Mrs. Eltons, the Mrs. Perrys, +and the Mrs. Coles, who would force themselves anywhere; neither could +she feel any right of preference herself--she submitted, therefore, and +only questioned Miss Bates farther as to her niece's appetite and diet, +which she longed to be able to assist. On that subject poor Miss Bates +was very unhappy, and very communicative; Jane would hardly eat any +thing:--Mr. Perry recommended nourishing food; but every thing +they could command (and never had any body such good neighbours) was +distasteful. + +Emma, on reaching home, called the housekeeper directly, to an +examination of her stores; and some arrowroot of very superior quality +was speedily despatched to Miss Bates with a most friendly note. In half +an hour the arrowroot was returned, with a thousand thanks from Miss +Bates, but "dear Jane would not be satisfied without its being sent +back; it was a thing she could not take--and, moreover, she insisted on +her saying, that she was not at all in want of any thing." + +When Emma afterwards heard that Jane Fairfax had been seen wandering +about the meadows, at some distance from Highbury, on the afternoon of +the very day on which she had, under the plea of being unequal to any +exercise, so peremptorily refused to go out with her in the carriage, +she could have no doubt--putting every thing together--that Jane was +resolved to receive no kindness from _her_. She was sorry, very sorry. +Her heart was grieved for a state which seemed but the more pitiable +from this sort of irritation of spirits, inconsistency of action, and +inequality of powers; and it mortified her that she was given so little +credit for proper feeling, or esteemed so little worthy as a friend: but +she had the consolation of knowing that her intentions were good, and of +being able to say to herself, that could Mr. Knightley have been privy +to all her attempts of assisting Jane Fairfax, could he even have seen +into her heart, he would not, on this occasion, have found any thing to +reprove. + + + +CHAPTER X + + +One morning, about ten days after Mrs. Churchill's decease, Emma was +called downstairs to Mr. Weston, who "could not stay five minutes, +and wanted particularly to speak with her."--He met her at the +parlour-door, and hardly asking her how she did, in the natural key of +his voice, sunk it immediately, to say, unheard by her father, + +"Can you come to Randalls at any time this morning?--Do, if it be +possible. Mrs. Weston wants to see you. She must see you." + +"Is she unwell?" + +"No, no, not at all--only a little agitated. She would have ordered the +carriage, and come to you, but she must see you _alone_, and that you +know--(nodding towards her father)--Humph!--Can you come?" + +"Certainly. This moment, if you please. It is impossible to refuse what +you ask in such a way. But what can be the matter?--Is she really not +ill?" + +"Depend upon me--but ask no more questions. You will know it all in +time. The most unaccountable business! But hush, hush!" + +To guess what all this meant, was impossible even for Emma. Something +really important seemed announced by his looks; but, as her friend was +well, she endeavoured not to be uneasy, and settling it with her father, +that she would take her walk now, she and Mr. Weston were soon out of +the house together and on their way at a quick pace for Randalls. + +"Now,"--said Emma, when they were fairly beyond the sweep gates,--"now +Mr. Weston, do let me know what has happened." + +"No, no,"--he gravely replied.--"Don't ask me. I promised my wife to +leave it all to her. She will break it to you better than I can. Do not +be impatient, Emma; it will all come out too soon." + +"Break it to me," cried Emma, standing still with terror.--"Good +God!--Mr. Weston, tell me at once.--Something has happened in Brunswick +Square. I know it has. Tell me, I charge you tell me this moment what it +is." + +"No, indeed you are mistaken."-- + +"Mr. Weston do not trifle with me.--Consider how many of my dearest +friends are now in Brunswick Square. Which of them is it?--I charge you +by all that is sacred, not to attempt concealment." + +"Upon my word, Emma."-- + +"Your word!--why not your honour!--why not say upon your honour, that +it has nothing to do with any of them? Good Heavens!--What can be to be +_broke_ to me, that does not relate to one of that family?" + +"Upon my honour," said he very seriously, "it does not. It is not in +the smallest degree connected with any human being of the name of +Knightley." + +Emma's courage returned, and she walked on. + +"I was wrong," he continued, "in talking of its being _broke_ to you. +I should not have used the expression. In fact, it does not concern +you--it concerns only myself,--that is, we hope.--Humph!--In short, my +dear Emma, there is no occasion to be so uneasy about it. I don't +say that it is not a disagreeable business--but things might be much +worse.--If we walk fast, we shall soon be at Randalls." + +Emma found that she must wait; and now it required little effort. She +asked no more questions therefore, merely employed her own fancy, and +that soon pointed out to her the probability of its being some money +concern--something just come to light, of a disagreeable nature in the +circumstances of the family,--something which the late event at Richmond +had brought forward. Her fancy was very active. Half a dozen natural +children, perhaps--and poor Frank cut off!--This, though very +undesirable, would be no matter of agony to her. It inspired little more +than an animating curiosity. + +"Who is that gentleman on horseback?" said she, as they +proceeded--speaking more to assist Mr. Weston in keeping his secret, +than with any other view. + +"I do not know.--One of the Otways.--Not Frank;--it is not Frank, I +assure you. You will not see him. He is half way to Windsor by this +time." + +"Has your son been with you, then?" + +"Oh! yes--did not you know?--Well, well, never mind." + +For a moment he was silent; and then added, in a tone much more guarded +and demure, + +"Yes, Frank came over this morning, just to ask us how we did." + +They hurried on, and were speedily at Randalls.--"Well, my dear," said +he, as they entered the room--"I have brought her, and now I hope you +will soon be better. I shall leave you together. There is no use in +delay. I shall not be far off, if you want me."--And Emma distinctly +heard him add, in a lower tone, before he quitted the room,--"I have +been as good as my word. She has not the least idea." + +Mrs. Weston was looking so ill, and had an air of so much perturbation, +that Emma's uneasiness increased; and the moment they were alone, she +eagerly said, + +"What is it my dear friend? Something of a very unpleasant nature, I +find, has occurred;--do let me know directly what it is. I have been +walking all this way in complete suspense. We both abhor suspense. +Do not let mine continue longer. It will do you good to speak of your +distress, whatever it may be." + +"Have you indeed no idea?" said Mrs. Weston in a trembling voice. +"Cannot you, my dear Emma--cannot you form a guess as to what you are to +hear?" + +"So far as that it relates to Mr. Frank Churchill, I do guess." + +"You are right. It does relate to him, and I will tell you directly;" +(resuming her work, and seeming resolved against looking up.) "He has +been here this very morning, on a most extraordinary errand. It is +impossible to express our surprize. He came to speak to his father on a +subject,--to announce an attachment--" + +She stopped to breathe. Emma thought first of herself, and then of +Harriet. + +"More than an attachment, indeed," resumed Mrs. Weston; "an +engagement--a positive engagement.--What will you say, Emma--what will +any body say, when it is known that Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax are +engaged;--nay, that they have been long engaged!" + +Emma even jumped with surprize;--and, horror-struck, exclaimed, + +"Jane Fairfax!--Good God! You are not serious? You do not mean it?" + +"You may well be amazed," returned Mrs. Weston, still averting her eyes, +and talking on with eagerness, that Emma might have time to recover-- +"You may well be amazed. But it is even so. There has been a solemn +engagement between them ever since October--formed at Weymouth, and +kept a secret from every body. Not a creature knowing it but +themselves--neither the Campbells, nor her family, nor his.--It is so +wonderful, that though perfectly convinced of the fact, it is yet almost +incredible to myself. I can hardly believe it.--I thought I knew him." + +Emma scarcely heard what was said.--Her mind was divided between two +ideas--her own former conversations with him about Miss Fairfax; and +poor Harriet;--and for some time she could only exclaim, and require +confirmation, repeated confirmation. + +"Well," said she at last, trying to recover herself; "this is a +circumstance which I must think of at least half a day, before I can at +all comprehend it. What!--engaged to her all the winter--before either +of them came to Highbury?" + +"Engaged since October,--secretly engaged.--It has hurt me, Emma, very +much. It has hurt his father equally. _Some_ _part_ of his conduct we +cannot excuse." + +Emma pondered a moment, and then replied, "I will not pretend _not_ to +understand you; and to give you all the relief in my power, be assured +that no such effect has followed his attentions to me, as you are +apprehensive of." + +Mrs. Weston looked up, afraid to believe; but Emma's countenance was as +steady as her words. + +"That you may have less difficulty in believing this boast, of my +present perfect indifference," she continued, "I will farther tell you, +that there was a period in the early part of our acquaintance, when I +did like him, when I was very much disposed to be attached to him--nay, +was attached--and how it came to cease, is perhaps the wonder. +Fortunately, however, it did cease. I have really for some time past, +for at least these three months, cared nothing about him. You may +believe me, Mrs. Weston. This is the simple truth." + +Mrs. Weston kissed her with tears of joy; and when she could find +utterance, assured her, that this protestation had done her more good +than any thing else in the world could do. + +"Mr. Weston will be almost as much relieved as myself," said she. "On +this point we have been wretched. It was our darling wish that you +might be attached to each other--and we were persuaded that it was so.-- +Imagine what we have been feeling on your account." + +"I have escaped; and that I should escape, may be a matter of grateful +wonder to you and myself. But this does not acquit _him_, Mrs. Weston; +and I must say, that I think him greatly to blame. What right had he +to come among us with affection and faith engaged, and with manners +so _very_ disengaged? What right had he to endeavour to please, as +he certainly did--to distinguish any one young woman with persevering +attention, as he certainly did--while he really belonged to +another?--How could he tell what mischief he might be doing?--How could +he tell that he might not be making me in love with him?--very wrong, +very wrong indeed." + +"From something that he said, my dear Emma, I rather imagine--" + +"And how could _she_ bear such behaviour! Composure with a witness! +to look on, while repeated attentions were offering to another woman, +before her face, and not resent it.--That is a degree of placidity, +which I can neither comprehend nor respect." + +"There were misunderstandings between them, Emma; he said so expressly. +He had not time to enter into much explanation. He was here only a +quarter of an hour, and in a state of agitation which did not allow +the full use even of the time he could stay--but that there had been +misunderstandings he decidedly said. The present crisis, indeed, +seemed to be brought on by them; and those misunderstandings might very +possibly arise from the impropriety of his conduct." + +"Impropriety! Oh! Mrs. Weston--it is too calm a censure. Much, much +beyond impropriety!--It has sunk him, I cannot say how it has sunk him +in my opinion. So unlike what a man should be!--None of that upright +integrity, that strict adherence to truth and principle, that disdain of +trick and littleness, which a man should display in every transaction of +his life." + +"Nay, dear Emma, now I must take his part; for though he has been wrong +in this instance, I have known him long enough to answer for his having +many, very many, good qualities; and--" + +"Good God!" cried Emma, not attending to her.--"Mrs. Smallridge, too! +Jane actually on the point of going as governess! What could he mean by +such horrible indelicacy? To suffer her to engage herself--to suffer her +even to think of such a measure!" + +"He knew nothing about it, Emma. On this article I can fully acquit +him. It was a private resolution of hers, not communicated to him--or at +least not communicated in a way to carry conviction.--Till yesterday, I +know he said he was in the dark as to her plans. They burst on him, I do +not know how, but by some letter or message--and it was the discovery of +what she was doing, of this very project of hers, which determined him +to come forward at once, own it all to his uncle, throw himself on +his kindness, and, in short, put an end to the miserable state of +concealment that had been carrying on so long." + +Emma began to listen better. + +"I am to hear from him soon," continued Mrs. Weston. "He told me at +parting, that he should soon write; and he spoke in a manner which +seemed to promise me many particulars that could not be given now. Let +us wait, therefore, for this letter. It may bring many extenuations. It +may make many things intelligible and excusable which now are not to +be understood. Don't let us be severe, don't let us be in a hurry to +condemn him. Let us have patience. I must love him; and now that I am +satisfied on one point, the one material point, I am sincerely anxious +for its all turning out well, and ready to hope that it may. They must +both have suffered a great deal under such a system of secresy and +concealment." + +"_His_ sufferings," replied Emma dryly, "do not appear to have done him +much harm. Well, and how did Mr. Churchill take it?" + +"Most favourably for his nephew--gave his consent with scarcely a +difficulty. Conceive what the events of a week have done in that family! +While poor Mrs. Churchill lived, I suppose there could not have been a +hope, a chance, a possibility;--but scarcely are her remains at rest in +the family vault, than her husband is persuaded to act exactly opposite +to what she would have required. What a blessing it is, when undue +influence does not survive the grave!--He gave his consent with very +little persuasion." + +"Ah!" thought Emma, "he would have done as much for Harriet." + +"This was settled last night, and Frank was off with the light this +morning. He stopped at Highbury, at the Bates's, I fancy, some time--and +then came on hither; but was in such a hurry to get back to his uncle, +to whom he is just now more necessary than ever, that, as I tell you, +he could stay with us but a quarter of an hour.--He was very much +agitated--very much, indeed--to a degree that made him appear quite +a different creature from any thing I had ever seen him before.--In +addition to all the rest, there had been the shock of finding her so +very unwell, which he had had no previous suspicion of--and there was +every appearance of his having been feeling a great deal." + +"And do you really believe the affair to have been carrying on with such +perfect secresy?--The Campbells, the Dixons, did none of them know of +the engagement?" + +Emma could not speak the name of Dixon without a little blush. + +"None; not one. He positively said that it had been known to no being in +the world but their two selves." + +"Well," said Emma, "I suppose we shall gradually grow reconciled to the +idea, and I wish them very happy. But I shall always think it a +very abominable sort of proceeding. What has it been but a system of +hypocrisy and deceit,--espionage, and treachery?--To come among us with +professions of openness and simplicity; and such a league in secret +to judge us all!--Here have we been, the whole winter and spring, +completely duped, fancying ourselves all on an equal footing of truth +and honour, with two people in the midst of us who may have been +carrying round, comparing and sitting in judgment on sentiments and +words that were never meant for both to hear.--They must take the +consequence, if they have heard each other spoken of in a way not +perfectly agreeable!" + +"I am quite easy on that head," replied Mrs. Weston. "I am very sure +that I never said any thing of either to the other, which both might not +have heard." + +"You are in luck.--Your only blunder was confined to my ear, when you +imagined a certain friend of ours in love with the lady." + +"True. But as I have always had a thoroughly good opinion of Miss +Fairfax, I never could, under any blunder, have spoken ill of her; and +as to speaking ill of him, there I must have been safe." + +At this moment Mr. Weston appeared at a little distance from the window, +evidently on the watch. His wife gave him a look which invited him +in; and, while he was coming round, added, "Now, dearest Emma, let me +intreat you to say and look every thing that may set his heart at ease, +and incline him to be satisfied with the match. Let us make the best of +it--and, indeed, almost every thing may be fairly said in her favour. It +is not a connexion to gratify; but if Mr. Churchill does not feel that, +why should we? and it may be a very fortunate circumstance for him, for +Frank, I mean, that he should have attached himself to a girl of such +steadiness of character and good judgment as I have always given her +credit for--and still am disposed to give her credit for, in spite of +this one great deviation from the strict rule of right. And how much may +be said in her situation for even that error!" + +"Much, indeed!" cried Emma feelingly. "If a woman can ever be +excused for thinking only of herself, it is in a situation like Jane +Fairfax's.--Of such, one may almost say, that 'the world is not their's, +nor the world's law.'" + +She met Mr. Weston on his entrance, with a smiling countenance, +exclaiming, + +"A very pretty trick you have been playing me, upon my word! This was a +device, I suppose, to sport with my curiosity, and exercise my talent of +guessing. But you really frightened me. I thought you had lost half +your property, at least. And here, instead of its being a matter of +condolence, it turns out to be one of congratulation.--I congratulate +you, Mr. Weston, with all my heart, on the prospect of having one of the +most lovely and accomplished young women in England for your daughter." + +A glance or two between him and his wife, convinced him that all was as +right as this speech proclaimed; and its happy effect on his spirits was +immediate. His air and voice recovered their usual briskness: he shook +her heartily and gratefully by the hand, and entered on the subject in +a manner to prove, that he now only wanted time and persuasion to think +the engagement no very bad thing. His companions suggested only what +could palliate imprudence, or smooth objections; and by the time they +had talked it all over together, and he had talked it all over again +with Emma, in their walk back to Hartfield, he was become perfectly +reconciled, and not far from thinking it the very best thing that Frank +could possibly have done. + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +"Harriet, poor Harriet!"--Those were the words; in them lay the +tormenting ideas which Emma could not get rid of, and which constituted +the real misery of the business to her. Frank Churchill had behaved very +ill by herself--very ill in many ways,--but it was not so much _his_ +behaviour as her _own_, which made her so angry with him. It was the +scrape which he had drawn her into on Harriet's account, that gave the +deepest hue to his offence.--Poor Harriet! to be a second time the +dupe of her misconceptions and flattery. Mr. Knightley had spoken +prophetically, when he once said, "Emma, you have been no friend +to Harriet Smith."--She was afraid she had done her nothing but +disservice.--It was true that she had not to charge herself, in this +instance as in the former, with being the sole and original author of +the mischief; with having suggested such feelings as might otherwise +never have entered Harriet's imagination; for Harriet had acknowledged +her admiration and preference of Frank Churchill before she had ever +given her a hint on the subject; but she felt completely guilty +of having encouraged what she might have repressed. She might have +prevented the indulgence and increase of such sentiments. Her influence +would have been enough. And now she was very conscious that she ought +to have prevented them.--She felt that she had been risking her friend's +happiness on most insufficient grounds. Common sense would have directed +her to tell Harriet, that she must not allow herself to think of him, +and that there were five hundred chances to one against his ever caring +for her.--"But, with common sense," she added, "I am afraid I have had +little to do." + +She was extremely angry with herself. If she could not have been angry +with Frank Churchill too, it would have been dreadful.--As for Jane +Fairfax, she might at least relieve her feelings from any present +solicitude on her account. Harriet would be anxiety enough; she need +no longer be unhappy about Jane, whose troubles and whose ill-health +having, of course, the same origin, must be equally under cure.--Her +days of insignificance and evil were over.--She would soon be well, and +happy, and prosperous.--Emma could now imagine why her own attentions +had been slighted. This discovery laid many smaller matters open. No +doubt it had been from jealousy.--In Jane's eyes she had been a rival; +and well might any thing she could offer of assistance or regard be +repulsed. An airing in the Hartfield carriage would have been the rack, +and arrowroot from the Hartfield storeroom must have been poison. She +understood it all; and as far as her mind could disengage itself from +the injustice and selfishness of angry feelings, she acknowledged that +Jane Fairfax would have neither elevation nor happiness beyond her +desert. But poor Harriet was such an engrossing charge! There was little +sympathy to be spared for any body else. Emma was sadly fearful +that this second disappointment would be more severe than the first. +Considering the very superior claims of the object, it ought; and +judging by its apparently stronger effect on Harriet's mind, producing +reserve and self-command, it would.--She must communicate the painful +truth, however, and as soon as possible. An injunction of secresy had +been among Mr. Weston's parting words. "For the present, the whole +affair was to be completely a secret. Mr. Churchill had made a point of +it, as a token of respect to the wife he had so very recently lost; +and every body admitted it to be no more than due decorum."--Emma had +promised; but still Harriet must be excepted. It was her superior duty. + +In spite of her vexation, she could not help feeling it almost +ridiculous, that she should have the very same distressing and delicate +office to perform by Harriet, which Mrs. Weston had just gone through by +herself. The intelligence, which had been so anxiously announced to her, +she was now to be anxiously announcing to another. Her heart beat quick +on hearing Harriet's footstep and voice; so, she supposed, had poor Mrs. +Weston felt when _she_ was approaching Randalls. Could the event of +the disclosure bear an equal resemblance!--But of that, unfortunately, +there could be no chance. + +"Well, Miss Woodhouse!" cried Harriet, coming eagerly into the room--"is +not this the oddest news that ever was?" + +"What news do you mean?" replied Emma, unable to guess, by look or +voice, whether Harriet could indeed have received any hint. + +"About Jane Fairfax. Did you ever hear any thing so strange? Oh!--you +need not be afraid of owning it to me, for Mr. Weston has told me +himself. I met him just now. He told me it was to be a great secret; +and, therefore, I should not think of mentioning it to any body but you, +but he said you knew it." + +"What did Mr. Weston tell you?"--said Emma, still perplexed. + +"Oh! he told me all about it; that Jane Fairfax and Mr. Frank Churchill +are to be married, and that they have been privately engaged to one +another this long while. How very odd!" + +It was, indeed, so odd; Harriet's behaviour was so extremely odd, +that Emma did not know how to understand it. Her character appeared +absolutely changed. She seemed to propose shewing no agitation, or +disappointment, or peculiar concern in the discovery. Emma looked at +her, quite unable to speak. + +"Had you any idea," cried Harriet, "of his being in love with her?--You, +perhaps, might.--You (blushing as she spoke) who can see into every +body's heart; but nobody else--" + +"Upon my word," said Emma, "I begin to doubt my having any such talent. +Can you seriously ask me, Harriet, whether I imagined him attached +to another woman at the very time that I was--tacitly, if not +openly--encouraging you to give way to your own feelings?--I never +had the slightest suspicion, till within the last hour, of Mr. Frank +Churchill's having the least regard for Jane Fairfax. You may be very +sure that if I had, I should have cautioned you accordingly." + +"Me!" cried Harriet, colouring, and astonished. "Why should you caution +me?--You do not think I care about Mr. Frank Churchill." + +"I am delighted to hear you speak so stoutly on the subject," replied +Emma, smiling; "but you do not mean to deny that there was a time--and +not very distant either--when you gave me reason to understand that you +did care about him?" + +"Him!--never, never. Dear Miss Woodhouse, how could you so mistake me?" +turning away distressed. + +"Harriet!" cried Emma, after a moment's pause--"What do you mean?--Good +Heaven! what do you mean?--Mistake you!--Am I to suppose then?--" + +She could not speak another word.--Her voice was lost; and she sat down, +waiting in great terror till Harriet should answer. + +Harriet, who was standing at some distance, and with face turned from +her, did not immediately say any thing; and when she did speak, it was +in a voice nearly as agitated as Emma's. + +"I should not have thought it possible," she began, "that you could have +misunderstood me! I know we agreed never to name him--but considering +how infinitely superior he is to every body else, I should not have +thought it possible that I could be supposed to mean any other person. +Mr. Frank Churchill, indeed! I do not know who would ever look at him in +the company of the other. I hope I have a better taste than to think of +Mr. Frank Churchill, who is like nobody by his side. And that you should +have been so mistaken, is amazing!--I am sure, but for believing that +you entirely approved and meant to encourage me in my attachment, I +should have considered it at first too great a presumption almost, +to dare to think of him. At first, if you had not told me that more +wonderful things had happened; that there had been matches of greater +disparity (those were your very words);--I should not have dared to +give way to--I should not have thought it possible--But if _you_, who +had been always acquainted with him--" + +"Harriet!" cried Emma, collecting herself resolutely--"Let us understand +each other now, without the possibility of farther mistake. Are you +speaking of--Mr. Knightley?" + +"To be sure I am. I never could have an idea of any body else--and so +I thought you knew. When we talked about him, it was as clear as +possible." + +"Not quite," returned Emma, with forced calmness, "for all that you then +said, appeared to me to relate to a different person. I could almost +assert that you had _named_ Mr. Frank Churchill. I am sure the service +Mr. Frank Churchill had rendered you, in protecting you from the +gipsies, was spoken of." + +"Oh! Miss Woodhouse, how you do forget!" + +"My dear Harriet, I perfectly remember the substance of what I said on +the occasion. I told you that I did not wonder at your attachment; +that considering the service he had rendered you, it was extremely +natural:--and you agreed to it, expressing yourself very warmly as to +your sense of that service, and mentioning even what your sensations had +been in seeing him come forward to your rescue.--The impression of it is +strong on my memory." + +"Oh, dear," cried Harriet, "now I recollect what you mean; but I +was thinking of something very different at the time. It was not the +gipsies--it was not Mr. Frank Churchill that I meant. No! (with some +elevation) I was thinking of a much more precious circumstance--of Mr. +Knightley's coming and asking me to dance, when Mr. Elton would not +stand up with me; and when there was no other partner in the room. That +was the kind action; that was the noble benevolence and generosity; that +was the service which made me begin to feel how superior he was to every +other being upon earth." + +"Good God!" cried Emma, "this has been a most unfortunate--most +deplorable mistake!--What is to be done?" + +"You would not have encouraged me, then, if you had understood me? At +least, however, I cannot be worse off than I should have been, if the +other had been the person; and now--it _is_ possible--" + +She paused a few moments. Emma could not speak. + +"I do not wonder, Miss Woodhouse," she resumed, "that you should feel a +great difference between the two, as to me or as to any body. You must +think one five hundred million times more above me than the other. But +I hope, Miss Woodhouse, that supposing--that if--strange as it may +appear--. But you know they were your own words, that _more_ wonderful +things had happened, matches of _greater_ disparity had taken place than +between Mr. Frank Churchill and me; and, therefore, it seems as if such +a thing even as this, may have occurred before--and if I should be so +fortunate, beyond expression, as to--if Mr. Knightley should really--if +_he_ does not mind the disparity, I hope, dear Miss Woodhouse, you will +not set yourself against it, and try to put difficulties in the way. But +you are too good for that, I am sure." + +Harriet was standing at one of the windows. Emma turned round to look at +her in consternation, and hastily said, + +"Have you any idea of Mr. Knightley's returning your affection?" + +"Yes," replied Harriet modestly, but not fearfully--"I must say that I +have." + +Emma's eyes were instantly withdrawn; and she sat silently meditating, +in a fixed attitude, for a few minutes. A few minutes were sufficient +for making her acquainted with her own heart. A mind like hers, +once opening to suspicion, made rapid progress. She touched--she +admitted--she acknowledged the whole truth. Why was it so much worse +that Harriet should be in love with Mr. Knightley, than with Frank +Churchill? Why was the evil so dreadfully increased by Harriet's having +some hope of a return? It darted through her, with the speed of an +arrow, that Mr. Knightley must marry no one but herself! + +Her own conduct, as well as her own heart, was before her in the same +few minutes. She saw it all with a clearness which had never blessed +her before. How improperly had she been acting by Harriet! How +inconsiderate, how indelicate, how irrational, how unfeeling had been +her conduct! What blindness, what madness, had led her on! It struck her +with dreadful force, and she was ready to give it every bad name in the +world. Some portion of respect for herself, however, in spite of all +these demerits--some concern for her own appearance, and a strong sense +of justice by Harriet--(there would be no need of _compassion_ to the +girl who believed herself loved by Mr. Knightley--but justice required +that she should not be made unhappy by any coldness now,) gave Emma the +resolution to sit and endure farther with calmness, with even apparent +kindness.--For her own advantage indeed, it was fit that the utmost +extent of Harriet's hopes should be enquired into; and Harriet had done +nothing to forfeit the regard and interest which had been so voluntarily +formed and maintained--or to deserve to be slighted by the person, whose +counsels had never led her right.--Rousing from reflection, therefore, +and subduing her emotion, she turned to Harriet again, and, in a more +inviting accent, renewed the conversation; for as to the subject which +had first introduced it, the wonderful story of Jane Fairfax, that was +quite sunk and lost.--Neither of them thought but of Mr. Knightley and +themselves. + +Harriet, who had been standing in no unhappy reverie, was yet very glad +to be called from it, by the now encouraging manner of such a judge, and +such a friend as Miss Woodhouse, and only wanted invitation, to give +the history of her hopes with great, though trembling delight.--Emma's +tremblings as she asked, and as she listened, were better concealed than +Harriet's, but they were not less. Her voice was not unsteady; but her +mind was in all the perturbation that such a development of self, such +a burst of threatening evil, such a confusion of sudden and perplexing +emotions, must create.--She listened with much inward suffering, but +with great outward patience, to Harriet's detail.--Methodical, or well +arranged, or very well delivered, it could not be expected to be; but it +contained, when separated from all the feebleness and tautology of +the narration, a substance to sink her spirit--especially with the +corroborating circumstances, which her own memory brought in favour of +Mr. Knightley's most improved opinion of Harriet. + +Harriet had been conscious of a difference in his behaviour ever since +those two decisive dances.--Emma knew that he had, on that occasion, +found her much superior to his expectation. From that evening, or at +least from the time of Miss Woodhouse's encouraging her to think of him, +Harriet had begun to be sensible of his talking to her much more than he +had been used to do, and of his having indeed quite a different manner +towards her; a manner of kindness and sweetness!--Latterly she had been +more and more aware of it. When they had been all walking together, +he had so often come and walked by her, and talked so very +delightfully!--He seemed to want to be acquainted with her. Emma knew it +to have been very much the case. She had often observed the change, to +almost the same extent.--Harriet repeated expressions of approbation +and praise from him--and Emma felt them to be in the closest agreement +with what she had known of his opinion of Harriet. He praised her for +being without art or affectation, for having simple, honest, generous, +feelings.--She knew that he saw such recommendations in Harriet; he +had dwelt on them to her more than once.--Much that lived in Harriet's +memory, many little particulars of the notice she had received from +him, a look, a speech, a removal from one chair to another, a compliment +implied, a preference inferred, had been unnoticed, because unsuspected, +by Emma. Circumstances that might swell to half an hour's relation, +and contained multiplied proofs to her who had seen them, had passed +undiscerned by her who now heard them; but the two latest occurrences to +be mentioned, the two of strongest promise to Harriet, were not without +some degree of witness from Emma herself.--The first, was his walking +with her apart from the others, in the lime-walk at Donwell, where they +had been walking some time before Emma came, and he had taken pains (as +she was convinced) to draw her from the rest to himself--and at first, +he had talked to her in a more particular way than he had ever done +before, in a very particular way indeed!--(Harriet could not recall +it without a blush.) He seemed to be almost asking her, whether her +affections were engaged.--But as soon as she (Miss Woodhouse) appeared +likely to join them, he changed the subject, and began talking about +farming:--The second, was his having sat talking with her nearly half +an hour before Emma came back from her visit, the very last morning of +his being at Hartfield--though, when he first came in, he had said that +he could not stay five minutes--and his having told her, during their +conversation, that though he must go to London, it was very much against +his inclination that he left home at all, which was much more (as +Emma felt) than he had acknowledged to _her_. The superior degree of +confidence towards Harriet, which this one article marked, gave her +severe pain. + +On the subject of the first of the two circumstances, she did, after a +little reflection, venture the following question. "Might he not?--Is +not it possible, that when enquiring, as you thought, into the state of +your affections, he might be alluding to Mr. Martin--he might have +Mr. Martin's interest in view? But Harriet rejected the suspicion with +spirit. + +"Mr. Martin! No indeed!--There was not a hint of Mr. Martin. I hope I +know better now, than to care for Mr. Martin, or to be suspected of it." + +When Harriet had closed her evidence, she appealed to her dear Miss +Woodhouse, to say whether she had not good ground for hope. + +"I never should have presumed to think of it at first," said she, "but +for you. You told me to observe him carefully, and let his behaviour +be the rule of mine--and so I have. But now I seem to feel that I may +deserve him; and that if he does chuse me, it will not be any thing so +very wonderful." + +The bitter feelings occasioned by this speech, the many bitter feelings, +made the utmost exertion necessary on Emma's side, to enable her to say +on reply, + +"Harriet, I will only venture to declare, that Mr. Knightley is the last +man in the world, who would intentionally give any woman the idea of his +feeling for her more than he really does." + +Harriet seemed ready to worship her friend for a sentence so +satisfactory; and Emma was only saved from raptures and fondness, which +at that moment would have been dreadful penance, by the sound of her +father's footsteps. He was coming through the hall. Harriet was too +much agitated to encounter him. "She could not compose herself-- +Mr. Woodhouse would be alarmed--she had better go;"--with most ready +encouragement from her friend, therefore, she passed off through another +door--and the moment she was gone, this was the spontaneous burst of +Emma's feelings: "Oh God! that I had never seen her!" + +The rest of the day, the following night, were hardly enough for her +thoughts.--She was bewildered amidst the confusion of all that had +rushed on her within the last few hours. Every moment had brought a +fresh surprize; and every surprize must be matter of humiliation to +her.--How to understand it all! How to understand the deceptions she had +been thus practising on herself, and living under!--The blunders, the +blindness of her own head and heart!--she sat still, she walked about, +she tried her own room, she tried the shrubbery--in every place, every +posture, she perceived that she had acted most weakly; that she had +been imposed on by others in a most mortifying degree; that she had +been imposing on herself in a degree yet more mortifying; that she +was wretched, and should probably find this day but the beginning of +wretchedness. + +To understand, thoroughly understand her own heart, was the first +endeavour. To that point went every leisure moment which her father's +claims on her allowed, and every moment of involuntary absence of mind. + +How long had Mr. Knightley been so dear to her, as every feeling +declared him now to be? When had his influence, such influence begun?-- +When had he succeeded to that place in her affection, which Frank +Churchill had once, for a short period, occupied?--She looked back; +she compared the two--compared them, as they had always stood in her +estimation, from the time of the latter's becoming known to her--and as +they must at any time have been compared by her, had it--oh! had it, by +any blessed felicity, occurred to her, to institute the comparison.--She +saw that there never had been a time when she did not consider Mr. +Knightley as infinitely the superior, or when his regard for her had not +been infinitely the most dear. She saw, that in persuading herself, +in fancying, in acting to the contrary, she had been entirely under a +delusion, totally ignorant of her own heart--and, in short, that she had +never really cared for Frank Churchill at all! + +This was the conclusion of the first series of reflection. This was +the knowledge of herself, on the first question of inquiry, which +she reached; and without being long in reaching it.--She was most +sorrowfully indignant; ashamed of every sensation but the one revealed +to her--her affection for Mr. Knightley.--Every other part of her mind +was disgusting. + +With insufferable vanity had she believed herself in the secret of every +body's feelings; with unpardonable arrogance proposed to arrange every +body's destiny. She was proved to have been universally mistaken; and +she had not quite done nothing--for she had done mischief. She had +brought evil on Harriet, on herself, and she too much feared, on Mr. +Knightley.--Were this most unequal of all connexions to take place, on +her must rest all the reproach of having given it a beginning; for his +attachment, she must believe to be produced only by a consciousness of +Harriet's;--and even were this not the case, he would never have known +Harriet at all but for her folly. + +Mr. Knightley and Harriet Smith!--It was a union to distance every +wonder of the kind.--The attachment of Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax +became commonplace, threadbare, stale in the comparison, exciting no +surprize, presenting no disparity, affording nothing to be said or +thought.--Mr. Knightley and Harriet Smith!--Such an elevation on her +side! Such a debasement on his! It was horrible to Emma to think how it +must sink him in the general opinion, to foresee the smiles, the sneers, +the merriment it would prompt at his expense; the mortification and +disdain of his brother, the thousand inconveniences to himself.--Could +it be?--No; it was impossible. And yet it was far, very far, from +impossible.--Was it a new circumstance for a man of first-rate abilities +to be captivated by very inferior powers? Was it new for one, perhaps +too busy to seek, to be the prize of a girl who would seek him?--Was +it new for any thing in this world to be unequal, inconsistent, +incongruous--or for chance and circumstance (as second causes) to direct +the human fate? + +Oh! had she never brought Harriet forward! Had she left her where she +ought, and where he had told her she ought!--Had she not, with a +folly which no tongue could express, prevented her marrying the +unexceptionable young man who would have made her happy and respectable +in the line of life to which she ought to belong--all would have been +safe; none of this dreadful sequel would have been. + +How Harriet could ever have had the presumption to raise her thoughts to +Mr. Knightley!--How she could dare to fancy herself the chosen of such +a man till actually assured of it!--But Harriet was less humble, had +fewer scruples than formerly.--Her inferiority, whether of mind or +situation, seemed little felt.--She had seemed more sensible of Mr. +Elton's being to stoop in marrying her, than she now seemed of Mr. +Knightley's.--Alas! was not that her own doing too? Who had been at +pains to give Harriet notions of self-consequence but herself?--Who but +herself had taught her, that she was to elevate herself if possible, +and that her claims were great to a high worldly establishment?--If +Harriet, from being humble, were grown vain, it was her doing too. + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Till now that she was threatened with its loss, Emma had never known +how much of her happiness depended on being _first_ with Mr. Knightley, +first in interest and affection.--Satisfied that it was so, and feeling +it her due, she had enjoyed it without reflection; and only in the +dread of being supplanted, found how inexpressibly important it had +been.--Long, very long, she felt she had been first; for, having no +female connexions of his own, there had been only Isabella whose claims +could be compared with hers, and she had always known exactly how far +he loved and esteemed Isabella. She had herself been first with him for +many years past. She had not deserved it; she had often been negligent +or perverse, slighting his advice, or even wilfully opposing him, +insensible of half his merits, and quarrelling with him because he would +not acknowledge her false and insolent estimate of her own--but still, +from family attachment and habit, and thorough excellence of mind, he +had loved her, and watched over her from a girl, with an endeavour to +improve her, and an anxiety for her doing right, which no other creature +had at all shared. In spite of all her faults, she knew she was dear +to him; might she not say, very dear?--When the suggestions of hope, +however, which must follow here, presented themselves, she could not +presume to indulge them. Harriet Smith might think herself not unworthy +of being peculiarly, exclusively, passionately loved by Mr. Knightley. +_She_ could not. She could not flatter herself with any idea of +blindness in his attachment to _her_. She had received a very recent +proof of its impartiality.--How shocked had he been by her behaviour to +Miss Bates! How directly, how strongly had he expressed himself to her +on the subject!--Not too strongly for the offence--but far, far too +strongly to issue from any feeling softer than upright justice and +clear-sighted goodwill.--She had no hope, nothing to deserve the name +of hope, that he could have that sort of affection for herself which was +now in question; but there was a hope (at times a slight one, at +times much stronger,) that Harriet might have deceived herself, and be +overrating his regard for _her_.--Wish it she must, for his sake--be the +consequence nothing to herself, but his remaining single all his life. +Could she be secure of that, indeed, of his never marrying at all, she +believed she should be perfectly satisfied.--Let him but continue the +same Mr. Knightley to her and her father, the same Mr. Knightley to +all the world; let Donwell and Hartfield lose none of their precious +intercourse of friendship and confidence, and her peace would be +fully secured.--Marriage, in fact, would not do for her. It would be +incompatible with what she owed to her father, and with what she felt +for him. Nothing should separate her from her father. She would not +marry, even if she were asked by Mr. Knightley. + +It must be her ardent wish that Harriet might be disappointed; and she +hoped, that when able to see them together again, she might at least +be able to ascertain what the chances for it were.--She should see them +henceforward with the closest observance; and wretchedly as she had +hitherto misunderstood even those she was watching, she did not know how +to admit that she could be blinded here.--He was expected back every +day. The power of observation would be soon given--frightfully soon it +appeared when her thoughts were in one course. In the meanwhile, she +resolved against seeing Harriet.--It would do neither of them good, +it would do the subject no good, to be talking of it farther.--She was +resolved not to be convinced, as long as she could doubt, and yet had +no authority for opposing Harriet's confidence. To talk would be only to +irritate.--She wrote to her, therefore, kindly, but decisively, to beg +that she would not, at present, come to Hartfield; acknowledging it to +be her conviction, that all farther confidential discussion of _one_ +topic had better be avoided; and hoping, that if a few days were allowed +to pass before they met again, except in the company of others--she +objected only to a tete-a-tete--they might be able to act as if they +had forgotten the conversation of yesterday.--Harriet submitted, and +approved, and was grateful. + +This point was just arranged, when a visitor arrived to tear Emma's +thoughts a little from the one subject which had engrossed them, +sleeping or waking, the last twenty-four hours--Mrs. Weston, who had +been calling on her daughter-in-law elect, and took Hartfield in her +way home, almost as much in duty to Emma as in pleasure to herself, to +relate all the particulars of so interesting an interview. + +Mr. Weston had accompanied her to Mrs. Bates's, and gone through his +share of this essential attention most handsomely; but she having then +induced Miss Fairfax to join her in an airing, was now returned with +much more to say, and much more to say with satisfaction, than a quarter +of an hour spent in Mrs. Bates's parlour, with all the encumbrance of +awkward feelings, could have afforded. + +A little curiosity Emma had; and she made the most of it while her +friend related. Mrs. Weston had set off to pay the visit in a good deal +of agitation herself; and in the first place had wished not to go at all +at present, to be allowed merely to write to Miss Fairfax instead, and +to defer this ceremonious call till a little time had passed, and Mr. +Churchill could be reconciled to the engagement's becoming known; as, +considering every thing, she thought such a visit could not be paid +without leading to reports:--but Mr. Weston had thought differently; he +was extremely anxious to shew his approbation to Miss Fairfax and her +family, and did not conceive that any suspicion could be excited by it; +or if it were, that it would be of any consequence; for "such things," +he observed, "always got about." Emma smiled, and felt that Mr. Weston +had very good reason for saying so. They had gone, in short--and very +great had been the evident distress and confusion of the lady. She had +hardly been able to speak a word, and every look and action had shewn +how deeply she was suffering from consciousness. The quiet, heart-felt +satisfaction of the old lady, and the rapturous delight of her +daughter--who proved even too joyous to talk as usual, had been a +gratifying, yet almost an affecting, scene. They were both so truly +respectable in their happiness, so disinterested in every sensation; +thought so much of Jane; so much of every body, and so little of +themselves, that every kindly feeling was at work for them. Miss +Fairfax's recent illness had offered a fair plea for Mrs. Weston to +invite her to an airing; she had drawn back and declined at first, but, +on being pressed had yielded; and, in the course of their drive, +Mrs. Weston had, by gentle encouragement, overcome so much of her +embarrassment, as to bring her to converse on the important subject. +Apologies for her seemingly ungracious silence in their first reception, +and the warmest expressions of the gratitude she was always feeling +towards herself and Mr. Weston, must necessarily open the cause; but +when these effusions were put by, they had talked a good deal of the +present and of the future state of the engagement. Mrs. Weston was +convinced that such conversation must be the greatest relief to her +companion, pent up within her own mind as every thing had so long been, +and was very much pleased with all that she had said on the subject. + +"On the misery of what she had suffered, during the concealment of so +many months," continued Mrs. Weston, "she was energetic. This was one +of her expressions. 'I will not say, that since I entered into the +engagement I have not had some happy moments; but I can say, that I have +never known the blessing of one tranquil hour:'--and the quivering lip, +Emma, which uttered it, was an attestation that I felt at my heart." + +"Poor girl!" said Emma. "She thinks herself wrong, then, for having +consented to a private engagement?" + +"Wrong! No one, I believe, can blame her more than she is disposed +to blame herself. 'The consequence,' said she, 'has been a state of +perpetual suffering to me; and so it ought. But after all the punishment +that misconduct can bring, it is still not less misconduct. Pain is no +expiation. I never can be blameless. I have been acting contrary to all +my sense of right; and the fortunate turn that every thing has taken, +and the kindness I am now receiving, is what my conscience tells me +ought not to be.' 'Do not imagine, madam,' she continued, 'that I was +taught wrong. Do not let any reflection fall on the principles or the +care of the friends who brought me up. The error has been all my own; +and I do assure you that, with all the excuse that present circumstances +may appear to give, I shall yet dread making the story known to Colonel +Campbell.'" + +"Poor girl!" said Emma again. "She loves him then excessively, I +suppose. It must have been from attachment only, that she could be +led to form the engagement. Her affection must have overpowered her +judgment." + +"Yes, I have no doubt of her being extremely attached to him." + +"I am afraid," returned Emma, sighing, "that I must often have +contributed to make her unhappy." + +"On your side, my love, it was very innocently done. But she +probably had something of that in her thoughts, when alluding to the +misunderstandings which he had given us hints of before. One natural +consequence of the evil she had involved herself in," she said, "was +that of making her _unreasonable_. The consciousness of having done +amiss, had exposed her to a thousand inquietudes, and made her captious +and irritable to a degree that must have been--that had been--hard for +him to bear. 'I did not make the allowances,' said she, 'which I ought +to have done, for his temper and spirits--his delightful spirits, and +that gaiety, that playfulness of disposition, which, under any other +circumstances, would, I am sure, have been as constantly bewitching to +me, as they were at first.' She then began to speak of you, and of the +great kindness you had shewn her during her illness; and with a blush +which shewed me how it was all connected, desired me, whenever I had +an opportunity, to thank you--I could not thank you too much--for every +wish and every endeavour to do her good. She was sensible that you had +never received any proper acknowledgment from herself." + +"If I did not know her to be happy now," said Emma, seriously, "which, +in spite of every little drawback from her scrupulous conscience, she +must be, I could not bear these thanks;--for, oh! Mrs. Weston, if there +were an account drawn up of the evil and the good I have done Miss +Fairfax!--Well (checking herself, and trying to be more lively), this +is all to be forgotten. You are very kind to bring me these interesting +particulars. They shew her to the greatest advantage. I am sure she is +very good--I hope she will be very happy. It is fit that the fortune +should be on his side, for I think the merit will be all on hers." + +Such a conclusion could not pass unanswered by Mrs. Weston. She thought +well of Frank in almost every respect; and, what was more, she loved him +very much, and her defence was, therefore, earnest. She talked with a +great deal of reason, and at least equal affection--but she had too much +to urge for Emma's attention; it was soon gone to Brunswick Square or +to Donwell; she forgot to attempt to listen; and when Mrs. Weston ended +with, "We have not yet had the letter we are so anxious for, you know, +but I hope it will soon come," she was obliged to pause before she +answered, and at last obliged to answer at random, before she could at +all recollect what letter it was which they were so anxious for. + +"Are you well, my Emma?" was Mrs. Weston's parting question. + +"Oh! perfectly. I am always well, you know. Be sure to give me +intelligence of the letter as soon as possible." + +Mrs. Weston's communications furnished Emma with more food for +unpleasant reflection, by increasing her esteem and compassion, and her +sense of past injustice towards Miss Fairfax. She bitterly regretted +not having sought a closer acquaintance with her, and blushed for the +envious feelings which had certainly been, in some measure, the cause. +Had she followed Mr. Knightley's known wishes, in paying that attention +to Miss Fairfax, which was every way her due; had she tried to know her +better; had she done her part towards intimacy; had she endeavoured +to find a friend there instead of in Harriet Smith; she must, in all +probability, have been spared from every pain which pressed on her +now.--Birth, abilities, and education, had been equally marking one as +an associate for her, to be received with gratitude; and the other--what +was she?--Supposing even that they had never become intimate friends; +that she had never been admitted into Miss Fairfax's confidence on this +important matter--which was most probable--still, in knowing her as +she ought, and as she might, she must have been preserved from the +abominable suspicions of an improper attachment to Mr. Dixon, which she +had not only so foolishly fashioned and harboured herself, but had so +unpardonably imparted; an idea which she greatly feared had been made a +subject of material distress to the delicacy of Jane's feelings, by the +levity or carelessness of Frank Churchill's. Of all the sources of evil +surrounding the former, since her coming to Highbury, she was persuaded +that she must herself have been the worst. She must have been a +perpetual enemy. They never could have been all three together, without +her having stabbed Jane Fairfax's peace in a thousand instances; and on +Box Hill, perhaps, it had been the agony of a mind that would bear no +more. + +The evening of this day was very long, and melancholy, at Hartfield. +The weather added what it could of gloom. A cold stormy rain set in, and +nothing of July appeared but in the trees and shrubs, which the wind was +despoiling, and the length of the day, which only made such cruel sights +the longer visible. + +The weather affected Mr. Woodhouse, and he could only be kept tolerably +comfortable by almost ceaseless attention on his daughter's side, and by +exertions which had never cost her half so much before. It reminded +her of their first forlorn tete-a-tete, on the evening of Mrs. Weston's +wedding-day; but Mr. Knightley had walked in then, soon after tea, +and dissipated every melancholy fancy. Alas! such delightful proofs of +Hartfield's attraction, as those sort of visits conveyed, might shortly +be over. The picture which she had then drawn of the privations of the +approaching winter, had proved erroneous; no friends had deserted them, +no pleasures had been lost.--But her present forebodings she feared +would experience no similar contradiction. The prospect before her now, +was threatening to a degree that could not be entirely dispelled--that +might not be even partially brightened. If all took place that +might take place among the circle of her friends, Hartfield must be +comparatively deserted; and she left to cheer her father with the +spirits only of ruined happiness. + +The child to be born at Randalls must be a tie there even dearer than +herself; and Mrs. Weston's heart and time would be occupied by it. +They should lose her; and, probably, in great measure, her husband +also.--Frank Churchill would return among them no more; and Miss +Fairfax, it was reasonable to suppose, would soon cease to belong to +Highbury. They would be married, and settled either at or near Enscombe. +All that were good would be withdrawn; and if to these losses, the +loss of Donwell were to be added, what would remain of cheerful or +of rational society within their reach? Mr. Knightley to be no longer +coming there for his evening comfort!--No longer walking in at all +hours, as if ever willing to change his own home for their's!--How was +it to be endured? And if he were to be lost to them for Harriet's sake; +if he were to be thought of hereafter, as finding in Harriet's society +all that he wanted; if Harriet were to be the chosen, the first, +the dearest, the friend, the wife to whom he looked for all the best +blessings of existence; what could be increasing Emma's wretchedness but +the reflection never far distant from her mind, that it had been all her +own work? + +When it came to such a pitch as this, she was not able to refrain from +a start, or a heavy sigh, or even from walking about the room for a +few seconds--and the only source whence any thing like consolation +or composure could be drawn, was in the resolution of her own better +conduct, and the hope that, however inferior in spirit and gaiety might +be the following and every future winter of her life to the past, it +would yet find her more rational, more acquainted with herself, and +leave her less to regret when it were gone. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +The weather continued much the same all the following morning; and +the same loneliness, and the same melancholy, seemed to reign at +Hartfield--but in the afternoon it cleared; the wind changed into a +softer quarter; the clouds were carried off; the sun appeared; it was +summer again. With all the eagerness which such a transition gives, Emma +resolved to be out of doors as soon as possible. Never had the exquisite +sight, smell, sensation of nature, tranquil, warm, and brilliant after +a storm, been more attractive to her. She longed for the serenity they +might gradually introduce; and on Mr. Perry's coming in soon after +dinner, with a disengaged hour to give her father, she lost no time +ill hurrying into the shrubbery.--There, with spirits freshened, and +thoughts a little relieved, she had taken a few turns, when she saw Mr. +Knightley passing through the garden door, and coming towards her.--It +was the first intimation of his being returned from London. She had +been thinking of him the moment before, as unquestionably sixteen miles +distant.--There was time only for the quickest arrangement of mind. She +must be collected and calm. In half a minute they were together. The +"How d'ye do's" were quiet and constrained on each side. She asked after +their mutual friends; they were all well.--When had he left them?--Only +that morning. He must have had a wet ride.--Yes.--He meant to walk with +her, she found. "He had just looked into the dining-room, and as he was +not wanted there, preferred being out of doors."--She thought he neither +looked nor spoke cheerfully; and the first possible cause for it, +suggested by her fears, was, that he had perhaps been communicating his +plans to his brother, and was pained by the manner in which they had +been received. + +They walked together. He was silent. She thought he was often looking +at her, and trying for a fuller view of her face than it suited her to +give. And this belief produced another dread. Perhaps he wanted to +speak to her, of his attachment to Harriet; he might be watching for +encouragement to begin.--She did not, could not, feel equal to lead the +way to any such subject. He must do it all himself. Yet she could +not bear this silence. With him it was most unnatural. She +considered--resolved--and, trying to smile, began-- + +"You have some news to hear, now you are come back, that will rather +surprize you." + +"Have I?" said he quietly, and looking at her; "of what nature?" + +"Oh! the best nature in the world--a wedding." + +After waiting a moment, as if to be sure she intended to say no more, he +replied, + +"If you mean Miss Fairfax and Frank Churchill, I have heard that +already." + +"How is it possible?" cried Emma, turning her glowing cheeks towards +him; for, while she spoke, it occurred to her that he might have called +at Mrs. Goddard's in his way. + +"I had a few lines on parish business from Mr. Weston this morning, and +at the end of them he gave me a brief account of what had happened." + +Emma was quite relieved, and could presently say, with a little more +composure, + +"_You_ probably have been less surprized than any of us, for you have +had your suspicions.--I have not forgotten that you once tried to give +me a caution.--I wish I had attended to it--but--(with a sinking voice +and a heavy sigh) I seem to have been doomed to blindness." + +For a moment or two nothing was said, and she was unsuspicious of having +excited any particular interest, till she found her arm drawn within +his, and pressed against his heart, and heard him thus saying, in a tone +of great sensibility, speaking low, + +"Time, my dearest Emma, time will heal the wound.--Your own excellent +sense--your exertions for your father's sake--I know you will not allow +yourself--." Her arm was pressed again, as he added, in a more +broken and subdued accent, "The feelings of the warmest +friendship--Indignation--Abominable scoundrel!"--And in a louder, +steadier tone, he concluded with, "He will soon be gone. They will soon +be in Yorkshire. I am sorry for _her_. She deserves a better fate." + +Emma understood him; and as soon as she could recover from the flutter +of pleasure, excited by such tender consideration, replied, + +"You are very kind--but you are mistaken--and I must set you right.-- +I am not in want of that sort of compassion. My blindness to what was +going on, led me to act by them in a way that I must always be ashamed +of, and I was very foolishly tempted to say and do many things which may +well lay me open to unpleasant conjectures, but I have no other reason +to regret that I was not in the secret earlier." + +"Emma!" cried he, looking eagerly at her, "are you, indeed?"--but +checking himself--"No, no, I understand you--forgive me--I am pleased +that you can say even so much.--He is no object of regret, indeed! and +it will not be very long, I hope, before that becomes the acknowledgment +of more than your reason.--Fortunate that your affections were not +farther entangled!--I could never, I confess, from your manners, assure +myself as to the degree of what you felt--I could only be certain that +there was a preference--and a preference which I never believed him to +deserve.--He is a disgrace to the name of man.--And is he to be rewarded +with that sweet young woman?--Jane, Jane, you will be a miserable +creature." + +"Mr. Knightley," said Emma, trying to be lively, but really confused--"I +am in a very extraordinary situation. I cannot let you continue in your +error; and yet, perhaps, since my manners gave such an impression, I +have as much reason to be ashamed of confessing that I never have been +at all attached to the person we are speaking of, as it might be natural +for a woman to feel in confessing exactly the reverse.--But I never +have." + +He listened in perfect silence. She wished him to speak, but he would +not. She supposed she must say more before she were entitled to his +clemency; but it was a hard case to be obliged still to lower herself in +his opinion. She went on, however. + +"I have very little to say for my own conduct.--I was tempted by his +attentions, and allowed myself to appear pleased.--An old story, +probably--a common case--and no more than has happened to hundreds of my +sex before; and yet it may not be the more excusable in one who sets up +as I do for Understanding. Many circumstances assisted the temptation. +He was the son of Mr. Weston--he was continually here--I always found +him very pleasant--and, in short, for (with a sigh) let me swell out the +causes ever so ingeniously, they all centre in this at last--my vanity +was flattered, and I allowed his attentions. Latterly, however--for some +time, indeed--I have had no idea of their meaning any thing.--I thought +them a habit, a trick, nothing that called for seriousness on my side. +He has imposed on me, but he has not injured me. I have never been +attached to him. And now I can tolerably comprehend his behaviour. He +never wished to attach me. It was merely a blind to conceal his real +situation with another.--It was his object to blind all about him; and +no one, I am sure, could be more effectually blinded than myself--except +that I was _not_ blinded--that it was my good fortune--that, in short, I +was somehow or other safe from him." + +She had hoped for an answer here--for a few words to say that her +conduct was at least intelligible; but he was silent; and, as far as she +could judge, deep in thought. At last, and tolerably in his usual tone, +he said, + +"I have never had a high opinion of Frank Churchill.--I can suppose, +however, that I may have underrated him. My acquaintance with him has +been but trifling.--And even if I have not underrated him hitherto, he +may yet turn out well.--With such a woman he has a chance.--I have no +motive for wishing him ill--and for her sake, whose happiness will be +involved in his good character and conduct, I shall certainly wish him +well." + +"I have no doubt of their being happy together," said Emma; "I believe +them to be very mutually and very sincerely attached." + +"He is a most fortunate man!" returned Mr. Knightley, with energy. "So +early in life--at three-and-twenty--a period when, if a man chuses a +wife, he generally chuses ill. At three-and-twenty to have drawn such +a prize! What years of felicity that man, in all human calculation, +has before him!--Assured of the love of such a woman--the disinterested +love, for Jane Fairfax's character vouches for her disinterestedness; +every thing in his favour,--equality of situation--I mean, as far as +regards society, and all the habits and manners that are important; +equality in every point but one--and that one, since the purity of her +heart is not to be doubted, such as must increase his felicity, for it +will be his to bestow the only advantages she wants.--A man would always +wish to give a woman a better home than the one he takes her from; +and he who can do it, where there is no doubt of _her_ regard, must, +I think, be the happiest of mortals.--Frank Churchill is, indeed, the +favourite of fortune. Every thing turns out for his good.--He meets +with a young woman at a watering-place, gains her affection, cannot even +weary her by negligent treatment--and had he and all his family sought +round the world for a perfect wife for him, they could not have found +her superior.--His aunt is in the way.--His aunt dies.--He has only to +speak.--His friends are eager to promote his happiness.--He had used +every body ill--and they are all delighted to forgive him.--He is a +fortunate man indeed!" + +"You speak as if you envied him." + +"And I do envy him, Emma. In one respect he is the object of my envy." + +Emma could say no more. They seemed to be within half a sentence +of Harriet, and her immediate feeling was to avert the subject, if +possible. She made her plan; she would speak of something totally +different--the children in Brunswick Square; and she only waited for +breath to begin, when Mr. Knightley startled her, by saying, + +"You will not ask me what is the point of envy.--You are determined, I +see, to have no curiosity.--You are wise--but _I_ cannot be wise. Emma, +I must tell you what you will not ask, though I may wish it unsaid the +next moment." + +"Oh! then, don't speak it, don't speak it," she eagerly cried. "Take a +little time, consider, do not commit yourself." + +"Thank you," said he, in an accent of deep mortification, and not +another syllable followed. + +Emma could not bear to give him pain. He was wishing to confide in +her--perhaps to consult her;--cost her what it would, she would listen. +She might assist his resolution, or reconcile him to it; she might give +just praise to Harriet, or, by representing to him his own independence, +relieve him from that state of indecision, which must be more +intolerable than any alternative to such a mind as his.--They had +reached the house. + +"You are going in, I suppose?" said he. + +"No,"--replied Emma--quite confirmed by the depressed manner in which +he still spoke--"I should like to take another turn. Mr. Perry is not +gone." And, after proceeding a few steps, she added--"I stopped you +ungraciously, just now, Mr. Knightley, and, I am afraid, gave you +pain.--But if you have any wish to speak openly to me as a friend, or +to ask my opinion of any thing that you may have in contemplation--as +a friend, indeed, you may command me.--I will hear whatever you like. I +will tell you exactly what I think." + +"As a friend!"--repeated Mr. Knightley.--"Emma, that I fear is a +word--No, I have no wish--Stay, yes, why should I hesitate?--I +have gone too far already for concealment.--Emma, I accept your +offer--Extraordinary as it may seem, I accept it, and refer myself to +you as a friend.--Tell me, then, have I no chance of ever succeeding?" + +He stopped in his earnestness to look the question, and the expression +of his eyes overpowered her. + +"My dearest Emma," said he, "for dearest you will always be, whatever +the event of this hour's conversation, my dearest, most beloved +Emma--tell me at once. Say 'No,' if it is to be said."--She could +really say nothing.--"You are silent," he cried, with great animation; +"absolutely silent! at present I ask no more." + +Emma was almost ready to sink under the agitation of this moment. The +dread of being awakened from the happiest dream, was perhaps the most +prominent feeling. + +"I cannot make speeches, Emma:" he soon resumed; and in a tone of +such sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably +convincing.--"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it +more. But you know what I am.--You hear nothing but truth from me.--I +have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other +woman in England would have borne it.--Bear with the truths I would +tell you now, dearest Emma, as well as you have borne with them. The +manner, perhaps, may have as little to recommend them. God knows, I have +been a very indifferent lover.--But you understand me.--Yes, you see, +you understand my feelings--and will return them if you can. At present, +I ask only to hear, once to hear your voice." + +While he spoke, Emma's mind was most busy, and, with all the wonderful +velocity of thought, had been able--and yet without losing a word--to +catch and comprehend the exact truth of the whole; to see that Harriet's +hopes had been entirely groundless, a mistake, a delusion, as complete a +delusion as any of her own--that Harriet was nothing; that she was every +thing herself; that what she had been saying relative to Harriet +had been all taken as the language of her own feelings; and that her +agitation, her doubts, her reluctance, her discouragement, had been all +received as discouragement from herself.--And not only was there time +for these convictions, with all their glow of attendant happiness; there +was time also to rejoice that Harriet's secret had not escaped her, and +to resolve that it need not, and should not.--It was all the service +she could now render her poor friend; for as to any of that heroism of +sentiment which might have prompted her to entreat him to transfer his +affection from herself to Harriet, as infinitely the most worthy of the +two--or even the more simple sublimity of resolving to refuse him at +once and for ever, without vouchsafing any motive, because he could not +marry them both, Emma had it not. She felt for Harriet, with pain and +with contrition; but no flight of generosity run mad, opposing all that +could be probable or reasonable, entered her brain. She had led her +friend astray, and it would be a reproach to her for ever; but her +judgment was as strong as her feelings, and as strong as it had ever +been before, in reprobating any such alliance for him, as most unequal +and degrading. Her way was clear, though not quite smooth.--She spoke +then, on being so entreated.--What did she say?--Just what she ought, +of course. A lady always does.--She said enough to shew there need not +be despair--and to invite him to say more himself. He _had_ despaired at +one period; he had received such an injunction to caution and silence, +as for the time crushed every hope;--she had begun by refusing to hear +him.--The change had perhaps been somewhat sudden;--her proposal of +taking another turn, her renewing the conversation which she had +just put an end to, might be a little extraordinary!--She felt its +inconsistency; but Mr. Knightley was so obliging as to put up with it, +and seek no farther explanation. + +Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; +seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a +little mistaken; but where, as in this case, though the conduct is +mistaken, the feelings are not, it may not be very material.--Mr. +Knightley could not impute to Emma a more relenting heart than she +possessed, or a heart more disposed to accept of his. + +He had, in fact, been wholly unsuspicious of his own influence. He had +followed her into the shrubbery with no idea of trying it. He had come, +in his anxiety to see how she bore Frank Churchill's engagement, with no +selfish view, no view at all, but of endeavouring, if she allowed him an +opening, to soothe or to counsel her.--The rest had been the work of +the moment, the immediate effect of what he heard, on his feelings. The +delightful assurance of her total indifference towards Frank Churchill, +of her having a heart completely disengaged from him, had given birth +to the hope, that, in time, he might gain her affection himself;--but +it had been no present hope--he had only, in the momentary conquest of +eagerness over judgment, aspired to be told that she did not forbid his +attempt to attach her.--The superior hopes which gradually opened were +so much the more enchanting.--The affection, which he had been asking +to be allowed to create, if he could, was already his!--Within half +an hour, he had passed from a thoroughly distressed state of mind, to +something so like perfect happiness, that it could bear no other name. + +_Her_ change was equal.--This one half-hour had given to each the same +precious certainty of being beloved, had cleared from each the same +degree of ignorance, jealousy, or distrust.--On his side, there had been +a long-standing jealousy, old as the arrival, or even the expectation, +of Frank Churchill.--He had been in love with Emma, and jealous of Frank +Churchill, from about the same period, one sentiment having probably +enlightened him as to the other. It was his jealousy of Frank Churchill +that had taken him from the country.--The Box Hill party had decided +him on going away. He would save himself from witnessing again +such permitted, encouraged attentions.--He had gone to learn to be +indifferent.--But he had gone to a wrong place. There was too much +domestic happiness in his brother's house; woman wore too amiable a form +in it; Isabella was too much like Emma--differing only in those striking +inferiorities, which always brought the other in brilliancy before +him, for much to have been done, even had his time been longer.--He had +stayed on, however, vigorously, day after day--till this very morning's +post had conveyed the history of Jane Fairfax.--Then, with the gladness +which must be felt, nay, which he did not scruple to feel, having never +believed Frank Churchill to be at all deserving Emma, was there so much +fond solicitude, so much keen anxiety for her, that he could stay no +longer. He had ridden home through the rain; and had walked up directly +after dinner, to see how this sweetest and best of all creatures, +faultless in spite of all her faults, bore the discovery. + +He had found her agitated and low.--Frank Churchill was a villain.-- +He heard her declare that she had never loved him. Frank Churchill's +character was not desperate.--She was his own Emma, by hand and word, +when they returned into the house; and if he could have thought of Frank +Churchill then, he might have deemed him a very good sort of fellow. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +What totally different feelings did Emma take back into the house from +what she had brought out!--she had then been only daring to hope for +a little respite of suffering;--she was now in an exquisite flutter of +happiness, and such happiness moreover as she believed must still be +greater when the flutter should have passed away. + +They sat down to tea--the same party round the same table--how often +it had been collected!--and how often had her eyes fallen on the same +shrubs in the lawn, and observed the same beautiful effect of the +western sun!--But never in such a state of spirits, never in any thing +like it; and it was with difficulty that she could summon enough of her +usual self to be the attentive lady of the house, or even the attentive +daughter. + +Poor Mr. Woodhouse little suspected what was plotting against him in the +breast of that man whom he was so cordially welcoming, and so anxiously +hoping might not have taken cold from his ride.--Could he have seen the +heart, he would have cared very little for the lungs; but without the +most distant imagination of the impending evil, without the slightest +perception of any thing extraordinary in the looks or ways of either, +he repeated to them very comfortably all the articles of news he had +received from Mr. Perry, and talked on with much self-contentment, +totally unsuspicious of what they could have told him in return. + +As long as Mr. Knightley remained with them, Emma's fever continued; +but when he was gone, she began to be a little tranquillised and +subdued--and in the course of the sleepless night, which was the tax +for such an evening, she found one or two such very serious points +to consider, as made her feel, that even her happiness must have some +alloy. Her father--and Harriet. She could not be alone without feeling +the full weight of their separate claims; and how to guard the comfort +of both to the utmost, was the question. With respect to her father, +it was a question soon answered. She hardly knew yet what Mr. Knightley +would ask; but a very short parley with her own heart produced the most +solemn resolution of never quitting her father.--She even wept over +the idea of it, as a sin of thought. While he lived, it must be only an +engagement; but she flattered herself, that if divested of the danger of +drawing her away, it might become an increase of comfort to him.--How +to do her best by Harriet, was of more difficult decision;--how to spare +her from any unnecessary pain; how to make her any possible atonement; +how to appear least her enemy?--On these subjects, her perplexity +and distress were very great--and her mind had to pass again and +again through every bitter reproach and sorrowful regret that had ever +surrounded it.--She could only resolve at last, that she would still +avoid a meeting with her, and communicate all that need be told by +letter; that it would be inexpressibly desirable to have her removed +just now for a time from Highbury, and--indulging in one scheme +more--nearly resolve, that it might be practicable to get an invitation +for her to Brunswick Square.--Isabella had been pleased with Harriet; +and a few weeks spent in London must give her some amusement.--She did +not think it in Harriet's nature to escape being benefited by novelty +and variety, by the streets, the shops, and the children.--At any rate, +it would be a proof of attention and kindness in herself, from whom +every thing was due; a separation for the present; an averting of the +evil day, when they must all be together again. + +She rose early, and wrote her letter to Harriet; an employment which +left her so very serious, so nearly sad, that Mr. Knightley, in walking +up to Hartfield to breakfast, did not arrive at all too soon; and half +an hour stolen afterwards to go over the same ground again with him, +literally and figuratively, was quite necessary to reinstate her in a +proper share of the happiness of the evening before. + +He had not left her long, by no means long enough for her to have the +slightest inclination for thinking of any body else, when a letter was +brought her from Randalls--a very thick letter;--she guessed what it +must contain, and deprecated the necessity of reading it.--She was now +in perfect charity with Frank Churchill; she wanted no explanations, she +wanted only to have her thoughts to herself--and as for understanding +any thing he wrote, she was sure she was incapable of it.--It must be +waded through, however. She opened the packet; it was too surely so;--a +note from Mrs. Weston to herself, ushered in the letter from Frank to +Mrs. Weston. + +"I have the greatest pleasure, my dear Emma, in forwarding to you the +enclosed. I know what thorough justice you will do it, and have scarcely +a doubt of its happy effect.--I think we shall never materially disagree +about the writer again; but I will not delay you by a long preface.--We +are quite well.--This letter has been the cure of all the little +nervousness I have been feeling lately.--I did not quite like your looks +on Tuesday, but it was an ungenial morning; and though you will never +own being affected by weather, I think every body feels a north-east +wind.--I felt for your dear father very much in the storm of Tuesday +afternoon and yesterday morning, but had the comfort of hearing last +night, by Mr. Perry, that it had not made him ill. + + "Yours ever, + "A. W." + + [To Mrs. Weston.] + + + WINDSOR-JULY. +MY DEAR MADAM, + +"If I made myself intelligible yesterday, this letter will be +expected; but expected or not, I know it will be read with candour and +indulgence.--You are all goodness, and I believe there will be need of +even all your goodness to allow for some parts of my past conduct.--But +I have been forgiven by one who had still more to resent. My courage +rises while I write. It is very difficult for the prosperous to be +humble. I have already met with such success in two applications for +pardon, that I may be in danger of thinking myself too sure of yours, +and of those among your friends who have had any ground of offence.--You +must all endeavour to comprehend the exact nature of my situation when I +first arrived at Randalls; you must consider me as having a secret which +was to be kept at all hazards. This was the fact. My right to place +myself in a situation requiring such concealment, is another question. +I shall not discuss it here. For my temptation to _think_ it a right, +I refer every caviller to a brick house, sashed windows below, and +casements above, in Highbury. I dared not address her openly; my +difficulties in the then state of Enscombe must be too well known to +require definition; and I was fortunate enough to prevail, before we +parted at Weymouth, and to induce the most upright female mind in the +creation to stoop in charity to a secret engagement.--Had she refused, I +should have gone mad.--But you will be ready to say, what was your +hope in doing this?--What did you look forward to?--To any thing, every +thing--to time, chance, circumstance, slow effects, sudden bursts, +perseverance and weariness, health and sickness. Every possibility of +good was before me, and the first of blessings secured, in obtaining her +promises of faith and correspondence. If you need farther explanation, +I have the honour, my dear madam, of being your husband's son, and +the advantage of inheriting a disposition to hope for good, which no +inheritance of houses or lands can ever equal the value of.--See +me, then, under these circumstances, arriving on my first visit to +Randalls;--and here I am conscious of wrong, for that visit might have +been sooner paid. You will look back and see that I did not come till +Miss Fairfax was in Highbury; and as _you_ were the person slighted, you +will forgive me instantly; but I must work on my father's compassion, by +reminding him, that so long as I absented myself from his house, so long +I lost the blessing of knowing you. My behaviour, during the very +happy fortnight which I spent with you, did not, I hope, lay me open to +reprehension, excepting on one point. And now I come to the principal, +the only important part of my conduct while belonging to you, which +excites my own anxiety, or requires very solicitous explanation. With +the greatest respect, and the warmest friendship, do I mention Miss +Woodhouse; my father perhaps will think I ought to add, with the deepest +humiliation.--A few words which dropped from him yesterday spoke his +opinion, and some censure I acknowledge myself liable to.--My behaviour +to Miss Woodhouse indicated, I believe, more than it ought.--In order to +assist a concealment so essential to me, I was led on to make more than +an allowable use of the sort of intimacy into which we were immediately +thrown.--I cannot deny that Miss Woodhouse was my ostensible object--but +I am sure you will believe the declaration, that had I not been +convinced of her indifference, I would not have been induced by any +selfish views to go on.--Amiable and delightful as Miss Woodhouse is, +she never gave me the idea of a young woman likely to be attached; and +that she was perfectly free from any tendency to being attached to me, +was as much my conviction as my wish.--She received my attentions with +an easy, friendly, goodhumoured playfulness, which exactly suited me. +We seemed to understand each other. From our relative situation, those +attentions were her due, and were felt to be so.--Whether Miss Woodhouse +began really to understand me before the expiration of that fortnight, +I cannot say;--when I called to take leave of her, I remember that I was +within a moment of confessing the truth, and I then fancied she was not +without suspicion; but I have no doubt of her having since detected me, +at least in some degree.--She may not have surmised the whole, but her +quickness must have penetrated a part. I cannot doubt it. You will find, +whenever the subject becomes freed from its present restraints, that it +did not take her wholly by surprize. She frequently gave me hints of it. +I remember her telling me at the ball, that I owed Mrs. Elton gratitude +for her attentions to Miss Fairfax.--I hope this history of my conduct +towards her will be admitted by you and my father as great extenuation +of what you saw amiss. While you considered me as having sinned against +Emma Woodhouse, I could deserve nothing from either. Acquit me here, and +procure for me, when it is allowable, the acquittal and good wishes +of that said Emma Woodhouse, whom I regard with so much brotherly +affection, as to long to have her as deeply and as happily in love as +myself.--Whatever strange things I said or did during that fortnight, +you have now a key to. My heart was in Highbury, and my business was to +get my body thither as often as might be, and with the least suspicion. +If you remember any queernesses, set them all to the right account.--Of +the pianoforte so much talked of, I feel it only necessary to say, that +its being ordered was absolutely unknown to Miss F--, who would never +have allowed me to send it, had any choice been given her.--The +delicacy of her mind throughout the whole engagement, my dear madam, +is much beyond my power of doing justice to. You will soon, I earnestly +hope, know her thoroughly yourself.--No description can describe her. +She must tell you herself what she is--yet not by word, for never +was there a human creature who would so designedly suppress her own +merit.--Since I began this letter, which will be longer than I foresaw, +I have heard from her.--She gives a good account of her own health; but +as she never complains, I dare not depend. I want to have your opinion +of her looks. I know you will soon call on her; she is living in dread +of the visit. Perhaps it is paid already. Let me hear from you without +delay; I am impatient for a thousand particulars. Remember how few +minutes I was at Randalls, and in how bewildered, how mad a state: and +I am not much better yet; still insane either from happiness or +misery. When I think of the kindness and favour I have met with, of her +excellence and patience, and my uncle's generosity, I am mad with joy: +but when I recollect all the uneasiness I occasioned her, and how little +I deserve to be forgiven, I am mad with anger. If I could but see her +again!--But I must not propose it yet. My uncle has been too good for me +to encroach.--I must still add to this long letter. You have not heard +all that you ought to hear. I could not give any connected detail +yesterday; but the suddenness, and, in one light, the unseasonableness +with which the affair burst out, needs explanation; for though the event +of the 26th ult., as you will conclude, immediately opened to me the +happiest prospects, I should not have presumed on such early measures, +but from the very particular circumstances, which left me not an hour to +lose. I should myself have shrunk from any thing so hasty, and she +would have felt every scruple of mine with multiplied strength and +refinement.--But I had no choice. The hasty engagement she had entered +into with that woman--Here, my dear madam, I was obliged to leave off +abruptly, to recollect and compose myself.--I have been walking over +the country, and am now, I hope, rational enough to make the rest of +my letter what it ought to be.--It is, in fact, a most mortifying +retrospect for me. I behaved shamefully. And here I can admit, that +my manners to Miss W., in being unpleasant to Miss F., were highly +blameable. _She_ disapproved them, which ought to have been enough.--My +plea of concealing the truth she did not think sufficient.--She was +displeased; I thought unreasonably so: I thought her, on a thousand +occasions, unnecessarily scrupulous and cautious: I thought her even +cold. But she was always right. If I had followed her judgment, and +subdued my spirits to the level of what she deemed proper, I should have +escaped the greatest unhappiness I have ever known.--We quarrelled.-- +Do you remember the morning spent at Donwell?--_There_ every little +dissatisfaction that had occurred before came to a crisis. I was late; +I met her walking home by herself, and wanted to walk with her, but she +would not suffer it. She absolutely refused to allow me, which I then +thought most unreasonable. Now, however, I see nothing in it but a very +natural and consistent degree of discretion. While I, to blind the +world to our engagement, was behaving one hour with objectionable +particularity to another woman, was she to be consenting the next to a +proposal which might have made every previous caution useless?--Had we +been met walking together between Donwell and Highbury, the truth must +have been suspected.--I was mad enough, however, to resent.--I doubted +her affection. I doubted it more the next day on Box Hill; when, +provoked by such conduct on my side, such shameful, insolent neglect +of her, and such apparent devotion to Miss W., as it would have been +impossible for any woman of sense to endure, she spoke her resentment in +a form of words perfectly intelligible to me.--In short, my dear +madam, it was a quarrel blameless on her side, abominable on mine; and +I returned the same evening to Richmond, though I might have staid with +you till the next morning, merely because I would be as angry with +her as possible. Even then, I was not such a fool as not to mean to +be reconciled in time; but I was the injured person, injured by her +coldness, and I went away determined that she should make the first +advances.--I shall always congratulate myself that you were not of +the Box Hill party. Had you witnessed my behaviour there, I can hardly +suppose you would ever have thought well of me again. Its effect upon +her appears in the immediate resolution it produced: as soon as she +found I was really gone from Randalls, she closed with the offer of that +officious Mrs. Elton; the whole system of whose treatment of her, by the +bye, has ever filled me with indignation and hatred. I must not quarrel +with a spirit of forbearance which has been so richly extended towards +myself; but, otherwise, I should loudly protest against the share of it +which that woman has known.--'Jane,' indeed!--You will observe that I +have not yet indulged myself in calling her by that name, even to you. +Think, then, what I must have endured in hearing it bandied between +the Eltons with all the vulgarity of needless repetition, and all the +insolence of imaginary superiority. Have patience with me, I shall soon +have done.--She closed with this offer, resolving to break with me +entirely, and wrote the next day to tell me that we never were to meet +again.--_She_ _felt_ _the_ _engagement_ _to_ _be_ _a_ _source_ _of_ +_repentance_ _and_ _misery_ _to_ _each_: _she_ _dissolved_ _it_.--This +letter reached me on the very morning of my poor aunt's death. I +answered it within an hour; but from the confusion of my mind, and the +multiplicity of business falling on me at once, my answer, instead of +being sent with all the many other letters of that day, was locked up in +my writing-desk; and I, trusting that I had written enough, though but +a few lines, to satisfy her, remained without any uneasiness.--I was +rather disappointed that I did not hear from her again speedily; but I +made excuses for her, and was too busy, and--may I add?--too cheerful +in my views to be captious.--We removed to Windsor; and two +days afterwards I received a parcel from her, my own letters all +returned!--and a few lines at the same time by the post, stating her +extreme surprize at not having had the smallest reply to her last; and +adding, that as silence on such a point could not be misconstrued, +and as it must be equally desirable to both to have every subordinate +arrangement concluded as soon as possible, she now sent me, by a safe +conveyance, all my letters, and requested, that if I could not directly +command hers, so as to send them to Highbury within a week, I would +forward them after that period to her at--: in short, the full direction +to Mr. Smallridge's, near Bristol, stared me in the face. I knew the +name, the place, I knew all about it, and instantly saw what she had +been doing. It was perfectly accordant with that resolution of character +which I knew her to possess; and the secrecy she had maintained, as to +any such design in her former letter, was equally descriptive of its +anxious delicacy. For the world would not she have seemed to threaten +me.--Imagine the shock; imagine how, till I had actually detected my +own blunder, I raved at the blunders of the post.--What was to be +done?--One thing only.--I must speak to my uncle. Without his sanction I +could not hope to be listened to again.--I spoke; circumstances were +in my favour; the late event had softened away his pride, and he was, +earlier than I could have anticipated, wholly reconciled and complying; +and could say at last, poor man! with a deep sigh, that he wished I +might find as much happiness in the marriage state as he had done.--I +felt that it would be of a different sort.--Are you disposed to pity +me for what I must have suffered in opening the cause to him, for my +suspense while all was at stake?--No; do not pity me till I reached +Highbury, and saw how ill I had made her. Do not pity me till I saw her +wan, sick looks.--I reached Highbury at the time of day when, from my +knowledge of their late breakfast hour, I was certain of a good chance +of finding her alone.--I was not disappointed; and at last I was not +disappointed either in the object of my journey. A great deal of very +reasonable, very just displeasure I had to persuade away. But it is +done; we are reconciled, dearer, much dearer, than ever, and no moment's +uneasiness can ever occur between us again. Now, my dear madam, I will +release you; but I could not conclude before. A thousand and a thousand +thanks for all the kindness you have ever shewn me, and ten thousand for +the attentions your heart will dictate towards her.--If you think me in +a way to be happier than I deserve, I am quite of your opinion.--Miss +W. calls me the child of good fortune. I hope she is right.--In one +respect, my good fortune is undoubted, that of being able to subscribe +myself, + + Your obliged and affectionate Son, + + F. C. WESTON CHURCHILL. + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +This letter must make its way to Emma's feelings. She was obliged, in +spite of her previous determination to the contrary, to do it all the +justice that Mrs. Weston foretold. As soon as she came to her own name, +it was irresistible; every line relating to herself was interesting, +and almost every line agreeable; and when this charm ceased, the subject +could still maintain itself, by the natural return of her former regard +for the writer, and the very strong attraction which any picture of +love must have for her at that moment. She never stopt till she had gone +through the whole; and though it was impossible not to feel that he had +been wrong, yet he had been less wrong than she had supposed--and he had +suffered, and was very sorry--and he was so grateful to Mrs. Weston, and +so much in love with Miss Fairfax, and she was so happy herself, that +there was no being severe; and could he have entered the room, she must +have shaken hands with him as heartily as ever. + +She thought so well of the letter, that when Mr. Knightley came again, +she desired him to read it. She was sure of Mrs. Weston's wishing it to +be communicated; especially to one, who, like Mr. Knightley, had seen so +much to blame in his conduct. + +"I shall be very glad to look it over," said he; "but it seems long. I +will take it home with me at night." + +But that would not do. Mr. Weston was to call in the evening, and she +must return it by him. + +"I would rather be talking to you," he replied; "but as it seems a +matter of justice, it shall be done." + +He began--stopping, however, almost directly to say, "Had I been offered +the sight of one of this gentleman's letters to his mother-in-law a few +months ago, Emma, it would not have been taken with such indifference." + +He proceeded a little farther, reading to himself; and then, with a +smile, observed, "Humph! a fine complimentary opening: But it is his +way. One man's style must not be the rule of another's. We will not be +severe." + +"It will be natural for me," he added shortly afterwards, "to speak my +opinion aloud as I read. By doing it, I shall feel that I am near you. +It will not be so great a loss of time: but if you dislike it--" + +"Not at all. I should wish it." + +Mr. Knightley returned to his reading with greater alacrity. + +"He trifles here," said he, "as to the temptation. He knows he is wrong, +and has nothing rational to urge.--Bad.--He ought not to have formed the +engagement.--'His father's disposition:'--he is unjust, however, to his +father. Mr. Weston's sanguine temper was a blessing on all his upright +and honourable exertions; but Mr. Weston earned every present comfort +before he endeavoured to gain it.--Very true; he did not come till Miss +Fairfax was here." + +"And I have not forgotten," said Emma, "how sure you were that he might +have come sooner if he would. You pass it over very handsomely--but you +were perfectly right." + +"I was not quite impartial in my judgment, Emma:--but yet, I think--had +_you_ not been in the case--I should still have distrusted him." + +When he came to Miss Woodhouse, he was obliged to read the whole of it +aloud--all that related to her, with a smile; a look; a shake of the +head; a word or two of assent, or disapprobation; or merely of love, as +the subject required; concluding, however, seriously, and, after steady +reflection, thus-- + +"Very bad--though it might have been worse.--Playing a most dangerous +game. Too much indebted to the event for his acquittal.--No judge of +his own manners by you.--Always deceived in fact by his own wishes, and +regardless of little besides his own convenience.--Fancying you to have +fathomed his secret. Natural enough!--his own mind full of intrigue, +that he should suspect it in others.--Mystery; Finesse--how they pervert +the understanding! My Emma, does not every thing serve to prove more +and more the beauty of truth and sincerity in all our dealings with each +other?" + +Emma agreed to it, and with a blush of sensibility on Harriet's account, +which she could not give any sincere explanation of. + +"You had better go on," said she. + +He did so, but very soon stopt again to say, "the pianoforte! Ah! That +was the act of a very, very young man, one too young to consider whether +the inconvenience of it might not very much exceed the pleasure. A +boyish scheme, indeed!--I cannot comprehend a man's wishing to give a +woman any proof of affection which he knows she would rather dispense +with; and he did know that she would have prevented the instrument's +coming if she could." + +After this, he made some progress without any pause. Frank Churchill's +confession of having behaved shamefully was the first thing to call for +more than a word in passing. + +"I perfectly agree with you, sir,"--was then his remark. "You did behave +very shamefully. You never wrote a truer line." And having gone through +what immediately followed of the basis of their disagreement, and his +persisting to act in direct opposition to Jane Fairfax's sense of right, +he made a fuller pause to say, "This is very bad.--He had induced her +to place herself, for his sake, in a situation of extreme difficulty and +uneasiness, and it should have been his first object to prevent her from +suffering unnecessarily.--She must have had much more to contend +with, in carrying on the correspondence, than he could. He should have +respected even unreasonable scruples, had there been such; but hers were +all reasonable. We must look to her one fault, and remember that she +had done a wrong thing in consenting to the engagement, to bear that she +should have been in such a state of punishment." + +Emma knew that he was now getting to the Box Hill party, and grew +uncomfortable. Her own behaviour had been so very improper! She was +deeply ashamed, and a little afraid of his next look. It was all read, +however, steadily, attentively, and without the smallest remark; and, +excepting one momentary glance at her, instantly withdrawn, in the fear +of giving pain--no remembrance of Box Hill seemed to exist. + +"There is no saying much for the delicacy of our good friends, the +Eltons," was his next observation.--"His feelings are natural.--What! +actually resolve to break with him entirely!--She felt the engagement to +be a source of repentance and misery to each--she dissolved it.--What a +view this gives of her sense of his behaviour!--Well, he must be a most +extraordinary--" + +"Nay, nay, read on.--You will find how very much he suffers." + +"I hope he does," replied Mr. Knightley coolly, and resuming the letter. +"'Smallridge!'--What does this mean? What is all this?" + +"She had engaged to go as governess to Mrs. Smallridge's children--a +dear friend of Mrs. Elton's--a neighbour of Maple Grove; and, by the +bye, I wonder how Mrs. Elton bears the disappointment?" + +"Say nothing, my dear Emma, while you oblige me to read--not even of +Mrs. Elton. Only one page more. I shall soon have done. What a letter +the man writes!" + +"I wish you would read it with a kinder spirit towards him." + +"Well, there _is_ feeling here.--He does seem to have suffered in +finding her ill.--Certainly, I can have no doubt of his being fond of +her. 'Dearer, much dearer than ever.' I hope he may long continue to +feel all the value of such a reconciliation.--He is a very liberal +thanker, with his thousands and tens of thousands.--'Happier than I +deserve.' Come, he knows himself there. 'Miss Woodhouse calls me the +child of good fortune.'--Those were Miss Woodhouse's words, were they?-- +And a fine ending--and there is the letter. The child of good fortune! +That was your name for him, was it?" + +"You do not appear so well satisfied with his letter as I am; but still +you must, at least I hope you must, think the better of him for it. I +hope it does him some service with you." + +"Yes, certainly it does. He has had great faults, faults of +inconsideration and thoughtlessness; and I am very much of his opinion +in thinking him likely to be happier than he deserves: but still as he +is, beyond a doubt, really attached to Miss Fairfax, and will soon, it +may be hoped, have the advantage of being constantly with her, I am very +ready to believe his character will improve, and acquire from hers the +steadiness and delicacy of principle that it wants. And now, let me talk +to you of something else. I have another person's interest at present +so much at heart, that I cannot think any longer about Frank Churchill. +Ever since I left you this morning, Emma, my mind has been hard at work +on one subject." + +The subject followed; it was in plain, unaffected, gentlemanlike +English, such as Mr. Knightley used even to the woman he was in love +with, how to be able to ask her to marry him, without attacking the +happiness of her father. Emma's answer was ready at the first word. +"While her dear father lived, any change of condition must be impossible +for her. She could never quit him." Part only of this answer, however, +was admitted. The impossibility of her quitting her father, Mr. +Knightley felt as strongly as herself; but the inadmissibility of any +other change, he could not agree to. He had been thinking it over most +deeply, most intently; he had at first hoped to induce Mr. Woodhouse to +remove with her to Donwell; he had wanted to believe it feasible, but +his knowledge of Mr. Woodhouse would not suffer him to deceive himself +long; and now he confessed his persuasion, that such a transplantation +would be a risk of her father's comfort, perhaps even of his life, which +must not be hazarded. Mr. Woodhouse taken from Hartfield!--No, he felt +that it ought not to be attempted. But the plan which had arisen on the +sacrifice of this, he trusted his dearest Emma would not find in any +respect objectionable; it was, that he should be received at Hartfield; +that so long as her father's happiness in other words his life--required +Hartfield to continue her home, it should be his likewise. + +Of their all removing to Donwell, Emma had already had her own passing +thoughts. Like him, she had tried the scheme and rejected it; but such +an alternative as this had not occurred to her. She was sensible of all +the affection it evinced. She felt that, in quitting Donwell, he must +be sacrificing a great deal of independence of hours and habits; that +in living constantly with her father, and in no house of his own, there +would be much, very much, to be borne with. She promised to think of it, +and advised him to think of it more; but he was fully convinced, that no +reflection could alter his wishes or his opinion on the subject. He had +given it, he could assure her, very long and calm consideration; he had +been walking away from William Larkins the whole morning, to have his +thoughts to himself. + +"Ah! there is one difficulty unprovided for," cried Emma. "I am sure +William Larkins will not like it. You must get his consent before you +ask mine." + +She promised, however, to think of it; and pretty nearly promised, +moreover, to think of it, with the intention of finding it a very good +scheme. + +It is remarkable, that Emma, in the many, very many, points of view in +which she was now beginning to consider Donwell Abbey, was never +struck with any sense of injury to her nephew Henry, whose rights as +heir-expectant had formerly been so tenaciously regarded. Think she must +of the possible difference to the poor little boy; and yet she only +gave herself a saucy conscious smile about it, and found amusement in +detecting the real cause of that violent dislike of Mr. Knightley's +marrying Jane Fairfax, or any body else, which at the time she had +wholly imputed to the amiable solicitude of the sister and the aunt. + +This proposal of his, this plan of marrying and continuing at +Hartfield--the more she contemplated it, the more pleasing it became. +His evils seemed to lessen, her own advantages to increase, their mutual +good to outweigh every drawback. Such a companion for herself in the +periods of anxiety and cheerlessness before her!--Such a partner in +all those duties and cares to which time must be giving increase of +melancholy! + +She would have been too happy but for poor Harriet; but every blessing +of her own seemed to involve and advance the sufferings of her friend, +who must now be even excluded from Hartfield. The delightful family +party which Emma was securing for herself, poor Harriet must, in mere +charitable caution, be kept at a distance from. She would be a loser in +every way. Emma could not deplore her future absence as any deduction +from her own enjoyment. In such a party, Harriet would be rather a +dead weight than otherwise; but for the poor girl herself, it seemed a +peculiarly cruel necessity that was to be placing her in such a state of +unmerited punishment. + +In time, of course, Mr. Knightley would be forgotten, that is, +supplanted; but this could not be expected to happen very early. Mr. +Knightley himself would be doing nothing to assist the cure;--not +like Mr. Elton. Mr. Knightley, always so kind, so feeling, so truly +considerate for every body, would never deserve to be less worshipped +than now; and it really was too much to hope even of Harriet, that she +could be in love with more than _three_ men in one year. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +It was a very great relief to Emma to find Harriet as desirous as +herself to avoid a meeting. Their intercourse was painful enough by +letter. How much worse, had they been obliged to meet! + +Harriet expressed herself very much as might be supposed, without +reproaches, or apparent sense of ill-usage; and yet Emma fancied there +was a something of resentment, a something bordering on it in her style, +which increased the desirableness of their being separate.--It might be +only her own consciousness; but it seemed as if an angel only could have +been quite without resentment under such a stroke. + +She had no difficulty in procuring Isabella's invitation; and she was +fortunate in having a sufficient reason for asking it, without resorting +to invention.--There was a tooth amiss. Harriet really wished, and +had wished some time, to consult a dentist. Mrs. John Knightley was +delighted to be of use; any thing of ill health was a recommendation to +her--and though not so fond of a dentist as of a Mr. Wingfield, she was +quite eager to have Harriet under her care.--When it was thus settled +on her sister's side, Emma proposed it to her friend, and found her +very persuadable.--Harriet was to go; she was invited for at least a +fortnight; she was to be conveyed in Mr. Woodhouse's carriage.--It was +all arranged, it was all completed, and Harriet was safe in Brunswick +Square. + +Now Emma could, indeed, enjoy Mr. Knightley's visits; now she could +talk, and she could listen with true happiness, unchecked by that sense +of injustice, of guilt, of something most painful, which had haunted her +when remembering how disappointed a heart was near her, how much might +at that moment, and at a little distance, be enduring by the feelings +which she had led astray herself. + +The difference of Harriet at Mrs. Goddard's, or in London, made perhaps +an unreasonable difference in Emma's sensations; but she could not think +of her in London without objects of curiosity and employment, which must +be averting the past, and carrying her out of herself. + +She would not allow any other anxiety to succeed directly to the place +in her mind which Harriet had occupied. There was a communication before +her, one which _she_ only could be competent to make--the confession of +her engagement to her father; but she would have nothing to do with it +at present.--She had resolved to defer the disclosure till Mrs. Weston +were safe and well. No additional agitation should be thrown at this +period among those she loved--and the evil should not act on herself +by anticipation before the appointed time.--A fortnight, at least, of +leisure and peace of mind, to crown every warmer, but more agitating, +delight, should be hers. + +She soon resolved, equally as a duty and a pleasure, to employ half an +hour of this holiday of spirits in calling on Miss Fairfax.--She ought +to go--and she was longing to see her; the resemblance of their present +situations increasing every other motive of goodwill. It would be a +_secret_ satisfaction; but the consciousness of a similarity of prospect +would certainly add to the interest with which she should attend to any +thing Jane might communicate. + +She went--she had driven once unsuccessfully to the door, but had not +been into the house since the morning after Box Hill, when poor Jane had +been in such distress as had filled her with compassion, though all the +worst of her sufferings had been unsuspected.--The fear of being still +unwelcome, determined her, though assured of their being at home, to +wait in the passage, and send up her name.--She heard Patty announcing +it; but no such bustle succeeded as poor Miss Bates had before made so +happily intelligible.--No; she heard nothing but the instant reply of, +"Beg her to walk up;"--and a moment afterwards she was met on the stairs +by Jane herself, coming eagerly forward, as if no other reception of her +were felt sufficient.--Emma had never seen her look so well, so lovely, +so engaging. There was consciousness, animation, and warmth; there was +every thing which her countenance or manner could ever have wanted.-- +She came forward with an offered hand; and said, in a low, but very +feeling tone, + +"This is most kind, indeed!--Miss Woodhouse, it is impossible for me +to express--I hope you will believe--Excuse me for being so entirely +without words." + +Emma was gratified, and would soon have shewn no want of words, if the +sound of Mrs. Elton's voice from the sitting-room had not checked +her, and made it expedient to compress all her friendly and all her +congratulatory sensations into a very, very earnest shake of the hand. + +Mrs. Bates and Mrs. Elton were together. Miss Bates was out, which +accounted for the previous tranquillity. Emma could have wished Mrs. +Elton elsewhere; but she was in a humour to have patience with every +body; and as Mrs. Elton met her with unusual graciousness, she hoped the +rencontre would do them no harm. + +She soon believed herself to penetrate Mrs. Elton's thoughts, and +understand why she was, like herself, in happy spirits; it was being in +Miss Fairfax's confidence, and fancying herself acquainted with what was +still a secret to other people. Emma saw symptoms of it immediately in +the expression of her face; and while paying her own compliments to Mrs. +Bates, and appearing to attend to the good old lady's replies, she saw +her with a sort of anxious parade of mystery fold up a letter which she +had apparently been reading aloud to Miss Fairfax, and return it into +the purple and gold reticule by her side, saying, with significant nods, + +"We can finish this some other time, you know. You and I shall not want +opportunities. And, in fact, you have heard all the essential already. I +only wanted to prove to you that Mrs. S. admits our apology, and is +not offended. You see how delightfully she writes. Oh! she is a sweet +creature! You would have doated on her, had you gone.--But not a word +more. Let us be discreet--quite on our good behaviour.--Hush!--You +remember those lines--I forget the poem at this moment: + + "For when a lady's in the case, + "You know all other things give place." + +Now I say, my dear, in _our_ case, for _lady_, read----mum! a word to +the wise.--I am in a fine flow of spirits, an't I? But I want to set +your heart at ease as to Mrs. S.--_My_ representation, you see, has +quite appeased her." + +And again, on Emma's merely turning her head to look at Mrs. Bates's +knitting, she added, in a half whisper, + +"I mentioned no _names_, you will observe.--Oh! no; cautious as a +minister of state. I managed it extremely well." + +Emma could not doubt. It was a palpable display, repeated on every +possible occasion. When they had all talked a little while in harmony of +the weather and Mrs. Weston, she found herself abruptly addressed with, + +"Do not you think, Miss Woodhouse, our saucy little friend here is +charmingly recovered?--Do not you think her cure does Perry the highest +credit?--(here was a side-glance of great meaning at Jane.) Upon my +word, Perry has restored her in a wonderful short time!--Oh! if you had +seen her, as I did, when she was at the worst!"--And when Mrs. Bates +was saying something to Emma, whispered farther, "We do not say a word +of any _assistance_ that Perry might have; not a word of a certain young +physician from Windsor.--Oh! no; Perry shall have all the credit." + +"I have scarce had the pleasure of seeing you, Miss Woodhouse," she +shortly afterwards began, "since the party to Box Hill. Very pleasant +party. But yet I think there was something wanting. Things did not +seem--that is, there seemed a little cloud upon the spirits of some.--So +it appeared to me at least, but I might be mistaken. However, I think +it answered so far as to tempt one to go again. What say you both to our +collecting the same party, and exploring to Box Hill again, while the +fine weather lasts?--It must be the same party, you know, quite the +same party, not _one_ exception." + +Soon after this Miss Bates came in, and Emma could not help being +diverted by the perplexity of her first answer to herself, resulting, +she supposed, from doubt of what might be said, and impatience to say +every thing. + +"Thank you, dear Miss Woodhouse, you are all kindness.--It is impossible +to say--Yes, indeed, I quite understand--dearest Jane's prospects--that +is, I do not mean.--But she is charmingly recovered.--How is Mr. +Woodhouse?--I am so glad.--Quite out of my power.--Such a happy little +circle as you find us here.--Yes, indeed.--Charming young man!--that +is--so very friendly; I mean good Mr. Perry!--such attention to +Jane!"--And from her great, her more than commonly thankful delight +towards Mrs. Elton for being there, Emma guessed that there had been a +little show of resentment towards Jane, from the vicarage quarter, +which was now graciously overcome.--After a few whispers, indeed, which +placed it beyond a guess, Mrs. Elton, speaking louder, said, + +"Yes, here I am, my good friend; and here I have been so long, that +anywhere else I should think it necessary to apologise; but, the truth +is, that I am waiting for my lord and master. He promised to join me +here, and pay his respects to you." + +"What! are we to have the pleasure of a call from Mr. Elton?--That will +be a favour indeed! for I know gentlemen do not like morning visits, and +Mr. Elton's time is so engaged." + +"Upon my word it is, Miss Bates.--He really is engaged from morning to +night.--There is no end of people's coming to him, on some pretence or +other.--The magistrates, and overseers, and churchwardens, are always +wanting his opinion. They seem not able to do any thing without +him.--'Upon my word, Mr. E.,' I often say, 'rather you than I.--I do +not know what would become of my crayons and my instrument, if I had +half so many applicants.'--Bad enough as it is, for I absolutely neglect +them both to an unpardonable degree.--I believe I have not played a bar +this fortnight.--However, he is coming, I assure you: yes, indeed, on +purpose to wait on you all." And putting up her hand to screen her +words from Emma--"A congratulatory visit, you know.--Oh! yes, quite +indispensable." + +Miss Bates looked about her, so happily--! + +"He promised to come to me as soon as he could disengage himself +from Knightley; but he and Knightley are shut up together in deep +consultation.--Mr. E. is Knightley's right hand." + +Emma would not have smiled for the world, and only said, "Is Mr. Elton +gone on foot to Donwell?--He will have a hot walk." + +"Oh! no, it is a meeting at the Crown, a regular meeting. Weston and +Cole will be there too; but one is apt to speak only of those who +lead.--I fancy Mr. E. and Knightley have every thing their own way." + +"Have not you mistaken the day?" said Emma. "I am almost certain that +the meeting at the Crown is not till to-morrow.--Mr. Knightley was at +Hartfield yesterday, and spoke of it as for Saturday." + +"Oh! no, the meeting is certainly to-day," was the abrupt answer, which +denoted the impossibility of any blunder on Mrs. Elton's side.--"I do +believe," she continued, "this is the most troublesome parish that ever +was. We never heard of such things at Maple Grove." + +"Your parish there was small," said Jane. + +"Upon my word, my dear, I do not know, for I never heard the subject +talked of." + +"But it is proved by the smallness of the school, which I have heard +you speak of, as under the patronage of your sister and Mrs. Bragge; the +only school, and not more than five-and-twenty children." + +"Ah! you clever creature, that's very true. What a thinking brain you +have! I say, Jane, what a perfect character you and I should make, if we +could be shaken together. My liveliness and your solidity would produce +perfection.--Not that I presume to insinuate, however, that _some_ +people may not think _you_ perfection already.--But hush!--not a word, +if you please." + +It seemed an unnecessary caution; Jane was wanting to give her words, +not to Mrs. Elton, but to Miss Woodhouse, as the latter plainly saw. +The wish of distinguishing her, as far as civility permitted, was very +evident, though it could not often proceed beyond a look. + +Mr. Elton made his appearance. His lady greeted him with some of her +sparkling vivacity. + +"Very pretty, sir, upon my word; to send me on here, to be an +encumbrance to my friends, so long before you vouchsafe to come!--But +you knew what a dutiful creature you had to deal with. You knew I should +not stir till my lord and master appeared.--Here have I been sitting +this hour, giving these young ladies a sample of true conjugal +obedience--for who can say, you know, how soon it may be wanted?" + +Mr. Elton was so hot and tired, that all this wit seemed thrown away. +His civilities to the other ladies must be paid; but his subsequent +object was to lament over himself for the heat he was suffering, and the +walk he had had for nothing. + +"When I got to Donwell," said he, "Knightley could not be found. Very +odd! very unaccountable! after the note I sent him this morning, and the +message he returned, that he should certainly be at home till one." + +"Donwell!" cried his wife.--"My dear Mr. E., you have not been to +Donwell!--You mean the Crown; you come from the meeting at the Crown." + +"No, no, that's to-morrow; and I particularly wanted to see Knightley +to-day on that very account.--Such a dreadful broiling morning!--I went +over the fields too--(speaking in a tone of great ill-usage,) which made +it so much the worse. And then not to find him at home! I assure you +I am not at all pleased. And no apology left, no message for me. The +housekeeper declared she knew nothing of my being expected.--Very +extraordinary!--And nobody knew at all which way he was gone. Perhaps +to Hartfield, perhaps to the Abbey Mill, perhaps into his woods.--Miss +Woodhouse, this is not like our friend Knightley!--Can you explain it?" + +Emma amused herself by protesting that it was very extraordinary, +indeed, and that she had not a syllable to say for him. + +"I cannot imagine," said Mrs. Elton, (feeling the indignity as a wife +ought to do,) "I cannot imagine how he could do such a thing by you, of +all people in the world! The very last person whom one should expect to +be forgotten!--My dear Mr. E., he must have left a message for you, I am +sure he must.--Not even Knightley could be so very eccentric;--and his +servants forgot it. Depend upon it, that was the case: and very likely +to happen with the Donwell servants, who are all, I have often observed, +extremely awkward and remiss.--I am sure I would not have such a +creature as his Harry stand at our sideboard for any consideration. And +as for Mrs. Hodges, Wright holds her very cheap indeed.--She promised +Wright a receipt, and never sent it." + +"I met William Larkins," continued Mr. Elton, "as I got near the house, +and he told me I should not find his master at home, but I did not +believe him.--William seemed rather out of humour. He did not know what +was come to his master lately, he said, but he could hardly ever get the +speech of him. I have nothing to do with William's wants, but it really +is of very great importance that _I_ should see Knightley to-day; and it +becomes a matter, therefore, of very serious inconvenience that I should +have had this hot walk to no purpose." + +Emma felt that she could not do better than go home directly. In +all probability she was at this very time waited for there; and Mr. +Knightley might be preserved from sinking deeper in aggression towards +Mr. Elton, if not towards William Larkins. + +She was pleased, on taking leave, to find Miss Fairfax determined to +attend her out of the room, to go with her even downstairs; it gave her +an opportunity which she immediately made use of, to say, + +"It is as well, perhaps, that I have not had the possibility. Had you +not been surrounded by other friends, I might have been tempted to +introduce a subject, to ask questions, to speak more openly than might +have been strictly correct.--I feel that I should certainly have been +impertinent." + +"Oh!" cried Jane, with a blush and an hesitation which Emma thought +infinitely more becoming to her than all the elegance of all her usual +composure--"there would have been no danger. The danger would have +been of my wearying you. You could not have gratified me more than +by expressing an interest--. Indeed, Miss Woodhouse, (speaking more +collectedly,) with the consciousness which I have of misconduct, very +great misconduct, it is particularly consoling to me to know that those +of my friends, whose good opinion is most worth preserving, are not +disgusted to such a degree as to--I have not time for half that I could +wish to say. I long to make apologies, excuses, to urge something for +myself. I feel it so very due. But, unfortunately--in short, if your +compassion does not stand my friend--" + +"Oh! you are too scrupulous, indeed you are," cried Emma warmly, and +taking her hand. "You owe me no apologies; and every body to whom you +might be supposed to owe them, is so perfectly satisfied, so delighted +even--" + +"You are very kind, but I know what my manners were to you.--So +cold and artificial!--I had always a part to act.--It was a life of +deceit!--I know that I must have disgusted you." + +"Pray say no more. I feel that all the apologies should be on my side. +Let us forgive each other at once. We must do whatever is to be done +quickest, and I think our feelings will lose no time there. I hope you +have pleasant accounts from Windsor?" + +"Very." + +"And the next news, I suppose, will be, that we are to lose you--just as +I begin to know you." + +"Oh! as to all that, of course nothing can be thought of yet. I am here +till claimed by Colonel and Mrs. Campbell." + +"Nothing can be actually settled yet, perhaps," replied Emma, +smiling--"but, excuse me, it must be thought of." + +The smile was returned as Jane answered, + +"You are very right; it has been thought of. And I will own to you, (I +am sure it will be safe), that so far as our living with Mr. Churchill +at Enscombe, it is settled. There must be three months, at least, of +deep mourning; but when they are over, I imagine there will be nothing +more to wait for." + +"Thank you, thank you.--This is just what I wanted to be assured +of.--Oh! if you knew how much I love every thing that is decided and +open!--Good-bye, good-bye." + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Mrs. Weston's friends were all made happy by her safety; and if the +satisfaction of her well-doing could be increased to Emma, it was by +knowing her to be the mother of a little girl. She had been decided in +wishing for a Miss Weston. She would not acknowledge that it was with +any view of making a match for her, hereafter, with either of Isabella's +sons; but she was convinced that a daughter would suit both father +and mother best. It would be a great comfort to Mr. Weston, as he grew +older--and even Mr. Weston might be growing older ten years hence--to +have his fireside enlivened by the sports and the nonsense, the freaks +and the fancies of a child never banished from home; and Mrs. Weston--no +one could doubt that a daughter would be most to her; and it would be +quite a pity that any one who so well knew how to teach, should not have +their powers in exercise again. + +"She has had the advantage, you know, of practising on me," she +continued--"like La Baronne d'Almane on La Comtesse d'Ostalis, in Madame +de Genlis' Adelaide and Theodore, and we shall now see her own little +Adelaide educated on a more perfect plan." + +"That is," replied Mr. Knightley, "she will indulge her even more than +she did you, and believe that she does not indulge her at all. It will +be the only difference." + +"Poor child!" cried Emma; "at that rate, what will become of her?" + +"Nothing very bad.--The fate of thousands. She will be disagreeable +in infancy, and correct herself as she grows older. I am losing all my +bitterness against spoilt children, my dearest Emma. I, who am owing all +my happiness to _you_, would not it be horrible ingratitude in me to be +severe on them?" + +Emma laughed, and replied: "But I had the assistance of all your +endeavours to counteract the indulgence of other people. I doubt whether +my own sense would have corrected me without it." + +"Do you?--I have no doubt. Nature gave you understanding:--Miss Taylor +gave you principles. You must have done well. My interference was quite +as likely to do harm as good. It was very natural for you to say, what +right has he to lecture me?--and I am afraid very natural for you to +feel that it was done in a disagreeable manner. I do not believe I did +you any good. The good was all to myself, by making you an object of the +tenderest affection to me. I could not think about you so much without +doating on you, faults and all; and by dint of fancying so many errors, +have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least." + +"I am sure you were of use to me," cried Emma. "I was very often +influenced rightly by you--oftener than I would own at the time. I +am very sure you did me good. And if poor little Anna Weston is to be +spoiled, it will be the greatest humanity in you to do as much for her +as you have done for me, except falling in love with her when she is +thirteen." + +"How often, when you were a girl, have you said to me, with one of your +saucy looks--'Mr. Knightley, I am going to do so-and-so; papa says I +may, or I have Miss Taylor's leave'--something which, you knew, I +did not approve. In such cases my interference was giving you two bad +feelings instead of one." + +"What an amiable creature I was!--No wonder you should hold my speeches +in such affectionate remembrance." + +"'Mr. Knightley.'--You always called me, 'Mr. Knightley;' and, from +habit, it has not so very formal a sound.--And yet it is formal. I want +you to call me something else, but I do not know what." + +"I remember once calling you 'George,' in one of my amiable fits, about +ten years ago. I did it because I thought it would offend you; but, as +you made no objection, I never did it again." + +"And cannot you call me 'George' now?" + +"Impossible!--I never can call you any thing but 'Mr. Knightley.' I +will not promise even to equal the elegant terseness of Mrs. Elton, by +calling you Mr. K.--But I will promise," she added presently, laughing +and blushing--"I will promise to call you once by your Christian name. +I do not say when, but perhaps you may guess where;--in the building in +which N. takes M. for better, for worse." + +Emma grieved that she could not be more openly just to one important +service which his better sense would have rendered her, to the +advice which would have saved her from the worst of all her womanly +follies--her wilful intimacy with Harriet Smith; but it was too tender a +subject.--She could not enter on it.--Harriet was very seldom mentioned +between them. This, on his side, might merely proceed from her not being +thought of; but Emma was rather inclined to attribute it to delicacy, +and a suspicion, from some appearances, that their friendship were +declining. She was aware herself, that, parting under any other +circumstances, they certainly should have corresponded more, and that +her intelligence would not have rested, as it now almost wholly did, on +Isabella's letters. He might observe that it was so. The pain of being +obliged to practise concealment towards him, was very little inferior to +the pain of having made Harriet unhappy. + +Isabella sent quite as good an account of her visitor as could be +expected; on her first arrival she had thought her out of spirits, which +appeared perfectly natural, as there was a dentist to be consulted; but, +since that business had been over, she did not appear to find Harriet +different from what she had known her before.--Isabella, to be sure, +was no very quick observer; yet if Harriet had not been equal to playing +with the children, it would not have escaped her. Emma's comforts and +hopes were most agreeably carried on, by Harriet's being to stay longer; +her fortnight was likely to be a month at least. Mr. and Mrs. John +Knightley were to come down in August, and she was invited to remain +till they could bring her back. + +"John does not even mention your friend," said Mr. Knightley. "Here is +his answer, if you like to see it." + +It was the answer to the communication of his intended marriage. Emma +accepted it with a very eager hand, with an impatience all alive to know +what he would say about it, and not at all checked by hearing that her +friend was unmentioned. + +"John enters like a brother into my happiness," continued Mr. Knightley, +"but he is no complimenter; and though I well know him to have, +likewise, a most brotherly affection for you, he is so far from making +flourishes, that any other young woman might think him rather cool in +her praise. But I am not afraid of your seeing what he writes." + +"He writes like a sensible man," replied Emma, when she had read the +letter. "I honour his sincerity. It is very plain that he considers the +good fortune of the engagement as all on my side, but that he is not +without hope of my growing, in time, as worthy of your affection, as +you think me already. Had he said any thing to bear a different +construction, I should not have believed him." + +"My Emma, he means no such thing. He only means--" + +"He and I should differ very little in our estimation of the two," +interrupted she, with a sort of serious smile--"much less, perhaps, than +he is aware of, if we could enter without ceremony or reserve on the +subject." + +"Emma, my dear Emma--" + +"Oh!" she cried with more thorough gaiety, "if you fancy your brother +does not do me justice, only wait till my dear father is in the secret, +and hear his opinion. Depend upon it, he will be much farther from doing +_you_ justice. He will think all the happiness, all the advantage, on +your side of the question; all the merit on mine. I wish I may not +sink into 'poor Emma' with him at once.--His tender compassion towards +oppressed worth can go no farther." + +"Ah!" he cried, "I wish your father might be half as easily convinced as +John will be, of our having every right that equal worth can give, to be +happy together. I am amused by one part of John's letter--did you notice +it?--where he says, that my information did not take him wholly by +surprize, that he was rather in expectation of hearing something of the +kind." + +"If I understand your brother, he only means so far as your having +some thoughts of marrying. He had no idea of me. He seems perfectly +unprepared for that." + +"Yes, yes--but I am amused that he should have seen so far into my +feelings. What has he been judging by?--I am not conscious of any +difference in my spirits or conversation that could prepare him at +this time for my marrying any more than at another.--But it was so, I +suppose. I dare say there was a difference when I was staying with them +the other day. I believe I did not play with the children quite so much +as usual. I remember one evening the poor boys saying, 'Uncle seems +always tired now.'" + +The time was coming when the news must spread farther, and other +persons' reception of it tried. As soon as Mrs. Weston was sufficiently +recovered to admit Mr. Woodhouse's visits, Emma having it in view that +her gentle reasonings should be employed in the cause, resolved first to +announce it at home, and then at Randalls.--But how to break it to her +father at last!--She had bound herself to do it, in such an hour of Mr. +Knightley's absence, or when it came to the point her heart would have +failed her, and she must have put it off; but Mr. Knightley was to come +at such a time, and follow up the beginning she was to make.--She was +forced to speak, and to speak cheerfully too. She must not make it a +more decided subject of misery to him, by a melancholy tone herself. +She must not appear to think it a misfortune.--With all the spirits she +could command, she prepared him first for something strange, and then, +in a few words, said, that if his consent and approbation could be +obtained--which, she trusted, would be attended with no difficulty, +since it was a plan to promote the happiness of all--she and Mr. +Knightley meant to marry; by which means Hartfield would receive the +constant addition of that person's company whom she knew he loved, next +to his daughters and Mrs. Weston, best in the world. + +Poor man!--it was at first a considerable shock to him, and he tried +earnestly to dissuade her from it. She was reminded, more than once, of +having always said she would never marry, and assured that it would be +a great deal better for her to remain single; and told of poor Isabella, +and poor Miss Taylor.--But it would not do. Emma hung about him +affectionately, and smiled, and said it must be so; and that he must +not class her with Isabella and Mrs. Weston, whose marriages taking them +from Hartfield, had, indeed, made a melancholy change: but she was not +going from Hartfield; she should be always there; she was introducing +no change in their numbers or their comforts but for the better; and she +was very sure that he would be a great deal the happier for having Mr. +Knightley always at hand, when he were once got used to the idea.--Did +he not love Mr. Knightley very much?--He would not deny that he did, +she was sure.--Whom did he ever want to consult on business but Mr. +Knightley?--Who was so useful to him, who so ready to write his letters, +who so glad to assist him?--Who so cheerful, so attentive, so attached +to him?--Would not he like to have him always on the spot?--Yes. That +was all very true. Mr. Knightley could not be there too often; he should +be glad to see him every day;--but they did see him every day as it +was.--Why could not they go on as they had done? + +Mr. Woodhouse could not be soon reconciled; but the worst was overcome, +the idea was given; time and continual repetition must do the rest.--To +Emma's entreaties and assurances succeeded Mr. Knightley's, whose fond +praise of her gave the subject even a kind of welcome; and he was soon +used to be talked to by each, on every fair occasion.--They had all +the assistance which Isabella could give, by letters of the strongest +approbation; and Mrs. Weston was ready, on the first meeting, to +consider the subject in the most serviceable light--first, as a settled, +and, secondly, as a good one--well aware of the nearly equal importance +of the two recommendations to Mr. Woodhouse's mind.--It was agreed +upon, as what was to be; and every body by whom he was used to be +guided assuring him that it would be for his happiness; and having some +feelings himself which almost admitted it, he began to think that some +time or other--in another year or two, perhaps--it might not be so very +bad if the marriage did take place. + +Mrs. Weston was acting no part, feigning no feelings in all that she +said to him in favour of the event.--She had been extremely surprized, +never more so, than when Emma first opened the affair to her; but she +saw in it only increase of happiness to all, and had no scruple in +urging him to the utmost.--She had such a regard for Mr. Knightley, as +to think he deserved even her dearest Emma; and it was in every respect +so proper, suitable, and unexceptionable a connexion, and in one +respect, one point of the highest importance, so peculiarly eligible, +so singularly fortunate, that now it seemed as if Emma could not safely +have attached herself to any other creature, and that she had herself +been the stupidest of beings in not having thought of it, and wished it +long ago.--How very few of those men in a rank of life to address Emma +would have renounced their own home for Hartfield! And who but Mr. +Knightley could know and bear with Mr. Woodhouse, so as to make such +an arrangement desirable!--The difficulty of disposing of poor Mr. +Woodhouse had been always felt in her husband's plans and her own, for +a marriage between Frank and Emma. How to settle the claims of Enscombe +and Hartfield had been a continual impediment--less acknowledged by Mr. +Weston than by herself--but even he had never been able to finish +the subject better than by saying--"Those matters will take care of +themselves; the young people will find a way." But here there was +nothing to be shifted off in a wild speculation on the future. It was +all right, all open, all equal. No sacrifice on any side worth the name. +It was a union of the highest promise of felicity in itself, and without +one real, rational difficulty to oppose or delay it. + +Mrs. Weston, with her baby on her knee, indulging in such reflections +as these, was one of the happiest women in the world. If any thing could +increase her delight, it was perceiving that the baby would soon have +outgrown its first set of caps. + +The news was universally a surprize wherever it spread; and Mr. Weston +had his five minutes share of it; but five minutes were enough to +familiarise the idea to his quickness of mind.--He saw the advantages +of the match, and rejoiced in them with all the constancy of his wife; +but the wonder of it was very soon nothing; and by the end of an hour he +was not far from believing that he had always foreseen it. + +"It is to be a secret, I conclude," said he. "These matters are always a +secret, till it is found out that every body knows them. Only let me be +told when I may speak out.--I wonder whether Jane has any suspicion." + +He went to Highbury the next morning, and satisfied himself on that +point. He told her the news. Was not she like a daughter, his eldest +daughter?--he must tell her; and Miss Bates being present, it passed, +of course, to Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Perry, and Mrs. Elton, immediately +afterwards. It was no more than the principals were prepared for; they +had calculated from the time of its being known at Randalls, how soon it +would be over Highbury; and were thinking of themselves, as the evening +wonder in many a family circle, with great sagacity. + +In general, it was a very well approved match. Some might think him, and +others might think her, the most in luck. One set might recommend their +all removing to Donwell, and leaving Hartfield for the John Knightleys; +and another might predict disagreements among their servants; but yet, +upon the whole, there was no serious objection raised, except in one +habitation, the Vicarage.--There, the surprize was not softened by any +satisfaction. Mr. Elton cared little about it, compared with his wife; +he only hoped "the young lady's pride would now be contented;" and +supposed "she had always meant to catch Knightley if she could;" and, +on the point of living at Hartfield, could daringly exclaim, "Rather +he than I!"--But Mrs. Elton was very much discomposed indeed.--"Poor +Knightley! poor fellow!--sad business for him."--She was extremely +concerned; for, though very eccentric, he had a thousand good +qualities.--How could he be so taken in?--Did not think him at all in +love--not in the least.--Poor Knightley!--There would be an end of all +pleasant intercourse with him.--How happy he had been to come and dine +with them whenever they asked him! But that would be all over now.--Poor +fellow!--No more exploring parties to Donwell made for _her_. Oh! +no; there would be a Mrs. Knightley to throw cold water on every +thing.--Extremely disagreeable! But she was not at all sorry that +she had abused the housekeeper the other day.--Shocking plan, living +together. It would never do. She knew a family near Maple Grove who +had tried it, and been obliged to separate before the end of the first +quarter. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +Time passed on. A few more to-morrows, and the party from London would +be arriving. It was an alarming change; and Emma was thinking of it one +morning, as what must bring a great deal to agitate and grieve her, when +Mr. Knightley came in, and distressing thoughts were put by. After the +first chat of pleasure he was silent; and then, in a graver tone, began +with, + +"I have something to tell you, Emma; some news." + +"Good or bad?" said she, quickly, looking up in his face. + +"I do not know which it ought to be called." + +"Oh! good I am sure.--I see it in your countenance. You are trying not +to smile." + +"I am afraid," said he, composing his features, "I am very much afraid, +my dear Emma, that you will not smile when you hear it." + +"Indeed! but why so?--I can hardly imagine that any thing which pleases +or amuses you, should not please and amuse me too." + +"There is one subject," he replied, "I hope but one, on which we do not +think alike." He paused a moment, again smiling, with his eyes fixed on +her face. "Does nothing occur to you?--Do not you recollect?--Harriet +Smith." + +Her cheeks flushed at the name, and she felt afraid of something, though +she knew not what. + +"Have you heard from her yourself this morning?" cried he. "You have, I +believe, and know the whole." + +"No, I have not; I know nothing; pray tell me." + +"You are prepared for the worst, I see--and very bad it is. Harriet +Smith marries Robert Martin." + +Emma gave a start, which did not seem like being prepared--and her eyes, +in eager gaze, said, "No, this is impossible!" but her lips were closed. + +"It is so, indeed," continued Mr. Knightley; "I have it from Robert +Martin himself. He left me not half an hour ago." + +She was still looking at him with the most speaking amazement. + +"You like it, my Emma, as little as I feared.--I wish our opinions were +the same. But in time they will. Time, you may be sure, will make one +or the other of us think differently; and, in the meanwhile, we need not +talk much on the subject." + +"You mistake me, you quite mistake me," she replied, exerting herself. +"It is not that such a circumstance would now make me unhappy, but I +cannot believe it. It seems an impossibility!--You cannot mean to say, +that Harriet Smith has accepted Robert Martin. You cannot mean that he +has even proposed to her again--yet. You only mean, that he intends it." + +"I mean that he has done it," answered Mr. Knightley, with smiling but +determined decision, "and been accepted." + +"Good God!" she cried.--"Well!"--Then having recourse to her workbasket, +in excuse for leaning down her face, and concealing all the exquisite +feelings of delight and entertainment which she knew she must be +expressing, she added, "Well, now tell me every thing; make this +intelligible to me. How, where, when?--Let me know it all. I never was +more surprized--but it does not make me unhappy, I assure you.--How--how +has it been possible?" + +"It is a very simple story. He went to town on business three days ago, +and I got him to take charge of some papers which I was wanting to send +to John.--He delivered these papers to John, at his chambers, and was +asked by him to join their party the same evening to Astley's. They were +going to take the two eldest boys to Astley's. The party was to be our +brother and sister, Henry, John--and Miss Smith. My friend Robert could +not resist. They called for him in their way; were all extremely amused; +and my brother asked him to dine with them the next day--which he +did--and in the course of that visit (as I understand) he found an +opportunity of speaking to Harriet; and certainly did not speak +in vain.--She made him, by her acceptance, as happy even as he is +deserving. He came down by yesterday's coach, and was with me this +morning immediately after breakfast, to report his proceedings, first +on my affairs, and then on his own. This is all that I can relate of +the how, where, and when. Your friend Harriet will make a much +longer history when you see her.--She will give you all the minute +particulars, which only woman's language can make interesting.--In our +communications we deal only in the great.--However, I must say, that +Robert Martin's heart seemed for _him_, and to _me_, very overflowing; +and that he did mention, without its being much to the purpose, that +on quitting their box at Astley's, my brother took charge of Mrs. John +Knightley and little John, and he followed with Miss Smith and Henry; +and that at one time they were in such a crowd, as to make Miss Smith +rather uneasy." + +He stopped.--Emma dared not attempt any immediate reply. To speak, she +was sure would be to betray a most unreasonable degree of happiness. +She must wait a moment, or he would think her mad. Her silence disturbed +him; and after observing her a little while, he added, + +"Emma, my love, you said that this circumstance would not now make you +unhappy; but I am afraid it gives you more pain than you expected. His +situation is an evil--but you must consider it as what satisfies your +friend; and I will answer for your thinking better and better of him +as you know him more. His good sense and good principles would delight +you.--As far as the man is concerned, you could not wish your friend +in better hands. His rank in society I would alter if I could, which is +saying a great deal I assure you, Emma.--You laugh at me about William +Larkins; but I could quite as ill spare Robert Martin." + +He wanted her to look up and smile; and having now brought herself not +to smile too broadly--she did--cheerfully answering, + +"You need not be at any pains to reconcile me to the match. I think +Harriet is doing extremely well. _Her_ connexions may be worse than +_his_. In respectability of character, there can be no doubt that they +are. I have been silent from surprize merely, excessive surprize. You +cannot imagine how suddenly it has come on me! how peculiarly unprepared +I was!--for I had reason to believe her very lately more determined +against him, much more, than she was before." + +"You ought to know your friend best," replied Mr. Knightley; "but I +should say she was a good-tempered, soft-hearted girl, not likely to be +very, very determined against any young man who told her he loved her." + +Emma could not help laughing as she answered, "Upon my word, I believe +you know her quite as well as I do.--But, Mr. Knightley, are you +perfectly sure that she has absolutely and downright _accepted_ him. +I could suppose she might in time--but can she already?--Did not you +misunderstand him?--You were both talking of other things; of business, +shows of cattle, or new drills--and might not you, in the confusion of +so many subjects, mistake him?--It was not Harriet's hand that he was +certain of--it was the dimensions of some famous ox." + +The contrast between the countenance and air of Mr. Knightley and Robert +Martin was, at this moment, so strong to Emma's feelings, and so strong +was the recollection of all that had so recently passed on Harriet's +side, so fresh the sound of those words, spoken with such emphasis, +"No, I hope I know better than to think of Robert Martin," that she was +really expecting the intelligence to prove, in some measure, premature. +It could not be otherwise. + +"Do you dare say this?" cried Mr. Knightley. "Do you dare to suppose me +so great a blockhead, as not to know what a man is talking of?--What do +you deserve?" + +"Oh! I always deserve the best treatment, because I never put up with +any other; and, therefore, you must give me a plain, direct answer. Are +you quite sure that you understand the terms on which Mr. Martin and +Harriet now are?" + +"I am quite sure," he replied, speaking very distinctly, "that he +told me she had accepted him; and that there was no obscurity, nothing +doubtful, in the words he used; and I think I can give you a proof that +it must be so. He asked my opinion as to what he was now to do. He knew +of no one but Mrs. Goddard to whom he could apply for information of +her relations or friends. Could I mention any thing more fit to be done, +than to go to Mrs. Goddard? I assured him that I could not. Then, he +said, he would endeavour to see her in the course of this day." + +"I am perfectly satisfied," replied Emma, with the brightest smiles, +"and most sincerely wish them happy." + +"You are materially changed since we talked on this subject before." + +"I hope so--for at that time I was a fool." + +"And I am changed also; for I am now very willing to grant you all +Harriet's good qualities. I have taken some pains for your sake, and for +Robert Martin's sake, (whom I have always had reason to believe as much +in love with her as ever,) to get acquainted with her. I have often +talked to her a good deal. You must have seen that I did. Sometimes, +indeed, I have thought you were half suspecting me of pleading poor +Martin's cause, which was never the case; but, from all my observations, +I am convinced of her being an artless, amiable girl, with very good +notions, very seriously good principles, and placing her happiness in +the affections and utility of domestic life.--Much of this, I have no +doubt, she may thank you for." + +"Me!" cried Emma, shaking her head.--"Ah! poor Harriet!" + +She checked herself, however, and submitted quietly to a little more +praise than she deserved. + +Their conversation was soon afterwards closed by the entrance of her +father. She was not sorry. She wanted to be alone. Her mind was in a +state of flutter and wonder, which made it impossible for her to be +collected. She was in dancing, singing, exclaiming spirits; and till she +had moved about, and talked to herself, and laughed and reflected, she +could be fit for nothing rational. + +Her father's business was to announce James's being gone out to put the +horses to, preparatory to their now daily drive to Randalls; and she +had, therefore, an immediate excuse for disappearing. + +The joy, the gratitude, the exquisite delight of her sensations may be +imagined. The sole grievance and alloy thus removed in the prospect of +Harriet's welfare, she was really in danger of becoming too happy for +security.--What had she to wish for? Nothing, but to grow more worthy of +him, whose intentions and judgment had been ever so superior to her own. +Nothing, but that the lessons of her past folly might teach her humility +and circumspection in future. + +Serious she was, very serious in her thankfulness, and in her +resolutions; and yet there was no preventing a laugh, sometimes in the +very midst of them. She must laugh at such a close! Such an end of the +doleful disappointment of five weeks back! Such a heart--such a Harriet! + +Now there would be pleasure in her returning--Every thing would be a +pleasure. It would be a great pleasure to know Robert Martin. + +High in the rank of her most serious and heartfelt felicities, was the +reflection that all necessity of concealment from Mr. Knightley would +soon be over. The disguise, equivocation, mystery, so hateful to her to +practise, might soon be over. She could now look forward to giving him +that full and perfect confidence which her disposition was most ready to +welcome as a duty. + +In the gayest and happiest spirits she set forward with her father; not +always listening, but always agreeing to what he said; and, whether in +speech or silence, conniving at the comfortable persuasion of his +being obliged to go to Randalls every day, or poor Mrs. Weston would be +disappointed. + +They arrived.--Mrs. Weston was alone in the drawing-room:--but hardly +had they been told of the baby, and Mr. Woodhouse received the thanks +for coming, which he asked for, when a glimpse was caught through the +blind, of two figures passing near the window. + +"It is Frank and Miss Fairfax," said Mrs. Weston. "I was just going to +tell you of our agreeable surprize in seeing him arrive this morning. He +stays till to-morrow, and Miss Fairfax has been persuaded to spend the +day with us.--They are coming in, I hope." + +In half a minute they were in the room. Emma was extremely glad to +see him--but there was a degree of confusion--a number of embarrassing +recollections on each side. They met readily and smiling, but with a +consciousness which at first allowed little to be said; and having all +sat down again, there was for some time such a blank in the circle, that +Emma began to doubt whether the wish now indulged, which she had long +felt, of seeing Frank Churchill once more, and of seeing him with Jane, +would yield its proportion of pleasure. When Mr. Weston joined the +party, however, and when the baby was fetched, there was no longer a +want of subject or animation--or of courage and opportunity for Frank +Churchill to draw near her and say, + +"I have to thank you, Miss Woodhouse, for a very kind forgiving message +in one of Mrs. Weston's letters. I hope time has not made you less +willing to pardon. I hope you do not retract what you then said." + +"No, indeed," cried Emma, most happy to begin, "not in the least. I am +particularly glad to see and shake hands with you--and to give you joy +in person." + +He thanked her with all his heart, and continued some time to speak with +serious feeling of his gratitude and happiness. + +"Is not she looking well?" said he, turning his eyes towards Jane. +"Better than she ever used to do?--You see how my father and Mrs. Weston +doat upon her." + +But his spirits were soon rising again, and with laughing eyes, after +mentioning the expected return of the Campbells, he named the name of +Dixon.--Emma blushed, and forbade its being pronounced in her hearing. + +"I can never think of it," she cried, "without extreme shame." + +"The shame," he answered, "is all mine, or ought to be. But is it +possible that you had no suspicion?--I mean of late. Early, I know, you +had none." + +"I never had the smallest, I assure you." + +"That appears quite wonderful. I was once very near--and I wish I +had--it would have been better. But though I was always doing wrong +things, they were very bad wrong things, and such as did me no +service.--It would have been a much better transgression had I broken +the bond of secrecy and told you every thing." + +"It is not now worth a regret," said Emma. + +"I have some hope," resumed he, "of my uncle's being persuaded to pay a +visit at Randalls; he wants to be introduced to her. When the Campbells +are returned, we shall meet them in London, and continue there, I trust, +till we may carry her northward.--But now, I am at such a distance from +her--is not it hard, Miss Woodhouse?--Till this morning, we have not +once met since the day of reconciliation. Do not you pity me?" + +Emma spoke her pity so very kindly, that with a sudden accession of gay +thought, he cried, + +"Ah! by the bye," then sinking his voice, and looking demure for the +moment--"I hope Mr. Knightley is well?" He paused.--She coloured and +laughed.--"I know you saw my letter, and think you may remember my wish +in your favour. Let me return your congratulations.--I assure you that +I have heard the news with the warmest interest and satisfaction.--He is +a man whom I cannot presume to praise." + +Emma was delighted, and only wanted him to go on in the same style; but +his mind was the next moment in his own concerns and with his own Jane, +and his next words were, + +"Did you ever see such a skin?--such smoothness! such delicacy!--and +yet without being actually fair.--One cannot call her fair. It is a +most uncommon complexion, with her dark eye-lashes and hair--a most +distinguishing complexion! So peculiarly the lady in it.--Just colour +enough for beauty." + +"I have always admired her complexion," replied Emma, archly; "but +do not I remember the time when you found fault with her for being so +pale?--When we first began to talk of her.--Have you quite forgotten?" + +"Oh! no--what an impudent dog I was!--How could I dare--" + +But he laughed so heartily at the recollection, that Emma could not help +saying, + +"I do suspect that in the midst of your perplexities at that time, you +had very great amusement in tricking us all.--I am sure you had.--I am +sure it was a consolation to you." + +"Oh! no, no, no--how can you suspect me of such a thing? I was the most +miserable wretch!" + +"Not quite so miserable as to be insensible to mirth. I am sure it was a +source of high entertainment to you, to feel that you were taking us +all in.--Perhaps I am the readier to suspect, because, to tell you the +truth, I think it might have been some amusement to myself in the same +situation. I think there is a little likeness between us." + +He bowed. + +"If not in our dispositions," she presently added, with a look of true +sensibility, "there is a likeness in our destiny; the destiny which bids +fair to connect us with two characters so much superior to our own." + +"True, true," he answered, warmly. "No, not true on your side. You can +have no superior, but most true on mine.--She is a complete angel. Look +at her. Is not she an angel in every gesture? Observe the turn of her +throat. Observe her eyes, as she is looking up at my father.--You will +be glad to hear (inclining his head, and whispering seriously) that my +uncle means to give her all my aunt's jewels. They are to be new set. +I am resolved to have some in an ornament for the head. Will not it be +beautiful in her dark hair?" + +"Very beautiful, indeed," replied Emma; and she spoke so kindly, that he +gratefully burst out, + +"How delighted I am to see you again! and to see you in such excellent +looks!--I would not have missed this meeting for the world. I should +certainly have called at Hartfield, had you failed to come." + +The others had been talking of the child, Mrs. Weston giving an account +of a little alarm she had been under, the evening before, from the +infant's appearing not quite well. She believed she had been foolish, +but it had alarmed her, and she had been within half a minute of sending +for Mr. Perry. Perhaps she ought to be ashamed, but Mr. Weston had been +almost as uneasy as herself.--In ten minutes, however, the child had +been perfectly well again. This was her history; and particularly +interesting it was to Mr. Woodhouse, who commended her very much for +thinking of sending for Perry, and only regretted that she had not done +it. "She should always send for Perry, if the child appeared in the +slightest degree disordered, were it only for a moment. She could not be +too soon alarmed, nor send for Perry too often. It was a pity, perhaps, +that he had not come last night; for, though the child seemed well now, +very well considering, it would probably have been better if Perry had +seen it." + +Frank Churchill caught the name. + +"Perry!" said he to Emma, and trying, as he spoke, to catch Miss +Fairfax's eye. "My friend Mr. Perry! What are they saying about Mr. +Perry?--Has he been here this morning?--And how does he travel now?--Has +he set up his carriage?" + +Emma soon recollected, and understood him; and while she joined in the +laugh, it was evident from Jane's countenance that she too was really +hearing him, though trying to seem deaf. + +"Such an extraordinary dream of mine!" he cried. "I can never think of +it without laughing.--She hears us, she hears us, Miss Woodhouse. I see +it in her cheek, her smile, her vain attempt to frown. Look at her. Do +not you see that, at this instant, the very passage of her own letter, +which sent me the report, is passing under her eye--that the whole +blunder is spread before her--that she can attend to nothing else, +though pretending to listen to the others?" + +Jane was forced to smile completely, for a moment; and the smile partly +remained as she turned towards him, and said in a conscious, low, yet +steady voice, + +"How you can bear such recollections, is astonishing to me!--They +_will_ sometimes obtrude--but how you can court them!" + +He had a great deal to say in return, and very entertainingly; but +Emma's feelings were chiefly with Jane, in the argument; and on leaving +Randalls, and falling naturally into a comparison of the two men, she +felt, that pleased as she had been to see Frank Churchill, and really +regarding him as she did with friendship, she had never been more +sensible of Mr. Knightley's high superiority of character. The happiness +of this most happy day, received its completion, in the animated +contemplation of his worth which this comparison produced. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +If Emma had still, at intervals, an anxious feeling for Harriet, a +momentary doubt of its being possible for her to be really cured of her +attachment to Mr. Knightley, and really able to accept another man from +unbiased inclination, it was not long that she had to suffer from the +recurrence of any such uncertainty. A very few days brought the party +from London, and she had no sooner an opportunity of being one hour +alone with Harriet, than she became perfectly satisfied--unaccountable +as it was!--that Robert Martin had thoroughly supplanted Mr. Knightley, +and was now forming all her views of happiness. + +Harriet was a little distressed--did look a little foolish at first: +but having once owned that she had been presumptuous and silly, and +self-deceived, before, her pain and confusion seemed to die away with +the words, and leave her without a care for the past, and with the +fullest exultation in the present and future; for, as to her friend's +approbation, Emma had instantly removed every fear of that nature, by +meeting her with the most unqualified congratulations.--Harriet was +most happy to give every particular of the evening at Astley's, and the +dinner the next day; she could dwell on it all with the utmost delight. +But what did such particulars explain?--The fact was, as Emma could now +acknowledge, that Harriet had always liked Robert Martin; and that his +continuing to love her had been irresistible.--Beyond this, it must ever +be unintelligible to Emma. + +The event, however, was most joyful; and every day was giving her fresh +reason for thinking so.--Harriet's parentage became known. She proved +to be the daughter of a tradesman, rich enough to afford her the +comfortable maintenance which had ever been hers, and decent enough to +have always wished for concealment.--Such was the blood of gentility +which Emma had formerly been so ready to vouch for!--It was likely to +be as untainted, perhaps, as the blood of many a gentleman: but what +a connexion had she been preparing for Mr. Knightley--or for the +Churchills--or even for Mr. Elton!--The stain of illegitimacy, +unbleached by nobility or wealth, would have been a stain indeed. + +No objection was raised on the father's side; the young man was treated +liberally; it was all as it should be: and as Emma became acquainted +with Robert Martin, who was now introduced at Hartfield, she fully +acknowledged in him all the appearance of sense and worth which could +bid fairest for her little friend. She had no doubt of Harriet's +happiness with any good-tempered man; but with him, and in the home he +offered, there would be the hope of more, of security, stability, and +improvement. She would be placed in the midst of those who loved her, +and who had better sense than herself; retired enough for safety, +and occupied enough for cheerfulness. She would be never led into +temptation, nor left for it to find her out. She would be respectable +and happy; and Emma admitted her to be the luckiest creature in the +world, to have created so steady and persevering an affection in such a +man;--or, if not quite the luckiest, to yield only to herself. + +Harriet, necessarily drawn away by her engagements with the Martins, +was less and less at Hartfield; which was not to be regretted.--The +intimacy between her and Emma must sink; their friendship must change +into a calmer sort of goodwill; and, fortunately, what ought to be, +and must be, seemed already beginning, and in the most gradual, natural +manner. + +Before the end of September, Emma attended Harriet to church, and saw +her hand bestowed on Robert Martin with so complete a satisfaction, as +no remembrances, even connected with Mr. Elton as he stood before them, +could impair.--Perhaps, indeed, at that time she scarcely saw Mr. Elton, +but as the clergyman whose blessing at the altar might next fall on +herself.--Robert Martin and Harriet Smith, the latest couple engaged of +the three, were the first to be married. + +Jane Fairfax had already quitted Highbury, and was restored to the +comforts of her beloved home with the Campbells.--The Mr. Churchills +were also in town; and they were only waiting for November. + +The intermediate month was the one fixed on, as far as they dared, by +Emma and Mr. Knightley.--They had determined that their marriage ought +to be concluded while John and Isabella were still at Hartfield, to +allow them the fortnight's absence in a tour to the seaside, which was +the plan.--John and Isabella, and every other friend, were agreed in +approving it. But Mr. Woodhouse--how was Mr. Woodhouse to be induced +to consent?--he, who had never yet alluded to their marriage but as a +distant event. + +When first sounded on the subject, he was so miserable, that they were +almost hopeless.--A second allusion, indeed, gave less pain.--He +began to think it was to be, and that he could not prevent it--a very +promising step of the mind on its way to resignation. Still, however, he +was not happy. Nay, he appeared so much otherwise, that his daughter's +courage failed. She could not bear to see him suffering, to know +him fancying himself neglected; and though her understanding almost +acquiesced in the assurance of both the Mr. Knightleys, that when +once the event were over, his distress would be soon over too, she +hesitated--she could not proceed. + +In this state of suspense they were befriended, not by any sudden +illumination of Mr. Woodhouse's mind, or any wonderful change of his +nervous system, but by the operation of the same system in another +way.--Mrs. Weston's poultry-house was robbed one night of all her +turkeys--evidently by the ingenuity of man. Other poultry-yards in +the neighbourhood also suffered.--Pilfering was _housebreaking_ to Mr. +Woodhouse's fears.--He was very uneasy; and but for the sense of his +son-in-law's protection, would have been under wretched alarm every +night of his life. The strength, resolution, and presence of mind of the +Mr. Knightleys, commanded his fullest dependence. While either of them +protected him and his, Hartfield was safe.--But Mr. John Knightley must +be in London again by the end of the first week in November. + +The result of this distress was, that, with a much more voluntary, +cheerful consent than his daughter had ever presumed to hope for at the +moment, she was able to fix her wedding-day--and Mr. Elton was called +on, within a month from the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin, to +join the hands of Mr. Knightley and Miss Woodhouse. + +The wedding was very much like other weddings, where the parties have +no taste for finery or parade; and Mrs. Elton, from the particulars +detailed by her husband, thought it all extremely shabby, and very +inferior to her own.--"Very little white satin, very few lace veils; a +most pitiful business!--Selina would stare when she heard of it."--But, +in spite of these deficiencies, the wishes, the hopes, the confidence, +the predictions of the small band of true friends who witnessed the +ceremony, were fully answered in the perfect happiness of the union. + + + +FINIS + + + + + + + + + +LADY SUSAN + +by Jane Austen + + + + +I + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. VERNON + + +Langford, Dec. + +MY DEAR BROTHER,--I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of +profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending some +weeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient to you +and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few +days to be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be +acquainted with. My kind friends here are most affectionately +urgent with me to prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful +dispositions lead them too much into society for my present situation +and state of mind; and I impatiently look forward to the hour when I +shall be admitted into Your delightful retirement. + +I long to be made known to your dear little children, in whose hearts I +shall be very eager to secure an interest I shall soon have need for all +my fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter. +The long illness of her dear father prevented my paying her that +attention which duty and affection equally dictated, and I have too +much reason to fear that the governess to whose care I consigned her was +unequal to the charge. I have therefore resolved on placing her at one +of the best private schools in town, where I shall have an opportunity +of leaving her myself in my way to you. I am determined, you see, not to +be denied admittance at Churchhill. It would indeed give me most painful +sensations to know that it were not in your power to receive me. + +Your most obliged and affectionate sister, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +II + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Langford. + + +You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place +for the rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were +mistaken, for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than +those which have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; the +females of the family are united against me. You foretold how it would +be when I first came to Langford, and Mainwaring is so uncommonly +pleasing that I was not without apprehensions for myself. I remember +saying to myself, as I drove to the house, "I like this man, pray Heaven +no harm come of it!" But I was determined to be discreet, to bear in +mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet as possible: +and I have been so, my dear creature; I have admitted no one's +attentions but Mainwaring's. I have avoided all general flirtation +whatever; I have distinguished no creature besides, of all the numbers +resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little +notice, in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring; but, if the world +could know my motive THERE they would honour me. I have been called an +unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of maternal affection, it +was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; and if that daughter +were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been rewarded for +my exertions as I ought. + +Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica; but Frederica, who +was born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently +against the match that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for +the present. I have more than once repented that I did not marry him +myself; and were he but one degree less contemptibly weak I certainly +should: but I must own myself rather romantic in that respect, and +that riches only will not satisfy me. The event of all this is very +provoking: Sir James is gone, Maria highly incensed, and Mrs. Mainwaring +insupportably jealous; so jealous, in short, and so enraged against +me, that, in the fury of her temper, I should not be surprized at her +appealing to her guardian, if she had the liberty of addressing him: +but there your husband stands my friend; and the kindest, most amiable +action of his life was his throwing her off for ever on her marriage. +Keep up his resentment, therefore, I charge you. We are now in a sad +state; no house was ever more altered; the whole party are at war, and +Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. It is time for me to be gone; I +have therefore determined on leaving them, and shall spend, I hope, a +comfortable day with you in town within this week. If I am as little +in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10 Wigmore +street; but I hope this may not be the case, for as Mr. Johnson, with +all his faults, is a man to whom that great word "respectable" is always +given, and I am known to be so intimate with his wife, his slighting me +has an awkward look. + +I take London in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village; +for I am really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is +my last resource. Were there another place in England open to me I would +prefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his wife. +At Churchhill, however, I must remain till I have something better in +view. My young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall deposit her +under the care of Miss Summers, in Wigmore street, till she becomes a +little more reasonable. She will made good connections there, as the +girls are all of the best families. The price is immense, and much +beyond what I can ever attempt to pay. + +Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + +III + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our +power to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you; and we are +prevented that happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to +make us any amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has +declared her intention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such +a visit is in all probability merely an affair of convenience, it is +impossible to conjecture its length. I was by no means prepared for such +an event, nor can I now account for her ladyship's conduct; Langford +appeared so exactly the place for her in every respect, as well from +the elegant and expensive style of living there, as from her particular +attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, that I was very far from expecting so +speedy a distinction, though I always imagined from her increasing +friendship for us since her husband's death that we should, at some +future period, be obliged to receive her. Mr. Vernon, I think, was a +great deal too kind to her when he was in Staffordshire; her behaviour +to him, independent of her general character, has been so inexcusably +artful and ungenerous since our marriage was first in agitation that no +one less amiable and mild than himself could have overlooked it all; +and though, as his brother's widow, and in narrow circumstances, it was +proper to render her pecuniary assistance, I cannot help thinking +his pressing invitation to her to visit us at Churchhill perfectly +unnecessary. Disposed, however, as he always is to think the best of +everyone, her display of grief, and professions of regret, and general +resolutions of prudence, were sufficient to soften his heart and make +him really confide in her sincerity; but, as for myself, I am still +unconvinced, and plausibly as her ladyship has now written, I cannot +make up my mind till I better understand her real meaning in coming to +us. You may guess, therefore, my dear madam, with what feelings I look +forward to her arrival. She will have occasion for all those attractive +powers for which she is celebrated to gain any share of my regard; and +I shall certainly endeavour to guard myself against their influence, +if not accompanied by something more substantial. She expresses a +most eager desire of being acquainted with me, and makes very gracious +mention of my children but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a woman +who has behaved with inattention, if not with unkindness, to her own +child, should be attached to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to be placed at +a school in London before her mother comes to us which I am glad of, for +her sake and my own. It must be to her advantage to be separated from +her mother, and a girl of sixteen who has received so wretched an +education, could not be a very desirable companion here. Reginald has +long wished, I know, to see the captivating Lady Susan, and we shall +depend on his joining our party soon. I am glad to hear that my father +continues so well; and am, with best love, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +IV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Sister,--I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to +receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England. As a +very distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her, but +it has lately fallen In my way to hear some particulars of her conduct +at Langford: which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort +of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the +more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable. By her +behaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his +wife, and by her attentions to a young man previously attached to Mr. +Mainwaring's sister deprived an amiable girl of her lover. + +I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this neighbourhood (I have +dined with him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford +where he was a fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well +qualified to make the communication. + +What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall certainly accept +your kind invitation, that I may form some idea of those bewitching +powers which can do so much--engaging at the same time, and in the same +house, the affections of two men, who were neither of them at liberty to +bestow them--and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to find +Miss Vernon does not accompany her mother to Churchhill, as she has not +even manners to recommend her; and, according to Mr. Smith's account, is +equally dull and proud. Where pride and stupidity unite there can be +no dissimulation worthy notice, and Miss Vernon shall be consigned to +unrelenting contempt; but by all that I can gather Lady Susan possesses +a degree of captivating deceit which it must be pleasing to witness and +detect. I shall be with you very soon, and am ever, + +Your affectionate brother, + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +V + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, and +rejoice to be assured that Mr. Johnson suspected nothing of your +engagement the evening before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him +entirely, and since he will be stubborn he must be tricked. I arrived +here in safety, and have no reason to complain of my reception from Mr. +Vernon; but I confess myself not equally satisfied with the behaviour of +his lady. She is perfectly well-bred, indeed, and has the air of a woman +of fashion, but her manners are not such as can persuade me of her being +prepossessed in my favour. I wanted her to be delighted at seeing me. +I was as amiable as possible on the occasion, but all in vain. She does +not like me. To be sure when we consider that I DID take some pains to +prevent my brother-in-law's marrying her, this want of cordiality is not +very surprizing, and yet it shows an illiberal and vindictive spirit +to resent a project which influenced me six years ago, and which never +succeeded at last. + +I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy +Vernon Castle, when we were obliged to sell it; but it was a trying +circumstance, especially as the sale took place exactly at the time +of his marriage; and everybody ought to respect the delicacy of those +feelings which could not endure that my husband's dignity should be +lessened by his younger brother's having possession of the family +estate. Could matters have been so arranged as to prevent the necessity +of our leaving the castle, could we have lived with Charles and kept +him single, I should have been very far from persuading my husband to +dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was on the point of marrying +Miss De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Here are children in +abundance, and what benefit could have accrued to me from his purchasing +Vernon? My having prevented it may perhaps have given his wife an +unfavourable impression, but where there is a disposition to dislike, +a motive will never be wanting; and as to money matters it has not +withheld him from being very useful to me. I really have a regard +for him, he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, the +furniture fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance. +Charles is very rich I am sure; when a man has once got his name in a +banking-house he rolls in money; but they do not know what to do with +it, keep very little company, and never go to London but on business. We +shall be as stupid as possible. I mean to win my sister-in-law's heart +through the children; I know all their names already, and am going to +attach myself with the greatest sensibility to one in particular, a +young Frederic, whom I take on my lap and sigh over for his dear uncle's +sake. + +Poor Mainwaring! I need not tell you how much I miss him, how +perpetually he is in my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on +my arrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister, and +lamentations on the cruelty of his fate. I passed off the letter as his +wife's, to the Vernons, and when I write to him it must be under cover +to you. + +Ever yours, S. VERNON. + + + + + +VI + + +MRS. VERNON TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and must +give you some description of her, though I hope you will soon be able to +form your own judgment she is really excessively pretty; however you may +choose to question the allurements of a lady no longer young, I must, +for my own part, declare that I have seldom seen so lovely a woman +as Lady Susan. She is delicately fair, with fine grey eyes and dark +eyelashes; and from her appearance one would not suppose her more than +five and twenty, though she must in fact be ten years older, I was +certainly not disposed to admire her, though always hearing she was +beautiful; but I cannot help feeling that she possesses an uncommon +union of symmetry, brilliancy, and grace. Her address to me was so +gentle, frank, and even affectionate, that, if I had not known how much +she has always disliked me for marrying Mr. Vernon, and that we had +never met before, I should have imagined her an attached friend. One +is apt, I believe, to connect assurance of manner with coquetry, and to +expect that an impudent address will naturally attend an impudent mind; +at least I was myself prepared for an improper degree of confidence in +Lady Susan; but her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her voice and +manner winningly mild. I am sorry it is so, for what is this but deceit? +Unfortunately, one knows her too well. She is clever and agreeable, has +all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation easy, and talks +very well, with a happy command of language, which is too often used, I +believe, to make black appear white. She has already almost persuaded me +of her being warmly attached to her daughter, though I have been so long +convinced to the contrary. She speaks of her with so much tenderness and +anxiety, lamenting so bitterly the neglect of her education, which she +represents however as wholly unavoidable, that I am forced to recollect +how many successive springs her ladyship spent in town, while her +daughter was left in Staffordshire to the care of servants, or a +governess very little better, to prevent my believing what she says. + +If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you +may judge how much more strongly they operate on Mr. Vernon's generous +temper. I wish I could be as well satisfied as he is, that it was really +her choice to leave Langford for Churchhill; and if she had not stayed +there for months before she discovered that her friend's manner of +living did not suit her situation or feelings, I might have believed +that concern for the loss of such a husband as Mr. Vernon, to whom her +own behaviour was far from unexceptionable, might for a time make her +wish for retirement. But I cannot forget the length of her visit to the +Mainwarings, and when I reflect on the different mode of life which she +led with them from that to which she must now submit, I can only suppose +that the wish of establishing her reputation by following though late +the path of propriety, occasioned her removal from a family where she +must in reality have been particularly happy. Your friend Mr. Smith's +story, however, cannot be quite correct, as she corresponds regularly +with Mrs. Mainwaring. At any rate it must be exaggerated. It is scarcely +possible that two men should be so grossly deceived by her at once. + +Yours, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON + + + + + +VII + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Alicia,--You are very good in taking notice of Frederica, and +I am grateful for it as a mark of your friendship; but as I cannot have +any doubt of the warmth of your affection, I am far from exacting so +heavy a sacrifice. She is a stupid girl, and has nothing to recommend +her. I would not, therefore, on my account, have you encumber one moment +of your precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, especially +as every visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of education, +which I really wish to have attended to while she remains at Miss +Summers's. I want her to play and sing with some portion of taste and +a good deal of assurance, as she has my hand and arm and a tolerable +voice. I was so much indulged in my infant years that I was never +obliged to attend to anything, and consequently am without the +accomplishments which are now necessary to finish a pretty woman. Not +that I am an advocate for the prevailing fashion of acquiring a perfect +knowledge of all languages, arts, and sciences. It is throwing time +away to be mistress of French, Italian, and German: music, singing, +and drawing, &c., will gain a woman some applause, but will not add +one lover to her list--grace and manner, after all, are of the greatest +importance. I do not mean, therefore, that Frederica's acquirements +should be more than superficial, and I flatter myself that she will not +remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly. I hope +to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on what +I ground my hope, and it is certainly a good foundation, for school must +be very humiliating to a girl of Frederica's age. And, by-the-by, you +had better not invite her any more on that account, as I wish her to +find her situation as unpleasant as possible. I am sure of Sir James at +any time, and could make him renew his application by a line. I shall +trouble you meanwhile to prevent his forming any other attachment when +he comes to town. Ask him to your house occasionally, and talk to him of +Frederica, that he may not forget her. Upon the whole, I commend my own +conduct in this affair extremely, and regard it as a very happy instance +of circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have insisted on +their daughter's accepting so good an offer on the first overture; but I +could not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica into a marriage from +which her heart revolted, and instead of adopting so harsh a measure +merely propose to make it her own choice, by rendering her thoroughly +uncomfortable till she does accept him--but enough of this tiresome +girl. You may well wonder how I contrive to pass my time here, and for +the first week it was insufferably dull. Now, however, we begin to mend, +our party is enlarged by Mrs. Vernon's brother, a handsome young man, +who promises me some amusement. There is something about him which +rather interests me, a sort of sauciness and familiarity which I shall +teach him to correct. He is lively, and seems clever, and when I have +inspired him with greater respect for me than his sister's kind offices +have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt. There is exquisite +pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in making a person +predetermined to dislike acknowledge one's superiority. I have +disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it shall be my +endeavour to humble the pride of these self important De Courcys still +lower, to convince Mrs. Vernon that her sisterly cautions have been +bestowed in vain, and to persuade Reginald that she has scandalously +belied me. This project will serve at least to amuse me, and prevent +my feeling so acutely this dreadful separation from you and all whom I +love. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +VIII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--You must not expect Reginald back again for some time. +He desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to +accept Mr. Vernon's invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex, that +they may have some hunting together. He means to send for his horses +immediately, and it is impossible to say when you may see him in Kent. I +will not disguise my sentiments on this change from you, my dear mother, +though I think you had better not communicate them to my father, whose +excessive anxiety about Reginald would subject him to an alarm which +might seriously affect his health and spirits. Lady Susan has certainly +contrived, in the space of a fortnight, to make my brother like her. +In short, I am persuaded that his continuing here beyond the time +originally fixed for his return is occasioned as much by a degree of +fascination towards her, as by the wish of hunting with Mr. Vernon, and +of course I cannot receive that pleasure from the length of his visit +which my brother's company would otherwise give me. I am, indeed, +provoked at the artifice of this unprincipled woman; what stronger +proof of her dangerous abilities can be given than this perversion of +Reginald's judgment, which when he entered the house was so decidedly +against her! In his last letter he actually gave me some particulars of +her behaviour at Langford, such as he received from a gentleman who knew +her perfectly well, which, if true, must raise abhorrence against her, +and which Reginald himself was entirely disposed to credit. His opinion +of her, I am sure, was as low as of any woman in England; and when he +first came it was evident that he considered her as one entitled neither +to delicacy nor respect, and that he felt she would be delighted with +the attentions of any man inclined to flirt with her. Her behaviour, I +confess, has been calculated to do away with such an idea; I have +not detected the smallest impropriety in it--nothing of vanity, of +pretension, of levity; and she is altogether so attractive that I should +not wonder at his being delighted with her, had he known nothing of her +previous to this personal acquaintance; but, against reason, against +conviction, to be so well pleased with her, as I am sure he is, does +really astonish me. His admiration was at first very strong, but no more +than was natural, and I did not wonder at his being much struck by the +gentleness and delicacy of her manners; but when he has mentioned her of +late it has been in terms of more extraordinary praise; and yesterday he +actually said that he could not be surprised at any effect produced +on the heart of man by such loveliness and such abilities; and when I +lamented, in reply, the badness of her disposition, he observed that +whatever might have been her errors they were to be imputed to her +neglected education and early marriage, and that she was altogether a +wonderful woman. This tendency to excuse her conduct or to forget it, in +the warmth of admiration, vexes me; and if I did not know that Reginald +is too much at home at Churchhill to need an invitation for lengthening +his visit, I should regret Mr. Vernon's giving him any. Lady Susan's +intentions are of course those of absolute coquetry, or a desire +of universal admiration; I cannot for a moment imagine that she has +anything more serious in view; but it mortifies me to see a young man of +Reginald's sense duped by her at all. + +I am, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +IX + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY S. VERNON + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,--I congratulate you on Mr. De Courcy's arrival, and +I advise you by all means to marry him; his father's estate is, we know, +considerable, and I believe certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very +infirm, and not likely to stand in your way long. I hear the young man +well spoken of; and though no one can really deserve you, my dearest +Susan, Mr. De Courcy may be worth having. Mainwaring will storm of +course, but you easily pacify him; besides, the most scrupulous point of +honour could not require you to wait for HIS emancipation. I have seen +Sir James; he came to town for a few days last week, and called several +times in Edward Street. I talked to him about you and your daughter, and +he is so far from having forgotten you, that I am sure he would marry +either of you with pleasure. I gave him hopes of Frederica's relenting, +and told him a great deal of her improvements. I scolded him for making +love to Maria Mainwaring; he protested that he had been only in joke, +and we both laughed heartily at her disappointment; and, in short, were +very agreeable. He is as silly as ever. + +Yours faithfully, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +X + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I am much obliged to you, my dear Friend, for your advice respecting +Mr. De Courcy, which I know was given with the full conviction of its +expediency, though I am not quite determined on following it. I cannot +easily resolve on anything so serious as marriage; especially as I +am not at present in want of money, and might perhaps, till the old +gentleman's death, be very little benefited by the match. It is true +that I am vain enough to believe it within my reach. I have made him +sensible of my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing +over a mind prepared to dislike me, and prejudiced against all my +past actions. His sister, too, is, I hope, convinced how little the +ungenerous representations of anyone to the disadvantage of another will +avail when opposed by the immediate influence of intellect and manner. I +see plainly that she is uneasy at my progress in the good opinion of +her brother, and conclude that nothing will be wanting on her part to +counteract me; but having once made him doubt the justice of her opinion +of me, I think I may defy, her. It has been delightful to me to watch +his advances towards intimacy, especially to observe his altered manner +in consequence of my repressing by the cool dignity of my deportment +his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My conduct has been equally +guarded from the first, and I never behaved less like a coquette in the +whole course of my life, though perhaps my desire of dominion was never +more decided. I have subdued him entirely by sentiment and serious +conversation, and made him, I may venture to say, at least half in love +with me, without the semblance of the most commonplace flirtation. Mrs. +Vernon's consciousness of deserving every sort of revenge that it can +be in my power to inflict for her ill-offices could alone enable her +to perceive that I am actuated by any design in behaviour so gentle +and unpretending. Let her think and act as she chooses, however. I have +never yet found that the advice of a sister could prevent a young +man's being in love if he chose. We are advancing now to some kind of +confidence, and in short are likely to be engaged in a sort of platonic +friendship. On my side you may be sure of its never being more, for if +I were not attached to another person as much as I can be to anyone, I +should make a point of not bestowing my affection on a man who had dared +to think so meanly of me. Reginald has a good figure and is not unworthy +the praise you have heard given him, but is still greatly inferior +to our friend at Langford. He is less polished, less insinuating than +Mainwaring, and is comparatively deficient in the power of saying those +delightful things which put one in good humour with oneself and all the +world. He is quite agreeable enough, however, to afford me amusement, +and to make many of those hours pass very pleasantly which would +otherwise be spent in endeavouring to overcome my sister-in-law's +reserve, and listening to the insipid talk of her husband. Your account +of Sir James is most satisfactory, and I mean to give Miss Frederica a +hint of my intentions very soon. + +Yours, &c., + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XI + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +I really grow quite uneasy, my dearest mother, about Reginald, from +witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan's influence. They are +now on terms of the most particular friendship, frequently engaged in +long conversations together; and she has contrived by the most artful +coquetry to subdue his judgment to her own purposes. It is impossible +to see the intimacy between them so very soon established without some +alarm, though I can hardly suppose that Lady Susan's plans extend to +marriage. I wish you could get Reginald home again on any plausible +pretence; he is not at all disposed to leave us, and I have given him as +many hints of my father's precarious state of health as common decency +will allow me to do in my own house. Her power over him must now be +boundless, as she has entirely effaced all his former ill-opinion, +and persuaded him not merely to forget but to justify her conduct. Mr. +Smith's account of her proceedings at Langford, where he accused her of +having made Mr. Mainwaring and a young man engaged to Miss Mainwaring +distractedly in love with her, which Reginald firmly believed when he +came here, is now, he is persuaded, only a scandalous invention. He +has told me so with a warmth of manner which spoke his regret at having +believed the contrary himself. How sincerely do I grieve that she +ever entered this house! I always looked forward to her coming with +uneasiness; but very far was it from originating in anxiety for +Reginald. I expected a most disagreeable companion for myself, but could +not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest danger of being +captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well acquainted, +and whose character he so heartily despised. If you can get him away it +will be a good thing. + +Yours, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XII + + +SIR REGINALD DE COURCY TO HIS SON + + +Parklands. + + +I know that young men in general do not admit of any enquiry even from +their nearest relations into affairs of the heart, but I hope, my dear +Reginald, that you will be superior to such as allow nothing for a +father's anxiety, and think themselves privileged to refuse him their +confidence and slight his advice. You must be sensible that as an only +son, and the representative of an ancient family, your conduct in life +is most interesting to your connections; and in the very important +concern of marriage especially, there is everything at stake--your own +happiness, that of your parents, and the credit of your name. I do not +suppose that you would deliberately form an absolute engagement of that +nature without acquainting your mother and myself, or at least, without +being convinced that we should approve of your choice; but I cannot help +fearing that you may be drawn in, by the lady who has lately attached +you, to a marriage which the whole of your family, far and near, must +highly reprobate. Lady Susan's age is itself a material objection, but +her want of character is one so much more serious, that the difference +of even twelve years becomes in comparison of small amount. Were you not +blinded by a sort of fascination, it would be ridiculous in me to repeat +the instances of great misconduct on her side so very generally known. + +Her neglect of her husband, her encouragement of other men, her +extravagance and dissipation, were so gross and notorious that no one +could be ignorant of them at the time, nor can now have forgotten them. +To our family she has always been represented in softened colours by +the benevolence of Mr. Charles Vernon, and yet, in spite of his generous +endeavours to excuse her, we know that she did, from the most selfish +motives, take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with Catherine. + +My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you +settled in the world. To the fortune of a wife, the goodness of my own +will make me indifferent, but her family and character must be equally +unexceptionable. When your choice is fixed so that no objection can be +made to it, then I can promise you a ready and cheerful consent; but it +is my duty to oppose a match which deep art only could render possible, +and must in the end make wretched. It is possible her behaviour may +arise only from vanity, or the wish of gaining the admiration of a man +whom she must imagine to be particularly prejudiced against her; but it +is more likely that she should aim at something further. She is poor, +and may naturally seek an alliance which must be advantageous to +herself; you know your own rights, and that it is out of my power to +prevent your inheriting the family estate. My ability of distressing +you during my life would be a species of revenge to which I could hardly +stoop under any circumstances. + +I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions: I do not wish to work +on your fears, but on your sense and affection. It would destroy every +comfort of my life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon; +it would be the death of that honest pride with which I have hitherto +considered my son; I should blush to see him, to hear of him, to think +of him. I may perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own mind by +this letter, but I felt it my duty to tell you that your partiality for +Lady Susan is no secret to your friends, and to warn you against her. +I should be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr. Smith's +intelligence; you had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago. If +you can give me your assurance of having no design beyond enjoying +the conversation of a clever woman for a short period, and of yielding +admiration only to her beauty and abilities, without being blinded by +them to her faults, you will restore me to happiness; but, if you cannot +do this, explain to me, at least, what has occasioned so great an +alteration in your opinion of her. + +I am, &c., &c, + +REGINALD DE COURCY + + + + + +XIII + + +LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Catherine,--Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last +letter came, by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my +reading it myself, so I could not refuse Your father when he offered +to read it to me, by which means he became acquainted, to my great +vexation, with all your fears about your brother. I had intended to +write to Reginald myself as soon as my eyes would let me, to point out, +as well as I could, the danger of an intimate acquaintance, with so +artful a woman as Lady Susan, to a young man of his age, and high +expectations. I meant, moreover, to have reminded him of our being quite +alone now, and very much in need of him to keep up our spirits these +long winter evenings. Whether it would have done any good can never be +settled now, but I am excessively vexed that Sir Reginald should know +anything of a matter which we foresaw would make him so uneasy. He +caught all your fears the moment he had read your letter, and I am sure +he has not had the business out of his head since. He wrote by the same +post to Reginald a long letter full of it all, and particularly asking +an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady Susan to contradict +the late shocking reports. His answer came this morning, which I shall +enclose to you, as I think you will like to see it. I wish it was more +satisfactory; but it seems written with such a determination to think +well of Lady Susan, that his assurances as to marriage, &c., do not set +my heart at ease. I say all I can, however, to satisfy your father, and +he is certainly less uneasy since Reginald's letter. How provoking it +is, my dear Catherine, that this unwelcome guest of yours should not +only prevent our meeting this Christmas, but be the occasion of so much +vexation and trouble! Kiss the dear children for me. + +Your affectionate mother, + +C. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XIV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO SIR REGINALD + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Sir,--I have this moment received your letter, which has given +me more astonishment than I ever felt before. I am to thank my sister, +I suppose, for having represented me in such a light as to injure me +in your opinion, and give you all this alarm. I know not why she should +choose to make herself and her family uneasy by apprehending an +event which no one but herself, I can affirm, would ever have thought +possible. To impute such a design to Lady Susan would be taking from her +every claim to that excellent understanding which her bitterest enemies +have never denied her; and equally low must sink my pretensions to +common sense if I am suspected of matrimonial views in my behaviour +to her. Our difference of age must be an insuperable objection, and I +entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your mind, and no longer harbour +a suspicion which cannot be more injurious to your own peace than to our +understandings. I can have no other view in remaining with Lady Susan, +than to enjoy for a short time (as you have yourself expressed it) the +conversation of a woman of high intellectual powers. If Mrs. Vernon +would allow something to my affection for herself and her husband in the +length of my visit, she would do more justice to us all; but my sister +is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction against Lady +Susan. From an attachment to her husband, which in itself does honour to +both, she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing their union, which +have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan; but in this case, as +well as in many others, the world has most grossly injured that lady, by +supposing the worst where the motives of her conduct have been doubtful. +Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage of my +sister as to persuade her that the happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom she +was always much attached, would be wholly destroyed by the marriage. And +this circumstance, while it explains the true motives of Lady Susan's +conduct, and removes all the blame which has been so lavished on her, +may also convince us how little the general report of anyone ought to +be credited; since no character, however upright, can escape the +malevolence of slander. If my sister, in the security of retirement, +with as little opportunity as inclination to do evil, could not avoid +censure, we must not rashly condemn those who, living in the world and +surrounded with temptations, should be accused of errors which they are +known to have the power of committing. + +I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous +tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan, as I +am now convinced how greatly they have traduced her. As to Mrs. +Mainwaring's jealousy it was totally his own invention, and his account +of her attaching Miss Mainwaring's lover was scarcely better founded. +Sir James Martin had been drawn in by that young lady to pay her some +attention; and as he is a man of fortune, it was easy to see HER views +extended to marriage. It is well known that Miss M. is absolutely on the +catch for a husband, and no one therefore can pity her for losing, by +the superior attractions of another woman, the chance of being able to +make a worthy man completely wretched. Lady Susan was far from intending +such a conquest, and on finding how warmly Miss Mainwaring resented her +lover's defection, determined, in spite of Mr. and Mrs. Mainwaring's +most urgent entreaties, to leave the family. I have reason to imagine +she did receive serious proposals from Sir James, but her removing to +Langford immediately on the discovery of his attachment, must acquit her +on that article with any mind of common candour. You will, I am sure, my +dear Sir, feel the truth of this, and will hereby learn to do justice to +the character of a very injured woman. I know that Lady Susan in coming +to Churchhill was governed only by the most honourable and amiable +intentions; her prudence and economy are exemplary, her regard for Mr. +Vernon equal even to HIS deserts; and her wish of obtaining my sister's +good opinion merits a better return than it has received. As a mother +she is unexceptionable; her solid affection for her child is shown by +placing her in hands where her education will be properly attended to; +but because she has not the blind and weak partiality of most mothers, +she is accused of wanting maternal tenderness. Every person of sense, +however, will know how to value and commend her well-directed affection, +and will join me in wishing that Frederica Vernon may prove more worthy +than she has yet done of her mother's tender care. I have now, my dear +father, written my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you will know from +this letter how highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her character; +but if you are not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance +that your fears have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and +distress me. + +I am, &c., &c., + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XV + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +My dear Mother,--I return you Reginald's letter, and rejoice with all +my heart that my father is made easy by it: tell him so, with my +congratulations; but, between ourselves, I must own it has only +convinced ME of my brother's having no PRESENT intention of marrying +Lady Susan, not that he is in no danger of doing so three months hence. +He gives a very plausible account of her behaviour at Langford; I wish +it may be true, but his intelligence must come from herself, and I +am less disposed to believe it than to lament the degree of intimacy +subsisting, between them implied by the discussion of such a subject. I +am sorry to have incurred his displeasure, but can expect nothing better +while he is so very eager in Lady Susan's justification. He is very +severe against me indeed, and yet I hope I have not been hasty in +my judgment of her. Poor woman! though I have reasons enough for +my dislike, I cannot help pitying her at present, as she is in real +distress, and with too much cause. She had this morning a letter from +the lady with whom she has placed her daughter, to request that Miss +Vernon might be immediately removed, as she had been detected in an +attempt to run away. Why, or whither she intended to go, does not +appear; but, as her situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it is +a sad thing, and of course highly distressing to Lady Susan. Frederica +must be as much as sixteen, and ought to know better; but from what +her mother insinuates, I am afraid she is a perverse girl. She has +been sadly neglected, however, and her mother ought to remember it. Mr. +Vernon set off for London as soon as she had determined what should be +done. He is, if possible, to prevail on Miss Summers to let Frederica +continue with her; and if he cannot succeed, to bring her to Churchhill +for the present, till some other situation can be found for her. +Her ladyship is comforting herself meanwhile by strolling along the +shrubbery with Reginald, calling forth all his tender feelings, I +suppose, on this distressing occasion. She has been talking a great deal +about it to me. She talks vastly well; I am afraid of being ungenerous, +or I should say, TOO well to feel so very deeply; but I will not look +for her faults; she may be Reginald's wife! Heaven forbid it! but why +should I be quicker-sighted than anyone else? Mr. Vernon declares that +he never saw deeper distress than hers, on the receipt of the letter; +and is his judgment inferior to mine? She was very unwilling that +Frederica should be allowed to come to Churchhill, and justly enough, as +it seems a sort of reward to behaviour deserving very differently; but +it was impossible to take her anywhere else, and she is not to remain +here long. "It will be absolutely necessary," said she, "as you, my dear +sister, must be sensible, to treat my daughter with some severity while +she is here; a most painful necessity, but I will ENDEAVOUR to submit to +it. I am afraid I have often been too indulgent, but my poor Frederica's +temper could never bear opposition well: you must support and encourage +me; you must urge the necessity of reproof if you see me too lenient." +All this sounds very reasonable. Reginald is so incensed against the +poor silly girl. Surely it is not to Lady Susan's credit that he should +be so bitter against her daughter; his idea of her must be drawn from +the mother's description. Well, whatever may be his fate, we have the +comfort of knowing that we have done our utmost to save him. We must +commit the event to a higher power. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XVI + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my life as by a letter +this morning from Miss Summers. That horrid girl of mine has been trying +to run away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil before, +she seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving the letter +in which I declared my intention about Sir James, she actually attempted +to elope; at least, I cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She +meant, I suppose, to go to the Clarkes in Staffordshire, for she has no +other acquaintances. But she shall be punished, she shall have him. I +have sent Charles to town to make matters up if he can, for I do not +by any means want her here. If Miss Summers will not keep her, you must +find me out another school, unless we can get her married immediately. +Miss S. writes word that she could not get the young lady to assign +any cause for her extraordinary conduct, which confirms me in my own +previous explanation of it, Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much +in awe of me to tell tales, but if the mildness of her uncle should get +anything out of her, I am not afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my +story as good as hers. If I am vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. +Consideration and esteem as surely follow command of language as +admiration waits on beauty, and here I have opportunity enough for the +exercise of my talent, as the chief of my time is spent in conversation. + +Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and when the weather +is tolerable, we pace the shrubbery for hours together. I like him on +the whole very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he +is sometimes impertinent and troublesome. There is a sort of ridiculous +delicacy about him which requires the fullest explanation of whatever he +may have heard to my disadvantage, and is never satisfied till he thinks +he has ascertained the beginning and end of everything. This is one sort +of love, but I confess it does not particularly recommend itself to me. +I infinitely prefer the tender and liberal spirit of Mainwaring, which, +impressed with the deepest conviction of my merit, is satisfied that +whatever I do must be right; and look with a degree of contempt on +the inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which seems always +debating on the reasonableness of its emotions. Mainwaring is indeed, +beyond all compare, superior to Reginald--superior in everything but the +power of being with me! Poor fellow! he is much distracted by jealousy, +which I am not sorry for, as I know no better support of love. He has +been teazing me to allow of his coming into this country, and lodging +somewhere near INCOG.; but I forbade everything of the kind. Those women +are inexcusable who forget what is due to themselves, and the opinion of +the world. + +Yours ever, S. VERNON. + + + + + +XVII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--Mr. Vernon returned on Thursday night, bringing his +niece with him. Lady Susan had received a line from him by that day's +post, informing her that Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow of +Miss Vernon's continuance in her academy; we were therefore prepared for +her arrival, and expected them impatiently the whole evening. They came +while we were at tea, and I never saw any creature look so frightened as +Frederica when she entered the room. Lady Susan, who had been shedding +tears before, and showing great agitation at the idea of the meeting, +received her with perfect self-command, and without betraying the +least tenderness of spirit. She hardly spoke to her, and on Frederica's +bursting into tears as soon as we were seated, took her out of the room, +and did not return for some time. When she did, her eyes looked very red +and she was as much agitated as before. We saw no more of her daughter. +Poor Reginald was beyond measure concerned to see his fair friend in +such distress, and watched her with so much tender solicitude, that I, +who occasionally caught her observing his countenance with exultation, +was quite out of patience. This pathetic representation lasted the whole +evening, and so ostentatious and artful a display has entirely convinced +me that she did in fact feel nothing. I am more angry with her than ever +since I have seen her daughter; the poor girl looks so unhappy that my +heart aches for her. Lady Susan is surely too severe, for Frederica +does not seem to have the sort of temper to make severity necessary. +She looks perfectly timid, dejected, and penitent. She is very +pretty, though not so handsome as her mother, nor at all like her. Her +complexion is delicate, but neither so fair nor so blooming as Lady +Susan's, and she has quite the Vernon cast of countenance, the oval face +and mild dark eyes, and there is peculiar sweetness in her look when she +speaks either to her uncle or me, for as we behave kindly to her we have +of course engaged her gratitude. + +Her mother has insinuated that her temper is intractable, but I never +saw a face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers; and from +what I can see of the behaviour of each to the other, the invariable +severity of Lady Susan and the silent dejection of Frederica, I am +led to believe as heretofore that the former has no real love for her +daughter, and has never done her justice or treated her affectionately. +I have not been able to have any conversation with my niece; she is shy, +and I think I can see that some pains are taken to prevent her being +much with me. Nothing satisfactory transpires as to her reason for +running away. Her kind-hearted uncle, you may be sure, was too fearful +of distressing her to ask many questions as they travelled. I wish it +had been possible for me to fetch her instead of him. I think I should +have discovered the truth in the course of a thirty-mile journey. The +small pianoforte has been removed within these few days, at Lady Susan's +request, into her dressing-room, and Frederica spends great part of the +day there, practising as it is called; but I seldom hear any noise when +I pass that way; what she does with herself there I do not know. There +are plenty of books, but it is not every girl who has been running +wild the first fifteen years of her life, that can or will read. Poor +creature! the prospect from her window is not very instructive, for that +room overlooks the lawn, you know, with the shrubbery on one side, +where she may see her mother walking for an hour together in earnest +conversation with Reginald. A girl of Frederica's age must be childish +indeed, if such things do not strike her. Is it not inexcusable to give +such an example to a daughter? Yet Reginald still thinks Lady Susan the +best of mothers, and still condemns Frederica as a worthless girl! He +is convinced that her attempt to run away proceeded from no, justifiable +cause, and had no provocation. I am sure I cannot say that it HAD, +but while Miss Summers declares that Miss Vernon showed no signs of +obstinacy or perverseness during her whole stay in Wigmore Street, till +she was detected in this scheme, I cannot so readily credit what Lady +Susan has made him, and wants to make me believe, that it was merely +an impatience of restraint and a desire of escaping from the tuition of +masters which brought on the plan of an elopement. O Reginald, how is +your judgment enslaved! He scarcely dares even allow her to be handsome, +and when I speak of her beauty, replies only that her eyes have no +brilliancy! Sometimes he is sure she is deficient in understanding, and +at others that her temper only is in fault. In short, when a person is +always to deceive, it is impossible to be consistent. Lady Susan +finds it necessary that Frederica should be to blame, and probably has +sometimes judged it expedient to excuse her of ill-nature and sometimes +to lament her want of sense. Reginald is only repeating after her +ladyship. + +I remain, &c., &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XVIII + + +FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--I am very glad to find that my description of Frederica +Vernon has interested you, for I do believe her truly deserving of your +regard; and when I have communicated a notion which has recently struck +me, your kind impressions in her favour will, I am sure, be heightened. +I cannot help fancying that she is growing partial to my brother. I so +very often see her eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression +of pensive admiration. He is certainly very handsome; and yet more, +there is an openness in his manner that must be highly prepossessing, +and I am sure she feels it so. Thoughtful and pensive in general, her +countenance always brightens into a smile when Reginald says anything +amusing; and, let the subject be ever so serious that he may be +conversing on, I am much mistaken if a syllable of his uttering escapes +her. I want to make him sensible of all this, for we know the power +of gratitude on such a heart as his; and could Frederica's artless +affection detach him from her mother, we might bless the day which +brought her to Churchhill. I think, my dear mother, you would not +disapprove of her as a daughter. She is extremely young, to be sure, +has had a wretched education, and a dreadful example of levity in her +mother; but yet I can pronounce her disposition to be excellent, and her +natural abilities very good. Though totally without accomplishments, she +is by no means so ignorant as one might expect to find her, being fond +of books and spending the chief of her time in reading. Her mother +leaves her more to herself than she did, and I have her with me as much +as possible, and have taken great pains to overcome her timidity. We +are very good friends, and though she never opens her lips before her +mother, she talks enough when alone with me to make it clear that, if +properly treated by Lady Susan, she would always appear to much greater +advantage. There cannot be a more gentle, affectionate heart; or more +obliging manners, when acting without restraint; and her little cousins +are all very fond of her. + +Your affectionate daughter, + +C. VERNON + + + + + +XIX + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and +perhaps may think me negligent for not writing before. She arrived with +her uncle last Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in +demanding the cause of her behaviour; and soon found myself to have been +perfectly right in attributing it to my own letter. The prospect of +it frightened her so thoroughly, that, with a mixture of true girlish +perverseness and folly, she resolved on getting out of the house and +proceeding directly by the stage to her friends, the Clarkes; and had +really got as far as the length of two streets in her journey when +she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. Such was the first +distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon; and, if we consider that +it was achieved at the tender age of sixteen, we shall have room for +the most flattering prognostics of her future renown. I am excessively +provoked, however, at the parade of propriety which prevented Miss +Summers from keeping the girl; and it seems so extraordinary a piece of +nicety, considering my daughter's family connections, that I can only +suppose the lady to be governed by the fear of never getting her money. +Be that as it may, however, Frederica is returned on my hands; and, +having nothing else to employ her, is busy in pursuing the plan of +romance begun at Langford. She is actually falling in love with Reginald +De Courcy! To disobey her mother by refusing an unexceptionable offer +is not enough; her affections must also be given without her mother's +approbation. I never saw a girl of her age bid fairer to be the sport +of mankind. Her feelings are tolerably acute, and she is so charmingly +artless in their display as to afford the most reasonable hope of her +being ridiculous, and despised by every man who sees her. + +Artlessness will never do in love matters; and that girl is born a +simpleton who has it either by nature or affectation. I am not yet +certain that Reginald sees what she is about, nor is it of much +consequence. She is now an object of indifference to him, and she would +be one of contempt were he to understand her emotions. Her beauty is +much admired by the Vernons, but it has no effect on him. She is in high +favour with her aunt altogether, because she is so little like myself, +of course. She is exactly the companion for Mrs. Vernon, who dearly +loves to be firm, and to have all the sense and all the wit of the +conversation to herself: Frederica will never eclipse her. When she +first came I was at some pains to prevent her seeing much of her aunt; +but I have relaxed, as I believe I may depend on her observing the rules +I have laid down for their discourse. But do not imagine that with all +this lenity I have for a moment given up my plan of her marriage. No; I +am unalterably fixed on this point, though I have not yet quite decided +on the manner of bringing it about. I should not chuse to have the +business brought on here, and canvassed by the wise heads of Mr. and +Mrs. Vernon; and I cannot just now afford to go to town. Miss Frederica +must therefore wait a little. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XX + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +We have a very unexpected guest with us at present, my dear Mother: he +arrived yesterday. I heard a carriage at the door, as I was sitting with +my children while they dined; and supposing I should be wanted, left the +nursery soon afterwards, and was half-way downstairs, when Frederica, +as pale as ashes, came running up, and rushed by me into her own room. +I instantly followed, and asked her what was the matter. "Oh!" said +she, "he is come--Sir James is come, and what shall I do?" This was no +explanation; I begged her to tell me what she meant. At that moment we +were interrupted by a knock at the door: it was Reginald, who came, by +Lady Susan's direction, to call Frederica down. "It is Mr. De Courcy!" +said she, colouring violently. "Mamma has sent for me; I must go." +We all three went down together; and I saw my brother examining the +terrified face of Frederica with surprize. In the breakfast-room we +found Lady Susan, and a young man of gentlemanlike appearance, whom she +introduced by the name of Sir James Martin--the very person, as you may +remember, whom it was said she had been at pains to detach from Miss +Mainwaring; but the conquest, it seems, was not designed for herself, +or she has since transferred it to her daughter; for Sir James is now +desperately in love with Frederica, and with full encouragement from +mamma. The poor girl, however, I am sure, dislikes him; and though his +person and address are very well, he appears, both to Mr. Vernon and +me, a very weak young man. Frederica looked so shy, so confused, when +we entered the room, that I felt for her exceedingly. Lady Susan behaved +with great attention to her visitor; and yet I thought I could perceive +that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him. Sir James talked a +great deal, and made many civil excuses to me for the liberty he had +taken in coming to Churchhill--mixing more frequent laughter with his +discourse than the subject required--said many things over and over +again, and told Lady Susan three times that he had seen Mrs. Johnson +a few evenings before. He now and then addressed Frederica, but more +frequently her mother. The poor girl sat all this time without opening +her lips--her eyes cast down, and her colour varying every instant; +while Reginald observed all that passed in perfect silence. At length +Lady Susan, weary, I believe, of her situation, proposed walking; and +we left the two gentlemen together, to put on our pelisses. As we went +upstairs Lady Susan begged permission to attend me for a few moments in +my dressing-room, as she was anxious to speak with me in private. I led +her thither accordingly, and as soon as the door was closed, she said: +"I was never more surprized in my life than by Sir James's arrival, +and the suddenness of it requires some apology to you, my dear sister; +though to ME, as a mother, it is highly flattering. He is so extremely +attached to my daughter that he could not exist longer without seeing +her. Sir James is a young man of an amiable disposition and excellent +character; a little too much of the rattle, perhaps, but a year or two +will rectify THAT: and he is in other respects so very eligible a match +for Frederica, that I have always observed his attachment with the +greatest pleasure; and am persuaded that you and my brother will give +the alliance your hearty approbation. I have never before mentioned the +likelihood of its taking place to anyone, because I thought that whilst +Frederica continued at school it had better not be known to exist; +but now, as I am convinced that Frederica is too old ever to submit to +school confinement, and have, therefore, begun to consider her union +with Sir James as not very distant, I had intended within a few days to +acquaint yourself and Mr. Vernon with the whole business. I am sure, my +dear sister, you will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree +with me that such circumstances, while they continue from any cause +in suspense, cannot be too cautiously concealed. When you have the +happiness of bestowing your sweet little Catherine, some years hence, on +a man who in connection and character is alike unexceptionable, you +will know what I feel now; though, thank Heaven, you cannot have all my +reasons for rejoicing in such an event. Catherine will be amply provided +for, and not, like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate +establishment for the comforts of life." She concluded by demanding +my congratulations. I gave them somewhat awkwardly, I believe; for, in +fact, the sudden disclosure of so important a matter took from me the +power of speaking with any clearness, She thanked me, however, most +affectionately, for my kind concern in the welfare of herself and +daughter; and then said: "I am not apt to deal in professions, my +dear Mrs. Vernon, and I never had the convenient talent of affecting +sensations foreign to my heart; and therefore I trust you will believe +me when I declare, that much as I had heard in your praise before I knew +you, I had no idea that I should ever love you as I now do; and I +must further say that your friendship towards me is more particularly +gratifying because I have reason to believe that some attempts were made +to prejudice you against me. I only wish that they, whoever they are, +to whom I am indebted for such kind intentions, could see the terms on +which we now are together, and understand the real affection we feel +for each other; but I will not detain you any longer. God bless you, for +your goodness to me and my girl, and continue to you all your present +happiness." What can one say of such a woman, my dear mother? Such +earnestness such solemnity of expression! and yet I cannot help +suspecting the truth of everything she says. As for Reginald, I believe +he does not know what to make of the matter. When Sir James came, he +appeared all astonishment and perplexity; the folly of the young man and +the confusion of Frederica entirely engrossed him; and though a little +private discourse with Lady Susan has since had its effect, he is still +hurt, I am sure, at her allowing of such a man's attentions to her +daughter. Sir James invited himself with great composure to remain here +a few days--hoped we would not think it odd, was aware of its being very +impertinent, but he took the liberty of a relation; and concluded by +wishing, with a laugh, that he might be really one very soon. Even Lady +Susan seemed a little disconcerted by this forwardness; in her heart I +am persuaded she sincerely wished him gone. But something must be done +for this poor girl, if her feelings are such as both I and her uncle +believe them to be. She must not be sacrificed to policy or ambition, +and she must not be left to suffer from the dread of it. The girl whose +heart can distinguish Reginald De Courcy, deserves, however he may +slight her, a better fate than to be Sir James Martin's wife. As soon +as I can get her alone, I will discover the real truth; but she seems to +wish to avoid me. I hope this does not proceed from anything wrong, and +that I shall not find out I have thought too well of her. Her +behaviour to Sir James certainly speaks the greatest consciousness and +embarrassment, but I see nothing in it more like encouragement. Adieu, +my dear mother. + +Yours, &c., + +C. VERNON. + + + + + +XXI + + +MISS VERNON TO MR DE COURCY + + +Sir,--I hope you will excuse this liberty; I am forced upon it by the +greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very +miserable about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of +helping myself but by writing to you, for I am forbidden even speaking +to my uncle and aunt on the subject; and this being the case, I am +afraid my applying to you will appear no better than equivocation, and +as if I attended to the letter and not the spirit of mamma's commands. +But if you do not take my part and persuade her to break it off, I shall +be half distracted, for I cannot bear him. No human being but YOU could +have any chance of prevailing with her. If you will, therefore, have the +unspeakably great kindness of taking my part with her, and persuading +her to send Sir James away, I shall be more obliged to you than it is +possible for me to express. I always disliked him from the first: it is +not a sudden fancy, I assure you, sir; I always thought him silly and +impertinent and disagreeable, and now he is grown worse than ever. I +would rather work for my bread than marry him. I do not know how +to apologize enough for this letter; I know it is taking so great a +liberty. I am aware how dreadfully angry it will make mamma, but I +remember the risk. + +I am, Sir, your most humble servant, + +F. S. V. + + + + + +XXII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +This is insufferable! My dearest friend, I was never so enraged before, +and must relieve myself by writing to you, who I know will enter into +all my feelings. Who should come on Tuesday but Sir James Martin! Guess +my astonishment, and vexation--for, as you well know, I never wished him +to be seen at Churchhill. What a pity that you should not have known +his intentions! Not content with coming, he actually invited himself to +remain here a few days. I could have poisoned him! I made the best of +it, however, and told my story with great success to Mrs. Vernon, who, +whatever might be her real sentiments, said nothing in opposition to +mine. I made a point also of Frederica's behaving civilly to Sir James, +and gave her to understand that I was absolutely determined on her +marrying him. She said something of her misery, but that was all. I have +for some time been more particularly resolved on the match from seeing +the rapid increase of her affection for Reginald, and from not feeling +secure that a knowledge of such affection might not in the end awaken +a return. Contemptible as a regard founded only on compassion must make +them both in my eyes, I felt by no means assured that such might not be +the consequence. It is true that Reginald had not in any degree grown +cool towards me; but yet he has lately mentioned Frederica spontaneously +and unnecessarily, and once said something in praise of her person. +HE was all astonishment at the appearance of my visitor, and at first +observed Sir James with an attention which I was pleased to see not +unmixed with jealousy; but unluckily it was impossible for me really +to torment him, as Sir James, though extremely gallant to me, very +soon made the whole party understand that his heart was devoted to my +daughter. I had no great difficulty in convincing De Courcy, when we +were alone, that I was perfectly justified, all things considered, +in desiring the match; and the whole business seemed most comfortably +arranged. They could none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no +Solomon; but I had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to Charles +Vernon or his wife, and they had therefore no pretence for interference; +though my impertinent sister, I believe, wanted only opportunity for +doing so. Everything, however, was going on calmly and quietly; and, +though I counted the hours of Sir James's stay, my mind was entirely +satisfied with the posture of affairs. Guess, then, what I must feel at +the sudden disturbance of all my schemes; and that, too, from a quarter +where I had least reason to expect it. Reginald came this morning into +my dressing-room with a very unusual solemnity of countenance, and after +some preface informed me in so many words that he wished to reason with +me on the impropriety and unkindness of allowing Sir James Martin to +address my daughter contrary to her inclinations. I was all amazement. +When I found that he was not to be laughed out of his design, I calmly +begged an explanation, and desired to know by what he was impelled, and +by whom commissioned, to reprimand me. He then told me, mixing in +his speech a few insolent compliments and ill-timed expressions of +tenderness, to which I listened with perfect indifference, that my +daughter had acquainted him with some circumstances concerning herself, +Sir James, and me which had given him great uneasiness. In short, I +found that she had in the first place actually written to him to request +his interference, and that, on receiving her letter, he had conversed +with her on the subject of it, in order to understand the particulars, +and to assure himself of her real wishes. I have not a doubt but that +the girl took this opportunity of making downright love to him. I am +convinced of it by the manner in which he spoke of her. Much good may +such love do him! I shall ever despise the man who can be gratified by +the passion which he never wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal +of. I shall always detest them both. He can have no true regard for +me, or he would not have listened to her; and SHE, with her little +rebellious heart and indelicate feelings, to throw herself into the +protection of a young man with whom she has scarcely ever exchanged +two words before! I am equally confounded at HER impudence and HIS +credulity. How dared he believe what she told him in my disfavour! Ought +he not to have felt assured that I must have unanswerable motives for +all that I had done? Where was his reliance on my sense and goodness +then? Where the resentment which true love would have dictated against +the person defaming me--that person, too, a chit, a child, without +talent or education, whom he had been always taught to despise? I +was calm for some time; but the greatest degree of forbearance may be +overcome, and I hope I was afterwards sufficiently keen. He endeavoured, +long endeavoured, to soften my resentment; but that woman is a +fool indeed who, while insulted by accusation, can be worked on by +compliments. At length he left me, as deeply provoked as myself; and +he showed his anger more. I was quite cool, but he gave way to the most +violent indignation; I may therefore expect it will the sooner subside, +and perhaps his may be vanished for ever, while mine will be found still +fresh and implacable. He is now shut up in his apartment, whither I +heard him go on leaving mine. How unpleasant, one would think, must be +his reflections! but some people's feelings are incomprehensible. I have +not yet tranquillised myself enough to see Frederica. SHE shall not soon +forget the occurrences of this day; she shall find that she has poured +forth her tender tale of love in vain, and exposed herself for ever +to the contempt of the whole world, and the severest resentment of her +injured mother. + +Your affectionate + +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXIII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +Let me congratulate you, my dearest Mother! The affair which has given +us so much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is +most delightful, and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn, +I am quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions to you; for the +pleasure of learning that the danger is over is perhaps dearly purchased +by all that you have previously suffered. I am so much agitated by +delight that I can scarcely hold a pen; but am determined to send you +a few short lines by James, that you may have some explanation of what +must so greatly astonish you, as that Reginald should be returning to +Parklands. I was sitting about half an hour ago with Sir James in +the breakfast parlour, when my brother called me out of the room. I +instantly saw that something was the matter; his complexion was raised, +and he spoke with great emotion; you know his eager manner, my dear +mother, when his mind is interested. "Catherine," said he, "I am going +home to-day; I am sorry to leave you, but I must go: it is a great while +since I have seen my father and mother. I am going to send James forward +with my hunters immediately; if you have any letter, therefore, he can +take it. I shall not be at home myself till Wednesday or Thursday, as I +shall go through London, where I have business; but before I leave you," +he continued, speaking in a lower tone, and with still greater energy, +"I must warn you of one thing--do not let Frederica Vernon be made +unhappy by that Martin. He wants to marry her; her mother promotes the +match, but she cannot endure the idea of it. Be assured that I speak +from the fullest conviction of the truth of what I say; I Know that +Frederica is made wretched by Sir James's continuing here. She is a +sweet girl, and deserves a better fate. Send him away immediately; he is +only a fool: but what her mother can mean, Heaven only knows! Good bye," +he added, shaking my hand with earnestness; "I do not know when you will +see me again; but remember what I tell you of Frederica; you MUST make +it your business to see justice done her. She is an amiable girl, and +has a very superior mind to what we have given her credit for." He then +left me, and ran upstairs. I would not try to stop him, for I know what +his feelings must be. The nature of mine, as I listened to him, I need +not attempt to describe; for a minute or two I remained in the same +spot, overpowered by wonder of a most agreeable sort indeed; yet it +required some consideration to be tranquilly happy. In about ten minutes +after my return to the parlour Lady Susan entered the room. I concluded, +of course, that she and Reginald had been quarrelling; and looked with +anxious curiosity for a confirmation of my belief in her face. Mistress +of deceit, however, she appeared perfectly unconcerned, and after +chatting on indifferent subjects for a short time, said to me, "I find +from Wilson that we are going to lose Mr. De Courcy--is it true that +he leaves Churchhill this morning?" I replied that it was. "He told +us nothing of all this last night," said she, laughing, "or even this +morning at breakfast; but perhaps he did not know it himself. Young men +are often hasty in their resolutions, and not more sudden in forming +than unsteady in keeping them. I should not be surprised if he were to +change his mind at last, and not go." She soon afterwards left the room. +I trust, however, my dear mother, that we have no reason to fear an +alteration of his present plan; things have gone too far. They must have +quarrelled, and about Frederica, too. Her calmness astonishes me. What +delight will be yours in seeing him again; in seeing him still worthy +your esteem, still capable of forming your happiness! When I next +write I shall be able to tell you that Sir James is gone, Lady Susan +vanquished, and Frederica at peace. We have much to do, but it shall +be done. I am all impatience to hear how this astonishing change was +effected. I finish as I began, with the warmest congratulations. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATH. VERNON. + + + + + +XXIV + + +FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME + + +Churchhill. + + +Little did I imagine, my dear Mother, when I sent off my last letter, +that the delightful perturbation of spirits I was then in would undergo +so speedy, so melancholy a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret that +I wrote to you at all. Yet who could have foreseen what has happened? +My dear mother, every hope which made me so happy only two hours ago has +vanished. The quarrel between Lady Susan and Reginald is made up, and we +are all as we were before. One point only is gained. Sir James Martin is +dismissed. What are we now to look forward to? I am indeed disappointed; +Reginald was all but gone, his horse was ordered and all but brought +to the door; who would not have felt safe? For half an hour I was in +momentary expectation of his departure. After I had sent off my letter +to you, I went to Mr. Vernon, and sat with him in his room talking over +the whole matter, and then determined to look for Frederica, whom I had +not seen since breakfast. I met her on the stairs, and saw that she was +crying. "My dear aunt," said she, "he is going--Mr. De Courcy is going, +and it is all my fault. I am afraid you will be very angry with me, but +indeed I had no idea it would end so." "My love," I replied, "do not +think it necessary to apologize to me on that account. I shall feel +myself under an obligation to anyone who is the means of sending my +brother home, because," recollecting myself, "I know my father wants +very much to see him. But what is it you have done to occasion all +this?" She blushed deeply as she answered: "I was so unhappy about Sir +James that I could not help--I have done something very wrong, I know; +but you have not an idea of the misery I have been in: and mamma had +ordered me never to speak to you or my uncle about it, and--" "You +therefore spoke to my brother to engage his interference," said I, to +save her the explanation. "No, but I wrote to him--I did indeed, I got +up this morning before it was light, and was two hours about it; and +when my letter was done I thought I never should have courage to give +it. After breakfast however, as I was going to my room, I met him in the +passage, and then, as I knew that everything must depend on that moment, +I forced myself to give it. He was so good as to take it immediately. I +dared not look at him, and ran away directly. I was in such a fright I +could hardly breathe. My dear aunt, you do not know how miserable I +have been." "Frederica" said I, "you ought to have told me all your +distresses. You would have found in me a friend always ready to assist +you. Do you think that your uncle or I should not have espoused your +cause as warmly as my brother?" "Indeed, I did not doubt your kindness," +said she, colouring again, "but I thought Mr. De Courcy could do +anything with my mother; but I was mistaken: they have had a dreadful +quarrel about it, and he is going away. Mamma will never forgive me, +and I shall be worse off than ever." "No, you shall not," I replied; +"in such a point as this your mother's prohibition ought not to have +prevented your speaking to me on the subject. She has no right to +make you unhappy, and she shall NOT do it. Your applying, however, to +Reginald can be productive only of good to all parties. I believe it +is best as it is. Depend upon it that you shall not be made unhappy any +longer." At that moment how great was my astonishment at seeing Reginald +come out of Lady Susan's dressing-room. My heart misgave me instantly. +His confusion at seeing me was very evident. Frederica immediately +disappeared. "Are you going?" I said; "you will find Mr. Vernon in his +own room." "No, Catherine," he replied, "I am not going. Will you let +me speak to you a moment?" We went into my room. "I find," he continued, +his confusion increasing as he spoke, "that I have been acting with my +usual foolish impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood Lady Susan, and +was on the point of leaving the house under a false impression of +her conduct. There has been some very great mistake; we have been all +mistaken, I fancy. Frederica does not know her mother. Lady Susan means +nothing but her good, but she will not make a friend of her. Lady Susan +does not always know, therefore, what will make her daughter happy. +Besides, I could have no right to interfere. Miss Vernon was mistaken in +applying to me. In short, Catherine, everything has gone wrong, but it +is now all happily settled. Lady Susan, I believe, wishes to speak to +you about it, if you are at leisure." "Certainly," I replied, deeply +sighing at the recital of so lame a story. I made no comments, however, +for words would have been vain. + +Reginald was glad to get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, +indeed, to hear her account of it. "Did I not tell you," said she with +a smile, "that your brother would not leave us after all?" "You did, +indeed," replied I very gravely; "but I flattered myself you would be +mistaken." "I should not have hazarded such an opinion," returned she, +"if it had not at that moment occurred to me that his resolution of +going might be occasioned by a conversation in which we had been this +morning engaged, and which had ended very much to his dissatisfaction, +from our not rightly understanding each other's meaning. This idea +struck me at the moment, and I instantly determined that an accidental +dispute, in which I might probably be as much to blame as himself, +should not deprive you of your brother. If you remember, I left the room +almost immediately. I was resolved to lose no time in clearing up those +mistakes as far as I could. The case was this--Frederica had set herself +violently against marrying Sir James." "And can your ladyship wonder +that she should?" cried I with some warmth; "Frederica has an excellent +understanding, and Sir James has none." "I am at least very far from +regretting it, my dear sister," said she; "on the contrary, I am +grateful for so favourable a sign of my daughter's sense. Sir James is +certainly below par (his boyish manners make him appear worse); and had +Frederica possessed the penetration and the abilities which I could have +wished in my daughter, or had I even known her to possess as much as she +does, I should not have been anxious for the match." "It is odd that +you should alone be ignorant of your daughter's sense!" "Frederica never +does justice to herself; her manners are shy and childish, and besides +she is afraid of me. During her poor father's life she was a spoilt +child; the severity which it has since been necessary for me to show +has alienated her affection; neither has she any of that brilliancy +of intellect, that genius or vigour of mind which will force itself +forward." "Say rather that she has been unfortunate in her education!" +"Heaven knows, my dearest Mrs. Vernon, how fully I am aware of that; but +I would wish to forget every circumstance that might throw blame on the +memory of one whose name is sacred with me." Here she pretended to cry; +I was out of patience with her. "But what," said I, "was your ladyship +going to tell me about your disagreement with my brother?" "It +originated in an action of my daughter's, which equally marks her want +of judgment and the unfortunate dread of me I have been mentioning--she +wrote to Mr. De Courcy." "I know she did; you had forbidden her speaking +to Mr. Vernon or to me on the cause of her distress; what could she do, +therefore, but apply to my brother?" "Good God!" she exclaimed, "what an +opinion you must have of me! Can you possibly suppose that I was +aware of her unhappiness! that it was my object to make my own child +miserable, and that I had forbidden her speaking to you on the subject +from a fear of your interrupting the diabolical scheme? Do you think +me destitute of every honest, every natural feeling? Am I capable of +consigning HER to everlasting: misery whose welfare it is my first +earthly duty to promote? The idea is horrible!" "What, then, was your +intention when you insisted on her silence?" "Of what use, my dear +sister, could be any application to you, however the affair might stand? +Why should I subject you to entreaties which I refused to attend to +myself? Neither for your sake nor for hers, nor for my own, could such +a thing be desirable. When my own resolution was taken I could nor +wish for the interference, however friendly, of another person. I was +mistaken, it is true, but I believed myself right." "But what was this +mistake to which your ladyship so often alludes! from whence arose so +astonishing a misconception of your daughter's feelings! Did you not +know that she disliked Sir James?" "I knew that he was not absolutely +the man she would have chosen, but I was persuaded that her objections +to him did not arise from any perception of his deficiency. You must +not question me, however, my dear sister, too minutely on this point," +continued she, taking me affectionately by the hand; "I honestly own +that there is something to conceal. Frederica makes me very unhappy! Her +applying to Mr. De Courcy hurt me particularly." "What is it you mean +to infer," said I, "by this appearance of mystery? If you think your +daughter at all attached to Reginald, her objecting to Sir James could +not less deserve to be attended to than if the cause of her objecting +had been a consciousness of his folly; and why should your ladyship, +at any rate, quarrel with my brother for an interference which, you must +know, it is not in his nature to refuse when urged in such a manner?" + +"His disposition, you know, is warm, and he came to expostulate with +me; his compassion all alive for this ill-used girl, this heroine in +distress! We misunderstood each other: he believed me more to blame than +I really was; I considered his interference less excusable than I +now find it. I have a real regard for him, and was beyond expression +mortified to find it, as I thought, so ill bestowed We were both warm, +and of course both to blame. His resolution of leaving Churchhill is +consistent with his general eagerness. When I understood his intention, +however, and at the same time began to think that we had been perhaps +equally mistaken in each other's meaning, I resolved to have an +explanation before it was too late. For any member of your family I must +always feel a degree of affection, and I own it would have sensibly hurt +me if my acquaintance with Mr. De Courcy had ended so gloomily. I have +now only to say further, that as I am convinced of Frederica's having +a reasonable dislike to Sir James, I shall instantly inform him that he +must give up all hope of her. I reproach myself for having even, though +innocently, made her unhappy on that score. She shall have all the +retribution in my power to make; if she value her own happiness as much +as I do, if she judge wisely, and command herself as she ought, she may +now be easy. Excuse me, my dearest sister, for thus trespassing on your +time, but I owe it to my own character; and after this explanation I +trust I am in no danger of sinking in your opinion." I could have +said, "Not much, indeed!" but I left her almost in silence. It was +the greatest stretch of forbearance I could practise. I could not have +stopped myself had I begun. Her assurance! her deceit! but I will not +allow myself to dwell on them; they will strike you sufficiently. My +heart sickens within me. As soon as I was tolerably composed I returned +to the parlour. Sir James's carriage was at the door, and he, merry +as usual, soon afterwards took his leave. How easily does her ladyship +encourage or dismiss a lover! In spite of this release, Frederica still +looks unhappy: still fearful, perhaps, of her mother's anger; and though +dreading my brother's departure, jealous, it may be, of his staying. I +see how closely she observes him and Lady Susan, poor girl! I have now +no hope for her. There is not a chance of her affection being returned. +He thinks very differently of her from what he used to do; he does her +some justice, but his reconciliation with her mother precludes every +dearer hope. Prepare, my dear mother, for the worst! The probability of +their marrying is surely heightened! He is more securely hers than ever. +When that wretched event takes place, Frederica must belong wholly to +us. I am thankful that my last letter will precede this by so little, as +every moment that you can be saved from feeling a joy which leads only +to disappointment is of consequence. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XXV + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations: I am my own self, gay +and triumphant! When I wrote to you the other day I was, in truth, in +high irritation, and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I ought +to be quite tranquil now, for I have had more trouble in restoring +peace than I ever intended to submit to--a spirit, too, resulting from +a fancied sense of superior integrity, which is peculiarly insolent! I +shall not easily forgive him, I assure you. He was actually on the point +of leaving Churchhill! I had scarcely concluded my last, when Wilson +brought me word of it. I found, therefore, that something must be done; +for I did not choose to leave my character at the mercy of a man whose +passions are so violent and so revengeful. It would have been trifling +with my reputation to allow of his departing with such an impression in +my disfavour; in this light, condescension was necessary. I sent +Wilson to say that I desired to speak with him before he went; he came +immediately. The angry emotions which had marked every feature when we +last parted were partially subdued. He seemed astonished at the summons, +and looked as if half wishing and half fearing to be softened by what I +might say. If my countenance expressed what I aimed at, it was composed +and dignified; and yet, with a degree of pensiveness which might +convince him that I was not quite happy. "I beg your pardon, sir, for +the liberty I have taken in sending for you," said I; "but as I have +just learnt your intention of leaving this place to-day, I feel it my +duty to entreat that you will not on my account shorten your visit here +even an hour. I am perfectly aware that after what has passed between +us it would ill suit the feelings of either to remain longer in the same +house: so very great, so total a change from the intimacy of friendship +must render any future intercourse the severest punishment; and your +resolution of quitting Churchhill is undoubtedly in unison with our +situation, and with those lively feelings which I know you to possess. +But, at the same time, it is not for me to suffer such a sacrifice as it +must be to leave relations to whom you are so much attached, and are so +dear. My remaining here cannot give that pleasure to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon +which your society must; and my visit has already perhaps been too long. +My removal, therefore, which must, at any rate, take place soon, may, +with perfect convenience, be hastened; and I make it my particular +request that I may not in any way be instrumental in separating a +family so affectionately attached to each other. Where I go is of +no consequence to anyone; of very little to myself; but you are of +importance to all your connections." Here I concluded, and I hope you +will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect on Reginald justifies some +portion of vanity, for it was no less favourable than instantaneous. Oh, +how delightful it was to watch the variations of his countenance while I +spoke! to see the struggle between returning tenderness and the remains +of displeasure. There is something agreeable in feelings so easily +worked on; not that I envy him their possession, nor would, for the +world, have such myself; but they are very convenient when one wishes +to influence the passions of another. And yet this Reginald, whom a +very few words from me softened at once into the utmost submission, and +rendered more tractable, more attached, more devoted than ever, would +have left me in the first angry swelling of his proud heart without +deigning to seek an explanation. Humbled as he now is, I cannot forgive +him such an instance of pride, and am doubtful whether I ought not to +punish him by dismissing him at once after this reconciliation, or +by marrying and teazing him for ever. But these measures are each too +violent to be adopted without some deliberation; at present my thoughts +are fluctuating between various schemes. I have many things to compass: +I must punish Frederica, and pretty severely too, for her application to +Reginald; I must punish him for receiving it so favourably, and for the +rest of his conduct. I must torment my sister-in-law for the insolent +triumph of her look and manner since Sir James has been dismissed; for, +in reconciling Reginald to me, I was not able to save that ill-fated +young man; and I must make myself amends for the humiliation to which +I have stooped within these few days. To effect all this I have various +plans. I have also an idea of being soon in town; and whatever may be +my determination as to the rest, I shall probably put THAT project +in execution; for London will be always the fairest field of action, +however my views may be directed; and at any rate I shall there be +rewarded by your society, and a little dissipation, for a ten weeks' +penance at Churchhill. I believe I owe it to my character to complete +the match between my daughter and Sir James after having so long +intended it. Let me know your opinion on this point. Flexibility of +mind, a disposition easily biassed by others, is an attribute which you +know I am not very desirous of obtaining; nor has Frederica any claim +to the indulgence of her notions at the expense of her mother's +inclinations. Her idle love for Reginald, too! It is surely my duty to +discourage such romantic nonsense. All things considered, therefore, it +seems incumbent on me to take her to town and marry her immediately to +Sir James. When my own will is effected contrary to his, I shall have +some credit in being on good terms with Reginald, which at present, in +fact, I have not; for though he is still in my power, I have given up +the very article by which our quarrel was produced, and at best the +honour of victory is doubtful. Send me your opinion on all these +matters, my dear Alicia, and let me know whether you can get lodgings to +suit me within a short distance of you. + +Your most attached + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XXVI + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +I am gratified by your reference, and this is my advice: that you come +to town yourself, without loss of time, but that you leave Frederica +behind. It would surely be much more to the purpose to get yourself well +established by marrying Mr. De Courcy, than to irritate him and the rest +of his family by making her marry Sir James. You should think more of +yourself and less of your daughter. She is not of a disposition to do +you credit in the world, and seems precisely in her proper place at +Churchhill, with the Vernons. But you are fitted for society, and it +is shameful to have you exiled from it. Leave Frederica, therefore, +to punish herself for the plague she has given you, by indulging that +romantic tender-heartedness which will always ensure her misery enough, +and come to London as soon as you can. I have another reason for urging +this: Mainwaring came to town last week, and has contrived, in spite +of Mr. Johnson, to make opportunities of seeing me. He is absolutely +miserable about you, and jealous to such a degree of De Courcy that it +would be highly unadvisable for them to meet at present. And yet, if you +do not allow him to see you here, I cannot answer for his not committing +some great imprudence--such as going to Churchhill, for instance, which +would be dreadful! Besides, if you take my advice, and resolve to marry +De Courcy, it will be indispensably necessary to you to get Mainwaring +out of the way; and you only can have influence enough to send him back +to his wife. I have still another motive for your coming: Mr. Johnson +leaves London next Tuesday; he is going for his health to Bath, where, +if the waters are favourable to his constitution and my wishes, he will +be laid up with the gout many weeks. During his absence we shall be able +to chuse our own society, and to have true enjoyment. I would ask you to +Edward Street, but that once he forced from me a kind of promise never +to invite you to my house; nothing but my being in the utmost distress +for money should have extorted it from me. I can get you, however, +a nice drawing-room apartment in Upper Seymour Street, and we may be +always together there or here; for I consider my promise to Mr. Johnson +as comprehending only (at least in his absence) your not sleeping in the +house. Poor Mainwaring gives me such histories of his wife's jealousy. +Silly woman to expect constancy from so charming a man! but she always +was silly--intolerably so in marrying him at all, she the heiress of a +large fortune and he without a shilling: one title, I know, she might +have had, besides baronets. Her folly in forming the connection was so +great that, though Mr. Johnson was her guardian, and I do not in general +share HIS feelings, I never can forgive her. + +Adieu. Yours ever, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXVII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +This letter, my dear Mother, will be brought you by Reginald. His long +visit is about to be concluded at last, but I fear the separation takes +place too late to do us any good. She is going to London to see her +particular friend, Mrs. Johnson. It was at first her intention that +Frederica should accompany her, for the benefit of masters, but we +overruled her there. Frederica was wretched in the idea of going, and +I could not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother; not all the +masters in London could compensate for the ruin of her comfort. I +should have feared, too, for her health, and for everything but her +principles--there I believe she is not to be injured by her mother, or +her mother's friends; but with those friends she must have mixed (a very +bad set, I doubt not), or have been left in total solitude, and I can +hardly tell which would have been worse for her. If she is with her +mother, moreover, she must, alas! in all probability be with Reginald, +and that would be the greatest evil of all. Here we shall in time be in +peace, and our regular employments, our books and conversations, with +exercise, the children, and every domestic pleasure in my power to +procure her, will, I trust, gradually overcome this youthful attachment. +I should not have a doubt of it were she slighted for any other woman in +the world than her own mother. How long Lady Susan will be in town, or +whether she returns here again, I know not. I could not be cordial in my +invitation, but if she chuses to come no want of cordiality on my part +will keep her away. I could not help asking Reginald if he intended +being in London this winter, as soon as I found her ladyship's +steps would be bent thither; and though he professed himself quite +undetermined, there was something in his look and voice as he spoke +which contradicted his words. I have done with lamentation; I look upon +the event as so far decided that I resign myself to it in despair. If he +leaves you soon for London everything will be concluded. + +Your affectionate, &c., + +C. VERNON. + + + + + +XXVIII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,--I write in the greatest distress; the most +unfortunate event has just taken place. Mr. Johnson has hit on the most +effectual manner of plaguing us all. He had heard, I imagine, by some +means or other, that you were soon to be in London, and immediately +contrived to have such an attack of the gout as must at least delay his +journey to Bath, if not wholly prevent it. I am persuaded the gout is +brought on or kept off at pleasure; it was the same when I wanted to +join the Hamiltons to the Lakes; and three years ago, when I had a fancy +for Bath, nothing could induce him to have a gouty symptom. + +I am pleased to find that my letter had so much effect on you, and that +De Courcy is certainly your own. Let me hear from you as soon as you +arrive, and in particular tell me what you mean to do with Mainwaring. +It is impossible to say when I shall be able to come to you; my +confinement must be great. It is such an abominable trick to be ill here +instead of at Bath that I can scarcely command myself at all. At Bath +his old aunts would have nursed him, but here it all falls upon me; and +he bears pain with such patience that I have not the common excuse for +losing my temper. + +Yours ever, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXIX + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Alicia,--There needed not this last fit of the gout to make +me detest Mr. Johnson, but now the extent of my aversion is not to +be estimated. To have you confined as nurse in his apartment! My dear +Alicia, of what a mistake were you guilty in marrying a man of his age! +just old enough to be formal, ungovernable, and to have the gout; too +old to be agreeable, too young to die. I arrived last night about five, +had scarcely swallowed my dinner when Mainwaring made his appearance. +I will not dissemble what real pleasure his sight afforded me, nor how +strongly I felt the contrast between his person and manners and those of +Reginald, to the infinite disadvantage of the latter. For an hour or two +I was even staggered in my resolution of marrying him, and though this +was too idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I do not +feel very eager for the conclusion of my marriage, nor look forward with +much impatience to the time when Reginald, according to our agreement, +is to be in town. I shall probably put off his arrival under some +pretence or other. He must not come till Mainwaring is gone. I am still +doubtful at times as to marrying; if the old man would die I might not +hesitate, but a state of dependance on the caprice of Sir Reginald will +not suit the freedom of my spirit; and if I resolve to wait for that +event, I shall have excuse enough at present in having been scarcely ten +months a widow. I have not given Mainwaring any hint of my intention, or +allowed him to consider my acquaintance with Reginald as more than the +commonest flirtation, and he is tolerably appeased. Adieu, till we meet; +I am enchanted with my lodgings. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XXX + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I have received your letter, and though I do not attempt to conceal that +I am gratified by your impatience for the hour of meeting, I yet +feel myself under the necessity of delaying that hour beyond the time +originally fixed. Do not think me unkind for such an exercise of my +power, nor accuse me of instability without first hearing my reasons. +In the course of my journey from Churchhill I had ample leisure for +reflection on the present state of our affairs, and every review has +served to convince me that they require a delicacy and cautiousness of +conduct to which we have hitherto been too little attentive. We have +been hurried on by our feelings to a degree of precipitation which ill +accords with the claims of our friends or the opinion of the world. We +have been unguarded in forming this hasty engagement, but we must not +complete the imprudence by ratifying it while there is so much reason +to fear the connection would be opposed by those friends on whom you +depend. It is not for us to blame any expectations on your father's side +of your marrying to advantage; where possessions are so extensive as +those of your family, the wish of increasing them, if not strictly +reasonable, is too common to excite surprize or resentment. He has a +right to require; a woman of fortune in his daughter-in-law, and I am +sometimes quarrelling with myself for suffering you to form a connection +so imprudent; but the influence of reason is often acknowledged too late +by those who feel like me. I have now been but a few months a widow, +and, however little indebted to my husband's memory for any happiness +derived from him during a union of some years, I cannot forget that the +indelicacy of so early a second marriage must subject me to the censure +of the world, and incur, what would be still more insupportable, the +displeasure of Mr. Vernon. I might perhaps harden myself in time against +the injustice of general reproach, but the loss of HIS valued esteem +I am, as you well know, ill-fitted to endure; and when to this may be +added the consciousness of having injured you with your family, how am I +to support myself? With feelings so poignant as mine, the conviction of +having divided the son from his parents would make me, even with you, +the most miserable of beings. It will surely, therefore, be advisable to +delay our union--to delay it till appearances are more promising--till +affairs have taken a more favourable turn. To assist us In such a +resolution I feel that absence will be necessary. We must not meet. +Cruel as this sentence may appear, the necessity of pronouncing it, +which can alone reconcile it to myself, will be evident to you when you +have considered our situation in the light in which I have found myself +imperiously obliged to place it. You may be--you must be--well assured +that nothing but the strongest conviction of duty could induce me +to wound my own feelings by urging a lengthened separation, and of +insensibility to yours you will hardly suspect me. Again, therefore, +I say that we ought not, we must not, yet meet. By a removal for some +months from each other we shall tranquillise the sisterly fears of Mrs. +Vernon, who, accustomed herself to the enjoyment of riches, considers +fortune as necessary everywhere, and whose sensibilities are not of a +nature to comprehend ours. Let me hear from you soon--very soon. Tell me +that you submit to my arguments, and do not reproach me for using such. +I cannot bear reproaches: my spirits are not so high as to need being +repressed. I must endeavour to seek amusement, and fortunately many +of my friends are in town; amongst them the Mainwarings; you know how +sincerely I regard both husband and wife. + +I am, very faithfully yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + + +XXXI + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Friend,--That tormenting creature, Reginald, is here. My letter, +which was intended to keep him longer in the country, has hastened him +to town. Much as I wish him away, however, I cannot help being pleased +with such a proof of attachment. He is devoted to me, heart and soul. +He will carry this note himself, which is to serve as an introduction to +you, with whom he longs to be acquainted. Allow him to spend the evening +with you, that I may be in no danger of his returning here. I have told +him that I am not quite well, and must be alone; and should he call +again there might be confusion, for it is impossible to be sure of +servants. Keep him, therefore, I entreat you, in Edward Street. You will +not find him a heavy companion, and I allow you to flirt with him as +much as you like. At the same time, do not forget my real interest; say +all that you can to convince him that I shall be quite wretched if he +remains here; you know my reasons--propriety, and so forth. I would +urge them more myself, but that I am impatient to be rid of him, as +Mainwaring comes within half an hour. Adieu! + +S VERNON + + + + + +XXXII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +My dear Creature,--I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De +Courcy arrived just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that instant +entered the house, and forced herself into her guardian's presence, +though I did not know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I was out +when both she and Reginald came, or I should have sent him away at all +events; but she was shut up with Mr. Johnson, while he waited in the +drawing-room for me. She arrived yesterday in pursuit of her husband, +but perhaps you know this already from himself. She came to this house +to entreat my husband's interference, and before I could be aware of +it, everything that you could wish to be concealed was known to him, and +unluckily she had wormed out of Mainwaring's servant that he had visited +you every day since your being in town, and had just watched him to your +door herself! What could I do! Facts are such horrid things! All is by +this time known to De Courcy, who is now alone with Mr. Johnson. Do not +accuse me; indeed, it was impossible to prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for +some time suspected De Courcy of intending to marry you, and would +speak with him alone as soon as he knew him to be in the house. That +detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, who, for your comfort, has fretted herself +thinner and uglier than ever, is still here, and they have been all +closeted together. What can be done? At any rate, I hope he will plague +his wife more than ever. With anxious wishes, Yours faithfully, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXXIII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +This eclaircissement is rather provoking. How unlucky that you should +have been from home! I thought myself sure of you at seven! I am +undismayed however. Do not torment yourself with fears on my account; +depend on it, I can make my story good with Reginald. Mainwaring is just +gone; he brought me the news of his wife's arrival. Silly woman, what +does she expect by such manoeuvres? Yet I wish she had stayed quietly +at Langford. Reginald will be a little enraged at first, but by +to-morrow's dinner, everything will be well again. + +Adieu! + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXIV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN + + +--Hotel + + +I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as +you are. Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable +authority such a history of you as must bring the most mortifying +conviction of the imposition I have been under, and the absolute +necessity of an immediate and eternal separation from you. You +cannot doubt to what I allude. Langford! Langford! that word will be +sufficient. I received my information in Mr. Johnson's house, from Mrs. +Mainwaring herself. You know how I have loved you; you can intimately +judge of my present feelings, but I am not so weak as to find indulgence +in describing them to a woman who will glory in having excited their +anguish, but whose affection they have never been able to gain. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XXXV + + +LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this +moment received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form +some rational conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you +to occasion so extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not +explained everything to you with respect to myself which could bear a +doubtful meaning, and which the ill-nature of the world had interpreted +to my discredit? What can you now have heard to stagger your esteem for +me? Have I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald, you agitate +me beyond expression, I cannot suppose that the old story of Mrs. +Mainwaring's jealousy can be revived again, or at least be LISTENED to +again. Come to me immediately, and explain what is at present absolutely +incomprehensible. Believe me the single word of Langford is not of such +potent intelligence as to supersede the necessity of more. If we ARE to +part, it will at least be handsome to take your personal leave--but +I have little heart to jest; in truth, I am serious enough; for to be +sunk, though but for an hour, in your esteem Is a humiliation to which I +know not how to submit. I shall count every minute till your arrival. + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXVI + + +MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN + + +----Hotel. + + +Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But, since +it must be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your +misconduct during the life, and since the death of Mr. Vernon, which had +reached me, in common with the world in general, and gained my entire +belief before I saw you, but which you, by the exertion of your +perverted abilities, had made me resolved to disallow, have been +unanswerably proved to me; nay more, I am assured that a connection, +of which I had never before entertained a thought, has for some time +existed, and still continues to exist, between you and the man whose +family you robbed of its peace in return for the hospitality with which +you were received into it; that you have corresponded with him ever +since your leaving Langford; not with his wife, but with him, and that +he now visits you every day. Can you, dare you deny it? and all this at +the time when I was an encouraged, an accepted lover! From what have I +not escaped! I have only to be grateful. Far from me be all complaint, +every sigh of regret. My own folly had endangered me, my preservation I +owe to the kindness, the integrity of another; but the unfortunate Mrs. +Mainwaring, whose agonies while she related the past seemed to threaten +her reason, how is SHE to be consoled! After such a discovery as this, +you will scarcely affect further wonder at my meaning in bidding you +adieu. My understanding is at length restored, and teaches no less to +abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to despise myself for the +weakness on which their strength was founded. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XXXVII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are +dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago +is no longer compatible with your views, and I rejoice to find that +the prudent advice of your parents has not been given in vain. Your +restoration to peace will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of +filial obedience, and I flatter myself with the hope of surviving my +share in this disappointment. + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXVIII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN VERNON + + +Edward Street + + +I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. +De Courcy; he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves +London, he says, to-day. Be assured that I partake in all your feelings, +and do not be angry if I say that our intercourse, even by letter, must +soon be given up. It makes me miserable; but Mr. Johnson vows that if I +persist in the connection, he will settle in the country for the rest of +his life, and you know it is impossible to submit to such an extremity +while any other alternative remains. You have heard of course that the +Mainwarings are to part, and I am afraid Mrs. M. will come home to us +again; but she is still so fond of her husband, and frets so much about +him, that perhaps she may not live long. Miss Mainwaring is just come to +town to be with her aunt, and they say that she declares she will have +Sir James Martin before she leaves London again. If I were you, I would +certainly get him myself. I had almost forgot to give you my opinion of +Mr. De Courcy; I am really delighted with him; he is full as handsome, I +think, as Mainwaring, and with such an open, good-humoured countenance, +that one cannot help loving him at first sight. Mr. Johnson and he +are the greatest friends in the world. Adieu, my dearest Susan, I wish +matters did not go so perversely. That unlucky visit to Langford! but I +dare say you did all for the best, and there is no defying destiny. + +Your sincerely attached + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXXIX + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + +My dear Alicia,--I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under +circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot +be impaired by it, and in happier times, when your situation is as +independent as mine, it will unite us again in the same intimacy as +ever. For this I shall impatiently wait, and meanwhile can safely assure +you that I never was more at ease, or better satisfied with myself and +everything about me than at the present hour. Your husband I abhor, +Reginald I despise, and I am secure of never seeing either again. Have +I not reason to rejoice? Mainwaring is more devoted to me than ever; and +were we at liberty, I doubt if I could resist even matrimony offered by +HIM. This event, if his wife live with you, it may be in your power to +hasten. The violence of her feelings, which must wear her out, may be +easily kept in irritation. I rely on your friendship for this. I am now +satisfied that I never could have brought myself to marry Reginald, and +am equally determined that Frederica never shall. To-morrow, I shall +fetch her from Churchhill, and let Maria Mainwaring tremble for the +consequence. Frederica shall be Sir James's wife before she quits my +house, and she may whimper, and the Vernons may storm, I regard them +not. I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices of others; of +resigning my own judgment in deference to those to whom I owe no duty, +and for whom I feel no respect. I have given up too much, have been too +easily worked on, but Frederica shall now feel the difference. Adieu, +dearest of friends; may the next gouty attack be more favourable! and +may you always regard me as unalterably yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + + +XL + + +LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +My dear Catherine,--I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent +off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of +knowing of Reginald's being gone to London, for he is returned. Reginald +is returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady Susan, but to +tell us they are parted for ever. He has been only an hour in the house, +and I have not been able to learn particulars, for he is so very low +that I have not the heart to ask questions, but I hope we shall soon +know all. This is the most joyful hour he has ever given us since the +day of his birth. Nothing is wanting but to have you here, and it is our +particular wish and entreaty that you would come to us as soon as you +can. You have owed us a visit many long weeks; I hope nothing will make +it inconvenient to Mr. Vernon; and pray bring all my grand-children; and +your dear niece is included, of course; I long to see her. It has been +a sad, heavy winter hitherto, without Reginald, and seeing nobody from +Churchhill. I never found the season so dreary before; but this happy +meeting will make us young again. Frederica runs much in my thoughts, +and when Reginald has recovered his usual good spirits (as I trust he +soon will) we will try to rob him of his heart once more, and I am full +of hopes of seeing their hands joined at no great distance. + +Your affectionate mother, + +C. DE COURCY + + + + + +XLI + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--Your letter has surprized me beyond measure! Can it be +true that they are really separated--and for ever? I should be overjoyed +if I dared depend on it, but after all that I have seen how can one be +secure And Reginald really with you! My surprize is the greater because +on Wednesday, the very day of his coming to Parklands, we had a most +unexpected and unwelcome visit from Lady Susan, looking all cheerfulness +and good-humour, and seeming more as if she were to marry him when she +got to London than as if parted from him for ever. She stayed nearly two +hours, was as affectionate and agreeable as ever, and not a syllable, +not a hint was dropped, of any disagreement or coolness between them. +I asked her whether she had seen my brother since his arrival in town; +not, as you may suppose, with any doubt of the fact, but merely to see +how she looked. She immediately answered, without any embarrassment, +that he had been kind enough to call on her on Monday; but she believed +he had already returned home, which I was very far from crediting. Your +kind invitation is accepted by us with pleasure, and on Thursday next we +and our little ones will be with you. Pray heaven, Reginald may not be +in town again by that time! I wish we could bring dear Frederica too, +but I am sorry to say that her mother's errand hither was to fetch her +away; and, miserable as it made the poor girl, it was impossible to +detain her. I was thoroughly unwilling to let her go, and so was her +uncle; and all that could be urged we did urge; but Lady Susan declared +that as she was now about to fix herself in London for several months, +she could not be easy if her daughter were not with her for masters, +&c. Her manner, to be sure, was very kind and proper, and Mr. Vernon +believes that Frederica will now be treated with affection. I wish I +could think so too. The poor girl's heart was almost broke at taking +leave of us. I charged her to write to me very often, and to remember +that if she were in any distress we should be always her friends. I took +care to see her alone, that I might say all this, and I hope made her a +little more comfortable; but I shall not be easy till I can go to town +and judge of her situation myself. I wish there were a better prospect +than now appears of the match which the conclusion of your letter +declares your expectations of. At present, it is not very likely, + +Yours ever, &c., + +C. VERNON + + + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +This correspondence, by a meeting between some of the parties, and a +separation between the others, could not, to the great detriment of the +Post Office revenue, be continued any longer. Very little assistance +to the State could be derived from the epistolary intercourse of Mrs. +Vernon and her niece; for the former soon perceived, by the style +of Frederica's letters, that they were written under her mother's +inspection! and therefore, deferring all particular enquiry till she +could make it personally in London, ceased writing minutely or often. +Having learnt enough, in the meanwhile, from her open-hearted brother, +of what had passed between him and Lady Susan to sink the latter lower +than ever in her opinion, she was proportionably more anxious to get +Frederica removed from such a mother, and placed under her own care; +and, though with little hope of success, was resolved to leave nothing +unattempted that might offer a chance of obtaining her sister-in-law's +consent to it. Her anxiety on the subject made her press for an early +visit to London; and Mr. Vernon, who, as it must already have appeared, +lived only to do whatever he was desired, soon found some accommodating +business to call him thither. With a heart full of the matter, Mrs. +Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after her arrival in town, and was +met with such an easy and cheerful affection, as made her almost turn +from her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no consciousness of +guilt, gave one look of embarrassment; she was in excellent spirits, and +seemed eager to show at once by ever possible attention to her brother +and sister her sense of their kindness, and her pleasure in their +society. Frederica was no more altered than Lady Susan; the same +restrained manners, the same timid look in the presence of her mother as +heretofore, assured her aunt of her situation being uncomfortable, and +confirmed her in the plan of altering it. No unkindness, however, on the +part of Lady Susan appeared. Persecution on the subject of Sir James was +entirely at an end; his name merely mentioned to say that he was not in +London; and indeed, in all her conversation, she was solicitous only for +the welfare and improvement of her daughter, acknowledging, in terms of +grateful delight, that Frederica was now growing every day more and more +what a parent could desire. Mrs. Vernon, surprized and incredulous, +knew not what to suspect, and, without any change in her own views, +only feared greater difficulty in accomplishing them. The first hope +of anything better was derived from Lady Susan's asking her whether she +thought Frederica looked quite as well as she had done at Churchhill, as +she must confess herself to have sometimes an anxious doubt of London's +perfectly agreeing with her. Mrs. Vernon, encouraging the doubt, +directly proposed her niece's returning with them into the country. Lady +Susan was unable to express her sense of such kindness, yet knew not, +from a variety of reasons, how to part with her daughter; and as, though +her own plans were not yet wholly fixed, she trusted it would ere long +be in her power to take Frederica into the country herself, concluded by +declining entirely to profit by such unexampled attention. Mrs. Vernon +persevered, however, in the offer of it, and though Lady Susan continued +to resist, her resistance in the course of a few days seemed somewhat +less formidable. The lucky alarm of an influenza decided what might not +have been decided quite so soon. Lady Susan's maternal fears were then +too much awakened for her to think of anything but Frederica's removal +from the risk of infection; above all disorders in the world she most +dreaded the influenza for her daughter's constitution! + +Frederica returned to Churchhill with her uncle and aunt; and three +weeks afterwards, Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James +Martin. Mrs. Vernon was then convinced of what she had only suspected +before, that she might have spared herself all the trouble of urging +a removal which Lady Susan had doubtless resolved on from the first. +Frederica's visit was nominally for six weeks, but her mother, though +inviting her to return in one or two affectionate letters, was very +ready to oblige the whole party by consenting to a prolongation of her +stay, and in the course of two months ceased to write of her absence, +and in the course of two or more to write to her at all. Frederica was +therefore fixed in the family of her uncle and aunt till such time as +Reginald De Courcy could be talked, flattered, and finessed into an +affection for her which, allowing leisure for the conquest of his +attachment to her mother, for his abjuring all future attachments, and +detesting the sex, might be reasonably looked for in the course of a +twelvemonth. Three months might have done it in general, but Reginald's +feelings were no less lasting than lively. Whether Lady Susan was or +was not happy in her second choice, I do not see how it can ever be +ascertained; for who would take her assurance of it on either side of +the question? The world must judge from probabilities; she had nothing +against her but her husband, and her conscience. Sir James may seem to +have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited; I leave him, therefore, +to all the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I confess that I +can pity only Miss Mainwaring; who, coming to town, and putting herself +to an expense in clothes which impoverished her for two years, on +purpose to secure him, was defrauded of her due by a woman ten years +older than herself. + + + + + + + + + + +LOVE AND FREINDSHIP AND OTHER EARLY WORKS + +A Collection of Juvenile Writings + +By Jane Austen + + + +Transcriber's Note: A few very small changes have been made to this +version: Italics have been converted to capitals. The British 'pound' +symbol has been converted to 'L'; but in general the author's erratic +spelling, punctuation and capitalisations have been retained. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + Love and Freindship + Lesley Castle + The History of England + Collection of Letters + Scraps + + + + + +LOVE AND FREINDSHIP + + + + TO MADAME LA COMTESSE DE FEUILLIDE THIS NOVEL + IS INSCRIBED BY HER + OBLIGED HUMBLE SERVANT + + THE AUTHOR. + + + "Deceived in Freindship and Betrayed in Love." + + + + +LETTER the FIRST From ISABEL to LAURA + +How often, in answer to my repeated intreaties that you would give my +Daughter a regular detail of the Misfortunes and Adventures of your +Life, have you said "No, my freind never will I comply with your request +till I may be no longer in Danger of again experiencing such dreadful +ones." + +Surely that time is now at hand. You are this day 55. If a woman +may ever be said to be in safety from the determined Perseverance of +disagreeable Lovers and the cruel Persecutions of obstinate Fathers, +surely it must be at such a time of Life. Isabel + + + + +LETTER 2nd LAURA to ISABEL + +Altho' I cannot agree with you in supposing that I shall never again be +exposed to Misfortunes as unmerited as those I have already experienced, +yet to avoid the imputation of Obstinacy or ill-nature, I will gratify +the curiosity of your daughter; and may the fortitude with which I have +suffered the many afflictions of my past Life, prove to her a useful +lesson for the support of those which may befall her in her own. Laura + + + + +LETTER 3rd LAURA to MARIANNE + +As the Daughter of my most intimate freind I think you entitled to that +knowledge of my unhappy story, which your Mother has so often solicited +me to give you. + +My Father was a native of Ireland and an inhabitant of Wales; my Mother +was the natural Daughter of a Scotch Peer by an italian Opera-girl--I +was born in Spain and received my Education at a Convent in France. + +When I had reached my eighteenth Year I was recalled by my Parents to +my paternal roof in Wales. Our mansion was situated in one of the most +romantic parts of the Vale of Uske. Tho' my Charms are now considerably +softened and somewhat impaired by the Misfortunes I have undergone, I +was once beautiful. But lovely as I was the Graces of my Person were the +least of my Perfections. Of every accomplishment accustomary to my sex, +I was Mistress. When in the Convent, my progress had always exceeded my +instructions, my Acquirements had been wonderfull for my age, and I had +shortly surpassed my Masters. + +In my Mind, every Virtue that could adorn it was centered; it was the +Rendez-vous of every good Quality and of every noble sentiment. + +A sensibility too tremblingly alive to every affliction of my Freinds, +my Acquaintance and particularly to every affliction of my own, was my +only fault, if a fault it could be called. Alas! how altered now! Tho' +indeed my own Misfortunes do not make less impression on me than they +ever did, yet now I never feel for those of an other. My accomplishments +too, begin to fade--I can neither sing so well nor Dance so gracefully +as I once did--and I have entirely forgot the MINUET DELA COUR. Adeiu. +Laura. + + + + +LETTER 4th Laura to MARIANNE + +Our neighbourhood was small, for it consisted only of your Mother. She +may probably have already told you that being left by her Parents +in indigent Circumstances she had retired into Wales on eoconomical +motives. There it was our freindship first commenced. Isobel was then +one and twenty. Tho' pleasing both in her Person and Manners (between +ourselves) she never possessed the hundredth part of my Beauty or +Accomplishments. Isabel had seen the World. She had passed 2 Years at +one of the first Boarding-schools in London; had spent a fortnight in +Bath and had supped one night in Southampton. + +"Beware my Laura (she would often say) Beware of the insipid Vanities +and idle Dissipations of the Metropolis of England; Beware of the +unmeaning Luxuries of Bath and of the stinking fish of Southampton." + +"Alas! (exclaimed I) how am I to avoid those evils I shall never +be exposed to? What probability is there of my ever tasting the +Dissipations of London, the Luxuries of Bath, or the stinking Fish of +Southampton? I who am doomed to waste my Days of Youth and Beauty in an +humble Cottage in the Vale of Uske." + +Ah! little did I then think I was ordained so soon to quit that humble +Cottage for the Deceitfull Pleasures of the World. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER 5th LAURA to MARIANNE + +One Evening in December as my Father, my Mother and myself, were +arranged in social converse round our Fireside, we were on a sudden +greatly astonished, by hearing a violent knocking on the outward door of +our rustic Cot. + +My Father started--"What noise is that," (said he.) "It sounds like a +loud rapping at the door"--(replied my Mother.) "it does indeed." (cried +I.) "I am of your opinion; (said my Father) it certainly does appear +to proceed from some uncommon violence exerted against our unoffending +door." "Yes (exclaimed I) I cannot help thinking it must be somebody who +knocks for admittance." + +"That is another point (replied he;) We must not pretend to determine +on what motive the person may knock--tho' that someone DOES rap at the +door, I am partly convinced." + +Here, a 2d tremendous rap interrupted my Father in his speech, and +somewhat alarmed my Mother and me. + +"Had we better not go and see who it is? (said she) the servants are +out." "I think we had." (replied I.) "Certainly, (added my Father) +by all means." "Shall we go now?" (said my Mother,) "The sooner the +better." (answered he.) "Oh! let no time be lost" (cried I.) + +A third more violent Rap than ever again assaulted our ears. "I am +certain there is somebody knocking at the Door." (said my Mother.) +"I think there must," (replied my Father) "I fancy the servants are +returned; (said I) I think I hear Mary going to the Door." "I'm glad of +it (cried my Father) for I long to know who it is." + +I was right in my conjecture; for Mary instantly entering the Room, +informed us that a young Gentleman and his Servant were at the door, who +had lossed their way, were very cold and begged leave to warm themselves +by our fire. + +"Won't you admit them?" (said I.) "You have no objection, my Dear?" +(said my Father.) "None in the World." (replied my Mother.) + +Mary, without waiting for any further commands immediately left the room +and quickly returned introducing the most beauteous and amiable Youth, I +had ever beheld. The servant she kept to herself. + +My natural sensibility had already been greatly affected by the +sufferings of the unfortunate stranger and no sooner did I first behold +him, than I felt that on him the happiness or Misery of my future Life +must depend. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER 6th LAURA to MARIANNE + +The noble Youth informed us that his name was Lindsay--for particular +reasons however I shall conceal it under that of Talbot. He told us that +he was the son of an English Baronet, that his Mother had been for many +years no more and that he had a Sister of the middle size. "My Father +(he continued) is a mean and mercenary wretch--it is only to such +particular freinds as this Dear Party that I would thus betray his +failings. Your Virtues my amiable Polydore (addressing himself to my +father) yours Dear Claudia and yours my Charming Laura call on me to +repose in you, my confidence." We bowed. "My Father seduced by the false +glare of Fortune and the Deluding Pomp of Title, insisted on my giving +my hand to Lady Dorothea. No never exclaimed I. Lady Dorothea is lovely +and Engaging; I prefer no woman to her; but know Sir, that I scorn to +marry her in compliance with your Wishes. No! Never shall it be said +that I obliged my Father." + +We all admired the noble Manliness of his reply. He continued. + +"Sir Edward was surprised; he had perhaps little expected to meet with +so spirited an opposition to his will. "Where, Edward in the name of +wonder (said he) did you pick up this unmeaning gibberish? You have +been studying Novels I suspect." I scorned to answer: it would have +been beneath my dignity. I mounted my Horse and followed by my faithful +William set forth for my Aunts." + +"My Father's house is situated in Bedfordshire, my Aunt's in Middlesex, +and tho' I flatter myself with being a tolerable proficient in +Geography, I know not how it happened, but I found myself entering this +beautifull Vale which I find is in South Wales, when I had expected to +have reached my Aunts." + +"After having wandered some time on the Banks of the Uske without +knowing which way to go, I began to lament my cruel Destiny in the +bitterest and most pathetic Manner. It was now perfectly dark, not a +single star was there to direct my steps, and I know not what might have +befallen me had I not at length discerned thro' the solemn Gloom that +surrounded me a distant light, which as I approached it, I discovered +to be the chearfull Blaze of your fire. Impelled by the combination +of Misfortunes under which I laboured, namely Fear, Cold and Hunger I +hesitated not to ask admittance which at length I have gained; and +now my Adorable Laura (continued he taking my Hand) when may I hope +to receive that reward of all the painfull sufferings I have undergone +during the course of my attachment to you, to which I have ever aspired. +Oh! when will you reward me with Yourself?" + +"This instant, Dear and Amiable Edward." (replied I.). We were +immediately united by my Father, who tho' he had never taken orders had +been bred to the Church. Adeiu Laura + + + + +LETTER 7th LAURA to MARIANNE + +We remained but a few days after our Marriage, in the Vale of Uske. +After taking an affecting Farewell of my Father, my Mother and my +Isabel, I accompanied Edward to his Aunt's in Middlesex. Philippa +received us both with every expression of affectionate Love. My arrival +was indeed a most agreable surprise to her as she had not only been +totally ignorant of my Marriage with her Nephew, but had never even had +the slightest idea of there being such a person in the World. + +Augusta, the sister of Edward was on a visit to her when we arrived. +I found her exactly what her Brother had described her to be--of the +middle size. She received me with equal surprise though not with equal +Cordiality, as Philippa. There was a disagreable coldness and Forbidding +Reserve in her reception of me which was equally distressing and +Unexpected. None of that interesting Sensibility or amiable simpathy +in her manners and Address to me when we first met which should have +distinguished our introduction to each other. Her Language was neither +warm, nor affectionate, her expressions of regard were neither animated +nor cordial; her arms were not opened to receive me to her Heart, tho' +my own were extended to press her to mine. + +A short Conversation between Augusta and her Brother, which I +accidentally overheard encreased my dislike to her, and convinced me +that her Heart was no more formed for the soft ties of Love than for the +endearing intercourse of Freindship. + +"But do you think that my Father will ever be reconciled to this +imprudent connection?" (said Augusta.) + +"Augusta (replied the noble Youth) I thought you had a better opinion of +me, than to imagine I would so abjectly degrade myself as to consider +my Father's Concurrence in any of my affairs, either of Consequence +or concern to me. Tell me Augusta with sincerity; did you ever know +me consult his inclinations or follow his Advice in the least trifling +Particular since the age of fifteen?" + +"Edward (replied she) you are surely too diffident in your own praise. +Since you were fifteen only! My Dear Brother since you were five years +old, I entirely acquit you of ever having willingly contributed to the +satisfaction of your Father. But still I am not without apprehensions +of your being shortly obliged to degrade yourself in your own eyes by +seeking a support for your wife in the Generosity of Sir Edward." + +"Never, never Augusta will I so demean myself. (said Edward). Support! +What support will Laura want which she can receive from him?" + +"Only those very insignificant ones of Victuals and Drink." (answered +she.) + +"Victuals and Drink! (replied my Husband in a most nobly contemptuous +Manner) and dost thou then imagine that there is no other support for +an exalted mind (such as is my Laura's) than the mean and indelicate +employment of Eating and Drinking?" + +"None that I know of, so efficacious." (returned Augusta). + +"And did you then never feel the pleasing Pangs of Love, Augusta? +(replied my Edward). Does it appear impossible to your vile and +corrupted Palate, to exist on Love? Can you not conceive the Luxury of +living in every distress that Poverty can inflict, with the object of +your tenderest affection?" + +"You are too ridiculous (said Augusta) to argue with; perhaps however +you may in time be convinced that..." + +Here I was prevented from hearing the remainder of her speech, by the +appearance of a very Handsome young Woman, who was ushured into the Room +at the Door of which I had been listening. On hearing her announced by +the Name of "Lady Dorothea," I instantly quitted my Post and followed +her into the Parlour, for I well remembered that she was the Lady, +proposed as a Wife for my Edward by the Cruel and Unrelenting Baronet. + +Altho' Lady Dorothea's visit was nominally to Philippa and Augusta, yet +I have some reason to imagine that (acquainted with the Marriage and +arrival of Edward) to see me was a principal motive to it. + +I soon perceived that tho' Lovely and Elegant in her Person and tho' +Easy and Polite in her Address, she was of that inferior order of +Beings with regard to Delicate Feeling, tender Sentiments, and refined +Sensibility, of which Augusta was one. + +She staid but half an hour and neither in the Course of her Visit, +confided to me any of her secret thoughts, nor requested me to confide +in her, any of Mine. You will easily imagine therefore my Dear Marianne +that I could not feel any ardent affection or very sincere Attachment +for Lady Dorothea. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER 8th LAURA to MARIANNE, in continuation + +Lady Dorothea had not left us long before another visitor as unexpected +a one as her Ladyship, was announced. It was Sir Edward, who informed +by Augusta of her Brother's marriage, came doubtless to reproach him for +having dared to unite himself to me without his Knowledge. But Edward +foreseeing his design, approached him with heroic fortitude as soon as +he entered the Room, and addressed him in the following Manner. + +"Sir Edward, I know the motive of your Journey here--You come with the +base Design of reproaching me for having entered into an indissoluble +engagement with my Laura without your Consent. But Sir, I glory in the +Act--. It is my greatest boast that I have incurred the displeasure of +my Father!" + +So saying, he took my hand and whilst Sir Edward, Philippa, and Augusta +were doubtless reflecting with admiration on his undaunted Bravery, led +me from the Parlour to his Father's Carriage which yet remained at the +Door and in which we were instantly conveyed from the pursuit of Sir +Edward. + +The Postilions had at first received orders only to take the London +road; as soon as we had sufficiently reflected However, we ordered them +to Drive to M----. the seat of Edward's most particular freind, which +was but a few miles distant. + +At M----. we arrived in a few hours; and on sending in our names were +immediately admitted to Sophia, the Wife of Edward's freind. After +having been deprived during the course of 3 weeks of a real freind (for +such I term your Mother) imagine my transports at beholding one, most +truly worthy of the Name. Sophia was rather above the middle size; most +elegantly formed. A soft languor spread over her lovely features, but +increased their Beauty--. It was the Charectarestic of her Mind--. She +was all sensibility and Feeling. We flew into each others arms and after +having exchanged vows of mutual Freindship for the rest of our Lives, +instantly unfolded to each other the most inward secrets of our +Hearts--. We were interrupted in the delightfull Employment by the +entrance of Augustus, (Edward's freind) who was just returned from a +solitary ramble. + +Never did I see such an affecting Scene as was the meeting of Edward and +Augustus. + +"My Life! my Soul!" (exclaimed the former) "My adorable angel!" (replied +the latter) as they flew into each other's arms. It was too pathetic +for the feelings of Sophia and myself--We fainted alternately on a sofa. +Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER the 9th From the same to the same + +Towards the close of the day we received the following Letter from +Philippa. + +"Sir Edward is greatly incensed by your abrupt departure; he has +taken back Augusta to Bedfordshire. Much as I wish to enjoy again your +charming society, I cannot determine to snatch you from that, of such +dear and deserving Freinds--When your Visit to them is terminated, I +trust you will return to the arms of your" "Philippa." + +We returned a suitable answer to this affectionate Note and after +thanking her for her kind invitation assured her that we would certainly +avail ourselves of it, whenever we might have no other place to go to. +Tho' certainly nothing could to any reasonable Being, have appeared more +satisfactory, than so gratefull a reply to her invitation, yet I know +not how it was, but she was certainly capricious enough to be displeased +with our behaviour and in a few weeks after, either to revenge our +Conduct, or releive her own solitude, married a young and illiterate +Fortune-hunter. This imprudent step (tho' we were sensible that it would +probably deprive us of that fortune which Philippa had ever taught us to +expect) could not on our own accounts, excite from our exalted minds a +single sigh; yet fearfull lest it might prove a source of endless misery +to the deluded Bride, our trembling Sensibility was greatly affected +when we were first informed of the Event. The affectionate Entreaties of +Augustus and Sophia that we would for ever consider their House as our +Home, easily prevailed on us to determine never more to leave them, In +the society of my Edward and this Amiable Pair, I passed the happiest +moments of my Life; Our time was most delightfully spent, in mutual +Protestations of Freindship, and in vows of unalterable Love, in which +we were secure from being interrupted, by intruding and disagreable +Visitors, as Augustus and Sophia had on their first Entrance in the +Neighbourhood, taken due care to inform the surrounding Families, that +as their happiness centered wholly in themselves, they wished for no +other society. But alas! my Dear Marianne such Happiness as I then +enjoyed was too perfect to be lasting. A most severe and unexpected Blow +at once destroyed every sensation of Pleasure. Convinced as you must be +from what I have already told you concerning Augustus and Sophia, that +there never were a happier Couple, I need not I imagine, inform you that +their union had been contrary to the inclinations of their Cruel +and Mercenery Parents; who had vainly endeavoured with obstinate +Perseverance to force them into a Marriage with those whom they had ever +abhorred; but with a Heroic Fortitude worthy to be related and admired, +they had both, constantly refused to submit to such despotic Power. + +After having so nobly disentangled themselves from the shackles of +Parental Authority, by a Clandestine Marriage, they were determined +never to forfeit the good opinion they had gained in the World, in +so doing, by accepting any proposals of reconciliation that might be +offered them by their Fathers--to this farther tryal of their noble +independance however they never were exposed. + +They had been married but a few months when our visit to them commenced +during which time they had been amply supported by a considerable sum of +money which Augustus had gracefully purloined from his unworthy father's +Escritoire, a few days before his union with Sophia. + +By our arrival their Expenses were considerably encreased tho' their +means for supplying them were then nearly exhausted. But they, Exalted +Creatures! scorned to reflect a moment on their pecuniary Distresses and +would have blushed at the idea of paying their Debts.--Alas! what was +their Reward for such disinterested Behaviour! The beautifull Augustus +was arrested and we were all undone. Such perfidious Treachery in the +merciless perpetrators of the Deed will shock your gentle nature Dearest +Marianne as much as it then affected the Delicate sensibility of +Edward, Sophia, your Laura, and of Augustus himself. To compleat such +unparalelled Barbarity we were informed that an Execution in the House +would shortly take place. Ah! what could we do but what we did! We +sighed and fainted on the sofa. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER 10th LAURA in continuation + +When we were somewhat recovered from the overpowering Effusions of our +grief, Edward desired that we would consider what was the most prudent +step to be taken in our unhappy situation while he repaired to his +imprisoned freind to lament over his misfortunes. We promised that we +would, and he set forwards on his journey to Town. During his absence +we faithfully complied with his Desire and after the most mature +Deliberation, at length agreed that the best thing we could do was +to leave the House; of which we every moment expected the officers +of Justice to take possession. We waited therefore with the greatest +impatience, for the return of Edward in order to impart to him the +result of our Deliberations. But no Edward appeared. In vain did we +count the tedious moments of his absence--in vain did we weep--in +vain even did we sigh--no Edward returned--. This was too cruel, too +unexpected a Blow to our Gentle Sensibility--we could not support it--we +could only faint. At length collecting all the Resolution I was Mistress +of, I arose and after packing up some necessary apparel for Sophia and +myself, I dragged her to a Carriage I had ordered and we instantly set +out for London. As the Habitation of Augustus was within twelve miles +of Town, it was not long e'er we arrived there, and no sooner had we +entered Holboun than letting down one of the Front Glasses I enquired of +every decent-looking Person that we passed "If they had seen my Edward?" + +But as we drove too rapidly to allow them to answer my repeated +Enquiries, I gained little, or indeed, no information concerning him. +"Where am I to drive?" said the Postilion. "To Newgate Gentle Youth +(replied I), to see Augustus." "Oh! no, no, (exclaimed Sophia) I cannot +go to Newgate; I shall not be able to support the sight of my Augustus +in so cruel a confinement--my feelings are sufficiently shocked by +the RECITAL, of his Distress, but to behold it will overpower my +Sensibility." As I perfectly agreed with her in the Justice of her +Sentiments the Postilion was instantly directed to return into the +Country. You may perhaps have been somewhat surprised my Dearest +Marianne, that in the Distress I then endured, destitute of any support, +and unprovided with any Habitation, I should never once have remembered +my Father and Mother or my paternal Cottage in the Vale of Uske. To +account for this seeming forgetfullness I must inform you of a trifling +circumstance concerning them which I have as yet never mentioned. The +death of my Parents a few weeks after my Departure, is the circumstance +I allude to. By their decease I became the lawfull Inheritress of their +House and Fortune. But alas! the House had never been their own and +their Fortune had only been an Annuity on their own Lives. Such is +the Depravity of the World! To your Mother I should have returned with +Pleasure, should have been happy to have introduced to her, my charming +Sophia and should with Chearfullness have passed the remainder of my +Life in their dear Society in the Vale of Uske, had not one obstacle +to the execution of so agreable a scheme, intervened; which was the +Marriage and Removal of your Mother to a distant part of Ireland. Adeiu +Laura. + + + + +LETTER 11th LAURA in continuation + +"I have a Relation in Scotland (said Sophia to me as we left London) who +I am certain would not hesitate in receiving me." "Shall I order the Boy +to drive there?" said I--but instantly recollecting myself, exclaimed, +"Alas I fear it will be too long a Journey for the Horses." Unwilling +however to act only from my own inadequate Knowledge of the Strength and +Abilities of Horses, I consulted the Postilion, who was entirely of my +Opinion concerning the Affair. We therefore determined to change Horses +at the next Town and to travel Post the remainder of the Journey--. When +we arrived at the last Inn we were to stop at, which was but a few miles +from the House of Sophia's Relation, unwilling to intrude our Society on +him unexpected and unthought of, we wrote a very elegant and well +penned Note to him containing an account of our Destitute and melancholy +Situation, and of our intention to spend some months with him in +Scotland. As soon as we had dispatched this Letter, we immediately +prepared to follow it in person and were stepping into the Carriage +for that Purpose when our attention was attracted by the Entrance of +a coroneted Coach and 4 into the Inn-yard. A Gentleman considerably +advanced in years descended from it. At his first Appearance my +Sensibility was wonderfully affected and e'er I had gazed at him a 2d +time, an instinctive sympathy whispered to my Heart, that he was my +Grandfather. Convinced that I could not be mistaken in my conjecture I +instantly sprang from the Carriage I had just entered, and following the +Venerable Stranger into the Room he had been shewn to, I threw myself +on my knees before him and besought him to acknowledge me as his Grand +Child. He started, and having attentively examined my features, raised +me from the Ground and throwing his Grand-fatherly arms around my Neck, +exclaimed, "Acknowledge thee! Yes dear resemblance of my Laurina and +Laurina's Daughter, sweet image of my Claudia and my Claudia's Mother, +I do acknowledge thee as the Daughter of the one and the Grandaughter of +the other." While he was thus tenderly embracing me, Sophia astonished +at my precipitate Departure, entered the Room in search of me. No sooner +had she caught the eye of the venerable Peer, than he exclaimed with +every mark of Astonishment--"Another Grandaughter! Yes, yes, I see you +are the Daughter of my Laurina's eldest Girl; your resemblance to the +beauteous Matilda sufficiently proclaims it. "Oh!" replied Sophia, "when +I first beheld you the instinct of Nature whispered me that we were in +some degree related--But whether Grandfathers, or Grandmothers, I could +not pretend to determine." He folded her in his arms, and whilst they +were tenderly embracing, the Door of the Apartment opened and a most +beautifull young Man appeared. On perceiving him Lord St. Clair started +and retreating back a few paces, with uplifted Hands, said, "Another +Grand-child! What an unexpected Happiness is this! to discover in the +space of 3 minutes, as many of my Descendants! This I am certain is +Philander the son of my Laurina's 3d girl the amiable Bertha; there +wants now but the presence of Gustavus to compleat the Union of my +Laurina's Grand-Children." + +"And here he is; (said a Gracefull Youth who that instant entered the +room) here is the Gustavus you desire to see. I am the son of Agatha +your Laurina's 4th and youngest Daughter," "I see you are indeed; +replied Lord St. Clair--But tell me (continued he looking fearfully +towards the Door) tell me, have I any other Grand-children in the +House." "None my Lord." "Then I will provide for you all without farther +delay--Here are 4 Banknotes of 50L each--Take them and remember I +have done the Duty of a Grandfather." He instantly left the Room and +immediately afterwards the House. Adeiu, Laura. + + + + +LETTER the 12th LAURA in continuation + +You may imagine how greatly we were surprised by the sudden departure +of Lord St Clair. "Ignoble Grand-sire!" exclaimed Sophia. "Unworthy +Grandfather!" said I, and instantly fainted in each other's arms. How +long we remained in this situation I know not; but when we recovered +we found ourselves alone, without either Gustavus, Philander, or the +Banknotes. As we were deploring our unhappy fate, the Door of the +Apartment opened and "Macdonald" was announced. He was Sophia's cousin. +The haste with which he came to our releif so soon after the receipt +of our Note, spoke so greatly in his favour that I hesitated not to +pronounce him at first sight, a tender and simpathetic Freind. Alas! +he little deserved the name--for though he told us that he was much +concerned at our Misfortunes, yet by his own account it appeared that +the perusal of them, had neither drawn from him a single sigh, nor +induced him to bestow one curse on our vindictive stars--. He told +Sophia that his Daughter depended on her returning with him to +Macdonald-Hall, and that as his Cousin's freind he should be happy +to see me there also. To Macdonald-Hall, therefore we went, and were +received with great kindness by Janetta the Daughter of Macdonald, and +the Mistress of the Mansion. Janetta was then only fifteen; naturally +well disposed, endowed with a susceptible Heart, and a simpathetic +Disposition, she might, had these amiable qualities been properly +encouraged, have been an ornament to human Nature; but unfortunately her +Father possessed not a soul sufficiently exalted to admire so promising +a Disposition, and had endeavoured by every means on his power +to prevent it encreasing with her Years. He had actually so far +extinguished the natural noble Sensibility of her Heart, as to prevail +on her to accept an offer from a young Man of his Recommendation. They +were to be married in a few months, and Graham, was in the House when +we arrived. WE soon saw through his character. He was just such a Man as +one might have expected to be the choice of Macdonald. They said he was +Sensible, well-informed, and Agreable; we did not pretend to Judge of +such trifles, but as we were convinced he had no soul, that he had +never read the sorrows of Werter, and that his Hair bore not the least +resemblance to auburn, we were certain that Janetta could feel no +affection for him, or at least that she ought to feel none. The very +circumstance of his being her father's choice too, was so much in his +disfavour, that had he been deserving her, in every other respect yet +THAT of itself ought to have been a sufficient reason in the Eyes of +Janetta for rejecting him. These considerations we were determined to +represent to her in their proper light and doubted not of meeting with +the desired success from one naturally so well disposed; whose errors in +the affair had only arisen from a want of proper confidence in her own +opinion, and a suitable contempt of her father's. We found her indeed +all that our warmest wishes could have hoped for; we had no difficulty +to convince her that it was impossible she could love Graham, or that it +was her Duty to disobey her Father; the only thing at which she rather +seemed to hesitate was our assertion that she must be attached to some +other Person. For some time, she persevered in declaring that she knew +no other young man for whom she had the the smallest Affection; but upon +explaining the impossibility of such a thing she said that she beleived +she DID LIKE Captain M'Kenrie better than any one she knew besides. This +confession satisfied us and after having enumerated the good Qualities +of M'Kenrie and assured her that she was violently in love with him, we +desired to know whether he had ever in any wise declared his affection +to her. + +"So far from having ever declared it, I have no reason to imagine that +he has ever felt any for me." said Janetta. "That he certainly adores +you (replied Sophia) there can be no doubt--. The Attachment must be +reciprocal. Did he never gaze on you with admiration--tenderly press +your hand--drop an involantary tear--and leave the room abruptly?" +"Never (replied she) that I remember--he has always left the room indeed +when his visit has been ended, but has never gone away particularly +abruptly or without making a bow." Indeed my Love (said I) you must be +mistaken--for it is absolutely impossible that he should ever have left +you but with Confusion, Despair, and Precipitation. Consider but for a +moment Janetta, and you must be convinced how absurd it is to suppose +that he could ever make a Bow, or behave like any other Person." +Having settled this Point to our satisfaction, the next we took into +consideration was, to determine in what manner we should inform M'Kenrie +of the favourable Opinion Janetta entertained of him.... We at length +agreed to acquaint him with it by an anonymous Letter which Sophia drew +up in the following manner. + +"Oh! happy Lover of the beautifull Janetta, oh! amiable Possessor of +HER Heart whose hand is destined to another, why do you thus delay a +confession of your attachment to the amiable Object of it? Oh! consider +that a few weeks will at once put an end to every flattering Hope that +you may now entertain, by uniting the unfortunate Victim of her father's +Cruelty to the execrable and detested Graham." + +"Alas! why do you thus so cruelly connive at the projected Misery of +her and of yourself by delaying to communicate that scheme which had +doubtless long possessed your imagination? A secret Union will at once +secure the felicity of both." + +The amiable M'Kenrie, whose modesty as he afterwards assured us had +been the only reason of his having so long concealed the violence of +his affection for Janetta, on receiving this Billet flew on the wings of +Love to Macdonald-Hall, and so powerfully pleaded his Attachment to her +who inspired it, that after a few more private interveiws, Sophia and +I experienced the satisfaction of seeing them depart for Gretna-Green, +which they chose for the celebration of their Nuptials, in preference +to any other place although it was at a considerable distance from +Macdonald-Hall. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER the 13th LAURA in continuation + +They had been gone nearly a couple of Hours, before either Macdonald or +Graham had entertained any suspicion of the affair. And they might not +even then have suspected it, but for the following little Accident. +Sophia happening one day to open a private Drawer in Macdonald's Library +with one of her own keys, discovered that it was the Place where he +kept his Papers of consequence and amongst them some bank notes of +considerable amount. This discovery she imparted to me; and having +agreed together that it would be a proper treatment of so vile a Wretch +as Macdonald to deprive him of money, perhaps dishonestly gained, it was +determined that the next time we should either of us happen to go that +way, we would take one or more of the Bank notes from the drawer. This +well meant Plan we had often successfully put in Execution; but alas! +on the very day of Janetta's Escape, as Sophia was majestically removing +the 5th Bank-note from the Drawer to her own purse, she was suddenly +most impertinently interrupted in her employment by the entrance of +Macdonald himself, in a most abrupt and precipitate Manner. Sophia (who +though naturally all winning sweetness could when occasions demanded it +call forth the Dignity of her sex) instantly put on a most forbidding +look, and darting an angry frown on the undaunted culprit, demanded in +a haughty tone of voice "Wherefore her retirement was thus insolently +broken in on?" The unblushing Macdonald, without even endeavouring to +exculpate himself from the crime he was charged with, meanly endeavoured +to reproach Sophia with ignobly defrauding him of his money... The +dignity of Sophia was wounded; "Wretch (exclaimed she, hastily replacing +the Bank-note in the Drawer) how darest thou to accuse me of an Act, +of which the bare idea makes me blush?" The base wretch was still +unconvinced and continued to upbraid the justly-offended Sophia in such +opprobious Language, that at length he so greatly provoked the gentle +sweetness of her Nature, as to induce her to revenge herself on him by +informing him of Janetta's Elopement, and of the active Part we had +both taken in the affair. At this period of their Quarrel I entered the +Library and was as you may imagine equally offended as Sophia at the +ill-grounded accusations of the malevolent and contemptible Macdonald. +"Base Miscreant! (cried I) how canst thou thus undauntedly endeavour to +sully the spotless reputation of such bright Excellence? Why dost thou +not suspect MY innocence as soon?" "Be satisfied Madam (replied he) I +DO suspect it, and therefore must desire that you will both leave this +House in less than half an hour." + +"We shall go willingly; (answered Sophia) our hearts have long detested +thee, and nothing but our freindship for thy Daughter could have induced +us to remain so long beneath thy roof." + +"Your Freindship for my Daughter has indeed been most powerfully exerted +by throwing her into the arms of an unprincipled Fortune-hunter." +(replied he) + +"Yes, (exclaimed I) amidst every misfortune, it will afford us some +consolation to reflect that by this one act of Freindship to Janetta, +we have amply discharged every obligation that we have received from her +father." + +"It must indeed be a most gratefull reflection, to your exalted minds." +(said he.) + +As soon as we had packed up our wardrobe and valuables, we left +Macdonald Hall, and after having walked about a mile and a half we +sate down by the side of a clear limpid stream to refresh our exhausted +limbs. The place was suited to meditation. A grove of full-grown Elms +sheltered us from the East--. A Bed of full-grown Nettles from the +West--. Before us ran the murmuring brook and behind us ran the +turn-pike road. We were in a mood for contemplation and in a Disposition +to enjoy so beautifull a spot. A mutual silence which had for some time +reigned between us, was at length broke by my exclaiming--"What a lovely +scene! Alas why are not Edward and Augustus here to enjoy its Beauties +with us?" + +"Ah! my beloved Laura (cried Sophia) for pity's sake forbear recalling +to my remembrance the unhappy situation of my imprisoned Husband. Alas, +what would I not give to learn the fate of my Augustus! to know if he is +still in Newgate, or if he is yet hung. But never shall I be able so far +to conquer my tender sensibility as to enquire after him. Oh! do not +I beseech you ever let me again hear you repeat his beloved name--. It +affects me too deeply--. I cannot bear to hear him mentioned it wounds +my feelings." + +"Excuse me my Sophia for having thus unwillingly offended you--" replied +I--and then changing the conversation, desired her to admire the noble +Grandeur of the Elms which sheltered us from the Eastern Zephyr. "Alas! +my Laura (returned she) avoid so melancholy a subject, I intreat you. +Do not again wound my Sensibility by observations on those elms. They +remind me of Augustus. He was like them, tall, magestic--he possessed +that noble grandeur which you admire in them." + +I was silent, fearfull lest I might any more unwillingly distress her by +fixing on any other subject of conversation which might again remind her +of Augustus. + +"Why do you not speak my Laura? (said she after a short pause) "I cannot +support this silence you must not leave me to my own reflections; they +ever recur to Augustus." + +"What a beautifull sky! (said I) How charmingly is the azure varied by +those delicate streaks of white!" + +"Oh! my Laura (replied she hastily withdrawing her Eyes from a momentary +glance at the sky) do not thus distress me by calling my Attention to +an object which so cruelly reminds me of my Augustus's blue sattin +waistcoat striped in white! In pity to your unhappy freind avoid a +subject so distressing." What could I do? The feelings of Sophia were +at that time so exquisite, and the tenderness she felt for Augustus so +poignant that I had not power to start any other topic, justly fearing +that it might in some unforseen manner again awaken all her sensibility +by directing her thoughts to her Husband. Yet to be silent would be +cruel; she had intreated me to talk. + +From this Dilemma I was most fortunately releived by an accident truly +apropos; it was the lucky overturning of a Gentleman's Phaeton, on the +road which ran murmuring behind us. It was a most fortunate accident +as it diverted the attention of Sophia from the melancholy reflections +which she had been before indulging. We instantly quitted our seats and +ran to the rescue of those who but a few moments before had been in so +elevated a situation as a fashionably high Phaeton, but who were +now laid low and sprawling in the Dust. "What an ample subject for +reflection on the uncertain Enjoyments of this World, would not that +Phaeton and the Life of Cardinal Wolsey afford a thinking Mind!" said I +to Sophia as we were hastening to the field of Action. + +She had not time to answer me, for every thought was now engaged by the +horrid spectacle before us. Two Gentlemen most elegantly attired +but weltering in their blood was what first struck our Eyes--we +approached--they were Edward and Augustus--. Yes dearest Marianne they +were our Husbands. Sophia shreiked and fainted on the ground--I screamed +and instantly ran mad--. We remained thus mutually deprived of our +senses, some minutes, and on regaining them were deprived of them +again. For an Hour and a Quarter did we continue in this unfortunate +situation--Sophia fainting every moment and I running mad as often. At +length a groan from the hapless Edward (who alone retained any share +of life) restored us to ourselves. Had we indeed before imagined that +either of them lived, we should have been more sparing of our Greif--but +as we had supposed when we first beheld them that they were no more, +we knew that nothing could remain to be done but what we were about. +No sooner did we therefore hear my Edward's groan than postponing our +lamentations for the present, we hastily ran to the Dear Youth and +kneeling on each side of him implored him not to die--. "Laura (said He +fixing his now languid Eyes on me) I fear I have been overturned." + +I was overjoyed to find him yet sensible. + +"Oh! tell me Edward (said I) tell me I beseech you before you die, what +has befallen you since that unhappy Day in which Augustus was arrested +and we were separated--" + +"I will" (said he) and instantly fetching a deep sigh, Expired--. Sophia +immediately sank again into a swoon--. MY greif was more audible. My +Voice faltered, My Eyes assumed a vacant stare, my face became as pale +as Death, and my senses were considerably impaired--. + +"Talk not to me of Phaetons (said I, raving in a frantic, incoherent +manner)--Give me a violin--. I'll play to him and sooth him in his +melancholy Hours--Beware ye gentle Nymphs of Cupid's Thunderbolts, avoid +the piercing shafts of Jupiter--Look at that grove of Firs--I see a Leg +of Mutton--They told me Edward was not Dead; but they deceived me--they +took him for a cucumber--" Thus I continued wildly exclaiming on my +Edward's Death--. For two Hours did I rave thus madly and should not +then have left off, as I was not in the least fatigued, had not Sophia +who was just recovered from her swoon, intreated me to consider that +Night was now approaching and that the Damps began to fall. "And +whither shall we go (said I) to shelter us from either?" "To that white +Cottage." (replied she pointing to a neat Building which rose up amidst +the grove of Elms and which I had not before observed--) I agreed and we +instantly walked to it--we knocked at the door--it was opened by an old +woman; on being requested to afford us a Night's Lodging, she informed +us that her House was but small, that she had only two Bedrooms, but +that However we should be wellcome to one of them. We were satisfied and +followed the good woman into the House where we were greatly cheered +by the sight of a comfortable fire--. She was a widow and had only one +Daughter, who was then just seventeen--One of the best of ages; but +alas! she was very plain and her name was Bridget..... Nothing therfore +could be expected from her--she could not be supposed to possess either +exalted Ideas, Delicate Feelings or refined Sensibilities--. She was +nothing more than a mere good-tempered, civil and obliging young woman; +as such we could scarcely dislike here--she was only an Object of +Contempt--. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER the 14th LAURA in continuation + +Arm yourself my amiable young Freind with all the philosophy you are +Mistress of; summon up all the fortitude you possess, for alas! in the +perusal of the following Pages your sensibility will be most severely +tried. Ah! what were the misfortunes I had before experienced and which +I have already related to you, to the one I am now going to inform you +of. The Death of my Father and my Mother and my Husband though almost +more than my gentle Nature could support, were trifles in comparison +to the misfortune I am now proceeding to relate. The morning after +our arrival at the Cottage, Sophia complained of a violent pain in her +delicate limbs, accompanied with a disagreable Head-ake She attributed +it to a cold caught by her continued faintings in the open air as the +Dew was falling the Evening before. This I feared was but too probably +the case; since how could it be otherwise accounted for that I should +have escaped the same indisposition, but by supposing that the +bodily Exertions I had undergone in my repeated fits of frenzy had so +effectually circulated and warmed my Blood as to make me proof against +the chilling Damps of Night, whereas, Sophia lying totally inactive +on the ground must have been exposed to all their severity. I was most +seriously alarmed by her illness which trifling as it may appear to +you, a certain instinctive sensibility whispered me, would in the End be +fatal to her. + +Alas! my fears were but too fully justified; she grew gradually +worse--and I daily became more alarmed for her. At length she was +obliged to confine herself solely to the Bed allotted us by our worthy +Landlady--. Her disorder turned to a galloping Consumption and in a few +days carried her off. Amidst all my Lamentations for her (and violent +you may suppose they were) I yet received some consolation in the +reflection of my having paid every attention to her, that could be +offered, in her illness. I had wept over her every Day--had bathed her +sweet face with my tears and had pressed her fair Hands continually in +mine--. "My beloved Laura (said she to me a few Hours before she died) +take warning from my unhappy End and avoid the imprudent conduct which +had occasioned it... Beware of fainting-fits... Though at the time they +may be refreshing and agreable yet beleive me they will in the end, if +too often repeated and at improper seasons, prove destructive to your +Constitution... My fate will teach you this.. I die a Martyr to my greif +for the loss of Augustus.. One fatal swoon has cost me my Life.. Beware +of swoons Dear Laura.... A frenzy fit is not one quarter so pernicious; +it is an exercise to the Body and if not too violent, is I dare say +conducive to Health in its consequences--Run mad as often as you chuse; +but do not faint--" + +These were the last words she ever addressed to me.. It was her dieing +Advice to her afflicted Laura, who has ever most faithfully adhered to +it. + +After having attended my lamented freind to her Early Grave, I +immediately (tho' late at night) left the detested Village in which +she died, and near which had expired my Husband and Augustus. I had not +walked many yards from it before I was overtaken by a stage-coach, +in which I instantly took a place, determined to proceed in it to +Edinburgh, where I hoped to find some kind some pitying Freind who would +receive and comfort me in my afflictions. + +It was so dark when I entered the Coach that I could not distinguish +the Number of my Fellow-travellers; I could only perceive that they were +many. Regardless however of anything concerning them, I gave myself up +to my own sad Reflections. A general silence prevailed--A silence, which +was by nothing interrupted but by the loud and repeated snores of one of +the Party. + +"What an illiterate villain must that man be! (thought I to myself) What +a total want of delicate refinement must he have, who can thus shock our +senses by such a brutal noise! He must I am certain be capable of every +bad action! There is no crime too black for such a Character!" Thus +reasoned I within myself, and doubtless such were the reflections of my +fellow travellers. + +At length, returning Day enabled me to behold the unprincipled Scoundrel +who had so violently disturbed my feelings. It was Sir Edward the father +of my Deceased Husband. By his side sate Augusta, and on the same seat +with me were your Mother and Lady Dorothea. Imagine my surprise at +finding myself thus seated amongst my old Acquaintance. Great as was my +astonishment, it was yet increased, when on looking out of Windows, +I beheld the Husband of Philippa, with Philippa by his side, on the +Coachbox and when on looking behind I beheld, Philander and Gustavus in +the Basket. "Oh! Heavens, (exclaimed I) is it possible that I should +so unexpectedly be surrounded by my nearest Relations and Connections?" +These words roused the rest of the Party, and every eye was directed to +the corner in which I sat. "Oh! my Isabel (continued I throwing myself +across Lady Dorothea into her arms) receive once more to your Bosom the +unfortunate Laura. Alas! when we last parted in the Vale of Usk, I was +happy in being united to the best of Edwards; I had then a Father and +a Mother, and had never known misfortunes--But now deprived of every +freind but you--" + +"What! (interrupted Augusta) is my Brother dead then? Tell us I intreat +you what is become of him?" "Yes, cold and insensible Nymph, (replied I) +that luckless swain your Brother, is no more, and you may now glory in +being the Heiress of Sir Edward's fortune." + +Although I had always despised her from the Day I had overheard her +conversation with my Edward, yet in civility I complied with hers and +Sir Edward's intreaties that I would inform them of the whole melancholy +affair. They were greatly shocked--even the obdurate Heart of Sir Edward +and the insensible one of Augusta, were touched with sorrow, by the +unhappy tale. At the request of your Mother I related to them every +other misfortune which had befallen me since we parted. Of the +imprisonment of Augustus and the absence of Edward--of our arrival +in Scotland--of our unexpected Meeting with our Grand-father and our +cousins--of our visit to Macdonald-Hall--of the singular service we +there performed towards Janetta--of her Fathers ingratitude for it.. of +his inhuman Behaviour, unaccountable suspicions, and barbarous treatment +of us, in obliging us to leave the House.. of our lamentations on the +loss of Edward and Augustus and finally of the melancholy Death of my +beloved Companion. + +Pity and surprise were strongly depictured in your Mother's countenance, +during the whole of my narration, but I am sorry to say, that to the +eternal reproach of her sensibility, the latter infinitely predominated. +Nay, faultless as my conduct had certainly been during the whole course +of my late misfortunes and adventures, she pretended to find fault with +my behaviour in many of the situations in which I had been placed. As +I was sensible myself, that I had always behaved in a manner which +reflected Honour on my Feelings and Refinement, I paid little attention +to what she said, and desired her to satisfy my Curiosity by informing +me how she came there, instead of wounding my spotless reputation with +unjustifiable Reproaches. As soon as she had complyed with my wishes in +this particular and had given me an accurate detail of every thing that +had befallen her since our separation (the particulars of which if you +are not already acquainted with, your Mother will give you) I applied to +Augusta for the same information respecting herself, Sir Edward and Lady +Dorothea. + +She told me that having a considerable taste for the Beauties of Nature, +her curiosity to behold the delightful scenes it exhibited in that part +of the World had been so much raised by Gilpin's Tour to the Highlands, +that she had prevailed on her Father to undertake a Tour to Scotland and +had persuaded Lady Dorothea to accompany them. That they had arrived at +Edinburgh a few Days before and from thence had made daily Excursions +into the Country around in the Stage Coach they were then in, from one +of which Excursions they were at that time returning. My next enquiries +were concerning Philippa and her Husband, the latter of whom I learned +having spent all her fortune, had recourse for subsistence to the talent +in which, he had always most excelled, namely, Driving, and that +having sold every thing which belonged to them except their Coach, had +converted it into a Stage and in order to be removed from any of his +former Acquaintance, had driven it to Edinburgh from whence he went to +Sterling every other Day. That Philippa still retaining her affection +for her ungratefull Husband, had followed him to Scotland and generally +accompanied him in his little Excursions to Sterling. "It has only been +to throw a little money into their Pockets (continued Augusta) that my +Father has always travelled in their Coach to veiw the beauties of the +Country since our arrival in Scotland--for it would certainly have been +much more agreable to us, to visit the Highlands in a Postchaise +than merely to travel from Edinburgh to Sterling and from Sterling +to Edinburgh every other Day in a crowded and uncomfortable Stage." I +perfectly agreed with her in her sentiments on the affair, and secretly +blamed Sir Edward for thus sacrificing his Daughter's Pleasure for the +sake of a ridiculous old woman whose folly in marrying so young a man +ought to be punished. His Behaviour however was entirely of a peice +with his general Character; for what could be expected from a man who +possessed not the smallest atom of Sensibility, who scarcely knew the +meaning of simpathy, and who actually snored--. Adeiu Laura. + + + + +LETTER the 15th LAURA in continuation. + +When we arrived at the town where we were to Breakfast, I was determined +to speak with Philander and Gustavus, and to that purpose as soon as +I left the Carriage, I went to the Basket and tenderly enquired after +their Health, expressing my fears of the uneasiness of their situation. +At first they seemed rather confused at my appearance dreading no doubt +that I might call them to account for the money which our Grandfather +had left me and which they had unjustly deprived me of, but finding +that I mentioned nothing of the Matter, they desired me to step into +the Basket as we might there converse with greater ease. Accordingly I +entered and whilst the rest of the party were devouring green tea and +buttered toast, we feasted ourselves in a more refined and sentimental +Manner by a confidential Conversation. I informed them of every thing +which had befallen me during the course of my life, and at my request +they related to me every incident of theirs. + +"We are the sons as you already know, of the two youngest Daughters +which Lord St Clair had by Laurina an italian opera girl. Our mothers +could neither of them exactly ascertain who were our Father, though it +is generally beleived that Philander, is the son of one Philip Jones +a Bricklayer and that my Father was one Gregory Staves a Staymaker of +Edinburgh. This is however of little consequence for as our Mothers were +certainly never married to either of them it reflects no Dishonour on +our Blood, which is of a most ancient and unpolluted kind. Bertha (the +Mother of Philander) and Agatha (my own Mother) always lived together. +They were neither of them very rich; their united fortunes had +originally amounted to nine thousand Pounds, but as they had always +lived on the principal of it, when we were fifteen it was diminished to +nine Hundred. This nine Hundred they always kept in a Drawer in one +of the Tables which stood in our common sitting Parlour, for the +convenience of having it always at Hand. Whether it was from this +circumstance, of its being easily taken, or from a wish of being +independant, or from an excess of sensibility (for which we were always +remarkable) I cannot now determine, but certain it is that when we had +reached our 15th year, we took the nine Hundred Pounds and ran away. +Having obtained this prize we were determined to manage it with eoconomy +and not to spend it either with folly or Extravagance. To this purpose +we therefore divided it into nine parcels, one of which we devoted to +Victuals, the 2d to Drink, the 3d to Housekeeping, the 4th to Carriages, +the 5th to Horses, the 6th to Servants, the 7th to Amusements, the 8th +to Cloathes and the 9th to Silver Buckles. Having thus arranged our +Expences for two months (for we expected to make the nine Hundred Pounds +last as long) we hastened to London and had the good luck to spend it in +7 weeks and a Day which was 6 Days sooner than we had intended. As soon +as we had thus happily disencumbered ourselves from the weight of +so much money, we began to think of returning to our Mothers, but +accidentally hearing that they were both starved to Death, we gave over +the design and determined to engage ourselves to some strolling Company +of Players, as we had always a turn for the Stage. Accordingly we +offered our services to one and were accepted; our Company was +indeed rather small, as it consisted only of the Manager his wife +and ourselves, but there were fewer to pay and the only inconvenience +attending it was the Scarcity of Plays which for want of People to fill +the Characters, we could perform. We did not mind trifles however--. +One of our most admired Performances was MACBETH, in which we were +truly great. The Manager always played BANQUO himself, his Wife my LADY +MACBETH. I did the THREE WITCHES and Philander acted ALL THE REST. To +say the truth this tragedy was not only the Best, but the only Play +that we ever performed; and after having acted it all over England, and +Wales, we came to Scotland to exhibit it over the remainder of Great +Britain. We happened to be quartered in that very Town, where you came +and met your Grandfather--. We were in the Inn-yard when his Carriage +entered and perceiving by the arms to whom it belonged, and knowing +that Lord St Clair was our Grandfather, we agreed to endeavour to get +something from him by discovering the Relationship--. You know how well +it succeeded--. Having obtained the two Hundred Pounds, we instantly +left the Town, leaving our Manager and his Wife to act MACBETH by +themselves, and took the road to Sterling, where we spent our little +fortune with great ECLAT. We are now returning to Edinburgh in order to +get some preferment in the Acting way; and such my Dear Cousin is our +History." + +I thanked the amiable Youth for his entertaining narration, and after +expressing my wishes for their Welfare and Happiness, left them in +their little Habitation and returned to my other Freinds who impatiently +expected me. + +My adventures are now drawing to a close my dearest Marianne; at least +for the present. + +When we arrived at Edinburgh Sir Edward told me that as the Widow of his +son, he desired I would accept from his Hands of four Hundred a year. I +graciously promised that I would, but could not help observing that the +unsimpathetic Baronet offered it more on account of my being the Widow +of Edward than in being the refined and amiable Laura. + +I took up my Residence in a Romantic Village in the Highlands +of Scotland where I have ever since continued, and where I can +uninterrupted by unmeaning Visits, indulge in a melancholy solitude, my +unceasing Lamentations for the Death of my Father, my Mother, my Husband +and my Freind. + +Augusta has been for several years united to Graham the Man of all +others most suited to her; she became acquainted with him during her +stay in Scotland. + +Sir Edward in hopes of gaining an Heir to his Title and Estate, at the +same time married Lady Dorothea--. His wishes have been answered. + +Philander and Gustavus, after having raised their reputation by their +Performances in the Theatrical Line at Edinburgh, removed to Covent +Garden, where they still exhibit under the assumed names of LUVIS and +QUICK. + +Philippa has long paid the Debt of Nature, Her Husband however still +continues to drive the Stage-Coach from Edinburgh to Sterling:--Adeiu my +Dearest Marianne. Laura. + +Finis + +June 13th 1790. + + + + +***** + + + + +AN UNFINISHED NOVEL IN LETTERS + + +To HENRY THOMAS AUSTEN Esqre. + +Sir + +I am now availing myself of the Liberty you have frequently honoured +me with of dedicating one of my Novels to you. That it is unfinished, I +greive; yet fear that from me, it will always remain so; that as far +as it is carried, it should be so trifling and so unworthy of you, is +another concern to your obliged humble Servant + +The Author + + +Messrs Demand and Co--please to pay Jane Austen Spinster the sum of one +hundred guineas on account of your Humble Servant. + +H. T. Austen + +L105. 0. 0. + +***** + + + + +LESLEY CASTLE + + + + +LETTER the FIRST is from Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE +LUTTERELL. Lesley Castle Janry 3rd--1792. + +My Brother has just left us. "Matilda (said he at parting) you and +Margaret will I am certain take all the care of my dear little one, that +she might have received from an indulgent, and affectionate and amiable +Mother." Tears rolled down his cheeks as he spoke these words--the +remembrance of her, who had so wantonly disgraced the Maternal character +and so openly violated the conjugal Duties, prevented his adding +anything farther; he embraced his sweet Child and after saluting Matilda +and Me hastily broke from us and seating himself in his Chaise, pursued +the road to Aberdeen. Never was there a better young Man! Ah! how little +did he deserve the misfortunes he has experienced in the Marriage state. +So good a Husband to so bad a Wife! for you know my dear Charlotte that +the Worthless Louisa left him, her Child and reputation a few weeks ago +in company with Danvers and dishonour. Never was there a sweeter face, a +finer form, or a less amiable Heart than Louisa owned! Her child already +possesses the personal Charms of her unhappy Mother! May she inherit +from her Father all his mental ones! Lesley is at present but five and +twenty, and has already given himself up to melancholy and Despair; +what a difference between him and his Father! Sir George is 57 and still +remains the Beau, the flighty stripling, the gay Lad, and sprightly +Youngster, that his Son was really about five years back, and that HE +has affected to appear ever since my remembrance. While our father is +fluttering about the streets of London, gay, dissipated, and Thoughtless +at the age of 57, Matilda and I continue secluded from Mankind in our +old and Mouldering Castle, which is situated two miles from Perth on a +bold projecting Rock, and commands an extensive veiw of the Town and its +delightful Environs. But tho' retired from almost all the World, (for +we visit no one but the M'Leods, The M'Kenzies, the M'Phersons, the +M'Cartneys, the M'Donalds, The M'kinnons, the M'lellans, the M'kays, +the Macbeths and the Macduffs) we are neither dull nor unhappy; on the +contrary there never were two more lively, more agreable or more witty +girls, than we are; not an hour in the Day hangs heavy on our Hands. We +read, we work, we walk, and when fatigued with these Employments releive +our spirits, either by a lively song, a graceful Dance, or by some smart +bon-mot, and witty repartee. We are handsome my dear Charlotte, very +handsome and the greatest of our Perfections is, that we are entirely +insensible of them ourselves. But why do I thus dwell on myself! Let me +rather repeat the praise of our dear little Neice the innocent Louisa, +who is at present sweetly smiling in a gentle Nap, as she reposes on the +sofa. The dear Creature is just turned of two years old; as handsome as +tho' 2 and 20, as sensible as tho' 2 and 30, and as prudent as tho' 2 +and 40. To convince you of this, I must inform you that she has a very +fine complexion and very pretty features, that she already knows the two +first letters in the Alphabet, and that she never tears her frocks--. If +I have not now convinced you of her Beauty, Sense and Prudence, I have +nothing more to urge in support of my assertion, and you will therefore +have no way of deciding the Affair but by coming to Lesley-Castle, and +by a personal acquaintance with Louisa, determine for yourself. Ah! my +dear Freind, how happy should I be to see you within these venerable +Walls! It is now four years since my removal from School has separated +me from you; that two such tender Hearts, so closely linked together by +the ties of simpathy and Freindship, should be so widely removed from +each other, is vastly moving. I live in Perthshire, You in Sussex. We +might meet in London, were my Father disposed to carry me there, and +were your Mother to be there at the same time. We might meet at Bath, +at Tunbridge, or anywhere else indeed, could we but be at the same place +together. We have only to hope that such a period may arrive. My Father +does not return to us till Autumn; my Brother will leave Scotland in a +few Days; he is impatient to travel. Mistaken Youth! He vainly flatters +himself that change of Air will heal the Wounds of a broken Heart! You +will join with me I am certain my dear Charlotte, in prayers for the +recovery of the unhappy Lesley's peace of Mind, which must ever be +essential to that of your sincere freind M. Lesley. + + + + +LETTER the SECOND From Miss C. LUTTERELL to Miss M. LESLEY in answer. +Glenford Febry 12 + +I have a thousand excuses to beg for having so long delayed thanking you +my dear Peggy for your agreable Letter, which beleive me I should not +have deferred doing, had not every moment of my time during the last +five weeks been so fully employed in the necessary arrangements for +my sisters wedding, as to allow me no time to devote either to you or +myself. And now what provokes me more than anything else is that the +Match is broke off, and all my Labour thrown away. Imagine how great +the Dissapointment must be to me, when you consider that after having +laboured both by Night and by Day, in order to get the Wedding dinner +ready by the time appointed, after having roasted Beef, Broiled Mutton, +and Stewed Soup enough to last the new-married Couple through the +Honey-moon, I had the mortification of finding that I had been Roasting, +Broiling and Stewing both the Meat and Myself to no purpose. Indeed my +dear Freind, I never remember suffering any vexation equal to what I +experienced on last Monday when my sister came running to me in the +store-room with her face as White as a Whipt syllabub, and told me that +Hervey had been thrown from his Horse, had fractured his Scull and was +pronounced by his surgeon to be in the most emminent Danger. "Good God! +(said I) you dont say so? Why what in the name of Heaven will become +of all the Victuals! We shall never be able to eat it while it is good. +However, we'll call in the Surgeon to help us. I shall be able to manage +the Sir-loin myself, my Mother will eat the soup, and You and the Doctor +must finish the rest." Here I was interrupted, by seeing my poor Sister +fall down to appearance Lifeless upon one of the Chests, where we keep +our Table linen. I immediately called my Mother and the Maids, and at +last we brought her to herself again; as soon as ever she was sensible, +she expressed a determination of going instantly to Henry, and was so +wildly bent on this Scheme, that we had the greatest Difficulty in the +World to prevent her putting it in execution; at last however more by +Force than Entreaty we prevailed on her to go into her room; we laid +her upon the Bed, and she continued for some Hours in the most dreadful +Convulsions. My Mother and I continued in the room with her, and when +any intervals of tolerable Composure in Eloisa would allow us, we joined +in heartfelt lamentations on the dreadful Waste in our provisions which +this Event must occasion, and in concerting some plan for getting rid of +them. We agreed that the best thing we could do was to begin eating them +immediately, and accordingly we ordered up the cold Ham and Fowls, and +instantly began our Devouring Plan on them with great Alacrity. We would +have persuaded Eloisa to have taken a Wing of a Chicken, but she would +not be persuaded. She was however much quieter than she had been; +the convulsions she had before suffered having given way to an almost +perfect Insensibility. We endeavoured to rouse her by every means in our +power, but to no purpose. I talked to her of Henry. "Dear Eloisa (said +I) there's no occasion for your crying so much about such a trifle. (for +I was willing to make light of it in order to comfort her) I beg you +would not mind it--You see it does not vex me in the least; though +perhaps I may suffer most from it after all; for I shall not only be +obliged to eat up all the Victuals I have dressed already, but must if +Henry should recover (which however is not very likely) dress as much +for you again; or should he die (as I suppose he will) I shall still +have to prepare a Dinner for you whenever you marry any one else. So +you see that tho' perhaps for the present it may afflict you to think +of Henry's sufferings, Yet I dare say he'll die soon, and then his pain +will be over and you will be easy, whereas my Trouble will last much +longer for work as hard as I may, I am certain that the pantry cannot be +cleared in less than a fortnight." Thus I did all in my power to console +her, but without any effect, and at last as I saw that she did not seem +to listen to me, I said no more, but leaving her with my Mother I took +down the remains of The Ham and Chicken, and sent William to ask how +Henry did. He was not expected to live many Hours; he died the same day. +We took all possible care to break the melancholy Event to Eloisa in the +tenderest manner; yet in spite of every precaution, her sufferings on +hearing it were too violent for her reason, and she continued for many +hours in a high Delirium. She is still extremely ill, and her Physicians +are greatly afraid of her going into a Decline. We are therefore +preparing for Bristol, where we mean to be in the course of the next +week. And now my dear Margaret let me talk a little of your affairs; and +in the first place I must inform you that it is confidently reported, +your Father is going to be married; I am very unwilling to beleive so +unpleasing a report, and at the same time cannot wholly discredit it. I +have written to my freind Susan Fitzgerald, for information concerning +it, which as she is at present in Town, she will be very able to give +me. I know not who is the Lady. I think your Brother is extremely +right in the resolution he has taken of travelling, as it will perhaps +contribute to obliterate from his remembrance, those disagreable Events, +which have lately so much afflicted him--I am happy to find that +tho' secluded from all the World, neither you nor Matilda are dull or +unhappy--that you may never know what it is to, be either is the wish of +your sincerely affectionate C.L. + +P. S. I have this instant received an answer from my freind Susan, which +I enclose to you, and on which you will make your own reflections. + +The enclosed LETTER + +My dear CHARLOTTE You could not have applied for information concerning +the report of Sir George Lesleys Marriage, to any one better able to +give it you than I am. Sir George is certainly married; I was myself +present at the Ceremony, which you will not be surprised at when I +subscribe myself your Affectionate Susan Lesley + + + + +LETTER the THIRD From Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss C. LUTTERELL Lesley +Castle February the 16th + +I have made my own reflections on the letter you enclosed to me, my +Dear Charlotte and I will now tell you what those reflections were. +I reflected that if by this second Marriage Sir George should have a +second family, our fortunes must be considerably diminushed--that if +his Wife should be of an extravagant turn, she would encourage him +to persevere in that gay and Dissipated way of Life to which little +encouragement would be necessary, and which has I fear already proved +but too detrimental to his health and fortune--that she would now become +Mistress of those Jewels which once adorned our Mother, and which Sir +George had always promised us--that if they did not come into +Perthshire I should not be able to gratify my curiosity of beholding my +Mother-in-law and that if they did, Matilda would no longer sit at +the head of her Father's table--. These my dear Charlotte were the +melancholy reflections which crowded into my imagination after perusing +Susan's letter to you, and which instantly occurred to Matilda when she +had perused it likewise. The same ideas, the same fears, immediately +occupied her Mind, and I know not which reflection distressed her most, +whether the probable Diminution of our Fortunes, or her own Consequence. +We both wish very much to know whether Lady Lesley is handsome and what +is your opinion of her; as you honour her with the appellation of your +freind, we flatter ourselves that she must be amiable. My Brother is +already in Paris. He intends to quit it in a few Days, and to begin his +route to Italy. He writes in a most chearfull manner, says that the air +of France has greatly recovered both his Health and Spirits; that he has +now entirely ceased to think of Louisa with any degree either of Pity or +Affection, that he even feels himself obliged to her for her Elopement, +as he thinks it very good fun to be single again. By this, you may +perceive that he has entirely regained that chearful Gaiety, and +sprightly Wit, for which he was once so remarkable. When he first became +acquainted with Louisa which was little more than three years ago, he +was one of the most lively, the most agreable young Men of the age--. +I beleive you never yet heard the particulars of his first acquaintance +with her. It commenced at our cousin Colonel Drummond's; at whose house +in Cumberland he spent the Christmas, in which he attained the age of +two and twenty. Louisa Burton was the Daughter of a distant Relation of +Mrs. Drummond, who dieing a few Months before in extreme poverty, left +his only Child then about eighteen to the protection of any of his +Relations who would protect her. Mrs. Drummond was the only one who +found herself so disposed--Louisa was therefore removed from a miserable +Cottage in Yorkshire to an elegant Mansion in Cumberland, and from +every pecuniary Distress that Poverty could inflict, to every elegant +Enjoyment that Money could purchase--. Louisa was naturally ill-tempered +and Cunning; but she had been taught to disguise her real Disposition, +under the appearance of insinuating Sweetness, by a father who but too +well knew, that to be married, would be the only chance she would +have of not being starved, and who flattered himself that with such +an extroidinary share of personal beauty, joined to a gentleness of +Manners, and an engaging address, she might stand a good chance of +pleasing some young Man who might afford to marry a girl without a +Shilling. Louisa perfectly entered into her father's schemes and was +determined to forward them with all her care and attention. By dint of +Perseverance and Application, she had at length so thoroughly disguised +her natural disposition under the mask of Innocence, and Softness, as to +impose upon every one who had not by a long and constant intimacy with +her discovered her real Character. Such was Louisa when the hapless +Lesley first beheld her at Drummond-house. His heart which (to use +your favourite comparison) was as delicate as sweet and as tender as a +Whipt-syllabub, could not resist her attractions. In a very few Days, +he was falling in love, shortly after actually fell, and before he had +known her a Month, he had married her. My Father was at first highly +displeased at so hasty and imprudent a connection; but when he found +that they did not mind it, he soon became perfectly reconciled to the +match. The Estate near Aberdeen which my brother possesses by the bounty +of his great Uncle independant of Sir George, was entirely sufficient +to support him and my Sister in Elegance and Ease. For the first +twelvemonth, no one could be happier than Lesley, and no one more +amiable to appearance than Louisa, and so plausibly did she act and +so cautiously behave that tho' Matilda and I often spent several weeks +together with them, yet we neither of us had any suspicion of her real +Disposition. After the birth of Louisa however, which one would have +thought would have strengthened her regard for Lesley, the mask she had +so long supported was by degrees thrown aside, and as probably she then +thought herself secure in the affection of her Husband (which did indeed +appear if possible augmented by the birth of his Child) she seemed +to take no pains to prevent that affection from ever diminushing. Our +visits therefore to Dunbeath, were now less frequent and by far less +agreable than they used to be. Our absence was however never either +mentioned or lamented by Louisa who in the society of young Danvers +with whom she became acquainted at Aberdeen (he was at one of the +Universities there,) felt infinitely happier than in that of Matilda and +your freind, tho' there certainly never were pleasanter girls than we +are. You know the sad end of all Lesleys connubial happiness; I will not +repeat it--. Adeiu my dear Charlotte; although I have not yet mentioned +anything of the matter, I hope you will do me the justice to beleive +that I THINK and FEEL, a great deal for your Sisters affliction. I do +not doubt but that the healthy air of the Bristol downs will intirely +remove it, by erasing from her Mind the remembrance of Henry. I am my +dear Charlotte yrs ever M. L. + + + + +LETTER the FOURTH From Miss C. LUTTERELL to Miss M. LESLEY Bristol +February 27th + +My Dear Peggy I have but just received your letter, which being directed +to Sussex while I was at Bristol was obliged to be forwarded to me here, +and from some unaccountable Delay, has but this instant reached me--. +I return you many thanks for the account it contains of Lesley's +acquaintance, Love and Marriage with Louisa, which has not the less +entertained me for having often been repeated to me before. + +I have the satisfaction of informing you that we have every reason to +imagine our pantry is by this time nearly cleared, as we left Particular +orders with the servants to eat as hard as they possibly could, and to +call in a couple of Chairwomen to assist them. We brought a cold Pigeon +pye, a cold turkey, a cold tongue, and half a dozen Jellies with us, +which we were lucky enough with the help of our Landlady, her husband, +and their three children, to get rid of, in less than two days after +our arrival. Poor Eloisa is still so very indifferent both in Health and +Spirits, that I very much fear, the air of the Bristol downs, healthy as +it is, has not been able to drive poor Henry from her remembrance. + +You ask me whether your new Mother in law is handsome and amiable--I +will now give you an exact description of her bodily and mental charms. +She is short, and extremely well made; is naturally pale, but rouges a +good deal; has fine eyes, and fine teeth, as she will take care to let +you know as soon as she sees you, and is altogether very pretty. She is +remarkably good-tempered when she has her own way, and very lively when +she is not out of humour. She is naturally extravagant and not very +affected; she never reads anything but the letters she receives from me, +and never writes anything but her answers to them. She plays, sings and +Dances, but has no taste for either, and excells in none, tho' she says +she is passionately fond of all. Perhaps you may flatter me so far as to +be surprised that one of whom I speak with so little affection should +be my particular freind; but to tell you the truth, our freindship arose +rather from Caprice on her side than Esteem on mine. We spent two or +three days together with a Lady in Berkshire with whom we both happened +to be connected--. During our visit, the Weather being remarkably bad, +and our party particularly stupid, she was so good as to conceive +a violent partiality for me, which very soon settled in a downright +Freindship and ended in an established correspondence. She is probably +by this time as tired of me, as I am of her; but as she is too Polite +and I am too civil to say so, our letters are still as frequent and +affectionate as ever, and our Attachment as firm and sincere as when it +first commenced. As she had a great taste for the pleasures of London, +and of Brighthelmstone, she will I dare say find some difficulty in +prevailing on herself even to satisfy the curiosity I dare say she feels +of beholding you, at the expence of quitting those favourite haunts of +Dissipation, for the melancholy tho' venerable gloom of the castle you +inhabit. Perhaps however if she finds her health impaired by too much +amusement, she may acquire fortitude sufficient to undertake a Journey +to Scotland in the hope of its Proving at least beneficial to her +health, if not conducive to her happiness. Your fears I am sorry to say, +concerning your father's extravagance, your own fortunes, your Mothers +Jewels and your Sister's consequence, I should suppose are but too well +founded. My freind herself has four thousand pounds, and will probably +spend nearly as much every year in Dress and Public places, if she can +get it--she will certainly not endeavour to reclaim Sir George from the +manner of living to which he has been so long accustomed, and there is +therefore some reason to fear that you will be very well off, if you get +any fortune at all. The Jewels I should imagine too will undoubtedly be +hers, and there is too much reason to think that she will preside at +her Husbands table in preference to his Daughter. But as so melancholy a +subject must necessarily extremely distress you, I will no longer dwell +on it--. + +Eloisa's indisposition has brought us to Bristol at so unfashionable a +season of the year, that we have actually seen but one genteel family +since we came. Mr and Mrs Marlowe are very agreable people; the ill +health of their little boy occasioned their arrival here; you may +imagine that being the only family with whom we can converse, we are +of course on a footing of intimacy with them; we see them indeed almost +every day, and dined with them yesterday. We spent a very pleasant +Day, and had a very good Dinner, tho' to be sure the Veal was terribly +underdone, and the Curry had no seasoning. I could not help wishing +all dinner-time that I had been at the dressing it--. A brother of Mrs +Marlowe, Mr Cleveland is with them at present; he is a good-looking +young Man, and seems to have a good deal to say for himself. I tell +Eloisa that she should set her cap at him, but she does not at all +seem to relish the proposal. I should like to see the girl married and +Cleveland has a very good estate. Perhaps you may wonder that I do not +consider myself as well as my Sister in my matrimonial Projects; but +to tell you the truth I never wish to act a more principal part at a +Wedding than the superintending and directing the Dinner, and therefore +while I can get any of my acquaintance to marry for me, I shall never +think of doing it myself, as I very much suspect that I should not have +so much time for dressing my own Wedding-dinner, as for dressing that of +my freinds. Yours sincerely C. L. + + + + +LETTER the FIFTH Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE LUTTERELL +Lesley-Castle March 18th + +On the same day that I received your last kind letter, Matilda received +one from Sir George which was dated from Edinburgh, and informed us that +he should do himself the pleasure of introducing Lady Lesley to us on +the following evening. This as you may suppose considerably surprised +us, particularly as your account of her Ladyship had given us reason to +imagine there was little chance of her visiting Scotland at a time that +London must be so gay. As it was our business however to be delighted at +such a mark of condescension as a visit from Sir George and Lady Lesley, +we prepared to return them an answer expressive of the happiness we +enjoyed in expectation of such a Blessing, when luckily recollecting +that as they were to reach the Castle the next Evening, it would be +impossible for my father to receive it before he left Edinburgh, we +contented ourselves with leaving them to suppose that we were as happy +as we ought to be. At nine in the Evening on the following day, +they came, accompanied by one of Lady Lesleys brothers. Her Ladyship +perfectly answers the description you sent me of her, except that I do +not think her so pretty as you seem to consider her. She has not a +bad face, but there is something so extremely unmajestic in her little +diminutive figure, as to render her in comparison with the elegant +height of Matilda and Myself, an insignificant Dwarf. Her curiosity to +see us (which must have been great to bring her more than four hundred +miles) being now perfectly gratified, she already begins to mention +their return to town, and has desired us to accompany her. We cannot +refuse her request since it is seconded by the commands of our Father, +and thirded by the entreaties of Mr. Fitzgerald who is certainly one +of the most pleasing young Men, I ever beheld. It is not yet determined +when we are to go, but when ever we do we shall certainly take our +little Louisa with us. Adeiu my dear Charlotte; Matilda unites in best +wishes to you, and Eloisa, with yours ever M. L. + + + + +LETTER the SIXTH LADY LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE LUTTERELL Lesley-Castle +March 20th + +We arrived here my sweet Freind about a fortnight ago, and I already +heartily repent that I ever left our charming House in Portman-square +for such a dismal old weather-beaten Castle as this. You can form no +idea sufficiently hideous, of its dungeon-like form. It is actually +perched upon a Rock to appearance so totally inaccessible, that I +expected to have been pulled up by a rope; and sincerely repented having +gratified my curiosity to behold my Daughters at the expence of being +obliged to enter their prison in so dangerous and ridiculous a manner. +But as soon as I once found myself safely arrived in the inside of +this tremendous building, I comforted myself with the hope of having my +spirits revived, by the sight of two beautifull girls, such as the Miss +Lesleys had been represented to me, at Edinburgh. But here again, I +met with nothing but Disappointment and Surprise. Matilda and Margaret +Lesley are two great, tall, out of the way, over-grown, girls, just of +a proper size to inhabit a Castle almost as large in comparison as +themselves. I wish my dear Charlotte that you could but behold these +Scotch giants; I am sure they would frighten you out of your wits. +They will do very well as foils to myself, so I have invited them to +accompany me to London where I hope to be in the course of a fortnight. +Besides these two fair Damsels, I found a little humoured Brat here who +I beleive is some relation to them, they told me who she was, and gave +me a long rigmerole story of her father and a Miss SOMEBODY which I have +entirely forgot. I hate scandal and detest Children. I have been plagued +ever since I came here with tiresome visits from a parcel of Scotch +wretches, with terrible hard-names; they were so civil, gave me so many +invitations, and talked of coming again so soon, that I could not help +affronting them. I suppose I shall not see them any more, and yet as +a family party we are so stupid, that I do not know what to do with +myself. These girls have no Music, but Scotch airs, no Drawings but +Scotch Mountains, and no Books but Scotch Poems--and I hate everything +Scotch. In general I can spend half the Day at my toilett with a great +deal of pleasure, but why should I dress here, since there is not a +creature in the House whom I have any wish to please. I have just had +a conversation with my Brother in which he has greatly offended me, and +which as I have nothing more entertaining to send you I will gave you +the particulars of. You must know that I have for these 4 or 5 Days past +strongly suspected William of entertaining a partiality to my eldest +Daughter. I own indeed that had I been inclined to fall in love with any +woman, I should not have made choice of Matilda Lesley for the object +of my passion; for there is nothing I hate so much as a tall Woman: but +however there is no accounting for some men's taste and as William is +himself nearly six feet high, it is not wonderful that he should be +partial to that height. Now as I have a very great affection for my +Brother and should be extremely sorry to see him unhappy, which I +suppose he means to be if he cannot marry Matilda, as moreover I know +that his circumstances will not allow him to marry any one without a +fortune, and that Matilda's is entirely dependant on her Father, who +will neither have his own inclination nor my permission to give her +anything at present, I thought it would be doing a good-natured action +by my Brother to let him know as much, in order that he might choose +for himself, whether to conquer his passion, or Love and Despair. +Accordingly finding myself this Morning alone with him in one of the +horrid old rooms of this Castle, I opened the cause to him in the +following Manner. + +"Well my dear William what do you think of these girls? for my part, I +do not find them so plain as I expected: but perhaps you may think me +partial to the Daughters of my Husband and perhaps you are right--They +are indeed so very like Sir George that it is natural to think"-- + +"My Dear Susan (cried he in a tone of the greatest amazement) You do not +really think they bear the least resemblance to their Father! He is so +very plain!--but I beg your pardon--I had entirely forgotten to whom I +was speaking--" + +"Oh! pray dont mind me; (replied I) every one knows Sir George is +horribly ugly, and I assure you I always thought him a fright." + +"You surprise me extremely (answered William) by what you say both with +respect to Sir George and his Daughters. You cannot think your Husband +so deficient in personal Charms as you speak of, nor can you surely see +any resemblance between him and the Miss Lesleys who are in my opinion +perfectly unlike him and perfectly Handsome." + +"If that is your opinion with regard to the girls it certainly is no +proof of their Fathers beauty, for if they are perfectly unlike him and +very handsome at the same time, it is natural to suppose that he is very +plain." + +"By no means, (said he) for what may be pretty in a Woman, may be very +unpleasing in a Man." + +"But you yourself (replied I) but a few minutes ago allowed him to be +very plain." + +"Men are no Judges of Beauty in their own Sex." (said he). + +"Neither Men nor Women can think Sir George tolerable." + +"Well, well, (said he) we will not dispute about HIS Beauty, but your +opinion of his DAUGHTERS is surely very singular, for if I understood +you right, you said you did not find them so plain as you expected to +do!" + +"Why, do YOU find them plainer then?" (said I). + +"I can scarcely beleive you to be serious (returned he) when you speak +of their persons in so extroidinary a Manner. Do not you think the Miss +Lesleys are two very handsome young Women?" + +"Lord! No! (cried I) I think them terribly plain!" + +"Plain! (replied He) My dear Susan, you cannot really think so! Why +what single Feature in the face of either of them, can you possibly find +fault with?" + +"Oh! trust me for that; (replied I). Come I will begin with the +eldest--with Matilda. Shall I, William?" (I looked as cunning as I could +when I said it, in order to shame him). + +"They are so much alike (said he) that I should suppose the faults of +one, would be the faults of both." + +"Well, then, in the first place; they are both so horribly tall!" + +"They are TALLER than you are indeed." (said he with a saucy smile.) + +"Nay, (said I), I know nothing of that." + +"Well, but (he continued) tho' they may be above the common size, their +figures are perfectly elegant; and as to their faces, their Eyes are +beautifull." + +"I never can think such tremendous, knock-me-down figures in the least +degree elegant, and as for their eyes, they are so tall that I never +could strain my neck enough to look at them." + +"Nay, (replied he) I know not whether you may not be in the right in not +attempting it, for perhaps they might dazzle you with their Lustre." + +"Oh! Certainly. (said I, with the greatest complacency, for I assure +you my dearest Charlotte I was not in the least offended tho' by what +followed, one would suppose that William was conscious of having given +me just cause to be so, for coming up to me and taking my hand, he said) +"You must not look so grave Susan; you will make me fear I have offended +you!" + +"Offended me! Dear Brother, how came such a thought in your head! +(returned I) No really! I assure you that I am not in the least +surprised at your being so warm an advocate for the Beauty of these +girls."-- + +"Well, but (interrupted William) remember that we have not yet +concluded our dispute concerning them. What fault do you find with their +complexion?" + +"They are so horridly pale." + +"They have always a little colour, and after any exercise it is +considerably heightened." + +"Yes, but if there should ever happen to be any rain in this part of +the world, they will never be able raise more than their common +stock--except indeed they amuse themselves with running up and Down +these horrid old galleries and Antichambers." + +"Well, (replied my Brother in a tone of vexation, and glancing an +impertinent look at me) if they HAVE but little colour, at least, it is +all their own." + +This was too much my dear Charlotte, for I am certain that he had the +impudence by that look, of pretending to suspect the reality of mine. +But you I am sure will vindicate my character whenever you may hear +it so cruelly aspersed, for you can witness how often I have protested +against wearing Rouge, and how much I always told you I disliked it. And +I assure you that my opinions are still the same.--. Well, not bearing +to be so suspected by my Brother, I left the room immediately, and have +been ever since in my own Dressing-room writing to you. What a long +letter have I made of it! But you must not expect to receive such from +me when I get to Town; for it is only at Lesley castle, that one has +time to write even to a Charlotte Lutterell.--. I was so much vexed by +William's glance, that I could not summon Patience enough, to stay and +give him that advice respecting his attachment to Matilda which had +first induced me from pure Love to him to begin the conversation; and +I am now so thoroughly convinced by it, of his violent passion for her, +that I am certain he would never hear reason on the subject, and I +shall there fore give myself no more trouble either about him or his +favourite. Adeiu my dear girl--Yrs affectionately Susan L. + + + + +LETTER the SEVENTH From Miss C. LUTTERELL to Miss M. LESLEY Bristol the +27th of March + +I have received Letters from you and your Mother-in-law within this week +which have greatly entertained me, as I find by them that you are both +downright jealous of each others Beauty. It is very odd that two pretty +Women tho' actually Mother and Daughter cannot be in the same House +without falling out about their faces. Do be convinced that you are both +perfectly handsome and say no more of the Matter. I suppose this letter +must be directed to Portman Square where probably (great as is your +affection for Lesley Castle) you will not be sorry to find yourself. In +spite of all that people may say about Green fields and the Country +I was always of opinion that London and its amusements must be very +agreable for a while, and should be very happy could my Mother's income +allow her to jockey us into its Public-places, during Winter. I always +longed particularly to go to Vaux-hall, to see whether the cold Beef +there is cut so thin as it is reported, for I have a sly suspicion that +few people understand the art of cutting a slice of cold Beef so well +as I do: nay it would be hard if I did not know something of the Matter, +for it was a part of my Education that I took by far the most pains +with. Mama always found me HER best scholar, tho' when Papa was +alive Eloisa was HIS. Never to be sure were there two more different +Dispositions in the World. We both loved Reading. SHE preferred +Histories, and I Receipts. She loved drawing, Pictures, and I drawing +Pullets. No one could sing a better song than she, and no one make a +better Pye than I.--And so it has always continued since we have been +no longer children. The only difference is that all disputes on the +superior excellence of our Employments THEN so frequent are now no more. +We have for many years entered into an agreement always to admire +each other's works; I never fail listening to HER Music, and she is as +constant in eating my pies. Such at least was the case till Henry Hervey +made his appearance in Sussex. Before the arrival of his Aunt in our +neighbourhood where she established herself you know about a twelvemonth +ago, his visits to her had been at stated times, and of equal and +settled Duration; but on her removal to the Hall which is within a walk +from our House, they became both more frequent and longer. This as you +may suppose could not be pleasing to Mrs Diana who is a professed enemy +to everything which is not directed by Decorum and Formality, or which +bears the least resemblance to Ease and Good-breeding. Nay so great was +her aversion to her Nephews behaviour that I have often heard her give +such hints of it before his face that had not Henry at such times been +engaged in conversation with Eloisa, they must have caught his Attention +and have very much distressed him. The alteration in my Sisters +behaviour which I have before hinted at, now took place. The Agreement +we had entered into of admiring each others productions she no +longer seemed to regard, and tho' I constantly applauded even every +Country-dance, she played, yet not even a pidgeon-pye of my making could +obtain from her a single word of approbation. This was certainly enough +to put any one in a Passion; however, I was as cool as a cream-cheese +and having formed my plan and concerted a scheme of Revenge, I was +determined to let her have her own way and not even to make her a single +reproach. My scheme was to treat her as she treated me, and tho' she +might even draw my own Picture or play Malbrook (which is the only tune +I ever really liked) not to say so much as "Thank you Eloisa;" tho' +I had for many years constantly hollowed whenever she played, BRAVO, +BRAVISSIMO, ENCORE, DA CAPO, ALLEGRETTO, CON EXPRESSIONE, and POCO +PRESTO with many other such outlandish words, all of them as Eloisa told +me expressive of my Admiration; and so indeed I suppose they are, as I +see some of them in every Page of every Music book, being the sentiments +I imagine of the composer. + +I executed my Plan with great Punctuality. I can not say success, for +alas! my silence while she played seemed not in the least to displease +her; on the contrary she actually said to me one day "Well Charlotte, +I am very glad to find that you have at last left off that ridiculous +custom of applauding my Execution on the Harpsichord till you made +my head ake, and yourself hoarse. I feel very much obliged to you for +keeping your admiration to yourself." I never shall forget the very +witty answer I made to this speech. "Eloisa (said I) I beg you would +be quite at your Ease with respect to all such fears in future, for +be assured that I shall always keep my admiration to myself and my own +pursuits and never extend it to yours." This was the only very severe +thing I ever said in my Life; not but that I have often felt myself +extremely satirical but it was the only time I ever made my feelings +public. + +I suppose there never were two Young people who had a greater affection +for each other than Henry and Eloisa; no, the Love of your Brother for +Miss Burton could not be so strong tho' it might be more violent. You +may imagine therefore how provoked my Sister must have been to have +him play her such a trick. Poor girl! she still laments his Death with +undiminished constancy, notwithstanding he has been dead more than six +weeks; but some People mind such things more than others. The ill state +of Health into which his loss has thrown her makes her so weak, and so +unable to support the least exertion, that she has been in tears all +this Morning merely from having taken leave of Mrs. Marlowe who with her +Husband, Brother and Child are to leave Bristol this morning. I am sorry +to have them go because they are the only family with whom we have here +any acquaintance, but I never thought of crying; to be sure Eloisa +and Mrs Marlowe have always been more together than with me, and have +therefore contracted a kind of affection for each other, which does not +make Tears so inexcusable in them as they would be in me. The Marlowes +are going to Town; Cliveland accompanies them; as neither Eloisa nor I +could catch him I hope you or Matilda may have better Luck. I know not +when we shall leave Bristol, Eloisa's spirits are so low that she is +very averse to moving, and yet is certainly by no means mended by her +residence here. A week or two will I hope determine our Measures--in the +mean time believe me and etc--and etc--Charlotte Lutterell. + + + + +LETTER the EIGHTH Miss LUTTERELL to Mrs MARLOWE Bristol April 4th + +I feel myself greatly obliged to you my dear Emma for such a mark of +your affection as I flatter myself was conveyed in the proposal you made +me of our Corresponding; I assure you that it will be a great releif to +me to write to you and as long as my Health and Spirits will allow +me, you will find me a very constant correspondent; I will not say +an entertaining one, for you know my situation suffciently not to be +ignorant that in me Mirth would be improper and I know my own Heart too +well not to be sensible that it would be unnatural. You must not expect +news for we see no one with whom we are in the least acquainted, or in +whose proceedings we have any Interest. You must not expect scandal +for by the same rule we are equally debarred either from hearing or +inventing it.--You must expect from me nothing but the melancholy +effusions of a broken Heart which is ever reverting to the Happiness +it once enjoyed and which ill supports its present wretchedness. The +Possibility of being able to write, to speak, to you of my lost Henry +will be a luxury to me, and your goodness will not I know refuse to read +what it will so much releive my Heart to write. I once thought that to +have what is in general called a Freind (I mean one of my own sex +to whom I might speak with less reserve than to any other person) +independant of my sister would never be an object of my wishes, but how +much was I mistaken! Charlotte is too much engrossed by two confidential +correspondents of that sort, to supply the place of one to me, and I +hope you will not think me girlishly romantic, when I say that to +have some kind and compassionate Freind who might listen to my sorrows +without endeavouring to console me was what I had for some time wished +for, when our acquaintance with you, the intimacy which followed it and +the particular affectionate attention you paid me almost from the first, +caused me to entertain the flattering Idea of those attentions being +improved on a closer acquaintance into a Freindship which, if you were +what my wishes formed you would be the greatest Happiness I could +be capable of enjoying. To find that such Hopes are realised is a +satisfaction indeed, a satisfaction which is now almost the only one I +can ever experience.--I feel myself so languid that I am sure were you +with me you would oblige me to leave off writing, and I cannot give you +a greater proof of my affection for you than by acting, as I know you +would wish me to do, whether Absent or Present. I am my dear Emmas +sincere freind E. L. + + + + +LETTER the NINTH Mrs MARLOWE to Miss LUTTERELL Grosvenor Street, April +10th + +Need I say my dear Eloisa how wellcome your letter was to me I cannot +give a greater proof of the pleasure I received from it, or of the +Desire I feel that our Correspondence may be regular and frequent than +by setting you so good an example as I now do in answering it before the +end of the week--. But do not imagine that I claim any merit in being +so punctual; on the contrary I assure you, that it is a far greater +Gratification to me to write to you, than to spend the Evening either at +a Concert or a Ball. Mr Marlowe is so desirous of my appearing at some +of the Public places every evening that I do not like to refuse him, but +at the same time so much wish to remain at Home, that independant of +the Pleasure I experience in devoting any portion of my Time to my +Dear Eloisa, yet the Liberty I claim from having a letter to write of +spending an Evening at home with my little Boy, you know me well enough +to be sensible, will of itself be a sufficient Inducement (if one is +necessary) to my maintaining with Pleasure a Correspondence with you. +As to the subject of your letters to me, whether grave or merry, if they +concern you they must be equally interesting to me; not but that I think +the melancholy Indulgence of your own sorrows by repeating them and +dwelling on them to me, will only encourage and increase them, and +that it will be more prudent in you to avoid so sad a subject; but yet +knowing as I do what a soothing and melancholy Pleasure it must afford +you, I cannot prevail on myself to deny you so great an Indulgence, and +will only insist on your not expecting me to encourage you in it, by my +own letters; on the contrary I intend to fill them with such lively Wit +and enlivening Humour as shall even provoke a smile in the sweet but +sorrowfull countenance of my Eloisa. + +In the first place you are to learn that I have met your sisters three +freinds Lady Lesley and her Daughters, twice in Public since I have been +here. I know you will be impatient to hear my opinion of the Beauty of +three Ladies of whom you have heard so much. Now, as you are too ill and +too unhappy to be vain, I think I may venture to inform you that I +like none of their faces so well as I do your own. Yet they are all +handsome--Lady Lesley indeed I have seen before; her Daughters I beleive +would in general be said to have a finer face than her Ladyship, and yet +what with the charms of a Blooming complexion, a little Affectation and +a great deal of small-talk, (in each of which she is superior to the +young Ladies) she will I dare say gain herself as many admirers as the +more regular features of Matilda, and Margaret. I am sure you will agree +with me in saying that they can none of them be of a proper size for +real Beauty, when you know that two of them are taller and the other +shorter than ourselves. In spite of this Defect (or rather by reason +of it) there is something very noble and majestic in the figures of the +Miss Lesleys, and something agreably lively in the appearance of their +pretty little Mother-in-law. But tho' one may be majestic and the other +lively, yet the faces of neither possess that Bewitching sweetness of +my Eloisas, which her present languor is so far from diminushing. What +would my Husband and Brother say of us, if they knew all the fine things +I have been saying to you in this letter. It is very hard that a pretty +woman is never to be told she is so by any one of her own sex without +that person's being suspected to be either her determined Enemy, or +her professed Toad-eater. How much more amiable are women in that +particular! One man may say forty civil things to another without our +supposing that he is ever paid for it, and provided he does his Duty by +our sex, we care not how Polite he is to his own. + +Mrs Lutterell will be so good as to accept my compliments, Charlotte, +my Love, and Eloisa the best wishes for the recovery of her Health and +Spirits that can be offered by her affectionate Freind E. Marlowe. + +I am afraid this letter will be but a poor specimen of my Powers in the +witty way; and your opinion of them will not be greatly increased when I +assure you that I have been as entertaining as I possibly could. + + + + +LETTER the TENTH From Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE LUTTERELL +Portman Square April 13th + +MY DEAR CHARLOTTE We left Lesley-Castle on the 28th of last Month, +and arrived safely in London after a Journey of seven Days; I had the +pleasure of finding your Letter here waiting my Arrival, for which you +have my grateful Thanks. Ah! my dear Freind I every day more regret the +serene and tranquil Pleasures of the Castle we have left, in exchange +for the uncertain and unequal Amusements of this vaunted City. Not that +I will pretend to assert that these uncertain and unequal Amusements +are in the least Degree unpleasing to me; on the contrary I enjoy them +extremely and should enjoy them even more, were I not certain that every +appearance I make in Public but rivetts the Chains of those unhappy +Beings whose Passion it is impossible not to pity, tho' it is out of my +power to return. In short my Dear Charlotte it is my sensibility for +the sufferings of so many amiable young Men, my Dislike of the extreme +admiration I meet with, and my aversion to being so celebrated both in +Public, in Private, in Papers, and in Printshops, that are the reasons +why I cannot more fully enjoy, the Amusements so various and pleasing +of London. How often have I wished that I possessed as little Personal +Beauty as you do; that my figure were as inelegant; my face as unlovely; +and my appearance as unpleasing as yours! But ah! what little chance +is there of so desirable an Event; I have had the small-pox, and must +therefore submit to my unhappy fate. + +I am now going to intrust you my dear Charlotte with a secret which has +long disturbed the tranquility of my days, and which is of a kind to +require the most inviolable Secrecy from you. Last Monday se'night +Matilda and I accompanied Lady Lesley to a Rout at the Honourable Mrs +Kickabout's; we were escorted by Mr Fitzgerald who is a very amiable +young Man in the main, tho' perhaps a little singular in his Taste--He +is in love with Matilda--. We had scarcely paid our Compliments to the +Lady of the House and curtseyed to half a score different people when my +Attention was attracted by the appearance of a Young Man the most lovely +of his Sex, who at that moment entered the Room with another Gentleman +and Lady. From the first moment I beheld him, I was certain that on him +depended the future Happiness of my Life. Imagine my surprise when he +was introduced to me by the name of Cleveland--I instantly recognised +him as the Brother of Mrs Marlowe, and the acquaintance of my Charlotte +at Bristol. Mr and Mrs M. were the gentleman and Lady who accompanied +him. (You do not think Mrs Marlowe handsome?) The elegant address of Mr +Cleveland, his polished Manners and Delightful Bow, at once confirmed my +attachment. He did not speak; but I can imagine everything he would have +said, had he opened his Mouth. I can picture to myself the cultivated +Understanding, the Noble sentiments, and elegant Language which would +have shone so conspicuous in the conversation of Mr Cleveland. The +approach of Sir James Gower (one of my too numerous admirers) prevented +the Discovery of any such Powers, by putting an end to a Conversation we +had never commenced, and by attracting my attention to himself. But oh! +how inferior are the accomplishments of Sir James to those of his so +greatly envied Rival! Sir James is one of the most frequent of our +Visitors, and is almost always of our Parties. We have since often met +Mr and Mrs Marlowe but no Cleveland--he is always engaged some where +else. Mrs Marlowe fatigues me to Death every time I see her by her +tiresome Conversations about you and Eloisa. She is so stupid! I live in +the hope of seeing her irrisistable Brother to night, as we are going to +Lady Flambeaus, who is I know intimate with the Marlowes. Our party will +be Lady Lesley, Matilda, Fitzgerald, Sir James Gower, and myself. We see +little of Sir George, who is almost always at the gaming-table. Ah! my +poor Fortune where art thou by this time? We see more of Lady L. who +always makes her appearance (highly rouged) at Dinner-time. Alas! what +Delightful Jewels will she be decked in this evening at Lady Flambeau's! +Yet I wonder how she can herself delight in wearing them; surely she +must be sensible of the ridiculous impropriety of loading her little +diminutive figure with such superfluous ornaments; is it possible that +she can not know how greatly superior an elegant simplicity is to the +most studied apparel? Would she but Present them to Matilda and me, how +greatly should we be obliged to her, How becoming would Diamonds be on +our fine majestic figures! And how surprising it is that such an Idea +should never have occurred to HER. I am sure if I have reflected in this +manner once, I have fifty times. Whenever I see Lady Lesley dressed in +them such reflections immediately come across me. My own Mother's Jewels +too! But I will say no more on so melancholy a subject--let me entertain +you with something more pleasing--Matilda had a letter this morning from +Lesley, by which we have the pleasure of finding that he is at Naples +has turned Roman-Catholic, obtained one of the Pope's Bulls for +annulling his 1st Marriage and has since actually married a Neapolitan +Lady of great Rank and Fortune. He tells us moreover that much the same +sort of affair has befallen his first wife the worthless Louisa who is +likewise at Naples had turned Roman-catholic, and is soon to be married +to a Neapolitan Nobleman of great and Distinguished merit. He says, +that they are at present very good Freinds, have quite forgiven all +past errors and intend in future to be very good Neighbours. He invites +Matilda and me to pay him a visit to Italy and to bring him his little +Louisa whom both her Mother, Step-mother, and himself are equally +desirous of beholding. As to our accepting his invitation, it is at +Present very uncertain; Lady Lesley advises us to go without loss of +time; Fitzgerald offers to escort us there, but Matilda has some doubts +of the Propriety of such a scheme--she owns it would be very agreable. +I am certain she likes the Fellow. My Father desires us not to be in a +hurry, as perhaps if we wait a few months both he and Lady Lesley will +do themselves the pleasure of attending us. Lady Lesley says no, that +nothing will ever tempt her to forego the Amusements of Brighthelmstone +for a Journey to Italy merely to see our Brother. "No (says the +disagreable Woman) I have once in my life been fool enough to travel I +dont know how many hundred Miles to see two of the Family, and I found +it did not answer, so Deuce take me, if ever I am so foolish again."So +says her Ladyship, but Sir George still Perseveres in saying that +perhaps in a month or two, they may accompany us. Adeiu my Dear +Charlotte Yrs faithful Margaret Lesley. + + +***** + + + + +THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND + +FROM THE REIGN OF HENRY THE 4TH TO THE DEATH OF CHARLES THE 1ST + +BY A PARTIAL, PREJUDICED, AND IGNORANT HISTORIAN. + +***** + +To Miss Austen, eldest daughter of the Rev. George Austen, this work is +inscribed with all due respect by THE AUTHOR. + + +N.B. There will be very few Dates in this History. + + +THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND + + +HENRY the 4th + +Henry the 4th ascended the throne of England much to his own +satisfaction in the year 1399, after having prevailed on his cousin and +predecessor Richard the 2nd, to resign it to him, and to retire for the +rest of his life to Pomfret Castle, where he happened to be murdered. +It is to be supposed that Henry was married, since he had certainly four +sons, but it is not in my power to inform the Reader who was his wife. +Be this as it may, he did not live for ever, but falling ill, his son +the Prince of Wales came and took away the crown; whereupon the King +made a long speech, for which I must refer the Reader to Shakespear's +Plays, and the Prince made a still longer. Things being thus settled +between them the King died, and was succeeded by his son Henry who had +previously beat Sir William Gascoigne. + + +HENRY the 5th + +This Prince after he succeeded to the throne grew quite reformed and +amiable, forsaking all his dissipated companions, and never thrashing +Sir William again. During his reign, Lord Cobham was burnt alive, but I +forget what for. His Majesty then turned his thoughts to France, where +he went and fought the famous Battle of Agincourt. He afterwards married +the King's daughter Catherine, a very agreable woman by Shakespear's +account. In spite of all this however he died, and was succeeded by his +son Henry. + + +HENRY the 6th + +I cannot say much for this Monarch's sense. Nor would I if I could, for +he was a Lancastrian. I suppose you know all about the Wars between him +and the Duke of York who was of the right side; if you do not, you had +better read some other History, for I shall not be very diffuse in this, +meaning by it only to vent my spleen AGAINST, and shew my Hatred TO all +those people whose parties or principles do not suit with mine, and not +to give information. This King married Margaret of Anjou, a Woman whose +distresses and misfortunes were so great as almost to make me who hate +her, pity her. It was in this reign that Joan of Arc lived and made such +a ROW among the English. They should not have burnt her--but they did. +There were several Battles between the Yorkists and Lancastrians, in +which the former (as they ought) usually conquered. At length they were +entirely overcome; The King was murdered--The Queen was sent home--and +Edward the 4th ascended the Throne. + + +EDWARD the 4th + +This Monarch was famous only for his Beauty and his Courage, of which +the Picture we have here given of him, and his undaunted Behaviour +in marrying one Woman while he was engaged to another, are sufficient +proofs. His Wife was Elizabeth Woodville, a Widow who, poor Woman! was +afterwards confined in a Convent by that Monster of Iniquity and Avarice +Henry the 7th. One of Edward's Mistresses was Jane Shore, who has had +a play written about her, but it is a tragedy and therefore not worth +reading. Having performed all these noble actions, his Majesty died, and +was succeeded by his son. + + +EDWARD the 5th + +This unfortunate Prince lived so little a while that nobody had him to +draw his picture. He was murdered by his Uncle's Contrivance, whose name +was Richard the 3rd. + + +RICHARD the 3rd + +The Character of this Prince has been in general very severely treated +by Historians, but as he was a YORK, I am rather inclined to suppose him +a very respectable Man. It has indeed been confidently asserted that he +killed his two Nephews and his Wife, but it has also been declared that +he did not kill his two Nephews, which I am inclined to beleive true; +and if this is the case, it may also be affirmed that he did not kill +his Wife, for if Perkin Warbeck was really the Duke of York, why might +not Lambert Simnel be the Widow of Richard. Whether innocent or guilty, +he did not reign long in peace, for Henry Tudor E. of Richmond as great +a villain as ever lived, made a great fuss about getting the Crown and +having killed the King at the battle of Bosworth, he succeeded to it. + + +HENRY the 7th + +This Monarch soon after his accession married the Princess Elizabeth of +York, by which alliance he plainly proved that he thought his own right +inferior to hers, tho' he pretended to the contrary. By this Marriage he +had two sons and two daughters, the elder of which Daughters was married +to the King of Scotland and had the happiness of being grandmother +to one of the first Characters in the World. But of HER, I shall have +occasion to speak more at large in future. The youngest, Mary, married +first the King of France and secondly the D. of Suffolk, by whom she had +one daughter, afterwards the Mother of Lady Jane Grey, who tho' inferior +to her lovely Cousin the Queen of Scots, was yet an amiable young woman +and famous for reading Greek while other people were hunting. It was in +the reign of Henry the 7th that Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel before +mentioned made their appearance, the former of whom was set in the +stocks, took shelter in Beaulieu Abbey, and was beheaded with the Earl +of Warwick, and the latter was taken into the Kings kitchen. His Majesty +died and was succeeded by his son Henry whose only merit was his not +being quite so bad as his daughter Elizabeth. + + +HENRY the 8th + +It would be an affront to my Readers were I to suppose that they were +not as well acquainted with the particulars of this King's reign as I am +myself. It will therefore be saving THEM the task of reading again what +they have read before, and MYSELF the trouble of writing what I do not +perfectly recollect, by giving only a slight sketch of the principal +Events which marked his reign. Among these may be ranked Cardinal +Wolsey's telling the father Abbott of Leicester Abbey that "he was come +to lay his bones among them," the reformation in Religion and the King's +riding through the streets of London with Anna Bullen. It is however +but Justice, and my Duty to declare that this amiable Woman was entirely +innocent of the Crimes with which she was accused, and of which her +Beauty, her Elegance, and her Sprightliness were sufficient proofs, not +to mention her solemn Protestations of Innocence, the weakness of the +Charges against her, and the King's Character; all of which add some +confirmation, tho' perhaps but slight ones when in comparison with those +before alledged in her favour. Tho' I do not profess giving many dates, +yet as I think it proper to give some and shall of course make choice +of those which it is most necessary for the Reader to know, I think it +right to inform him that her letter to the King was dated on the 6th of +May. The Crimes and Cruelties of this Prince, were too numerous to be +mentioned, (as this history I trust has fully shown;) and nothing can +be said in his vindication, but that his abolishing Religious Houses and +leaving them to the ruinous depredations of time has been of infinite +use to the landscape of England in general, which probably was a +principal motive for his doing it, since otherwise why should a Man who +was of no Religion himself be at so much trouble to abolish one which +had for ages been established in the Kingdom. His Majesty's 5th Wife +was the Duke of Norfolk's Neice who, tho' universally acquitted of the +crimes for which she was beheaded, has been by many people supposed to +have led an abandoned life before her Marriage--of this however I have +many doubts, since she was a relation of that noble Duke of Norfolk who +was so warm in the Queen of Scotland's cause, and who at last fell a +victim to it. The Kings last wife contrived to survive him, but with +difficulty effected it. He was succeeded by his only son Edward. + + +EDWARD the 6th + +As this prince was only nine years old at the time of his Father's +death, he was considered by many people as too young to govern, and the +late King happening to be of the same opinion, his mother's Brother the +Duke of Somerset was chosen Protector of the realm during his minority. +This Man was on the whole of a very amiable Character, and is somewhat +of a favourite with me, tho' I would by no means pretend to affirm that +he was equal to those first of Men Robert Earl of Essex, Delamere, or +Gilpin. He was beheaded, of which he might with reason have been proud, +had he known that such was the death of Mary Queen of Scotland; but +as it was impossible that he should be conscious of what had never +happened, it does not appear that he felt particularly delighted with +the manner of it. After his decease the Duke of Northumberland had the +care of the King and the Kingdom, and performed his trust of both so +well that the King died and the Kingdom was left to his daughter in law +the Lady Jane Grey, who has been already mentioned as reading Greek. +Whether she really understood that language or whether such a study +proceeded only from an excess of vanity for which I beleive she was +always rather remarkable, is uncertain. Whatever might be the cause, +she preserved the same appearance of knowledge, and contempt of what +was generally esteemed pleasure, during the whole of her life, for +she declared herself displeased with being appointed Queen, and while +conducting to the scaffold, she wrote a sentence in Latin and another in +Greek on seeing the dead Body of her Husband accidentally passing that +way. + + +MARY + +This woman had the good luck of being advanced to the throne of England, +in spite of the superior pretensions, Merit, and Beauty of her Cousins +Mary Queen of Scotland and Jane Grey. Nor can I pity the Kingdom for the +misfortunes they experienced during her Reign, since they fully deserved +them, for having allowed her to succeed her Brother--which was a double +peice of folly, since they might have foreseen that as she died without +children, she would be succeeded by that disgrace to humanity, that +pest of society, Elizabeth. Many were the people who fell martyrs to the +protestant Religion during her reign; I suppose not fewer than a dozen. +She married Philip King of Spain who in her sister's reign was famous +for building Armadas. She died without issue, and then the dreadful +moment came in which the destroyer of all comfort, the deceitful +Betrayer of trust reposed in her, and the Murderess of her Cousin +succeeded to the Throne.---- + + +ELIZABETH + +It was the peculiar misfortune of this Woman to have bad +Ministers---Since wicked as she herself was, she could not have +committed such extensive mischeif, had not these vile and abandoned Men +connived at, and encouraged her in her Crimes. I know that it has by +many people been asserted and beleived that Lord Burleigh, Sir Francis +Walsingham, and the rest of those who filled the cheif offices of State +were deserving, experienced, and able Ministers. But oh! how blinded +such writers and such Readers must be to true Merit, to Merit despised, +neglected and defamed, if they can persist in such opinions when they +reflect that these men, these boasted men were such scandals to their +Country and their sex as to allow and assist their Queen in confining +for the space of nineteen years, a WOMAN who if the claims of +Relationship and Merit were of no avail, yet as a Queen and as one who +condescended to place confidence in her, had every reason to expect +assistance and protection; and at length in allowing Elizabeth to bring +this amiable Woman to an untimely, unmerited, and scandalous Death. Can +any one if he reflects but for a moment on this blot, this everlasting +blot upon their understanding and their Character, allow any praise to +Lord Burleigh or Sir Francis Walsingham? Oh! what must this bewitching +Princess whose only freind was then the Duke of Norfolk, and whose +only ones now Mr Whitaker, Mrs Lefroy, Mrs Knight and myself, who was +abandoned by her son, confined by her Cousin, abused, reproached and +vilified by all, what must not her most noble mind have suffered when +informed that Elizabeth had given orders for her Death! Yet she bore +it with a most unshaken fortitude, firm in her mind; constant in her +Religion; and prepared herself to meet the cruel fate to which she +was doomed, with a magnanimity that would alone proceed from conscious +Innocence. And yet could you Reader have beleived it possible that +some hardened and zealous Protestants have even abused her for that +steadfastness in the Catholic Religion which reflected on her so +much credit? But this is a striking proof of THEIR narrow souls and +prejudiced Judgements who accuse her. She was executed in the Great Hall +at Fortheringay Castle (sacred Place!) on Wednesday the 8th of February +1586--to the everlasting Reproach of Elizabeth, her Ministers, and of +England in general. It may not be unnecessary before I entirely conclude +my account of this ill-fated Queen, to observe that she had been accused +of several crimes during the time of her reigning in Scotland, of which +I now most seriously do assure my Reader that she was entirely innocent; +having never been guilty of anything more than Imprudencies into which +she was betrayed by the openness of her Heart, her Youth, and her +Education. Having I trust by this assurance entirely done away every +Suspicion and every doubt which might have arisen in the Reader's mind, +from what other Historians have written of her, I shall proceed to +mention the remaining Events that marked Elizabeth's reign. It was about +this time that Sir Francis Drake the first English Navigator who sailed +round the World, lived, to be the ornament of his Country and his +profession. Yet great as he was, and justly celebrated as a sailor, +I cannot help foreseeing that he will be equalled in this or the next +Century by one who tho' now but young, already promises to answer all +the ardent and sanguine expectations of his Relations and Freinds, +amongst whom I may class the amiable Lady to whom this work is +dedicated, and my no less amiable self. + +Though of a different profession, and shining in a different sphere of +Life, yet equally conspicuous in the Character of an Earl, as Drake was +in that of a Sailor, was Robert Devereux Lord Essex. This unfortunate +young Man was not unlike in character to that equally unfortunate +one FREDERIC DELAMERE. The simile may be carried still farther, and +Elizabeth the torment of Essex may be compared to the Emmeline of +Delamere. It would be endless to recount the misfortunes of this noble +and gallant Earl. It is sufficient to say that he was beheaded on the +25th of Feb, after having been Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, after having +clapped his hand on his sword, and after performing many other services +to his Country. Elizabeth did not long survive his loss, and died so +miserable that were it not an injury to the memory of Mary I should pity +her. + + +JAMES the 1st + +Though this King had some faults, among which and as the most principal, +was his allowing his Mother's death, yet considered on the whole I +cannot help liking him. He married Anne of Denmark, and had several +Children; fortunately for him his eldest son Prince Henry died before +his father or he might have experienced the evils which befell his +unfortunate Brother. + +As I am myself partial to the roman catholic religion, it is with +infinite regret that I am obliged to blame the Behaviour of any Member +of it: yet Truth being I think very excusable in an Historian, I am +necessitated to say that in this reign the roman Catholics of England +did not behave like Gentlemen to the protestants. Their Behaviour +indeed to the Royal Family and both Houses of Parliament might justly +be considered by them as very uncivil, and even Sir Henry Percy tho' +certainly the best bred man of the party, had none of that general +politeness which is so universally pleasing, as his attentions were +entirely confined to Lord Mounteagle. + +Sir Walter Raleigh flourished in this and the preceeding reign, and is +by many people held in great veneration and respect--But as he was an +enemy of the noble Essex, I have nothing to say in praise of him, and +must refer all those who may wish to be acquainted with the particulars +of his life, to Mr Sheridan's play of the Critic, where they will +find many interesting anecdotes as well of him as of his friend Sir +Christopher Hatton.--His Majesty was of that amiable disposition which +inclines to Freindship, and in such points was possessed of a keener +penetration in discovering Merit than many other people. I once heard an +excellent Sharade on a Carpet, of which the subject I am now on reminds +me, and as I think it may afford my Readers some amusement to FIND IT +OUT, I shall here take the liberty of presenting it to them. + +SHARADE My first is what my second was to King James the 1st, and you +tread on my whole. + +The principal favourites of his Majesty were Car, who was afterwards +created Earl of Somerset and whose name perhaps may have some share +in the above mentioned Sharade, and George Villiers afterwards Duke of +Buckingham. On his Majesty's death he was succeeded by his son Charles. + + +CHARLES the 1st + +This amiable Monarch seems born to have suffered misfortunes equal to +those of his lovely Grandmother; misfortunes which he could not deserve +since he was her descendant. Never certainly were there before so many +detestable Characters at one time in England as in this Period of its +History; never were amiable men so scarce. The number of them throughout +the whole Kingdom amounting only to FIVE, besides the inhabitants +of Oxford who were always loyal to their King and faithful to his +interests. The names of this noble five who never forgot the duty of +the subject, or swerved from their attachment to his Majesty, were as +follows--The King himself, ever stedfast in his own support--Archbishop +Laud, Earl of Strafford, Viscount Faulkland and Duke of Ormond, who were +scarcely less strenuous or zealous in the cause. While the VILLIANS +of the time would make too long a list to be written or read; I shall +therefore content myself with mentioning the leaders of the Gang. +Cromwell, Fairfax, Hampden, and Pym may be considered as the original +Causers of all the disturbances, Distresses, and Civil Wars in which +England for many years was embroiled. In this reign as well as in that +of Elizabeth, I am obliged in spite of my attachment to the Scotch, +to consider them as equally guilty with the generality of the English, +since they dared to think differently from their Sovereign, to forget +the Adoration which as STUARTS it was their Duty to pay them, to rebel +against, dethrone and imprison the unfortunate Mary; to oppose, to +deceive, and to sell the no less unfortunate Charles. The Events of this +Monarch's reign are too numerous for my pen, and indeed the recital +of any Events (except what I make myself) is uninteresting to me; my +principal reason for undertaking the History of England being to Prove +the innocence of the Queen of Scotland, which I flatter myself with +having effectually done, and to abuse Elizabeth, tho' I am rather +fearful of having fallen short in the latter part of my scheme.--As +therefore it is not my intention to give any particular account of the +distresses into which this King was involved through the misconduct and +Cruelty of his Parliament, I shall satisfy myself with vindicating him +from the Reproach of Arbitrary and tyrannical Government with which he +has often been charged. This, I feel, is not difficult to be done, for +with one argument I am certain of satisfying every sensible and well +disposed person whose opinions have been properly guided by a good +Education--and this Argument is that he was a STUART. + +Finis Saturday Nov: 26th 1791. + + +***** + + + + +A COLLECTION OF LETTERS + + + + +To Miss COOPER + +COUSIN Conscious of the Charming Character which in every Country, and +every Clime in Christendom is Cried, Concerning you, with Caution and +Care I Commend to your Charitable Criticism this Clever Collection +of Curious Comments, which have been Carefully Culled, Collected and +Classed by your Comical Cousin + +The Author. + +***** + + + + +A COLLECTION OF LETTERS + + + + +LETTER the FIRST From a MOTHER to her FREIND. + +My Children begin now to claim all my attention in different Manner from +that in which they have been used to receive it, as they are now arrived +at that age when it is necessary for them in some measure to become +conversant with the World, My Augusta is 17 and her sister scarcely a +twelvemonth younger. I flatter myself that their education has been such +as will not disgrace their appearance in the World, and that THEY will +not disgrace their Education I have every reason to beleive. Indeed they +are sweet Girls--. Sensible yet unaffected--Accomplished yet Easy--. +Lively yet Gentle--. As their progress in every thing they have learnt +has been always the same, I am willing to forget the difference of age, +and to introduce them together into Public. This very Evening is fixed +on as their first ENTREE into Life, as we are to drink tea with Mrs Cope +and her Daughter. I am glad that we are to meet no one, for my Girls +sake, as it would be awkward for them to enter too wide a Circle on the +very first day. But we shall proceed by degrees.--Tomorrow Mr Stanly's +family will drink tea with us, and perhaps the Miss Phillips's will meet +them. On Tuesday we shall pay Morning Visits--On Wednesday we are to +dine at Westbrook. On Thursday we have Company at home. On Friday we +are to be at a Private Concert at Sir John Wynna's--and on Saturday +we expect Miss Dawson to call in the Morning--which will complete my +Daughters Introduction into Life. How they will bear so much dissipation +I cannot imagine; of their spirits I have no fear, I only dread their +health. + +This mighty affair is now happily over, and my Girls are OUT. As the +moment approached for our departure, you can have no idea how the sweet +Creatures trembled with fear and expectation. Before the Carriage drove +to the door, I called them into my dressing-room, and as soon as they +were seated thus addressed them. "My dear Girls the moment is now +arrived when I am to reap the rewards of all my Anxieties and Labours +towards you during your Education. You are this Evening to enter a World +in which you will meet with many wonderfull Things; Yet let me warn +you against suffering yourselves to be meanly swayed by the Follies and +Vices of others, for beleive me my beloved Children that if you do--I +shall be very sorry for it." They both assured me that they would ever +remember my advice with Gratitude, and follow it with attention; That +they were prepared to find a World full of things to amaze and to shock +them: but that they trusted their behaviour would never give me reason +to repent the Watchful Care with which I had presided over their infancy +and formed their Minds--" "With such expectations and such intentions +(cried I) I can have nothing to fear from you--and can chearfully +conduct you to Mrs Cope's without a fear of your being seduced by her +Example, or contaminated by her Follies. Come, then my Children (added +I) the Carriage is driving to the door, and I will not a moment delay +the happiness you are so impatient to enjoy." When we arrived at +Warleigh, poor Augusta could scarcely breathe, while Margaret was all +Life and Rapture. "The long-expected Moment is now arrived (said she) +and we shall soon be in the World."--In a few Moments we were in Mrs +Cope's parlour, where with her daughter she sate ready to receive us. +I observed with delight the impression my Children made on them--. They +were indeed two sweet, elegant-looking Girls, and tho' somewhat abashed +from the peculiarity of their situation, yet there was an ease in their +Manners and address which could not fail of pleasing--. Imagine my +dear Madam how delighted I must have been in beholding as I did, how +attentively they observed every object they saw, how disgusted with some +Things, how enchanted with others, how astonished at all! On the whole +however they returned in raptures with the World, its Inhabitants, and +Manners. Yrs Ever--A. F. + + + + +LETTER the SECOND From a YOUNG LADY crossed in Love to her freind + +Why should this last disappointment hang so heavily on my spirits? Why +should I feel it more, why should it wound me deeper than those I +have experienced before? Can it be that I have a greater affection for +Willoughby than I had for his amiable predecessors? Or is it that our +feelings become more acute from being often wounded? I must suppose my +dear Belle that this is the Case, since I am not conscious of being more +sincerely attached to Willoughby than I was to Neville, Fitzowen, or +either of the Crawfords, for all of whom I once felt the most lasting +affection that ever warmed a Woman's heart. Tell me then dear Belle why +I still sigh when I think of the faithless Edward, or why I weep when I +behold his Bride, for too surely this is the case--. My Freinds are all +alarmed for me; They fear my declining health; they lament my want +of spirits; they dread the effects of both. In hopes of releiving my +melancholy, by directing my thoughts to other objects, they have invited +several of their freinds to spend the Christmas with us. Lady Bridget +Darkwood and her sister-in-law, Miss Jane are expected on Friday; and +Colonel Seaton's family will be with us next week. This is all most +kindly meant by my Uncle and Cousins; but what can the presence of a +dozen indefferent people do to me, but weary and distress me--. I will +not finish my Letter till some of our Visitors are arrived. + +Friday Evening Lady Bridget came this morning, and with her, her sweet +sister Miss Jane--. Although I have been acquainted with this charming +Woman above fifteen Years, yet I never before observed how lovely she +is. She is now about 35, and in spite of sickness, sorrow and Time is +more blooming than I ever saw a Girl of 17. I was delighted with her, +the moment she entered the house, and she appeared equally pleased with +me, attaching herself to me during the remainder of the day. There is +something so sweet, so mild in her Countenance, that she seems more than +Mortal. Her Conversation is as bewitching as her appearance; I could not +help telling her how much she engaged my admiration--. "Oh! Miss Jane +(said I)--and stopped from an inability at the moment of expressing +myself as I could wish--Oh! Miss Jane--(I repeated)--I could not think +of words to suit my feelings--She seemed waiting for my speech--. I +was confused--distressed--my thoughts were bewildered--and I could only +add--"How do you do?" She saw and felt for my Embarrassment and with +admirable presence of mind releived me from it by saying--"My dear +Sophia be not uneasy at having exposed yourself--I will turn the +Conversation without appearing to notice it. "Oh! how I loved her for +her kindness!" Do you ride as much as you used to do?" said she--. "I +am advised to ride by my Physician. We have delightful Rides round us, +I have a Charming horse, am uncommonly fond of the Amusement, replied +I quite recovered from my Confusion, and in short I ride a great deal." +"You are in the right my Love," said she. Then repeating the following +line which was an extempore and equally adapted to recommend both Riding +and Candour-- + +"Ride where you may, Be Candid where you can," she added," I rode once, +but it is many years ago--She spoke this in so low and tremulous a +Voice, that I was silent--. Struck with her Manner of speaking I could +make no reply. "I have not ridden, continued she fixing her Eyes on my +face, since I was married." I was never so surprised--"Married, Ma'am!" +I repeated. "You may well wear that look of astonishment, said she, +since what I have said must appear improbable to you--Yet nothing is +more true than that I once was married." + +"Then why are you called Miss Jane?" + +"I married, my Sophia without the consent or knowledge of my father the +late Admiral Annesley. It was therefore necessary to keep the secret +from him and from every one, till some fortunate opportunity might offer +of revealing it--. Such an opportunity alas! was but too soon given in +the death of my dear Capt. Dashwood--Pardon these tears, continued Miss +Jane wiping her Eyes, I owe them to my Husband's memory. He fell my +Sophia, while fighting for his Country in America after a most happy +Union of seven years--. My Children, two sweet Boys and a Girl, who +had constantly resided with my Father and me, passing with him and with +every one as the Children of a Brother (tho' I had ever been an only +Child) had as yet been the comforts of my Life. But no sooner had +I lossed my Henry, than these sweet Creatures fell sick and died--. +Conceive dear Sophia what my feelings must have been when as an Aunt I +attended my Children to their early Grave--. My Father did not survive +them many weeks--He died, poor Good old man, happily ignorant to his +last hour of my Marriage.' + +"But did not you own it, and assume his name at your husband's death?" + +"No; I could not bring myself to do it; more especially when in my +Children I lost all inducement for doing it. Lady Bridget, and yourself +are the only persons who are in the knowledge of my having ever been +either Wife or Mother. As I could not Prevail on myself to take the +name of Dashwood (a name which after my Henry's death I could never hear +without emotion) and as I was conscious of having no right to that of +Annesley, I dropt all thoughts of either, and have made it a point of +bearing only my Christian one since my Father's death." She paused--"Oh! +my dear Miss Jane (said I) how infinitely am I obliged to you for so +entertaining a story! You cannot think how it has diverted me! But have +you quite done?" + +"I have only to add my dear Sophia, that my Henry's elder Brother dieing +about the same time, Lady Bridget became a Widow like myself, and as we +had always loved each other in idea from the high Character in which we +had ever been spoken of, though we had never met, we determined to live +together. We wrote to one another on the same subject by the same post, +so exactly did our feeling and our actions coincide! We both eagerly +embraced the proposals we gave and received of becoming one family, and +have from that time lived together in the greatest affection." + +"And is this all? said I, I hope you have not done." + +"Indeed I have; and did you ever hear a story more pathetic?" + +"I never did--and it is for that reason it pleases me so much, for when +one is unhappy nothing is so delightful to one's sensations as to hear +of equal misery." + +"Ah! but my Sophia why are YOU unhappy?" + +"Have you not heard Madam of Willoughby's Marriage?" + +"But my love why lament HIS perfidy, when you bore so well that of many +young Men before?" + +"Ah! Madam, I was used to it then, but when Willoughby broke his +Engagements I had not been dissapointed for half a year." + +"Poor Girl!" said Miss Jane. + + + + +LETTER the THIRD From a YOUNG LADY in distressed Circumstances to her +freind + +A few days ago I was at a private Ball given by Mr Ashburnham. As my +Mother never goes out she entrusted me to the care of Lady Greville who +did me the honour of calling for me in her way and of allowing me to sit +forwards, which is a favour about which I am very indifferent especially +as I know it is considered as confering a great obligation on me "So +Miss Maria (said her Ladyship as she saw me advancing to the door of the +Carriage) you seem very smart to night--MY poor Girls will appear quite +to disadvantage by YOU--I only hope your Mother may not have distressed +herself to set YOU off. Have you got a new Gown on?" + +"Yes Ma'am." replied I with as much indifference as I could assume. + +"Aye, and a fine one too I think--(feeling it, as by her permission I +seated myself by her) I dare say it is all very smart--But I must +own, for you know I always speak my mind, that I think it was quite a +needless piece of expence--Why could not you have worn your old striped +one? It is not my way to find fault with People because they are poor, +for I always think that they are more to be despised and pitied than +blamed for it, especially if they cannot help it, but at the same time I +must say that in my opinion your old striped Gown would have been quite +fine enough for its Wearer--for to tell you the truth (I always speak my +mind) I am very much afraid that one half of the people in the room will +not know whether you have a Gown on or not--But I suppose you intend to +make your fortune to night--. Well, the sooner the better; and I wish +you success." + +"Indeed Ma'am I have no such intention--" + +"Who ever heard a young Lady own that she was a Fortune-hunter?" Miss +Greville laughed but I am sure Ellen felt for me. + +"Was your Mother gone to bed before you left her?" said her Ladyship. + +"Dear Ma'am, said Ellen it is but nine o'clock." + +"True Ellen, but Candles cost money, and Mrs Williams is too wise to be +extravagant." + +"She was just sitting down to supper Ma'am." + +"And what had she got for supper?" "I did not observe." "Bread and +Cheese I suppose." "I should never wish for a better supper." said +Ellen. "You have never any reason replied her Mother, as a better is +always provided for you." Miss Greville laughed excessively, as she +constantly does at her Mother's wit. + +Such is the humiliating Situation in which I am forced to appear while +riding in her Ladyship's Coach--I dare not be impertinent, as my Mother +is always admonishing me to be humble and patient if I wish to make my +way in the world. She insists on my accepting every invitation of Lady +Greville, or you may be certain that I would never enter either her +House, or her Coach with the disagreable certainty I always have of +being abused for my Poverty while I am in them.--When we arrived at +Ashburnham, it was nearly ten o'clock, which was an hour and a half +later than we were desired to be there; but Lady Greville is too +fashionable (or fancies herself to be so) to be punctual. The Dancing +however was not begun as they waited for Miss Greville. I had not been +long in the room before I was engaged to dance by Mr Bernard, but just +as we were going to stand up, he recollected that his Servant had got +his white Gloves, and immediately ran out to fetch them. In the mean +time the Dancing began and Lady Greville in passing to another room went +exactly before me--She saw me and instantly stopping, said to me though +there were several people close to us, + +"Hey day, Miss Maria! What cannot you get a partner? Poor Young Lady! +I am afraid your new Gown was put on for nothing. But do not despair; +perhaps you may get a hop before the Evening is over." So saying, she +passed on without hearing my repeated assurance of being engaged, and +leaving me very much provoked at being so exposed before every one--Mr +Bernard however soon returned and by coming to me the moment he entered +the room, and leading me to the Dancers my Character I hope was cleared +from the imputation Lady Greville had thrown on it, in the eyes of all +the old Ladies who had heard her speech. I soon forgot all my vexations +in the pleasure of dancing and of having the most agreable partner in +the room. As he is moreover heir to a very large Estate I could see that +Lady Greville did not look very well pleased when she found who had been +his Choice--She was determined to mortify me, and accordingly when we +were sitting down between the dances, she came to me with more than her +usual insulting importance attended by Miss Mason and said loud enough +to be heard by half the people in the room, "Pray Miss Maria in what +way of business was your Grandfather? for Miss Mason and I cannot agree +whether he was a Grocer or a Bookbinder." I saw that she wanted to +mortify me, and was resolved if I possibly could to Prevent her seeing +that her scheme succeeded. "Neither Madam; he was a Wine Merchant." +"Aye, I knew he was in some such low way--He broke did not he?" "I +beleive not Ma'am." "Did not he abscond?" "I never heard that he did." +"At least he died insolvent?" "I was never told so before." "Why, was +not your FATHER as poor as a Rat" "I fancy not." "Was not he in the +Kings Bench once?" "I never saw him there." She gave me SUCH a look, and +turned away in a great passion; while I was half delighted with myself +for my impertinence, and half afraid of being thought too saucy. As Lady +Greville was extremely angry with me, she took no further notice of +me all the Evening, and indeed had I been in favour I should have been +equally neglected, as she was got into a Party of great folks and she +never speaks to me when she can to anyone else. Miss Greville was with +her Mother's party at supper, but Ellen preferred staying with the +Bernards and me. We had a very pleasant Dance and as Lady G--slept all +the way home, I had a very comfortable ride. + +The next day while we were at dinner Lady Greville's Coach stopped at +the door, for that is the time of day she generally contrives it should. +She sent in a message by the servant to say that "she should not get out +but that Miss Maria must come to the Coach-door, as she wanted to speak +to her, and that she must make haste and come immediately--" "What an +impertinent Message Mama!" said I--"Go Maria--" replied she--Accordingly +I went and was obliged to stand there at her Ladyships pleasure though +the Wind was extremely high and very cold. + +"Why I think Miss Maria you are not quite so smart as you were last +night--But I did not come to examine your dress, but to tell you that +you may dine with us the day after tomorrow--Not tomorrow, remember, do +not come tomorrow, for we expect Lord and Lady Clermont and Sir Thomas +Stanley's family--There will be no occasion for your being very fine +for I shant send the Carriage--If it rains you may take an umbrella--" +I could hardly help laughing at hearing her give me leave to keep myself +dry--"And pray remember to be in time, for I shant wait--I hate my +Victuals over-done--But you need not come before the time--How does +your Mother do? She is at dinner is not she?" "Yes Ma'am we were in the +middle of dinner when your Ladyship came." "I am afraid you find it very +cold Maria." said Ellen. "Yes, it is an horrible East wind--said her +Mother--I assure you I can hardly bear the window down--But you are used +to be blown about by the wind Miss Maria and that is what has made your +Complexion so rudely and coarse. You young Ladies who cannot often ride +in a Carriage never mind what weather you trudge in, or how the wind +shews your legs. I would not have my Girls stand out of doors as you do +in such a day as this. But some sort of people have no feelings either +of cold or Delicacy--Well, remember that we shall expect you on Thursday +at 5 o'clock--You must tell your Maid to come for you at night--There +will be no Moon--and you will have an horrid walk home--My compts to +Your Mother--I am afraid your dinner will be cold--Drive on--" And away +she went, leaving me in a great passion with her as she always does. +Maria Williams. + + + + +LETTER the FOURTH From a YOUNG LADY rather impertinent to her freind + +We dined yesterday with Mr Evelyn where we were introduced to a very +agreable looking Girl his Cousin. I was extremely pleased with her +appearance, for added to the charms of an engaging face, her manner and +voice had something peculiarly interesting in them. So much so, that +they inspired me with a great curiosity to know the history of her Life, +who were her Parents, where she came from, and what had befallen her, +for it was then only known that she was a relation of Mr Evelyn, and +that her name was Grenville. In the evening a favourable opportunity +offered to me of attempting at least to know what I wished to know, for +every one played at Cards but Mrs Evelyn, My Mother, Dr Drayton, Miss +Grenville and myself, and as the two former were engaged in a whispering +Conversation, and the Doctor fell asleep, we were of necessity obliged +to entertain each other. This was what I wished and being determined not +to remain in ignorance for want of asking, I began the Conversation in +the following Manner. + +"Have you been long in Essex Ma'am?" + +"I arrived on Tuesday." + +"You came from Derbyshire?" + +"No, Ma'am! appearing surprised at my question, from Suffolk." You will +think this a good dash of mine my dear Mary, but you know that I am not +wanting for Impudence when I have any end in veiw. "Are you pleased with +the Country Miss Grenville? Do you find it equal to the one you have +left?" + +"Much superior Ma'am in point of Beauty." She sighed. I longed to know +for why. + +"But the face of any Country however beautiful said I, can be but a poor +consolation for the loss of one's dearest Freinds." She shook her +head, as if she felt the truth of what I said. My Curiosity was so much +raised, that I was resolved at any rate to satisfy it. + +"You regret having left Suffolk then Miss Grenville?" "Indeed I do." +"You were born there I suppose?" "Yes Ma'am I was and passed many happy +years there--" + +"That is a great comfort--said I--I hope Ma'am that you never spent any +unhappy one's there." + +"Perfect Felicity is not the property of Mortals, and no one has a right +to expect uninterrupted Happiness.--Some Misfortunes I have certainly +met with." + +"WHAT Misfortunes dear Ma'am? replied I, burning with impatience to know +every thing. "NONE Ma'am I hope that have been the effect of any wilfull +fault in me." "I dare say not Ma'am, and have no doubt but that any +sufferings you may have experienced could arise only from the cruelties +of Relations or the Errors of Freinds." She sighed--"You seem unhappy +my dear Miss Grenville--Is it in my power to soften your Misfortunes?" +"YOUR power Ma'am replied she extremely surprised; it is in NO ONES +power to make me happy." She pronounced these words in so mournfull and +solemn an accent, that for some time I had not courage to reply. I +was actually silenced. I recovered myself however in a few moments and +looking at her with all the affection I could, "My dear Miss Grenville +said I, you appear extremely young--and may probably stand in need of +some one's advice whose regard for you, joined to superior Age, perhaps +superior Judgement might authorise her to give it. I am that person, and +I now challenge you to accept the offer I make you of my Confidence and +Freindship, in return to which I shall only ask for yours--" + +"You are extremely obliging Ma'am--said she--and I am highly flattered +by your attention to me--But I am in no difficulty, no doubt, no +uncertainty of situation in which any advice can be wanted. Whenever I +am however continued she brightening into a complaisant smile, I shall +know where to apply." + +I bowed, but felt a good deal mortified by such a repulse; still however +I had not given up my point. I found that by the appearance of sentiment +and Freindship nothing was to be gained and determined therefore to +renew my attacks by Questions and suppositions. "Do you intend staying +long in this part of England Miss Grenville?" + +"Yes Ma'am, some time I beleive." + +"But how will Mr and Mrs Grenville bear your absence?" + +"They are neither of them alive Ma'am." This was an answer I did not +expect--I was quite silenced, and never felt so awkward in my Life---. + + + + +LETTER the FIFTH From a YOUNG LADY very much in love to her Freind + +My Uncle gets more stingy, my Aunt more particular, and I more in love +every day. What shall we all be at this rate by the end of the year! I +had this morning the happiness of receiving the following Letter from my +dear Musgrove. + +Sackville St: Janry 7th It is a month to day since I first beheld my +lovely Henrietta, and the sacred anniversary must and shall be kept in +a manner becoming the day--by writing to her. Never shall I forget the +moment when her Beauties first broke on my sight--No time as you well +know can erase it from my Memory. It was at Lady Scudamores. Happy Lady +Scudamore to live within a mile of the divine Henrietta! When the lovely +Creature first entered the room, oh! what were my sensations? The sight +of you was like the sight ofa wonderful fine Thing. I started--I gazed +at her with admiration--She appeared every moment more Charming, and the +unfortunate Musgrove became a captive to your Charms before I had time +to look about me. Yes Madam, I had the happiness of adoring you, an +happiness for which I cannot be too grateful. "What said he to himself +is Musgrove allowed to die for Henrietta? Enviable Mortal! and may he +pine for her who is the object of universal admiration, who is adored +by a Colonel, and toasted by a Baronet! Adorable Henrietta how beautiful +you are! I declare you are quite divine! You are more than Mortal. +You are an Angel. You are Venus herself. In short Madam you are the +prettiest Girl I ever saw in my Life--and her Beauty is encreased in her +Musgroves Eyes, by permitting him to love her and allowing me to hope. +And ah! Angelic Miss Henrietta Heaven is my witness how ardently I do +hope for the death of your villanous Uncle and his abandoned Wife, since +my fair one will not consent to be mine till their decease has placed +her in affluence above what my fortune can procure--. Though it is an +improvable Estate--. Cruel Henrietta to persist in such a resolution! I +am at Present with my sister where I mean to continue till my own house +which tho' an excellent one is at Present somewhat out of repair, is +ready to receive me. Amiable princess of my Heart farewell--Of that +Heart which trembles while it signs itself Your most ardent Admirer and +devoted humble servt. T. Musgrove. + +There is a pattern for a Love-letter Matilda! Did you ever read such +a master-piece of Writing? Such sense, such sentiment, such purity of +Thought, such flow of Language and such unfeigned Love in one sheet? +No, never I can answer for it, since a Musgrove is not to be met with +by every Girl. Oh! how I long to be with him! I intend to send him the +following in answer to his Letter tomorrow. + +My dearest Musgrove--. Words cannot express how happy your Letter made +me; I thought I should have cried for joy, for I love you better than +any body in the World. I think you the most amiable, and the handsomest +Man in England, and so to be sure you are. I never read so sweet a +Letter in my Life. Do write me another just like it, and tell me you are +in love with me in every other line. I quite die to see you. How shall +we manage to see one another? for we are so much in love that we cannot +live asunder. Oh! my dear Musgrove you cannot think how impatiently I +wait for the death of my Uncle and Aunt--If they will not Die soon, I +beleive I shall run mad, for I get more in love with you every day of my +Life. + +How happy your Sister is to enjoy the pleasure of your Company in her +house, and how happy every body in London must be because you are there. +I hope you will be so kind as to write to me again soon, for I never +read such sweet Letters as yours. I am my dearest Musgrove most truly +and faithfully yours for ever and ever Henrietta Halton. + +I hope he will like my answer; it is as good a one as I can write +though nothing to his; Indeed I had always heard what a dab he was at +a Love-letter. I saw him you know for the first time at Lady +Scudamores--And when I saw her Ladyship afterwards she asked me how I +liked her Cousin Musgrove? + +"Why upon my word said I, I think he is a very handsome young Man." + +"I am glad you think so replied she, for he is distractedly in love with +you." + +"Law! Lady Scudamore said I, how can you talk so ridiculously?" + +"Nay, t'is very true answered she, I assure you, for he was in love with +you from the first moment he beheld you." + +"I wish it may be true said I, for that is the only kind of love I +would give a farthing for--There is some sense in being in love at first +sight." + +"Well, I give you Joy of your conquest, replied Lady Scudamore, and +I beleive it to have been a very complete one; I am sure it is not a +contemptible one, for my Cousin is a charming young fellow, has seen a +great deal of the World, and writes the best Love-letters I ever read." + +This made me very happy, and I was excessively pleased with my conquest. +However, I thought it was proper to give myself a few Airs--so I said to +her-- + +"This is all very pretty Lady Scudamore, but you know that we young +Ladies who are Heiresses must not throw ourselves away upon Men who have +no fortune at all." + +"My dear Miss Halton said she, I am as much convinced of that as you can +be, and I do assure you that I should be the last person to encourage +your marrying anyone who had not some pretensions to expect a fortune +with you. Mr Musgrove is so far from being poor that he has an estate of +several hundreds an year which is capable of great Improvement, and an +excellent House, though at Present it is not quite in repair." + +"If that is the case replied I, I have nothing more to say against +him, and if as you say he is an informed young Man and can write a +good Love-letter, I am sure I have no reason to find fault with him +for admiring me, tho' perhaps I may not marry him for all that Lady +Scudamore." + +"You are certainly under no obligation to marry him answered her +Ladyship, except that which love himself will dictate to you, for if I +am not greatly mistaken you are at this very moment unknown to yourself, +cherishing a most tender affection for him." + +"Law, Lady Scudamore replied I blushing how can you think of such a +thing?" + +"Because every look, every word betrays it, answered she; Come my dear +Henrietta, consider me as a freind, and be sincere with me--Do not you +prefer Mr Musgrove to any man of your acquaintance?" + +"Pray do not ask me such questions Lady Scudamore, said I turning away +my head, for it is not fit for me to answer them." + +"Nay my Love replied she, now you confirm my suspicions. But why +Henrietta should you be ashamed to own a well-placed Love, or why refuse +to confide in me?" + +"I am not ashamed to own it; said I taking Courage. I do not refuse to +confide in you or blush to say that I do love your cousin Mr Musgrove, +that I am sincerely attached to him, for it is no disgrace to love a +handsome Man. If he were plain indeed I might have had reason to be +ashamed of a passion which must have been mean since the object would +have been unworthy. But with such a figure and face, and such beautiful +hair as your Cousin has, why should I blush to own that such superior +merit has made an impression on me." + +"My sweet Girl (said Lady Scudamore embracing me with great affection) +what a delicate way of thinking you have in these matters, and what a +quick discernment for one of your years! Oh! how I honour you for such +Noble Sentiments!" + +"Do you Ma'am said I; You are vastly obliging. But pray Lady Scudamore +did your Cousin himself tell you of his affection for me I shall like +him the better if he did, for what is a Lover without a Confidante?" + +"Oh! my Love replied she, you were born for each other. Every word +you say more deeply convinces me that your Minds are actuated by the +invisible power of simpathy, for your opinions and sentiments so exactly +coincide. Nay, the colour of your Hair is not very different. Yes my +dear Girl, the poor despairing Musgrove did reveal to me the story of +his Love--. Nor was I surprised at it--I know not how it was, but I had +a kind of presentiment that he would be in love with you." + +"Well, but how did he break it to you?" + +"It was not till after supper. We were sitting round the fire +together talking on indifferent subjects, though to say the truth the +Conversation was cheifly on my side for he was thoughtful and silent, +when on a sudden he interrupted me in the midst of something I was +saying, by exclaiming in a most Theatrical tone-- + +Yes I'm in love I feel it now And Henrietta Halton has undone me + +"Oh! What a sweet way replied I, of declaring his Passion! To make such +a couple of charming lines about me! What a pity it is that they are not +in rhime!" + +"I am very glad you like it answered she; To be sure there was a great +deal of Taste in it. And are you in love with her, Cousin? said I. I am +very sorry for it, for unexceptionable as you are in every respect, with +a pretty Estate capable of Great improvements, and an excellent House +tho' somewhat out of repair, yet who can hope to aspire with success +to the adorable Henrietta who has had an offer from a Colonel and +been toasted by a Baronet"--"THAT I have--" cried I. Lady Scudamore +continued. "Ah dear Cousin replied he, I am so well convinced of the +little Chance I can have of winning her who is adored by thousands, that +I need no assurances of yours to make me more thoroughly so. Yet surely +neither you or the fair Henrietta herself will deny me the exquisite +Gratification of dieing for her, of falling a victim to her Charms. And +when I am dead"--continued her-- + +"Oh Lady Scudamore, said I wiping my eyes, that such a sweet Creature +should talk of dieing!" + +"It is an affecting Circumstance indeed, replied Lady Scudamore." "When +I am dead said he, let me be carried and lain at her feet, and perhaps +she may not disdain to drop a pitying tear on my poor remains." + +"Dear Lady Scudamore interrupted I, say no more on this affecting +subject. I cannot bear it." + +"Oh! how I admire the sweet sensibility of your Soul, and as I would not +for Worlds wound it too deeply, I will be silent." + +"Pray go on." said I. She did so. + +"And then added he, Ah! Cousin imagine what my transports will be when +I feel the dear precious drops trickle on my face! Who would not die +to haste such extacy! And when I am interred, may the divine Henrietta +bless some happier Youth with her affection, May he be as tenderly +attached to her as the hapless Musgrove and while HE crumbles to dust, +May they live an example of Felicity in the Conjugal state!" + +Did you ever hear any thing so pathetic? What a charming wish, to be +lain at my feet when he was dead! Oh! what an exalted mind he must have +to be capable of such a wish! Lady Scudamore went on. + +"Ah! my dear Cousin replied I to him, such noble behaviour as this, must +melt the heart of any woman however obdurate it may naturally be; +and could the divine Henrietta but hear your generous wishes for her +happiness, all gentle as is her mind, I have not a doubt but that she +would pity your affection and endeavour to return it." "Oh! Cousin +answered he, do not endeavour to raise my hopes by such flattering +assurances. No, I cannot hope to please this angel of a Woman, and the +only thing which remains for me to do, is to die." "True Love is ever +desponding replied I, but I my dear Tom will give you even greater +hopes of conquering this fair one's heart, than I have yet given you, by +assuring you that I watched her with the strictest attention during the +whole day, and could plainly discover that she cherishes in her bosom +though unknown to herself, a most tender affection for you." + +"Dear Lady Scudamore cried I, This is more than I ever knew!" + +"Did not I say that it was unknown to yourself? I did not, continued +I to him, encourage you by saying this at first, that surprise might +render the pleasure still Greater." "No Cousin replied he in a languid +voice, nothing will convince me that I can have touched the heart of +Henrietta Halton, and if you are deceived yourself, do not attempt +deceiving me." "In short my Love it was the work of some hours for me to +Persuade the poor despairing Youth that you had really a preference for +him; but when at last he could no longer deny the force of my arguments, +or discredit what I told him, his transports, his Raptures, his Extacies +are beyond my power to describe." + +"Oh! the dear Creature, cried I, how passionately he loves me! But dear +Lady Scudamore did you tell him that I was totally dependant on my Uncle +and Aunt?" + +"Yes, I told him every thing." + +"And what did he say." + +"He exclaimed with virulence against Uncles and Aunts; Accused the laws +of England for allowing them to Possess their Estates when wanted by +their Nephews or Neices, and wished HE were in the House of Commons, +that he might reform the Legislature, and rectify all its abuses." + +"Oh! the sweet Man! What a spirit he has!" said I. + +"He could not flatter himself he added, that the adorable Henrietta +would condescend for his sake to resign those Luxuries and that splendor +to which she had been used, and accept only in exchange the Comforts +and Elegancies which his limited Income could afford her, even supposing +that his house were in Readiness to receive her. I told him that it +could not be expected that she would; it would be doing her an injustice +to suppose her capable of giving up the power she now possesses and so +nobly uses of doing such extensive Good to the poorer part of her fellow +Creatures, merely for the gratification of you and herself." + +"To be sure said I, I AM very Charitable every now and then. And what +did Mr Musgrove say to this?" + +"He replied that he was under a melancholy necessity of owning the truth +of what I said, and that therefore if he should be the happy Creature +destined to be the Husband of the Beautiful Henrietta he must bring +himself to wait, however impatiently, for the fortunate day, when she +might be freed from the power of worthless Relations and able to bestow +herself on him." + +What a noble Creature he is! Oh! Matilda what a fortunate one I am, who +am to be his Wife! My Aunt is calling me to come and make the pies, so +adeiu my dear freind, and beleive me yours etc--H. Halton. + +Finis. + + + + +***** + + + +SCRAPS + + +To Miss FANNY CATHERINE AUSTEN + +MY Dear Neice As I am prevented by the great distance between Rowling +and Steventon from superintending your Education myself, the care of +which will probably on that account devolve on your Father and Mother, +I think it is my particular Duty to Prevent your feeling as much as +possible the want of my personal instructions, by addressing to you on +paper my Opinions and Admonitions on the conduct of Young Women, which +you will find expressed in the following pages.--I am my dear Neice Your +affectionate Aunt The Author. + + + + +THE FEMALE PHILOSOPHER + +A LETTER + +My Dear Louisa Your friend Mr Millar called upon us yesterday in his way +to Bath, whither he is going for his health; two of his daughters were +with him, but the eldest and the three Boys are with their Mother in +Sussex. Though you have often told me that Miss Millar was remarkably +handsome, you never mentioned anything of her Sisters' beauty; yet they +are certainly extremely pretty. I'll give you their description.--Julia +is eighteen; with a countenance in which Modesty, Sense and Dignity are +happily blended, she has a form which at once presents you with Grace, +Elegance and Symmetry. Charlotte who is just sixteen is shorter than her +Sister, and though her figure cannot boast the easy dignity of +Julia's, yet it has a pleasing plumpness which is in a different way as +estimable. She is fair and her face is expressive sometimes of softness +the most bewitching, and at others of Vivacity the most striking. +She appears to have infinite Wit and a good humour unalterable; her +conversation during the half hour they set with us, was replete with +humourous sallies, Bonmots and repartees; while the sensible, the +amiable Julia uttered sentiments of Morality worthy of a heart like her +own. Mr Millar appeared to answer the character I had always received +of him. My Father met him with that look of Love, that social Shake, and +cordial kiss which marked his gladness at beholding an old and valued +freind from whom thro' various circumstances he had been separated +nearly twenty years. Mr Millar observed (and very justly too) that +many events had befallen each during that interval of time, which gave +occasion to the lovely Julia for making most sensible reflections on the +many changes in their situation which so long a period had occasioned, +on the advantages of some, and the disadvantages of others. From +this subject she made a short digression to the instability of human +pleasures and the uncertainty of their duration, which led her to +observe that all earthly Joys must be imperfect. She was proceeding to +illustrate this doctrine by examples from the Lives of great Men when +the Carriage came to the Door and the amiable Moralist with her Father +and Sister was obliged to depart; but not without a promise of spending +five or six months with us on their return. We of course mentioned you, +and I assure you that ample Justice was done to your Merits by all. +"Louisa Clarke (said I) is in general a very pleasant Girl, yet +sometimes her good humour is clouded by Peevishness, Envy and Spite. She +neither wants Understanding or is without some pretensions to Beauty, +but these are so very trifling, that the value she sets on her personal +charms, and the adoration she expects them to be offered are at once a +striking example of her vanity, her pride, and her folly." So said I, +and to my opinion everyone added weight by the concurrence of their own. +Your affectionate Arabella Smythe. + + + + +THE FIRST ACT OF A COMEDY + +CHARACTERS Popgun Maria Charles Pistolletta Postilion Hostess Chorus of +ploughboys Cook and and +Strephon Chloe + +SCENE--AN INN + +ENTER Hostess, Charles, Maria, and Cook. + +Hostess to Maria) If the gentry in the Lion should want beds, shew them +number 9. + +Maria) Yes Mistress.--EXIT Maria + +Hostess to Cook) If their Honours in the Moon ask for the bill of fare, +give it them. + +Cook) I wull, I wull. EXIT Cook. + +Hostess to Charles) If their Ladyships in the Sun ring their +Bell--answerit. + +Charles) Yes Madam. EXEUNT Severally. + + +SCENE CHANGES TO THE MOON, and discovers Popgun and Pistoletta. + +Pistoletta) Pray papa how far is it to London? + +Popgun) My Girl, my Darling, my favourite of all my Children, who art +the picture of thy poor Mother who died two months ago, with whom I am +going to Town to marry to Strephon, and to whom I mean to bequeath my +whole Estate, it wants seven Miles. + + +SCENE CHANGES TO THE SUN-- + +ENTER Chloe and a chorus of ploughboys. + +Chloe) Where am I? At Hounslow.--Where go I? To London--. What to do? To +be married--. Unto whom? Unto Strephon. Who is he? A Youth. Then I will +sing a song. + +SONG I go to Town And when I come down, I shall be married to Streephon * +[*Note the two e's] And that to me will be fun. + +Chorus) Be fun, be fun, be fun, And that to me will be fun. + +ENTER Cook--Cook) Here is the bill of fare. + +Chloe reads) 2 Ducks, a leg of beef, a stinking partridge, and a +tart.--I will have the leg of beef and the partridge. EXIT Cook. And now +I will sing another song. + +SONG--I am going to have my dinner, After which I shan't be thinner, I +wish I had here Strephon For he would carve the partridge if it should +be a tough one. + +Chorus) Tough one, tough one, tough one For he would carve the partridge +if it Should be a tough one. EXIT Chloe and Chorus.-- + +SCENE CHANGES TO THE INSIDE OF THE LION. + +Enter Strephon and Postilion. Streph:) You drove me from Staines to this +place, from whence I mean to go to Town to marry Chloe. How much is your +due? + +Post:) Eighteen pence. Streph:) Alas, my freind, I have but a bad guinea +with which I mean to support myself in Town. But I will pawn to you an +undirected Letter that I received from Chloe. + +Post:) Sir, I accept your offer. + +END OF THE FIRST ACT. + + + + +A LETTER from a YOUNG LADY, whose feelings being too strong for +her Judgement led her into the commission of Errors which her Heart +disapproved. + +Many have been the cares and vicissitudes of my past life, my beloved +Ellinor, and the only consolation I feel for their bitterness is that on +a close examination of my conduct, I am convinced that I have strictly +deserved them. I murdered my father at a very early period of my Life, I +have since murdered my Mother, and I am now going to murder my Sister. I +have changed my religion so often that at present I have not an idea of +any left. I have been a perjured witness in every public tryal for these +last twelve years; and I have forged my own Will. In short there is +scarcely a crime that I have not committed--But I am now going to +reform. Colonel Martin of the Horse guards has paid his Addresses to me, +and we are to be married in a few days. As there is something singular +in our Courtship, I will give you an account of it. Colonel Martin is +the second son of the late Sir John Martin who died immensely rich, but +bequeathing only one hundred thousand pound apeice to his three younger +Children, left the bulk of his fortune, about eight Million to the +present Sir Thomas. Upon his small pittance the Colonel lived tolerably +contented for nearly four months when he took it into his head to +determine on getting the whole of his eldest Brother's Estate. A new +will was forged and the Colonel produced it in Court--but nobody would +swear to it's being the right will except himself, and he had sworn so +much that Nobody beleived him. At that moment I happened to be passing +by the door of the Court, and was beckoned in by the Judge who told the +Colonel that I was a Lady ready to witness anything for the cause of +Justice, and advised him to apply to me. In short the Affair was soon +adjusted. The Colonel and I swore to its' being the right will, and Sir +Thomas has been obliged to resign all his illgotten wealth. The Colonel +in gratitude waited on me the next day with an offer of his hand--. I am +now going to murder my Sister. Yours Ever, Anna Parker. + + + + +A TOUR THROUGH WALES--in a LETTER from a YOUNG LADY-- + +My Dear Clara I have been so long on the ramble that I have not till now +had it in my power to thank you for your Letter--. We left our dear home +on last Monday month; and proceeded on our tour through Wales, which is +a principality contiguous to England and gives the title to the Prince +of Wales. We travelled on horseback by preference. My Mother rode upon +our little poney and Fanny and I walked by her side or rather ran, for +my Mother is so fond of riding fast that she galloped all the way. You +may be sure that we were in a fine perspiration when we came to our +place of resting. Fanny has taken a great many Drawings of the Country, +which are very beautiful, tho' perhaps not such exact resemblances +as might be wished, from their being taken as she ran along. It would +astonish you to see all the Shoes we wore out in our Tour. We determined +to take a good Stock with us and therefore each took a pair of our own +besides those we set off in. However we were obliged to have them both +capped and heelpeiced at Carmarthen, and at last when they were quite +gone, Mama was so kind as to lend us a pair of blue Sattin Slippers, of +which we each took one and hopped home from Hereford delightfully---I am +your ever affectionate Elizabeth Johnson. + + + + + +A TALE. + +A Gentleman whose family name I shall conceal, bought a small Cottage in +Pembrokeshire about two years ago. This daring Action was suggested to +him by his elder Brother who promised to furnish two rooms and a Closet +for him, provided he would take a small house near the borders of an +extensive Forest, and about three Miles from the Sea. Wilhelminus gladly +accepted the offer and continued for some time searching after such a +retreat when he was one morning agreably releived from his suspence by +reading this advertisement in a Newspaper. + +TO BE LETT A Neat Cottage on the borders of an extensive forest and +about three Miles from the Sea. It is ready furnished except two rooms +and a Closet. + +The delighted Wilhelminus posted away immediately to his brother, and +shewed him the advertisement. Robertus congratulated him and sent him +in his Carriage to take possession of the Cottage. After travelling for +three days and six nights without stopping, they arrived at the Forest +and following a track which led by it's side down a steep Hill over +which ten Rivulets meandered, they reached the Cottage in half an hour. +Wilhelminus alighted, and after knocking for some time without receiving +any answer or hearing any one stir within, he opened the door which +was fastened only by a wooden latch and entered a small room, which he +immediately perceived to be one of the two that were unfurnished--From +thence he proceeded into a Closet equally bare. A pair of stairs that +went out of it led him into a room above, no less destitute, and these +apartments he found composed the whole of the House. He was by no means +displeased with this discovery, as he had the comfort of reflecting that +he should not be obliged to lay out anything on furniture himself--. He +returned immediately to his Brother, who took him the next day to every +Shop in Town, and bought what ever was requisite to furnish the two +rooms and the Closet, In a few days everything was completed, and +Wilhelminus returned to take possession of his Cottage. Robertus +accompanied him, with his Lady the amiable Cecilia and her two lovely +Sisters Arabella and Marina to whom Wilhelminus was tenderly attached, +and a large number of Attendants.--An ordinary Genius might probably +have been embarrassed, in endeavouring to accomodate so large a party, +but Wilhelminus with admirable presence of mind gave orders for the +immediate erection of two noble Tents in an open spot in the Forest +adjoining to the house. Their Construction was both simple and +elegant--A couple of old blankets, each supported by four sticks, gave +a striking proof of that taste for architecture and that happy ease in +overcoming difficulties which were some of Wilhelminus's most striking +Virtues. + + + + + + + + + +PRIDE AND PREJUDICE + +By Jane Austen + + + +Chapter 1 + + +It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession +of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. + +However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his +first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds +of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property +of some one or other of their daughters. + +"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that +Netherfield Park is let at last?" + +Mr. Bennet replied that he had not. + +"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she +told me all about it." + +Mr. Bennet made no answer. + +"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently. + +"_You_ want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it." + +This was invitation enough. + +"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken +by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came +down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much +delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he +is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to +be in the house by the end of next week." + +"What is his name?" + +"Bingley." + +"Is he married or single?" + +"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or +five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!" + +"How so? How can it affect them?" + +"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You +must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them." + +"Is that his design in settling here?" + +"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he +_may_ fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as +soon as he comes." + +"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send +them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are +as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the +party." + +"My dear, you flatter me. I certainly _have_ had my share of beauty, but +I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five +grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty." + +"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of." + +"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into +the neighbourhood." + +"It is more than I engage for, I assure you." + +"But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would +be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to +go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no +newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for _us_ to +visit him if you do not." + +"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very +glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my +hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though +I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy." + +"I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the +others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so +good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving _her_ the preference." + +"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; "they are +all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of +quickness than her sisters." + +"Mr. Bennet, how _can_ you abuse your own children in such a way? You +take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves." + +"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They +are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration +these last twenty years at least." + +"Ah, you do not know what I suffer." + +"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four +thousand a year come into the neighbourhood." + +"It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not +visit them." + +"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them +all." + +Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, +reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had +been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. _Her_ mind +was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, +little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, +she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her +daughters married; its solace was visiting and news. + + + +Chapter 2 + + +Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He +had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring +his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was +paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following +manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he +suddenly addressed her with: + +"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy." + +"We are not in a way to know _what_ Mr. Bingley likes," said her mother +resentfully, "since we are not to visit." + +"But you forget, mamma," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him at the +assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him." + +"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces +of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion +of her." + +"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that you do +not depend on her serving you." + +Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply, but, unable to contain +herself, began scolding one of her daughters. + +"Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for Heaven's sake! Have a little +compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces." + +"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father; "she times +them ill." + +"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully. "When is +your next ball to be, Lizzy?" + +"To-morrow fortnight." + +"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come back +till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, +for she will not know him herself." + +"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce +Mr. Bingley to _her_." + +"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him +myself; how can you be so teasing?" + +"I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly +very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a +fortnight. But if _we_ do not venture somebody else will; and after all, +Mrs. Long and her daughters must stand their chance; and, therefore, as +she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will +take it on myself." + +The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, "Nonsense, +nonsense!" + +"What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?" cried he. "Do +you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on +them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you _there_. What say you, +Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read +great books and make extracts." + +Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how. + +"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return to Mr. +Bingley." + +"I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife. + +"I am sorry to hear _that_; but why did not you tell me that before? If +I had known as much this morning I certainly would not have called +on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we +cannot escape the acquaintance now." + +The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. +Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though, when the first tumult of joy +was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the +while. + +"How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should +persuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well to +neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it is such a +good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning and never said a +word about it till now." + +"Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose," said Mr. Bennet; and, +as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife. + +"What an excellent father you have, girls!" said she, when the door was +shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; +or me, either, for that matter. At our time of life it is not so +pleasant, I can tell you, to be making new acquaintances every day; but +for your sakes, we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you _are_ +the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next +ball." + +"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I _am_ the +youngest, I'm the tallest." + +The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would +return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to +dinner. + + + +Chapter 3 + + +Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her five +daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw from her +husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. They attacked him +in various ways--with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and +distant surmises; but he eluded the skill of them all, and they were at +last obliged to accept the second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, +Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Sir William had been +delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely +agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly +with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of +dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively +hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained. + +"If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield," +said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, "and all the others equally well +married, I shall have nothing to wish for." + +In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat about +ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained hopes of being +admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of whose beauty he had +heard much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more +fortunate, for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper +window that he wore a blue coat, and rode a black horse. + +An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and already +had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her +housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it all. Mr. Bingley +was obliged to be in town the following day, and, consequently, unable +to accept the honour of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite +disconcerted. She could not imagine what business he could have in town +so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that +he might be always flying about from one place to another, and never +settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears +a little by starting the idea of his being gone to London only to get +a large party for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley +was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. +The girls grieved over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the +day before the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought only +six with him from London--his five sisters and a cousin. And when +the party entered the assembly room it consisted of only five +altogether--Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and +another young man. + +Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant +countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, +with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely +looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention +of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and +the report which was in general circulation within five minutes +after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen +pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he +was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great +admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust +which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be +proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all +his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most +forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared +with his friend. + +Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal +people in the room; he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, +was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving +one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for +themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced +only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being +introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in +walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. +His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man +in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. +Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of +his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his +having slighted one of her daughters. + +Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit +down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been +standing near enough for her to hear a conversation between him and Mr. +Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend +to join it. + +"Come, Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you +standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better +dance." + +"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am +particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this +it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not +another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to +stand up with." + +"I would not be so fastidious as you are," cried Mr. Bingley, "for a +kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in +my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see +uncommonly pretty." + +"_You_ are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr. +Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet. + +"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one +of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I +dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you." + +"Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a moment at +Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said: +"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt _me_; I am in no +humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted +by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her +smiles, for you are wasting your time with me." + +Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth +remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. She told the story, +however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, +playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous. + +The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. +Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield +party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been +distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as +her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's +pleasure. Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most +accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been +fortunate enough never to be without partners, which was all that they +had yet learnt to care for at a ball. They returned, therefore, in good +spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they +were the principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennet still up. With +a book he was regardless of time; and on the present occasion he had a +good deal of curiosity as to the events of an evening which had raised +such splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that his wife's views on +the stranger would be disappointed; but he soon found out that he had a +different story to hear. + +"Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet," as she entered the room, "we have had a most +delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. +Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well +she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with +her twice! Only think of _that_, my dear; he actually danced with her +twice! and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second +time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand +up with her! But, however, he did not admire her at all; indeed, nobody +can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going +down the dance. So he inquired who she was, and got introduced, and +asked her for the two next. Then the two third he danced with Miss King, +and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, +and the two sixth with Lizzy, and the _Boulanger_--" + +"If he had had any compassion for _me_," cried her husband impatiently, +"he would not have danced half so much! For God's sake, say no more of +his partners. O that he had sprained his ankle in the first dance!" + +"Oh! my dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively +handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw +anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. +Hurst's gown--" + +Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protested against any +description of finery. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch +of the subject, and related, with much bitterness of spirit and some +exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy. + +"But I can assure you," she added, "that Lizzy does not lose much by not +suiting _his_ fancy; for he is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at +all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no enduring +him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very +great! Not handsome enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my +dear, to have given him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man." + + + +Chapter 4 + + +When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in +her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister just how very +much she admired him. + +"He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, +good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!--so much +ease, with such perfect good breeding!" + +"He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth, "which a young man ought +likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete." + +"I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I +did not expect such a compliment." + +"Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between +us. Compliments always take _you_ by surprise, and _me_ never. What +could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help +seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman +in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is +very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a +stupider person." + +"Dear Lizzy!" + +"Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. +You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable +in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your +life." + +"I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone; but I always speak +what I think." + +"I know you do; and it is _that_ which makes the wonder. With _your_ +good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of +others! Affectation of candour is common enough--one meets with it +everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design--to take the +good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing +of the bad--belongs to you alone. And so you like this man's sisters, +too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his." + +"Certainly not--at first. But they are very pleasing women when you +converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother, and keep +his house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming +neighbour in her." + +Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced; their behaviour at +the assembly had not been calculated to please in general; and with more +quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, +and with a judgement too unassailed by any attention to herself, she +was very little disposed to approve them. They were in fact very fine +ladies; not deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the +power of making themselves agreeable when they chose it, but proud and +conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the +first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand +pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of +associating with people of rank, and were therefore in every respect +entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others. They were of +a respectable family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply +impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune and their +own had been acquired by trade. + +Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly a hundred +thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an +estate, but did not live to do it. Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, and +sometimes made choice of his county; but as he was now provided with a +good house and the liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those +who best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the +remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to +purchase. + +His sisters were anxious for his having an estate of his own; but, +though he was now only established as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no +means unwilling to preside at his table--nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had +married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider +his house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of +age two years, when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation +to look at Netherfield House. He did look at it, and into it for +half-an-hour--was pleased with the situation and the principal +rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it +immediately. + +Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of +great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the +easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition +could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he +never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley +had the firmest reliance, and of his judgement the highest opinion. +In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means +deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, +reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not +inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley +was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually +giving offense. + +The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently +characteristic. Bingley had never met with more pleasant people or +prettier girls in his life; everybody had been most kind and attentive +to him; there had been no formality, no stiffness; he had soon felt +acquainted with all the room; and, as to Miss Bennet, he could not +conceive an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a +collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for +none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received +either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, +but she smiled too much. + +Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so--but still they admired +her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one +whom they would not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore +established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorized by such +commendation to think of her as he chose. + + + +Chapter 5 + + +Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets +were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade +in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune, and risen to the +honour of knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty. +The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a +disgust to his business, and to his residence in a small market town; +and, in quitting them both, he had removed with his family to a house +about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge, +where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, +unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to all +the world. For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him +supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to everybody. By +nature inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his presentation at St. +James's had made him courteous. + +Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a +valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. They had several children. The eldest +of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven, was +Elizabeth's intimate friend. + +That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to talk over +a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning after the assembly +brought the former to Longbourn to hear and to communicate. + +"_You_ began the evening well, Charlotte," said Mrs. Bennet with civil +self-command to Miss Lucas. "_You_ were Mr. Bingley's first choice." + +"Yes; but he seemed to like his second better." + +"Oh! you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice. To be +sure that _did_ seem as if he admired her--indeed I rather believe he +_did_--I heard something about it--but I hardly know what--something +about Mr. Robinson." + +"Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson; did not +I mention it to you? Mr. Robinson's asking him how he liked our Meryton +assemblies, and whether he did not think there were a great many +pretty women in the room, and _which_ he thought the prettiest? and his +answering immediately to the last question: 'Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet, +beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinions on that point.'" + +"Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed--that does seem as +if--but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know." + +"_My_ overhearings were more to the purpose than _yours_, Eliza," said +Charlotte. "Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend, +is he?--poor Eliza!--to be only just _tolerable_." + +"I beg you would not put it into Lizzy's head to be vexed by his +ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man, that it would be quite +a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long told me last night that he +sat close to her for half-an-hour without once opening his lips." + +"Are you quite sure, ma'am?--is not there a little mistake?" said Jane. +"I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her." + +"Aye--because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield, and he +could not help answering her; but she said he seemed quite angry at +being spoke to." + +"Miss Bingley told me," said Jane, "that he never speaks much, +unless among his intimate acquaintances. With _them_ he is remarkably +agreeable." + +"I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very +agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it +was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had +heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had come to +the ball in a hack chaise." + +"I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long," said Miss Lucas, "but I +wish he had danced with Eliza." + +"Another time, Lizzy," said her mother, "I would not dance with _him_, +if I were you." + +"I believe, ma'am, I may safely promise you _never_ to dance with him." + +"His pride," said Miss Lucas, "does not offend _me_ so much as pride +often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so +very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, +should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a _right_ +to be proud." + +"That is very true," replied Elizabeth, "and I could easily forgive +_his_ pride, if he had not mortified _mine_." + +"Pride," observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her +reflections, "is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have +ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed; that human +nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us +who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some +quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different +things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may +be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of +ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us." + +"If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy," cried a young Lucas, who came with +his sisters, "I should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of +foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine a day." + +"Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought," said Mrs. +Bennet; "and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle +directly." + +The boy protested that she should not; she continued to declare that she +would, and the argument ended only with the visit. + + + +Chapter 6 + + +The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit +was soon returned in due form. Miss Bennet's pleasing manners grew on +the goodwill of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and though the mother was +found to be intolerable, and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, +a wish of being better acquainted with _them_ was expressed towards +the two eldest. By Jane, this attention was received with the greatest +pleasure, but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their treatment +of everybody, hardly excepting even her sister, and could not like them; +though their kindness to Jane, such as it was, had a value as arising in +all probability from the influence of their brother's admiration. It +was generally evident whenever they met, that he _did_ admire her and +to _her_ it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference +which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a +way to be very much in love; but she considered with pleasure that it +was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane +united, with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and a +uniform cheerfulness of manner which would guard her from the suspicions +of the impertinent. She mentioned this to her friend Miss Lucas. + +"It may perhaps be pleasant," replied Charlotte, "to be able to impose +on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be +so very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill +from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and +it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in +the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every +attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all +_begin_ freely--a slight preference is natural enough; but there are +very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without +encouragement. In nine cases out of ten a women had better show _more_ +affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he +may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on." + +"But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can +perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton, indeed, not to +discover it too." + +"Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do." + +"But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal +it, he must find it out." + +"Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But, though Bingley and Jane +meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and, as they +always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that +every moment should be employed in conversing together. Jane should +therefore make the most of every half-hour in which she can command his +attention. When she is secure of him, there will be more leisure for +falling in love as much as she chooses." + +"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in +question but the desire of being well married, and if I were determined +to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But +these are not Jane's feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, +she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard nor of its +reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four +dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house, +and has since dined with him in company four times. This is not quite +enough to make her understand his character." + +"Not as you represent it. Had she merely _dined_ with him, she might +only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must +remember that four evenings have also been spent together--and four +evenings may do a great deal." + +"Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they +both like Vingt-un better than Commerce; but with respect to any other +leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded." + +"Well," said Charlotte, "I wish Jane success with all my heart; and +if she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a +chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a +twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If +the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or +ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the +least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to +have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as +possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your +life." + +"You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not +sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself." + +Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister, Elizabeth +was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some +interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely +allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the +ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no +sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly +had a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered +uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To +this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had +detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry +in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and +pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those +of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness. Of +this she was perfectly unaware; to her he was only the man who made +himself agreeable nowhere, and who had not thought her handsome enough +to dance with. + +He began to wish to know more of her, and as a step towards conversing +with her himself, attended to her conversation with others. His doing so +drew her notice. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party were +assembled. + +"What does Mr. Darcy mean," said she to Charlotte, "by listening to my +conversation with Colonel Forster?" + +"That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer." + +"But if he does it any more I shall certainly let him know that I see +what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by +being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him." + +On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have +any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such +a subject to him; which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she +turned to him and said: + +"Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly +well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at +Meryton?" + +"With great energy; but it is always a subject which makes a lady +energetic." + +"You are severe on us." + +"It will be _her_ turn soon to be teased," said Miss Lucas. "I am going +to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows." + +"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend!--always wanting me +to play and sing before anybody and everybody! If my vanity had taken +a musical turn, you would have been invaluable; but as it is, I would +really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of +hearing the very best performers." On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, +she added, "Very well, if it must be so, it must." And gravely glancing +at Mr. Darcy, "There is a fine old saying, which everybody here is of +course familiar with: 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge'; and I +shall keep mine to swell my song." + +Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song +or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that +she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her +sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in +the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always +impatient for display. + +Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her +application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited +manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she +had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with +much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Mary, at the +end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by +Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who, +with some of the Lucases, and two or three officers, joined eagerly in +dancing at one end of the room. + +Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of +passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too +much engrossed by his thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was +his neighbour, till Sir William thus began: + +"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There +is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first +refinements of polished society." + +"Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst +the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance." + +Sir William only smiled. "Your friend performs delightfully," he +continued after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; "and I doubt +not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy." + +"You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir." + +"Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do +you often dance at St. James's?" + +"Never, sir." + +"Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?" + +"It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it." + +"You have a house in town, I conclude?" + +Mr. Darcy bowed. + +"I had once had some thought of fixing in town myself--for I am fond +of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of +London would agree with Lady Lucas." + +He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not disposed +to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was +struck with the action of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to +her: + +"My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow +me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You +cannot refuse to dance, I am sure when so much beauty is before you." +And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy who, though +extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly +drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William: + +"Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you +not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner." + +Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honour of +her hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at +all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion. + +"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny +me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the +amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us +for one half-hour." + +"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling. + +"He is, indeed; but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, +we cannot wonder at his complaisance--for who would object to such a +partner?" + +Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistance had not +injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some +complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley: + +"I can guess the subject of your reverie." + +"I should imagine not." + +"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings +in this manner--in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. +I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise--the +nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people! What would +I give to hear your strictures on them!" + +"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more +agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure +which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow." + +Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he +would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. +Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity: + +"Miss Elizabeth Bennet." + +"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. +How long has she been such a favourite?--and pray, when am I to wish you +joy?" + +"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's +imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love +to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy." + +"Nay, if you are serious about it, I shall consider the matter is +absolutely settled. You will be having a charming mother-in-law, indeed; +and, of course, she will always be at Pemberley with you." + +He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to +entertain herself in this manner; and as his composure convinced her +that all was safe, her wit flowed long. + + + +Chapter 7 + + +Mr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two +thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, +in default of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their mother's +fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply +the deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and +had left her four thousand pounds. + +She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been a clerk to +their father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in +London in a respectable line of trade. + +The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most +convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted +thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt and +to a milliner's shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family, +Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions; +their minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing +better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning +hours and furnish conversation for the evening; and however bare of news +the country in general might be, they always contrived to learn some +from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with +news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the +neighbourhood; it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the +headquarters. + +Their visits to Mrs. Phillips were now productive of the most +interesting intelligence. Every day added something to their knowledge +of the officers' names and connections. Their lodgings were not long a +secret, and at length they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. +Phillips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a store of +felicity unknown before. They could talk of nothing but officers; and +Mr. Bingley's large fortune, the mention of which gave animation +to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the +regimentals of an ensign. + +After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr. +Bennet coolly observed: + +"From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two +of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but +I am now convinced." + +Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer; but Lydia, with perfect +indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, +and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the +next morning to London. + +"I am astonished, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet, "that you should be so +ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slightingly +of anybody's children, it should not be of my own, however." + +"If my children are silly, I must hope to be always sensible of it." + +"Yes--but as it happens, they are all of them very clever." + +"This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I +had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must +so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly +foolish." + +"My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of +their father and mother. When they get to our age, I dare say they will +not think about officers any more than we do. I remember the time when +I liked a red coat myself very well--and, indeed, so I do still at my +heart; and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, +should want one of my girls I shall not say nay to him; and I thought +Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir William's in +his regimentals." + +"Mamma," cried Lydia, "my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain +Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson's as they did when they first +came; she sees them now very often standing in Clarke's library." + +Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with +a note for Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited +for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was +eagerly calling out, while her daughter read, + +"Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, +Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love." + +"It is from Miss Bingley," said Jane, and then read it aloud. + +"MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +"If you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, +we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, +for a whole day's tete-a-tete between two women can never end without a +quarrel. Come as soon as you can on receipt of this. My brother and the +gentlemen are to dine with the officers.--Yours ever, + +"CAROLINE BINGLEY" + +"With the officers!" cried Lydia. "I wonder my aunt did not tell us of +_that_." + +"Dining out," said Mrs. Bennet, "that is very unlucky." + +"Can I have the carriage?" said Jane. + +"No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to +rain; and then you must stay all night." + +"That would be a good scheme," said Elizabeth, "if you were sure that +they would not offer to send her home." + +"Oh! but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's chaise to go to Meryton, +and the Hursts have no horses to theirs." + +"I had much rather go in the coach." + +"But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure. They are +wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are they not?" + +"They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them." + +"But if you have got them to-day," said Elizabeth, "my mother's purpose +will be answered." + +She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses +were engaged. Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her +mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a +bad day. Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before +it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was +delighted. The rain continued the whole evening without intermission; +Jane certainly could not come back. + +"This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!" said Mrs. Bennet more than +once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own. Till the +next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her +contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield +brought the following note for Elizabeth: + +"MY DEAREST LIZZY,-- + +"I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be +imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not +hear of my returning till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. +Jones--therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been +to me--and, excepting a sore throat and headache, there is not much the +matter with me.--Yours, etc." + +"Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note +aloud, "if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness--if she +should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of +Mr. Bingley, and under your orders." + +"Oh! I am not afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling +colds. She will be taken good care of. As long as she stays there, it is +all very well. I would go and see her if I could have the carriage." + +Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though +the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horsewoman, walking +was her only alternative. She declared her resolution. + +"How can you be so silly," cried her mother, "as to think of such a +thing, in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seen when you get +there." + +"I shall be very fit to see Jane--which is all I want." + +"Is this a hint to me, Lizzy," said her father, "to send for the +horses?" + +"No, indeed, I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing +when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner." + +"I admire the activity of your benevolence," observed Mary, "but every +impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, +exertion should always be in proportion to what is required." + +"We will go as far as Meryton with you," said Catherine and Lydia. +Elizabeth accepted their company, and the three young ladies set off +together. + +"If we make haste," said Lydia, as they walked along, "perhaps we may +see something of Captain Carter before he goes." + +In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one +of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing +field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing +over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last +within view of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face +glowing with the warmth of exercise. + +She was shown into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were +assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. +That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such +dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and +Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt +for it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and in their +brother's manners there was something better than politeness; there +was good humour and kindness. Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. +Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the +brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as +to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was +thinking only of his breakfast. + +Her inquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered. Miss +Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish, and not +well enough to leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her +immediately; and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving +alarm or inconvenience from expressing in her note how much she longed +for such a visit, was delighted at her entrance. She was not equal, +however, to much conversation, and when Miss Bingley left them +together, could attempt little besides expressions of gratitude for the +extraordinary kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended +her. + +When breakfast was over they were joined by the sisters; and Elizabeth +began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and +solicitude they showed for Jane. The apothecary came, and having +examined his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught +a violent cold, and that they must endeavour to get the better of it; +advised her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts. The advice +was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head +ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment; nor were +the other ladies often absent; the gentlemen being out, they had, in +fact, nothing to do elsewhere. + +When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very +unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only +wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such concern +in parting with her, that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer +of the chaise to an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. +Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and a servant was dispatched to +Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay and bring back a supply +of clothes. + + + +Chapter 8 + + +At five o'clock the two ladies retired to dress, and at half-past six +Elizabeth was summoned to dinner. To the civil inquiries which then +poured in, and amongst which she had the pleasure of distinguishing the +much superior solicitude of Mr. Bingley's, she could not make a very +favourable answer. Jane was by no means better. The sisters, on hearing +this, repeated three or four times how much they were grieved, how +shocking it was to have a bad cold, and how excessively they disliked +being ill themselves; and then thought no more of the matter: and their +indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them restored +Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her former dislike. + +Their brother, indeed, was the only one of the party whom she could +regard with any complacency. His anxiety for Jane was evident, and his +attentions to herself most pleasing, and they prevented her feeling +herself so much an intruder as she believed she was considered by the +others. She had very little notice from any but him. Miss Bingley was +engrossed by Mr. Darcy, her sister scarcely less so; and as for Mr. +Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man, who lived only to +eat, drink, and play at cards; who, when he found her to prefer a plain +dish to a ragout, had nothing to say to her. + +When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley +began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were +pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; +she had no conversation, no style, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the +same, and added: + +"She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent +walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really +looked almost wild." + +"She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very +nonsensical to come at all! Why must _she_ be scampering about the +country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!" + +"Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep +in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to +hide it not doing its office." + +"Your picture may be very exact, Louisa," said Bingley; "but this was +all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably +well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite +escaped my notice." + +"_You_ observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley; "and I am +inclined to think that you would not wish to see _your_ sister make such +an exhibition." + +"Certainly not." + +"To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, +above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by +it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, +a most country-town indifference to decorum." + +"It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing," said +Bingley. + +"I am afraid, Mr. Darcy," observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper, "that +this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes." + +"Not at all," he replied; "they were brightened by the exercise." A +short pause followed this speech, and Mrs. Hurst began again: + +"I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very +sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with +such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is +no chance of it." + +"I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney on +Meryton." + +"Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside." + +"That is capital," added her sister, and they both laughed heartily. + +"If they had uncles enough to fill _all_ Cheapside," cried Bingley, "it +would not make them one jot less agreeable." + +"But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any +consideration in the world," replied Darcy. + +To this speech Bingley made no answer; but his sisters gave it their +hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of +their dear friend's vulgar relations. + +With a renewal of tenderness, however, they returned to her room on +leaving the dining-parlour, and sat with her till summoned to coffee. +She was still very poorly, and Elizabeth would not quit her at all, till +late in the evening, when she had the comfort of seeing her sleep, and +when it seemed to her rather right than pleasant that she should go +downstairs herself. On entering the drawing-room she found the whole +party at loo, and was immediately invited to join them; but suspecting +them to be playing high she declined it, and making her sister the +excuse, said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay +below, with a book. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment. + +"Do you prefer reading to cards?" said he; "that is rather singular." + +"Miss Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, "despises cards. She is a great +reader, and has no pleasure in anything else." + +"I deserve neither such praise nor such censure," cried Elizabeth; "I am +_not_ a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things." + +"In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure," said Bingley; "and +I hope it will be soon increased by seeing her quite well." + +Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards the +table where a few books were lying. He immediately offered to fetch her +others--all that his library afforded. + +"And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own +credit; but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more +than I ever looked into." + +Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those +in the room. + +"I am astonished," said Miss Bingley, "that my father should have left +so small a collection of books. What a delightful library you have at +Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!" + +"It ought to be good," he replied, "it has been the work of many +generations." + +"And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are always buying +books." + +"I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as +these." + +"Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of +that noble place. Charles, when you build _your_ house, I wish it may be +half as delightful as Pemberley." + +"I wish it may." + +"But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that +neighbourhood, and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a +finer county in England than Derbyshire." + +"With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it." + +"I am talking of possibilities, Charles." + +"Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get +Pemberley by purchase than by imitation." + +Elizabeth was so much caught with what passed, as to leave her very +little attention for her book; and soon laying it wholly aside, she drew +near the card-table, and stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and his +eldest sister, to observe the game. + +"Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?" said Miss Bingley; "will +she be as tall as I am?" + +"I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet's height, or +rather taller." + +"How I long to see her again! I never met with anybody who delighted me +so much. Such a countenance, such manners! And so extremely accomplished +for her age! Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite." + +"It is amazing to me," said Bingley, "how young ladies can have patience +to be so very accomplished as they all are." + +"All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you mean?" + +"Yes, all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover screens, and +net purses. I scarcely know anyone who cannot do all this, and I am sure +I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being +informed that she was very accomplished." + +"Your list of the common extent of accomplishments," said Darcy, "has +too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no +otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen. But I am very +far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I +cannot boast of knowing more than half-a-dozen, in the whole range of my +acquaintance, that are really accomplished." + +"Nor I, I am sure," said Miss Bingley. + +"Then," observed Elizabeth, "you must comprehend a great deal in your +idea of an accomplished woman." + +"Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it." + +"Oh! certainly," cried his faithful assistant, "no one can be really +esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met +with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, +dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides +all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of +walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word +will be but half-deserved." + +"All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this she must +yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by +extensive reading." + +"I am no longer surprised at your knowing _only_ six accomplished women. +I rather wonder now at your knowing _any_." + +"Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all +this?" + +"I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity, and taste, and +application, and elegance, as you describe united." + +Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the injustice of her +implied doubt, and were both protesting that they knew many women who +answered this description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order, with +bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward. As all +conversation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the +room. + +"Elizabeth Bennet," said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, +"is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the +other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say, it +succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art." + +"Undoubtedly," replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, +"there is a meanness in _all_ the arts which ladies sometimes condescend +to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is +despicable." + +Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to +continue the subject. + +Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse, and +that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mr. Jones being sent for +immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could +be of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most +eminent physicians. This she would not hear of; but she was not so +unwilling to comply with their brother's proposal; and it was settled +that Mr. Jones should be sent for early in the morning, if Miss Bennet +were not decidedly better. Bingley was quite uncomfortable; his sisters +declared that they were miserable. They solaced their wretchedness, +however, by duets after supper, while he could find no better relief +to his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every +attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister. + + + +Chapter 9 + + +Elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's room, and in the +morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the +inquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid, +and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his +sisters. In spite of this amendment, however, she requested to have a +note sent to Longbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her +own judgement of her situation. The note was immediately dispatched, and +its contents as quickly complied with. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her +two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast. + +Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been +very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was +not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her +restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. She +would not listen, therefore, to her daughter's proposal of being carried +home; neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think +it at all advisable. After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss +Bingley's appearance and invitation, the mother and three daughter all +attended her into the breakfast parlour. Bingley met them with hopes +that Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected. + +"Indeed I have, sir," was her answer. "She is a great deal too ill to be +moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass +a little longer on your kindness." + +"Removed!" cried Bingley. "It must not be thought of. My sister, I am +sure, will not hear of her removal." + +"You may depend upon it, Madam," said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, +"that Miss Bennet will receive every possible attention while she +remains with us." + +Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments. + +"I am sure," she added, "if it was not for such good friends I do not +know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers +a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the world, which is +always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest +temper I have ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are +nothing to _her_. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a +charming prospect over the gravel walk. I do not know a place in the +country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it +in a hurry, I hope, though you have but a short lease." + +"Whatever I do is done in a hurry," replied he; "and therefore if I +should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five +minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here." + +"That is exactly what I should have supposed of you," said Elizabeth. + +"You begin to comprehend me, do you?" cried he, turning towards her. + +"Oh! yes--I understand you perfectly." + +"I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen +through I am afraid is pitiful." + +"That is as it happens. It does not follow that a deep, intricate +character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours." + +"Lizzy," cried her mother, "remember where you are, and do not run on in +the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home." + +"I did not know before," continued Bingley immediately, "that you were a +studier of character. It must be an amusing study." + +"Yes, but intricate characters are the _most_ amusing. They have at +least that advantage." + +"The country," said Darcy, "can in general supply but a few subjects for +such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and +unvarying society." + +"But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be +observed in them for ever." + +"Yes, indeed," cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning +a country neighbourhood. "I assure you there is quite as much of _that_ +going on in the country as in town." + +Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, +turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete +victory over him, continued her triumph. + +"I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for +my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal +pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Bingley?" + +"When I am in the country," he replied, "I never wish to leave it; +and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their +advantages, and I can be equally happy in either." + +"Aye--that is because you have the right disposition. But that +gentleman," looking at Darcy, "seemed to think the country was nothing +at all." + +"Indeed, Mamma, you are mistaken," said Elizabeth, blushing for her +mother. "You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there was not +such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, +which you must acknowledge to be true." + +"Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting +with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few +neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families." + +Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his +countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards +Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of +saying something that might turn her mother's thoughts, now asked her if +Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since _her_ coming away. + +"Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agreeable man Sir +William is, Mr. Bingley, is not he? So much the man of fashion! So +genteel and easy! He had always something to say to everybody. _That_ +is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very +important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter." + +"Did Charlotte dine with you?" + +"No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince-pies. For +my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work; +_my_ daughters are brought up very differently. But everybody is to +judge for themselves, and the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, +I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think +Charlotte so _very_ plain--but then she is our particular friend." + +"She seems a very pleasant young woman." + +"Oh! dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself +has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty. I do not like to boast +of my own child, but to be sure, Jane--one does not often see anybody +better looking. It is what everybody says. I do not trust my own +partiality. When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother +Gardiner's in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was +sure he would make her an offer before we came away. But, however, he +did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses +on her, and very pretty they were." + +"And so ended his affection," said Elizabeth impatiently. "There has +been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first +discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!" + +"I have been used to consider poetry as the _food_ of love," said Darcy. + +"Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is +strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I +am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away." + +Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth +tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again. She longed to +speak, but could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence Mrs. +Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to +Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was +unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be +civil also, and say what the occasion required. She performed her part +indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and +soon afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of +her daughters put herself forward. The two girls had been whispering to +each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the +youngest should tax Mr. Bingley with having promised on his first coming +into the country to give a ball at Netherfield. + +Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion +and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose +affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high +animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the +attention of the officers, to whom her uncle's good dinners, and her own +easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. She was very +equal, therefore, to address Mr. Bingley on the subject of the ball, and +abruptly reminded him of his promise; adding, that it would be the most +shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this +sudden attack was delightful to their mother's ear: + +"I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and when +your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of +the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill." + +Lydia declared herself satisfied. "Oh! yes--it would be much better to +wait till Jane was well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter +would be at Meryton again. And when you have given _your_ ball," she +added, "I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel +Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not." + +Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned +instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations' behaviour to the +remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy; the latter of whom, however, +could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of _her_, in spite of +all Miss Bingley's witticisms on _fine eyes_. + + + +Chapter 10 + + +The day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss +Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid, who +continued, though slowly, to mend; and in the evening Elizabeth joined +their party in the drawing-room. The loo-table, however, did not appear. +Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching +the progress of his letter and repeatedly calling off his attention by +messages to his sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and +Mrs. Hurst was observing their game. + +Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in +attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion. The perpetual +commendations of the lady, either on his handwriting, or on the evenness +of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the perfect unconcern +with which her praises were received, formed a curious dialogue, and was +exactly in union with her opinion of each. + +"How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!" + +He made no answer. + +"You write uncommonly fast." + +"You are mistaken. I write rather slowly." + +"How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of a +year! Letters of business, too! How odious I should think them!" + +"It is fortunate, then, that they fall to my lot instead of yours." + +"Pray tell your sister that I long to see her." + +"I have already told her so once, by your desire." + +"I am afraid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you. I mend +pens remarkably well." + +"Thank you--but I always mend my own." + +"How can you contrive to write so even?" + +He was silent. + +"Tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her improvement on the harp; +and pray let her know that I am quite in raptures with her beautiful +little design for a table, and I think it infinitely superior to Miss +Grantley's." + +"Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again? At +present I have not room to do them justice." + +"Oh! it is of no consequence. I shall see her in January. But do you +always write such charming long letters to her, Mr. Darcy?" + +"They are generally long; but whether always charming it is not for me +to determine." + +"It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long letter with +ease, cannot write ill." + +"That will not do for a compliment to Darcy, Caroline," cried her +brother, "because he does _not_ write with ease. He studies too much for +words of four syllables. Do not you, Darcy?" + +"My style of writing is very different from yours." + +"Oh!" cried Miss Bingley, "Charles writes in the most careless way +imaginable. He leaves out half his words, and blots the rest." + +"My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them--by which +means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my correspondents." + +"Your humility, Mr. Bingley," said Elizabeth, "must disarm reproof." + +"Nothing is more deceitful," said Darcy, "than the appearance of +humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an +indirect boast." + +"And which of the two do you call _my_ little recent piece of modesty?" + +"The indirect boast; for you are really proud of your defects in +writing, because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of +thought and carelessness of execution, which, if not estimable, you +think at least highly interesting. The power of doing anything with +quickness is always prized much by the possessor, and often without any +attention to the imperfection of the performance. When you told Mrs. +Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved upon quitting Netherfield +you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of +panegyric, of compliment to yourself--and yet what is there so very +laudable in a precipitance which must leave very necessary business +undone, and can be of no real advantage to yourself or anyone else?" + +"Nay," cried Bingley, "this is too much, to remember at night all the +foolish things that were said in the morning. And yet, upon my honour, +I believe what I said of myself to be true, and I believe it at this +moment. At least, therefore, I did not assume the character of needless +precipitance merely to show off before the ladies." + +"I dare say you believed it; but I am by no means convinced that +you would be gone with such celerity. Your conduct would be quite as +dependent on chance as that of any man I know; and if, as you were +mounting your horse, a friend were to say, 'Bingley, you had better +stay till next week,' you would probably do it, you would probably not +go--and at another word, might stay a month." + +"You have only proved by this," cried Elizabeth, "that Mr. Bingley did +not do justice to his own disposition. You have shown him off now much +more than he did himself." + +"I am exceedingly gratified," said Bingley, "by your converting what my +friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper. But I am +afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means +intend; for he would certainly think better of me, if under such a +circumstance I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as fast as I +could." + +"Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intentions +as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it?" + +"Upon my word, I cannot exactly explain the matter; Darcy must speak for +himself." + +"You expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine, +but which I have never acknowledged. Allowing the case, however, to +stand according to your representation, you must remember, Miss Bennet, +that the friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house, and +the delay of his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offering +one argument in favour of its propriety." + +"To yield readily--easily--to the _persuasion_ of a friend is no merit +with you." + +"To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of +either." + +"You appear to me, Mr. Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of +friendship and affection. A regard for the requester would often make +one readily yield to a request, without waiting for arguments to reason +one into it. I am not particularly speaking of such a case as you have +supposed about Mr. Bingley. We may as well wait, perhaps, till the +circumstance occurs before we discuss the discretion of his behaviour +thereupon. But in general and ordinary cases between friend and friend, +where one of them is desired by the other to change a resolution of no +very great moment, should you think ill of that person for complying +with the desire, without waiting to be argued into it?" + +"Will it not be advisable, before we proceed on this subject, to +arrange with rather more precision the degree of importance which is to +appertain to this request, as well as the degree of intimacy subsisting +between the parties?" + +"By all means," cried Bingley; "let us hear all the particulars, not +forgetting their comparative height and size; for that will have more +weight in the argument, Miss Bennet, than you may be aware of. I assure +you, that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with +myself, I should not pay him half so much deference. I declare I do not +know a more awful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in +particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening, +when he has nothing to do." + +Mr. Darcy smiled; but Elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was +rather offended, and therefore checked her laugh. Miss Bingley warmly +resented the indignity he had received, in an expostulation with her +brother for talking such nonsense. + +"I see your design, Bingley," said his friend. "You dislike an argument, +and want to silence this." + +"Perhaps I do. Arguments are too much like disputes. If you and Miss +Bennet will defer yours till I am out of the room, I shall be very +thankful; and then you may say whatever you like of me." + +"What you ask," said Elizabeth, "is no sacrifice on my side; and Mr. +Darcy had much better finish his letter." + +Mr. Darcy took her advice, and did finish his letter. + +When that business was over, he applied to Miss Bingley and Elizabeth +for an indulgence of some music. Miss Bingley moved with some alacrity +to the pianoforte; and, after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead +the way which the other as politely and more earnestly negatived, she +seated herself. + +Mrs. Hurst sang with her sister, and while they were thus employed, +Elizabeth could not help observing, as she turned over some music-books +that lay on the instrument, how frequently Mr. Darcy's eyes were fixed +on her. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of +admiration to so great a man; and yet that he should look at her +because he disliked her, was still more strange. She could only imagine, +however, at last that she drew his notice because there was something +more wrong and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right, than in +any other person present. The supposition did not pain her. She liked +him too little to care for his approbation. + +After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm by +a lively Scotch air; and soon afterwards Mr. Darcy, drawing near +Elizabeth, said to her: + +"Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an +opportunity of dancing a reel?" + +She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question, with some +surprise at her silence. + +"Oh!" said she, "I heard you before, but I could not immediately +determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say 'Yes,' +that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always +delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of +their premeditated contempt. I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell +you, that I do not want to dance a reel at all--and now despise me if +you dare." + +"Indeed I do not dare." + +Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his +gallantry; but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her +manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy +had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really +believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he +should be in some danger. + +Miss Bingley saw, or suspected enough to be jealous; and her great +anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane received some +assistance from her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth. + +She often tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest, by talking of +their supposed marriage, and planning his happiness in such an alliance. + +"I hope," said she, as they were walking together in the shrubbery +the next day, "you will give your mother-in-law a few hints, when this +desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue; +and if you can compass it, do cure the younger girls of running after +officers. And, if I may mention so delicate a subject, endeavour to +check that little something, bordering on conceit and impertinence, +which your lady possesses." + +"Have you anything else to propose for my domestic felicity?" + +"Oh! yes. Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Phillips be placed +in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great-uncle the +judge. They are in the same profession, you know, only in different +lines. As for your Elizabeth's picture, you must not have it taken, for +what painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes?" + +"It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression, but their +colour and shape, and the eyelashes, so remarkably fine, might be +copied." + +At that moment they were met from another walk by Mrs. Hurst and +Elizabeth herself. + +"I did not know that you intended to walk," said Miss Bingley, in some +confusion, lest they had been overheard. + +"You used us abominably ill," answered Mrs. Hurst, "running away without +telling us that you were coming out." + +Then taking the disengaged arm of Mr. Darcy, she left Elizabeth to walk +by herself. The path just admitted three. Mr. Darcy felt their rudeness, +and immediately said: + +"This walk is not wide enough for our party. We had better go into the +avenue." + +But Elizabeth, who had not the least inclination to remain with them, +laughingly answered: + +"No, no; stay where you are. You are charmingly grouped, and appear +to uncommon advantage. The picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a +fourth. Good-bye." + +She then ran gaily off, rejoicing as she rambled about, in the hope of +being at home again in a day or two. Jane was already so much recovered +as to intend leaving her room for a couple of hours that evening. + + + +Chapter 11 + + +When the ladies removed after dinner, Elizabeth ran up to her +sister, and seeing her well guarded from cold, attended her into the +drawing-room, where she was welcomed by her two friends with many +professions of pleasure; and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable +as they were during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared. +Their powers of conversation were considerable. They could describe an +entertainment with accuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh +at their acquaintance with spirit. + +But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer the first object; +Miss Bingley's eyes were instantly turned toward Darcy, and she had +something to say to him before he had advanced many steps. He addressed +himself to Miss Bennet, with a polite congratulation; Mr. Hurst also +made her a slight bow, and said he was "very glad;" but diffuseness +and warmth remained for Bingley's salutation. He was full of joy and +attention. The first half-hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she +should suffer from the change of room; and she removed at his desire +to the other side of the fireplace, that she might be further from +the door. He then sat down by her, and talked scarcely to anyone +else. Elizabeth, at work in the opposite corner, saw it all with great +delight. + +When tea was over, Mr. Hurst reminded his sister-in-law of the +card-table--but in vain. She had obtained private intelligence that Mr. +Darcy did not wish for cards; and Mr. Hurst soon found even his open +petition rejected. She assured him that no one intended to play, and +the silence of the whole party on the subject seemed to justify her. Mr. +Hurst had therefore nothing to do, but to stretch himself on one of the +sofas and go to sleep. Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same; +and Mrs. Hurst, principally occupied in playing with her bracelets +and rings, joined now and then in her brother's conversation with Miss +Bennet. + +Miss Bingley's attention was quite as much engaged in watching Mr. +Darcy's progress through _his_ book, as in reading her own; and she +was perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page. She +could not win him, however, to any conversation; he merely answered her +question, and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be +amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the +second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, "How pleasant +it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no +enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a +book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not +an excellent library." + +No one made any reply. She then yawned again, threw aside her book, and +cast her eyes round the room in quest for some amusement; when hearing +her brother mentioning a ball to Miss Bennet, she turned suddenly +towards him and said: + +"By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating a dance at +Netherfield? I would advise you, before you determine on it, to consult +the wishes of the present party; I am much mistaken if there are +not some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than a +pleasure." + +"If you mean Darcy," cried her brother, "he may go to bed, if he +chooses, before it begins--but as for the ball, it is quite a settled +thing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough, I shall send +round my cards." + +"I should like balls infinitely better," she replied, "if they were +carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably +tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much +more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of +the day." + +"Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it would not be +near so much like a ball." + +Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards she got up and walked +about the room. Her figure was elegant, and she walked well; but +Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In +the desperation of her feelings, she resolved on one effort more, and, +turning to Elizabeth, said: + +"Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example, and take a +turn about the room. I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so +long in one attitude." + +Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley +succeeded no less in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked +up. He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as +Elizabeth herself could be, and unconsciously closed his book. He was +directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, observing that +he could imagine but two motives for their choosing to walk up and down +the room together, with either of which motives his joining them would +interfere. "What could he mean? She was dying to know what could be his +meaning?"--and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him? + +"Not at all," was her answer; "but depend upon it, he means to be severe +on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing +about it." + +Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy in +anything, and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his +two motives. + +"I have not the smallest objection to explaining them," said he, as soon +as she allowed him to speak. "You either choose this method of passing +the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret +affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures +appear to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be +completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better +as I sit by the fire." + +"Oh! shocking!" cried Miss Bingley. "I never heard anything so +abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?" + +"Nothing so easy, if you have but the inclination," said Elizabeth. "We +can all plague and punish one another. Tease him--laugh at him. Intimate +as you are, you must know how it is to be done." + +"But upon my honour, I do _not_. I do assure you that my intimacy has +not yet taught me _that_. Tease calmness of manner and presence of +mind! No, no--feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter, we will +not expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a +subject. Mr. Darcy may hug himself." + +"Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!" cried Elizabeth. "That is an +uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would +be a great loss to _me_ to have many such acquaintances. I dearly love a +laugh." + +"Miss Bingley," said he, "has given me more credit than can be. +The wisest and the best of men--nay, the wisest and best of their +actions--may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in +life is a joke." + +"Certainly," replied Elizabeth--"there are such people, but I hope I +am not one of _them_. I hope I never ridicule what is wise and good. +Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies, _do_ divert me, I own, +and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose, are precisely +what you are without." + +"Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study +of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong +understanding to ridicule." + +"Such as vanity and pride." + +"Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride--where there is a real +superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation." + +Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile. + +"Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume," said Miss Bingley; +"and pray what is the result?" + +"I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it +himself without disguise." + +"No," said Darcy, "I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, +but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch +for. It is, I believe, too little yielding--certainly too little for the +convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others +so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings +are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper +would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost +forever." + +"_That_ is a failing indeed!" cried Elizabeth. "Implacable resentment +_is_ a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. I +really cannot _laugh_ at it. You are safe from me." + +"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular +evil--a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome." + +"And _your_ defect is to hate everybody." + +"And yours," he replied with a smile, "is willfully to misunderstand +them." + +"Do let us have a little music," cried Miss Bingley, tired of a +conversation in which she had no share. "Louisa, you will not mind my +waking Mr. Hurst?" + +Her sister had not the smallest objection, and the pianoforte was +opened; and Darcy, after a few moments' recollection, was not sorry for +it. He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention. + + + +Chapter 12 + + +In consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote the +next morning to their mother, to beg that the carriage might be sent for +them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated on +her daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which +would exactly finish Jane's week, could not bring herself to receive +them with pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at +least not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get home. Mrs. +Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage +before Tuesday; and in her postscript it was added, that if Mr. Bingley +and his sister pressed them to stay longer, she could spare them +very well. Against staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively +resolved--nor did she much expect it would be asked; and fearful, on the +contrary, as being considered as intruding themselves needlessly long, +she urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage immediately, and at +length it was settled that their original design of leaving Netherfield +that morning should be mentioned, and the request made. + +The communication excited many professions of concern; and enough was +said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day to work +on Jane; and till the morrow their going was deferred. Miss Bingley was +then sorry that she had proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike +of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other. + +The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so +soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it would not be +safe for her--that she was not enough recovered; but Jane was firm where +she felt herself to be right. + +To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence--Elizabeth had been at +Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked--and Miss +Bingley was uncivil to _her_, and more teasing than usual to himself. +He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration +should _now_ escape him, nothing that could elevate her with the hope +of influencing his felicity; sensible that if such an idea had been +suggested, his behaviour during the last day must have material weight +in confirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke +ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, and though they were +at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour, he adhered most +conscientiously to his book, and would not even look at her. + +On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable to almost +all, took place. Miss Bingley's civility to Elizabeth increased at last +very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane; and when they parted, +after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give her +to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most +tenderly, she even shook hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of +the whole party in the liveliest of spirits. + +They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet +wondered at their coming, and thought them very wrong to give so much +trouble, and was sure Jane would have caught cold again. But their +father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really +glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle. The +evening conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of +its animation, and almost all its sense by the absence of Jane and +Elizabeth. + +They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough-bass and human +nature; and had some extracts to admire, and some new observations of +threadbare morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information +for them of a different sort. Much had been done and much had been said +in the regiment since the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers +had dined lately with their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it +had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married. + + + +Chapter 13 + + +"I hope, my dear," said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at +breakfast the next morning, "that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, +because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party." + +"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, +unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in--and I hope _my_ dinners +are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home." + +"The person of whom I speak is a gentleman, and a stranger." + +Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. "A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. +Bingley, I am sure! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. +Bingley. But--good Lord! how unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to be +got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell--I must speak to Hill this +moment." + +"It is _not_ Mr. Bingley," said her husband; "it is a person whom I +never saw in the whole course of my life." + +This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being +eagerly questioned by his wife and his five daughters at once. + +After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained: + +"About a month ago I received this letter; and about a fortnight ago +I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring +early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, +may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases." + +"Oh! my dear," cried his wife, "I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. +Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing +in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own +children; and I am sure, if I had been you, I should have tried long ago +to do something or other about it." + +Jane and Elizabeth tried to explain to her the nature of an entail. They +had often attempted to do it before, but it was a subject on which +Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason, and she continued to rail +bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of +five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about. + +"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet, "and +nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. +But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little +softened by his manner of expressing himself." + +"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it is very impertinent of +him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false +friends. Why could he not keep on quarreling with you, as his father did +before him?" + +"Why, indeed; he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that +head, as you will hear." + +"Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, 15th October. + +"Dear Sir,-- + +"The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured +father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the +misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but +for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might +seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone +with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.--'There, Mrs. +Bennet.'--My mind, however, is now made up on the subject, for having +received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be +distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de +Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has +preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be +my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her +ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which +are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I +feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in +all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I +flatter myself that my present overtures are highly commendable, and +that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate +will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the +offered olive-branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the +means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for +it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible +amends--but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to +receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting +on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and +shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'ennight +following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine +is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided +that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day.--I +remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and +daughters, your well-wisher and friend, + +"WILLIAM COLLINS" + +"At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peace-making gentleman," +said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. "He seems to be a most +conscientious and polite young man, upon my word, and I doubt not will +prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so +indulgent as to let him come to us again." + +"There is some sense in what he says about the girls, however, and if +he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to +discourage him." + +"Though it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean +to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his +credit." + +Elizabeth was chiefly struck by his extraordinary deference for Lady +Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying +his parishioners whenever it were required. + +"He must be an oddity, I think," said she. "I cannot make him +out.--There is something very pompous in his style.--And what can he +mean by apologising for being next in the entail?--We cannot suppose he +would help it if he could.--Could he be a sensible man, sir?" + +"No, my dear, I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the +reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his +letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him." + +"In point of composition," said Mary, "the letter does not seem +defective. The idea of the olive-branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I +think it is well expressed." + +To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were in any +degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should +come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had +received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for +their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, +and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which +astonished her husband and daughters. + +Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great +politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet indeed said little; but the +ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in +need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a +tall, heavy-looking young man of five-and-twenty. His air was grave and +stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated +before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of +daughters; said he had heard much of their beauty, but that in this +instance fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did +not doubt her seeing them all in due time disposed of in marriage. This +gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers; but Mrs. +Bennet, who quarreled with no compliments, answered most readily. + +"You are very kind, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may +prove so, for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so +oddly." + +"You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate." + +"Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you +must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with _you_, for such things +I know are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates +will go when once they come to be entailed." + +"I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, and +could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing +forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come +prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more; but, perhaps, +when we are better acquainted--" + +He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the girls smiled on each +other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The +hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture, were examined and praised; +and his commendation of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet's +heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his +own future property. The dinner too in its turn was highly admired; and +he begged to know to which of his fair cousins the excellency of its +cooking was owing. But he was set right there by Mrs. Bennet, who +assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a +good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He +begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared +herself not at all offended; but he continued to apologise for about a +quarter of an hour. + + + +Chapter 14 + + +During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants +were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his +guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to +shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady +Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for +his comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen +better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him +to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect +he protested that "he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in +a person of rank--such affability and condescension, as he had himself +experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to +approve of both of the discourses which he had already had the honour of +preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, +and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of +quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many +people he knew, but _he_ had never seen anything but affability in her. +She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she +made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the +neighbourhood nor to his leaving the parish occasionally for a week or +two, to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise him to +marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had +once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage, where she had perfectly +approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed +to suggest some herself--some shelves in the closet upstairs." + +"That is all very proper and civil, I am sure," said Mrs. Bennet, "and +I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies +in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?" + +"The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane +from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence." + +"I think you said she was a widow, sir? Has she any family?" + +"She has only one daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very +extensive property." + +"Ah!" said Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, "then she is better off than +many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? Is she handsome?" + +"She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself says +that, in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh is far superior to the +handsomest of her sex, because there is that in her features which marks +the young lady of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly +constitution, which has prevented her from making that progress in many +accomplishments which she could not have otherwise failed of, as I am +informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still +resides with them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends +to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies." + +"Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at +court." + +"Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; +and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine one day, has deprived the +British court of its brightest ornaments. Her ladyship seemed pleased +with the idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to +offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable +to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that +her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most +elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by +her. These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and +it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to +pay." + +"You judge very properly," said Mr. Bennet, "and it is happy for you +that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask +whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the +moment, or are the result of previous study?" + +"They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I +sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant +compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to +give them as unstudied an air as possible." + +Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd +as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, +maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, +and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner +in his pleasure. + +By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad +to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and, when tea was over, +glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily +assented, and a book was produced; but, on beholding it (for everything +announced it to be from a circulating library), he started back, and +begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. Kitty stared at +him, and Lydia exclaimed. Other books were produced, and after some +deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the +volume, and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three +pages, she interrupted him with: + +"Do you know, mamma, that my uncle Phillips talks of turning away +Richard; and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me +so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more +about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town." + +Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but Mr. +Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said: + +"I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books +of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes +me, I confess; for, certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to +them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin." + +Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at +backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted +very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. +Mrs. Bennet and her daughters apologised most civilly for Lydia's +interruption, and promised that it should not occur again, if he would +resume his book; but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his +young cousin no ill-will, and should never resent her behaviour as any +affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared +for backgammon. + + + +Chapter 15 + + +Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had +been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part +of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and +miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he +had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful +acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up had +given him originally great humility of manner; but it was now a +good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in +retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected +prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de +Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which +he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, +mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a +clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of +pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility. + +Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to +marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had +a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found +them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. +This was his plan of amends--of atonement--for inheriting their father's +estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and +suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own +part. + +His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet's lovely face +confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what +was due to seniority; and for the first evening _she_ was his settled +choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a +quarter of an hour's tete-a-tete with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a +conversation beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally +to the avowal of his hopes, that a mistress might be found for it at +Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general +encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. "As to +her _younger_ daughters, she could not take upon her to say--she could +not positively answer--but she did not _know_ of any prepossession; her +_eldest_ daughter, she must just mention--she felt it incumbent on her +to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged." + +Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth--and it was soon +done--done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally +next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course. + +Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have +two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to speak of +the day before was now high in her good graces. + +Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister +except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, +at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, +and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed +him after breakfast; and there he would continue, nominally engaged with +one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. +Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such +doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been +always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told +Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room of the +house, he was used to be free from them there; his civility, therefore, +was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their +walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker +than a reader, was extremely pleased to close his large book, and go. + +In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his +cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of +the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were +immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and +nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in +a shop window, could recall them. + +But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom +they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking +with another officer on the other side of the way. The officer was +the very Mr. Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came +to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the +stranger's air, all wondered who he could be; and Kitty and Lydia, +determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under +pretense of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately +had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had +reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated +permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with +him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted a +commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the +young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. +His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of +beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. +The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness +of conversation--a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and +unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and talking together +very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy +and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the +ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and +began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and +Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to +Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated +it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes +on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the +stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they +looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. +Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, +after a few moments, touched his hat--a salutation which Mr. Darcy just +deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible to +imagine; it was impossible not to long to know. + +In another minute, Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what +passed, took leave and rode on with his friend. + +Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of +Mr. Phillip's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's +pressing entreaties that they should come in, and even in spite of +Mrs. Phillips's throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the +invitation. + +Mrs. Phillips was always glad to see her nieces; and the two eldest, +from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was +eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as +their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing +about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop-boy in the +street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to +Netherfield because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility +was claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She +received him with her very best politeness, which he returned with +as much more, apologising for his intrusion, without any previous +acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself, +however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who +introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Phillips was quite awed by such an +excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of one stranger was soon +put to an end by exclamations and inquiries about the other; of whom, +however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that +Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a +lieutenant's commission in the ----shire. She had been watching him the +last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. +Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the +occupation, but unluckily no one passed windows now except a few of the +officers, who, in comparison with the stranger, were become "stupid, +disagreeable fellows." Some of them were to dine with the Phillipses +the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. +Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn +would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Phillips +protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery +tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such +delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. +Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured +with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless. + +As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass +between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either +or both, had they appeared to be in the wrong, she could no more explain +such behaviour than her sister. + +Mr. Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring +Mrs. Phillips's manners and politeness. He protested that, except Lady +Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman; +for she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but even +pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening, although +utterly unknown to her before. Something, he supposed, might be +attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so +much attention in the whole course of his life. + + + +Chapter 16 + + +As no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their +aunt, and all Mr. Collins's scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for +a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach +conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and +the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing-room, +that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation, and was then in +the house. + +When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr. +Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much +struck with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he +might almost have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast +parlour at Rosings; a comparison that did not at first convey much +gratification; but when Mrs. Phillips understood from him what +Rosings was, and who was its proprietor--when she had listened to the +description of only one of Lady Catherine's drawing-rooms, and found +that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt all +the force of the compliment, and would hardly have resented a comparison +with the housekeeper's room. + +In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her mansion, +with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode, and +the improvements it was receiving, he was happily employed until the +gentlemen joined them; and he found in Mrs. Phillips a very attentive +listener, whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she +heard, and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbours as +soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, +and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine +their own indifferent imitations of china on the mantelpiece, the +interval of waiting appeared very long. It was over at last, however. +The gentlemen did approach, and when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, +Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking +of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. +The officers of the ----shire were in general a very creditable, +gentlemanlike set, and the best of them were of the present party; but +Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and +walk, as _they_ were superior to the broad-faced, stuffy uncle Phillips, +breathing port wine, who followed them into the room. + +Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was +turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated +himself; and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into +conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, made her feel +that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered +interesting by the skill of the speaker. + +With such rivals for the notice of the fair as Mr. Wickham and the +officers, Mr. Collins seemed to sink into insignificance; to the young +ladies he certainly was nothing; but he had still at intervals a kind +listener in Mrs. Phillips, and was by her watchfulness, most abundantly +supplied with coffee and muffin. When the card-tables were placed, he +had the opportunity of obliging her in turn, by sitting down to whist. + +"I know little of the game at present," said he, "but I shall be glad +to improve myself, for in my situation in life--" Mrs. Phillips was very +glad for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason. + +Mr. Wickham did not play at whist, and with ready delight was he +received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there +seemed danger of Lydia's engrossing him entirely, for she was a most +determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, +she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets +and exclaiming after prizes to have attention for anyone in particular. +Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore +at leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear +him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be +told--the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not +even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity, however, was unexpectedly +relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He inquired how far +Netherfield was from Meryton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in +a hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there. + +"About a month," said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the subject +drop, added, "He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I +understand." + +"Yes," replied Mr. Wickham; "his estate there is a noble one. A clear +ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more +capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself, for +I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my +infancy." + +Elizabeth could not but look surprised. + +"You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after +seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting +yesterday. Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?" + +"As much as I ever wish to be," cried Elizabeth very warmly. "I have +spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very +disagreeable." + +"I have no right to give _my_ opinion," said Wickham, "as to his being +agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him +too long and too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for _me_ +to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general +astonish--and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly +anywhere else. Here you are in your own family." + +"Upon my word, I say no more _here_ than I might say in any house in +the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not at all liked in +Hertfordshire. Everybody is disgusted with his pride. You will not find +him more favourably spoken of by anyone." + +"I cannot pretend to be sorry," said Wickham, after a short +interruption, "that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond +their deserts; but with _him_ I believe it does not often happen. The +world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his +high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen." + +"I should take him, even on _my_ slight acquaintance, to be an +ill-tempered man." Wickham only shook his head. + +"I wonder," said he, at the next opportunity of speaking, "whether he is +likely to be in this country much longer." + +"I do not at all know; but I _heard_ nothing of his going away when I +was at Netherfield. I hope your plans in favour of the ----shire will +not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood." + +"Oh! no--it is not for _me_ to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If _he_ +wishes to avoid seeing _me_, he must go. We are not on friendly terms, +and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for +avoiding _him_ but what I might proclaim before all the world, a sense +of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets at his being what he +is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men +that ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had; and I can never +be in company with this Mr. Darcy without being grieved to the soul by +a thousand tender recollections. His behaviour to myself has been +scandalous; but I verily believe I could forgive him anything and +everything, rather than his disappointing the hopes and disgracing the +memory of his father." + +Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with +all her heart; but the delicacy of it prevented further inquiry. + +Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics, Meryton, the +neighbourhood, the society, appearing highly pleased with all that +he had yet seen, and speaking of the latter with gentle but very +intelligible gallantry. + +"It was the prospect of constant society, and good society," he added, +"which was my chief inducement to enter the ----shire. I knew it to be +a most respectable, agreeable corps, and my friend Denny tempted me +further by his account of their present quarters, and the very great +attentions and excellent acquaintances Meryton had procured them. +Society, I own, is necessary to me. I have been a disappointed man, and +my spirits will not bear solitude. I _must_ have employment and society. +A military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have +now made it eligible. The church _ought_ to have been my profession--I +was brought up for the church, and I should at this time have been in +possession of a most valuable living, had it pleased the gentleman we +were speaking of just now." + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes--the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best +living in his gift. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to me. +I cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply, +and thought he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given +elsewhere." + +"Good heavens!" cried Elizabeth; "but how could _that_ be? How could his +will be disregarded? Why did you not seek legal redress?" + +"There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to +give me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the +intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it--or to treat it as a merely +conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim +to it by extravagance, imprudence--in short anything or nothing. Certain +it is, that the living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I was +of an age to hold it, and that it was given to another man; and no +less certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of having really done +anything to deserve to lose it. I have a warm, unguarded temper, and +I may have spoken my opinion _of_ him, and _to_ him, too freely. I can +recall nothing worse. But the fact is, that we are very different sort +of men, and that he hates me." + +"This is quite shocking! He deserves to be publicly disgraced." + +"Some time or other he _will_ be--but it shall not be by _me_. Till I +can forget his father, I can never defy or expose _him_." + +Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than +ever as he expressed them. + +"But what," said she, after a pause, "can have been his motive? What can +have induced him to behave so cruelly?" + +"A thorough, determined dislike of me--a dislike which I cannot but +attribute in some measure to jealousy. Had the late Mr. Darcy liked me +less, his son might have borne with me better; but his father's uncommon +attachment to me irritated him, I believe, very early in life. He had +not a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood--the sort +of preference which was often given me." + +"I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this--though I have never liked +him. I had not thought so very ill of him. I had supposed him to be +despising his fellow-creatures in general, but did not suspect him of +descending to such malicious revenge, such injustice, such inhumanity as +this." + +After a few minutes' reflection, however, she continued, "I _do_ +remember his boasting one day, at Netherfield, of the implacability of +his resentments, of his having an unforgiving temper. His disposition +must be dreadful." + +"I will not trust myself on the subject," replied Wickham; "I can hardly +be just to him." + +Elizabeth was again deep in thought, and after a time exclaimed, "To +treat in such a manner the godson, the friend, the favourite of his +father!" She could have added, "A young man, too, like _you_, whose very +countenance may vouch for your being amiable"--but she contented herself +with, "and one, too, who had probably been his companion from childhood, +connected together, as I think you said, in the closest manner!" + +"We were born in the same parish, within the same park; the greatest +part of our youth was passed together; inmates of the same house, +sharing the same amusements, objects of the same parental care. _My_ +father began life in the profession which your uncle, Mr. Phillips, +appears to do so much credit to--but he gave up everything to be of +use to the late Mr. Darcy and devoted all his time to the care of the +Pemberley property. He was most highly esteemed by Mr. Darcy, a most +intimate, confidential friend. Mr. Darcy often acknowledged himself to +be under the greatest obligations to my father's active superintendence, +and when, immediately before my father's death, Mr. Darcy gave him a +voluntary promise of providing for me, I am convinced that he felt it to +be as much a debt of gratitude to _him_, as of his affection to myself." + +"How strange!" cried Elizabeth. "How abominable! I wonder that the very +pride of this Mr. Darcy has not made him just to you! If from no better +motive, that he should not have been too proud to be dishonest--for +dishonesty I must call it." + +"It _is_ wonderful," replied Wickham, "for almost all his actions may +be traced to pride; and pride had often been his best friend. It has +connected him nearer with virtue than with any other feeling. But we are +none of us consistent, and in his behaviour to me there were stronger +impulses even than pride." + +"Can such abominable pride as his have ever done him good?" + +"Yes. It has often led him to be liberal and generous, to give his money +freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the +poor. Family pride, and _filial_ pride--for he is very proud of what +his father was--have done this. Not to appear to disgrace his family, +to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose the influence of the +Pemberley House, is a powerful motive. He has also _brotherly_ pride, +which, with _some_ brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and +careful guardian of his sister, and you will hear him generally cried up +as the most attentive and best of brothers." + +"What sort of girl is Miss Darcy?" + +He shook his head. "I wish I could call her amiable. It gives me pain to +speak ill of a Darcy. But she is too much like her brother--very, very +proud. As a child, she was affectionate and pleasing, and extremely fond +of me; and I have devoted hours and hours to her amusement. But she is +nothing to me now. She is a handsome girl, about fifteen or sixteen, +and, I understand, highly accomplished. Since her father's death, her +home has been London, where a lady lives with her, and superintends her +education." + +After many pauses and many trials of other subjects, Elizabeth could not +help reverting once more to the first, and saying: + +"I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley! How can Mr. Bingley, +who seems good humour itself, and is, I really believe, truly amiable, +be in friendship with such a man? How can they suit each other? Do you +know Mr. Bingley?" + +"Not at all." + +"He is a sweet-tempered, amiable, charming man. He cannot know what Mr. +Darcy is." + +"Probably not; but Mr. Darcy can please where he chooses. He does not +want abilities. He can be a conversible companion if he thinks it worth +his while. Among those who are at all his equals in consequence, he is +a very different man from what he is to the less prosperous. His +pride never deserts him; but with the rich he is liberal-minded, just, +sincere, rational, honourable, and perhaps agreeable--allowing something +for fortune and figure." + +The whist party soon afterwards breaking up, the players gathered round +the other table and Mr. Collins took his station between his cousin +Elizabeth and Mrs. Phillips. The usual inquiries as to his success was +made by the latter. It had not been very great; he had lost every +point; but when Mrs. Phillips began to express her concern thereupon, +he assured her with much earnest gravity that it was not of the least +importance, that he considered the money as a mere trifle, and begged +that she would not make herself uneasy. + +"I know very well, madam," said he, "that when persons sit down to a +card-table, they must take their chances of these things, and happily I +am not in such circumstances as to make five shillings any object. There +are undoubtedly many who could not say the same, but thanks to Lady +Catherine de Bourgh, I am removed far beyond the necessity of regarding +little matters." + +Mr. Wickham's attention was caught; and after observing Mr. Collins for +a few moments, he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relation +was very intimately acquainted with the family of de Bourgh. + +"Lady Catherine de Bourgh," she replied, "has very lately given him +a living. I hardly know how Mr. Collins was first introduced to her +notice, but he certainly has not known her long." + +"You know of course that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy +were sisters; consequently that she is aunt to the present Mr. Darcy." + +"No, indeed, I did not. I knew nothing at all of Lady Catherine's +connections. I never heard of her existence till the day before +yesterday." + +"Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will have a very large fortune, and it is +believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates." + +This information made Elizabeth smile, as she thought of poor Miss +Bingley. Vain indeed must be all her attentions, vain and useless her +affection for his sister and her praise of himself, if he were already +self-destined for another. + +"Mr. Collins," said she, "speaks highly both of Lady Catherine and her +daughter; but from some particulars that he has related of her ladyship, +I suspect his gratitude misleads him, and that in spite of her being his +patroness, she is an arrogant, conceited woman." + +"I believe her to be both in a great degree," replied Wickham; "I have +not seen her for many years, but I very well remember that I never liked +her, and that her manners were dictatorial and insolent. She has the +reputation of being remarkably sensible and clever; but I rather believe +she derives part of her abilities from her rank and fortune, part from +her authoritative manner, and the rest from the pride for her +nephew, who chooses that everyone connected with him should have an +understanding of the first class." + +Elizabeth allowed that he had given a very rational account of it, and +they continued talking together, with mutual satisfaction till supper +put an end to cards, and gave the rest of the ladies their share of Mr. +Wickham's attentions. There could be no conversation in the noise +of Mrs. Phillips's supper party, but his manners recommended him to +everybody. Whatever he said, was said well; and whatever he did, done +gracefully. Elizabeth went away with her head full of him. She could +think of nothing but of Mr. Wickham, and of what he had told her, all +the way home; but there was not time for her even to mention his name +as they went, for neither Lydia nor Mr. Collins were once silent. Lydia +talked incessantly of lottery tickets, of the fish she had lost and the +fish she had won; and Mr. Collins in describing the civility of Mr. and +Mrs. Phillips, protesting that he did not in the least regard his losses +at whist, enumerating all the dishes at supper, and repeatedly fearing +that he crowded his cousins, had more to say than he could well manage +before the carriage stopped at Longbourn House. + + + +Chapter 17 + + +Elizabeth related to Jane the next day what had passed between Mr. +Wickham and herself. Jane listened with astonishment and concern; she +knew not how to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr. +Bingley's regard; and yet, it was not in her nature to question the +veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham. The +possibility of his having endured such unkindness, was enough to +interest all her tender feelings; and nothing remained therefore to be +done, but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of each, +and throw into the account of accident or mistake whatever could not be +otherwise explained. + +"They have both," said she, "been deceived, I dare say, in some way +or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps +misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to +conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, +without actual blame on either side." + +"Very true, indeed; and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say on +behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the +business? Do clear _them_ too, or we shall be obliged to think ill of +somebody." + +"Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my +opinion. My dearest Lizzy, do but consider in what a disgraceful light +it places Mr. Darcy, to be treating his father's favourite in such +a manner, one whom his father had promised to provide for. It is +impossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had any value for his +character, could be capable of it. Can his most intimate friends be so +excessively deceived in him? Oh! no." + +"I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley's being imposed on, than +that Mr. Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave me +last night; names, facts, everything mentioned without ceremony. If it +be not so, let Mr. Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his +looks." + +"It is difficult indeed--it is distressing. One does not know what to +think." + +"I beg your pardon; one knows exactly what to think." + +But Jane could think with certainty on only one point--that Mr. Bingley, +if he _had_ been imposed on, would have much to suffer when the affair +became public. + +The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery, where this +conversation passed, by the arrival of the very persons of whom they had +been speaking; Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal +invitation for the long-expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed +for the following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their +dear friend again, called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly +asked what she had been doing with herself since their separation. To +the rest of the family they paid little attention; avoiding Mrs. Bennet +as much as possible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all to +the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an +activity which took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as if +eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet's civilities. + +The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every +female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as given in +compliment to her eldest daughter, and was particularly flattered +by receiving the invitation from Mr. Bingley himself, instead of a +ceremonious card. Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the +society of her two friends, and the attentions of her brother; and +Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. +Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's look +and behavior. The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia depended +less on any single event, or any particular person, for though they +each, like Elizabeth, meant to dance half the evening with Mr. Wickham, +he was by no means the only partner who could satisfy them, and a ball +was, at any rate, a ball. And even Mary could assure her family that she +had no disinclination for it. + +"While I can have my mornings to myself," said she, "it is enough--I +think it is no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements. +Society has claims on us all; and I profess myself one of those +who consider intervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for +everybody." + +Elizabeth's spirits were so high on this occasion, that though she did +not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins, she could not help asking +him whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and if +he did, whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's +amusement; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no +scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke +either from the Archbishop, or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by venturing to +dance. + +"I am by no means of the opinion, I assure you," said he, "that a ball +of this kind, given by a young man of character, to respectable people, +can have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing +myself, that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair +cousins in the course of the evening; and I take this opportunity of +soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially, +a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right +cause, and not to any disrespect for her." + +Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. She had fully proposed being +engaged by Mr. Wickham for those very dances; and to have Mr. Collins +instead! her liveliness had never been worse timed. There was no help +for it, however. Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own were perforce +delayed a little longer, and Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as +good a grace as she could. She was not the better pleased with his +gallantry from the idea it suggested of something more. It now first +struck her, that _she_ was selected from among her sisters as worthy +of being mistress of Hunsford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a +quadrille table at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors. +The idea soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasing +civilities toward herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a +compliment on her wit and vivacity; and though more astonished than +gratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long before +her mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage +was extremely agreeable to _her_. Elizabeth, however, did not choose +to take the hint, being well aware that a serious dispute must be the +consequence of any reply. Mr. Collins might never make the offer, and +till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him. + +If there had not been a Netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of, the +younger Miss Bennets would have been in a very pitiable state at this +time, for from the day of the invitation, to the day of the ball, there +was such a succession of rain as prevented their walking to Meryton +once. No aunt, no officers, no news could be sought after--the very +shoe-roses for Netherfield were got by proxy. Even Elizabeth might have +found some trial of her patience in weather which totally suspended the +improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham; and nothing less than +a dance on Tuesday, could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and +Monday endurable to Kitty and Lydia. + + + +Chapter 18 + + +Till Elizabeth entered the drawing-room at Netherfield, and looked in +vain for Mr. Wickham among the cluster of red coats there assembled, a +doubt of his being present had never occurred to her. The certainty +of meeting him had not been checked by any of those recollections that +might not unreasonably have alarmed her. She had dressed with more than +usual care, and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all +that remained unsubdued of his heart, trusting that it was not more than +might be won in the course of the evening. But in an instant arose +the dreadful suspicion of his being purposely omitted for Mr. Darcy's +pleasure in the Bingleys' invitation to the officers; and though +this was not exactly the case, the absolute fact of his absence was +pronounced by his friend Denny, to whom Lydia eagerly applied, and who +told them that Wickham had been obliged to go to town on business the +day before, and was not yet returned; adding, with a significant smile, +"I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now, if +he had not wanted to avoid a certain gentleman here." + +This part of his intelligence, though unheard by Lydia, was caught by +Elizabeth, and, as it assured her that Darcy was not less answerable for +Wickham's absence than if her first surmise had been just, every +feeling of displeasure against the former was so sharpened by immediate +disappointment, that she could hardly reply with tolerable civility to +the polite inquiries which he directly afterwards approached to make. +Attendance, forbearance, patience with Darcy, was injury to Wickham. She +was resolved against any sort of conversation with him, and turned away +with a degree of ill-humour which she could not wholly surmount even in +speaking to Mr. Bingley, whose blind partiality provoked her. + +But Elizabeth was not formed for ill-humour; and though every prospect +of her own was destroyed for the evening, it could not dwell long on her +spirits; and having told all her griefs to Charlotte Lucas, whom she had +not seen for a week, she was soon able to make a voluntary transition +to the oddities of her cousin, and to point him out to her particular +notice. The first two dances, however, brought a return of distress; +they were dances of mortification. Mr. Collins, awkward and solemn, +apologising instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being +aware of it, gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable +partner for a couple of dances can give. The moment of her release from +him was ecstasy. + +She danced next with an officer, and had the refreshment of talking of +Wickham, and of hearing that he was universally liked. When those dances +were over, she returned to Charlotte Lucas, and was in conversation with +her, when she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr. Darcy who took +her so much by surprise in his application for her hand, that, +without knowing what she did, she accepted him. He walked away again +immediately, and she was left to fret over her own want of presence of +mind; Charlotte tried to console her: + +"I dare say you will find him very agreeable." + +"Heaven forbid! _That_ would be the greatest misfortune of all! To find +a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such an +evil." + +When the dancing recommenced, however, and Darcy approached to claim her +hand, Charlotte could not help cautioning her in a whisper, not to be a +simpleton, and allow her fancy for Wickham to make her appear unpleasant +in the eyes of a man ten times his consequence. Elizabeth made no +answer, and took her place in the set, amazed at the dignity to which +she was arrived in being allowed to stand opposite to Mr. Darcy, and +reading in her neighbours' looks, their equal amazement in beholding +it. They stood for some time without speaking a word; and she began to +imagine that their silence was to last through the two dances, and at +first was resolved not to break it; till suddenly fancying that it would +be the greater punishment to her partner to oblige him to talk, she made +some slight observation on the dance. He replied, and was again +silent. After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time +with:--"It is _your_ turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked +about the dance, and _you_ ought to make some sort of remark on the size +of the room, or the number of couples." + +He smiled, and assured her that whatever she wished him to say should be +said. + +"Very well. That reply will do for the present. Perhaps by and by I may +observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones. But +_now_ we may be silent." + +"Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?" + +"Sometimes. One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be +entirely silent for half an hour together; and yet for the advantage of +_some_, conversation ought to be so arranged, as that they may have the +trouble of saying as little as possible." + +"Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you +imagine that you are gratifying mine?" + +"Both," replied Elizabeth archly; "for I have always seen a great +similarity in the turn of our minds. We are each of an unsocial, +taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say +something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to +posterity with all the eclat of a proverb." + +"This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am sure," +said he. "How near it may be to _mine_, I cannot pretend to say. _You_ +think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly." + +"I must not decide on my own performance." + +He made no answer, and they were again silent till they had gone down +the dance, when he asked her if she and her sisters did not very often +walk to Meryton. She answered in the affirmative, and, unable to resist +the temptation, added, "When you met us there the other day, we had just +been forming a new acquaintance." + +The effect was immediate. A deeper shade of _hauteur_ overspread his +features, but he said not a word, and Elizabeth, though blaming herself +for her own weakness, could not go on. At length Darcy spoke, and in a +constrained manner said, "Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners +as may ensure his _making_ friends--whether he may be equally capable of +_retaining_ them, is less certain." + +"He has been so unlucky as to lose _your_ friendship," replied Elizabeth +with emphasis, "and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all +his life." + +Darcy made no answer, and seemed desirous of changing the subject. At +that moment, Sir William Lucas appeared close to them, meaning to pass +through the set to the other side of the room; but on perceiving Mr. +Darcy, he stopped with a bow of superior courtesy to compliment him on +his dancing and his partner. + +"I have been most highly gratified indeed, my dear sir. Such very +superior dancing is not often seen. It is evident that you belong to the +first circles. Allow me to say, however, that your fair partner does not +disgrace you, and that I must hope to have this pleasure often repeated, +especially when a certain desirable event, my dear Eliza (glancing at +her sister and Bingley) shall take place. What congratulations will then +flow in! I appeal to Mr. Darcy:--but let me not interrupt you, sir. You +will not thank me for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that +young lady, whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me." + +The latter part of this address was scarcely heard by Darcy; but Sir +William's allusion to his friend seemed to strike him forcibly, and his +eyes were directed with a very serious expression towards Bingley and +Jane, who were dancing together. Recovering himself, however, shortly, +he turned to his partner, and said, "Sir William's interruption has made +me forget what we were talking of." + +"I do not think we were speaking at all. Sir William could not have +interrupted two people in the room who had less to say for themselves. +We have tried two or three subjects already without success, and what we +are to talk of next I cannot imagine." + +"What think you of books?" said he, smiling. + +"Books--oh! no. I am sure we never read the same, or not with the same +feelings." + +"I am sorry you think so; but if that be the case, there can at least be +no want of subject. We may compare our different opinions." + +"No--I cannot talk of books in a ball-room; my head is always full of +something else." + +"The _present_ always occupies you in such scenes--does it?" said he, +with a look of doubt. + +"Yes, always," she replied, without knowing what she said, for her +thoughts had wandered far from the subject, as soon afterwards appeared +by her suddenly exclaiming, "I remember hearing you once say, Mr. Darcy, +that you hardly ever forgave, that your resentment once created was +unappeasable. You are very cautious, I suppose, as to its _being +created_." + +"I am," said he, with a firm voice. + +"And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?" + +"I hope not." + +"It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, +to be secure of judging properly at first." + +"May I ask to what these questions tend?" + +"Merely to the illustration of _your_ character," said she, endeavouring +to shake off her gravity. "I am trying to make it out." + +"And what is your success?" + +She shook her head. "I do not get on at all. I hear such different +accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly." + +"I can readily believe," answered he gravely, "that reports may vary +greatly with respect to me; and I could wish, Miss Bennet, that you were +not to sketch my character at the present moment, as there is reason to +fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either." + +"But if I do not take your likeness now, I may never have another +opportunity." + +"I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours," he coldly replied. +She said no more, and they went down the other dance and parted in +silence; and on each side dissatisfied, though not to an equal degree, +for in Darcy's breast there was a tolerable powerful feeling towards +her, which soon procured her pardon, and directed all his anger against +another. + +They had not long separated, when Miss Bingley came towards her, and +with an expression of civil disdain accosted her: + +"So, Miss Eliza, I hear you are quite delighted with George Wickham! +Your sister has been talking to me about him, and asking me a thousand +questions; and I find that the young man quite forgot to tell you, among +his other communication, that he was the son of old Wickham, the late +Mr. Darcy's steward. Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to +give implicit confidence to all his assertions; for as to Mr. Darcy's +using him ill, it is perfectly false; for, on the contrary, he has +always been remarkably kind to him, though George Wickham has treated +Mr. Darcy in a most infamous manner. I do not know the particulars, but +I know very well that Mr. Darcy is not in the least to blame, that he +cannot bear to hear George Wickham mentioned, and that though my brother +thought that he could not well avoid including him in his invitation to +the officers, he was excessively glad to find that he had taken himself +out of the way. His coming into the country at all is a most insolent +thing, indeed, and I wonder how he could presume to do it. I pity you, +Miss Eliza, for this discovery of your favourite's guilt; but really, +considering his descent, one could not expect much better." + +"His guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the same," said +Elizabeth angrily; "for I have heard you accuse him of nothing worse +than of being the son of Mr. Darcy's steward, and of _that_, I can +assure you, he informed me himself." + +"I beg your pardon," replied Miss Bingley, turning away with a sneer. +"Excuse my interference--it was kindly meant." + +"Insolent girl!" said Elizabeth to herself. "You are much mistaken +if you expect to influence me by such a paltry attack as this. I see +nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the malice of Mr. +Darcy." She then sought her eldest sister, who has undertaken to make +inquiries on the same subject of Bingley. Jane met her with a smile of +such sweet complacency, a glow of such happy expression, as sufficiently +marked how well she was satisfied with the occurrences of the evening. +Elizabeth instantly read her feelings, and at that moment solicitude for +Wickham, resentment against his enemies, and everything else, gave way +before the hope of Jane's being in the fairest way for happiness. + +"I want to know," said she, with a countenance no less smiling than her +sister's, "what you have learnt about Mr. Wickham. But perhaps you have +been too pleasantly engaged to think of any third person; in which case +you may be sure of my pardon." + +"No," replied Jane, "I have not forgotten him; but I have nothing +satisfactory to tell you. Mr. Bingley does not know the whole of +his history, and is quite ignorant of the circumstances which have +principally offended Mr. Darcy; but he will vouch for the good conduct, +the probity, and honour of his friend, and is perfectly convinced that +Mr. Wickham has deserved much less attention from Mr. Darcy than he has +received; and I am sorry to say by his account as well as his sister's, +Mr. Wickham is by no means a respectable young man. I am afraid he has +been very imprudent, and has deserved to lose Mr. Darcy's regard." + +"Mr. Bingley does not know Mr. Wickham himself?" + +"No; he never saw him till the other morning at Meryton." + +"This account then is what he has received from Mr. Darcy. I am +satisfied. But what does he say of the living?" + +"He does not exactly recollect the circumstances, though he has heard +them from Mr. Darcy more than once, but he believes that it was left to +him _conditionally_ only." + +"I have not a doubt of Mr. Bingley's sincerity," said Elizabeth warmly; +"but you must excuse my not being convinced by assurances only. Mr. +Bingley's defense of his friend was a very able one, I dare say; but +since he is unacquainted with several parts of the story, and has learnt +the rest from that friend himself, I shall venture to still think of +both gentlemen as I did before." + +She then changed the discourse to one more gratifying to each, and on +which there could be no difference of sentiment. Elizabeth listened with +delight to the happy, though modest hopes which Jane entertained of Mr. +Bingley's regard, and said all in her power to heighten her confidence +in it. On their being joined by Mr. Bingley himself, Elizabeth withdrew +to Miss Lucas; to whose inquiry after the pleasantness of her last +partner she had scarcely replied, before Mr. Collins came up to them, +and told her with great exultation that he had just been so fortunate as +to make a most important discovery. + +"I have found out," said he, "by a singular accident, that there is now +in the room a near relation of my patroness. I happened to overhear the +gentleman himself mentioning to the young lady who does the honours of +the house the names of his cousin Miss de Bourgh, and of her mother Lady +Catherine. How wonderfully these sort of things occur! Who would have +thought of my meeting with, perhaps, a nephew of Lady Catherine de +Bourgh in this assembly! I am most thankful that the discovery is made +in time for me to pay my respects to him, which I am now going to +do, and trust he will excuse my not having done it before. My total +ignorance of the connection must plead my apology." + +"You are not going to introduce yourself to Mr. Darcy!" + +"Indeed I am. I shall entreat his pardon for not having done it earlier. +I believe him to be Lady Catherine's _nephew_. It will be in my power to +assure him that her ladyship was quite well yesterday se'nnight." + +Elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a scheme, assuring him +that Mr. Darcy would consider his addressing him without introduction +as an impertinent freedom, rather than a compliment to his aunt; that +it was not in the least necessary there should be any notice on either +side; and that if it were, it must belong to Mr. Darcy, the superior in +consequence, to begin the acquaintance. Mr. Collins listened to her +with the determined air of following his own inclination, and, when she +ceased speaking, replied thus: + +"My dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in the world in +your excellent judgement in all matters within the scope of your +understanding; but permit me to say, that there must be a wide +difference between the established forms of ceremony amongst the laity, +and those which regulate the clergy; for, give me leave to observe that +I consider the clerical office as equal in point of dignity with +the highest rank in the kingdom--provided that a proper humility of +behaviour is at the same time maintained. You must therefore allow me to +follow the dictates of my conscience on this occasion, which leads me to +perform what I look on as a point of duty. Pardon me for neglecting to +profit by your advice, which on every other subject shall be my constant +guide, though in the case before us I consider myself more fitted by +education and habitual study to decide on what is right than a young +lady like yourself." And with a low bow he left her to attack Mr. +Darcy, whose reception of his advances she eagerly watched, and whose +astonishment at being so addressed was very evident. Her cousin prefaced +his speech with a solemn bow and though she could not hear a word of +it, she felt as if hearing it all, and saw in the motion of his lips the +words "apology," "Hunsford," and "Lady Catherine de Bourgh." It vexed +her to see him expose himself to such a man. Mr. Darcy was eyeing him +with unrestrained wonder, and when at last Mr. Collins allowed him time +to speak, replied with an air of distant civility. Mr. Collins, however, +was not discouraged from speaking again, and Mr. Darcy's contempt seemed +abundantly increasing with the length of his second speech, and at the +end of it he only made him a slight bow, and moved another way. Mr. +Collins then returned to Elizabeth. + +"I have no reason, I assure you," said he, "to be dissatisfied with my +reception. Mr. Darcy seemed much pleased with the attention. He answered +me with the utmost civility, and even paid me the compliment of saying +that he was so well convinced of Lady Catherine's discernment as to be +certain she could never bestow a favour unworthily. It was really a very +handsome thought. Upon the whole, I am much pleased with him." + +As Elizabeth had no longer any interest of her own to pursue, she turned +her attention almost entirely on her sister and Mr. Bingley; and the +train of agreeable reflections which her observations gave birth to, +made her perhaps almost as happy as Jane. She saw her in idea settled in +that very house, in all the felicity which a marriage of true affection +could bestow; and she felt capable, under such circumstances, of +endeavouring even to like Bingley's two sisters. Her mother's thoughts +she plainly saw were bent the same way, and she determined not to +venture near her, lest she might hear too much. When they sat down to +supper, therefore, she considered it a most unlucky perverseness which +placed them within one of each other; and deeply was she vexed to find +that her mother was talking to that one person (Lady Lucas) freely, +openly, and of nothing else but her expectation that Jane would soon +be married to Mr. Bingley. It was an animating subject, and Mrs. Bennet +seemed incapable of fatigue while enumerating the advantages of the +match. His being such a charming young man, and so rich, and living but +three miles from them, were the first points of self-gratulation; and +then it was such a comfort to think how fond the two sisters were of +Jane, and to be certain that they must desire the connection as much as +she could do. It was, moreover, such a promising thing for her younger +daughters, as Jane's marrying so greatly must throw them in the way of +other rich men; and lastly, it was so pleasant at her time of life to be +able to consign her single daughters to the care of their sister, that +she might not be obliged to go into company more than she liked. It was +necessary to make this circumstance a matter of pleasure, because on +such occasions it is the etiquette; but no one was less likely than Mrs. +Bennet to find comfort in staying home at any period of her life. She +concluded with many good wishes that Lady Lucas might soon be equally +fortunate, though evidently and triumphantly believing there was no +chance of it. + +In vain did Elizabeth endeavour to check the rapidity of her mother's +words, or persuade her to describe her felicity in a less audible +whisper; for, to her inexpressible vexation, she could perceive that the +chief of it was overheard by Mr. Darcy, who sat opposite to them. Her +mother only scolded her for being nonsensical. + +"What is Mr. Darcy to me, pray, that I should be afraid of him? I am +sure we owe him no such particular civility as to be obliged to say +nothing _he_ may not like to hear." + +"For heaven's sake, madam, speak lower. What advantage can it be for you +to offend Mr. Darcy? You will never recommend yourself to his friend by +so doing!" + +Nothing that she could say, however, had any influence. Her mother would +talk of her views in the same intelligible tone. Elizabeth blushed and +blushed again with shame and vexation. She could not help frequently +glancing her eye at Mr. Darcy, though every glance convinced her of what +she dreaded; for though he was not always looking at her mother, she was +convinced that his attention was invariably fixed by her. The expression +of his face changed gradually from indignant contempt to a composed and +steady gravity. + +At length, however, Mrs. Bennet had no more to say; and Lady Lucas, who +had been long yawning at the repetition of delights which she saw no +likelihood of sharing, was left to the comforts of cold ham and +chicken. Elizabeth now began to revive. But not long was the interval of +tranquillity; for, when supper was over, singing was talked of, and +she had the mortification of seeing Mary, after very little entreaty, +preparing to oblige the company. By many significant looks and silent +entreaties, did she endeavour to prevent such a proof of complaisance, +but in vain; Mary would not understand them; such an opportunity of +exhibiting was delightful to her, and she began her song. Elizabeth's +eyes were fixed on her with most painful sensations, and she watched her +progress through the several stanzas with an impatience which was very +ill rewarded at their close; for Mary, on receiving, amongst the thanks +of the table, the hint of a hope that she might be prevailed on to +favour them again, after the pause of half a minute began another. +Mary's powers were by no means fitted for such a display; her voice was +weak, and her manner affected. Elizabeth was in agonies. She looked at +Jane, to see how she bore it; but Jane was very composedly talking to +Bingley. She looked at his two sisters, and saw them making signs +of derision at each other, and at Darcy, who continued, however, +imperturbably grave. She looked at her father to entreat his +interference, lest Mary should be singing all night. He took the hint, +and when Mary had finished her second song, said aloud, "That will do +extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. Let the other +young ladies have time to exhibit." + +Mary, though pretending not to hear, was somewhat disconcerted; and +Elizabeth, sorry for her, and sorry for her father's speech, was afraid +her anxiety had done no good. Others of the party were now applied to. + +"If I," said Mr. Collins, "were so fortunate as to be able to sing, I +should have great pleasure, I am sure, in obliging the company with an +air; for I consider music as a very innocent diversion, and perfectly +compatible with the profession of a clergyman. I do not mean, however, +to assert that we can be justified in devoting too much of our time +to music, for there are certainly other things to be attended to. The +rector of a parish has much to do. In the first place, he must make +such an agreement for tithes as may be beneficial to himself and not +offensive to his patron. He must write his own sermons; and the time +that remains will not be too much for his parish duties, and the care +and improvement of his dwelling, which he cannot be excused from making +as comfortable as possible. And I do not think it of light importance +that he should have attentive and conciliatory manner towards everybody, +especially towards those to whom he owes his preferment. I cannot acquit +him of that duty; nor could I think well of the man who should omit an +occasion of testifying his respect towards anybody connected with the +family." And with a bow to Mr. Darcy, he concluded his speech, which had +been spoken so loud as to be heard by half the room. Many stared--many +smiled; but no one looked more amused than Mr. Bennet himself, while his +wife seriously commended Mr. Collins for having spoken so sensibly, +and observed in a half-whisper to Lady Lucas, that he was a remarkably +clever, good kind of young man. + +To Elizabeth it appeared that, had her family made an agreement to +expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would +have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or +finer success; and happy did she think it for Bingley and her sister +that some of the exhibition had escaped his notice, and that his +feelings were not of a sort to be much distressed by the folly which he +must have witnessed. That his two sisters and Mr. Darcy, however, should +have such an opportunity of ridiculing her relations, was bad enough, +and she could not determine whether the silent contempt of the +gentleman, or the insolent smiles of the ladies, were more intolerable. + +The rest of the evening brought her little amusement. She was teased by +Mr. Collins, who continued most perseveringly by her side, and though +he could not prevail on her to dance with him again, put it out of her +power to dance with others. In vain did she entreat him to stand up with +somebody else, and offer to introduce him to any young lady in the room. +He assured her, that as to dancing, he was perfectly indifferent to it; +that his chief object was by delicate attentions to recommend himself to +her and that he should therefore make a point of remaining close to her +the whole evening. There was no arguing upon such a project. She owed +her greatest relief to her friend Miss Lucas, who often joined them, and +good-naturedly engaged Mr. Collins's conversation to herself. + +She was at least free from the offense of Mr. Darcy's further notice; +though often standing within a very short distance of her, quite +disengaged, he never came near enough to speak. She felt it to be the +probable consequence of her allusions to Mr. Wickham, and rejoiced in +it. + +The Longbourn party were the last of all the company to depart, and, by +a manoeuvre of Mrs. Bennet, had to wait for their carriage a quarter of +an hour after everybody else was gone, which gave them time to see how +heartily they were wished away by some of the family. Mrs. Hurst and her +sister scarcely opened their mouths, except to complain of fatigue, and +were evidently impatient to have the house to themselves. They repulsed +every attempt of Mrs. Bennet at conversation, and by so doing threw a +languor over the whole party, which was very little relieved by the +long speeches of Mr. Collins, who was complimenting Mr. Bingley and his +sisters on the elegance of their entertainment, and the hospitality and +politeness which had marked their behaviour to their guests. Darcy said +nothing at all. Mr. Bennet, in equal silence, was enjoying the scene. +Mr. Bingley and Jane were standing together, a little detached from the +rest, and talked only to each other. Elizabeth preserved as steady a +silence as either Mrs. Hurst or Miss Bingley; and even Lydia was too +much fatigued to utter more than the occasional exclamation of "Lord, +how tired I am!" accompanied by a violent yawn. + +When at length they arose to take leave, Mrs. Bennet was most pressingly +civil in her hope of seeing the whole family soon at Longbourn, and +addressed herself especially to Mr. Bingley, to assure him how happy he +would make them by eating a family dinner with them at any time, without +the ceremony of a formal invitation. Bingley was all grateful pleasure, +and he readily engaged for taking the earliest opportunity of waiting on +her, after his return from London, whither he was obliged to go the next +day for a short time. + +Mrs. Bennet was perfectly satisfied, and quitted the house under the +delightful persuasion that, allowing for the necessary preparations of +settlements, new carriages, and wedding clothes, she should undoubtedly +see her daughter settled at Netherfield in the course of three or four +months. Of having another daughter married to Mr. Collins, she thought +with equal certainty, and with considerable, though not equal, pleasure. +Elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children; and though the +man and the match were quite good enough for _her_, the worth of each +was eclipsed by Mr. Bingley and Netherfield. + + + +Chapter 19 + + +The next day opened a new scene at Longbourn. Mr. Collins made his +declaration in form. Having resolved to do it without loss of time, as +his leave of absence extended only to the following Saturday, and having +no feelings of diffidence to make it distressing to himself even at +the moment, he set about it in a very orderly manner, with all the +observances, which he supposed a regular part of the business. On +finding Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth, and one of the younger girls together, +soon after breakfast, he addressed the mother in these words: + +"May I hope, madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, +when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the +course of this morning?" + +Before Elizabeth had time for anything but a blush of surprise, Mrs. +Bennet answered instantly, "Oh dear!--yes--certainly. I am sure Lizzy +will be very happy--I am sure she can have no objection. Come, Kitty, I +want you upstairs." And, gathering her work together, she was hastening +away, when Elizabeth called out: + +"Dear madam, do not go. I beg you will not go. Mr. Collins must excuse +me. He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear. I am +going away myself." + +"No, no, nonsense, Lizzy. I desire you to stay where you are." And upon +Elizabeth's seeming really, with vexed and embarrassed looks, about to +escape, she added: "Lizzy, I _insist_ upon your staying and hearing Mr. +Collins." + +Elizabeth would not oppose such an injunction--and a moment's +consideration making her also sensible that it would be wisest to get it +over as soon and as quietly as possible, she sat down again and tried to +conceal, by incessant employment the feelings which were divided between +distress and diversion. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty walked off, and as soon as +they were gone, Mr. Collins began. + +"Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty, so far from +doing you any disservice, rather adds to your other perfections. You +would have been less amiable in my eyes had there _not_ been this little +unwillingness; but allow me to assure you, that I have your respected +mother's permission for this address. You can hardly doubt the +purport of my discourse, however your natural delicacy may lead you to +dissemble; my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as +soon as I entered the house, I singled you out as the companion of +my future life. But before I am run away with by my feelings on this +subject, perhaps it would be advisable for me to state my reasons for +marrying--and, moreover, for coming into Hertfordshire with the design +of selecting a wife, as I certainly did." + +The idea of Mr. Collins, with all his solemn composure, being run away +with by his feelings, made Elizabeth so near laughing, that she could +not use the short pause he allowed in any attempt to stop him further, +and he continued: + +"My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for +every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example +of matrimony in his parish; secondly, that I am convinced that it will +add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly--which perhaps I ought +to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and +recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling +patroness. Twice has she condescended to give me her opinion (unasked +too!) on this subject; and it was but the very Saturday night before I +left Hunsford--between our pools at quadrille, while Mrs. Jenkinson was +arranging Miss de Bourgh's footstool, that she said, 'Mr. Collins, you +must marry. A clergyman like you must marry. Choose properly, choose +a gentlewoman for _my_ sake; and for your _own_, let her be an active, +useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small +income go a good way. This is my advice. Find such a woman as soon as +you can, bring her to Hunsford, and I will visit her.' Allow me, by the +way, to observe, my fair cousin, that I do not reckon the notice +and kindness of Lady Catherine de Bourgh as among the least of the +advantages in my power to offer. You will find her manners beyond +anything I can describe; and your wit and vivacity, I think, must be +acceptable to her, especially when tempered with the silence and +respect which her rank will inevitably excite. Thus much for my general +intention in favour of matrimony; it remains to be told why my views +were directed towards Longbourn instead of my own neighbourhood, where I +can assure you there are many amiable young women. But the fact is, that +being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured +father (who, however, may live many years longer), I could not satisfy +myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters, that +the loss to them might be as little as possible, when the melancholy +event takes place--which, however, as I have already said, may not +be for several years. This has been my motive, my fair cousin, and +I flatter myself it will not sink me in your esteem. And now nothing +remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the +violence of my affection. To fortune I am perfectly indifferent, and +shall make no demand of that nature on your father, since I am well +aware that it could not be complied with; and that one thousand pounds +in the four per cents, which will not be yours till after your mother's +decease, is all that you may ever be entitled to. On that head, +therefore, I shall be uniformly silent; and you may assure yourself that +no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married." + +It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now. + +"You are too hasty, sir," she cried. "You forget that I have made no +answer. Let me do it without further loss of time. Accept my thanks for +the compliment you are paying me. I am very sensible of the honour of +your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than to +decline them." + +"I am not now to learn," replied Mr. Collins, with a formal wave of the +hand, "that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the +man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for their +favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second, or even a +third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just +said, and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long." + +"Upon my word, sir," cried Elizabeth, "your hope is a rather +extraordinary one after my declaration. I do assure you that I am not +one of those young ladies (if such young ladies there are) who are so +daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second +time. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. You could not make _me_ +happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who +could make you so. Nay, were your friend Lady Catherine to know me, I +am persuaded she would find me in every respect ill qualified for the +situation." + +"Were it certain that Lady Catherine would think so," said Mr. Collins +very gravely--"but I cannot imagine that her ladyship would at all +disapprove of you. And you may be certain when I have the honour of +seeing her again, I shall speak in the very highest terms of your +modesty, economy, and other amiable qualification." + +"Indeed, Mr. Collins, all praise of me will be unnecessary. You +must give me leave to judge for myself, and pay me the compliment +of believing what I say. I wish you very happy and very rich, and by +refusing your hand, do all in my power to prevent your being otherwise. +In making me the offer, you must have satisfied the delicacy of your +feelings with regard to my family, and may take possession of Longbourn +estate whenever it falls, without any self-reproach. This matter may +be considered, therefore, as finally settled." And rising as she +thus spoke, she would have quitted the room, had Mr. Collins not thus +addressed her: + +"When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on the subject, I +shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you have now given +me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I +know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on +the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to +encourage my suit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the +female character." + +"Really, Mr. Collins," cried Elizabeth with some warmth, "you puzzle me +exceedingly. If what I have hitherto said can appear to you in the form +of encouragement, I know not how to express my refusal in such a way as +to convince you of its being one." + +"You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your +refusal of my addresses is merely words of course. My reasons for +believing it are briefly these: It does not appear to me that my hand is +unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would +be any other than highly desirable. My situation in life, my connections +with the family of de Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are +circumstances highly in my favour; and you should take it into further +consideration, that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no +means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you. Your +portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo +the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications. As I must +therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me, +I shall choose to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by +suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females." + +"I do assure you, sir, that I have no pretensions whatever to that kind +of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man. I would +rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere. I thank you +again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but +to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect +forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant +female, intending to plague you, but as a rational creature, speaking +the truth from her heart." + +"You are uniformly charming!" cried he, with an air of awkward +gallantry; "and I am persuaded that when sanctioned by the express +authority of both your excellent parents, my proposals will not fail of +being acceptable." + +To such perseverance in wilful self-deception Elizabeth would make +no reply, and immediately and in silence withdrew; determined, if +he persisted in considering her repeated refusals as flattering +encouragement, to apply to her father, whose negative might be uttered +in such a manner as to be decisive, and whose behavior at least could +not be mistaken for the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female. + + + +Chapter 20 + + +Mr. Collins was not left long to the silent contemplation of his +successful love; for Mrs. Bennet, having dawdled about in the vestibule +to watch for the end of the conference, no sooner saw Elizabeth open +the door and with quick step pass her towards the staircase, than she +entered the breakfast-room, and congratulated both him and herself in +warm terms on the happy prospect or their nearer connection. Mr. Collins +received and returned these felicitations with equal pleasure, and then +proceeded to relate the particulars of their interview, with the result +of which he trusted he had every reason to be satisfied, since the +refusal which his cousin had steadfastly given him would naturally flow +from her bashful modesty and the genuine delicacy of her character. + +This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet; she would have been +glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant to encourage +him by protesting against his proposals, but she dared not believe it, +and could not help saying so. + +"But, depend upon it, Mr. Collins," she added, "that Lizzy shall be +brought to reason. I will speak to her about it directly. She is a very +headstrong, foolish girl, and does not know her own interest but I will +_make_ her know it." + +"Pardon me for interrupting you, madam," cried Mr. Collins; "but if +she is really headstrong and foolish, I know not whether she would +altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation, who +naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state. If therefore she +actually persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not +to force her into accepting me, because if liable to such defects of +temper, she could not contribute much to my felicity." + +"Sir, you quite misunderstand me," said Mrs. Bennet, alarmed. "Lizzy is +only headstrong in such matters as these. In everything else she is as +good-natured a girl as ever lived. I will go directly to Mr. Bennet, and +we shall very soon settle it with her, I am sure." + +She would not give him time to reply, but hurrying instantly to her +husband, called out as she entered the library, "Oh! Mr. Bennet, you +are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make +Lizzy marry Mr. Collins, for she vows she will not have him, and if you +do not make haste he will change his mind and not have _her_." + +Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and fixed them +on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by +her communication. + +"I have not the pleasure of understanding you," said he, when she had +finished her speech. "Of what are you talking?" + +"Of Mr. Collins and Lizzy. Lizzy declares she will not have Mr. Collins, +and Mr. Collins begins to say that he will not have Lizzy." + +"And what am I to do on the occasion? It seems an hopeless business." + +"Speak to Lizzy about it yourself. Tell her that you insist upon her +marrying him." + +"Let her be called down. She shall hear my opinion." + +Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to the +library. + +"Come here, child," cried her father as she appeared. "I have sent for +you on an affair of importance. I understand that Mr. Collins has made +you an offer of marriage. Is it true?" Elizabeth replied that it was. +"Very well--and this offer of marriage you have refused?" + +"I have, sir." + +"Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your +accepting it. Is it not so, Mrs. Bennet?" + +"Yes, or I will never see her again." + +"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must +be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you +again if you do _not_ marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again +if you _do_." + +Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning, +but Mrs. Bennet, who had persuaded herself that her husband regarded the +affair as she wished, was excessively disappointed. + +"What do you mean, Mr. Bennet, in talking this way? You promised me to +_insist_ upon her marrying him." + +"My dear," replied her husband, "I have two small favours to request. +First, that you will allow me the free use of my understanding on the +present occasion; and secondly, of my room. I shall be glad to have the +library to myself as soon as may be." + +Not yet, however, in spite of her disappointment in her husband, did +Mrs. Bennet give up the point. She talked to Elizabeth again and again; +coaxed and threatened her by turns. She endeavoured to secure Jane +in her interest; but Jane, with all possible mildness, declined +interfering; and Elizabeth, sometimes with real earnestness, and +sometimes with playful gaiety, replied to her attacks. Though her manner +varied, however, her determination never did. + +Mr. Collins, meanwhile, was meditating in solitude on what had passed. +He thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motives his cousin +could refuse him; and though his pride was hurt, he suffered in no other +way. His regard for her was quite imaginary; and the possibility of her +deserving her mother's reproach prevented his feeling any regret. + +While the family were in this confusion, Charlotte Lucas came to spend +the day with them. She was met in the vestibule by Lydia, who, flying to +her, cried in a half whisper, "I am glad you are come, for there is such +fun here! What do you think has happened this morning? Mr. Collins has +made an offer to Lizzy, and she will not have him." + +Charlotte hardly had time to answer, before they were joined by Kitty, +who came to tell the same news; and no sooner had they entered the +breakfast-room, where Mrs. Bennet was alone, than she likewise began on +the subject, calling on Miss Lucas for her compassion, and entreating +her to persuade her friend Lizzy to comply with the wishes of all her +family. "Pray do, my dear Miss Lucas," she added in a melancholy tone, +"for nobody is on my side, nobody takes part with me. I am cruelly used, +nobody feels for my poor nerves." + +Charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of Jane and Elizabeth. + +"Aye, there she comes," continued Mrs. Bennet, "looking as unconcerned +as may be, and caring no more for us than if we were at York, provided +she can have her own way. But I tell you, Miss Lizzy--if you take it +into your head to go on refusing every offer of marriage in this way, +you will never get a husband at all--and I am sure I do not know who is +to maintain you when your father is dead. I shall not be able to keep +you--and so I warn you. I have done with you from this very day. I told +you in the library, you know, that I should never speak to you again, +and you will find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in talking +to undutiful children. Not that I have much pleasure, indeed, in talking +to anybody. People who suffer as I do from nervous complaints can have +no great inclination for talking. Nobody can tell what I suffer! But it +is always so. Those who do not complain are never pitied." + +Her daughters listened in silence to this effusion, sensible that +any attempt to reason with her or soothe her would only increase the +irritation. She talked on, therefore, without interruption from any of +them, till they were joined by Mr. Collins, who entered the room with +an air more stately than usual, and on perceiving whom, she said to +the girls, "Now, I do insist upon it, that you, all of you, hold +your tongues, and let me and Mr. Collins have a little conversation +together." + +Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty followed, but +Lydia stood her ground, determined to hear all she could; and Charlotte, +detained first by the civility of Mr. Collins, whose inquiries after +herself and all her family were very minute, and then by a little +curiosity, satisfied herself with walking to the window and pretending +not to hear. In a doleful voice Mrs. Bennet began the projected +conversation: "Oh! Mr. Collins!" + +"My dear madam," replied he, "let us be for ever silent on this point. +Far be it from me," he presently continued, in a voice that marked his +displeasure, "to resent the behaviour of your daughter. Resignation +to inevitable evils is the evil duty of us all; the peculiar duty of a +young man who has been so fortunate as I have been in early preferment; +and I trust I am resigned. Perhaps not the less so from feeling a doubt +of my positive happiness had my fair cousin honoured me with her hand; +for I have often observed that resignation is never so perfect as +when the blessing denied begins to lose somewhat of its value in our +estimation. You will not, I hope, consider me as showing any disrespect +to your family, my dear madam, by thus withdrawing my pretensions to +your daughter's favour, without having paid yourself and Mr. Bennet the +compliment of requesting you to interpose your authority in my +behalf. My conduct may, I fear, be objectionable in having accepted my +dismission from your daughter's lips instead of your own. But we are all +liable to error. I have certainly meant well through the whole affair. +My object has been to secure an amiable companion for myself, with due +consideration for the advantage of all your family, and if my _manner_ +has been at all reprehensible, I here beg leave to apologise." + + + +Chapter 21 + + +The discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end, and +Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings necessarily +attending it, and occasionally from some peevish allusions of her +mother. As for the gentleman himself, _his_ feelings were chiefly +expressed, not by embarrassment or dejection, or by trying to avoid her, +but by stiffness of manner and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke +to her, and the assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of +himself were transferred for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose +civility in listening to him was a seasonable relief to them all, and +especially to her friend. + +The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill-humour or ill +health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry pride. Elizabeth +had hoped that his resentment might shorten his visit, but his plan did +not appear in the least affected by it. He was always to have gone on +Saturday, and to Saturday he meant to stay. + +After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton to inquire if Mr. Wickham +were returned, and to lament over his absence from the Netherfield ball. +He joined them on their entering the town, and attended them to their +aunt's where his regret and vexation, and the concern of everybody, was +well talked over. To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged +that the necessity of his absence _had_ been self-imposed. + +"I found," said he, "as the time drew near that I had better not meet +Mr. Darcy; that to be in the same room, the same party with him for so +many hours together, might be more than I could bear, and that scenes +might arise unpleasant to more than myself." + +She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for a full +discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they civilly +bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer walked back with +them to Longbourn, and during the walk he particularly attended to +her. His accompanying them was a double advantage; she felt all the +compliment it offered to herself, and it was most acceptable as an +occasion of introducing him to her father and mother. + +Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet; it came +from Netherfield. The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, +hot-pressed paper, well covered with a lady's fair, flowing hand; and +Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read it, and saw +her dwelling intently on some particular passages. Jane recollected +herself soon, and putting the letter away, tried to join with her usual +cheerfulness in the general conversation; but Elizabeth felt an anxiety +on the subject which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no +sooner had he and his companion taken leave, than a glance from Jane +invited her to follow her upstairs. When they had gained their own room, +Jane, taking out the letter, said: + +"This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains has surprised me a good +deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on +their way to town--and without any intention of coming back again. You +shall hear what she says." + +She then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the information +of their having just resolved to follow their brother to town directly, +and of their meaning to dine in Grosvenor Street, where Mr. Hurst had a +house. The next was in these words: "I do not pretend to regret anything +I shall leave in Hertfordshire, except your society, my dearest friend; +but we will hope, at some future period, to enjoy many returns of that +delightful intercourse we have known, and in the meanwhile may +lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved +correspondence. I depend on you for that." To these highflown +expressions Elizabeth listened with all the insensibility of distrust; +and though the suddenness of their removal surprised her, she saw +nothing in it really to lament; it was not to be supposed that their +absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bingley's being there; and as +to the loss of their society, she was persuaded that Jane must cease to +regard it, in the enjoyment of his. + +"It is unlucky," said she, after a short pause, "that you should not be +able to see your friends before they leave the country. But may we not +hope that the period of future happiness to which Miss Bingley looks +forward may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful +intercourse you have known as friends will be renewed with yet greater +satisfaction as sisters? Mr. Bingley will not be detained in London by +them." + +"Caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return into +Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you:" + +"When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which +took him to London might be concluded in three or four days; but as we +are certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when +Charles gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have +determined on following him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend +his vacant hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintances are +already there for the winter; I wish that I could hear that you, my +dearest friend, had any intention of making one of the crowd--but of +that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may +abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your +beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the +three of whom we shall deprive you." + +"It is evident by this," added Jane, "that he comes back no more this +winter." + +"It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean that he _should_." + +"Why will you think so? It must be his own doing. He is his own +master. But you do not know _all_. I _will_ read you the passage which +particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves from _you_." + +"Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister; and, to confess the truth, +_we_ are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think +Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; +and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into +something still more interesting, from the hope we dare entertain of +her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever before +mentioned to you my feelings on this subject; but I will not leave the +country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them +unreasonable. My brother admires her greatly already; he will have +frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing; +her relations all wish the connection as much as his own; and a sister's +partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles most +capable of engaging any woman's heart. With all these circumstances to +favour an attachment, and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest +Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness +of so many?" + +"What do you think of _this_ sentence, my dear Lizzy?" said Jane as she +finished it. "Is it not clear enough? Does it not expressly declare that +Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is +perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference; and that if she +suspects the nature of my feelings for him, she means (most kindly!) to +put me on my guard? Can there be any other opinion on the subject?" + +"Yes, there can; for mine is totally different. Will you hear it?" + +"Most willingly." + +"You shall have it in a few words. Miss Bingley sees that her brother is +in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him +to town in hope of keeping him there, and tries to persuade you that he +does not care about you." + +Jane shook her head. + +"Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. No one who has ever seen you +together can doubt his affection. Miss Bingley, I am sure, cannot. She +is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. +Darcy for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes. But the +case is this: We are not rich enough or grand enough for them; and she +is the more anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother, from the notion +that when there has been _one_ intermarriage, she may have less trouble +in achieving a second; in which there is certainly some ingenuity, and +I dare say it would succeed, if Miss de Bourgh were out of the way. But, +my dearest Jane, you cannot seriously imagine that because Miss Bingley +tells you her brother greatly admires Miss Darcy, he is in the smallest +degree less sensible of _your_ merit than when he took leave of you on +Tuesday, or that it will be in her power to persuade him that, instead +of being in love with you, he is very much in love with her friend." + +"If we thought alike of Miss Bingley," replied Jane, "your +representation of all this might make me quite easy. But I know the +foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of wilfully deceiving +anyone; and all that I can hope in this case is that she is deceiving +herself." + +"That is right. You could not have started a more happy idea, since you +will not take comfort in mine. Believe her to be deceived, by all means. +You have now done your duty by her, and must fret no longer." + +"But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best, in +accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry +elsewhere?" + +"You must decide for yourself," said Elizabeth; "and if, upon mature +deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is +more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, I advise you by +all means to refuse him." + +"How can you talk so?" said Jane, faintly smiling. "You must know that +though I should be exceedingly grieved at their disapprobation, I could +not hesitate." + +"I did not think you would; and that being the case, I cannot consider +your situation with much compassion." + +"But if he returns no more this winter, my choice will never be +required. A thousand things may arise in six months!" + +The idea of his returning no more Elizabeth treated with the utmost +contempt. It appeared to her merely the suggestion of Caroline's +interested wishes, and she could not for a moment suppose that those +wishes, however openly or artfully spoken, could influence a young man +so totally independent of everyone. + +She represented to her sister as forcibly as possible what she felt +on the subject, and had soon the pleasure of seeing its happy effect. +Jane's temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, +though the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope, that +Bingley would return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart. + +They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the departure of the +family, without being alarmed on the score of the gentleman's conduct; +but even this partial communication gave her a great deal of concern, +and she bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky that the ladies should happen +to go away just as they were all getting so intimate together. After +lamenting it, however, at some length, she had the consolation that Mr. +Bingley would be soon down again and soon dining at Longbourn, and the +conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration, that though he had +been invited only to a family dinner, she would take care to have two +full courses. + + + +Chapter 22 + + +The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases and again during the +chief of the day was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. +Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. "It keeps him in good +humour," said she, "and I am more obliged to you than I can express." +Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and +that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was +very amiable, but Charlotte's kindness extended farther than Elizabeth +had any conception of; its object was nothing else than to secure her +from any return of Mr. Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards +herself. Such was Miss Lucas's scheme; and appearances were so +favourable, that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost +secure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very +soon. But here she did injustice to the fire and independence of his +character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next +morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw +himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, +from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to +conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known +till its success might be known likewise; for though feeling almost +secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, +he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. +His reception, however, was of the most flattering kind. Miss Lucas +perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and +instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But little had +she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there. + +In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow, +everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as +they entered the house he earnestly entreated her to name the day that +was to make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must +be waived for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with +his happiness. The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must +guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its +continuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure +and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that +establishment were gained. + +Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for their consent; +and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity. Mr. Collins's present +circumstances made it a most eligible match for their daughter, to whom +they could give little fortune; and his prospects of future wealth were +exceedingly fair. Lady Lucas began directly to calculate, with more +interest than the matter had ever excited before, how many years longer +Mr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir William gave it as his decided +opinion, that whenever Mr. Collins should be in possession of the +Longbourn estate, it would be highly expedient that both he and his wife +should make their appearance at St. James's. The whole family, in short, +were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes +of _coming out_ a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have +done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte's +dying an old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had +gained her point, and had time to consider of it. Her reflections were +in general satisfactory. Mr. Collins, to be sure, was neither sensible +nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must +be imaginary. But still he would be her husband. Without thinking highly +either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was +the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, +and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest +preservative from want. This preservative she had now obtained; and at +the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all +the good luck of it. The least agreeable circumstance in the business +was the surprise it must occasion to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friendship +she valued beyond that of any other person. Elizabeth would wonder, +and probably would blame her; and though her resolution was not to be +shaken, her feelings must be hurt by such a disapprobation. She resolved +to give her the information herself, and therefore charged Mr. Collins, +when he returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint of what had +passed before any of the family. A promise of secrecy was of course very +dutifully given, but it could not be kept without difficulty; for the +curiosity excited by his long absence burst forth in such very direct +questions on his return as required some ingenuity to evade, and he was +at the same time exercising great self-denial, for he was longing to +publish his prosperous love. + +As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the +family, the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the ladies moved +for the night; and Mrs. Bennet, with great politeness and cordiality, +said how happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever +his engagements might allow him to visit them. + +"My dear madam," he replied, "this invitation is particularly +gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and +you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as +possible." + +They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish for +so speedy a return, immediately said: + +"But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here, my +good sir? You had better neglect your relations than run the risk of +offending your patroness." + +"My dear sir," replied Mr. Collins, "I am particularly obliged to you +for this friendly caution, and you may depend upon my not taking so +material a step without her ladyship's concurrence." + +"You cannot be too much upon your guard. Risk anything rather than her +displeasure; and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to us +again, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, +and be satisfied that _we_ shall take no offence." + +"Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is warmly excited by such +affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will speedily receive +from me a letter of thanks for this, and for every other mark of your +regard during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins, though +my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now +take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my +cousin Elizabeth." + +With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew; all of them equally +surprised that he meditated a quick return. Mrs. Bennet wished to +understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her +younger girls, and Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him. +She rated his abilities much higher than any of the others; there was +a solidity in his reflections which often struck her, and though by no +means so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read +and improve himself by such an example as hers, he might become a very +agreeable companion. But on the following morning, every hope of this +kind was done away. Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a +private conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day before. + +The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying himself in love with her +friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two; but +that Charlotte could encourage him seemed almost as far from +possibility as she could encourage him herself, and her astonishment was +consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and +she could not help crying out: + +"Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte--impossible!" + +The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her +story, gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a +reproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained +her composure, and calmly replied: + +"Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible +that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion, +because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?" + +But Elizabeth had now recollected herself, and making a strong effort +for it, was able to assure with tolerable firmness that the prospect of +their relationship was highly grateful to her, and that she wished her +all imaginable happiness. + +"I see what you are feeling," replied Charlotte. "You must be surprised, +very much surprised--so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry +you. But when you have had time to think it over, I hope you will be +satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know; I never +was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's +character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my +chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on +entering the marriage state." + +Elizabeth quietly answered "Undoubtedly;" and after an awkward pause, +they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay much +longer, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. +It was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so +unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins's making two offers +of marriage within three days was nothing in comparison of his being now +accepted. She had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was +not exactly like her own, but she had not supposed it to be possible +that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better +feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins was a +most humiliating picture! And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself +and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it +was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had +chosen. + + + +Chapter 23 + + +Elizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters, reflecting on what +she had heard, and doubting whether she was authorised to mention +it, when Sir William Lucas himself appeared, sent by his daughter, to +announce her engagement to the family. With many compliments to them, +and much self-gratulation on the prospect of a connection between the +houses, he unfolded the matter--to an audience not merely wondering, but +incredulous; for Mrs. Bennet, with more perseverance than politeness, +protested he must be entirely mistaken; and Lydia, always unguarded and +often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed: + +"Good Lord! Sir William, how can you tell such a story? Do not you know +that Mr. Collins wants to marry Lizzy?" + +Nothing less than the complaisance of a courtier could have borne +without anger such treatment; but Sir William's good breeding carried +him through it all; and though he begged leave to be positive as to the +truth of his information, he listened to all their impertinence with the +most forbearing courtesy. + +Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so unpleasant +a situation, now put herself forward to confirm his account, by +mentioning her prior knowledge of it from Charlotte herself; and +endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of her mother and sisters +by the earnestness of her congratulations to Sir William, in which she +was readily joined by Jane, and by making a variety of remarks on the +happiness that might be expected from the match, the excellent character +of Mr. Collins, and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London. + +Mrs. Bennet was in fact too much overpowered to say a great deal while +Sir William remained; but no sooner had he left them than her feelings +found a rapid vent. In the first place, she persisted in disbelieving +the whole of the matter; secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins +had been taken in; thirdly, she trusted that they would never be +happy together; and fourthly, that the match might be broken off. Two +inferences, however, were plainly deduced from the whole: one, that +Elizabeth was the real cause of the mischief; and the other that she +herself had been barbarously misused by them all; and on these two +points she principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could +console and nothing could appease her. Nor did that day wear out her +resentment. A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without +scolding her, a month passed away before she could speak to Sir William +or Lady Lucas without being rude, and many months were gone before she +could at all forgive their daughter. + +Mr. Bennet's emotions were much more tranquil on the occasion, and such +as he did experience he pronounced to be of a most agreeable sort; for +it gratified him, he said, to discover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had +been used to think tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and +more foolish than his daughter! + +Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match; but she said +less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness; +nor could Elizabeth persuade her to consider it as improbable. Kitty +and Lydia were far from envying Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a +clergyman; and it affected them in no other way than as a piece of news +to spread at Meryton. + +Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort +on Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daughter well married; and she +called at Longbourn rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was, +though Mrs. Bennet's sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been +enough to drive happiness away. + +Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them +mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt persuaded that +no real confidence could ever subsist between them again. Her +disappointment in Charlotte made her turn with fonder regard to her +sister, of whose rectitude and delicacy she was sure her opinion could +never be shaken, and for whose happiness she grew daily more anxious, +as Bingley had now been gone a week and nothing more was heard of his +return. + +Jane had sent Caroline an early answer to her letter, and was counting +the days till she might reasonably hope to hear again. The promised +letter of thanks from Mr. Collins arrived on Tuesday, addressed to +their father, and written with all the solemnity of gratitude which a +twelvemonth's abode in the family might have prompted. After discharging +his conscience on that head, he proceeded to inform them, with many +rapturous expressions, of his happiness in having obtained the affection +of their amiable neighbour, Miss Lucas, and then explained that it was +merely with the view of enjoying her society that he had been so ready +to close with their kind wish of seeing him again at Longbourn, whither +he hoped to be able to return on Monday fortnight; for Lady Catherine, +he added, so heartily approved his marriage, that she wished it to take +place as soon as possible, which he trusted would be an unanswerable +argument with his amiable Charlotte to name an early day for making him +the happiest of men. + +Mr. Collins's return into Hertfordshire was no longer a matter of +pleasure to Mrs. Bennet. On the contrary, she was as much disposed to +complain of it as her husband. It was very strange that he should come +to Longbourn instead of to Lucas Lodge; it was also very inconvenient +and exceedingly troublesome. She hated having visitors in the house +while her health was so indifferent, and lovers were of all people the +most disagreeable. Such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs. Bennet, and +they gave way only to the greater distress of Mr. Bingley's continued +absence. + +Neither Jane nor Elizabeth were comfortable on this subject. Day after +day passed away without bringing any other tidings of him than the +report which shortly prevailed in Meryton of his coming no more to +Netherfield the whole winter; a report which highly incensed Mrs. +Bennet, and which she never failed to contradict as a most scandalous +falsehood. + +Even Elizabeth began to fear--not that Bingley was indifferent--but that +his sisters would be successful in keeping him away. Unwilling as +she was to admit an idea so destructive of Jane's happiness, and so +dishonorable to the stability of her lover, she could not prevent its +frequently occurring. The united efforts of his two unfeeling sisters +and of his overpowering friend, assisted by the attractions of Miss +Darcy and the amusements of London might be too much, she feared, for +the strength of his attachment. + +As for Jane, _her_ anxiety under this suspense was, of course, more +painful than Elizabeth's, but whatever she felt she was desirous of +concealing, and between herself and Elizabeth, therefore, the subject +was never alluded to. But as no such delicacy restrained her mother, +an hour seldom passed in which she did not talk of Bingley, express her +impatience for his arrival, or even require Jane to confess that if he +did not come back she would think herself very ill used. It needed +all Jane's steady mildness to bear these attacks with tolerable +tranquillity. + +Mr. Collins returned most punctually on Monday fortnight, but his +reception at Longbourn was not quite so gracious as it had been on his +first introduction. He was too happy, however, to need much attention; +and luckily for the others, the business of love-making relieved them +from a great deal of his company. The chief of every day was spent by +him at Lucas Lodge, and he sometimes returned to Longbourn only in time +to make an apology for his absence before the family went to bed. + +Mrs. Bennet was really in a most pitiable state. The very mention of +anything concerning the match threw her into an agony of ill-humour, +and wherever she went she was sure of hearing it talked of. The sight +of Miss Lucas was odious to her. As her successor in that house, she +regarded her with jealous abhorrence. Whenever Charlotte came to see +them, she concluded her to be anticipating the hour of possession; and +whenever she spoke in a low voice to Mr. Collins, was convinced that +they were talking of the Longbourn estate, and resolving to turn herself +and her daughters out of the house, as soon as Mr. Bennet were dead. She +complained bitterly of all this to her husband. + +"Indeed, Mr. Bennet," said she, "it is very hard to think that Charlotte +Lucas should ever be mistress of this house, that I should be forced to +make way for _her_, and live to see her take her place in it!" + +"My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for +better things. Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the survivor." + +This was not very consoling to Mrs. Bennet, and therefore, instead of +making any answer, she went on as before. + +"I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate. If it was +not for the entail, I should not mind it." + +"What should not you mind?" + +"I should not mind anything at all." + +"Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such +insensibility." + +"I never can be thankful, Mr. Bennet, for anything about the entail. How +anyone could have the conscience to entail away an estate from one's own +daughters, I cannot understand; and all for the sake of Mr. Collins too! +Why should _he_ have it more than anybody else?" + +"I leave it to yourself to determine," said Mr. Bennet. + + + +Chapter 24 + + +Miss Bingley's letter arrived, and put an end to doubt. The very first +sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for +the winter, and concluded with her brother's regret at not having had +time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left +the country. + +Hope was over, entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the rest +of the letter, she found little, except the professed affection of the +writer, that could give her any comfort. Miss Darcy's praise occupied +the chief of it. Her many attractions were again dwelt on, and Caroline +boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict +the accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former +letter. She wrote also with great pleasure of her brother's being an +inmate of Mr. Darcy's house, and mentioned with raptures some plans of +the latter with regard to new furniture. + +Elizabeth, to whom Jane very soon communicated the chief of all this, +heard it in silent indignation. Her heart was divided between concern +for her sister, and resentment against all others. To Caroline's +assertion of her brother's being partial to Miss Darcy she paid no +credit. That he was really fond of Jane, she doubted no more than she +had ever done; and much as she had always been disposed to like him, she +could not think without anger, hardly without contempt, on that easiness +of temper, that want of proper resolution, which now made him the slave +of his designing friends, and led him to sacrifice of his own happiness +to the caprice of their inclination. Had his own happiness, however, +been the only sacrifice, he might have been allowed to sport with it in +whatever manner he thought best, but her sister's was involved in it, as +she thought he must be sensible himself. It was a subject, in short, +on which reflection would be long indulged, and must be unavailing. She +could think of nothing else; and yet whether Bingley's regard had really +died away, or were suppressed by his friends' interference; whether +he had been aware of Jane's attachment, or whether it had escaped his +observation; whatever were the case, though her opinion of him must be +materially affected by the difference, her sister's situation remained +the same, her peace equally wounded. + +A day or two passed before Jane had courage to speak of her feelings to +Elizabeth; but at last, on Mrs. Bennet's leaving them together, after a +longer irritation than usual about Netherfield and its master, she could +not help saying: + +"Oh, that my dear mother had more command over herself! She can have no +idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him. But +I will not repine. It cannot last long. He will be forgot, and we shall +all be as we were before." + +Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude, but said +nothing. + +"You doubt me," cried Jane, slightly colouring; "indeed, you have +no reason. He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my +acquaintance, but that is all. I have nothing either to hope or fear, +and nothing to reproach him with. Thank God! I have not _that_ pain. A +little time, therefore--I shall certainly try to get the better." + +With a stronger voice she soon added, "I have this comfort immediately, +that it has not been more than an error of fancy on my side, and that it +has done no harm to anyone but myself." + +"My dear Jane!" exclaimed Elizabeth, "you are too good. Your sweetness +and disinterestedness are really angelic; I do not know what to say +to you. I feel as if I had never done you justice, or loved you as you +deserve." + +Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit, and threw back +the praise on her sister's warm affection. + +"Nay," said Elizabeth, "this is not fair. _You_ wish to think all the +world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of anybody. I only want +to think _you_ perfect, and you set yourself against it. Do not +be afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching on your +privilege of universal good-will. You need not. There are few people +whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see +of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms +my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the +little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or +sense. I have met with two instances lately, one I will not mention; the +other is Charlotte's marriage. It is unaccountable! In every view it is +unaccountable!" + +"My dear Lizzy, do not give way to such feelings as these. They will +ruin your happiness. You do not make allowance enough for difference +of situation and temper. Consider Mr. Collins's respectability, and +Charlotte's steady, prudent character. Remember that she is one of a +large family; that as to fortune, it is a most eligible match; and be +ready to believe, for everybody's sake, that she may feel something like +regard and esteem for our cousin." + +"To oblige you, I would try to believe almost anything, but no one else +could be benefited by such a belief as this; for were I persuaded that +Charlotte had any regard for him, I should only think worse of her +understanding than I now do of her heart. My dear Jane, Mr. Collins is a +conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man; you know he is, as well as +I do; and you must feel, as well as I do, that the woman who married him +cannot have a proper way of thinking. You shall not defend her, though +it is Charlotte Lucas. You shall not, for the sake of one individual, +change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade +yourself or me, that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of +danger security for happiness." + +"I must think your language too strong in speaking of both," replied +Jane; "and I hope you will be convinced of it by seeing them happy +together. But enough of this. You alluded to something else. You +mentioned _two_ instances. I cannot misunderstand you, but I entreat +you, dear Lizzy, not to pain me by thinking _that person_ to blame, and +saying your opinion of him is sunk. We must not be so ready to fancy +ourselves intentionally injured. We must not expect a lively young man +to be always so guarded and circumspect. It is very often nothing but +our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than +it does." + +"And men take care that they should." + +"If it is designedly done, they cannot be justified; but I have no idea +of there being so much design in the world as some persons imagine." + +"I am far from attributing any part of Mr. Bingley's conduct to design," +said Elizabeth; "but without scheming to do wrong, or to make others +unhappy, there may be error, and there may be misery. Thoughtlessness, +want of attention to other people's feelings, and want of resolution, +will do the business." + +"And do you impute it to either of those?" + +"Yes; to the last. But if I go on, I shall displease you by saying what +I think of persons you esteem. Stop me whilst you can." + +"You persist, then, in supposing his sisters influence him?" + +"Yes, in conjunction with his friend." + +"I cannot believe it. Why should they try to influence him? They can +only wish his happiness; and if he is attached to me, no other woman can +secure it." + +"Your first position is false. They may wish many things besides his +happiness; they may wish his increase of wealth and consequence; they +may wish him to marry a girl who has all the importance of money, great +connections, and pride." + +"Beyond a doubt, they _do_ wish him to choose Miss Darcy," replied Jane; +"but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing. They have +known her much longer than they have known me; no wonder if they love +her better. But, whatever may be their own wishes, it is very unlikely +they should have opposed their brother's. What sister would think +herself at liberty to do it, unless there were something very +objectionable? If they believed him attached to me, they would not try +to part us; if he were so, they could not succeed. By supposing such an +affection, you make everybody acting unnaturally and wrong, and me most +unhappy. Do not distress me by the idea. I am not ashamed of having been +mistaken--or, at least, it is light, it is nothing in comparison of what +I should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters. Let me take it in +the best light, in the light in which it may be understood." + +Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish; and from this time Mr. Bingley's +name was scarcely ever mentioned between them. + +Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no +more, and though a day seldom passed in which Elizabeth did not account +for it clearly, there was little chance of her ever considering it with +less perplexity. Her daughter endeavoured to convince her of what she +did not believe herself, that his attentions to Jane had been merely the +effect of a common and transient liking, which ceased when he saw her +no more; but though the probability of the statement was admitted at +the time, she had the same story to repeat every day. Mrs. Bennet's best +comfort was that Mr. Bingley must be down again in the summer. + +Mr. Bennet treated the matter differently. "So, Lizzy," said he one day, +"your sister is crossed in love, I find. I congratulate her. Next to +being married, a girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then. +It is something to think of, and it gives her a sort of distinction +among her companions. When is your turn to come? You will hardly bear to +be long outdone by Jane. Now is your time. Here are officers enough in +Meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country. Let Wickham +be _your_ man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably." + +"Thank you, sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me. We must not +all expect Jane's good fortune." + +"True," said Mr. Bennet, "but it is a comfort to think that whatever of +that kind may befall you, you have an affectionate mother who will make +the most of it." + +Mr. Wickham's society was of material service in dispelling the gloom +which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the Longbourn +family. They saw him often, and to his other recommendations was now +added that of general unreserve. The whole of what Elizabeth had already +heard, his claims on Mr. Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, +was now openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and everybody was +pleased to know how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they +had known anything of the matter. + +Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be +any extenuating circumstances in the case, unknown to the society +of Hertfordshire; her mild and steady candour always pleaded for +allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes--but by everybody else +Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men. + + + +Chapter 25 + + +After a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity, +Mr. Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of +Saturday. The pain of separation, however, might be alleviated on his +side, by preparations for the reception of his bride; as he had reason +to hope, that shortly after his return into Hertfordshire, the day would +be fixed that was to make him the happiest of men. He took leave of his +relations at Longbourn with as much solemnity as before; wished his fair +cousins health and happiness again, and promised their father another +letter of thanks. + +On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving +her brother and his wife, who came as usual to spend the Christmas +at Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man, greatly +superior to his sister, as well by nature as education. The Netherfield +ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived +by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so +well-bred and agreeable. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger +than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant +woman, and a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces. Between the +two eldest and herself especially, there subsisted a particular regard. +They had frequently been staying with her in town. + +The first part of Mrs. Gardiner's business on her arrival was to +distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions. When this was +done she had a less active part to play. It became her turn to listen. +Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of. They +had all been very ill-used since she last saw her sister. Two of her +girls had been upon the point of marriage, and after all there was +nothing in it. + +"I do not blame Jane," she continued, "for Jane would have got Mr. +Bingley if she could. But Lizzy! Oh, sister! It is very hard to think +that she might have been Mr. Collins's wife by this time, had it not +been for her own perverseness. He made her an offer in this very room, +and she refused him. The consequence of it is, that Lady Lucas will have +a daughter married before I have, and that the Longbourn estate is just +as much entailed as ever. The Lucases are very artful people indeed, +sister. They are all for what they can get. I am sorry to say it of +them, but so it is. It makes me very nervous and poorly, to be thwarted +so in my own family, and to have neighbours who think of themselves +before anybody else. However, your coming just at this time is the +greatest of comforts, and I am very glad to hear what you tell us, of +long sleeves." + +Mrs. Gardiner, to whom the chief of this news had been given before, +in the course of Jane and Elizabeth's correspondence with her, made her +sister a slight answer, and, in compassion to her nieces, turned the +conversation. + +When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, she spoke more on the subject. "It +seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane," said she. "I am +sorry it went off. But these things happen so often! A young man, such +as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl +for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, so easily forgets +her, that these sort of inconsistencies are very frequent." + +"An excellent consolation in its way," said Elizabeth, "but it will not +do for _us_. We do not suffer by _accident_. It does not often +happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of +independent fortune to think no more of a girl whom he was violently in +love with only a few days before." + +"But that expression of 'violently in love' is so hackneyed, so +doubtful, so indefinite, that it gives me very little idea. It is as +often applied to feelings which arise from a half-hour's acquaintance, +as to a real, strong attachment. Pray, how _violent was_ Mr. Bingley's +love?" + +"I never saw a more promising inclination; he was growing quite +inattentive to other people, and wholly engrossed by her. Every time +they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball he +offended two or three young ladies, by not asking them to dance; and I +spoke to him twice myself, without receiving an answer. Could there be +finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?" + +"Oh, yes!--of that kind of love which I suppose him to have felt. Poor +Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with her disposition, she may not get +over it immediately. It had better have happened to _you_, Lizzy; you +would have laughed yourself out of it sooner. But do you think she +would be prevailed upon to go back with us? Change of scene might be +of service--and perhaps a little relief from home may be as useful as +anything." + +Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal, and felt persuaded +of her sister's ready acquiescence. + +"I hope," added Mrs. Gardiner, "that no consideration with regard to +this young man will influence her. We live in so different a part of +town, all our connections are so different, and, as you well know, we go +out so little, that it is very improbable that they should meet at all, +unless he really comes to see her." + +"And _that_ is quite impossible; for he is now in the custody of his +friend, and Mr. Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane in such +a part of London! My dear aunt, how could you think of it? Mr. Darcy may +perhaps have _heard_ of such a place as Gracechurch Street, but he +would hardly think a month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its +impurities, were he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr. Bingley +never stirs without him." + +"So much the better. I hope they will not meet at all. But does not Jane +correspond with his sister? _She_ will not be able to help calling." + +"She will drop the acquaintance entirely." + +But in spite of the certainty in which Elizabeth affected to place this +point, as well as the still more interesting one of Bingley's being +withheld from seeing Jane, she felt a solicitude on the subject which +convinced her, on examination, that she did not consider it entirely +hopeless. It was possible, and sometimes she thought it probable, that +his affection might be reanimated, and the influence of his friends +successfully combated by the more natural influence of Jane's +attractions. + +Miss Bennet accepted her aunt's invitation with pleasure; and the +Bingleys were no otherwise in her thoughts at the same time, than as she +hoped by Caroline's not living in the same house with her brother, +she might occasionally spend a morning with her, without any danger of +seeing him. + +The Gardiners stayed a week at Longbourn; and what with the Phillipses, +the Lucases, and the officers, there was not a day without its +engagement. Mrs. Bennet had so carefully provided for the entertainment +of her brother and sister, that they did not once sit down to a family +dinner. When the engagement was for home, some of the officers always +made part of it--of which officers Mr. Wickham was sure to be one; and +on these occasion, Mrs. Gardiner, rendered suspicious by Elizabeth's +warm commendation, narrowly observed them both. Without supposing them, +from what she saw, to be very seriously in love, their preference +of each other was plain enough to make her a little uneasy; and +she resolved to speak to Elizabeth on the subject before she left +Hertfordshire, and represent to her the imprudence of encouraging such +an attachment. + +To Mrs. Gardiner, Wickham had one means of affording pleasure, +unconnected with his general powers. About ten or a dozen years ago, +before her marriage, she had spent a considerable time in that very +part of Derbyshire to which he belonged. They had, therefore, many +acquaintances in common; and though Wickham had been little there since +the death of Darcy's father, it was yet in his power to give her fresher +intelligence of her former friends than she had been in the way of +procuring. + +Mrs. Gardiner had seen Pemberley, and known the late Mr. Darcy by +character perfectly well. Here consequently was an inexhaustible subject +of discourse. In comparing her recollection of Pemberley with the minute +description which Wickham could give, and in bestowing her tribute of +praise on the character of its late possessor, she was delighting both +him and herself. On being made acquainted with the present Mr. Darcy's +treatment of him, she tried to remember some of that gentleman's +reputed disposition when quite a lad which might agree with it, and +was confident at last that she recollected having heard Mr. Fitzwilliam +Darcy formerly spoken of as a very proud, ill-natured boy. + + + +Chapter 26 + + +Mrs. Gardiner's caution to Elizabeth was punctually and kindly given +on the first favourable opportunity of speaking to her alone; after +honestly telling her what she thought, she thus went on: + +"You are too sensible a girl, Lizzy, to fall in love merely because +you are warned against it; and, therefore, I am not afraid of speaking +openly. Seriously, I would have you be on your guard. Do not involve +yourself or endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want +of fortune would make so very imprudent. I have nothing to say against +_him_; he is a most interesting young man; and if he had the fortune he +ought to have, I should think you could not do better. But as it is, you +must not let your fancy run away with you. You have sense, and we all +expect you to use it. Your father would depend on _your_ resolution and +good conduct, I am sure. You must not disappoint your father." + +"My dear aunt, this is being serious indeed." + +"Yes, and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise." + +"Well, then, you need not be under any alarm. I will take care of +myself, and of Mr. Wickham too. He shall not be in love with me, if I +can prevent it." + +"Elizabeth, you are not serious now." + +"I beg your pardon, I will try again. At present I am not in love with +Mr. Wickham; no, I certainly am not. But he is, beyond all comparison, +the most agreeable man I ever saw--and if he becomes really attached to +me--I believe it will be better that he should not. I see the imprudence +of it. Oh! _that_ abominable Mr. Darcy! My father's opinion of me does +me the greatest honour, and I should be miserable to forfeit it. My +father, however, is partial to Mr. Wickham. In short, my dear aunt, I +should be very sorry to be the means of making any of you unhappy; but +since we see every day that where there is affection, young people +are seldom withheld by immediate want of fortune from entering into +engagements with each other, how can I promise to be wiser than so many +of my fellow-creatures if I am tempted, or how am I even to know that it +would be wisdom to resist? All that I can promise you, therefore, is not +to be in a hurry. I will not be in a hurry to believe myself his first +object. When I am in company with him, I will not be wishing. In short, +I will do my best." + +"Perhaps it will be as well if you discourage his coming here so very +often. At least, you should not _remind_ your mother of inviting him." + +"As I did the other day," said Elizabeth with a conscious smile: "very +true, it will be wise in me to refrain from _that_. But do not imagine +that he is always here so often. It is on your account that he has been +so frequently invited this week. You know my mother's ideas as to the +necessity of constant company for her friends. But really, and upon my +honour, I will try to do what I think to be the wisest; and now I hope +you are satisfied." + +Her aunt assured her that she was, and Elizabeth having thanked her for +the kindness of her hints, they parted; a wonderful instance of advice +being given on such a point, without being resented. + +Mr. Collins returned into Hertfordshire soon after it had been quitted +by the Gardiners and Jane; but as he took up his abode with the Lucases, +his arrival was no great inconvenience to Mrs. Bennet. His marriage was +now fast approaching, and she was at length so far resigned as to think +it inevitable, and even repeatedly to say, in an ill-natured tone, that +she "_wished_ they might be happy." Thursday was to be the wedding day, +and on Wednesday Miss Lucas paid her farewell visit; and when she +rose to take leave, Elizabeth, ashamed of her mother's ungracious and +reluctant good wishes, and sincerely affected herself, accompanied her +out of the room. As they went downstairs together, Charlotte said: + +"I shall depend on hearing from you very often, Eliza." + +"_That_ you certainly shall." + +"And I have another favour to ask you. Will you come and see me?" + +"We shall often meet, I hope, in Hertfordshire." + +"I am not likely to leave Kent for some time. Promise me, therefore, to +come to Hunsford." + +Elizabeth could not refuse, though she foresaw little pleasure in the +visit. + +"My father and Maria are coming to me in March," added Charlotte, "and I +hope you will consent to be of the party. Indeed, Eliza, you will be as +welcome as either of them." + +The wedding took place; the bride and bridegroom set off for Kent from +the church door, and everybody had as much to say, or to hear, on +the subject as usual. Elizabeth soon heard from her friend; and their +correspondence was as regular and frequent as it had ever been; that +it should be equally unreserved was impossible. Elizabeth could never +address her without feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over, +and though determined not to slacken as a correspondent, it was for the +sake of what had been, rather than what was. Charlotte's first letters +were received with a good deal of eagerness; there could not but be +curiosity to know how she would speak of her new home, how she would +like Lady Catherine, and how happy she would dare pronounce herself to +be; though, when the letters were read, Elizabeth felt that Charlotte +expressed herself on every point exactly as she might have foreseen. She +wrote cheerfully, seemed surrounded with comforts, and mentioned nothing +which she could not praise. The house, furniture, neighbourhood, and +roads, were all to her taste, and Lady Catherine's behaviour was most +friendly and obliging. It was Mr. Collins's picture of Hunsford and +Rosings rationally softened; and Elizabeth perceived that she must wait +for her own visit there to know the rest. + +Jane had already written a few lines to her sister to announce their +safe arrival in London; and when she wrote again, Elizabeth hoped it +would be in her power to say something of the Bingleys. + +Her impatience for this second letter was as well rewarded as impatience +generally is. Jane had been a week in town without either seeing or +hearing from Caroline. She accounted for it, however, by supposing that +her last letter to her friend from Longbourn had by some accident been +lost. + +"My aunt," she continued, "is going to-morrow into that part of the +town, and I shall take the opportunity of calling in Grosvenor Street." + +She wrote again when the visit was paid, and she had seen Miss Bingley. +"I did not think Caroline in spirits," were her words, "but she was very +glad to see me, and reproached me for giving her no notice of my coming +to London. I was right, therefore, my last letter had never reached +her. I inquired after their brother, of course. He was well, but so much +engaged with Mr. Darcy that they scarcely ever saw him. I found that +Miss Darcy was expected to dinner. I wish I could see her. My visit was +not long, as Caroline and Mrs. Hurst were going out. I dare say I shall +see them soon here." + +Elizabeth shook her head over this letter. It convinced her that +accident only could discover to Mr. Bingley her sister's being in town. + +Four weeks passed away, and Jane saw nothing of him. She endeavoured to +persuade herself that she did not regret it; but she could no longer be +blind to Miss Bingley's inattention. After waiting at home every morning +for a fortnight, and inventing every evening a fresh excuse for her, the +visitor did at last appear; but the shortness of her stay, and yet more, +the alteration of her manner would allow Jane to deceive herself no +longer. The letter which she wrote on this occasion to her sister will +prove what she felt. + +"My dearest Lizzy will, I am sure, be incapable of triumphing in her +better judgement, at my expense, when I confess myself to have been +entirely deceived in Miss Bingley's regard for me. But, my dear sister, +though the event has proved you right, do not think me obstinate if I +still assert that, considering what her behaviour was, my confidence was +as natural as your suspicion. I do not at all comprehend her reason for +wishing to be intimate with me; but if the same circumstances were to +happen again, I am sure I should be deceived again. Caroline did not +return my visit till yesterday; and not a note, not a line, did I +receive in the meantime. When she did come, it was very evident that +she had no pleasure in it; she made a slight, formal apology, for not +calling before, said not a word of wishing to see me again, and was +in every respect so altered a creature, that when she went away I was +perfectly resolved to continue the acquaintance no longer. I pity, +though I cannot help blaming her. She was very wrong in singling me out +as she did; I can safely say that every advance to intimacy began on +her side. But I pity her, because she must feel that she has been acting +wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety for her brother is the +cause of it. I need not explain myself farther; and though _we_ know +this anxiety to be quite needless, yet if she feels it, it will easily +account for her behaviour to me; and so deservedly dear as he is to +his sister, whatever anxiety she must feel on his behalf is natural and +amiable. I cannot but wonder, however, at her having any such fears now, +because, if he had at all cared about me, we must have met, long ago. +He knows of my being in town, I am certain, from something she said +herself; and yet it would seem, by her manner of talking, as if she +wanted to persuade herself that he is really partial to Miss Darcy. I +cannot understand it. If I were not afraid of judging harshly, I should +be almost tempted to say that there is a strong appearance of duplicity +in all this. But I will endeavour to banish every painful thought, +and think only of what will make me happy--your affection, and the +invariable kindness of my dear uncle and aunt. Let me hear from you very +soon. Miss Bingley said something of his never returning to Netherfield +again, of giving up the house, but not with any certainty. We had better +not mention it. I am extremely glad that you have such pleasant accounts +from our friends at Hunsford. Pray go to see them, with Sir William and +Maria. I am sure you will be very comfortable there.--Yours, etc." + +This letter gave Elizabeth some pain; but her spirits returned as she +considered that Jane would no longer be duped, by the sister at least. +All expectation from the brother was now absolutely over. She would not +even wish for a renewal of his attentions. His character sunk on +every review of it; and as a punishment for him, as well as a possible +advantage to Jane, she seriously hoped he might really soon marry Mr. +Darcy's sister, as by Wickham's account, she would make him abundantly +regret what he had thrown away. + +Mrs. Gardiner about this time reminded Elizabeth of her promise +concerning that gentleman, and required information; and Elizabeth +had such to send as might rather give contentment to her aunt than to +herself. His apparent partiality had subsided, his attentions were over, +he was the admirer of some one else. Elizabeth was watchful enough to +see it all, but she could see it and write of it without material pain. +Her heart had been but slightly touched, and her vanity was satisfied +with believing that _she_ would have been his only choice, had fortune +permitted it. The sudden acquisition of ten thousand pounds was the most +remarkable charm of the young lady to whom he was now rendering himself +agreeable; but Elizabeth, less clear-sighted perhaps in this case than +in Charlotte's, did not quarrel with him for his wish of independence. +Nothing, on the contrary, could be more natural; and while able to +suppose that it cost him a few struggles to relinquish her, she was +ready to allow it a wise and desirable measure for both, and could very +sincerely wish him happy. + +All this was acknowledged to Mrs. Gardiner; and after relating the +circumstances, she thus went on: "I am now convinced, my dear aunt, that +I have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure +and elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and +wish him all manner of evil. But my feelings are not only cordial +towards _him_; they are even impartial towards Miss King. I cannot find +out that I hate her at all, or that I am in the least unwilling to +think her a very good sort of girl. There can be no love in all this. My +watchfulness has been effectual; and though I certainly should be a more +interesting object to all my acquaintances were I distractedly in love +with him, I cannot say that I regret my comparative insignificance. +Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly. Kitty and Lydia take +his defection much more to heart than I do. They are young in the +ways of the world, and not yet open to the mortifying conviction that +handsome young men must have something to live on as well as the plain." + + + +Chapter 27 + + +With no greater events than these in the Longbourn family, and otherwise +diversified by little beyond the walks to Meryton, sometimes dirty and +sometimes cold, did January and February pass away. March was to take +Elizabeth to Hunsford. She had not at first thought very seriously of +going thither; but Charlotte, she soon found, was depending on the plan +and she gradually learned to consider it herself with greater pleasure +as well as greater certainty. Absence had increased her desire of seeing +Charlotte again, and weakened her disgust of Mr. Collins. There +was novelty in the scheme, and as, with such a mother and such +uncompanionable sisters, home could not be faultless, a little change +was not unwelcome for its own sake. The journey would moreover give her +a peep at Jane; and, in short, as the time drew near, she would have +been very sorry for any delay. Everything, however, went on smoothly, +and was finally settled according to Charlotte's first sketch. She was +to accompany Sir William and his second daughter. The improvement +of spending a night in London was added in time, and the plan became +perfect as plan could be. + +The only pain was in leaving her father, who would certainly miss her, +and who, when it came to the point, so little liked her going, that he +told her to write to him, and almost promised to answer her letter. + +The farewell between herself and Mr. Wickham was perfectly friendly; on +his side even more. His present pursuit could not make him forget that +Elizabeth had been the first to excite and to deserve his attention, the +first to listen and to pity, the first to be admired; and in his manner +of bidding her adieu, wishing her every enjoyment, reminding her of +what she was to expect in Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and trusting their +opinion of her--their opinion of everybody--would always coincide, there +was a solicitude, an interest which she felt must ever attach her to +him with a most sincere regard; and she parted from him convinced that, +whether married or single, he must always be her model of the amiable +and pleasing. + +Her fellow-travellers the next day were not of a kind to make her +think him less agreeable. Sir William Lucas, and his daughter Maria, a +good-humoured girl, but as empty-headed as himself, had nothing to say +that could be worth hearing, and were listened to with about as much +delight as the rattle of the chaise. Elizabeth loved absurdities, but +she had known Sir William's too long. He could tell her nothing new of +the wonders of his presentation and knighthood; and his civilities were +worn out, like his information. + +It was a journey of only twenty-four miles, and they began it so early +as to be in Gracechurch Street by noon. As they drove to Mr. Gardiner's +door, Jane was at a drawing-room window watching their arrival; when +they entered the passage she was there to welcome them, and Elizabeth, +looking earnestly in her face, was pleased to see it healthful and +lovely as ever. On the stairs were a troop of little boys and girls, +whose eagerness for their cousin's appearance would not allow them to +wait in the drawing-room, and whose shyness, as they had not seen +her for a twelvemonth, prevented their coming lower. All was joy and +kindness. The day passed most pleasantly away; the morning in bustle and +shopping, and the evening at one of the theatres. + +Elizabeth then contrived to sit by her aunt. Their first object was her +sister; and she was more grieved than astonished to hear, in reply to +her minute inquiries, that though Jane always struggled to support her +spirits, there were periods of dejection. It was reasonable, however, +to hope that they would not continue long. Mrs. Gardiner gave her the +particulars also of Miss Bingley's visit in Gracechurch Street, and +repeated conversations occurring at different times between Jane and +herself, which proved that the former had, from her heart, given up the +acquaintance. + +Mrs. Gardiner then rallied her niece on Wickham's desertion, and +complimented her on bearing it so well. + +"But my dear Elizabeth," she added, "what sort of girl is Miss King? I +should be sorry to think our friend mercenary." + +"Pray, my dear aunt, what is the difference in matrimonial affairs, +between the mercenary and the prudent motive? Where does discretion end, +and avarice begin? Last Christmas you were afraid of his marrying me, +because it would be imprudent; and now, because he is trying to get +a girl with only ten thousand pounds, you want to find out that he is +mercenary." + +"If you will only tell me what sort of girl Miss King is, I shall know +what to think." + +"She is a very good kind of girl, I believe. I know no harm of her." + +"But he paid her not the smallest attention till her grandfather's death +made her mistress of this fortune." + +"No--what should he? If it were not allowable for him to gain _my_ +affections because I had no money, what occasion could there be for +making love to a girl whom he did not care about, and who was equally +poor?" + +"But there seems an indelicacy in directing his attentions towards her +so soon after this event." + +"A man in distressed circumstances has not time for all those elegant +decorums which other people may observe. If _she_ does not object to it, +why should _we_?" + +"_Her_ not objecting does not justify _him_. It only shows her being +deficient in something herself--sense or feeling." + +"Well," cried Elizabeth, "have it as you choose. _He_ shall be +mercenary, and _she_ shall be foolish." + +"No, Lizzy, that is what I do _not_ choose. I should be sorry, you know, +to think ill of a young man who has lived so long in Derbyshire." + +"Oh! if that is all, I have a very poor opinion of young men who live in +Derbyshire; and their intimate friends who live in Hertfordshire are not +much better. I am sick of them all. Thank Heaven! I am going to-morrow +where I shall find a man who has not one agreeable quality, who has +neither manner nor sense to recommend him. Stupid men are the only ones +worth knowing, after all." + +"Take care, Lizzy; that speech savours strongly of disappointment." + +Before they were separated by the conclusion of the play, she had the +unexpected happiness of an invitation to accompany her uncle and aunt in +a tour of pleasure which they proposed taking in the summer. + +"We have not determined how far it shall carry us," said Mrs. Gardiner, +"but, perhaps, to the Lakes." + +No scheme could have been more agreeable to Elizabeth, and her +acceptance of the invitation was most ready and grateful. "Oh, my dear, +dear aunt," she rapturously cried, "what delight! what felicity! You +give me fresh life and vigour. Adieu to disappointment and spleen. What +are young men to rocks and mountains? Oh! what hours of transport +we shall spend! And when we _do_ return, it shall not be like other +travellers, without being able to give one accurate idea of anything. We +_will_ know where we have gone--we _will_ recollect what we have seen. +Lakes, mountains, and rivers shall not be jumbled together in our +imaginations; nor when we attempt to describe any particular scene, +will we begin quarreling about its relative situation. Let _our_ +first effusions be less insupportable than those of the generality of +travellers." + + + +Chapter 28 + + +Every object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to +Elizabeth; and her spirits were in a state of enjoyment; for she had +seen her sister looking so well as to banish all fear for her health, +and the prospect of her northern tour was a constant source of delight. + +When they left the high road for the lane to Hunsford, every eye was in +search of the Parsonage, and every turning expected to bring it in view. +The palings of Rosings Park was their boundary on one side. Elizabeth +smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants. + +At length the Parsonage was discernible. The garden sloping to the +road, the house standing in it, the green pales, and the laurel hedge, +everything declared they were arriving. Mr. Collins and Charlotte +appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at the small gate which +led by a short gravel walk to the house, amidst the nods and smiles of +the whole party. In a moment they were all out of the chaise, rejoicing +at the sight of each other. Mrs. Collins welcomed her friend with the +liveliest pleasure, and Elizabeth was more and more satisfied with +coming when she found herself so affectionately received. She saw +instantly that her cousin's manners were not altered by his marriage; +his formal civility was just what it had been, and he detained her some +minutes at the gate to hear and satisfy his inquiries after all her +family. They were then, with no other delay than his pointing out the +neatness of the entrance, taken into the house; and as soon as they +were in the parlour, he welcomed them a second time, with ostentatious +formality to his humble abode, and punctually repeated all his wife's +offers of refreshment. + +Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory; and she could not help +in fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room, its +aspect and its furniture, he addressed himself particularly to her, +as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him. But +though everything seemed neat and comfortable, she was not able to +gratify him by any sigh of repentance, and rather looked with wonder at +her friend that she could have so cheerful an air with such a companion. +When Mr. Collins said anything of which his wife might reasonably be +ashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned her +eye on Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but +in general Charlotte wisely did not hear. After sitting long enough to +admire every article of furniture in the room, from the sideboard to +the fender, to give an account of their journey, and of all that had +happened in London, Mr. Collins invited them to take a stroll in the +garden, which was large and well laid out, and to the cultivation of +which he attended himself. To work in this garden was one of his most +respectable pleasures; and Elizabeth admired the command of countenance +with which Charlotte talked of the healthfulness of the exercise, and +owned she encouraged it as much as possible. Here, leading the way +through every walk and cross walk, and scarcely allowing them an +interval to utter the praises he asked for, every view was pointed out +with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind. He could number the +fields in every direction, and could tell how many trees there were in +the most distant clump. But of all the views which his garden, or which +the country or kingdom could boast, none were to be compared with the +prospect of Rosings, afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered +the park nearly opposite the front of his house. It was a handsome +modern building, well situated on rising ground. + +From his garden, Mr. Collins would have led them round his two meadows; +but the ladies, not having shoes to encounter the remains of a white +frost, turned back; and while Sir William accompanied him, Charlotte +took her sister and friend over the house, extremely well pleased, +probably, to have the opportunity of showing it without her husband's +help. It was rather small, but well built and convenient; and everything +was fitted up and arranged with a neatness and consistency of which +Elizabeth gave Charlotte all the credit. When Mr. Collins could be +forgotten, there was really an air of great comfort throughout, and by +Charlotte's evident enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often +forgotten. + +She had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in the country. It +was spoken of again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins joining +in, observed: + +"Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honour of seeing Lady Catherine +de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church, and I need not say you will +be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, and I +doubt not but you will be honoured with some portion of her notice +when service is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying she +will include you and my sister Maria in every invitation with which she +honours us during your stay here. Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is +charming. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed +to walk home. Her ladyship's carriage is regularly ordered for us. I +_should_ say, one of her ladyship's carriages, for she has several." + +"Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman indeed," added +Charlotte, "and a most attentive neighbour." + +"Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is the sort of +woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference." + +The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire news, +and telling again what had already been written; and when it closed, +Elizabeth, in the solitude of her chamber, had to meditate upon +Charlotte's degree of contentment, to understand her address in guiding, +and composure in bearing with, her husband, and to acknowledge that it +was all done very well. She had also to anticipate how her visit +would pass, the quiet tenor of their usual employments, the vexatious +interruptions of Mr. Collins, and the gaieties of their intercourse with +Rosings. A lively imagination soon settled it all. + +About the middle of the next day, as she was in her room getting ready +for a walk, a sudden noise below seemed to speak the whole house in +confusion; and, after listening a moment, she heard somebody running +upstairs in a violent hurry, and calling loudly after her. She opened +the door and met Maria in the landing place, who, breathless with +agitation, cried out-- + +"Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the dining-room, for +there is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell you what it is. Make +haste, and come down this moment." + +Elizabeth asked questions in vain; Maria would tell her nothing more, +and down they ran into the dining-room, which fronted the lane, in +quest of this wonder; It was two ladies stopping in a low phaeton at the +garden gate. + +"And is this all?" cried Elizabeth. "I expected at least that the pigs +were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her +daughter." + +"La! my dear," said Maria, quite shocked at the mistake, "it is not +Lady Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives with them; +the other is Miss de Bourgh. Only look at her. She is quite a little +creature. Who would have thought that she could be so thin and small?" + +"She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all this wind. +Why does she not come in?" + +"Oh, Charlotte says she hardly ever does. It is the greatest of favours +when Miss de Bourgh comes in." + +"I like her appearance," said Elizabeth, struck with other ideas. "She +looks sickly and cross. Yes, she will do for him very well. She will +make him a very proper wife." + +Mr. Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in conversation +with the ladies; and Sir William, to Elizabeth's high diversion, was +stationed in the doorway, in earnest contemplation of the greatness +before him, and constantly bowing whenever Miss de Bourgh looked that +way. + +At length there was nothing more to be said; the ladies drove on, and +the others returned into the house. Mr. Collins no sooner saw the two +girls than he began to congratulate them on their good fortune, which +Charlotte explained by letting them know that the whole party was asked +to dine at Rosings the next day. + + + +Chapter 29 + + +Mr. Collins's triumph, in consequence of this invitation, was complete. +The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering +visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his +wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity +of doing it should be given so soon, was such an instance of Lady +Catherine's condescension, as he knew not how to admire enough. + +"I confess," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprised by +her ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at +Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it +would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who +could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there +(an invitation, moreover, including the whole party) so immediately +after your arrival!" + +"I am the less surprised at what has happened," replied Sir William, +"from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which +my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the court, such +instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon." + +Scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or next morning but their +visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what +they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and +so splendid a dinner, might not wholly overpower them. + +When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth-- + +"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady +Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which +becomes herself and her daughter. I would advise you merely to put on +whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest--there is no occasion +for anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you +for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank +preserved." + +While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different +doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much +objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. Such formidable accounts of +her ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas +who had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her +introduction at Rosings with as much apprehension as her father had done +to his presentation at St. James's. + +As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a +mile across the park. Every park has its beauty and its prospects; and +Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, though she could not be in such +raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but +slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the +house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally +cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh. + +When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every +moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. +Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady +Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or +miraculous virtue, and the mere stateliness of money or rank she thought +she could witness without trepidation. + +From the entrance-hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a +rapturous air, the fine proportion and the finished ornaments, they +followed the servants through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady +Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. Her ladyship, +with great condescension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had +settled it with her husband that the office of introduction should +be hers, it was performed in a proper manner, without any of those +apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary. + +In spite of having been at St. James's Sir William was so completely +awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage +enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; +and his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge +of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself +quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her +composedly. Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked +features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not +conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her +visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by +silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone, +as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to +Elizabeth's mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she +believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he represented. + +When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment +she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on the +daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's astonishment at her +being so thin and so small. There was neither in figure nor face any +likeness between the ladies. Miss de Bourgh was pale and sickly; her +features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very +little, except in a low voice, to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance +there was nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening +to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before +her eyes. + +After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to +admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties, +and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth +looking at in the summer. + +The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants and +all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as he had +likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her +ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish +nothing greater. He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted +alacrity; and every dish was commended, first by him and then by Sir +William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law +said, in a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. +But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and +gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved +a novelty to them. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth +was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated +between Charlotte and Miss de Bourgh--the former of whom was engaged in +listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all +dinner-time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little +Miss de Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing +she was indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the +gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire. + +When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, there was little to +be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any +intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every +subject in so decisive a manner, as proved that she was not used to +have her judgement controverted. She inquired into Charlotte's domestic +concerns familiarly and minutely, gave her a great deal of advice as +to the management of them all; told her how everything ought to be +regulated in so small a family as hers, and instructed her as to the +care of her cows and her poultry. Elizabeth found that nothing was +beneath this great lady's attention, which could furnish her with an +occasion of dictating to others. In the intervals of her discourse +with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and +Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose connections she knew +the least, and who she observed to Mrs. Collins was a very genteel, +pretty kind of girl. She asked her, at different times, how many sisters +she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether any of +them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, where they +had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been +her mother's maiden name? Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of +her questions but answered them very composedly. Lady Catherine then +observed, + +"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your +sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no +occasion for entailing estates from the female line. It was not thought +necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. Do you play and sing, Miss +Bennet?" + +"A little." + +"Oh! then--some time or other we shall be happy to hear you. Our +instrument is a capital one, probably superior to----You shall try it +some day. Do your sisters play and sing?" + +"One of them does." + +"Why did not you all learn? You ought all to have learned. The Miss +Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as yours. Do +you draw?" + +"No, not at all." + +"What, none of you?" + +"Not one." + +"That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother +should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters." + +"My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London." + +"Has your governess left you?" + +"We never had any governess." + +"No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home +without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must +have been quite a slave to your education." + +Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that had not been +the case. + +"Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess, you +must have been neglected." + +"Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as +wished to learn never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to +read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be +idle, certainly might." + +"Aye, no doubt; but that is what a governess will prevent, and if I had +known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to engage +one. I always say that nothing is to be done in education without steady +and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can give it. It is +wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying in that +way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed out. Four nieces +of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means; and +it was but the other day that I recommended another young person, +who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite +delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalf's +calling yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. 'Lady +Catherine,' said she, 'you have given me a treasure.' Are any of your +younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?" + +"Yes, ma'am, all." + +"All! What, all five out at once? Very odd! And you only the second. The +younger ones out before the elder ones are married! Your younger sisters +must be very young?" + +"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps _she_ is full young to be +much in company. But really, ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon +younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and +amusement, because the elder may not have the means or inclination to +marry early. The last-born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth +at the first. And to be kept back on _such_ a motive! I think it would +not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind." + +"Upon my word," said her ladyship, "you give your opinion very decidedly +for so young a person. Pray, what is your age?" + +"With three younger sisters grown up," replied Elizabeth, smiling, "your +ladyship can hardly expect me to own it." + +Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; +and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever +dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence. + +"You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, therefore you need not +conceal your age." + +"I am not one-and-twenty." + +When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card-tables +were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat +down to quadrille; and as Miss de Bourgh chose to play at cassino, the +two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her +party. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was +uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson +expressed her fears of Miss de Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or +having too much or too little light. A great deal more passed at the +other table. Lady Catherine was generally speaking--stating the mistakes +of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins +was employed in agreeing to everything her ladyship said, thanking her +for every fish he won, and apologising if he thought he won too many. +Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes +and noble names. + +When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, +the tables were broken up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, +gratefully accepted and immediately ordered. The party then gathered +round the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were +to have on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by +the arrival of the coach; and with many speeches of thankfulness on Mr. +Collins's side and as many bows on Sir William's they departed. As soon +as they had driven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin +to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings, which, for +Charlotte's sake, she made more favourable than it really was. But her +commendation, though costing her some trouble, could by no means satisfy +Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to take her ladyship's praise +into his own hands. + + + +Chapter 30 + + +Sir William stayed only a week at Hunsford, but his visit was long +enough to convince him of his daughter's being most comfortably settled, +and of her possessing such a husband and such a neighbour as were not +often met with. While Sir William was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his +morning to driving him out in his gig, and showing him the country; but +when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, +and Elizabeth was thankful to find that they did not see more of her +cousin by the alteration, for the chief of the time between breakfast +and dinner was now passed by him either at work in the garden or in +reading and writing, and looking out of the window in his own book-room, +which fronted the road. The room in which the ladies sat was backwards. +Elizabeth had at first rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer +the dining-parlour for common use; it was a better sized room, and had a +more pleasant aspect; but she soon saw that her friend had an excellent +reason for what she did, for Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been +much less in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively; and +she gave Charlotte credit for the arrangement. + +From the drawing-room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and +were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what carriages went +along, and how often especially Miss de Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, +which he never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened +almost every day. She not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and +had a few minutes' conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever +prevailed upon to get out. + +Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings, and +not many in which his wife did not think it necessary to go likewise; +and till Elizabeth recollected that there might be other family livings +to be disposed of, she could not understand the sacrifice of so many +hours. Now and then they were honoured with a call from her ladyship, +and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during +these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work, +and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement +of the furniture; or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she +accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding +out that Mrs. Collins's joints of meat were too large for her family. + +Elizabeth soon perceived, that though this great lady was not in +commission of the peace of the county, she was a most active magistrate +in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her +by Mr. Collins; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to +be quarrelsome, discontented, or too poor, she sallied forth into the +village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold +them into harmony and plenty. + +The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; +and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one +card-table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart +of the first. Their other engagements were few, as the style of living +in the neighbourhood in general was beyond Mr. Collins's reach. This, +however, was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her time +comfortably enough; there were half-hours of pleasant conversation with +Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of year that she had +often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite walk, and where she +frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was +along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was +a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself, and +where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity. + +In this quiet way, the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away. +Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an +addition to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be +important. Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that Mr. Darcy was +expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not +many of her acquaintances whom she did not prefer, his coming would +furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties, and +she might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him +were, by his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently +destined by Lady Catherine, who talked of his coming with the greatest +satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and +seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by +Miss Lucas and herself. + +His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage; for Mr. Collins was walking +the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane, +in order to have the earliest assurance of it, and after making his +bow as the carriage turned into the Park, hurried home with the great +intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his +respects. There were two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them, for +Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of +his uncle Lord ----, and, to the great surprise of all the party, when +Mr. Collins returned, the gentlemen accompanied him. Charlotte had seen +them from her husband's room, crossing the road, and immediately running +into the other, told the girls what an honour they might expect, adding: + +"I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would +never have come so soon to wait upon me." + +Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, +before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly +afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, +who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and +address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he had been +used to look in Hertfordshire--paid his compliments, with his usual +reserve, to Mrs. Collins, and whatever might be his feelings toward her +friend, met her with every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely +curtseyed to him without saying a word. + +Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the +readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly; but +his cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the house and +garden to Mrs. Collins, sat for some time without speaking to anybody. +At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to inquire of +Elizabeth after the health of her family. She answered him in the usual +way, and after a moment's pause, added: + +"My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never +happened to see her there?" + +She was perfectly sensible that he never had; but she wished to see +whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between +the Bingleys and Jane, and she thought he looked a little confused as he +answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The +subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went +away. + + + +Chapter 31 + + +Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the Parsonage, +and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasures +of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they +received any invitation thither--for while there were visitors in the +house, they could not be necessary; and it was not till Easter-day, +almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival, that they were honoured by +such an attention, and then they were merely asked on leaving church to +come there in the evening. For the last week they had seen very little +of Lady Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the +Parsonage more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they had seen +only at church. + +The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined +the party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her ladyship received +them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so +acceptable as when she could get nobody else; and she was, in fact, +almost engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy, +much more than to any other person in the room. + +Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them; anything was a +welcome relief to him at Rosings; and Mrs. Collins's pretty friend had +moreover caught his fancy very much. He now seated himself by her, and +talked so agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying +at home, of new books and music, that Elizabeth had never been half so +well entertained in that room before; and they conversed with so much +spirit and flow, as to draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself, +as well as of Mr. Darcy. _His_ eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned +towards them with a look of curiosity; and that her ladyship, after a +while, shared the feeling, was more openly acknowledged, for she did not +scruple to call out: + +"What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking +of? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is." + +"We are speaking of music, madam," said he, when no longer able to avoid +a reply. + +"Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I +must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music. +There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment +of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, +I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health +had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed +delightfully. How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?" + +Mr. Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister's proficiency. + +"I am very glad to hear such a good account of her," said Lady +Catherine; "and pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel +if she does not practice a good deal." + +"I assure you, madam," he replied, "that she does not need such advice. +She practises very constantly." + +"So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write +to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often +tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without +constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times, that she +will never play really well unless she practises more; and though Mrs. +Collins has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told +her, to come to Rosings every day, and play on the pianoforte in Mrs. +Jenkinson's room. She would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part +of the house." + +Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt's ill-breeding, and made +no answer. + +When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of having +promised to play to him; and she sat down directly to the instrument. He +drew a chair near her. Lady Catherine listened to half a song, and then +talked, as before, to her other nephew; till the latter walked away +from her, and making with his usual deliberation towards the pianoforte +stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer's +countenance. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first +convenient pause, turned to him with an arch smile, and said: + +"You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear +me? I will not be alarmed though your sister _does_ play so well. There +is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the +will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate +me." + +"I shall not say you are mistaken," he replied, "because you could not +really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have +had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find +great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are +not your own." + +Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself, and said to +Colonel Fitzwilliam, "Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of +me, and teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky +in meeting with a person so able to expose my real character, in a part +of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of +credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all +that you knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire--and, give me leave to +say, very impolitic too--for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such +things may come out as will shock your relations to hear." + +"I am not afraid of you," said he, smilingly. + +"Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of," cried Colonel +Fitzwilliam. "I should like to know how he behaves among strangers." + +"You shall hear then--but prepare yourself for something very dreadful. +The first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire, you must know, +was at a ball--and at this ball, what do you think he did? He danced +only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain +knowledge, more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a +partner. Mr. Darcy, you cannot deny the fact." + +"I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly +beyond my own party." + +"True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room. Well, Colonel +Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fingers wait your orders." + +"Perhaps," said Darcy, "I should have judged better, had I sought an +introduction; but I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers." + +"Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?" said Elizabeth, still +addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Shall we ask him why a man of sense and +education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend +himself to strangers?" + +"I can answer your question," said Fitzwilliam, "without applying to +him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble." + +"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, +"of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot +catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their +concerns, as I often see done." + +"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the +masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same +force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I +have always supposed it to be my own fault--because I will not take the +trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe _my_ fingers as +capable as any other woman's of superior execution." + +Darcy smiled and said, "You are perfectly right. You have employed your +time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can +think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers." + +Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know +what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again. +Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said +to Darcy: + +"Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and +could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion +of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have +been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn." + +Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his +cousin's praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could she +discern any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss +de Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have +been just as likely to marry _her_, had she been his relation. + +Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixing +with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received +them with all the forbearance of civility, and, at the request of the +gentlemen, remained at the instrument till her ladyship's carriage was +ready to take them all home. + + + +Chapter 32 + + +Elizabeth was sitting by herself the next morning, and writing to Jane +while Mrs. Collins and Maria were gone on business into the village, +when she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal of a +visitor. As she had heard no carriage, she thought it not unlikely to +be Lady Catherine, and under that apprehension was putting away her +half-finished letter that she might escape all impertinent questions, +when the door opened, and, to her very great surprise, Mr. Darcy, and +Mr. Darcy only, entered the room. + +He seemed astonished too on finding her alone, and apologised for his +intrusion by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies were +to be within. + +They then sat down, and when her inquiries after Rosings were made, +seemed in danger of sinking into total silence. It was absolutely +necessary, therefore, to think of something, and in this emergence +recollecting _when_ she had seen him last in Hertfordshire, and +feeling curious to know what he would say on the subject of their hasty +departure, she observed: + +"How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield last November, Mr. Darcy! +It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr. Bingley to see you +all after him so soon; for, if I recollect right, he went but the day +before. He and his sisters were well, I hope, when you left London?" + +"Perfectly so, I thank you." + +She found that she was to receive no other answer, and, after a short +pause added: + +"I think I have understood that Mr. Bingley has not much idea of ever +returning to Netherfield again?" + +"I have never heard him say so; but it is probable that he may spend +very little of his time there in the future. He has many friends, and +is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually +increasing." + +"If he means to be but little at Netherfield, it would be better for +the neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely, for then we +might possibly get a settled family there. But, perhaps, Mr. Bingley did +not take the house so much for the convenience of the neighbourhood as +for his own, and we must expect him to keep it or quit it on the same +principle." + +"I should not be surprised," said Darcy, "if he were to give it up as +soon as any eligible purchase offers." + +Elizabeth made no answer. She was afraid of talking longer of his +friend; and, having nothing else to say, was now determined to leave the +trouble of finding a subject to him. + +He took the hint, and soon began with, "This seems a very comfortable +house. Lady Catherine, I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr. +Collins first came to Hunsford." + +"I believe she did--and I am sure she could not have bestowed her +kindness on a more grateful object." + +"Mr. Collins appears to be very fortunate in his choice of a wife." + +"Yes, indeed, his friends may well rejoice in his having met with one +of the very few sensible women who would have accepted him, or have made +him happy if they had. My friend has an excellent understanding--though +I am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the +wisest thing she ever did. She seems perfectly happy, however, and in a +prudential light it is certainly a very good match for her." + +"It must be very agreeable for her to be settled within so easy a +distance of her own family and friends." + +"An easy distance, do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles." + +"And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day's +journey. Yes, I call it a _very_ easy distance." + +"I should never have considered the distance as one of the _advantages_ +of the match," cried Elizabeth. "I should never have said Mrs. Collins +was settled _near_ her family." + +"It is a proof of your own attachment to Hertfordshire. Anything beyond +the very neighbourhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far." + +As he spoke there was a sort of smile which Elizabeth fancied she +understood; he must be supposing her to be thinking of Jane and +Netherfield, and she blushed as she answered: + +"I do not mean to say that a woman may not be settled too near her +family. The far and the near must be relative, and depend on many +varying circumstances. Where there is fortune to make the expenses of +travelling unimportant, distance becomes no evil. But that is not the +case _here_. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have a comfortable income, but not +such a one as will allow of frequent journeys--and I am persuaded my +friend would not call herself _near_ her family under less than _half_ +the present distance." + +Mr. Darcy drew his chair a little towards her, and said, "_You_ cannot +have a right to such very strong local attachment. _You_ cannot have +been always at Longbourn." + +Elizabeth looked surprised. The gentleman experienced some change of +feeling; he drew back his chair, took a newspaper from the table, and +glancing over it, said, in a colder voice: + +"Are you pleased with Kent?" + +A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued, on either side +calm and concise--and soon put an end to by the entrance of Charlotte +and her sister, just returned from her walk. The tete-a-tete surprised +them. Mr. Darcy related the mistake which had occasioned his intruding +on Miss Bennet, and after sitting a few minutes longer without saying +much to anybody, went away. + +"What can be the meaning of this?" said Charlotte, as soon as he was +gone. "My dear, Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never +have called us in this familiar way." + +But when Elizabeth told of his silence; it did not seem very likely, +even to Charlotte's wishes, to be the case; and after various +conjectures, they could at last only suppose his visit to proceed from +the difficulty of finding anything to do, which was the more probable +from the time of year. All field sports were over. Within doors there +was Lady Catherine, books, and a billiard-table, but gentlemen cannot +always be within doors; and in the nearness of the Parsonage, or the +pleasantness of the walk to it, or of the people who lived in it, the +two cousins found a temptation from this period of walking thither +almost every day. They called at various times of the morning, sometimes +separately, sometimes together, and now and then accompanied by their +aunt. It was plain to them all that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he +had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended +him still more; and Elizabeth was reminded by her own satisfaction in +being with him, as well as by his evident admiration of her, of her +former favourite George Wickham; and though, in comparing them, she saw +there was less captivating softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners, +she believed he might have the best informed mind. + +But why Mr. Darcy came so often to the Parsonage, it was more difficult +to understand. It could not be for society, as he frequently sat there +ten minutes together without opening his lips; and when he did speak, +it seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choice--a sacrifice +to propriety, not a pleasure to himself. He seldom appeared really +animated. Mrs. Collins knew not what to make of him. Colonel +Fitzwilliam's occasionally laughing at his stupidity, proved that he was +generally different, which her own knowledge of him could not have told +her; and as she would liked to have believed this change the effect +of love, and the object of that love her friend Eliza, she set herself +seriously to work to find it out. She watched him whenever they were at +Rosings, and whenever he came to Hunsford; but without much success. He +certainly looked at her friend a great deal, but the expression of that +look was disputable. It was an earnest, steadfast gaze, but she often +doubted whether there were much admiration in it, and sometimes it +seemed nothing but absence of mind. + +She had once or twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility of his +being partial to her, but Elizabeth always laughed at the idea; and Mrs. +Collins did not think it right to press the subject, from the danger of +raising expectations which might only end in disappointment; for in her +opinion it admitted not of a doubt, that all her friend's dislike would +vanish, if she could suppose him to be in her power. + + +In her kind schemes for Elizabeth, she sometimes planned her marrying +Colonel Fitzwilliam. He was beyond comparison the most pleasant man; he +certainly admired her, and his situation in life was most eligible; but, +to counterbalance these advantages, Mr. Darcy had considerable patronage +in the church, and his cousin could have none at all. + + + +Chapter 33 + + +More than once did Elizabeth, in her ramble within the park, +unexpectedly meet Mr. Darcy. She felt all the perverseness of the +mischance that should bring him where no one else was brought, and, to +prevent its ever happening again, took care to inform him at first that +it was a favourite haunt of hers. How it could occur a second time, +therefore, was very odd! Yet it did, and even a third. It seemed like +wilful ill-nature, or a voluntary penance, for on these occasions it was +not merely a few formal inquiries and an awkward pause and then away, +but he actually thought it necessary to turn back and walk with her. He +never said a great deal, nor did she give herself the trouble of talking +or of listening much; but it struck her in the course of their third +rencontre that he was asking some odd unconnected questions--about +her pleasure in being at Hunsford, her love of solitary walks, and her +opinion of Mr. and Mrs. Collins's happiness; and that in speaking of +Rosings and her not perfectly understanding the house, he seemed to +expect that whenever she came into Kent again she would be staying +_there_ too. His words seemed to imply it. Could he have Colonel +Fitzwilliam in his thoughts? She supposed, if he meant anything, he must +mean an allusion to what might arise in that quarter. It distressed +her a little, and she was quite glad to find herself at the gate in the +pales opposite the Parsonage. + +She was engaged one day as she walked, in perusing Jane's last letter, +and dwelling on some passages which proved that Jane had not written in +spirits, when, instead of being again surprised by Mr. Darcy, she saw +on looking up that Colonel Fitzwilliam was meeting her. Putting away the +letter immediately and forcing a smile, she said: + +"I did not know before that you ever walked this way." + +"I have been making the tour of the park," he replied, "as I generally +do every year, and intend to close it with a call at the Parsonage. Are +you going much farther?" + +"No, I should have turned in a moment." + +And accordingly she did turn, and they walked towards the Parsonage +together. + +"Do you certainly leave Kent on Saturday?" said she. + +"Yes--if Darcy does not put it off again. But I am at his disposal. He +arranges the business just as he pleases." + +"And if not able to please himself in the arrangement, he has at least +pleasure in the great power of choice. I do not know anybody who seems +more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than Mr. Darcy." + +"He likes to have his own way very well," replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. +"But so we all do. It is only that he has better means of having it +than many others, because he is rich, and many others are poor. I speak +feelingly. A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and +dependence." + +"In my opinion, the younger son of an earl can know very little of +either. Now seriously, what have you ever known of self-denial and +dependence? When have you been prevented by want of money from going +wherever you chose, or procuring anything you had a fancy for?" + +"These are home questions--and perhaps I cannot say that I have +experienced many hardships of that nature. But in matters of greater +weight, I may suffer from want of money. Younger sons cannot marry where +they like." + +"Unless where they like women of fortune, which I think they very often +do." + +"Our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are not many +in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to +money." + +"Is this," thought Elizabeth, "meant for me?" and she coloured at the +idea; but, recovering herself, said in a lively tone, "And pray, what +is the usual price of an earl's younger son? Unless the elder brother is +very sickly, I suppose you would not ask above fifty thousand pounds." + +He answered her in the same style, and the subject dropped. To interrupt +a silence which might make him fancy her affected with what had passed, +she soon afterwards said: + +"I imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly for the sake of +having someone at his disposal. I wonder he does not marry, to secure a +lasting convenience of that kind. But, perhaps, his sister does as well +for the present, and, as she is under his sole care, he may do what he +likes with her." + +"No," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, "that is an advantage which he must +divide with me. I am joined with him in the guardianship of Miss Darcy." + +"Are you indeed? And pray what sort of guardians do you make? Does your +charge give you much trouble? Young ladies of her age are sometimes a +little difficult to manage, and if she has the true Darcy spirit, she +may like to have her own way." + +As she spoke she observed him looking at her earnestly; and the manner +in which he immediately asked her why she supposed Miss Darcy likely to +give them any uneasiness, convinced her that she had somehow or other +got pretty near the truth. She directly replied: + +"You need not be frightened. I never heard any harm of her; and I dare +say she is one of the most tractable creatures in the world. She is a +very great favourite with some ladies of my acquaintance, Mrs. Hurst and +Miss Bingley. I think I have heard you say that you know them." + +"I know them a little. Their brother is a pleasant gentlemanlike man--he +is a great friend of Darcy's." + +"Oh! yes," said Elizabeth drily; "Mr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. +Bingley, and takes a prodigious deal of care of him." + +"Care of him! Yes, I really believe Darcy _does_ take care of him in +those points where he most wants care. From something that he told me in +our journey hither, I have reason to think Bingley very much indebted to +him. But I ought to beg his pardon, for I have no right to suppose that +Bingley was the person meant. It was all conjecture." + +"What is it you mean?" + +"It is a circumstance which Darcy could not wish to be generally known, +because if it were to get round to the lady's family, it would be an +unpleasant thing." + +"You may depend upon my not mentioning it." + +"And remember that I have not much reason for supposing it to be +Bingley. What he told me was merely this: that he congratulated himself +on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most +imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names or any other +particulars, and I only suspected it to be Bingley from believing +him the kind of young man to get into a scrape of that sort, and from +knowing them to have been together the whole of last summer." + +"Did Mr. Darcy give you reasons for this interference?" + +"I understood that there were some very strong objections against the +lady." + +"And what arts did he use to separate them?" + +"He did not talk to me of his own arts," said Fitzwilliam, smiling. "He +only told me what I have now told you." + +Elizabeth made no answer, and walked on, her heart swelling with +indignation. After watching her a little, Fitzwilliam asked her why she +was so thoughtful. + +"I am thinking of what you have been telling me," said she. "Your +cousin's conduct does not suit my feelings. Why was he to be the judge?" + +"You are rather disposed to call his interference officious?" + +"I do not see what right Mr. Darcy had to decide on the propriety of his +friend's inclination, or why, upon his own judgement alone, he was to +determine and direct in what manner his friend was to be happy. +But," she continued, recollecting herself, "as we know none of the +particulars, it is not fair to condemn him. It is not to be supposed +that there was much affection in the case." + +"That is not an unnatural surmise," said Fitzwilliam, "but it is a +lessening of the honour of my cousin's triumph very sadly." + +This was spoken jestingly; but it appeared to her so just a picture +of Mr. Darcy, that she would not trust herself with an answer, and +therefore, abruptly changing the conversation talked on indifferent +matters until they reached the Parsonage. There, shut into her own room, +as soon as their visitor left them, she could think without interruption +of all that she had heard. It was not to be supposed that any other +people could be meant than those with whom she was connected. There +could not exist in the world _two_ men over whom Mr. Darcy could have +such boundless influence. That he had been concerned in the measures +taken to separate Bingley and Jane she had never doubted; but she had +always attributed to Miss Bingley the principal design and arrangement +of them. If his own vanity, however, did not mislead him, _he_ was +the cause, his pride and caprice were the cause, of all that Jane had +suffered, and still continued to suffer. He had ruined for a while +every hope of happiness for the most affectionate, generous heart in the +world; and no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted. + +"There were some very strong objections against the lady," were Colonel +Fitzwilliam's words; and those strong objections probably were, her +having one uncle who was a country attorney, and another who was in +business in London. + +"To Jane herself," she exclaimed, "there could be no possibility of +objection; all loveliness and goodness as she is!--her understanding +excellent, her mind improved, and her manners captivating. Neither +could anything be urged against my father, who, though with some +peculiarities, has abilities Mr. Darcy himself need not disdain, and +respectability which he will probably never reach." When she thought of +her mother, her confidence gave way a little; but she would not allow +that any objections _there_ had material weight with Mr. Darcy, whose +pride, she was convinced, would receive a deeper wound from the want of +importance in his friend's connections, than from their want of sense; +and she was quite decided, at last, that he had been partly governed +by this worst kind of pride, and partly by the wish of retaining Mr. +Bingley for his sister. + +The agitation and tears which the subject occasioned, brought on a +headache; and it grew so much worse towards the evening, that, added to +her unwillingness to see Mr. Darcy, it determined her not to attend her +cousins to Rosings, where they were engaged to drink tea. Mrs. Collins, +seeing that she was really unwell, did not press her to go and as much +as possible prevented her husband from pressing her; but Mr. Collins +could not conceal his apprehension of Lady Catherine's being rather +displeased by her staying at home. + + + +Chapter 34 + + +When they were gone, Elizabeth, as if intending to exasperate herself +as much as possible against Mr. Darcy, chose for her employment the +examination of all the letters which Jane had written to her since her +being in Kent. They contained no actual complaint, nor was there any +revival of past occurrences, or any communication of present suffering. +But in all, and in almost every line of each, there was a want of that +cheerfulness which had been used to characterise her style, and which, +proceeding from the serenity of a mind at ease with itself and kindly +disposed towards everyone, had been scarcely ever clouded. Elizabeth +noticed every sentence conveying the idea of uneasiness, with an +attention which it had hardly received on the first perusal. Mr. Darcy's +shameful boast of what misery he had been able to inflict, gave her +a keener sense of her sister's sufferings. It was some consolation +to think that his visit to Rosings was to end on the day after the +next--and, a still greater, that in less than a fortnight she should +herself be with Jane again, and enabled to contribute to the recovery of +her spirits, by all that affection could do. + +She could not think of Darcy's leaving Kent without remembering that +his cousin was to go with him; but Colonel Fitzwilliam had made it clear +that he had no intentions at all, and agreeable as he was, she did not +mean to be unhappy about him. + +While settling this point, she was suddenly roused by the sound of the +door-bell, and her spirits were a little fluttered by the idea of its +being Colonel Fitzwilliam himself, who had once before called late in +the evening, and might now come to inquire particularly after her. +But this idea was soon banished, and her spirits were very differently +affected, when, to her utter amazement, she saw Mr. Darcy walk into the +room. In an hurried manner he immediately began an inquiry after her +health, imputing his visit to a wish of hearing that she were better. +She answered him with cold civility. He sat down for a few moments, and +then getting up, walked about the room. Elizabeth was surprised, but +said not a word. After a silence of several minutes, he came towards her +in an agitated manner, and thus began: + +"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be +repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love +you." + +Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, +doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement; +and the avowal of all that he felt, and had long felt for her, +immediately followed. He spoke well; but there were feelings besides +those of the heart to be detailed; and he was not more eloquent on the +subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority--of +its being a degradation--of the family obstacles which had always +opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to +the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his +suit. + +In spite of her deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to +the compliment of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did +not vary for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he was to +receive; till, roused to resentment by his subsequent language, she +lost all compassion in anger. She tried, however, to compose herself to +answer him with patience, when he should have done. He concluded with +representing to her the strength of that attachment which, in spite +of all his endeavours, he had found impossible to conquer; and with +expressing his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of +his hand. As he said this, she could easily see that he had no doubt +of a favourable answer. He _spoke_ of apprehension and anxiety, but +his countenance expressed real security. Such a circumstance could +only exasperate farther, and, when he ceased, the colour rose into her +cheeks, and she said: + +"In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to +express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however +unequally they may be returned. It is natural that obligation should +be felt, and if I could _feel_ gratitude, I would now thank you. But I +cannot--I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly +bestowed it most unwillingly. I am sorry to have occasioned pain to +anyone. It has been most unconsciously done, however, and I hope will be +of short duration. The feelings which, you tell me, have long prevented +the acknowledgment of your regard, can have little difficulty in +overcoming it after this explanation." + +Mr. Darcy, who was leaning against the mantelpiece with his eyes fixed +on her face, seemed to catch her words with no less resentment than +surprise. His complexion became pale with anger, and the disturbance +of his mind was visible in every feature. He was struggling for the +appearance of composure, and would not open his lips till he believed +himself to have attained it. The pause was to Elizabeth's feelings +dreadful. At length, with a voice of forced calmness, he said: + +"And this is all the reply which I am to have the honour of expecting! +I might, perhaps, wish to be informed why, with so little _endeavour_ at +civility, I am thus rejected. But it is of small importance." + +"I might as well inquire," replied she, "why with so evident a desire +of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me +against your will, against your reason, and even against your character? +Was not this some excuse for incivility, if I _was_ uncivil? But I have +other provocations. You know I have. Had not my feelings decided against +you--had they been indifferent, or had they even been favourable, do you +think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has +been the means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most +beloved sister?" + +As she pronounced these words, Mr. Darcy changed colour; but the emotion +was short, and he listened without attempting to interrupt her while she +continued: + +"I have every reason in the world to think ill of you. No motive can +excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted _there_. You dare not, +you cannot deny, that you have been the principal, if not the only means +of dividing them from each other--of exposing one to the censure of the +world for caprice and instability, and the other to its derision for +disappointed hopes, and involving them both in misery of the acutest +kind." + +She paused, and saw with no slight indignation that he was listening +with an air which proved him wholly unmoved by any feeling of remorse. +He even looked at her with a smile of affected incredulity. + +"Can you deny that you have done it?" she repeated. + +With assumed tranquillity he then replied: "I have no wish of denying +that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your +sister, or that I rejoice in my success. Towards _him_ I have been +kinder than towards myself." + +Elizabeth disdained the appearance of noticing this civil reflection, +but its meaning did not escape, nor was it likely to conciliate her. + +"But it is not merely this affair," she continued, "on which my dislike +is founded. Long before it had taken place my opinion of you was +decided. Your character was unfolded in the recital which I received +many months ago from Mr. Wickham. On this subject, what can you have to +say? In what imaginary act of friendship can you here defend yourself? +or under what misrepresentation can you here impose upon others?" + +"You take an eager interest in that gentleman's concerns," said Darcy, +in a less tranquil tone, and with a heightened colour. + +"Who that knows what his misfortunes have been, can help feeling an +interest in him?" + +"His misfortunes!" repeated Darcy contemptuously; "yes, his misfortunes +have been great indeed." + +"And of your infliction," cried Elizabeth with energy. "You have reduced +him to his present state of poverty--comparative poverty. You have +withheld the advantages which you must know to have been designed for +him. You have deprived the best years of his life of that independence +which was no less his due than his desert. You have done all this! +and yet you can treat the mention of his misfortune with contempt and +ridicule." + +"And this," cried Darcy, as he walked with quick steps across the room, +"is your opinion of me! This is the estimation in which you hold me! +I thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults, according to this +calculation, are heavy indeed! But perhaps," added he, stopping in +his walk, and turning towards her, "these offenses might have been +overlooked, had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession of the +scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design. These +bitter accusations might have been suppressed, had I, with greater +policy, concealed my struggles, and flattered you into the belief of +my being impelled by unqualified, unalloyed inclination; by reason, by +reflection, by everything. But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. +Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related. They were natural and +just. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your +connections?--to congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose +condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?" + +Elizabeth felt herself growing more angry every moment; yet she tried to +the utmost to speak with composure when she said: + +"You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your +declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared the concern +which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more +gentlemanlike manner." + +She saw him start at this, but he said nothing, and she continued: + +"You could not have made the offer of your hand in any possible way that +would have tempted me to accept it." + +Again his astonishment was obvious; and he looked at her with an +expression of mingled incredulity and mortification. She went on: + +"From the very beginning--from the first moment, I may almost say--of +my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest +belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of +the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of +disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a +dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the +last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry." + +"You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your +feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. +Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best +wishes for your health and happiness." + +And with these words he hastily left the room, and Elizabeth heard him +the next moment open the front door and quit the house. + +The tumult of her mind, was now painfully great. She knew not how +to support herself, and from actual weakness sat down and cried for +half-an-hour. Her astonishment, as she reflected on what had passed, +was increased by every review of it. That she should receive an offer of +marriage from Mr. Darcy! That he should have been in love with her for +so many months! So much in love as to wish to marry her in spite of +all the objections which had made him prevent his friend's marrying +her sister, and which must appear at least with equal force in his +own case--was almost incredible! It was gratifying to have inspired +unconsciously so strong an affection. But his pride, his abominable +pride--his shameless avowal of what he had done with respect to +Jane--his unpardonable assurance in acknowledging, though he could +not justify it, and the unfeeling manner in which he had mentioned Mr. +Wickham, his cruelty towards whom he had not attempted to deny, soon +overcame the pity which the consideration of his attachment had for +a moment excited. She continued in very agitated reflections till the +sound of Lady Catherine's carriage made her feel how unequal she was to +encounter Charlotte's observation, and hurried her away to her room. + + + +Chapter 35 + + +Elizabeth awoke the next morning to the same thoughts and meditations +which had at length closed her eyes. She could not yet recover from the +surprise of what had happened; it was impossible to think of anything +else; and, totally indisposed for employment, she resolved, soon after +breakfast, to indulge herself in air and exercise. She was proceeding +directly to her favourite walk, when the recollection of Mr. Darcy's +sometimes coming there stopped her, and instead of entering the park, +she turned up the lane, which led farther from the turnpike-road. The +park paling was still the boundary on one side, and she soon passed one +of the gates into the ground. + +After walking two or three times along that part of the lane, she was +tempted, by the pleasantness of the morning, to stop at the gates and +look into the park. The five weeks which she had now passed in Kent had +made a great difference in the country, and every day was adding to the +verdure of the early trees. She was on the point of continuing her walk, +when she caught a glimpse of a gentleman within the sort of grove which +edged the park; he was moving that way; and, fearful of its being Mr. +Darcy, she was directly retreating. But the person who advanced was now +near enough to see her, and stepping forward with eagerness, pronounced +her name. She had turned away; but on hearing herself called, though +in a voice which proved it to be Mr. Darcy, she moved again towards the +gate. He had by that time reached it also, and, holding out a letter, +which she instinctively took, said, with a look of haughty composure, +"I have been walking in the grove some time in the hope of meeting you. +Will you do me the honour of reading that letter?" And then, with a +slight bow, turned again into the plantation, and was soon out of sight. + +With no expectation of pleasure, but with the strongest curiosity, +Elizabeth opened the letter, and, to her still increasing wonder, +perceived an envelope containing two sheets of letter-paper, written +quite through, in a very close hand. The envelope itself was likewise +full. Pursuing her way along the lane, she then began it. It was dated +from Rosings, at eight o'clock in the morning, and was as follows:-- + +"Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension +of its containing any repetition of those sentiments or renewal of those +offers which were last night so disgusting to you. I write without any +intention of paining you, or humbling myself, by dwelling on wishes +which, for the happiness of both, cannot be too soon forgotten; and the +effort which the formation and the perusal of this letter must occasion, +should have been spared, had not my character required it to be written +and read. You must, therefore, pardon the freedom with which I demand +your attention; your feelings, I know, will bestow it unwillingly, but I +demand it of your justice. + +"Two offenses of a very different nature, and by no means of equal +magnitude, you last night laid to my charge. The first mentioned was, +that, regardless of the sentiments of either, I had detached Mr. Bingley +from your sister, and the other, that I had, in defiance of various +claims, in defiance of honour and humanity, ruined the immediate +prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham. Wilfully and +wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth, the acknowledged +favourite of my father, a young man who had scarcely any other +dependence than on our patronage, and who had been brought up to expect +its exertion, would be a depravity, to which the separation of two young +persons, whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks, could +bear no comparison. But from the severity of that blame which was last +night so liberally bestowed, respecting each circumstance, I shall hope +to be in the future secured, when the following account of my actions +and their motives has been read. If, in the explanation of them, which +is due to myself, I am under the necessity of relating feelings which +may be offensive to yours, I can only say that I am sorry. The necessity +must be obeyed, and further apology would be absurd. + +"I had not been long in Hertfordshire, before I saw, in common with +others, that Bingley preferred your elder sister to any other young +woman in the country. But it was not till the evening of the dance +at Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious +attachment. I had often seen him in love before. At that ball, while I +had the honour of dancing with you, I was first made acquainted, by Sir +William Lucas's accidental information, that Bingley's attentions to +your sister had given rise to a general expectation of their marriage. +He spoke of it as a certain event, of which the time alone could +be undecided. From that moment I observed my friend's behaviour +attentively; and I could then perceive that his partiality for Miss +Bennet was beyond what I had ever witnessed in him. Your sister I also +watched. Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, +but without any symptom of peculiar regard, and I remained convinced +from the evening's scrutiny, that though she received his attentions +with pleasure, she did not invite them by any participation of +sentiment. If _you_ have not been mistaken here, _I_ must have been +in error. Your superior knowledge of your sister must make the latter +probable. If it be so, if I have been misled by such error to inflict +pain on her, your resentment has not been unreasonable. But I shall not +scruple to assert, that the serenity of your sister's countenance and +air was such as might have given the most acute observer a conviction +that, however amiable her temper, her heart was not likely to be +easily touched. That I was desirous of believing her indifferent is +certain--but I will venture to say that my investigation and decisions +are not usually influenced by my hopes or fears. I did not believe +her to be indifferent because I wished it; I believed it on impartial +conviction, as truly as I wished it in reason. My objections to the +marriage were not merely those which I last night acknowledged to have +the utmost force of passion to put aside, in my own case; the want of +connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me. But +there were other causes of repugnance; causes which, though still +existing, and existing to an equal degree in both instances, I had +myself endeavoured to forget, because they were not immediately before +me. These causes must be stated, though briefly. The situation of your +mother's family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison to that +total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by +herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your +father. Pardon me. It pains me to offend you. But amidst your concern +for the defects of your nearest relations, and your displeasure at this +representation of them, let it give you consolation to consider that, to +have conducted yourselves so as to avoid any share of the like censure, +is praise no less generally bestowed on you and your elder sister, than +it is honourable to the sense and disposition of both. I will only say +farther that from what passed that evening, my opinion of all parties +was confirmed, and every inducement heightened which could have led +me before, to preserve my friend from what I esteemed a most unhappy +connection. He left Netherfield for London, on the day following, as +you, I am certain, remember, with the design of soon returning. + +"The part which I acted is now to be explained. His sisters' uneasiness +had been equally excited with my own; our coincidence of feeling was +soon discovered, and, alike sensible that no time was to be lost in +detaching their brother, we shortly resolved on joining him directly in +London. We accordingly went--and there I readily engaged in the office +of pointing out to my friend the certain evils of such a choice. I +described, and enforced them earnestly. But, however this remonstrance +might have staggered or delayed his determination, I do not suppose +that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage, had it not been +seconded by the assurance that I hesitated not in giving, of your +sister's indifference. He had before believed her to return his +affection with sincere, if not with equal regard. But Bingley has great +natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my judgement than on his +own. To convince him, therefore, that he had deceived himself, was +no very difficult point. To persuade him against returning into +Hertfordshire, when that conviction had been given, was scarcely the +work of a moment. I cannot blame myself for having done thus much. There +is but one part of my conduct in the whole affair on which I do not +reflect with satisfaction; it is that I condescended to adopt the +measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister's being in +town. I knew it myself, as it was known to Miss Bingley; but her +brother is even yet ignorant of it. That they might have met without +ill consequence is perhaps probable; but his regard did not appear to me +enough extinguished for him to see her without some danger. Perhaps this +concealment, this disguise was beneath me; it is done, however, and it +was done for the best. On this subject I have nothing more to say, no +other apology to offer. If I have wounded your sister's feelings, it +was unknowingly done and though the motives which governed me may to +you very naturally appear insufficient, I have not yet learnt to condemn +them. + +"With respect to that other, more weighty accusation, of having injured +Mr. Wickham, I can only refute it by laying before you the whole of his +connection with my family. Of what he has _particularly_ accused me I +am ignorant; but of the truth of what I shall relate, I can summon more +than one witness of undoubted veracity. + +"Mr. Wickham is the son of a very respectable man, who had for many +years the management of all the Pemberley estates, and whose good +conduct in the discharge of his trust naturally inclined my father to +be of service to him; and on George Wickham, who was his godson, his +kindness was therefore liberally bestowed. My father supported him at +school, and afterwards at Cambridge--most important assistance, as his +own father, always poor from the extravagance of his wife, would have +been unable to give him a gentleman's education. My father was not only +fond of this young man's society, whose manner were always engaging; he +had also the highest opinion of him, and hoping the church would be +his profession, intended to provide for him in it. As for myself, it is +many, many years since I first began to think of him in a very different +manner. The vicious propensities--the want of principle, which he was +careful to guard from the knowledge of his best friend, could not escape +the observation of a young man of nearly the same age with himself, +and who had opportunities of seeing him in unguarded moments, which Mr. +Darcy could not have. Here again I shall give you pain--to what degree +you only can tell. But whatever may be the sentiments which Mr. Wickham +has created, a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from +unfolding his real character--it adds even another motive. + +"My excellent father died about five years ago; and his attachment to +Mr. Wickham was to the last so steady, that in his will he particularly +recommended it to me, to promote his advancement in the best manner +that his profession might allow--and if he took orders, desired that a +valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant. There +was also a legacy of one thousand pounds. His own father did not long +survive mine, and within half a year from these events, Mr. Wickham +wrote to inform me that, having finally resolved against taking orders, +he hoped I should not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more +immediate pecuniary advantage, in lieu of the preferment, by which he +could not be benefited. He had some intention, he added, of studying +law, and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would +be a very insufficient support therein. I rather wished, than believed +him to be sincere; but, at any rate, was perfectly ready to accede to +his proposal. I knew that Mr. Wickham ought not to be a clergyman; the +business was therefore soon settled--he resigned all claim to assistance +in the church, were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to +receive it, and accepted in return three thousand pounds. All connection +between us seemed now dissolved. I thought too ill of him to invite him +to Pemberley, or admit his society in town. In town I believe he chiefly +lived, but his studying the law was a mere pretence, and being now free +from all restraint, his life was a life of idleness and dissipation. +For about three years I heard little of him; but on the decease of the +incumbent of the living which had been designed for him, he applied to +me again by letter for the presentation. His circumstances, he assured +me, and I had no difficulty in believing it, were exceedingly bad. He +had found the law a most unprofitable study, and was now absolutely +resolved on being ordained, if I would present him to the living in +question--of which he trusted there could be little doubt, as he was +well assured that I had no other person to provide for, and I could not +have forgotten my revered father's intentions. You will hardly blame +me for refusing to comply with this entreaty, or for resisting every +repetition to it. His resentment was in proportion to the distress of +his circumstances--and he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me +to others as in his reproaches to myself. After this period every +appearance of acquaintance was dropped. How he lived I know not. But +last summer he was again most painfully obtruded on my notice. + +"I must now mention a circumstance which I would wish to forget myself, +and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold +to any human being. Having said thus much, I feel no doubt of your +secrecy. My sister, who is more than ten years my junior, was left to +the guardianship of my mother's nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and myself. +About a year ago, she was taken from school, and an establishment formed +for her in London; and last summer she went with the lady who presided +over it, to Ramsgate; and thither also went Mr. Wickham, undoubtedly by +design; for there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him +and Mrs. Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and +by her connivance and aid, he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, +whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to +her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and +to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen, which must be her +excuse; and after stating her imprudence, I am happy to add, that I owed +the knowledge of it to herself. I joined them unexpectedly a day or two +before the intended elopement, and then Georgiana, unable to support the +idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as +a father, acknowledged the whole to me. You may imagine what I felt and +how I acted. Regard for my sister's credit and feelings prevented +any public exposure; but I wrote to Mr. Wickham, who left the place +immediately, and Mrs. Younge was of course removed from her charge. Mr. +Wickham's chief object was unquestionably my sister's fortune, which +is thirty thousand pounds; but I cannot help supposing that the hope of +revenging himself on me was a strong inducement. His revenge would have +been complete indeed. + +"This, madam, is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have +been concerned together; and if you do not absolutely reject it as +false, you will, I hope, acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr. +Wickham. I know not in what manner, under what form of falsehood he +had imposed on you; but his success is not perhaps to be wondered +at. Ignorant as you previously were of everything concerning either, +detection could not be in your power, and suspicion certainly not in +your inclination. + +"You may possibly wonder why all this was not told you last night; but +I was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to +be revealed. For the truth of everything here related, I can appeal more +particularly to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam, who, from our +near relationship and constant intimacy, and, still more, as one of +the executors of my father's will, has been unavoidably acquainted +with every particular of these transactions. If your abhorrence of _me_ +should make _my_ assertions valueless, you cannot be prevented by +the same cause from confiding in my cousin; and that there may be +the possibility of consulting him, I shall endeavour to find some +opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the +morning. I will only add, God bless you. + +"FITZWILLIAM DARCY" + + + +Chapter 36 + + +If Elizabeth, when Mr. Darcy gave her the letter, did not expect it to +contain a renewal of his offers, she had formed no expectation at all of +its contents. But such as they were, it may well be supposed how eagerly +she went through them, and what a contrariety of emotion they excited. +Her feelings as she read were scarcely to be defined. With amazement did +she first understand that he believed any apology to be in his power; +and steadfastly was she persuaded, that he could have no explanation +to give, which a just sense of shame would not conceal. With a strong +prejudice against everything he might say, she began his account of what +had happened at Netherfield. She read with an eagerness which hardly +left her power of comprehension, and from impatience of knowing what the +next sentence might bring, was incapable of attending to the sense of +the one before her eyes. His belief of her sister's insensibility she +instantly resolved to be false; and his account of the real, the worst +objections to the match, made her too angry to have any wish of doing +him justice. He expressed no regret for what he had done which satisfied +her; his style was not penitent, but haughty. It was all pride and +insolence. + +But when this subject was succeeded by his account of Mr. Wickham--when +she read with somewhat clearer attention a relation of events which, +if true, must overthrow every cherished opinion of his worth, and which +bore so alarming an affinity to his own history of himself--her +feelings were yet more acutely painful and more difficult of definition. +Astonishment, apprehension, and even horror, oppressed her. She wished +to discredit it entirely, repeatedly exclaiming, "This must be false! +This cannot be! This must be the grossest falsehood!"--and when she had +gone through the whole letter, though scarcely knowing anything of the +last page or two, put it hastily away, protesting that she would not +regard it, that she would never look in it again. + +In this perturbed state of mind, with thoughts that could rest on +nothing, she walked on; but it would not do; in half a minute the letter +was unfolded again, and collecting herself as well as she could, she +again began the mortifying perusal of all that related to Wickham, and +commanded herself so far as to examine the meaning of every sentence. +The account of his connection with the Pemberley family was exactly what +he had related himself; and the kindness of the late Mr. Darcy, though +she had not before known its extent, agreed equally well with his own +words. So far each recital confirmed the other; but when she came to the +will, the difference was great. What Wickham had said of the living +was fresh in her memory, and as she recalled his very words, it was +impossible not to feel that there was gross duplicity on one side or the +other; and, for a few moments, she flattered herself that her wishes did +not err. But when she read and re-read with the closest attention, the +particulars immediately following of Wickham's resigning all pretensions +to the living, of his receiving in lieu so considerable a sum as three +thousand pounds, again was she forced to hesitate. She put down +the letter, weighed every circumstance with what she meant to be +impartiality--deliberated on the probability of each statement--but with +little success. On both sides it was only assertion. Again she read +on; but every line proved more clearly that the affair, which she had +believed it impossible that any contrivance could so represent as to +render Mr. Darcy's conduct in it less than infamous, was capable of a +turn which must make him entirely blameless throughout the whole. + +The extravagance and general profligacy which he scrupled not to lay at +Mr. Wickham's charge, exceedingly shocked her; the more so, as she could +bring no proof of its injustice. She had never heard of him before his +entrance into the ----shire Militia, in which he had engaged at the +persuasion of the young man who, on meeting him accidentally in town, +had there renewed a slight acquaintance. Of his former way of life +nothing had been known in Hertfordshire but what he told himself. As +to his real character, had information been in her power, she had +never felt a wish of inquiring. His countenance, voice, and manner had +established him at once in the possession of every virtue. She tried +to recollect some instance of goodness, some distinguished trait of +integrity or benevolence, that might rescue him from the attacks of +Mr. Darcy; or at least, by the predominance of virtue, atone for those +casual errors under which she would endeavour to class what Mr. Darcy +had described as the idleness and vice of many years' continuance. But +no such recollection befriended her. She could see him instantly before +her, in every charm of air and address; but she could remember no more +substantial good than the general approbation of the neighbourhood, and +the regard which his social powers had gained him in the mess. After +pausing on this point a considerable while, she once more continued to +read. But, alas! the story which followed, of his designs on Miss +Darcy, received some confirmation from what had passed between Colonel +Fitzwilliam and herself only the morning before; and at last she was +referred for the truth of every particular to Colonel Fitzwilliam +himself--from whom she had previously received the information of his +near concern in all his cousin's affairs, and whose character she had no +reason to question. At one time she had almost resolved on applying to +him, but the idea was checked by the awkwardness of the application, and +at length wholly banished by the conviction that Mr. Darcy would never +have hazarded such a proposal, if he had not been well assured of his +cousin's corroboration. + +She perfectly remembered everything that had passed in conversation +between Wickham and herself, in their first evening at Mr. Phillips's. +Many of his expressions were still fresh in her memory. She was _now_ +struck with the impropriety of such communications to a stranger, and +wondered it had escaped her before. She saw the indelicacy of putting +himself forward as he had done, and the inconsistency of his professions +with his conduct. She remembered that he had boasted of having no fear +of seeing Mr. Darcy--that Mr. Darcy might leave the country, but that +_he_ should stand his ground; yet he had avoided the Netherfield ball +the very next week. She remembered also that, till the Netherfield +family had quitted the country, he had told his story to no one but +herself; but that after their removal it had been everywhere discussed; +that he had then no reserves, no scruples in sinking Mr. Darcy's +character, though he had assured her that respect for the father would +always prevent his exposing the son. + +How differently did everything now appear in which he was concerned! +His attentions to Miss King were now the consequence of views solely and +hatefully mercenary; and the mediocrity of her fortune proved no longer +the moderation of his wishes, but his eagerness to grasp at anything. +His behaviour to herself could now have had no tolerable motive; he had +either been deceived with regard to her fortune, or had been gratifying +his vanity by encouraging the preference which she believed she had most +incautiously shown. Every lingering struggle in his favour grew fainter +and fainter; and in farther justification of Mr. Darcy, she could not +but allow Mr. Bingley, when questioned by Jane, had long ago asserted +his blamelessness in the affair; that proud and repulsive as were his +manners, she had never, in the whole course of their acquaintance--an +acquaintance which had latterly brought them much together, and given +her a sort of intimacy with his ways--seen anything that betrayed him +to be unprincipled or unjust--anything that spoke him of irreligious +or immoral habits; that among his own connections he was esteemed and +valued--that even Wickham had allowed him merit as a brother, and that +she had often heard him speak so affectionately of his sister as to +prove him capable of _some_ amiable feeling; that had his actions been +what Mr. Wickham represented them, so gross a violation of everything +right could hardly have been concealed from the world; and that +friendship between a person capable of it, and such an amiable man as +Mr. Bingley, was incomprehensible. + +She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. Of neither Darcy nor Wickham +could she think without feeling she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, +absurd. + +"How despicably I have acted!" she cried; "I, who have prided myself +on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who have +often disdained the generous candour of my sister, and gratified +my vanity in useless or blameable mistrust! How humiliating is this +discovery! Yet, how just a humiliation! Had I been in love, I could +not have been more wretchedly blind! But vanity, not love, has been my +folly. Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect +of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted +prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were +concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself." + +From herself to Jane--from Jane to Bingley, her thoughts were in a line +which soon brought to her recollection that Mr. Darcy's explanation +_there_ had appeared very insufficient, and she read it again. Widely +different was the effect of a second perusal. How could she deny that +credit to his assertions in one instance, which she had been obliged to +give in the other? He declared himself to be totally unsuspicious of her +sister's attachment; and she could not help remembering what Charlotte's +opinion had always been. Neither could she deny the justice of his +description of Jane. She felt that Jane's feelings, though fervent, were +little displayed, and that there was a constant complacency in her air +and manner not often united with great sensibility. + +When she came to that part of the letter in which her family were +mentioned in terms of such mortifying, yet merited reproach, her sense +of shame was severe. The justice of the charge struck her too forcibly +for denial, and the circumstances to which he particularly alluded as +having passed at the Netherfield ball, and as confirming all his first +disapprobation, could not have made a stronger impression on his mind +than on hers. + +The compliment to herself and her sister was not unfelt. It soothed, +but it could not console her for the contempt which had thus been +self-attracted by the rest of her family; and as she considered +that Jane's disappointment had in fact been the work of her nearest +relations, and reflected how materially the credit of both must be hurt +by such impropriety of conduct, she felt depressed beyond anything she +had ever known before. + +After wandering along the lane for two hours, giving way to every +variety of thought--re-considering events, determining probabilities, +and reconciling herself, as well as she could, to a change so sudden and +so important, fatigue, and a recollection of her long absence, made +her at length return home; and she entered the house with the wish +of appearing cheerful as usual, and the resolution of repressing such +reflections as must make her unfit for conversation. + +She was immediately told that the two gentlemen from Rosings had each +called during her absence; Mr. Darcy, only for a few minutes, to take +leave--but that Colonel Fitzwilliam had been sitting with them at least +an hour, hoping for her return, and almost resolving to walk after her +till she could be found. Elizabeth could but just _affect_ concern +in missing him; she really rejoiced at it. Colonel Fitzwilliam was no +longer an object; she could think only of her letter. + + + +Chapter 37 + + +The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning, and Mr. Collins having +been in waiting near the lodges, to make them his parting obeisance, was +able to bring home the pleasing intelligence, of their appearing in very +good health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the +melancholy scene so lately gone through at Rosings. To Rosings he then +hastened, to console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return +brought back, with great satisfaction, a message from her ladyship, +importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of +having them all to dine with her. + +Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting that, had +she chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her as +her future niece; nor could she think, without a smile, of what her +ladyship's indignation would have been. "What would she have said? how +would she have behaved?" were questions with which she amused herself. + +Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party. "I assure +you, I feel it exceedingly," said Lady Catherine; "I believe no one +feels the loss of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly +attached to these young men, and know them to be so much attached to +me! They were excessively sorry to go! But so they always are. The +dear Colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just at last; but Darcy +seemed to feel it most acutely, more, I think, than last year. His +attachment to Rosings certainly increases." + +Mr. Collins had a compliment, and an allusion to throw in here, which +were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter. + +Lady Catherine observed, after dinner, that Miss Bennet seemed out of +spirits, and immediately accounting for it by herself, by supposing that +she did not like to go home again so soon, she added: + +"But if that is the case, you must write to your mother and beg that +you may stay a little longer. Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your +company, I am sure." + +"I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation," replied +Elizabeth, "but it is not in my power to accept it. I must be in town +next Saturday." + +"Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected +you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came. There +can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet could certainly +spare you for another fortnight." + +"But my father cannot. He wrote last week to hurry my return." + +"Oh! your father of course may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters +are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay +another _month_ complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as +far as London, for I am going there early in June, for a week; and as +Dawson does not object to the barouche-box, there will be very good room +for one of you--and indeed, if the weather should happen to be cool, I +should not object to taking you both, as you are neither of you large." + +"You are all kindness, madam; but I believe we must abide by our +original plan." + +Lady Catherine seemed resigned. "Mrs. Collins, you must send a servant +with them. You know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea +of two young women travelling post by themselves. It is highly improper. +You must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in +the world to that sort of thing. Young women should always be properly +guarded and attended, according to their situation in life. When my +niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of her +having two men-servants go with her. Miss Darcy, the daughter of +Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley, and Lady Anne, could not have appeared with +propriety in a different manner. I am excessively attentive to all those +things. You must send John with the young ladies, Mrs. Collins. I +am glad it occurred to me to mention it; for it would really be +discreditable to _you_ to let them go alone." + +"My uncle is to send a servant for us." + +"Oh! Your uncle! He keeps a man-servant, does he? I am very glad you +have somebody who thinks of these things. Where shall you change horses? +Oh! Bromley, of course. If you mention my name at the Bell, you will be +attended to." + +Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey, +and as she did not answer them all herself, attention was necessary, +which Elizabeth believed to be lucky for her; or, with a mind so +occupied, she might have forgotten where she was. Reflection must be +reserved for solitary hours; whenever she was alone, she gave way to it +as the greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary +walk, in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant +recollections. + +Mr. Darcy's letter she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. She +studied every sentence; and her feelings towards its writer were at +times widely different. When she remembered the style of his address, +she was still full of indignation; but when she considered how unjustly +she had condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against +herself; and his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion. +His attachment excited gratitude, his general character respect; but she +could not approve him; nor could she for a moment repent her refusal, +or feel the slightest inclination ever to see him again. In her own past +behaviour, there was a constant source of vexation and regret; and in +the unhappy defects of her family, a subject of yet heavier chagrin. +They were hopeless of remedy. Her father, contented with laughing at +them, would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his +youngest daughters; and her mother, with manners so far from right +herself, was entirely insensible of the evil. Elizabeth had frequently +united with Jane in an endeavour to check the imprudence of Catherine +and Lydia; but while they were supported by their mother's indulgence, +what chance could there be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirited, +irritable, and completely under Lydia's guidance, had been always +affronted by their advice; and Lydia, self-willed and careless, would +scarcely give them a hearing. They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While +there was an officer in Meryton, they would flirt with him; and while +Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there +forever. + +Anxiety on Jane's behalf was another prevailing concern; and Mr. Darcy's +explanation, by restoring Bingley to all her former good opinion, +heightened the sense of what Jane had lost. His affection was proved +to have been sincere, and his conduct cleared of all blame, unless any +could attach to the implicitness of his confidence in his friend. How +grievous then was the thought that, of a situation so desirable in every +respect, so replete with advantage, so promising for happiness, Jane had +been deprived, by the folly and indecorum of her own family! + +When to these recollections was added the development of Wickham's +character, it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had +seldom been depressed before, were now so much affected as to make it +almost impossible for her to appear tolerably cheerful. + +Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the last week of +her stay as they had been at first. The very last evening was spent +there; and her ladyship again inquired minutely into the particulars of +their journey, gave them directions as to the best method of packing, +and was so urgent on the necessity of placing gowns in the only right +way, that Maria thought herself obliged, on her return, to undo all the +work of the morning, and pack her trunk afresh. + +When they parted, Lady Catherine, with great condescension, wished them +a good journey, and invited them to come to Hunsford again next year; +and Miss de Bourgh exerted herself so far as to curtsey and hold out her +hand to both. + + + +Chapter 38 + + +On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for breakfast a few +minutes before the others appeared; and he took the opportunity of +paying the parting civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary. + +"I know not, Miss Elizabeth," said he, "whether Mrs. Collins has yet +expressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us; but I am very +certain you will not leave the house without receiving her thanks for +it. The favor of your company has been much felt, I assure you. We +know how little there is to tempt anyone to our humble abode. Our plain +manner of living, our small rooms and few domestics, and the little we +see of the world, must make Hunsford extremely dull to a young lady like +yourself; but I hope you will believe us grateful for the condescension, +and that we have done everything in our power to prevent your spending +your time unpleasantly." + +Elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of happiness. She +had spent six weeks with great enjoyment; and the pleasure of being with +Charlotte, and the kind attentions she had received, must make _her_ +feel the obliged. Mr. Collins was gratified, and with a more smiling +solemnity replied: + +"It gives me great pleasure to hear that you have passed your time not +disagreeably. We have certainly done our best; and most fortunately +having it in our power to introduce you to very superior society, and, +from our connection with Rosings, the frequent means of varying the +humble home scene, I think we may flatter ourselves that your Hunsford +visit cannot have been entirely irksome. Our situation with regard to +Lady Catherine's family is indeed the sort of extraordinary advantage +and blessing which few can boast. You see on what a footing we are. You +see how continually we are engaged there. In truth I must acknowledge +that, with all the disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should +not think anyone abiding in it an object of compassion, while they are +sharers of our intimacy at Rosings." + +Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he was +obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civility +and truth in a few short sentences. + +"You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us into +Hertfordshire, my dear cousin. I flatter myself at least that you will +be able to do so. Lady Catherine's great attentions to Mrs. Collins you +have been a daily witness of; and altogether I trust it does not appear +that your friend has drawn an unfortunate--but on this point it will be +as well to be silent. Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, +that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in +marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of +thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of +character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each +other." + +Elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that was +the case, and with equal sincerity could add, that she firmly believed +and rejoiced in his domestic comforts. She was not sorry, however, to +have the recital of them interrupted by the lady from whom they sprang. +Poor Charlotte! it was melancholy to leave her to such society! But she +had chosen it with her eyes open; and though evidently regretting that +her visitors were to go, she did not seem to ask for compassion. Her +home and her housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their +dependent concerns, had not yet lost their charms. + +At length the chaise arrived, the trunks were fastened on, the parcels +placed within, and it was pronounced to be ready. After an affectionate +parting between the friends, Elizabeth was attended to the carriage by +Mr. Collins, and as they walked down the garden he was commissioning her +with his best respects to all her family, not forgetting his thanks +for the kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter, and his +compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, though unknown. He then handed her +in, Maria followed, and the door was on the point of being closed, +when he suddenly reminded them, with some consternation, that they had +hitherto forgotten to leave any message for the ladies at Rosings. + +"But," he added, "you will of course wish to have your humble respects +delivered to them, with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you +while you have been here." + +Elizabeth made no objection; the door was then allowed to be shut, and +the carriage drove off. + +"Good gracious!" cried Maria, after a few minutes' silence, "it seems +but a day or two since we first came! and yet how many things have +happened!" + +"A great many indeed," said her companion with a sigh. + +"We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides drinking tea there twice! +How much I shall have to tell!" + +Elizabeth added privately, "And how much I shall have to conceal!" + +Their journey was performed without much conversation, or any alarm; and +within four hours of their leaving Hunsford they reached Mr. Gardiner's +house, where they were to remain a few days. + +Jane looked well, and Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her +spirits, amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her +aunt had reserved for them. But Jane was to go home with her, and at +Longbourn there would be leisure enough for observation. + +It was not without an effort, meanwhile, that she could wait even for +Longbourn, before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy's proposals. To know +that she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish +Jane, and must, at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of her own +vanity she had not yet been able to reason away, was such a temptation +to openness as nothing could have conquered but the state of indecision +in which she remained as to the extent of what she should communicate; +and her fear, if she once entered on the subject, of being hurried +into repeating something of Bingley which might only grieve her sister +further. + + + +Chapter 39 + + +It was the second week in May, in which the three young ladies set out +together from Gracechurch Street for the town of ----, in Hertfordshire; +and, as they drew near the appointed inn where Mr. Bennet's carriage +was to meet them, they quickly perceived, in token of the coachman's +punctuality, both Kitty and Lydia looking out of a dining-room upstairs. +These two girls had been above an hour in the place, happily employed +in visiting an opposite milliner, watching the sentinel on guard, and +dressing a salad and cucumber. + +After welcoming their sisters, they triumphantly displayed a table set +out with such cold meat as an inn larder usually affords, exclaiming, +"Is not this nice? Is not this an agreeable surprise?" + +"And we mean to treat you all," added Lydia, "but you must lend us the +money, for we have just spent ours at the shop out there." Then, showing +her purchases--"Look here, I have bought this bonnet. I do not think +it is very pretty; but I thought I might as well buy it as not. I shall +pull it to pieces as soon as I get home, and see if I can make it up any +better." + +And when her sisters abused it as ugly, she added, with perfect +unconcern, "Oh! but there were two or three much uglier in the shop; and +when I have bought some prettier-coloured satin to trim it with fresh, I +think it will be very tolerable. Besides, it will not much signify what +one wears this summer, after the ----shire have left Meryton, and they +are going in a fortnight." + +"Are they indeed!" cried Elizabeth, with the greatest satisfaction. + +"They are going to be encamped near Brighton; and I do so want papa to +take us all there for the summer! It would be such a delicious scheme; +and I dare say would hardly cost anything at all. Mamma would like to +go too of all things! Only think what a miserable summer else we shall +have!" + +"Yes," thought Elizabeth, "_that_ would be a delightful scheme indeed, +and completely do for us at once. Good Heaven! Brighton, and a whole +campful of soldiers, to us, who have been overset already by one poor +regiment of militia, and the monthly balls of Meryton!" + +"Now I have got some news for you," said Lydia, as they sat down at +table. "What do you think? It is excellent news--capital news--and about +a certain person we all like!" + +Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other, and the waiter was told he need +not stay. Lydia laughed, and said: + +"Aye, that is just like your formality and discretion. You thought the +waiter must not hear, as if he cared! I dare say he often hears worse +things said than I am going to say. But he is an ugly fellow! I am glad +he is gone. I never saw such a long chin in my life. Well, but now for +my news; it is about dear Wickham; too good for the waiter, is it not? +There is no danger of Wickham's marrying Mary King. There's for you! She +is gone down to her uncle at Liverpool: gone to stay. Wickham is safe." + +"And Mary King is safe!" added Elizabeth; "safe from a connection +imprudent as to fortune." + +"She is a great fool for going away, if she liked him." + +"But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side," said Jane. + +"I am sure there is not on _his_. I will answer for it, he never cared +three straws about her--who could about such a nasty little freckled +thing?" + +Elizabeth was shocked to think that, however incapable of such +coarseness of _expression_ herself, the coarseness of the _sentiment_ +was little other than her own breast had harboured and fancied liberal! + +As soon as all had ate, and the elder ones paid, the carriage was +ordered; and after some contrivance, the whole party, with all their +boxes, work-bags, and parcels, and the unwelcome addition of Kitty's and +Lydia's purchases, were seated in it. + +"How nicely we are all crammed in," cried Lydia. "I am glad I bought my +bonnet, if it is only for the fun of having another bandbox! Well, now +let us be quite comfortable and snug, and talk and laugh all the way +home. And in the first place, let us hear what has happened to you all +since you went away. Have you seen any pleasant men? Have you had any +flirting? I was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband +before you came back. Jane will be quite an old maid soon, I declare. +She is almost three-and-twenty! Lord, how ashamed I should be of not +being married before three-and-twenty! My aunt Phillips wants you so to +get husbands, you can't think. She says Lizzy had better have taken Mr. +Collins; but _I_ do not think there would have been any fun in it. Lord! +how I should like to be married before any of you; and then I would +chaperon you about to all the balls. Dear me! we had such a good piece +of fun the other day at Colonel Forster's. Kitty and me were to spend +the day there, and Mrs. Forster promised to have a little dance in the +evening; (by the bye, Mrs. Forster and me are _such_ friends!) and so +she asked the two Harringtons to come, but Harriet was ill, and so Pen +was forced to come by herself; and then, what do you think we did? We +dressed up Chamberlayne in woman's clothes on purpose to pass for a +lady, only think what fun! Not a soul knew of it, but Colonel and Mrs. +Forster, and Kitty and me, except my aunt, for we were forced to borrow +one of her gowns; and you cannot imagine how well he looked! When Denny, +and Wickham, and Pratt, and two or three more of the men came in, they +did not know him in the least. Lord! how I laughed! and so did Mrs. +Forster. I thought I should have died. And _that_ made the men suspect +something, and then they soon found out what was the matter." + +With such kinds of histories of their parties and good jokes, did +Lydia, assisted by Kitty's hints and additions, endeavour to amuse her +companions all the way to Longbourn. Elizabeth listened as little as she +could, but there was no escaping the frequent mention of Wickham's name. + +Their reception at home was most kind. Mrs. Bennet rejoiced to see Jane +in undiminished beauty; and more than once during dinner did Mr. Bennet +say voluntarily to Elizabeth: + +"I am glad you are come back, Lizzy." + +Their party in the dining-room was large, for almost all the Lucases +came to meet Maria and hear the news; and various were the subjects that +occupied them: Lady Lucas was inquiring of Maria, after the welfare and +poultry of her eldest daughter; Mrs. Bennet was doubly engaged, on one +hand collecting an account of the present fashions from Jane, who sat +some way below her, and, on the other, retailing them all to the younger +Lucases; and Lydia, in a voice rather louder than any other person's, +was enumerating the various pleasures of the morning to anybody who +would hear her. + +"Oh! Mary," said she, "I wish you had gone with us, for we had such fun! +As we went along, Kitty and I drew up the blinds, and pretended there +was nobody in the coach; and I should have gone so all the way, if Kitty +had not been sick; and when we got to the George, I do think we behaved +very handsomely, for we treated the other three with the nicest cold +luncheon in the world, and if you would have gone, we would have treated +you too. And then when we came away it was such fun! I thought we never +should have got into the coach. I was ready to die of laughter. And then +we were so merry all the way home! we talked and laughed so loud, that +anybody might have heard us ten miles off!" + +To this Mary very gravely replied, "Far be it from me, my dear sister, +to depreciate such pleasures! They would doubtless be congenial with the +generality of female minds. But I confess they would have no charms for +_me_--I should infinitely prefer a book." + +But of this answer Lydia heard not a word. She seldom listened to +anybody for more than half a minute, and never attended to Mary at all. + +In the afternoon Lydia was urgent with the rest of the girls to walk +to Meryton, and to see how everybody went on; but Elizabeth steadily +opposed the scheme. It should not be said that the Miss Bennets could +not be at home half a day before they were in pursuit of the officers. +There was another reason too for her opposition. She dreaded seeing Mr. +Wickham again, and was resolved to avoid it as long as possible. The +comfort to _her_ of the regiment's approaching removal was indeed beyond +expression. In a fortnight they were to go--and once gone, she hoped +there could be nothing more to plague her on his account. + +She had not been many hours at home before she found that the Brighton +scheme, of which Lydia had given them a hint at the inn, was under +frequent discussion between her parents. Elizabeth saw directly that her +father had not the smallest intention of yielding; but his answers were +at the same time so vague and equivocal, that her mother, though often +disheartened, had never yet despaired of succeeding at last. + + + +Chapter 40 + + +Elizabeth's impatience to acquaint Jane with what had happened could +no longer be overcome; and at length, resolving to suppress every +particular in which her sister was concerned, and preparing her to be +surprised, she related to her the next morning the chief of the scene +between Mr. Darcy and herself. + +Miss Bennet's astonishment was soon lessened by the strong sisterly +partiality which made any admiration of Elizabeth appear perfectly +natural; and all surprise was shortly lost in other feelings. She was +sorry that Mr. Darcy should have delivered his sentiments in a manner so +little suited to recommend them; but still more was she grieved for the +unhappiness which her sister's refusal must have given him. + +"His being so sure of succeeding was wrong," said she, "and certainly +ought not to have appeared; but consider how much it must increase his +disappointment!" + +"Indeed," replied Elizabeth, "I am heartily sorry for him; but he has +other feelings, which will probably soon drive away his regard for me. +You do not blame me, however, for refusing him?" + +"Blame you! Oh, no." + +"But you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham?" + +"No--I do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did." + +"But you _will_ know it, when I tell you what happened the very next +day." + +She then spoke of the letter, repeating the whole of its contents as far +as they concerned George Wickham. What a stroke was this for poor Jane! +who would willingly have gone through the world without believing that +so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind, as was here +collected in one individual. Nor was Darcy's vindication, though +grateful to her feelings, capable of consoling her for such discovery. +Most earnestly did she labour to prove the probability of error, and +seek to clear the one without involving the other. + +"This will not do," said Elizabeth; "you never will be able to make both +of them good for anything. Take your choice, but you must be satisfied +with only one. There is but such a quantity of merit between them; just +enough to make one good sort of man; and of late it has been shifting +about pretty much. For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Darcy's; +but you shall do as you choose." + +It was some time, however, before a smile could be extorted from Jane. + +"I do not know when I have been more shocked," said she. "Wickham so +very bad! It is almost past belief. And poor Mr. Darcy! Dear Lizzy, only +consider what he must have suffered. Such a disappointment! and with the +knowledge of your ill opinion, too! and having to relate such a thing +of his sister! It is really too distressing. I am sure you must feel it +so." + +"Oh! no, my regret and compassion are all done away by seeing you so +full of both. I know you will do him such ample justice, that I am +growing every moment more unconcerned and indifferent. Your profusion +makes me saving; and if you lament over him much longer, my heart will +be as light as a feather." + +"Poor Wickham! there is such an expression of goodness in his +countenance! such an openness and gentleness in his manner!" + +"There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those +two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the +appearance of it." + +"I never thought Mr. Darcy so deficient in the _appearance_ of it as you +used to do." + +"And yet I meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so decided a dislike +to him, without any reason. It is such a spur to one's genius, such an +opening for wit, to have a dislike of that kind. One may be continually +abusive without saying anything just; but one cannot always be laughing +at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty." + +"Lizzy, when you first read that letter, I am sure you could not treat +the matter as you do now." + +"Indeed, I could not. I was uncomfortable enough, I may say unhappy. And +with no one to speak to about what I felt, no Jane to comfort me and say +that I had not been so very weak and vain and nonsensical as I knew I +had! Oh! how I wanted you!" + +"How unfortunate that you should have used such very strong expressions +in speaking of Wickham to Mr. Darcy, for now they _do_ appear wholly +undeserved." + +"Certainly. But the misfortune of speaking with bitterness is a most +natural consequence of the prejudices I had been encouraging. There +is one point on which I want your advice. I want to be told whether I +ought, or ought not, to make our acquaintances in general understand +Wickham's character." + +Miss Bennet paused a little, and then replied, "Surely there can be no +occasion for exposing him so dreadfully. What is your opinion?" + +"That it ought not to be attempted. Mr. Darcy has not authorised me +to make his communication public. On the contrary, every particular +relative to his sister was meant to be kept as much as possible to +myself; and if I endeavour to undeceive people as to the rest of his +conduct, who will believe me? The general prejudice against Mr. Darcy +is so violent, that it would be the death of half the good people in +Meryton to attempt to place him in an amiable light. I am not equal +to it. Wickham will soon be gone; and therefore it will not signify to +anyone here what he really is. Some time hence it will be all found out, +and then we may laugh at their stupidity in not knowing it before. At +present I will say nothing about it." + +"You are quite right. To have his errors made public might ruin him for +ever. He is now, perhaps, sorry for what he has done, and anxious to +re-establish a character. We must not make him desperate." + +The tumult of Elizabeth's mind was allayed by this conversation. She had +got rid of two of the secrets which had weighed on her for a fortnight, +and was certain of a willing listener in Jane, whenever she might wish +to talk again of either. But there was still something lurking behind, +of which prudence forbade the disclosure. She dared not relate the other +half of Mr. Darcy's letter, nor explain to her sister how sincerely she +had been valued by her friend. Here was knowledge in which no one +could partake; and she was sensible that nothing less than a perfect +understanding between the parties could justify her in throwing off +this last encumbrance of mystery. "And then," said she, "if that very +improbable event should ever take place, I shall merely be able to +tell what Bingley may tell in a much more agreeable manner himself. The +liberty of communication cannot be mine till it has lost all its value!" + +She was now, on being settled at home, at leisure to observe the real +state of her sister's spirits. Jane was not happy. She still cherished a +very tender affection for Bingley. Having never even fancied herself +in love before, her regard had all the warmth of first attachment, +and, from her age and disposition, greater steadiness than most first +attachments often boast; and so fervently did she value his remembrance, +and prefer him to every other man, that all her good sense, and all her +attention to the feelings of her friends, were requisite to check the +indulgence of those regrets which must have been injurious to her own +health and their tranquillity. + +"Well, Lizzy," said Mrs. Bennet one day, "what is your opinion _now_ of +this sad business of Jane's? For my part, I am determined never to speak +of it again to anybody. I told my sister Phillips so the other day. But +I cannot find out that Jane saw anything of him in London. Well, he is +a very undeserving young man--and I do not suppose there's the least +chance in the world of her ever getting him now. There is no talk of +his coming to Netherfield again in the summer; and I have inquired of +everybody, too, who is likely to know." + +"I do not believe he will ever live at Netherfield any more." + +"Oh well! it is just as he chooses. Nobody wants him to come. Though I +shall always say he used my daughter extremely ill; and if I was her, I +would not have put up with it. Well, my comfort is, I am sure Jane will +die of a broken heart; and then he will be sorry for what he has done." + +But as Elizabeth could not receive comfort from any such expectation, +she made no answer. + +"Well, Lizzy," continued her mother, soon afterwards, "and so the +Collinses live very comfortable, do they? Well, well, I only hope +it will last. And what sort of table do they keep? Charlotte is an +excellent manager, I dare say. If she is half as sharp as her +mother, she is saving enough. There is nothing extravagant in _their_ +housekeeping, I dare say." + +"No, nothing at all." + +"A great deal of good management, depend upon it. Yes, yes. _they_ will +take care not to outrun their income. _They_ will never be distressed +for money. Well, much good may it do them! And so, I suppose, they often +talk of having Longbourn when your father is dead. They look upon it as +quite their own, I dare say, whenever that happens." + +"It was a subject which they could not mention before me." + +"No; it would have been strange if they had; but I make no doubt they +often talk of it between themselves. Well, if they can be easy with an +estate that is not lawfully their own, so much the better. I should be +ashamed of having one that was only entailed on me." + + + +Chapter 41 + + +The first week of their return was soon gone. The second began. It was +the last of the regiment's stay in Meryton, and all the young ladies +in the neighbourhood were drooping apace. The dejection was almost +universal. The elder Miss Bennets alone were still able to eat, drink, +and sleep, and pursue the usual course of their employments. Very +frequently were they reproached for this insensibility by Kitty and +Lydia, whose own misery was extreme, and who could not comprehend such +hard-heartedness in any of the family. + +"Good Heaven! what is to become of us? What are we to do?" would they +often exclaim in the bitterness of woe. "How can you be smiling so, +Lizzy?" + +Their affectionate mother shared all their grief; she remembered what +she had herself endured on a similar occasion, five-and-twenty years +ago. + +"I am sure," said she, "I cried for two days together when Colonel +Miller's regiment went away. I thought I should have broken my heart." + +"I am sure I shall break _mine_," said Lydia. + +"If one could but go to Brighton!" observed Mrs. Bennet. + +"Oh, yes!--if one could but go to Brighton! But papa is so +disagreeable." + +"A little sea-bathing would set me up forever." + +"And my aunt Phillips is sure it would do _me_ a great deal of good," +added Kitty. + +Such were the kind of lamentations resounding perpetually through +Longbourn House. Elizabeth tried to be diverted by them; but all sense +of pleasure was lost in shame. She felt anew the justice of Mr. Darcy's +objections; and never had she been so much disposed to pardon his +interference in the views of his friend. + +But the gloom of Lydia's prospect was shortly cleared away; for she +received an invitation from Mrs. Forster, the wife of the colonel of +the regiment, to accompany her to Brighton. This invaluable friend was a +very young woman, and very lately married. A resemblance in good humour +and good spirits had recommended her and Lydia to each other, and out of +their _three_ months' acquaintance they had been intimate _two_. + +The rapture of Lydia on this occasion, her adoration of Mrs. Forster, +the delight of Mrs. Bennet, and the mortification of Kitty, are scarcely +to be described. Wholly inattentive to her sister's feelings, Lydia +flew about the house in restless ecstasy, calling for everyone's +congratulations, and laughing and talking with more violence than ever; +whilst the luckless Kitty continued in the parlour repined at her fate +in terms as unreasonable as her accent was peevish. + +"I cannot see why Mrs. Forster should not ask _me_ as well as Lydia," +said she, "Though I am _not_ her particular friend. I have just as much +right to be asked as she has, and more too, for I am two years older." + +In vain did Elizabeth attempt to make her reasonable, and Jane to make +her resigned. As for Elizabeth herself, this invitation was so far from +exciting in her the same feelings as in her mother and Lydia, that she +considered it as the death warrant of all possibility of common sense +for the latter; and detestable as such a step must make her were it +known, she could not help secretly advising her father not to let her +go. She represented to him all the improprieties of Lydia's general +behaviour, the little advantage she could derive from the friendship of +such a woman as Mrs. Forster, and the probability of her being yet more +imprudent with such a companion at Brighton, where the temptations must +be greater than at home. He heard her attentively, and then said: + +"Lydia will never be easy until she has exposed herself in some public +place or other, and we can never expect her to do it with so +little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present +circumstances." + +"If you were aware," said Elizabeth, "of the very great disadvantage to +us all which must arise from the public notice of Lydia's unguarded and +imprudent manner--nay, which has already arisen from it, I am sure you +would judge differently in the affair." + +"Already arisen?" repeated Mr. Bennet. "What, has she frightened away +some of your lovers? Poor little Lizzy! But do not be cast down. Such +squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity +are not worth a regret. Come, let me see the list of pitiful fellows who +have been kept aloof by Lydia's folly." + +"Indeed you are mistaken. I have no such injuries to resent. It is not +of particular, but of general evils, which I am now complaining. Our +importance, our respectability in the world must be affected by the +wild volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark +Lydia's character. Excuse me, for I must speak plainly. If you, my dear +father, will not take the trouble of checking her exuberant spirits, and +of teaching her that her present pursuits are not to be the business of +her life, she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment. Her character +will be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt +that ever made herself or her family ridiculous; a flirt, too, in the +worst and meanest degree of flirtation; without any attraction beyond +youth and a tolerable person; and, from the ignorance and emptiness +of her mind, wholly unable to ward off any portion of that universal +contempt which her rage for admiration will excite. In this danger +Kitty also is comprehended. She will follow wherever Lydia leads. Vain, +ignorant, idle, and absolutely uncontrolled! Oh! my dear father, can you +suppose it possible that they will not be censured and despised wherever +they are known, and that their sisters will not be often involved in the +disgrace?" + +Mr. Bennet saw that her whole heart was in the subject, and +affectionately taking her hand said in reply: + +"Do not make yourself uneasy, my love. Wherever you and Jane are known +you must be respected and valued; and you will not appear to less +advantage for having a couple of--or I may say, three--very silly +sisters. We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to +Brighton. Let her go, then. Colonel Forster is a sensible man, and will +keep her out of any real mischief; and she is luckily too poor to be an +object of prey to anybody. At Brighton she will be of less importance +even as a common flirt than she has been here. The officers will find +women better worth their notice. Let us hope, therefore, that her being +there may teach her her own insignificance. At any rate, she cannot grow +many degrees worse, without authorising us to lock her up for the rest +of her life." + +With this answer Elizabeth was forced to be content; but her own opinion +continued the same, and she left him disappointed and sorry. It was not +in her nature, however, to increase her vexations by dwelling on +them. She was confident of having performed her duty, and to fret +over unavoidable evils, or augment them by anxiety, was no part of her +disposition. + +Had Lydia and her mother known the substance of her conference with her +father, their indignation would hardly have found expression in their +united volubility. In Lydia's imagination, a visit to Brighton comprised +every possibility of earthly happiness. She saw, with the creative eye +of fancy, the streets of that gay bathing-place covered with officers. +She saw herself the object of attention, to tens and to scores of them +at present unknown. She saw all the glories of the camp--its tents +stretched forth in beauteous uniformity of lines, crowded with the young +and the gay, and dazzling with scarlet; and, to complete the view, she +saw herself seated beneath a tent, tenderly flirting with at least six +officers at once. + +Had she known her sister sought to tear her from such prospects and such +realities as these, what would have been her sensations? They could have +been understood only by her mother, who might have felt nearly the same. +Lydia's going to Brighton was all that consoled her for her melancholy +conviction of her husband's never intending to go there himself. + +But they were entirely ignorant of what had passed; and their raptures +continued, with little intermission, to the very day of Lydia's leaving +home. + +Elizabeth was now to see Mr. Wickham for the last time. Having been +frequently in company with him since her return, agitation was pretty +well over; the agitations of formal partiality entirely so. She had even +learnt to detect, in the very gentleness which had first delighted +her, an affectation and a sameness to disgust and weary. In his present +behaviour to herself, moreover, she had a fresh source of displeasure, +for the inclination he soon testified of renewing those intentions which +had marked the early part of their acquaintance could only serve, after +what had since passed, to provoke her. She lost all concern for him in +finding herself thus selected as the object of such idle and frivolous +gallantry; and while she steadily repressed it, could not but feel the +reproof contained in his believing, that however long, and for whatever +cause, his attentions had been withdrawn, her vanity would be gratified, +and her preference secured at any time by their renewal. + +On the very last day of the regiment's remaining at Meryton, he dined, +with other of the officers, at Longbourn; and so little was Elizabeth +disposed to part from him in good humour, that on his making some +inquiry as to the manner in which her time had passed at Hunsford, she +mentioned Colonel Fitzwilliam's and Mr. Darcy's having both spent three +weeks at Rosings, and asked him, if he was acquainted with the former. + +He looked surprised, displeased, alarmed; but with a moment's +recollection and a returning smile, replied, that he had formerly seen +him often; and, after observing that he was a very gentlemanlike man, +asked her how she had liked him. Her answer was warmly in his favour. +With an air of indifference he soon afterwards added: + +"How long did you say he was at Rosings?" + +"Nearly three weeks." + +"And you saw him frequently?" + +"Yes, almost every day." + +"His manners are very different from his cousin's." + +"Yes, very different. But I think Mr. Darcy improves upon acquaintance." + +"Indeed!" cried Mr. Wickham with a look which did not escape her. "And +pray, may I ask?--" But checking himself, he added, in a gayer tone, "Is +it in address that he improves? Has he deigned to add aught of civility +to his ordinary style?--for I dare not hope," he continued in a lower +and more serious tone, "that he is improved in essentials." + +"Oh, no!" said Elizabeth. "In essentials, I believe, he is very much +what he ever was." + +While she spoke, Wickham looked as if scarcely knowing whether to +rejoice over her words, or to distrust their meaning. There was a +something in her countenance which made him listen with an apprehensive +and anxious attention, while she added: + +"When I said that he improved on acquaintance, I did not mean that +his mind or his manners were in a state of improvement, but that, from +knowing him better, his disposition was better understood." + +Wickham's alarm now appeared in a heightened complexion and agitated +look; for a few minutes he was silent, till, shaking off his +embarrassment, he turned to her again, and said in the gentlest of +accents: + +"You, who so well know my feeling towards Mr. Darcy, will readily +comprehend how sincerely I must rejoice that he is wise enough to assume +even the _appearance_ of what is right. His pride, in that direction, +may be of service, if not to himself, to many others, for it must only +deter him from such foul misconduct as I have suffered by. I only +fear that the sort of cautiousness to which you, I imagine, have been +alluding, is merely adopted on his visits to his aunt, of whose good +opinion and judgement he stands much in awe. His fear of her has always +operated, I know, when they were together; and a good deal is to be +imputed to his wish of forwarding the match with Miss de Bourgh, which I +am certain he has very much at heart." + +Elizabeth could not repress a smile at this, but she answered only by a +slight inclination of the head. She saw that he wanted to engage her on +the old subject of his grievances, and she was in no humour to indulge +him. The rest of the evening passed with the _appearance_, on his +side, of usual cheerfulness, but with no further attempt to distinguish +Elizabeth; and they parted at last with mutual civility, and possibly a +mutual desire of never meeting again. + +When the party broke up, Lydia returned with Mrs. Forster to Meryton, +from whence they were to set out early the next morning. The separation +between her and her family was rather noisy than pathetic. Kitty was the +only one who shed tears; but she did weep from vexation and envy. Mrs. +Bennet was diffuse in her good wishes for the felicity of her daughter, +and impressive in her injunctions that she should not miss the +opportunity of enjoying herself as much as possible--advice which +there was every reason to believe would be well attended to; and in +the clamorous happiness of Lydia herself in bidding farewell, the more +gentle adieus of her sisters were uttered without being heard. + + + +Chapter 42 + + +Had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could +not have formed a very pleasing opinion of conjugal felicity or domestic +comfort. Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance +of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a +woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in +their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, +esteem, and confidence had vanished for ever; and all his views +of domestic happiness were overthrown. But Mr. Bennet was not of +a disposition to seek comfort for the disappointment which his own +imprudence had brought on, in any of those pleasures which too often +console the unfortunate for their folly or their vice. He was fond of +the country and of books; and from these tastes had arisen his principal +enjoyments. To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, than as +her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement. This is not +the sort of happiness which a man would in general wish to owe to his +wife; but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true +philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given. + +Elizabeth, however, had never been blind to the impropriety of her +father's behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain; but +respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment of +herself, she endeavoured to forget what she could not overlook, and to +banish from her thoughts that continual breach of conjugal obligation +and decorum which, in exposing his wife to the contempt of her own +children, was so highly reprehensible. But she had never felt so +strongly as now the disadvantages which must attend the children of so +unsuitable a marriage, nor ever been so fully aware of the evils arising +from so ill-judged a direction of talents; talents, which, rightly used, +might at least have preserved the respectability of his daughters, even +if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife. + +When Elizabeth had rejoiced over Wickham's departure she found little +other cause for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment. Their parties +abroad were less varied than before, and at home she had a mother and +sister whose constant repinings at the dullness of everything around +them threw a real gloom over their domestic circle; and, though Kitty +might in time regain her natural degree of sense, since the disturbers +of her brain were removed, her other sister, from whose disposition +greater evil might be apprehended, was likely to be hardened in all +her folly and assurance by a situation of such double danger as a +watering-place and a camp. Upon the whole, therefore, she found, what +has been sometimes found before, that an event to which she had been +looking with impatient desire did not, in taking place, bring all the +satisfaction she had promised herself. It was consequently necessary to +name some other period for the commencement of actual felicity--to have +some other point on which her wishes and hopes might be fixed, and by +again enjoying the pleasure of anticipation, console herself for the +present, and prepare for another disappointment. Her tour to the Lakes +was now the object of her happiest thoughts; it was her best consolation +for all the uncomfortable hours which the discontentedness of her mother +and Kitty made inevitable; and could she have included Jane in the +scheme, every part of it would have been perfect. + +"But it is fortunate," thought she, "that I have something to wish for. +Were the whole arrangement complete, my disappointment would be certain. +But here, by carrying with me one ceaseless source of regret in my +sister's absence, I may reasonably hope to have all my expectations of +pleasure realised. A scheme of which every part promises delight can +never be successful; and general disappointment is only warded off by +the defence of some little peculiar vexation." + +When Lydia went away she promised to write very often and very minutely +to her mother and Kitty; but her letters were always long expected, and +always very short. Those to her mother contained little else than that +they were just returned from the library, where such and such officers +had attended them, and where she had seen such beautiful ornaments as +made her quite wild; that she had a new gown, or a new parasol, which +she would have described more fully, but was obliged to leave off in a +violent hurry, as Mrs. Forster called her, and they were going off to +the camp; and from her correspondence with her sister, there was still +less to be learnt--for her letters to Kitty, though rather longer, were +much too full of lines under the words to be made public. + +After the first fortnight or three weeks of her absence, health, good +humour, and cheerfulness began to reappear at Longbourn. Everything wore +a happier aspect. The families who had been in town for the winter came +back again, and summer finery and summer engagements arose. Mrs. Bennet +was restored to her usual querulous serenity; and, by the middle of +June, Kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter Meryton without +tears; an event of such happy promise as to make Elizabeth hope that by +the following Christmas she might be so tolerably reasonable as not to +mention an officer above once a day, unless, by some cruel and malicious +arrangement at the War Office, another regiment should be quartered in +Meryton. + +The time fixed for the beginning of their northern tour was now fast +approaching, and a fortnight only was wanting of it, when a letter +arrived from Mrs. Gardiner, which at once delayed its commencement and +curtailed its extent. Mr. Gardiner would be prevented by business from +setting out till a fortnight later in July, and must be in London again +within a month, and as that left too short a period for them to go so +far, and see so much as they had proposed, or at least to see it with +the leisure and comfort they had built on, they were obliged to give up +the Lakes, and substitute a more contracted tour, and, according to the +present plan, were to go no farther northwards than Derbyshire. In that +county there was enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three +weeks; and to Mrs. Gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction. The +town where she had formerly passed some years of her life, and where +they were now to spend a few days, was probably as great an object of +her curiosity as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, +Dovedale, or the Peak. + +Elizabeth was excessively disappointed; she had set her heart on seeing +the Lakes, and still thought there might have been time enough. But it +was her business to be satisfied--and certainly her temper to be happy; +and all was soon right again. + +With the mention of Derbyshire there were many ideas connected. It was +impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pemberley and its +owner. "But surely," said she, "I may enter his county without impunity, +and rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me." + +The period of expectation was now doubled. Four weeks were to pass away +before her uncle and aunt's arrival. But they did pass away, and Mr. +and Mrs. Gardiner, with their four children, did at length appear at +Longbourn. The children, two girls of six and eight years old, and two +younger boys, were to be left under the particular care of their +cousin Jane, who was the general favourite, and whose steady sense and +sweetness of temper exactly adapted her for attending to them in every +way--teaching them, playing with them, and loving them. + +The Gardiners stayed only one night at Longbourn, and set off the +next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. +One enjoyment was certain--that of suitableness of companions; +a suitableness which comprehended health and temper to bear +inconveniences--cheerfulness to enhance every pleasure--and affection +and intelligence, which might supply it among themselves if there were +disappointments abroad. + +It is not the object of this work to give a description of Derbyshire, +nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither +lay; Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenilworth, Birmingham, etc. are +sufficiently known. A small part of Derbyshire is all the present +concern. To the little town of Lambton, the scene of Mrs. Gardiner's +former residence, and where she had lately learned some acquaintance +still remained, they bent their steps, after having seen all the +principal wonders of the country; and within five miles of Lambton, +Elizabeth found from her aunt that Pemberley was situated. It was not +in their direct road, nor more than a mile or two out of it. In +talking over their route the evening before, Mrs. Gardiner expressed +an inclination to see the place again. Mr. Gardiner declared his +willingness, and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation. + +"My love, should not you like to see a place of which you have heard +so much?" said her aunt; "a place, too, with which so many of your +acquaintances are connected. Wickham passed all his youth there, you +know." + +Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no business at +Pemberley, and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it. She +must own that she was tired of seeing great houses; after going over so +many, she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains. + +Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity. "If it were merely a fine house +richly furnished," said she, "I should not care about it myself; but +the grounds are delightful. They have some of the finest woods in the +country." + +Elizabeth said no more--but her mind could not acquiesce. The +possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly +occurred. It would be dreadful! She blushed at the very idea, and +thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such +a risk. But against this there were objections; and she finally resolved +that it could be the last resource, if her private inquiries to the +absence of the family were unfavourably answered. + +Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chambermaid +whether Pemberley were not a very fine place? what was the name of its +proprietor? and, with no little alarm, whether the family were down for +the summer? A most welcome negative followed the last question--and her +alarms now being removed, she was at leisure to feel a great deal of +curiosity to see the house herself; and when the subject was revived the +next morning, and she was again applied to, could readily answer, and +with a proper air of indifference, that she had not really any dislike +to the scheme. To Pemberley, therefore, they were to go. + + + +Chapter 43 + + +Elizabeth, as they drove along, watched for the first appearance of +Pemberley Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned +in at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter. + +The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground. They +entered it in one of its lowest points, and drove for some time through +a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent. + +Elizabeth's mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and admired +every remarkable spot and point of view. They gradually ascended for +half-a-mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable +eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by +Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which +the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome stone +building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of +high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was +swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks +were neither formal nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She +had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural +beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were +all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that +to be mistress of Pemberley might be something! + +They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the door; and, +while examining the nearer aspect of the house, all her apprehension of +meeting its owner returned. She dreaded lest the chambermaid had been +mistaken. On applying to see the place, they were admitted into the +hall; and Elizabeth, as they waited for the housekeeper, had leisure to +wonder at her being where she was. + +The housekeeper came; a respectable-looking elderly woman, much less +fine, and more civil, than she had any notion of finding her. They +followed her into the dining-parlour. It was a large, well proportioned +room, handsomely fitted up. Elizabeth, after slightly surveying it, went +to a window to enjoy its prospect. The hill, crowned with wood, which +they had descended, receiving increased abruptness from the distance, +was a beautiful object. Every disposition of the ground was good; and +she looked on the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on its +banks and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it, +with delight. As they passed into other rooms these objects were taking +different positions; but from every window there were beauties to be +seen. The rooms were lofty and handsome, and their furniture suitable to +the fortune of its proprietor; but Elizabeth saw, with admiration of +his taste, that it was neither gaudy nor uselessly fine; with less of +splendour, and more real elegance, than the furniture of Rosings. + +"And of this place," thought she, "I might have been mistress! With +these rooms I might now have been familiarly acquainted! Instead of +viewing them as a stranger, I might have rejoiced in them as my own, and +welcomed to them as visitors my uncle and aunt. But no,"--recollecting +herself--"that could never be; my uncle and aunt would have been lost to +me; I should not have been allowed to invite them." + +This was a lucky recollection--it saved her from something very like +regret. + +She longed to inquire of the housekeeper whether her master was really +absent, but had not the courage for it. At length however, the question +was asked by her uncle; and she turned away with alarm, while Mrs. +Reynolds replied that he was, adding, "But we expect him to-morrow, with +a large party of friends." How rejoiced was Elizabeth that their own +journey had not by any circumstance been delayed a day! + +Her aunt now called her to look at a picture. She approached and saw the +likeness of Mr. Wickham, suspended, amongst several other miniatures, +over the mantelpiece. Her aunt asked her, smilingly, how she liked it. +The housekeeper came forward, and told them it was a picture of a young +gentleman, the son of her late master's steward, who had been brought +up by him at his own expense. "He is now gone into the army," she added; +"but I am afraid he has turned out very wild." + +Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile, but Elizabeth could not +return it. + +"And that," said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another of the miniatures, +"is my master--and very like him. It was drawn at the same time as the +other--about eight years ago." + +"I have heard much of your master's fine person," said Mrs. Gardiner, +looking at the picture; "it is a handsome face. But, Lizzy, you can tell +us whether it is like or not." + +Mrs. Reynolds respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on this +intimation of her knowing her master. + +"Does that young lady know Mr. Darcy?" + +Elizabeth coloured, and said: "A little." + +"And do not you think him a very handsome gentleman, ma'am?" + +"Yes, very handsome." + +"I am sure I know none so handsome; but in the gallery upstairs you +will see a finer, larger picture of him than this. This room was my late +master's favourite room, and these miniatures are just as they used to +be then. He was very fond of them." + +This accounted to Elizabeth for Mr. Wickham's being among them. + +Mrs. Reynolds then directed their attention to one of Miss Darcy, drawn +when she was only eight years old. + +"And is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother?" said Mrs. Gardiner. + +"Oh! yes--the handsomest young lady that ever was seen; and so +accomplished!--She plays and sings all day long. In the next room is +a new instrument just come down for her--a present from my master; she +comes here to-morrow with him." + +Mr. Gardiner, whose manners were very easy and pleasant, encouraged her +communicativeness by his questions and remarks; Mrs. Reynolds, either +by pride or attachment, had evidently great pleasure in talking of her +master and his sister. + +"Is your master much at Pemberley in the course of the year?" + +"Not so much as I could wish, sir; but I dare say he may spend half his +time here; and Miss Darcy is always down for the summer months." + +"Except," thought Elizabeth, "when she goes to Ramsgate." + +"If your master would marry, you might see more of him." + +"Yes, sir; but I do not know when _that_ will be. I do not know who is +good enough for him." + +Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner smiled. Elizabeth could not help saying, "It is +very much to his credit, I am sure, that you should think so." + +"I say no more than the truth, and everybody will say that knows him," +replied the other. Elizabeth thought this was going pretty far; and she +listened with increasing astonishment as the housekeeper added, "I have +never known a cross word from him in my life, and I have known him ever +since he was four years old." + +This was praise, of all others most extraordinary, most opposite to her +ideas. That he was not a good-tempered man had been her firmest opinion. +Her keenest attention was awakened; she longed to hear more, and was +grateful to her uncle for saying: + +"There are very few people of whom so much can be said. You are lucky in +having such a master." + +"Yes, sir, I know I am. If I were to go through the world, I could +not meet with a better. But I have always observed, that they who are +good-natured when children, are good-natured when they grow up; and +he was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the +world." + +Elizabeth almost stared at her. "Can this be Mr. Darcy?" thought she. + +"His father was an excellent man," said Mrs. Gardiner. + +"Yes, ma'am, that he was indeed; and his son will be just like him--just +as affable to the poor." + +Elizabeth listened, wondered, doubted, and was impatient for more. Mrs. +Reynolds could interest her on no other point. She related the subjects +of the pictures, the dimensions of the rooms, and the price of the +furniture, in vain. Mr. Gardiner, highly amused by the kind of family +prejudice to which he attributed her excessive commendation of her +master, soon led again to the subject; and she dwelt with energy on his +many merits as they proceeded together up the great staircase. + +"He is the best landlord, and the best master," said she, "that ever +lived; not like the wild young men nowadays, who think of nothing but +themselves. There is not one of his tenants or servants but will give +him a good name. Some people call him proud; but I am sure I never saw +anything of it. To my fancy, it is only because he does not rattle away +like other young men." + +"In what an amiable light does this place him!" thought Elizabeth. + +"This fine account of him," whispered her aunt as they walked, "is not +quite consistent with his behaviour to our poor friend." + +"Perhaps we might be deceived." + +"That is not very likely; our authority was too good." + +On reaching the spacious lobby above they were shown into a very pretty +sitting-room, lately fitted up with greater elegance and lightness than +the apartments below; and were informed that it was but just done to +give pleasure to Miss Darcy, who had taken a liking to the room when +last at Pemberley. + +"He is certainly a good brother," said Elizabeth, as she walked towards +one of the windows. + +Mrs. Reynolds anticipated Miss Darcy's delight, when she should enter +the room. "And this is always the way with him," she added. "Whatever +can give his sister any pleasure is sure to be done in a moment. There +is nothing he would not do for her." + +The picture-gallery, and two or three of the principal bedrooms, were +all that remained to be shown. In the former were many good paintings; +but Elizabeth knew nothing of the art; and from such as had been already +visible below, she had willingly turned to look at some drawings of Miss +Darcy's, in crayons, whose subjects were usually more interesting, and +also more intelligible. + +In the gallery there were many family portraits, but they could have +little to fix the attention of a stranger. Elizabeth walked in quest of +the only face whose features would be known to her. At last it arrested +her--and she beheld a striking resemblance to Mr. Darcy, with such a +smile over the face as she remembered to have sometimes seen when he +looked at her. She stood several minutes before the picture, in earnest +contemplation, and returned to it again before they quitted the gallery. +Mrs. Reynolds informed them that it had been taken in his father's +lifetime. + +There was certainly at this moment, in Elizabeth's mind, a more gentle +sensation towards the original than she had ever felt at the height of +their acquaintance. The commendation bestowed on him by Mrs. Reynolds +was of no trifling nature. What praise is more valuable than the praise +of an intelligent servant? As a brother, a landlord, a master, she +considered how many people's happiness were in his guardianship!--how +much of pleasure or pain was it in his power to bestow!--how much of +good or evil must be done by him! Every idea that had been brought +forward by the housekeeper was favourable to his character, and as she +stood before the canvas on which he was represented, and fixed his +eyes upon herself, she thought of his regard with a deeper sentiment of +gratitude than it had ever raised before; she remembered its warmth, and +softened its impropriety of expression. + +When all of the house that was open to general inspection had been seen, +they returned downstairs, and, taking leave of the housekeeper, were +consigned over to the gardener, who met them at the hall-door. + +As they walked across the hall towards the river, Elizabeth turned back +to look again; her uncle and aunt stopped also, and while the former +was conjecturing as to the date of the building, the owner of it himself +suddenly came forward from the road, which led behind it to the stables. + +They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was his +appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes +instantly met, and the cheeks of both were overspread with the deepest +blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immovable from +surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, +and spoke to Elizabeth, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least +of perfect civility. + +She had instinctively turned away; but stopping on his approach, +received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to be +overcome. Had his first appearance, or his resemblance to the picture +they had just been examining, been insufficient to assure the other two +that they now saw Mr. Darcy, the gardener's expression of surprise, on +beholding his master, must immediately have told it. They stood a little +aloof while he was talking to their niece, who, astonished and confused, +scarcely dared lift her eyes to his face, and knew not what answer +she returned to his civil inquiries after her family. Amazed at the +alteration of his manner since they last parted, every sentence that +he uttered was increasing her embarrassment; and every idea of the +impropriety of her being found there recurring to her mind, the few +minutes in which they continued were some of the most uncomfortable in +her life. Nor did he seem much more at ease; when he spoke, his accent +had none of its usual sedateness; and he repeated his inquiries as +to the time of her having left Longbourn, and of her having stayed in +Derbyshire, so often, and in so hurried a way, as plainly spoke the +distraction of his thoughts. + +At length every idea seemed to fail him; and, after standing a few +moments without saying a word, he suddenly recollected himself, and took +leave. + +The others then joined her, and expressed admiration of his figure; but +Elizabeth heard not a word, and wholly engrossed by her own feelings, +followed them in silence. She was overpowered by shame and vexation. Her +coming there was the most unfortunate, the most ill-judged thing in the +world! How strange it must appear to him! In what a disgraceful light +might it not strike so vain a man! It might seem as if she had purposely +thrown herself in his way again! Oh! why did she come? Or, why did he +thus come a day before he was expected? Had they been only ten minutes +sooner, they should have been beyond the reach of his discrimination; +for it was plain that he was that moment arrived--that moment alighted +from his horse or his carriage. She blushed again and again over +the perverseness of the meeting. And his behaviour, so strikingly +altered--what could it mean? That he should even speak to her was +amazing!--but to speak with such civility, to inquire after her family! +Never in her life had she seen his manners so little dignified, never +had he spoken with such gentleness as on this unexpected meeting. What +a contrast did it offer to his last address in Rosings Park, when he put +his letter into her hand! She knew not what to think, or how to account +for it. + +They had now entered a beautiful walk by the side of the water, and +every step was bringing forward a nobler fall of ground, or a finer +reach of the woods to which they were approaching; but it was some time +before Elizabeth was sensible of any of it; and, though she answered +mechanically to the repeated appeals of her uncle and aunt, and +seemed to direct her eyes to such objects as they pointed out, she +distinguished no part of the scene. Her thoughts were all fixed on that +one spot of Pemberley House, whichever it might be, where Mr. Darcy then +was. She longed to know what at the moment was passing in his mind--in +what manner he thought of her, and whether, in defiance of everything, +she was still dear to him. Perhaps he had been civil only because he +felt himself at ease; yet there had been _that_ in his voice which was +not like ease. Whether he had felt more of pain or of pleasure in +seeing her she could not tell, but he certainly had not seen her with +composure. + +At length, however, the remarks of her companions on her absence of mind +aroused her, and she felt the necessity of appearing more like herself. + +They entered the woods, and bidding adieu to the river for a while, +ascended some of the higher grounds; when, in spots where the opening of +the trees gave the eye power to wander, were many charming views of the +valley, the opposite hills, with the long range of woods overspreading +many, and occasionally part of the stream. Mr. Gardiner expressed a wish +of going round the whole park, but feared it might be beyond a walk. +With a triumphant smile they were told that it was ten miles round. +It settled the matter; and they pursued the accustomed circuit; which +brought them again, after some time, in a descent among hanging woods, +to the edge of the water, and one of its narrowest parts. They crossed +it by a simple bridge, in character with the general air of the scene; +it was a spot less adorned than any they had yet visited; and the +valley, here contracted into a glen, allowed room only for the stream, +and a narrow walk amidst the rough coppice-wood which bordered it. +Elizabeth longed to explore its windings; but when they had crossed the +bridge, and perceived their distance from the house, Mrs. Gardiner, +who was not a great walker, could go no farther, and thought only +of returning to the carriage as quickly as possible. Her niece was, +therefore, obliged to submit, and they took their way towards the house +on the opposite side of the river, in the nearest direction; but their +progress was slow, for Mr. Gardiner, though seldom able to indulge the +taste, was very fond of fishing, and was so much engaged in watching the +occasional appearance of some trout in the water, and talking to the +man about them, that he advanced but little. Whilst wandering on in this +slow manner, they were again surprised, and Elizabeth's astonishment +was quite equal to what it had been at first, by the sight of Mr. Darcy +approaching them, and at no great distance. The walk being here +less sheltered than on the other side, allowed them to see him before +they met. Elizabeth, however astonished, was at least more prepared +for an interview than before, and resolved to appear and to speak with +calmness, if he really intended to meet them. For a few moments, indeed, +she felt that he would probably strike into some other path. The idea +lasted while a turning in the walk concealed him from their view; the +turning past, he was immediately before them. With a glance, she saw +that he had lost none of his recent civility; and, to imitate his +politeness, she began, as they met, to admire the beauty of the place; +but she had not got beyond the words "delightful," and "charming," when +some unlucky recollections obtruded, and she fancied that praise of +Pemberley from her might be mischievously construed. Her colour changed, +and she said no more. + +Mrs. Gardiner was standing a little behind; and on her pausing, he asked +her if she would do him the honour of introducing him to her friends. +This was a stroke of civility for which she was quite unprepared; +and she could hardly suppress a smile at his being now seeking the +acquaintance of some of those very people against whom his pride had +revolted in his offer to herself. "What will be his surprise," thought +she, "when he knows who they are? He takes them now for people of +fashion." + +The introduction, however, was immediately made; and as she named their +relationship to herself, she stole a sly look at him, to see how he bore +it, and was not without the expectation of his decamping as fast as he +could from such disgraceful companions. That he was _surprised_ by the +connection was evident; he sustained it, however, with fortitude, and +so far from going away, turned his back with them, and entered into +conversation with Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth could not but be pleased, +could not but triumph. It was consoling that he should know she had +some relations for whom there was no need to blush. She listened most +attentively to all that passed between them, and gloried in every +expression, every sentence of her uncle, which marked his intelligence, +his taste, or his good manners. + +The conversation soon turned upon fishing; and she heard Mr. Darcy +invite him, with the greatest civility, to fish there as often as he +chose while he continued in the neighbourhood, offering at the same time +to supply him with fishing tackle, and pointing out those parts of +the stream where there was usually most sport. Mrs. Gardiner, who was +walking arm-in-arm with Elizabeth, gave her a look expressive of wonder. +Elizabeth said nothing, but it gratified her exceedingly; the compliment +must be all for herself. Her astonishment, however, was extreme, and +continually was she repeating, "Why is he so altered? From what can +it proceed? It cannot be for _me_--it cannot be for _my_ sake that his +manners are thus softened. My reproofs at Hunsford could not work such a +change as this. It is impossible that he should still love me." + +After walking some time in this way, the two ladies in front, the two +gentlemen behind, on resuming their places, after descending to +the brink of the river for the better inspection of some curious +water-plant, there chanced to be a little alteration. It originated +in Mrs. Gardiner, who, fatigued by the exercise of the morning, found +Elizabeth's arm inadequate to her support, and consequently preferred +her husband's. Mr. Darcy took her place by her niece, and they walked on +together. After a short silence, the lady first spoke. She wished him +to know that she had been assured of his absence before she came to the +place, and accordingly began by observing, that his arrival had been +very unexpected--"for your housekeeper," she added, "informed us that +you would certainly not be here till to-morrow; and indeed, before we +left Bakewell, we understood that you were not immediately expected +in the country." He acknowledged the truth of it all, and said that +business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few hours +before the rest of the party with whom he had been travelling. "They +will join me early to-morrow," he continued, "and among them are some +who will claim an acquaintance with you--Mr. Bingley and his sisters." + +Elizabeth answered only by a slight bow. Her thoughts were instantly +driven back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name had been the last +mentioned between them; and, if she might judge by his complexion, _his_ +mind was not very differently engaged. + +"There is also one other person in the party," he continued after a +pause, "who more particularly wishes to be known to you. Will you allow +me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance +during your stay at Lambton?" + +The surprise of such an application was great indeed; it was too great +for her to know in what manner she acceded to it. She immediately felt +that whatever desire Miss Darcy might have of being acquainted with her +must be the work of her brother, and, without looking farther, it was +satisfactory; it was gratifying to know that his resentment had not made +him think really ill of her. + +They now walked on in silence, each of them deep in thought. Elizabeth +was not comfortable; that was impossible; but she was flattered and +pleased. His wish of introducing his sister to her was a compliment of +the highest kind. They soon outstripped the others, and when they had +reached the carriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were half a quarter of a +mile behind. + +He then asked her to walk into the house--but she declared herself not +tired, and they stood together on the lawn. At such a time much might +have been said, and silence was very awkward. She wanted to talk, but +there seemed to be an embargo on every subject. At last she recollected +that she had been travelling, and they talked of Matlock and Dove Dale +with great perseverance. Yet time and her aunt moved slowly--and her +patience and her ideas were nearly worn our before the tete-a-tete was +over. On Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's coming up they were all pressed to go +into the house and take some refreshment; but this was declined, and +they parted on each side with utmost politeness. Mr. Darcy handed the +ladies into the carriage; and when it drove off, Elizabeth saw him +walking slowly towards the house. + +The observations of her uncle and aunt now began; and each of them +pronounced him to be infinitely superior to anything they had expected. +"He is perfectly well behaved, polite, and unassuming," said her uncle. + +"There _is_ something a little stately in him, to be sure," replied her +aunt, "but it is confined to his air, and is not unbecoming. I can now +say with the housekeeper, that though some people may call him proud, I +have seen nothing of it." + +"I was never more surprised than by his behaviour to us. It was more +than civil; it was really attentive; and there was no necessity for such +attention. His acquaintance with Elizabeth was very trifling." + +"To be sure, Lizzy," said her aunt, "he is not so handsome as Wickham; +or, rather, he has not Wickham's countenance, for his features +are perfectly good. But how came you to tell me that he was so +disagreeable?" + +Elizabeth excused herself as well as she could; said that she had liked +him better when they had met in Kent than before, and that she had never +seen him so pleasant as this morning. + +"But perhaps he may be a little whimsical in his civilities," replied +her uncle. "Your great men often are; and therefore I shall not take him +at his word, as he might change his mind another day, and warn me off +his grounds." + +Elizabeth felt that they had entirely misunderstood his character, but +said nothing. + +"From what we have seen of him," continued Mrs. Gardiner, "I really +should not have thought that he could have behaved in so cruel a way by +anybody as he has done by poor Wickham. He has not an ill-natured look. +On the contrary, there is something pleasing about his mouth when he +speaks. And there is something of dignity in his countenance that would +not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart. But, to be sure, the +good lady who showed us his house did give him a most flaming character! +I could hardly help laughing aloud sometimes. But he is a liberal +master, I suppose, and _that_ in the eye of a servant comprehends every +virtue." + +Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in vindication of +his behaviour to Wickham; and therefore gave them to understand, in +as guarded a manner as she could, that by what she had heard from +his relations in Kent, his actions were capable of a very different +construction; and that his character was by no means so faulty, nor +Wickham's so amiable, as they had been considered in Hertfordshire. In +confirmation of this, she related the particulars of all the pecuniary +transactions in which they had been connected, without actually naming +her authority, but stating it to be such as might be relied on. + +Mrs. Gardiner was surprised and concerned; but as they were now +approaching the scene of her former pleasures, every idea gave way to +the charm of recollection; and she was too much engaged in pointing out +to her husband all the interesting spots in its environs to think of +anything else. Fatigued as she had been by the morning's walk they +had no sooner dined than she set off again in quest of her former +acquaintance, and the evening was spent in the satisfactions of a +intercourse renewed after many years' discontinuance. + +The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leave Elizabeth +much attention for any of these new friends; and she could do nothing +but think, and think with wonder, of Mr. Darcy's civility, and, above +all, of his wishing her to be acquainted with his sister. + + + +Chapter 44 + + +Elizabeth had settled it that Mr. Darcy would bring his sister to visit +her the very day after her reaching Pemberley; and was consequently +resolved not to be out of sight of the inn the whole of that morning. +But her conclusion was false; for on the very morning after their +arrival at Lambton, these visitors came. They had been walking about the +place with some of their new friends, and were just returning to the inn +to dress themselves for dining with the same family, when the sound of a +carriage drew them to a window, and they saw a gentleman and a lady in +a curricle driving up the street. Elizabeth immediately recognizing +the livery, guessed what it meant, and imparted no small degree of her +surprise to her relations by acquainting them with the honour which she +expected. Her uncle and aunt were all amazement; and the embarrassment +of her manner as she spoke, joined to the circumstance itself, and many +of the circumstances of the preceding day, opened to them a new idea on +the business. Nothing had ever suggested it before, but they felt that +there was no other way of accounting for such attentions from such a +quarter than by supposing a partiality for their niece. While these +newly-born notions were passing in their heads, the perturbation of +Elizabeth's feelings was at every moment increasing. She was quite +amazed at her own discomposure; but amongst other causes of disquiet, +she dreaded lest the partiality of the brother should have said too much +in her favour; and, more than commonly anxious to please, she naturally +suspected that every power of pleasing would fail her. + +She retreated from the window, fearful of being seen; and as she walked +up and down the room, endeavouring to compose herself, saw such looks of +inquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt as made everything worse. + +Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction +took place. With astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new +acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as herself. Since her +being at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; +but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was +only exceedingly shy. She found it difficult to obtain even a word from +her beyond a monosyllable. + +Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than Elizabeth; and, though +little more than sixteen, her figure was formed, and her appearance +womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother; but there +was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly +unassuming and gentle. Elizabeth, who had expected to find in her as +acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much +relieved by discerning such different feelings. + +They had not long been together before Mr. Darcy told her that Bingley +was also coming to wait on her; and she had barely time to express her +satisfaction, and prepare for such a visitor, when Bingley's quick +step was heard on the stairs, and in a moment he entered the room. All +Elizabeth's anger against him had been long done away; but had she still +felt any, it could hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected +cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeing her again. He +inquired in a friendly, though general way, after her family, and looked +and spoke with the same good-humoured ease that he had ever done. + +To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting personage +than to herself. They had long wished to see him. The whole party before +them, indeed, excited a lively attention. The suspicions which had just +arisen of Mr. Darcy and their niece directed their observation towards +each with an earnest though guarded inquiry; and they soon drew from +those inquiries the full conviction that one of them at least knew +what it was to love. Of the lady's sensations they remained a little +in doubt; but that the gentleman was overflowing with admiration was +evident enough. + +Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do. She wanted to ascertain the +feelings of each of her visitors; she wanted to compose her own, and +to make herself agreeable to all; and in the latter object, where she +feared most to fail, she was most sure of success, for those to whom she +endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour. Bingley +was ready, Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determined, to be pleased. + +In seeing Bingley, her thoughts naturally flew to her sister; and, oh! +how ardently did she long to know whether any of his were directed in +a like manner. Sometimes she could fancy that he talked less than on +former occasions, and once or twice pleased herself with the notion +that, as he looked at her, he was trying to trace a resemblance. But, +though this might be imaginary, she could not be deceived as to his +behaviour to Miss Darcy, who had been set up as a rival to Jane. No look +appeared on either side that spoke particular regard. Nothing occurred +between them that could justify the hopes of his sister. On this point +she was soon satisfied; and two or three little circumstances occurred +ere they parted, which, in her anxious interpretation, denoted a +recollection of Jane not untinctured by tenderness, and a wish of saying +more that might lead to the mention of her, had he dared. He observed +to her, at a moment when the others were talking together, and in a tone +which had something of real regret, that it "was a very long time since +he had had the pleasure of seeing her;" and, before she could reply, +he added, "It is above eight months. We have not met since the 26th of +November, when we were all dancing together at Netherfield." + +Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact; and he afterwards +took occasion to ask her, when unattended to by any of the rest, whether +_all_ her sisters were at Longbourn. There was not much in the question, +nor in the preceding remark; but there was a look and a manner which +gave them meaning. + +It was not often that she could turn her eyes on Mr. Darcy himself; +but, whenever she did catch a glimpse, she saw an expression of general +complaisance, and in all that he said she heard an accent so removed +from _hauteur_ or disdain of his companions, as convinced her that +the improvement of manners which she had yesterday witnessed however +temporary its existence might prove, had at least outlived one day. When +she saw him thus seeking the acquaintance and courting the good opinion +of people with whom any intercourse a few months ago would have been a +disgrace--when she saw him thus civil, not only to herself, but to the +very relations whom he had openly disdained, and recollected their last +lively scene in Hunsford Parsonage--the difference, the change was +so great, and struck so forcibly on her mind, that she could hardly +restrain her astonishment from being visible. Never, even in the company +of his dear friends at Netherfield, or his dignified relations +at Rosings, had she seen him so desirous to please, so free from +self-consequence or unbending reserve, as now, when no importance +could result from the success of his endeavours, and when even the +acquaintance of those to whom his attentions were addressed would draw +down the ridicule and censure of the ladies both of Netherfield and +Rosings. + +Their visitors stayed with them above half-an-hour; and when they arose +to depart, Mr. Darcy called on his sister to join him in expressing +their wish of seeing Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, and Miss Bennet, to dinner +at Pemberley, before they left the country. Miss Darcy, though with a +diffidence which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations, +readily obeyed. Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece, desirous of knowing +how _she_, whom the invitation most concerned, felt disposed as to its +acceptance, but Elizabeth had turned away her head. Presuming however, +that this studied avoidance spoke rather a momentary embarrassment than +any dislike of the proposal, and seeing in her husband, who was fond of +society, a perfect willingness to accept it, she ventured to engage for +her attendance, and the day after the next was fixed on. + +Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing Elizabeth +again, having still a great deal to say to her, and many inquiries to +make after all their Hertfordshire friends. Elizabeth, construing all +this into a wish of hearing her speak of her sister, was pleased, and on +this account, as well as some others, found herself, when their +visitors left them, capable of considering the last half-hour with some +satisfaction, though while it was passing, the enjoyment of it had been +little. Eager to be alone, and fearful of inquiries or hints from her +uncle and aunt, she stayed with them only long enough to hear their +favourable opinion of Bingley, and then hurried away to dress. + +But she had no reason to fear Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's curiosity; it was +not their wish to force her communication. It was evident that she was +much better acquainted with Mr. Darcy than they had before any idea of; +it was evident that he was very much in love with her. They saw much to +interest, but nothing to justify inquiry. + +Of Mr. Darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well; and, as far +as their acquaintance reached, there was no fault to find. They could +not be untouched by his politeness; and had they drawn his character +from their own feelings and his servant's report, without any reference +to any other account, the circle in Hertfordshire to which he was known +would not have recognized it for Mr. Darcy. There was now an interest, +however, in believing the housekeeper; and they soon became sensible +that the authority of a servant who had known him since he was four +years old, and whose own manners indicated respectability, was not to be +hastily rejected. Neither had anything occurred in the intelligence of +their Lambton friends that could materially lessen its weight. They had +nothing to accuse him of but pride; pride he probably had, and if not, +it would certainly be imputed by the inhabitants of a small market-town +where the family did not visit. It was acknowledged, however, that he +was a liberal man, and did much good among the poor. + +With respect to Wickham, the travellers soon found that he was not held +there in much estimation; for though the chief of his concerns with the +son of his patron were imperfectly understood, it was yet a well-known +fact that, on his quitting Derbyshire, he had left many debts behind +him, which Mr. Darcy afterwards discharged. + +As for Elizabeth, her thoughts were at Pemberley this evening more than +the last; and the evening, though as it passed it seemed long, was not +long enough to determine her feelings towards _one_ in that mansion; +and she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out. She +certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she +had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him, +that could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his +valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some +time ceased to be repugnant to her feeling; and it was now heightened +into somewhat of a friendlier nature, by the testimony so highly in +his favour, and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light, +which yesterday had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem, +there was a motive within her of goodwill which could not be overlooked. +It was gratitude; gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, +but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and +acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations +accompanying her rejection. He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid +her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most +eager to preserve the acquaintance, and without any indelicate display +of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only +were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent +on making her known to his sister. Such a change in a man of so much +pride exciting not only astonishment but gratitude--for to love, ardent +love, it must be attributed; and as such its impression on her was of a +sort to be encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though it could not be +exactly defined. She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him, +she felt a real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to know how +far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would +be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her +fancy told her she still possessed, of bringing on her the renewal of +his addresses. + +It had been settled in the evening between the aunt and the niece, that +such a striking civility as Miss Darcy's in coming to see them on the +very day of her arrival at Pemberley, for she had reached it only to a +late breakfast, ought to be imitated, though it could not be equalled, +by some exertion of politeness on their side; and, consequently, that +it would be highly expedient to wait on her at Pemberley the following +morning. They were, therefore, to go. Elizabeth was pleased; though when +she asked herself the reason, she had very little to say in reply. + +Mr. Gardiner left them soon after breakfast. The fishing scheme had been +renewed the day before, and a positive engagement made of his meeting +some of the gentlemen at Pemberley before noon. + + + +Chapter 45 + + +Convinced as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley's dislike of her had +originated in jealousy, she could not help feeling how unwelcome her +appearance at Pemberley must be to her, and was curious to know with how +much civility on that lady's side the acquaintance would now be renewed. + +On reaching the house, they were shown through the hall into the saloon, +whose northern aspect rendered it delightful for summer. Its windows +opening to the ground, admitted a most refreshing view of the high woody +hills behind the house, and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts +which were scattered over the intermediate lawn. + +In this house they were received by Miss Darcy, who was sitting there +with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and the lady with whom she lived in +London. Georgiana's reception of them was very civil, but attended with +all the embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the fear +of doing wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior +the belief of her being proud and reserved. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, +however, did her justice, and pitied her. + +By Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley they were noticed only by a curtsey; and, +on their being seated, a pause, awkward as such pauses must always be, +succeeded for a few moments. It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley, a +genteel, agreeable-looking woman, whose endeavour to introduce some kind +of discourse proved her to be more truly well-bred than either of the +others; and between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from +Elizabeth, the conversation was carried on. Miss Darcy looked as if she +wished for courage enough to join in it; and sometimes did venture a +short sentence when there was least danger of its being heard. + +Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by Miss Bingley, +and that she could not speak a word, especially to Miss Darcy, without +calling her attention. This observation would not have prevented her +from trying to talk to the latter, had they not been seated at an +inconvenient distance; but she was not sorry to be spared the necessity +of saying much. Her own thoughts were employing her. She expected every +moment that some of the gentlemen would enter the room. She wished, she +feared that the master of the house might be amongst them; and whether +she wished or feared it most, she could scarcely determine. After +sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour without hearing Miss +Bingley's voice, Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold +inquiry after the health of her family. She answered with equal +indifference and brevity, and the others said no more. + +The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the +entrance of servants with cold meat, cake, and a variety of all the +finest fruits in season; but this did not take place till after many +a significant look and smile from Mrs. Annesley to Miss Darcy had been +given, to remind her of her post. There was now employment for the whole +party--for though they could not all talk, they could all eat; and the +beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches soon collected +them round the table. + +While thus engaged, Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding whether +she most feared or wished for the appearance of Mr. Darcy, by the +feelings which prevailed on his entering the room; and then, though but +a moment before she had believed her wishes to predominate, she began to +regret that he came. + +He had been some time with Mr. Gardiner, who, with two or three other +gentlemen from the house, was engaged by the river, and had left him +only on learning that the ladies of the family intended a visit to +Georgiana that morning. No sooner did he appear than Elizabeth wisely +resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed; a resolution the more +necessary to be made, but perhaps not the more easily kept, because she +saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them, +and that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour +when he first came into the room. In no countenance was attentive +curiosity so strongly marked as in Miss Bingley's, in spite of the +smiles which overspread her face whenever she spoke to one of its +objects; for jealousy had not yet made her desperate, and her attentions +to Mr. Darcy were by no means over. Miss Darcy, on her brother's +entrance, exerted herself much more to talk, and Elizabeth saw that he +was anxious for his sister and herself to get acquainted, and forwarded +as much as possible, every attempt at conversation on either side. Miss +Bingley saw all this likewise; and, in the imprudence of anger, took the +first opportunity of saying, with sneering civility: + +"Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the ----shire Militia removed from Meryton? +They must be a great loss to _your_ family." + +In Darcy's presence she dared not mention Wickham's name; but Elizabeth +instantly comprehended that he was uppermost in her thoughts; and the +various recollections connected with him gave her a moment's distress; +but exerting herself vigorously to repel the ill-natured attack, she +presently answered the question in a tolerably detached tone. While +she spoke, an involuntary glance showed her Darcy, with a heightened +complexion, earnestly looking at her, and his sister overcome with +confusion, and unable to lift up her eyes. Had Miss Bingley known what +pain she was then giving her beloved friend, she undoubtedly would +have refrained from the hint; but she had merely intended to discompose +Elizabeth by bringing forward the idea of a man to whom she believed +her partial, to make her betray a sensibility which might injure her in +Darcy's opinion, and, perhaps, to remind the latter of all the follies +and absurdities by which some part of her family were connected +with that corps. Not a syllable had ever reached her of Miss Darcy's +meditated elopement. To no creature had it been revealed, where secrecy +was possible, except to Elizabeth; and from all Bingley's connections +her brother was particularly anxious to conceal it, from the very +wish which Elizabeth had long ago attributed to him, of their becoming +hereafter her own. He had certainly formed such a plan, and without +meaning that it should effect his endeavour to separate him from Miss +Bennet, it is probable that it might add something to his lively concern +for the welfare of his friend. + +Elizabeth's collected behaviour, however, soon quieted his emotion; and +as Miss Bingley, vexed and disappointed, dared not approach nearer to +Wickham, Georgiana also recovered in time, though not enough to be able +to speak any more. Her brother, whose eye she feared to meet, scarcely +recollected her interest in the affair, and the very circumstance which +had been designed to turn his thoughts from Elizabeth seemed to have +fixed them on her more and more cheerfully. + +Their visit did not continue long after the question and answer above +mentioned; and while Mr. Darcy was attending them to their carriage Miss +Bingley was venting her feelings in criticisms on Elizabeth's person, +behaviour, and dress. But Georgiana would not join her. Her brother's +recommendation was enough to ensure her favour; his judgement could not +err. And he had spoken in such terms of Elizabeth as to leave Georgiana +without the power of finding her otherwise than lovely and amiable. When +Darcy returned to the saloon, Miss Bingley could not help repeating to +him some part of what she had been saying to his sister. + +"How very ill Miss Eliza Bennet looks this morning, Mr. Darcy," she +cried; "I never in my life saw anyone so much altered as she is since +the winter. She is grown so brown and coarse! Louisa and I were agreeing +that we should not have known her again." + +However little Mr. Darcy might have liked such an address, he contented +himself with coolly replying that he perceived no other alteration than +her being rather tanned, no miraculous consequence of travelling in the +summer. + +"For my own part," she rejoined, "I must confess that I never could +see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no +brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose +wants character--there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are +tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, +which have sometimes been called so fine, I could never see anything +extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do +not like at all; and in her air altogether there is a self-sufficiency +without fashion, which is intolerable." + +Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this was not +the best method of recommending herself; but angry people are not always +wise; and in seeing him at last look somewhat nettled, she had all the +success she expected. He was resolutely silent, however, and, from a +determination of making him speak, she continued: + +"I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how amazed we all +were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and I particularly recollect +your saying one night, after they had been dining at Netherfield, '_She_ +a beauty!--I should as soon call her mother a wit.' But afterwards she +seemed to improve on you, and I believe you thought her rather pretty at +one time." + +"Yes," replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, "but _that_ +was only when I first saw her, for it is many months since I have +considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance." + +He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction of +having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself. + +Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred during their +visit, as they returned, except what had particularly interested them +both. The look and behaviour of everybody they had seen were discussed, +except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention. They talked +of his sister, his friends, his house, his fruit--of everything but +himself; yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of +him, and Mrs. Gardiner would have been highly gratified by her niece's +beginning the subject. + + + +Chapter 46 + + +Elizabeth had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from +Jane on their first arrival at Lambton; and this disappointment had been +renewed on each of the mornings that had now been spent there; but +on the third her repining was over, and her sister justified, by the +receipt of two letters from her at once, on one of which was marked that +it had been missent elsewhere. Elizabeth was not surprised at it, as +Jane had written the direction remarkably ill. + +They had just been preparing to walk as the letters came in; and +her uncle and aunt, leaving her to enjoy them in quiet, set off by +themselves. The one missent must first be attended to; it had been +written five days ago. The beginning contained an account of all their +little parties and engagements, with such news as the country afforded; +but the latter half, which was dated a day later, and written in evident +agitation, gave more important intelligence. It was to this effect: + +"Since writing the above, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred of a +most unexpected and serious nature; but I am afraid of alarming you--be +assured that we are all well. What I have to say relates to poor Lydia. +An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, +from Colonel Forster, to inform us that she was gone off to Scotland +with one of his officers; to own the truth, with Wickham! Imagine our +surprise. To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. I am +very, very sorry. So imprudent a match on both sides! But I am willing +to hope the best, and that his character has been misunderstood. +Thoughtless and indiscreet I can easily believe him, but this step +(and let us rejoice over it) marks nothing bad at heart. His choice is +disinterested at least, for he must know my father can give her nothing. +Our poor mother is sadly grieved. My father bears it better. How +thankful am I that we never let them know what has been said against +him; we must forget it ourselves. They were off Saturday night about +twelve, as is conjectured, but were not missed till yesterday morning at +eight. The express was sent off directly. My dear Lizzy, they must have +passed within ten miles of us. Colonel Forster gives us reason to expect +him here soon. Lydia left a few lines for his wife, informing her of +their intention. I must conclude, for I cannot be long from my poor +mother. I am afraid you will not be able to make it out, but I hardly +know what I have written." + +Without allowing herself time for consideration, and scarcely knowing +what she felt, Elizabeth on finishing this letter instantly seized the +other, and opening it with the utmost impatience, read as follows: it +had been written a day later than the conclusion of the first. + +"By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried letter; I +wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for time, my +head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent. Dearest +Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, +and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as the marriage between Mr. Wickham +and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has +taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone +to Scotland. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the +day before, not many hours after the express. Though Lydia's short +letter to Mrs. F. gave them to understand that they were going to Gretna +Green, something was dropped by Denny expressing his belief that W. +never intended to go there, or to marry Lydia at all, which was +repeated to Colonel F., who, instantly taking the alarm, set off from B. +intending to trace their route. He did trace them easily to Clapham, +but no further; for on entering that place, they removed into a hackney +coach, and dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that +is known after this is, that they were seen to continue the London road. +I know not what to think. After making every possible inquiry on that +side London, Colonel F. came on into Hertfordshire, anxiously renewing +them at all the turnpikes, and at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield, but +without any success--no such people had been seen to pass through. With +the kindest concern he came on to Longbourn, and broke his apprehensions +to us in a manner most creditable to his heart. I am sincerely grieved +for him and Mrs. F., but no one can throw any blame on them. Our +distress, my dear Lizzy, is very great. My father and mother believe the +worst, but I cannot think so ill of him. Many circumstances might make +it more eligible for them to be married privately in town than to pursue +their first plan; and even if _he_ could form such a design against a +young woman of Lydia's connections, which is not likely, can I suppose +her so lost to everything? Impossible! I grieve to find, however, that +Colonel F. is not disposed to depend upon their marriage; he shook his +head when I expressed my hopes, and said he feared W. was not a man to +be trusted. My poor mother is really ill, and keeps her room. Could she +exert herself, it would be better; but this is not to be expected. And +as to my father, I never in my life saw him so affected. Poor Kitty has +anger for having concealed their attachment; but as it was a matter of +confidence, one cannot wonder. I am truly glad, dearest Lizzy, that you +have been spared something of these distressing scenes; but now, as the +first shock is over, shall I own that I long for your return? I am not +so selfish, however, as to press for it, if inconvenient. Adieu! I +take up my pen again to do what I have just told you I would not; but +circumstances are such that I cannot help earnestly begging you all to +come here as soon as possible. I know my dear uncle and aunt so well, +that I am not afraid of requesting it, though I have still something +more to ask of the former. My father is going to London with Colonel +Forster instantly, to try to discover her. What he means to do I am sure +I know not; but his excessive distress will not allow him to pursue any +measure in the best and safest way, and Colonel Forster is obliged to +be at Brighton again to-morrow evening. In such an exigence, my +uncle's advice and assistance would be everything in the world; he will +immediately comprehend what I must feel, and I rely upon his goodness." + +"Oh! where, where is my uncle?" cried Elizabeth, darting from her seat +as she finished the letter, in eagerness to follow him, without losing +a moment of the time so precious; but as she reached the door it was +opened by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared. Her pale face and impetuous +manner made him start, and before he could recover himself to speak, +she, in whose mind every idea was superseded by Lydia's situation, +hastily exclaimed, "I beg your pardon, but I must leave you. I must find +Mr. Gardiner this moment, on business that cannot be delayed; I have not +an instant to lose." + +"Good God! what is the matter?" cried he, with more feeling than +politeness; then recollecting himself, "I will not detain you a minute; +but let me, or let the servant go after Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are +not well enough; you cannot go yourself." + +Elizabeth hesitated, but her knees trembled under her and she felt how +little would be gained by her attempting to pursue them. Calling back +the servant, therefore, she commissioned him, though in so breathless +an accent as made her almost unintelligible, to fetch his master and +mistress home instantly. + +On his quitting the room she sat down, unable to support herself, and +looking so miserably ill, that it was impossible for Darcy to leave her, +or to refrain from saying, in a tone of gentleness and commiseration, +"Let me call your maid. Is there nothing you could take to give you +present relief? A glass of wine; shall I get you one? You are very ill." + +"No, I thank you," she replied, endeavouring to recover herself. "There +is nothing the matter with me. I am quite well; I am only distressed by +some dreadful news which I have just received from Longbourn." + +She burst into tears as she alluded to it, and for a few minutes could +not speak another word. Darcy, in wretched suspense, could only say +something indistinctly of his concern, and observe her in compassionate +silence. At length she spoke again. "I have just had a letter from Jane, +with such dreadful news. It cannot be concealed from anyone. My younger +sister has left all her friends--has eloped; has thrown herself into +the power of--of Mr. Wickham. They are gone off together from Brighton. +_You_ know him too well to doubt the rest. She has no money, no +connections, nothing that can tempt him to--she is lost for ever." + +Darcy was fixed in astonishment. "When I consider," she added in a yet +more agitated voice, "that I might have prevented it! I, who knew what +he was. Had I but explained some part of it only--some part of what I +learnt, to my own family! Had his character been known, this could not +have happened. But it is all--all too late now." + +"I am grieved indeed," cried Darcy; "grieved--shocked. But is it +certain--absolutely certain?" + +"Oh, yes! They left Brighton together on Sunday night, and were traced +almost to London, but not beyond; they are certainly not gone to +Scotland." + +"And what has been done, what has been attempted, to recover her?" + +"My father is gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my uncle's +immediate assistance; and we shall be off, I hope, in half-an-hour. But +nothing can be done--I know very well that nothing can be done. How is +such a man to be worked on? How are they even to be discovered? I have +not the smallest hope. It is every way horrible!" + +Darcy shook his head in silent acquiescence. + +"When _my_ eyes were opened to his real character--Oh! had I known what +I ought, what I dared to do! But I knew not--I was afraid of doing too +much. Wretched, wretched mistake!" + +Darcy made no answer. He seemed scarcely to hear her, and was walking +up and down the room in earnest meditation, his brow contracted, his air +gloomy. Elizabeth soon observed, and instantly understood it. Her +power was sinking; everything _must_ sink under such a proof of family +weakness, such an assurance of the deepest disgrace. She could neither +wonder nor condemn, but the belief of his self-conquest brought nothing +consolatory to her bosom, afforded no palliation of her distress. It +was, on the contrary, exactly calculated to make her understand her own +wishes; and never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved +him, as now, when all love must be vain. + +But self, though it would intrude, could not engross her. Lydia--the +humiliation, the misery she was bringing on them all, soon swallowed +up every private care; and covering her face with her handkerchief, +Elizabeth was soon lost to everything else; and, after a pause of +several minutes, was only recalled to a sense of her situation by +the voice of her companion, who, in a manner which, though it spoke +compassion, spoke likewise restraint, said, "I am afraid you have been +long desiring my absence, nor have I anything to plead in excuse of my +stay, but real, though unavailing concern. Would to Heaven that anything +could be either said or done on my part that might offer consolation to +such distress! But I will not torment you with vain wishes, which may +seem purposely to ask for your thanks. This unfortunate affair will, I +fear, prevent my sister's having the pleasure of seeing you at Pemberley +to-day." + +"Oh, yes. Be so kind as to apologise for us to Miss Darcy. Say that +urgent business calls us home immediately. Conceal the unhappy truth as +long as it is possible, I know it cannot be long." + +He readily assured her of his secrecy; again expressed his sorrow for +her distress, wished it a happier conclusion than there was at present +reason to hope, and leaving his compliments for her relations, with only +one serious, parting look, went away. + +As he quitted the room, Elizabeth felt how improbable it was that they +should ever see each other again on such terms of cordiality as +had marked their several meetings in Derbyshire; and as she threw a +retrospective glance over the whole of their acquaintance, so full +of contradictions and varieties, sighed at the perverseness of those +feelings which would now have promoted its continuance, and would +formerly have rejoiced in its termination. + +If gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection, Elizabeth's +change of sentiment will be neither improbable nor faulty. But if +otherwise--if regard springing from such sources is unreasonable or +unnatural, in comparison of what is so often described as arising on +a first interview with its object, and even before two words have been +exchanged, nothing can be said in her defence, except that she had given +somewhat of a trial to the latter method in her partiality for Wickham, +and that its ill success might, perhaps, authorise her to seek the other +less interesting mode of attachment. Be that as it may, she saw him +go with regret; and in this early example of what Lydia's infamy must +produce, found additional anguish as she reflected on that wretched +business. Never, since reading Jane's second letter, had she entertained +a hope of Wickham's meaning to marry her. No one but Jane, she thought, +could flatter herself with such an expectation. Surprise was the least +of her feelings on this development. While the contents of the first +letter remained in her mind, she was all surprise--all astonishment that +Wickham should marry a girl whom it was impossible he could marry +for money; and how Lydia could ever have attached him had appeared +incomprehensible. But now it was all too natural. For such an attachment +as this she might have sufficient charms; and though she did not suppose +Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement without the intention +of marriage, she had no difficulty in believing that neither her virtue +nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey. + +She had never perceived, while the regiment was in Hertfordshire, that +Lydia had any partiality for him; but she was convinced that Lydia +wanted only encouragement to attach herself to anybody. Sometimes one +officer, sometimes another, had been her favourite, as their attentions +raised them in her opinion. Her affections had continually been +fluctuating but never without an object. The mischief of neglect and +mistaken indulgence towards such a girl--oh! how acutely did she now +feel it! + +She was wild to be at home--to hear, to see, to be upon the spot to +share with Jane in the cares that must now fall wholly upon her, in a +family so deranged, a father absent, a mother incapable of exertion, and +requiring constant attendance; and though almost persuaded that nothing +could be done for Lydia, her uncle's interference seemed of the utmost +importance, and till he entered the room her impatience was severe. Mr. +and Mrs. Gardiner had hurried back in alarm, supposing by the servant's +account that their niece was taken suddenly ill; but satisfying them +instantly on that head, she eagerly communicated the cause of their +summons, reading the two letters aloud, and dwelling on the postscript +of the last with trembling energy, though Lydia had never been a +favourite with them, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner could not but be deeply +afflicted. Not Lydia only, but all were concerned in it; and after the +first exclamations of surprise and horror, Mr. Gardiner promised every +assistance in his power. Elizabeth, though expecting no less, thanked +him with tears of gratitude; and all three being actuated by one spirit, +everything relating to their journey was speedily settled. They were to +be off as soon as possible. "But what is to be done about Pemberley?" +cried Mrs. Gardiner. "John told us Mr. Darcy was here when you sent for +us; was it so?" + +"Yes; and I told him we should not be able to keep our engagement. +_That_ is all settled." + +"What is all settled?" repeated the other, as she ran into her room to +prepare. "And are they upon such terms as for her to disclose the real +truth? Oh, that I knew how it was!" + +But wishes were vain, or at least could only serve to amuse her in the +hurry and confusion of the following hour. Had Elizabeth been at leisure +to be idle, she would have remained certain that all employment was +impossible to one so wretched as herself; but she had her share of +business as well as her aunt, and amongst the rest there were notes to +be written to all their friends at Lambton, with false excuses for their +sudden departure. An hour, however, saw the whole completed; and Mr. +Gardiner meanwhile having settled his account at the inn, nothing +remained to be done but to go; and Elizabeth, after all the misery of +the morning, found herself, in a shorter space of time than she could +have supposed, seated in the carriage, and on the road to Longbourn. + + + +Chapter 47 + + +"I have been thinking it over again, Elizabeth," said her uncle, as they +drove from the town; "and really, upon serious consideration, I am much +more inclined than I was to judge as your eldest sister does on the +matter. It appears to me so very unlikely that any young man should +form such a design against a girl who is by no means unprotected or +friendless, and who was actually staying in his colonel's family, that I +am strongly inclined to hope the best. Could he expect that her friends +would not step forward? Could he expect to be noticed again by the +regiment, after such an affront to Colonel Forster? His temptation is +not adequate to the risk!" + +"Do you really think so?" cried Elizabeth, brightening up for a moment. + +"Upon my word," said Mrs. Gardiner, "I begin to be of your uncle's +opinion. It is really too great a violation of decency, honour, and +interest, for him to be guilty of. I cannot think so very ill of +Wickham. Can you yourself, Lizzy, so wholly give him up, as to believe +him capable of it?" + +"Not, perhaps, of neglecting his own interest; but of every other +neglect I can believe him capable. If, indeed, it should be so! But I +dare not hope it. Why should they not go on to Scotland if that had been +the case?" + +"In the first place," replied Mr. Gardiner, "there is no absolute proof +that they are not gone to Scotland." + +"Oh! but their removing from the chaise into a hackney coach is such +a presumption! And, besides, no traces of them were to be found on the +Barnet road." + +"Well, then--supposing them to be in London. They may be there, though +for the purpose of concealment, for no more exceptional purpose. It is +not likely that money should be very abundant on either side; and it +might strike them that they could be more economically, though less +expeditiously, married in London than in Scotland." + +"But why all this secrecy? Why any fear of detection? Why must their +marriage be private? Oh, no, no--this is not likely. His most particular +friend, you see by Jane's account, was persuaded of his never intending +to marry her. Wickham will never marry a woman without some money. He +cannot afford it. And what claims has Lydia--what attraction has she +beyond youth, health, and good humour that could make him, for her sake, +forego every chance of benefiting himself by marrying well? As to what +restraint the apprehensions of disgrace in the corps might throw on a +dishonourable elopement with her, I am not able to judge; for I know +nothing of the effects that such a step might produce. But as to your +other objection, I am afraid it will hardly hold good. Lydia has +no brothers to step forward; and he might imagine, from my father's +behaviour, from his indolence and the little attention he has ever +seemed to give to what was going forward in his family, that _he_ would +do as little, and think as little about it, as any father could do, in +such a matter." + +"But can you think that Lydia is so lost to everything but love of him +as to consent to live with him on any terms other than marriage?" + +"It does seem, and it is most shocking indeed," replied Elizabeth, with +tears in her eyes, "that a sister's sense of decency and virtue in such +a point should admit of doubt. But, really, I know not what to say. +Perhaps I am not doing her justice. But she is very young; she has never +been taught to think on serious subjects; and for the last half-year, +nay, for a twelvemonth--she has been given up to nothing but amusement +and vanity. She has been allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle +and frivolous manner, and to adopt any opinions that came in her way. +Since the ----shire were first quartered in Meryton, nothing but love, +flirtation, and officers have been in her head. She has been doing +everything in her power by thinking and talking on the subject, to give +greater--what shall I call it? susceptibility to her feelings; which are +naturally lively enough. And we all know that Wickham has every charm of +person and address that can captivate a woman." + +"But you see that Jane," said her aunt, "does not think so very ill of +Wickham as to believe him capable of the attempt." + +"Of whom does Jane ever think ill? And who is there, whatever might be +their former conduct, that she would think capable of such an attempt, +till it were proved against them? But Jane knows, as well as I do, what +Wickham really is. We both know that he has been profligate in every +sense of the word; that he has neither integrity nor honour; that he is +as false and deceitful as he is insinuating." + +"And do you really know all this?" cried Mrs. Gardiner, whose curiosity +as to the mode of her intelligence was all alive. + +"I do indeed," replied Elizabeth, colouring. "I told you, the other day, +of his infamous behaviour to Mr. Darcy; and you yourself, when last at +Longbourn, heard in what manner he spoke of the man who had behaved +with such forbearance and liberality towards him. And there are other +circumstances which I am not at liberty--which it is not worth while to +relate; but his lies about the whole Pemberley family are endless. From +what he said of Miss Darcy I was thoroughly prepared to see a proud, +reserved, disagreeable girl. Yet he knew to the contrary himself. He +must know that she was as amiable and unpretending as we have found +her." + +"But does Lydia know nothing of this? can she be ignorant of what you +and Jane seem so well to understand?" + +"Oh, yes!--that, that is the worst of all. Till I was in Kent, and saw +so much both of Mr. Darcy and his relation Colonel Fitzwilliam, I was +ignorant of the truth myself. And when I returned home, the ----shire +was to leave Meryton in a week or fortnight's time. As that was the +case, neither Jane, to whom I related the whole, nor I, thought it +necessary to make our knowledge public; for of what use could +it apparently be to any one, that the good opinion which all the +neighbourhood had of him should then be overthrown? And even when it was +settled that Lydia should go with Mrs. Forster, the necessity of opening +her eyes to his character never occurred to me. That _she_ could be +in any danger from the deception never entered my head. That such a +consequence as _this_ could ensue, you may easily believe, was far +enough from my thoughts." + +"When they all removed to Brighton, therefore, you had no reason, I +suppose, to believe them fond of each other?" + +"Not the slightest. I can remember no symptom of affection on either +side; and had anything of the kind been perceptible, you must be aware +that ours is not a family on which it could be thrown away. When first +he entered the corps, she was ready enough to admire him; but so we all +were. Every girl in or near Meryton was out of her senses about him for +the first two months; but he never distinguished _her_ by any particular +attention; and, consequently, after a moderate period of extravagant and +wild admiration, her fancy for him gave way, and others of the regiment, +who treated her with more distinction, again became her favourites." + + * * * * * + +It may be easily believed, that however little of novelty could be added +to their fears, hopes, and conjectures, on this interesting subject, by +its repeated discussion, no other could detain them from it long, during +the whole of the journey. From Elizabeth's thoughts it was never absent. +Fixed there by the keenest of all anguish, self-reproach, she could find +no interval of ease or forgetfulness. + +They travelled as expeditiously as possible, and, sleeping one night +on the road, reached Longbourn by dinner time the next day. It was a +comfort to Elizabeth to consider that Jane could not have been wearied +by long expectations. + +The little Gardiners, attracted by the sight of a chaise, were standing +on the steps of the house as they entered the paddock; and, when the +carriage drove up to the door, the joyful surprise that lighted up their +faces, and displayed itself over their whole bodies, in a variety of +capers and frisks, was the first pleasing earnest of their welcome. + +Elizabeth jumped out; and, after giving each of them a hasty kiss, +hurried into the vestibule, where Jane, who came running down from her +mother's apartment, immediately met her. + +Elizabeth, as she affectionately embraced her, whilst tears filled the +eyes of both, lost not a moment in asking whether anything had been +heard of the fugitives. + +"Not yet," replied Jane. "But now that my dear uncle is come, I hope +everything will be well." + +"Is my father in town?" + +"Yes, he went on Tuesday, as I wrote you word." + +"And have you heard from him often?" + +"We have heard only twice. He wrote me a few lines on Wednesday to say +that he had arrived in safety, and to give me his directions, which I +particularly begged him to do. He merely added that he should not write +again till he had something of importance to mention." + +"And my mother--how is she? How are you all?" + +"My mother is tolerably well, I trust; though her spirits are greatly +shaken. She is upstairs and will have great satisfaction in seeing you +all. She does not yet leave her dressing-room. Mary and Kitty, thank +Heaven, are quite well." + +"But you--how are you?" cried Elizabeth. "You look pale. How much you +must have gone through!" + +Her sister, however, assured her of her being perfectly well; and their +conversation, which had been passing while Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were +engaged with their children, was now put an end to by the approach +of the whole party. Jane ran to her uncle and aunt, and welcomed and +thanked them both, with alternate smiles and tears. + +When they were all in the drawing-room, the questions which Elizabeth +had already asked were of course repeated by the others, and they soon +found that Jane had no intelligence to give. The sanguine hope of +good, however, which the benevolence of her heart suggested had not yet +deserted her; she still expected that it would all end well, and that +every morning would bring some letter, either from Lydia or her father, +to explain their proceedings, and, perhaps, announce their marriage. + +Mrs. Bennet, to whose apartment they all repaired, after a few minutes' +conversation together, received them exactly as might be expected; with +tears and lamentations of regret, invectives against the villainous +conduct of Wickham, and complaints of her own sufferings and ill-usage; +blaming everybody but the person to whose ill-judging indulgence the +errors of her daughter must principally be owing. + +"If I had been able," said she, "to carry my point in going to Brighton, +with all my family, _this_ would not have happened; but poor dear Lydia +had nobody to take care of her. Why did the Forsters ever let her go out +of their sight? I am sure there was some great neglect or other on their +side, for she is not the kind of girl to do such a thing if she had been +well looked after. I always thought they were very unfit to have the +charge of her; but I was overruled, as I always am. Poor dear child! +And now here's Mr. Bennet gone away, and I know he will fight Wickham, +wherever he meets him and then he will be killed, and what is to become +of us all? The Collinses will turn us out before he is cold in his +grave, and if you are not kind to us, brother, I do not know what we +shall do." + +They all exclaimed against such terrific ideas; and Mr. Gardiner, after +general assurances of his affection for her and all her family, told her +that he meant to be in London the very next day, and would assist Mr. +Bennet in every endeavour for recovering Lydia. + +"Do not give way to useless alarm," added he; "though it is right to be +prepared for the worst, there is no occasion to look on it as certain. +It is not quite a week since they left Brighton. In a few days more we +may gain some news of them; and till we know that they are not married, +and have no design of marrying, do not let us give the matter over as +lost. As soon as I get to town I shall go to my brother, and make +him come home with me to Gracechurch Street; and then we may consult +together as to what is to be done." + +"Oh! my dear brother," replied Mrs. Bennet, "that is exactly what I +could most wish for. And now do, when you get to town, find them out, +wherever they may be; and if they are not married already, _make_ them +marry. And as for wedding clothes, do not let them wait for that, but +tell Lydia she shall have as much money as she chooses to buy them, +after they are married. And, above all, keep Mr. Bennet from fighting. +Tell him what a dreadful state I am in, that I am frighted out of my +wits--and have such tremblings, such flutterings, all over me--such +spasms in my side and pains in my head, and such beatings at heart, that +I can get no rest by night nor by day. And tell my dear Lydia not to +give any directions about her clothes till she has seen me, for she does +not know which are the best warehouses. Oh, brother, how kind you are! I +know you will contrive it all." + +But Mr. Gardiner, though he assured her again of his earnest endeavours +in the cause, could not avoid recommending moderation to her, as well +in her hopes as her fear; and after talking with her in this manner till +dinner was on the table, they all left her to vent all her feelings on +the housekeeper, who attended in the absence of her daughters. + +Though her brother and sister were persuaded that there was no real +occasion for such a seclusion from the family, they did not attempt to +oppose it, for they knew that she had not prudence enough to hold her +tongue before the servants, while they waited at table, and judged it +better that _one_ only of the household, and the one whom they could +most trust should comprehend all her fears and solicitude on the +subject. + +In the dining-room they were soon joined by Mary and Kitty, who had been +too busily engaged in their separate apartments to make their appearance +before. One came from her books, and the other from her toilette. The +faces of both, however, were tolerably calm; and no change was visible +in either, except that the loss of her favourite sister, or the anger +which she had herself incurred in this business, had given more of +fretfulness than usual to the accents of Kitty. As for Mary, she was +mistress enough of herself to whisper to Elizabeth, with a countenance +of grave reflection, soon after they were seated at table: + +"This is a most unfortunate affair, and will probably be much talked of. +But we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of +each other the balm of sisterly consolation." + +Then, perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying, she added, +"Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this useful +lesson: that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one +false step involves her in endless ruin; that her reputation is no less +brittle than it is beautiful; and that she cannot be too much guarded in +her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex." + +Elizabeth lifted up her eyes in amazement, but was too much oppressed +to make any reply. Mary, however, continued to console herself with such +kind of moral extractions from the evil before them. + +In the afternoon, the two elder Miss Bennets were able to be for +half-an-hour by themselves; and Elizabeth instantly availed herself of +the opportunity of making any inquiries, which Jane was equally eager to +satisfy. After joining in general lamentations over the dreadful sequel +of this event, which Elizabeth considered as all but certain, and Miss +Bennet could not assert to be wholly impossible, the former continued +the subject, by saying, "But tell me all and everything about it which +I have not already heard. Give me further particulars. What did Colonel +Forster say? Had they no apprehension of anything before the elopement +took place? They must have seen them together for ever." + +"Colonel Forster did own that he had often suspected some partiality, +especially on Lydia's side, but nothing to give him any alarm. I am so +grieved for him! His behaviour was attentive and kind to the utmost. He +_was_ coming to us, in order to assure us of his concern, before he had +any idea of their not being gone to Scotland: when that apprehension +first got abroad, it hastened his journey." + +"And was Denny convinced that Wickham would not marry? Did he know of +their intending to go off? Had Colonel Forster seen Denny himself?" + +"Yes; but, when questioned by _him_, Denny denied knowing anything of +their plans, and would not give his real opinion about it. He did not +repeat his persuasion of their not marrying--and from _that_, I am +inclined to hope, he might have been misunderstood before." + +"And till Colonel Forster came himself, not one of you entertained a +doubt, I suppose, of their being really married?" + +"How was it possible that such an idea should enter our brains? I felt +a little uneasy--a little fearful of my sister's happiness with him +in marriage, because I knew that his conduct had not been always quite +right. My father and mother knew nothing of that; they only felt how +imprudent a match it must be. Kitty then owned, with a very natural +triumph on knowing more than the rest of us, that in Lydia's last letter +she had prepared her for such a step. She had known, it seems, of their +being in love with each other, many weeks." + +"But not before they went to Brighton?" + +"No, I believe not." + +"And did Colonel Forster appear to think well of Wickham himself? Does +he know his real character?" + +"I must confess that he did not speak so well of Wickham as he formerly +did. He believed him to be imprudent and extravagant. And since this sad +affair has taken place, it is said that he left Meryton greatly in debt; +but I hope this may be false." + +"Oh, Jane, had we been less secret, had we told what we knew of him, +this could not have happened!" + +"Perhaps it would have been better," replied her sister. "But to expose +the former faults of any person without knowing what their present +feelings were, seemed unjustifiable. We acted with the best intentions." + +"Could Colonel Forster repeat the particulars of Lydia's note to his +wife?" + +"He brought it with him for us to see." + +Jane then took it from her pocket-book, and gave it to Elizabeth. These +were the contents: + +"MY DEAR HARRIET, + +"You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help +laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am +missed. I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, +I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the world I +love, and he is an angel. I should never be happy without him, so think +it no harm to be off. You need not send them word at Longbourn of my +going, if you do not like it, for it will make the surprise the greater, +when I write to them and sign my name 'Lydia Wickham.' What a good joke +it will be! I can hardly write for laughing. Pray make my excuses to +Pratt for not keeping my engagement, and dancing with him to-night. +Tell him I hope he will excuse me when he knows all; and tell him I will +dance with him at the next ball we meet, with great pleasure. I shall +send for my clothes when I get to Longbourn; but I wish you would tell +Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are +packed up. Good-bye. Give my love to Colonel Forster. I hope you will +drink to our good journey. + +"Your affectionate friend, + +"LYDIA BENNET." + +"Oh! thoughtless, thoughtless Lydia!" cried Elizabeth when she had +finished it. "What a letter is this, to be written at such a moment! +But at least it shows that _she_ was serious on the subject of their +journey. Whatever he might afterwards persuade her to, it was not on her +side a _scheme_ of infamy. My poor father! how he must have felt it!" + +"I never saw anyone so shocked. He could not speak a word for full ten +minutes. My mother was taken ill immediately, and the whole house in +such confusion!" + +"Oh! Jane," cried Elizabeth, "was there a servant belonging to it who +did not know the whole story before the end of the day?" + +"I do not know. I hope there was. But to be guarded at such a time is +very difficult. My mother was in hysterics, and though I endeavoured to +give her every assistance in my power, I am afraid I did not do so +much as I might have done! But the horror of what might possibly happen +almost took from me my faculties." + +"Your attendance upon her has been too much for you. You do not look +well. Oh that I had been with you! you have had every care and anxiety +upon yourself alone." + +"Mary and Kitty have been very kind, and would have shared in every +fatigue, I am sure; but I did not think it right for either of them. +Kitty is slight and delicate; and Mary studies so much, that her hours +of repose should not be broken in on. My aunt Phillips came to Longbourn +on Tuesday, after my father went away; and was so good as to stay till +Thursday with me. She was of great use and comfort to us all. And +Lady Lucas has been very kind; she walked here on Wednesday morning to +condole with us, and offered her services, or any of her daughters', if +they should be of use to us." + +"She had better have stayed at home," cried Elizabeth; "perhaps she +_meant_ well, but, under such a misfortune as this, one cannot see +too little of one's neighbours. Assistance is impossible; condolence +insufferable. Let them triumph over us at a distance, and be satisfied." + +She then proceeded to inquire into the measures which her father had +intended to pursue, while in town, for the recovery of his daughter. + +"He meant I believe," replied Jane, "to go to Epsom, the place where +they last changed horses, see the postilions and try if anything could +be made out from them. His principal object must be to discover the +number of the hackney coach which took them from Clapham. It had come +with a fare from London; and as he thought that the circumstance of a +gentleman and lady's removing from one carriage into another might +be remarked he meant to make inquiries at Clapham. If he could anyhow +discover at what house the coachman had before set down his fare, he +determined to make inquiries there, and hoped it might not be impossible +to find out the stand and number of the coach. I do not know of any +other designs that he had formed; but he was in such a hurry to be gone, +and his spirits so greatly discomposed, that I had difficulty in finding +out even so much as this." + + + +Chapter 48 + + +The whole party were in hopes of a letter from Mr. Bennet the next +morning, but the post came in without bringing a single line from him. +His family knew him to be, on all common occasions, a most negligent and +dilatory correspondent; but at such a time they had hoped for exertion. +They were forced to conclude that he had no pleasing intelligence to +send; but even of _that_ they would have been glad to be certain. Mr. +Gardiner had waited only for the letters before he set off. + +When he was gone, they were certain at least of receiving constant +information of what was going on, and their uncle promised, at parting, +to prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn, as soon as he could, +to the great consolation of his sister, who considered it as the only +security for her husband's not being killed in a duel. + +Mrs. Gardiner and the children were to remain in Hertfordshire a few +days longer, as the former thought her presence might be serviceable +to her nieces. She shared in their attendance on Mrs. Bennet, and was a +great comfort to them in their hours of freedom. Their other aunt also +visited them frequently, and always, as she said, with the design of +cheering and heartening them up--though, as she never came without +reporting some fresh instance of Wickham's extravagance or irregularity, +she seldom went away without leaving them more dispirited than she found +them. + +All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who, but three months +before, had been almost an angel of light. He was declared to be in debt +to every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues, all honoured with +the title of seduction, had been extended into every tradesman's family. +Everybody declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world; +and everybody began to find out that they had always distrusted the +appearance of his goodness. Elizabeth, though she did not credit above +half of what was said, believed enough to make her former assurance of +her sister's ruin more certain; and even Jane, who believed still less +of it, became almost hopeless, more especially as the time was now come +when, if they had gone to Scotland, which she had never before entirely +despaired of, they must in all probability have gained some news of +them. + +Mr. Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday; on Tuesday his wife received a +letter from him; it told them that, on his arrival, he had immediately +found out his brother, and persuaded him to come to Gracechurch Street; +that Mr. Bennet had been to Epsom and Clapham, before his arrival, +but without gaining any satisfactory information; and that he was now +determined to inquire at all the principal hotels in town, as Mr. Bennet +thought it possible they might have gone to one of them, on their first +coming to London, before they procured lodgings. Mr. Gardiner himself +did not expect any success from this measure, but as his brother was +eager in it, he meant to assist him in pursuing it. He added that Mr. +Bennet seemed wholly disinclined at present to leave London and promised +to write again very soon. There was also a postscript to this effect: + +"I have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out, if +possible, from some of the young man's intimates in the regiment, +whether Wickham has any relations or connections who would be likely to +know in what part of town he has now concealed himself. If there were +anyone that one could apply to with a probability of gaining such a +clue as that, it might be of essential consequence. At present we have +nothing to guide us. Colonel Forster will, I dare say, do everything in +his power to satisfy us on this head. But, on second thoughts, perhaps, +Lizzy could tell us what relations he has now living, better than any +other person." + +Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference to her +authority proceeded; but it was not in her power to give any information +of so satisfactory a nature as the compliment deserved. She had never +heard of his having had any relations, except a father and mother, both +of whom had been dead many years. It was possible, however, that some of +his companions in the ----shire might be able to give more information; +and though she was not very sanguine in expecting it, the application +was a something to look forward to. + +Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety; but the most anxious +part of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters +was the grand object of every morning's impatience. Through letters, +whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated, and every +succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance. + +But before they heard again from Mr. Gardiner, a letter arrived for +their father, from a different quarter, from Mr. Collins; which, as Jane +had received directions to open all that came for him in his absence, +she accordingly read; and Elizabeth, who knew what curiosities his +letters always were, looked over her, and read it likewise. It was as +follows: + +"MY DEAR SIR, + +"I feel myself called upon, by our relationship, and my situation +in life, to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now +suffering under, of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from +Hertfordshire. Be assured, my dear sir, that Mrs. Collins and myself +sincerely sympathise with you and all your respectable family, in +your present distress, which must be of the bitterest kind, because +proceeding from a cause which no time can remove. No arguments shall be +wanting on my part that can alleviate so severe a misfortune--or that +may comfort you, under a circumstance that must be of all others the +most afflicting to a parent's mind. The death of your daughter would +have been a blessing in comparison of this. And it is the more to +be lamented, because there is reason to suppose as my dear Charlotte +informs me, that this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter has +proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence; though, at the same time, +for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think +that her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she could not be +guilty of such an enormity, at so early an age. Howsoever that may be, +you are grievously to be pitied; in which opinion I am not only joined +by Mrs. Collins, but likewise by Lady Catherine and her daughter, to +whom I have related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending that +this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of +all the others; for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, +will connect themselves with such a family? And this consideration leads +me moreover to reflect, with augmented satisfaction, on a certain event +of last November; for had it been otherwise, I must have been involved +in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me then advise you, dear sir, to +console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child +from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her +own heinous offense. + +"I am, dear sir, etc., etc." + +Mr. Gardiner did not write again till he had received an answer from +Colonel Forster; and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send. +It was not known that Wickham had a single relationship with whom he +kept up any connection, and it was certain that he had no near one +living. His former acquaintances had been numerous; but since he +had been in the militia, it did not appear that he was on terms of +particular friendship with any of them. There was no one, therefore, +who could be pointed out as likely to give any news of him. And in the +wretched state of his own finances, there was a very powerful motive for +secrecy, in addition to his fear of discovery by Lydia's relations, for +it had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him to a +very considerable amount. Colonel Forster believed that more than a +thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expenses at Brighton. +He owed a good deal in town, but his debts of honour were still more +formidable. Mr. Gardiner did not attempt to conceal these particulars +from the Longbourn family. Jane heard them with horror. "A gamester!" +she cried. "This is wholly unexpected. I had not an idea of it." + +Mr. Gardiner added in his letter, that they might expect to see their +father at home on the following day, which was Saturday. Rendered +spiritless by the ill-success of all their endeavours, he had yielded +to his brother-in-law's entreaty that he would return to his family, and +leave it to him to do whatever occasion might suggest to be advisable +for continuing their pursuit. When Mrs. Bennet was told of this, she did +not express so much satisfaction as her children expected, considering +what her anxiety for his life had been before. + +"What, is he coming home, and without poor Lydia?" she cried. "Sure he +will not leave London before he has found them. Who is to fight Wickham, +and make him marry her, if he comes away?" + +As Mrs. Gardiner began to wish to be at home, it was settled that she +and the children should go to London, at the same time that Mr. Bennet +came from it. The coach, therefore, took them the first stage of their +journey, and brought its master back to Longbourn. + +Mrs. Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth and her +Derbyshire friend that had attended her from that part of the world. His +name had never been voluntarily mentioned before them by her niece; and +the kind of half-expectation which Mrs. Gardiner had formed, of their +being followed by a letter from him, had ended in nothing. Elizabeth had +received none since her return that could come from Pemberley. + +The present unhappy state of the family rendered any other excuse for +the lowness of her spirits unnecessary; nothing, therefore, could be +fairly conjectured from _that_, though Elizabeth, who was by this time +tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was perfectly aware +that, had she known nothing of Darcy, she could have borne the dread of +Lydia's infamy somewhat better. It would have spared her, she thought, +one sleepless night out of two. + +When Mr. Bennet arrived, he had all the appearance of his usual +philosophic composure. He said as little as he had ever been in the +habit of saying; made no mention of the business that had taken him +away, and it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak of +it. + +It was not till the afternoon, when he had joined them at tea, that +Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject; and then, on her briefly +expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured, he replied, "Say +nothing of that. Who should suffer but myself? It has been my own doing, +and I ought to feel it." + +"You must not be too severe upon yourself," replied Elizabeth. + +"You may well warn me against such an evil. Human nature is so prone +to fall into it! No, Lizzy, let me once in my life feel how much I have +been to blame. I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression. +It will pass away soon enough." + +"Do you suppose them to be in London?" + +"Yes; where else can they be so well concealed?" + +"And Lydia used to want to go to London," added Kitty. + +"She is happy then," said her father drily; "and her residence there +will probably be of some duration." + +Then after a short silence he continued: + +"Lizzy, I bear you no ill-will for being justified in your advice to me +last May, which, considering the event, shows some greatness of mind." + +They were interrupted by Miss Bennet, who came to fetch her mother's +tea. + +"This is a parade," he cried, "which does one good; it gives such an +elegance to misfortune! Another day I will do the same; I will sit in my +library, in my nightcap and powdering gown, and give as much trouble as +I can; or, perhaps, I may defer it till Kitty runs away." + +"I am not going to run away, papa," said Kitty fretfully. "If I should +ever go to Brighton, I would behave better than Lydia." + +"_You_ go to Brighton. I would not trust you so near it as Eastbourne +for fifty pounds! No, Kitty, I have at last learnt to be cautious, and +you will feel the effects of it. No officer is ever to enter into +my house again, nor even to pass through the village. Balls will be +absolutely prohibited, unless you stand up with one of your sisters. +And you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have +spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner." + +Kitty, who took all these threats in a serious light, began to cry. + +"Well, well," said he, "do not make yourself unhappy. If you are a good +girl for the next ten years, I will take you to a review at the end of +them." + + + +Chapter 49 + + +Two days after Mr. Bennet's return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking +together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw the housekeeper +coming towards them, and, concluding that she came to call them to their +mother, went forward to meet her; but, instead of the expected summons, +when they approached her, she said to Miss Bennet, "I beg your pardon, +madam, for interrupting you, but I was in hopes you might have got some +good news from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask." + +"What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from town." + +"Dear madam," cried Mrs. Hill, in great astonishment, "don't you know +there is an express come for master from Mr. Gardiner? He has been here +this half-hour, and master has had a letter." + +Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time for speech. They +ran through the vestibule into the breakfast-room; from thence to the +library; their father was in neither; and they were on the point of +seeking him upstairs with their mother, when they were met by the +butler, who said: + +"If you are looking for my master, ma'am, he is walking towards the +little copse." + +Upon this information, they instantly passed through the hall once +more, and ran across the lawn after their father, who was deliberately +pursuing his way towards a small wood on one side of the paddock. + +Jane, who was not so light nor so much in the habit of running as +Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister, panting for breath, +came up with him, and eagerly cried out: + +"Oh, papa, what news--what news? Have you heard from my uncle?" + +"Yes I have had a letter from him by express." + +"Well, and what news does it bring--good or bad?" + +"What is there of good to be expected?" said he, taking the letter from +his pocket. "But perhaps you would like to read it." + +Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand. Jane now came up. + +"Read it aloud," said their father, "for I hardly know myself what it is +about." + +"Gracechurch Street, Monday, August 2. + +"MY DEAR BROTHER, + +"At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece, and such as, +upon the whole, I hope it will give you satisfaction. Soon after you +left me on Saturday, I was fortunate enough to find out in what part of +London they were. The particulars I reserve till we meet; it is enough +to know they are discovered. I have seen them both--" + +"Then it is as I always hoped," cried Jane; "they are married!" + +Elizabeth read on: + +"I have seen them both. They are not married, nor can I find there +was any intention of being so; but if you are willing to perform the +engagements which I have ventured to make on your side, I hope it will +not be long before they are. All that is required of you is, to assure +to your daughter, by settlement, her equal share of the five thousand +pounds secured among your children after the decease of yourself and +my sister; and, moreover, to enter into an engagement of allowing her, +during your life, one hundred pounds per annum. These are conditions +which, considering everything, I had no hesitation in complying with, +as far as I thought myself privileged, for you. I shall send this by +express, that no time may be lost in bringing me your answer. You +will easily comprehend, from these particulars, that Mr. Wickham's +circumstances are not so hopeless as they are generally believed to be. +The world has been deceived in that respect; and I am happy to say there +will be some little money, even when all his debts are discharged, to +settle on my niece, in addition to her own fortune. If, as I conclude +will be the case, you send me full powers to act in your name throughout +the whole of this business, I will immediately give directions to +Haggerston for preparing a proper settlement. There will not be the +smallest occasion for your coming to town again; therefore stay quiet at +Longbourn, and depend on my diligence and care. Send back your answer as +fast as you can, and be careful to write explicitly. We have judged it +best that my niece should be married from this house, of which I hope +you will approve. She comes to us to-day. I shall write again as soon as +anything more is determined on. Yours, etc., + +"EDW. GARDINER." + +"Is it possible?" cried Elizabeth, when she had finished. "Can it be +possible that he will marry her?" + +"Wickham is not so undeserving, then, as we thought him," said her +sister. "My dear father, I congratulate you." + +"And have you answered the letter?" cried Elizabeth. + +"No; but it must be done soon." + +Most earnestly did she then entreaty him to lose no more time before he +wrote. + +"Oh! my dear father," she cried, "come back and write immediately. +Consider how important every moment is in such a case." + +"Let me write for you," said Jane, "if you dislike the trouble +yourself." + +"I dislike it very much," he replied; "but it must be done." + +And so saying, he turned back with them, and walked towards the house. + +"And may I ask--" said Elizabeth; "but the terms, I suppose, must be +complied with." + +"Complied with! I am only ashamed of his asking so little." + +"And they _must_ marry! Yet he is _such_ a man!" + +"Yes, yes, they must marry. There is nothing else to be done. But there +are two things that I want very much to know; one is, how much money +your uncle has laid down to bring it about; and the other, how am I ever +to pay him." + +"Money! My uncle!" cried Jane, "what do you mean, sir?" + +"I mean, that no man in his senses would marry Lydia on so slight a +temptation as one hundred a year during my life, and fifty after I am +gone." + +"That is very true," said Elizabeth; "though it had not occurred to me +before. His debts to be discharged, and something still to remain! Oh! +it must be my uncle's doings! Generous, good man, I am afraid he has +distressed himself. A small sum could not do all this." + +"No," said her father; "Wickham's a fool if he takes her with a farthing +less than ten thousand pounds. I should be sorry to think so ill of him, +in the very beginning of our relationship." + +"Ten thousand pounds! Heaven forbid! How is half such a sum to be +repaid?" + +Mr. Bennet made no answer, and each of them, deep in thought, continued +silent till they reached the house. Their father then went on to the +library to write, and the girls walked into the breakfast-room. + +"And they are really to be married!" cried Elizabeth, as soon as they +were by themselves. "How strange this is! And for _this_ we are to be +thankful. That they should marry, small as is their chance of happiness, +and wretched as is his character, we are forced to rejoice. Oh, Lydia!" + +"I comfort myself with thinking," replied Jane, "that he certainly would +not marry Lydia if he had not a real regard for her. Though our kind +uncle has done something towards clearing him, I cannot believe that ten +thousand pounds, or anything like it, has been advanced. He has children +of his own, and may have more. How could he spare half ten thousand +pounds?" + +"If he were ever able to learn what Wickham's debts have been," said +Elizabeth, "and how much is settled on his side on our sister, we shall +exactly know what Mr. Gardiner has done for them, because Wickham has +not sixpence of his own. The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never +be requited. Their taking her home, and affording her their personal +protection and countenance, is such a sacrifice to her advantage as +years of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge. By this time she is +actually with them! If such goodness does not make her miserable now, +she will never deserve to be happy! What a meeting for her, when she +first sees my aunt!" + +"We must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side," said +Jane: "I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to +marry her is a proof, I will believe, that he is come to a right way of +thinking. Their mutual affection will steady them; and I flatter myself +they will settle so quietly, and live in so rational a manner, as may in +time make their past imprudence forgotten." + +"Their conduct has been such," replied Elizabeth, "as neither you, nor +I, nor anybody can ever forget. It is useless to talk of it." + +It now occurred to the girls that their mother was in all likelihood +perfectly ignorant of what had happened. They went to the library, +therefore, and asked their father whether he would not wish them to make +it known to her. He was writing and, without raising his head, coolly +replied: + +"Just as you please." + +"May we take my uncle's letter to read to her?" + +"Take whatever you like, and get away." + +Elizabeth took the letter from his writing-table, and they went upstairs +together. Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs. Bennet: one communication +would, therefore, do for all. After a slight preparation for good news, +the letter was read aloud. Mrs. Bennet could hardly contain herself. As +soon as Jane had read Mr. Gardiner's hope of Lydia's being soon +married, her joy burst forth, and every following sentence added to its +exuberance. She was now in an irritation as violent from delight, as she +had ever been fidgety from alarm and vexation. To know that her daughter +would be married was enough. She was disturbed by no fear for her +felicity, nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct. + +"My dear, dear Lydia!" she cried. "This is delightful indeed! She will +be married! I shall see her again! She will be married at sixteen! +My good, kind brother! I knew how it would be. I knew he would manage +everything! How I long to see her! and to see dear Wickham too! But the +clothes, the wedding clothes! I will write to my sister Gardiner about +them directly. Lizzy, my dear, run down to your father, and ask him +how much he will give her. Stay, stay, I will go myself. Ring the bell, +Kitty, for Hill. I will put on my things in a moment. My dear, dear +Lydia! How merry we shall be together when we meet!" + +Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the violence of +these transports, by leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr. +Gardiner's behaviour laid them all under. + +"For we must attribute this happy conclusion," she added, "in a great +measure to his kindness. We are persuaded that he has pledged himself to +assist Mr. Wickham with money." + +"Well," cried her mother, "it is all very right; who should do it but +her own uncle? If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children +must have had all his money, you know; and it is the first time we have +ever had anything from him, except a few presents. Well! I am so happy! +In a short time I shall have a daughter married. Mrs. Wickham! How well +it sounds! And she was only sixteen last June. My dear Jane, I am in +such a flutter, that I am sure I can't write; so I will dictate, and +you write for me. We will settle with your father about the money +afterwards; but the things should be ordered immediately." + +She was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico, muslin, and +cambric, and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful orders, had +not Jane, though with some difficulty, persuaded her to wait till her +father was at leisure to be consulted. One day's delay, she observed, +would be of small importance; and her mother was too happy to be quite +so obstinate as usual. Other schemes, too, came into her head. + +"I will go to Meryton," said she, "as soon as I am dressed, and tell the +good, good news to my sister Philips. And as I come back, I can call +on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the carriage. +An airing would do me a great deal of good, I am sure. Girls, can I do +anything for you in Meryton? Oh! Here comes Hill! My dear Hill, have you +heard the good news? Miss Lydia is going to be married; and you shall +all have a bowl of punch to make merry at her wedding." + +Mrs. Hill began instantly to express her joy. Elizabeth received her +congratulations amongst the rest, and then, sick of this folly, took +refuge in her own room, that she might think with freedom. + +Poor Lydia's situation must, at best, be bad enough; but that it was +no worse, she had need to be thankful. She felt it so; and though, in +looking forward, neither rational happiness nor worldly prosperity could +be justly expected for her sister, in looking back to what they had +feared, only two hours ago, she felt all the advantages of what they had +gained. + + + +Chapter 50 + + +Mr. Bennet had very often wished before this period of his life that, +instead of spending his whole income, he had laid by an annual sum for +the better provision of his children, and of his wife, if she survived +him. He now wished it more than ever. Had he done his duty in that +respect, Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever +of honour or credit could now be purchased for her. The satisfaction of +prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be +her husband might then have rested in its proper place. + +He was seriously concerned that a cause of so little advantage to anyone +should be forwarded at the sole expense of his brother-in-law, and he +was determined, if possible, to find out the extent of his assistance, +and to discharge the obligation as soon as he could. + +When first Mr. Bennet had married, economy was held to be perfectly +useless, for, of course, they were to have a son. The son was to join +in cutting off the entail, as soon as he should be of age, and the widow +and younger children would by that means be provided for. Five daughters +successively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs. +Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth, had been certain that he +would. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then +too late to be saving. Mrs. Bennet had no turn for economy, and her +husband's love of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their +income. + +Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs. Bennet and +the children. But in what proportions it should be divided amongst the +latter depended on the will of the parents. This was one point, with +regard to Lydia, at least, which was now to be settled, and Mr. Bennet +could have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him. In +terms of grateful acknowledgment for the kindness of his brother, +though expressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect +approbation of all that was done, and his willingness to fulfil the +engagements that had been made for him. He had never before supposed +that, could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter, it would +be done with so little inconvenience to himself as by the present +arrangement. He would scarcely be ten pounds a year the loser by the +hundred that was to be paid them; for, what with her board and pocket +allowance, and the continual presents in money which passed to her +through her mother's hands, Lydia's expenses had been very little within +that sum. + +That it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side, too, was +another very welcome surprise; for his wish at present was to have as +little trouble in the business as possible. When the first transports +of rage which had produced his activity in seeking her were over, he +naturally returned to all his former indolence. His letter was soon +dispatched; for, though dilatory in undertaking business, he was quick +in its execution. He begged to know further particulars of what he +was indebted to his brother, but was too angry with Lydia to send any +message to her. + +The good news spread quickly through the house, and with proportionate +speed through the neighbourhood. It was borne in the latter with decent +philosophy. To be sure, it would have been more for the advantage +of conversation had Miss Lydia Bennet come upon the town; or, as the +happiest alternative, been secluded from the world, in some distant +farmhouse. But there was much to be talked of in marrying her; and the +good-natured wishes for her well-doing which had proceeded before from +all the spiteful old ladies in Meryton lost but a little of their spirit +in this change of circumstances, because with such an husband her misery +was considered certain. + +It was a fortnight since Mrs. Bennet had been downstairs; but on this +happy day she again took her seat at the head of her table, and in +spirits oppressively high. No sentiment of shame gave a damp to her +triumph. The marriage of a daughter, which had been the first object +of her wishes since Jane was sixteen, was now on the point of +accomplishment, and her thoughts and her words ran wholly on those +attendants of elegant nuptials, fine muslins, new carriages, and +servants. She was busily searching through the neighbourhood for a +proper situation for her daughter, and, without knowing or considering +what their income might be, rejected many as deficient in size and +importance. + +"Haye Park might do," said she, "if the Gouldings could quit it--or the +great house at Stoke, if the drawing-room were larger; but Ashworth is +too far off! I could not bear to have her ten miles from me; and as for +Pulvis Lodge, the attics are dreadful." + +Her husband allowed her to talk on without interruption while the +servants remained. But when they had withdrawn, he said to her: "Mrs. +Bennet, before you take any or all of these houses for your son and +daughter, let us come to a right understanding. Into _one_ house in this +neighbourhood they shall never have admittance. I will not encourage the +impudence of either, by receiving them at Longbourn." + +A long dispute followed this declaration; but Mr. Bennet was firm. It +soon led to another; and Mrs. Bennet found, with amazement and horror, +that her husband would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for his +daughter. He protested that she should receive from him no mark of +affection whatever on the occasion. Mrs. Bennet could hardly comprehend +it. That his anger could be carried to such a point of inconceivable +resentment as to refuse his daughter a privilege without which her +marriage would scarcely seem valid, exceeded all she could believe +possible. She was more alive to the disgrace which her want of new +clothes must reflect on her daughter's nuptials, than to any sense of +shame at her eloping and living with Wickham a fortnight before they +took place. + +Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of +the moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears for +her sister; for since her marriage would so shortly give the +proper termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its +unfavourable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the +spot. + +She had no fear of its spreading farther through his means. There were +few people on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended; +but, at the same time, there was no one whose knowledge of a sister's +frailty would have mortified her so much--not, however, from any fear +of disadvantage from it individually to herself, for, at any rate, +there seemed a gulf impassable between them. Had Lydia's marriage been +concluded on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed that +Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family where, to every other +objection, would now be added an alliance and relationship of the +nearest kind with a man whom he so justly scorned. + +From such a connection she could not wonder that he would shrink. The +wish of procuring her regard, which she had assured herself of his +feeling in Derbyshire, could not in rational expectation survive such a +blow as this. She was humbled, she was grieved; she repented, though she +hardly knew of what. She became jealous of his esteem, when she could no +longer hope to be benefited by it. She wanted to hear of him, when there +seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence. She was convinced that +she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they +should meet. + +What a triumph for him, as she often thought, could he know that the +proposals which she had proudly spurned only four months ago, would now +have been most gladly and gratefully received! He was as generous, she +doubted not, as the most generous of his sex; but while he was mortal, +there must be a triumph. + +She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in +disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and +temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It +was an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her ease +and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved; +and from his judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she +must have received benefit of greater importance. + +But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what +connubial felicity really was. An union of a different tendency, and +precluding the possibility of the other, was soon to be formed in their +family. + +How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence, +she could not imagine. But how little of permanent happiness could +belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions +were stronger than their virtue, she could easily conjecture. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Gardiner soon wrote again to his brother. To Mr. Bennet's +acknowledgments he briefly replied, with assurance of his eagerness to +promote the welfare of any of his family; and concluded with entreaties +that the subject might never be mentioned to him again. The principal +purport of his letter was to inform them that Mr. Wickham had resolved +on quitting the militia. + +"It was greatly my wish that he should do so," he added, "as soon as +his marriage was fixed on. And I think you will agree with me, in +considering the removal from that corps as highly advisable, both on +his account and my niece's. It is Mr. Wickham's intention to go into +the regulars; and among his former friends, there are still some who +are able and willing to assist him in the army. He has the promise of an +ensigncy in General ----'s regiment, now quartered in the North. It +is an advantage to have it so far from this part of the kingdom. He +promises fairly; and I hope among different people, where they may each +have a character to preserve, they will both be more prudent. I have +written to Colonel Forster, to inform him of our present arrangements, +and to request that he will satisfy the various creditors of Mr. Wickham +in and near Brighton, with assurances of speedy payment, for which I +have pledged myself. And will you give yourself the trouble of carrying +similar assurances to his creditors in Meryton, of whom I shall subjoin +a list according to his information? He has given in all his debts; I +hope at least he has not deceived us. Haggerston has our directions, +and all will be completed in a week. They will then join his regiment, +unless they are first invited to Longbourn; and I understand from Mrs. +Gardiner, that my niece is very desirous of seeing you all before she +leaves the South. She is well, and begs to be dutifully remembered to +you and your mother.--Yours, etc., + +"E. GARDINER." + +Mr. Bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wickham's removal +from the ----shire as clearly as Mr. Gardiner could do. But Mrs. Bennet +was not so well pleased with it. Lydia's being settled in the North, +just when she had expected most pleasure and pride in her company, +for she had by no means given up her plan of their residing in +Hertfordshire, was a severe disappointment; and, besides, it was such a +pity that Lydia should be taken from a regiment where she was acquainted +with everybody, and had so many favourites. + +"She is so fond of Mrs. Forster," said she, "it will be quite shocking +to send her away! And there are several of the young men, too, that she +likes very much. The officers may not be so pleasant in General ----'s +regiment." + +His daughter's request, for such it might be considered, of being +admitted into her family again before she set off for the North, +received at first an absolute negative. But Jane and Elizabeth, +who agreed in wishing, for the sake of their sister's feelings and +consequence, that she should be noticed on her marriage by her parents, +urged him so earnestly yet so rationally and so mildly, to receive her +and her husband at Longbourn, as soon as they were married, that he was +prevailed on to think as they thought, and act as they wished. And their +mother had the satisfaction of knowing that she would be able to show +her married daughter in the neighbourhood before she was banished to the +North. When Mr. Bennet wrote again to his brother, therefore, he sent +his permission for them to come; and it was settled, that as soon as +the ceremony was over, they should proceed to Longbourn. Elizabeth was +surprised, however, that Wickham should consent to such a scheme, and +had she consulted only her own inclination, any meeting with him would +have been the last object of her wishes. + + + +Chapter 51 + + +Their sister's wedding day arrived; and Jane and Elizabeth felt for her +probably more than she felt for herself. The carriage was sent to +meet them at ----, and they were to return in it by dinner-time. Their +arrival was dreaded by the elder Miss Bennets, and Jane more especially, +who gave Lydia the feelings which would have attended herself, had she +been the culprit, and was wretched in the thought of what her sister +must endure. + +They came. The family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive +them. Smiles decked the face of Mrs. Bennet as the carriage drove up to +the door; her husband looked impenetrably grave; her daughters, alarmed, +anxious, uneasy. + +Lydia's voice was heard in the vestibule; the door was thrown open, and +she ran into the room. Her mother stepped forwards, embraced her, and +welcomed her with rapture; gave her hand, with an affectionate smile, +to Wickham, who followed his lady; and wished them both joy with an +alacrity which shewed no doubt of their happiness. + +Their reception from Mr. Bennet, to whom they then turned, was not quite +so cordial. His countenance rather gained in austerity; and he scarcely +opened his lips. The easy assurance of the young couple, indeed, was +enough to provoke him. Elizabeth was disgusted, and even Miss Bennet +was shocked. Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy, +and fearless. She turned from sister to sister, demanding their +congratulations; and when at length they all sat down, looked eagerly +round the room, took notice of some little alteration in it, and +observed, with a laugh, that it was a great while since she had been +there. + +Wickham was not at all more distressed than herself, but his manners +were always so pleasing, that had his character and his marriage been +exactly what they ought, his smiles and his easy address, while he +claimed their relationship, would have delighted them all. Elizabeth had +not before believed him quite equal to such assurance; but she sat down, +resolving within herself to draw no limits in future to the impudence +of an impudent man. She blushed, and Jane blushed; but the cheeks of the +two who caused their confusion suffered no variation of colour. + +There was no want of discourse. The bride and her mother could neither +of them talk fast enough; and Wickham, who happened to sit near +Elizabeth, began inquiring after his acquaintance in that neighbourhood, +with a good humoured ease which she felt very unable to equal in her +replies. They seemed each of them to have the happiest memories in the +world. Nothing of the past was recollected with pain; and Lydia led +voluntarily to subjects which her sisters would not have alluded to for +the world. + +"Only think of its being three months," she cried, "since I went away; +it seems but a fortnight I declare; and yet there have been things +enough happened in the time. Good gracious! when I went away, I am sure +I had no more idea of being married till I came back again! though I +thought it would be very good fun if I was." + +Her father lifted up his eyes. Jane was distressed. Elizabeth looked +expressively at Lydia; but she, who never heard nor saw anything of +which she chose to be insensible, gaily continued, "Oh! mamma, do the +people hereabouts know I am married to-day? I was afraid they might not; +and we overtook William Goulding in his curricle, so I was determined he +should know it, and so I let down the side-glass next to him, and took +off my glove, and let my hand just rest upon the window frame, so that +he might see the ring, and then I bowed and smiled like anything." + +Elizabeth could bear it no longer. She got up, and ran out of the room; +and returned no more, till she heard them passing through the hall to +the dining parlour. She then joined them soon enough to see Lydia, with +anxious parade, walk up to her mother's right hand, and hear her say +to her eldest sister, "Ah! Jane, I take your place now, and you must go +lower, because I am a married woman." + +It was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia that embarrassment +from which she had been so wholly free at first. Her ease and good +spirits increased. She longed to see Mrs. Phillips, the Lucases, and +all their other neighbours, and to hear herself called "Mrs. Wickham" +by each of them; and in the mean time, she went after dinner to show her +ring, and boast of being married, to Mrs. Hill and the two housemaids. + +"Well, mamma," said she, when they were all returned to the breakfast +room, "and what do you think of my husband? Is not he a charming man? I +am sure my sisters must all envy me. I only hope they may have half +my good luck. They must all go to Brighton. That is the place to get +husbands. What a pity it is, mamma, we did not all go." + +"Very true; and if I had my will, we should. But my dear Lydia, I don't +at all like your going such a way off. Must it be so?" + +"Oh, lord! yes;--there is nothing in that. I shall like it of all +things. You and papa, and my sisters, must come down and see us. We +shall be at Newcastle all the winter, and I dare say there will be some +balls, and I will take care to get good partners for them all." + +"I should like it beyond anything!" said her mother. + +"And then when you go away, you may leave one or two of my sisters +behind you; and I dare say I shall get husbands for them before the +winter is over." + +"I thank you for my share of the favour," said Elizabeth; "but I do not +particularly like your way of getting husbands." + +Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them. Mr. Wickham +had received his commission before he left London, and he was to join +his regiment at the end of a fortnight. + +No one but Mrs. Bennet regretted that their stay would be so short; and +she made the most of the time by visiting about with her daughter, and +having very frequent parties at home. These parties were acceptable to +all; to avoid a family circle was even more desirable to such as did +think, than such as did not. + +Wickham's affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth had expected +to find it; not equal to Lydia's for him. She had scarcely needed her +present observation to be satisfied, from the reason of things, that +their elopement had been brought on by the strength of her love, rather +than by his; and she would have wondered why, without violently caring +for her, he chose to elope with her at all, had she not felt certain +that his flight was rendered necessary by distress of circumstances; and +if that were the case, he was not the young man to resist an opportunity +of having a companion. + +Lydia was exceedingly fond of him. He was her dear Wickham on every +occasion; no one was to be put in competition with him. He did every +thing best in the world; and she was sure he would kill more birds on +the first of September, than any body else in the country. + +One morning, soon after their arrival, as she was sitting with her two +elder sisters, she said to Elizabeth: + +"Lizzy, I never gave _you_ an account of my wedding, I believe. You +were not by, when I told mamma and the others all about it. Are not you +curious to hear how it was managed?" + +"No really," replied Elizabeth; "I think there cannot be too little said +on the subject." + +"La! You are so strange! But I must tell you how it went off. We were +married, you know, at St. Clement's, because Wickham's lodgings were in +that parish. And it was settled that we should all be there by eleven +o'clock. My uncle and aunt and I were to go together; and the others +were to meet us at the church. Well, Monday morning came, and I was in +such a fuss! I was so afraid, you know, that something would happen to +put it off, and then I should have gone quite distracted. And there was +my aunt, all the time I was dressing, preaching and talking away just as +if she was reading a sermon. However, I did not hear above one word in +ten, for I was thinking, you may suppose, of my dear Wickham. I longed +to know whether he would be married in his blue coat." + +"Well, and so we breakfasted at ten as usual; I thought it would never +be over; for, by the bye, you are to understand, that my uncle and aunt +were horrid unpleasant all the time I was with them. If you'll believe +me, I did not once put my foot out of doors, though I was there a +fortnight. Not one party, or scheme, or anything. To be sure London was +rather thin, but, however, the Little Theatre was open. Well, and so +just as the carriage came to the door, my uncle was called away upon +business to that horrid man Mr. Stone. And then, you know, when once +they get together, there is no end of it. Well, I was so frightened I +did not know what to do, for my uncle was to give me away; and if we +were beyond the hour, we could not be married all day. But, luckily, he +came back again in ten minutes' time, and then we all set out. However, +I recollected afterwards that if he had been prevented going, the +wedding need not be put off, for Mr. Darcy might have done as well." + +"Mr. Darcy!" repeated Elizabeth, in utter amazement. + +"Oh, yes!--he was to come there with Wickham, you know. But gracious +me! I quite forgot! I ought not to have said a word about it. I promised +them so faithfully! What will Wickham say? It was to be such a secret!" + +"If it was to be secret," said Jane, "say not another word on the +subject. You may depend upon my seeking no further." + +"Oh! certainly," said Elizabeth, though burning with curiosity; "we will +ask you no questions." + +"Thank you," said Lydia, "for if you did, I should certainly tell you +all, and then Wickham would be angry." + +On such encouragement to ask, Elizabeth was forced to put it out of her +power, by running away. + +But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible; or at least +it was impossible not to try for information. Mr. Darcy had been at +her sister's wedding. It was exactly a scene, and exactly among people, +where he had apparently least to do, and least temptation to go. +Conjectures as to the meaning of it, rapid and wild, hurried into her +brain; but she was satisfied with none. Those that best pleased her, as +placing his conduct in the noblest light, seemed most improbable. She +could not bear such suspense; and hastily seizing a sheet of paper, +wrote a short letter to her aunt, to request an explanation of what +Lydia had dropt, if it were compatible with the secrecy which had been +intended. + +"You may readily comprehend," she added, "what my curiosity must be +to know how a person unconnected with any of us, and (comparatively +speaking) a stranger to our family, should have been amongst you at such +a time. Pray write instantly, and let me understand it--unless it is, +for very cogent reasons, to remain in the secrecy which Lydia seems +to think necessary; and then I must endeavour to be satisfied with +ignorance." + +"Not that I _shall_, though," she added to herself, as she finished +the letter; "and my dear aunt, if you do not tell me in an honourable +manner, I shall certainly be reduced to tricks and stratagems to find it +out." + +Jane's delicate sense of honour would not allow her to speak to +Elizabeth privately of what Lydia had let fall; Elizabeth was glad +of it;--till it appeared whether her inquiries would receive any +satisfaction, she had rather be without a confidante. + + + +Chapter 52 + + +Elizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving an answer to her letter as +soon as she possibly could. She was no sooner in possession of it +than, hurrying into the little copse, where she was least likely to +be interrupted, she sat down on one of the benches and prepared to +be happy; for the length of the letter convinced her that it did not +contain a denial. + +"Gracechurch street, Sept. 6. + +"MY DEAR NIECE, + +"I have just received your letter, and shall devote this whole morning +to answering it, as I foresee that a _little_ writing will not comprise +what I have to tell you. I must confess myself surprised by your +application; I did not expect it from _you_. Don't think me angry, +however, for I only mean to let you know that I had not imagined such +inquiries to be necessary on _your_ side. If you do not choose to +understand me, forgive my impertinence. Your uncle is as much surprised +as I am--and nothing but the belief of your being a party concerned +would have allowed him to act as he has done. But if you are really +innocent and ignorant, I must be more explicit. + +"On the very day of my coming home from Longbourn, your uncle had a most +unexpected visitor. Mr. Darcy called, and was shut up with him several +hours. It was all over before I arrived; so my curiosity was not so +dreadfully racked as _yours_ seems to have been. He came to tell Mr. +Gardiner that he had found out where your sister and Mr. Wickham were, +and that he had seen and talked with them both; Wickham repeatedly, +Lydia once. From what I can collect, he left Derbyshire only one day +after ourselves, and came to town with the resolution of hunting for +them. The motive professed was his conviction of its being owing to +himself that Wickham's worthlessness had not been so well known as to +make it impossible for any young woman of character to love or confide +in him. He generously imputed the whole to his mistaken pride, and +confessed that he had before thought it beneath him to lay his private +actions open to the world. His character was to speak for itself. He +called it, therefore, his duty to step forward, and endeavour to remedy +an evil which had been brought on by himself. If he _had another_ +motive, I am sure it would never disgrace him. He had been some days +in town, before he was able to discover them; but he had something to +direct his search, which was more than _we_ had; and the consciousness +of this was another reason for his resolving to follow us. + +"There is a lady, it seems, a Mrs. Younge, who was some time ago +governess to Miss Darcy, and was dismissed from her charge on some cause +of disapprobation, though he did not say what. She then took a large +house in Edward-street, and has since maintained herself by letting +lodgings. This Mrs. Younge was, he knew, intimately acquainted with +Wickham; and he went to her for intelligence of him as soon as he got to +town. But it was two or three days before he could get from her what he +wanted. She would not betray her trust, I suppose, without bribery and +corruption, for she really did know where her friend was to be found. +Wickham indeed had gone to her on their first arrival in London, and had +she been able to receive them into her house, they would have taken up +their abode with her. At length, however, our kind friend procured the +wished-for direction. They were in ---- street. He saw Wickham, and +afterwards insisted on seeing Lydia. His first object with her, he +acknowledged, had been to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful +situation, and return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed +on to receive her, offering his assistance, as far as it would go. But +he found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she was. She cared +for none of her friends; she wanted no help of his; she would not hear +of leaving Wickham. She was sure they should be married some time or +other, and it did not much signify when. Since such were her feelings, +it only remained, he thought, to secure and expedite a marriage, which, +in his very first conversation with Wickham, he easily learnt had never +been _his_ design. He confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment, +on account of some debts of honour, which were very pressing; and +scrupled not to lay all the ill-consequences of Lydia's flight on her +own folly alone. He meant to resign his commission immediately; and as +to his future situation, he could conjecture very little about it. He +must go somewhere, but he did not know where, and he knew he should have +nothing to live on. + +"Mr. Darcy asked him why he had not married your sister at once. Though +Mr. Bennet was not imagined to be very rich, he would have been able +to do something for him, and his situation must have been benefited by +marriage. But he found, in reply to this question, that Wickham still +cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage in +some other country. Under such circumstances, however, he was not likely +to be proof against the temptation of immediate relief. + +"They met several times, for there was much to be discussed. Wickham of +course wanted more than he could get; but at length was reduced to be +reasonable. + +"Every thing being settled between _them_, Mr. Darcy's next step was to +make your uncle acquainted with it, and he first called in Gracechurch +street the evening before I came home. But Mr. Gardiner could not be +seen, and Mr. Darcy found, on further inquiry, that your father was +still with him, but would quit town the next morning. He did not judge +your father to be a person whom he could so properly consult as your +uncle, and therefore readily postponed seeing him till after the +departure of the former. He did not leave his name, and till the next +day it was only known that a gentleman had called on business. + +"On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone, your uncle at home, +and, as I said before, they had a great deal of talk together. + +"They met again on Sunday, and then _I_ saw him too. It was not all +settled before Monday: as soon as it was, the express was sent off to +Longbourn. But our visitor was very obstinate. I fancy, Lizzy, that +obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all. He has been +accused of many faults at different times, but _this_ is the true one. +Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself; though I am sure (and +I do not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing about it), your +uncle would most readily have settled the whole. + +"They battled it together for a long time, which was more than either +the gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle +was forced to yield, and instead of being allowed to be of use to his +niece, was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it, +which went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letter +this morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation +that would rob him of his borrowed feathers, and give the praise where +it was due. But, Lizzy, this must go no farther than yourself, or Jane +at most. + +"You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been done for the young +people. His debts are to be paid, amounting, I believe, to considerably +more than a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own +settled upon _her_, and his commission purchased. The reason why all +this was to be done by him alone, was such as I have given above. It +was owing to him, to his reserve and want of proper consideration, that +Wickham's character had been so misunderstood, and consequently that he +had been received and noticed as he was. Perhaps there was some truth +in _this_; though I doubt whether _his_ reserve, or _anybody's_ reserve, +can be answerable for the event. But in spite of all this fine talking, +my dear Lizzy, you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would +never have yielded, if we had not given him credit for _another +interest_ in the affair. + +"When all this was resolved on, he returned again to his friends, who +were still staying at Pemberley; but it was agreed that he should be in +London once more when the wedding took place, and all money matters were +then to receive the last finish. + +"I believe I have now told you every thing. It is a relation which +you tell me is to give you great surprise; I hope at least it will not +afford you any displeasure. Lydia came to us; and Wickham had constant +admission to the house. _He_ was exactly what he had been, when I +knew him in Hertfordshire; but I would not tell you how little I was +satisfied with her behaviour while she staid with us, if I had not +perceived, by Jane's letter last Wednesday, that her conduct on coming +home was exactly of a piece with it, and therefore what I now tell +you can give you no fresh pain. I talked to her repeatedly in the most +serious manner, representing to her all the wickedness of what she had +done, and all the unhappiness she had brought on her family. If she +heard me, it was by good luck, for I am sure she did not listen. I was +sometimes quite provoked, but then I recollected my dear Elizabeth and +Jane, and for their sakes had patience with her. + +"Mr. Darcy was punctual in his return, and as Lydia informed you, +attended the wedding. He dined with us the next day, and was to leave +town again on Wednesday or Thursday. Will you be very angry with me, my +dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold +enough to say before) how much I like him. His behaviour to us has, +in every respect, been as pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. His +understanding and opinions all please me; he wants nothing but a little +more liveliness, and _that_, if he marry _prudently_, his wife may teach +him. I thought him very sly;--he hardly ever mentioned your name. But +slyness seems the fashion. + +"Pray forgive me if I have been very presuming, or at least do not +punish me so far as to exclude me from P. I shall never be quite happy +till I have been all round the park. A low phaeton, with a nice little +pair of ponies, would be the very thing. + +"But I must write no more. The children have been wanting me this half +hour. + +"Yours, very sincerely, + +"M. GARDINER." + +The contents of this letter threw Elizabeth into a flutter of spirits, +in which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or pain bore the +greatest share. The vague and unsettled suspicions which uncertainty had +produced of what Mr. Darcy might have been doing to forward her sister's +match, which she had feared to encourage as an exertion of goodness too +great to be probable, and at the same time dreaded to be just, from the +pain of obligation, were proved beyond their greatest extent to be true! +He had followed them purposely to town, he had taken on himself all +the trouble and mortification attendant on such a research; in which +supplication had been necessary to a woman whom he must abominate and +despise, and where he was reduced to meet, frequently meet, reason +with, persuade, and finally bribe, the man whom he always most wished to +avoid, and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce. He had +done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her +heart did whisper that he had done it for her. But it was a hope shortly +checked by other considerations, and she soon felt that even her vanity +was insufficient, when required to depend on his affection for her--for +a woman who had already refused him--as able to overcome a sentiment so +natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham. Brother-in-law +of Wickham! Every kind of pride must revolt from the connection. He had, +to be sure, done much. She was ashamed to think how much. But he had +given a reason for his interference, which asked no extraordinary +stretch of belief. It was reasonable that he should feel he had been +wrong; he had liberality, and he had the means of exercising it; and +though she would not place herself as his principal inducement, she +could, perhaps, believe that remaining partiality for her might assist +his endeavours in a cause where her peace of mind must be materially +concerned. It was painful, exceedingly painful, to know that they were +under obligations to a person who could never receive a return. They +owed the restoration of Lydia, her character, every thing, to him. Oh! +how heartily did she grieve over every ungracious sensation she had ever +encouraged, every saucy speech she had ever directed towards him. For +herself she was humbled; but she was proud of him. Proud that in a cause +of compassion and honour, he had been able to get the better of himself. +She read over her aunt's commendation of him again and again. It +was hardly enough; but it pleased her. She was even sensible of some +pleasure, though mixed with regret, on finding how steadfastly both she +and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence subsisted +between Mr. Darcy and herself. + +She was roused from her seat, and her reflections, by some one's +approach; and before she could strike into another path, she was +overtaken by Wickham. + +"I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble, my dear sister?" said he, +as he joined her. + +"You certainly do," she replied with a smile; "but it does not follow +that the interruption must be unwelcome." + +"I should be sorry indeed, if it were. We were always good friends; and +now we are better." + +"True. Are the others coming out?" + +"I do not know. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to +Meryton. And so, my dear sister, I find, from our uncle and aunt, that +you have actually seen Pemberley." + +She replied in the affirmative. + +"I almost envy you the pleasure, and yet I believe it would be too much +for me, or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle. And you saw the +old housekeeper, I suppose? Poor Reynolds, she was always very fond of +me. But of course she did not mention my name to you." + +"Yes, she did." + +"And what did she say?" + +"That you were gone into the army, and she was afraid had--not turned +out well. At such a distance as _that_, you know, things are strangely +misrepresented." + +"Certainly," he replied, biting his lips. Elizabeth hoped she had +silenced him; but he soon afterwards said: + +"I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other +several times. I wonder what he can be doing there." + +"Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh," said +Elizabeth. "It must be something particular, to take him there at this +time of year." + +"Undoubtedly. Did you see him while you were at Lambton? I thought I +understood from the Gardiners that you had." + +"Yes; he introduced us to his sister." + +"And do you like her?" + +"Very much." + +"I have heard, indeed, that she is uncommonly improved within this year +or two. When I last saw her, she was not very promising. I am very glad +you liked her. I hope she will turn out well." + +"I dare say she will; she has got over the most trying age." + +"Did you go by the village of Kympton?" + +"I do not recollect that we did." + +"I mention it, because it is the living which I ought to have had. A +most delightful place!--Excellent Parsonage House! It would have suited +me in every respect." + +"How should you have liked making sermons?" + +"Exceedingly well. I should have considered it as part of my duty, +and the exertion would soon have been nothing. One ought not to +repine;--but, to be sure, it would have been such a thing for me! The +quiet, the retirement of such a life would have answered all my ideas +of happiness! But it was not to be. Did you ever hear Darcy mention the +circumstance, when you were in Kent?" + +"I have heard from authority, which I thought _as good_, that it was +left you conditionally only, and at the will of the present patron." + +"You have. Yes, there was something in _that_; I told you so from the +first, you may remember." + +"I _did_ hear, too, that there was a time, when sermon-making was not +so palatable to you as it seems to be at present; that you actually +declared your resolution of never taking orders, and that the business +had been compromised accordingly." + +"You did! and it was not wholly without foundation. You may remember +what I told you on that point, when first we talked of it." + +They were now almost at the door of the house, for she had walked fast +to get rid of him; and unwilling, for her sister's sake, to provoke him, +she only said in reply, with a good-humoured smile: + +"Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know. Do not let +us quarrel about the past. In future, I hope we shall be always of one +mind." + +She held out her hand; he kissed it with affectionate gallantry, though +he hardly knew how to look, and they entered the house. + + + +Chapter 53 + + +Mr. Wickham was so perfectly satisfied with this conversation that he +never again distressed himself, or provoked his dear sister Elizabeth, +by introducing the subject of it; and she was pleased to find that she +had said enough to keep him quiet. + +The day of his and Lydia's departure soon came, and Mrs. Bennet was +forced to submit to a separation, which, as her husband by no means +entered into her scheme of their all going to Newcastle, was likely to +continue at least a twelvemonth. + +"Oh! my dear Lydia," she cried, "when shall we meet again?" + +"Oh, lord! I don't know. Not these two or three years, perhaps." + +"Write to me very often, my dear." + +"As often as I can. But you know married women have never much time for +writing. My sisters may write to _me_. They will have nothing else to +do." + +Mr. Wickham's adieus were much more affectionate than his wife's. He +smiled, looked handsome, and said many pretty things. + +"He is as fine a fellow," said Mr. Bennet, as soon as they were out of +the house, "as ever I saw. He simpers, and smirks, and makes love to +us all. I am prodigiously proud of him. I defy even Sir William Lucas +himself to produce a more valuable son-in-law." + +The loss of her daughter made Mrs. Bennet very dull for several days. + +"I often think," said she, "that there is nothing so bad as parting with +one's friends. One seems so forlorn without them." + +"This is the consequence, you see, Madam, of marrying a daughter," said +Elizabeth. "It must make you better satisfied that your other four are +single." + +"It is no such thing. Lydia does not leave me because she is married, +but only because her husband's regiment happens to be so far off. If +that had been nearer, she would not have gone so soon." + +But the spiritless condition which this event threw her into was shortly +relieved, and her mind opened again to the agitation of hope, by an +article of news which then began to be in circulation. The housekeeper +at Netherfield had received orders to prepare for the arrival of her +master, who was coming down in a day or two, to shoot there for several +weeks. Mrs. Bennet was quite in the fidgets. She looked at Jane, and +smiled and shook her head by turns. + +"Well, well, and so Mr. Bingley is coming down, sister," (for Mrs. +Phillips first brought her the news). "Well, so much the better. Not +that I care about it, though. He is nothing to us, you know, and I am +sure _I_ never want to see him again. But, however, he is very welcome +to come to Netherfield, if he likes it. And who knows what _may_ happen? +But that is nothing to us. You know, sister, we agreed long ago never to +mention a word about it. And so, is it quite certain he is coming?" + +"You may depend on it," replied the other, "for Mrs. Nicholls was in +Meryton last night; I saw her passing by, and went out myself on purpose +to know the truth of it; and she told me that it was certain true. He +comes down on Thursday at the latest, very likely on Wednesday. She was +going to the butcher's, she told me, on purpose to order in some meat on +Wednesday, and she has got three couple of ducks just fit to be killed." + +Miss Bennet had not been able to hear of his coming without changing +colour. It was many months since she had mentioned his name to +Elizabeth; but now, as soon as they were alone together, she said: + +"I saw you look at me to-day, Lizzy, when my aunt told us of the present +report; and I know I appeared distressed. But don't imagine it was from +any silly cause. I was only confused for the moment, because I felt that +I _should_ be looked at. I do assure you that the news does not affect +me either with pleasure or pain. I am glad of one thing, that he comes +alone; because we shall see the less of him. Not that I am afraid of +_myself_, but I dread other people's remarks." + +Elizabeth did not know what to make of it. Had she not seen him in +Derbyshire, she might have supposed him capable of coming there with no +other view than what was acknowledged; but she still thought him partial +to Jane, and she wavered as to the greater probability of his coming +there _with_ his friend's permission, or being bold enough to come +without it. + +"Yet it is hard," she sometimes thought, "that this poor man cannot +come to a house which he has legally hired, without raising all this +speculation! I _will_ leave him to himself." + +In spite of what her sister declared, and really believed to be her +feelings in the expectation of his arrival, Elizabeth could easily +perceive that her spirits were affected by it. They were more disturbed, +more unequal, than she had often seen them. + +The subject which had been so warmly canvassed between their parents, +about a twelvemonth ago, was now brought forward again. + +"As soon as ever Mr. Bingley comes, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet, "you +will wait on him of course." + +"No, no. You forced me into visiting him last year, and promised, if I +went to see him, he should marry one of my daughters. But it ended in +nothing, and I will not be sent on a fool's errand again." + +His wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an attention +would be from all the neighbouring gentlemen, on his returning to +Netherfield. + +"'Tis an etiquette I despise," said he. "If he wants our society, +let him seek it. He knows where we live. I will not spend my hours +in running after my neighbours every time they go away and come back +again." + +"Well, all I know is, that it will be abominably rude if you do not wait +on him. But, however, that shan't prevent my asking him to dine here, I +am determined. We must have Mrs. Long and the Gouldings soon. That will +make thirteen with ourselves, so there will be just room at table for +him." + +Consoled by this resolution, she was the better able to bear her +husband's incivility; though it was very mortifying to know that her +neighbours might all see Mr. Bingley, in consequence of it, before +_they_ did. As the day of his arrival drew near: + +"I begin to be sorry that he comes at all," said Jane to her sister. "It +would be nothing; I could see him with perfect indifference, but I can +hardly bear to hear it thus perpetually talked of. My mother means well; +but she does not know, no one can know, how much I suffer from what she +says. Happy shall I be, when his stay at Netherfield is over!" + +"I wish I could say anything to comfort you," replied Elizabeth; "but it +is wholly out of my power. You must feel it; and the usual satisfaction +of preaching patience to a sufferer is denied me, because you have +always so much." + +Mr. Bingley arrived. Mrs. Bennet, through the assistance of servants, +contrived to have the earliest tidings of it, that the period of anxiety +and fretfulness on her side might be as long as it could. She counted +the days that must intervene before their invitation could be sent; +hopeless of seeing him before. But on the third morning after his +arrival in Hertfordshire, she saw him, from her dressing-room window, +enter the paddock and ride towards the house. + +Her daughters were eagerly called to partake of her joy. Jane resolutely +kept her place at the table; but Elizabeth, to satisfy her mother, went +to the window--she looked,--she saw Mr. Darcy with him, and sat down +again by her sister. + +"There is a gentleman with him, mamma," said Kitty; "who can it be?" + +"Some acquaintance or other, my dear, I suppose; I am sure I do not +know." + +"La!" replied Kitty, "it looks just like that man that used to be with +him before. Mr. what's-his-name. That tall, proud man." + +"Good gracious! Mr. Darcy!--and so it does, I vow. Well, any friend of +Mr. Bingley's will always be welcome here, to be sure; but else I must +say that I hate the very sight of him." + +Jane looked at Elizabeth with surprise and concern. She knew but little +of their meeting in Derbyshire, and therefore felt for the awkwardness +which must attend her sister, in seeing him almost for the first time +after receiving his explanatory letter. Both sisters were uncomfortable +enough. Each felt for the other, and of course for themselves; and their +mother talked on, of her dislike of Mr. Darcy, and her resolution to be +civil to him only as Mr. Bingley's friend, without being heard by either +of them. But Elizabeth had sources of uneasiness which could not be +suspected by Jane, to whom she had never yet had courage to shew Mrs. +Gardiner's letter, or to relate her own change of sentiment towards him. +To Jane, he could be only a man whose proposals she had refused, +and whose merit she had undervalued; but to her own more extensive +information, he was the person to whom the whole family were indebted +for the first of benefits, and whom she regarded herself with an +interest, if not quite so tender, at least as reasonable and just as +what Jane felt for Bingley. Her astonishment at his coming--at his +coming to Netherfield, to Longbourn, and voluntarily seeking her again, +was almost equal to what she had known on first witnessing his altered +behaviour in Derbyshire. + +The colour which had been driven from her face, returned for half a +minute with an additional glow, and a smile of delight added lustre to +her eyes, as she thought for that space of time that his affection and +wishes must still be unshaken. But she would not be secure. + +"Let me first see how he behaves," said she; "it will then be early +enough for expectation." + +She sat intently at work, striving to be composed, and without daring to +lift up her eyes, till anxious curiosity carried them to the face of +her sister as the servant was approaching the door. Jane looked a little +paler than usual, but more sedate than Elizabeth had expected. On the +gentlemen's appearing, her colour increased; yet she received them with +tolerable ease, and with a propriety of behaviour equally free from any +symptom of resentment or any unnecessary complaisance. + +Elizabeth said as little to either as civility would allow, and sat down +again to her work, with an eagerness which it did not often command. She +had ventured only one glance at Darcy. He looked serious, as usual; and, +she thought, more as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire, than as +she had seen him at Pemberley. But, perhaps he could not in her mother's +presence be what he was before her uncle and aunt. It was a painful, but +not an improbable, conjecture. + +Bingley, she had likewise seen for an instant, and in that short period +saw him looking both pleased and embarrassed. He was received by Mrs. +Bennet with a degree of civility which made her two daughters ashamed, +especially when contrasted with the cold and ceremonious politeness of +her curtsey and address to his friend. + +Elizabeth, particularly, who knew that her mother owed to the latter +the preservation of her favourite daughter from irremediable infamy, +was hurt and distressed to a most painful degree by a distinction so ill +applied. + +Darcy, after inquiring of her how Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner did, a question +which she could not answer without confusion, said scarcely anything. He +was not seated by her; perhaps that was the reason of his silence; but +it had not been so in Derbyshire. There he had talked to her friends, +when he could not to herself. But now several minutes elapsed without +bringing the sound of his voice; and when occasionally, unable to resist +the impulse of curiosity, she raised her eyes to his face, she as often +found him looking at Jane as at herself, and frequently on no object but +the ground. More thoughtfulness and less anxiety to please, than when +they last met, were plainly expressed. She was disappointed, and angry +with herself for being so. + +"Could I expect it to be otherwise!" said she. "Yet why did he come?" + +She was in no humour for conversation with anyone but himself; and to +him she had hardly courage to speak. + +She inquired after his sister, but could do no more. + +"It is a long time, Mr. Bingley, since you went away," said Mrs. Bennet. + +He readily agreed to it. + +"I began to be afraid you would never come back again. People _did_ say +you meant to quit the place entirely at Michaelmas; but, however, I hope +it is not true. A great many changes have happened in the neighbourhood, +since you went away. Miss Lucas is married and settled. And one of my +own daughters. I suppose you have heard of it; indeed, you must have +seen it in the papers. It was in The Times and The Courier, I know; +though it was not put in as it ought to be. It was only said, 'Lately, +George Wickham, Esq. to Miss Lydia Bennet,' without there being a +syllable said of her father, or the place where she lived, or anything. +It was my brother Gardiner's drawing up too, and I wonder how he came to +make such an awkward business of it. Did you see it?" + +Bingley replied that he did, and made his congratulations. Elizabeth +dared not lift up her eyes. How Mr. Darcy looked, therefore, she could +not tell. + +"It is a delightful thing, to be sure, to have a daughter well married," +continued her mother, "but at the same time, Mr. Bingley, it is very +hard to have her taken such a way from me. They are gone down to +Newcastle, a place quite northward, it seems, and there they are to stay +I do not know how long. His regiment is there; for I suppose you have +heard of his leaving the ----shire, and of his being gone into the +regulars. Thank Heaven! he has _some_ friends, though perhaps not so +many as he deserves." + +Elizabeth, who knew this to be levelled at Mr. Darcy, was in such +misery of shame, that she could hardly keep her seat. It drew from her, +however, the exertion of speaking, which nothing else had so effectually +done before; and she asked Bingley whether he meant to make any stay in +the country at present. A few weeks, he believed. + +"When you have killed all your own birds, Mr. Bingley," said her mother, +"I beg you will come here, and shoot as many as you please on Mr. +Bennet's manor. I am sure he will be vastly happy to oblige you, and +will save all the best of the covies for you." + +Elizabeth's misery increased, at such unnecessary, such officious +attention! Were the same fair prospect to arise at present as had +flattered them a year ago, every thing, she was persuaded, would be +hastening to the same vexatious conclusion. At that instant, she felt +that years of happiness could not make Jane or herself amends for +moments of such painful confusion. + +"The first wish of my heart," said she to herself, "is never more to +be in company with either of them. Their society can afford no pleasure +that will atone for such wretchedness as this! Let me never see either +one or the other again!" + +Yet the misery, for which years of happiness were to offer no +compensation, received soon afterwards material relief, from observing +how much the beauty of her sister re-kindled the admiration of her +former lover. When first he came in, he had spoken to her but little; +but every five minutes seemed to be giving her more of his attention. He +found her as handsome as she had been last year; as good natured, and +as unaffected, though not quite so chatty. Jane was anxious that no +difference should be perceived in her at all, and was really persuaded +that she talked as much as ever. But her mind was so busily engaged, +that she did not always know when she was silent. + +When the gentlemen rose to go away, Mrs. Bennet was mindful of her +intended civility, and they were invited and engaged to dine at +Longbourn in a few days time. + +"You are quite a visit in my debt, Mr. Bingley," she added, "for when +you went to town last winter, you promised to take a family dinner with +us, as soon as you returned. I have not forgot, you see; and I assure +you, I was very much disappointed that you did not come back and keep +your engagement." + +Bingley looked a little silly at this reflection, and said something of +his concern at having been prevented by business. They then went away. + +Mrs. Bennet had been strongly inclined to ask them to stay and dine +there that day; but, though she always kept a very good table, she did +not think anything less than two courses could be good enough for a man +on whom she had such anxious designs, or satisfy the appetite and pride +of one who had ten thousand a year. + + + +Chapter 54 + + +As soon as they were gone, Elizabeth walked out to recover her spirits; +or in other words, to dwell without interruption on those subjects that +must deaden them more. Mr. Darcy's behaviour astonished and vexed her. + +"Why, if he came only to be silent, grave, and indifferent," said she, +"did he come at all?" + +She could settle it in no way that gave her pleasure. + +"He could be still amiable, still pleasing, to my uncle and aunt, when +he was in town; and why not to me? If he fears me, why come hither? If +he no longer cares for me, why silent? Teasing, teasing, man! I will +think no more about him." + +Her resolution was for a short time involuntarily kept by the approach +of her sister, who joined her with a cheerful look, which showed her +better satisfied with their visitors, than Elizabeth. + +"Now," said she, "that this first meeting is over, I feel perfectly +easy. I know my own strength, and I shall never be embarrassed again by +his coming. I am glad he dines here on Tuesday. It will then be publicly +seen that, on both sides, we meet only as common and indifferent +acquaintance." + +"Yes, very indifferent indeed," said Elizabeth, laughingly. "Oh, Jane, +take care." + +"My dear Lizzy, you cannot think me so weak, as to be in danger now?" + +"I think you are in very great danger of making him as much in love with +you as ever." + + * * * * * + +They did not see the gentlemen again till Tuesday; and Mrs. Bennet, in +the meanwhile, was giving way to all the happy schemes, which the good +humour and common politeness of Bingley, in half an hour's visit, had +revived. + +On Tuesday there was a large party assembled at Longbourn; and the two +who were most anxiously expected, to the credit of their punctuality +as sportsmen, were in very good time. When they repaired to the +dining-room, Elizabeth eagerly watched to see whether Bingley would take +the place, which, in all their former parties, had belonged to him, by +her sister. Her prudent mother, occupied by the same ideas, forbore +to invite him to sit by herself. On entering the room, he seemed to +hesitate; but Jane happened to look round, and happened to smile: it was +decided. He placed himself by her. + +Elizabeth, with a triumphant sensation, looked towards his friend. +He bore it with noble indifference, and she would have imagined that +Bingley had received his sanction to be happy, had she not seen his eyes +likewise turned towards Mr. Darcy, with an expression of half-laughing +alarm. + +His behaviour to her sister was such, during dinner time, as showed an +admiration of her, which, though more guarded than formerly, persuaded +Elizabeth, that if left wholly to himself, Jane's happiness, and his +own, would be speedily secured. Though she dared not depend upon the +consequence, she yet received pleasure from observing his behaviour. It +gave her all the animation that her spirits could boast; for she was in +no cheerful humour. Mr. Darcy was almost as far from her as the table +could divide them. He was on one side of her mother. She knew how little +such a situation would give pleasure to either, or make either appear to +advantage. She was not near enough to hear any of their discourse, but +she could see how seldom they spoke to each other, and how formal and +cold was their manner whenever they did. Her mother's ungraciousness, +made the sense of what they owed him more painful to Elizabeth's mind; +and she would, at times, have given anything to be privileged to tell +him that his kindness was neither unknown nor unfelt by the whole of the +family. + +She was in hopes that the evening would afford some opportunity of +bringing them together; that the whole of the visit would not pass away +without enabling them to enter into something more of conversation than +the mere ceremonious salutation attending his entrance. Anxious +and uneasy, the period which passed in the drawing-room, before the +gentlemen came, was wearisome and dull to a degree that almost made her +uncivil. She looked forward to their entrance as the point on which all +her chance of pleasure for the evening must depend. + +"If he does not come to me, _then_," said she, "I shall give him up for +ever." + +The gentlemen came; and she thought he looked as if he would have +answered her hopes; but, alas! the ladies had crowded round the table, +where Miss Bennet was making tea, and Elizabeth pouring out the coffee, +in so close a confederacy that there was not a single vacancy near her +which would admit of a chair. And on the gentlemen's approaching, one of +the girls moved closer to her than ever, and said, in a whisper: + +"The men shan't come and part us, I am determined. We want none of them; +do we?" + +Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with +her eyes, envied everyone to whom he spoke, had scarcely patience enough +to help anybody to coffee; and then was enraged against herself for +being so silly! + +"A man who has once been refused! How could I ever be foolish enough to +expect a renewal of his love? Is there one among the sex, who would not +protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman? +There is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings!" + +She was a little revived, however, by his bringing back his coffee cup +himself; and she seized the opportunity of saying: + +"Is your sister at Pemberley still?" + +"Yes, she will remain there till Christmas." + +"And quite alone? Have all her friends left her?" + +"Mrs. Annesley is with her. The others have been gone on to Scarborough, +these three weeks." + +She could think of nothing more to say; but if he wished to converse +with her, he might have better success. He stood by her, however, for +some minutes, in silence; and, at last, on the young lady's whispering +to Elizabeth again, he walked away. + +When the tea-things were removed, and the card-tables placed, the ladies +all rose, and Elizabeth was then hoping to be soon joined by him, +when all her views were overthrown by seeing him fall a victim to her +mother's rapacity for whist players, and in a few moments after seated +with the rest of the party. She now lost every expectation of pleasure. +They were confined for the evening at different tables, and she had +nothing to hope, but that his eyes were so often turned towards her side +of the room, as to make him play as unsuccessfully as herself. + +Mrs. Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield gentlemen to +supper; but their carriage was unluckily ordered before any of the +others, and she had no opportunity of detaining them. + +"Well girls," said she, as soon as they were left to themselves, "What +say you to the day? I think every thing has passed off uncommonly well, +I assure you. The dinner was as well dressed as any I ever saw. The +venison was roasted to a turn--and everybody said they never saw so +fat a haunch. The soup was fifty times better than what we had at the +Lucases' last week; and even Mr. Darcy acknowledged, that the partridges +were remarkably well done; and I suppose he has two or three French +cooks at least. And, my dear Jane, I never saw you look in greater +beauty. Mrs. Long said so too, for I asked her whether you did not. And +what do you think she said besides? 'Ah! Mrs. Bennet, we shall have her +at Netherfield at last.' She did indeed. I do think Mrs. Long is as good +a creature as ever lived--and her nieces are very pretty behaved girls, +and not at all handsome: I like them prodigiously." + +Mrs. Bennet, in short, was in very great spirits; she had seen enough of +Bingley's behaviour to Jane, to be convinced that she would get him at +last; and her expectations of advantage to her family, when in a happy +humour, were so far beyond reason, that she was quite disappointed at +not seeing him there again the next day, to make his proposals. + +"It has been a very agreeable day," said Miss Bennet to Elizabeth. "The +party seemed so well selected, so suitable one with the other. I hope we +may often meet again." + +Elizabeth smiled. + +"Lizzy, you must not do so. You must not suspect me. It mortifies me. +I assure you that I have now learnt to enjoy his conversation as an +agreeable and sensible young man, without having a wish beyond it. I am +perfectly satisfied, from what his manners now are, that he never had +any design of engaging my affection. It is only that he is blessed +with greater sweetness of address, and a stronger desire of generally +pleasing, than any other man." + +"You are very cruel," said her sister, "you will not let me smile, and +are provoking me to it every moment." + +"How hard it is in some cases to be believed!" + +"And how impossible in others!" + +"But why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than I +acknowledge?" + +"That is a question which I hardly know how to answer. We all love to +instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing. Forgive +me; and if you persist in indifference, do not make me your confidante." + + + +Chapter 55 + + +A few days after this visit, Mr. Bingley called again, and alone. His +friend had left him that morning for London, but was to return home in +ten days time. He sat with them above an hour, and was in remarkably +good spirits. Mrs. Bennet invited him to dine with them; but, with many +expressions of concern, he confessed himself engaged elsewhere. + +"Next time you call," said she, "I hope we shall be more lucky." + +He should be particularly happy at any time, etc. etc.; and if she would +give him leave, would take an early opportunity of waiting on them. + +"Can you come to-morrow?" + +Yes, he had no engagement at all for to-morrow; and her invitation was +accepted with alacrity. + +He came, and in such very good time that the ladies were none of them +dressed. In ran Mrs. Bennet to her daughter's room, in her dressing +gown, and with her hair half finished, crying out: + +"My dear Jane, make haste and hurry down. He is come--Mr. Bingley is +come. He is, indeed. Make haste, make haste. Here, Sarah, come to Miss +Bennet this moment, and help her on with her gown. Never mind Miss +Lizzy's hair." + +"We will be down as soon as we can," said Jane; "but I dare say Kitty is +forwarder than either of us, for she went up stairs half an hour ago." + +"Oh! hang Kitty! what has she to do with it? Come be quick, be quick! +Where is your sash, my dear?" + +But when her mother was gone, Jane would not be prevailed on to go down +without one of her sisters. + +The same anxiety to get them by themselves was visible again in the +evening. After tea, Mr. Bennet retired to the library, as was his +custom, and Mary went up stairs to her instrument. Two obstacles of +the five being thus removed, Mrs. Bennet sat looking and winking at +Elizabeth and Catherine for a considerable time, without making any +impression on them. Elizabeth would not observe her; and when at last +Kitty did, she very innocently said, "What is the matter mamma? What do +you keep winking at me for? What am I to do?" + +"Nothing child, nothing. I did not wink at you." She then sat still +five minutes longer; but unable to waste such a precious occasion, she +suddenly got up, and saying to Kitty, "Come here, my love, I want to +speak to you," took her out of the room. Jane instantly gave a look +at Elizabeth which spoke her distress at such premeditation, and her +entreaty that _she_ would not give in to it. In a few minutes, Mrs. +Bennet half-opened the door and called out: + +"Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak with you." + +Elizabeth was forced to go. + +"We may as well leave them by themselves you know;" said her mother, as +soon as she was in the hall. "Kitty and I are going upstairs to sit in +my dressing-room." + +Elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her mother, but remained +quietly in the hall, till she and Kitty were out of sight, then returned +into the drawing-room. + +Mrs. Bennet's schemes for this day were ineffectual. Bingley was every +thing that was charming, except the professed lover of her daughter. His +ease and cheerfulness rendered him a most agreeable addition to their +evening party; and he bore with the ill-judged officiousness of the +mother, and heard all her silly remarks with a forbearance and command +of countenance particularly grateful to the daughter. + +He scarcely needed an invitation to stay supper; and before he went +away, an engagement was formed, chiefly through his own and Mrs. +Bennet's means, for his coming next morning to shoot with her husband. + +After this day, Jane said no more of her indifference. Not a word passed +between the sisters concerning Bingley; but Elizabeth went to bed in +the happy belief that all must speedily be concluded, unless Mr. Darcy +returned within the stated time. Seriously, however, she felt tolerably +persuaded that all this must have taken place with that gentleman's +concurrence. + +Bingley was punctual to his appointment; and he and Mr. Bennet spent +the morning together, as had been agreed on. The latter was much more +agreeable than his companion expected. There was nothing of presumption +or folly in Bingley that could provoke his ridicule, or disgust him into +silence; and he was more communicative, and less eccentric, than the +other had ever seen him. Bingley of course returned with him to dinner; +and in the evening Mrs. Bennet's invention was again at work to get +every body away from him and her daughter. Elizabeth, who had a letter +to write, went into the breakfast room for that purpose soon after tea; +for as the others were all going to sit down to cards, she could not be +wanted to counteract her mother's schemes. + +But on returning to the drawing-room, when her letter was finished, she +saw, to her infinite surprise, there was reason to fear that her mother +had been too ingenious for her. On opening the door, she perceived her +sister and Bingley standing together over the hearth, as if engaged in +earnest conversation; and had this led to no suspicion, the faces of +both, as they hastily turned round and moved away from each other, would +have told it all. Their situation was awkward enough; but _hers_ she +thought was still worse. Not a syllable was uttered by either; and +Elizabeth was on the point of going away again, when Bingley, who as +well as the other had sat down, suddenly rose, and whispering a few +words to her sister, ran out of the room. + +Jane could have no reserves from Elizabeth, where confidence would give +pleasure; and instantly embracing her, acknowledged, with the liveliest +emotion, that she was the happiest creature in the world. + +"'Tis too much!" she added, "by far too much. I do not deserve it. Oh! +why is not everybody as happy?" + +Elizabeth's congratulations were given with a sincerity, a warmth, +a delight, which words could but poorly express. Every sentence of +kindness was a fresh source of happiness to Jane. But she would not +allow herself to stay with her sister, or say half that remained to be +said for the present. + +"I must go instantly to my mother;" she cried. "I would not on any +account trifle with her affectionate solicitude; or allow her to hear it +from anyone but myself. He is gone to my father already. Oh! Lizzy, to +know that what I have to relate will give such pleasure to all my dear +family! how shall I bear so much happiness!" + +She then hastened away to her mother, who had purposely broken up the +card party, and was sitting up stairs with Kitty. + +Elizabeth, who was left by herself, now smiled at the rapidity and ease +with which an affair was finally settled, that had given them so many +previous months of suspense and vexation. + +"And this," said she, "is the end of all his friend's anxious +circumspection! of all his sister's falsehood and contrivance! the +happiest, wisest, most reasonable end!" + +In a few minutes she was joined by Bingley, whose conference with her +father had been short and to the purpose. + +"Where is your sister?" said he hastily, as he opened the door. + +"With my mother up stairs. She will be down in a moment, I dare say." + +He then shut the door, and, coming up to her, claimed the good wishes +and affection of a sister. Elizabeth honestly and heartily expressed +her delight in the prospect of their relationship. They shook hands with +great cordiality; and then, till her sister came down, she had to listen +to all he had to say of his own happiness, and of Jane's perfections; +and in spite of his being a lover, Elizabeth really believed all his +expectations of felicity to be rationally founded, because they had for +basis the excellent understanding, and super-excellent disposition of +Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and +himself. + +It was an evening of no common delight to them all; the satisfaction of +Miss Bennet's mind gave a glow of such sweet animation to her face, as +made her look handsomer than ever. Kitty simpered and smiled, and hoped +her turn was coming soon. Mrs. Bennet could not give her consent or +speak her approbation in terms warm enough to satisfy her feelings, +though she talked to Bingley of nothing else for half an hour; and when +Mr. Bennet joined them at supper, his voice and manner plainly showed +how really happy he was. + +Not a word, however, passed his lips in allusion to it, till their +visitor took his leave for the night; but as soon as he was gone, he +turned to his daughter, and said: + +"Jane, I congratulate you. You will be a very happy woman." + +Jane went to him instantly, kissed him, and thanked him for his +goodness. + +"You are a good girl;" he replied, "and I have great pleasure in +thinking you will be so happily settled. I have not a doubt of your +doing very well together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are +each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so +easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will +always exceed your income." + +"I hope not so. Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be +unpardonable in me." + +"Exceed their income! My dear Mr. Bennet," cried his wife, "what are you +talking of? Why, he has four or five thousand a year, and very likely +more." Then addressing her daughter, "Oh! my dear, dear Jane, I am so +happy! I am sure I shan't get a wink of sleep all night. I knew how it +would be. I always said it must be so, at last. I was sure you could not +be so beautiful for nothing! I remember, as soon as ever I saw him, when +he first came into Hertfordshire last year, I thought how likely it was +that you should come together. Oh! he is the handsomest young man that +ever was seen!" + +Wickham, Lydia, were all forgotten. Jane was beyond competition her +favourite child. At that moment, she cared for no other. Her younger +sisters soon began to make interest with her for objects of happiness +which she might in future be able to dispense. + +Mary petitioned for the use of the library at Netherfield; and Kitty +begged very hard for a few balls there every winter. + +Bingley, from this time, was of course a daily visitor at Longbourn; +coming frequently before breakfast, and always remaining till after +supper; unless when some barbarous neighbour, who could not be enough +detested, had given him an invitation to dinner which he thought himself +obliged to accept. + +Elizabeth had now but little time for conversation with her sister; for +while he was present, Jane had no attention to bestow on anyone else; +but she found herself considerably useful to both of them in those hours +of separation that must sometimes occur. In the absence of Jane, he +always attached himself to Elizabeth, for the pleasure of talking of +her; and when Bingley was gone, Jane constantly sought the same means of +relief. + +"He has made me so happy," said she, one evening, "by telling me that he +was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring! I had not believed +it possible." + +"I suspected as much," replied Elizabeth. "But how did he account for +it?" + +"It must have been his sister's doing. They were certainly no friends to +his acquaintance with me, which I cannot wonder at, since he might have +chosen so much more advantageously in many respects. But when they see, +as I trust they will, that their brother is happy with me, they will +learn to be contented, and we shall be on good terms again; though we +can never be what we once were to each other." + +"That is the most unforgiving speech," said Elizabeth, "that I ever +heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me, indeed, to see you again +the dupe of Miss Bingley's pretended regard." + +"Would you believe it, Lizzy, that when he went to town last November, +he really loved me, and nothing but a persuasion of _my_ being +indifferent would have prevented his coming down again!" + +"He made a little mistake to be sure; but it is to the credit of his +modesty." + +This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his diffidence, and +the little value he put on his own good qualities. Elizabeth was pleased +to find that he had not betrayed the interference of his friend; for, +though Jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the world, she +knew it was a circumstance which must prejudice her against him. + +"I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed!" cried +Jane. "Oh! Lizzy, why am I thus singled from my family, and blessed +above them all! If I could but see _you_ as happy! If there _were_ but +such another man for you!" + +"If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as +you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your +happiness. No, no, let me shift for myself; and, perhaps, if I have very +good luck, I may meet with another Mr. Collins in time." + +The situation of affairs in the Longbourn family could not be long a +secret. Mrs. Bennet was privileged to whisper it to Mrs. Phillips, +and she ventured, without any permission, to do the same by all her +neighbours in Meryton. + +The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the +world, though only a few weeks before, when Lydia had first run away, +they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune. + + + +Chapter 56 + + +One morning, about a week after Bingley's engagement with Jane had been +formed, as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the +dining-room, their attention was suddenly drawn to the window, by the +sound of a carriage; and they perceived a chaise and four driving up +the lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors, and besides, the +equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. The horses +were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who +preceded it, were familiar to them. As it was certain, however, that +somebody was coming, Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid +the confinement of such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the +shrubbery. They both set off, and the conjectures of the remaining three +continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door was thrown +open and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh. + +They were of course all intending to be surprised; but their +astonishment was beyond their expectation; and on the part of Mrs. +Bennet and Kitty, though she was perfectly unknown to them, even +inferior to what Elizabeth felt. + +She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no +other reply to Elizabeth's salutation than a slight inclination of the +head, and sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her +name to her mother on her ladyship's entrance, though no request of +introduction had been made. + +Mrs. Bennet, all amazement, though flattered by having a guest of such +high importance, received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting +for a moment in silence, she said very stiffly to Elizabeth, + +"I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your +mother." + +Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was. + +"And _that_ I suppose is one of your sisters." + +"Yes, madam," said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to Lady Catherine. +"She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all is lately married, +and my eldest is somewhere about the grounds, walking with a young man +who, I believe, will soon become a part of the family." + +"You have a very small park here," returned Lady Catherine after a short +silence. + +"It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my lady, I dare say; but I +assure you it is much larger than Sir William Lucas's." + +"This must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening, in +summer; the windows are full west." + +Mrs. Bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner, and then +added: + +"May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and +Mrs. Collins well." + +"Yes, very well. I saw them the night before last." + +Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from +Charlotte, as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no +letter appeared, and she was completely puzzled. + +Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some +refreshment; but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, +declined eating anything; and then, rising up, said to Elizabeth, + +"Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness +on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you +will favour me with your company." + +"Go, my dear," cried her mother, "and show her ladyship about the +different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage." + +Elizabeth obeyed, and running into her own room for her parasol, +attended her noble guest downstairs. As they passed through the +hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and +drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent +looking rooms, walked on. + +Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her +waiting-woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk +that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for +conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and +disagreeable. + +"How could I ever think her like her nephew?" said she, as she looked in +her face. + +As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following +manner:-- + +"You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my +journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I +come." + +Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment. + +"Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account +for the honour of seeing you here." + +"Miss Bennet," replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to +know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere _you_ may +choose to be, you shall not find _me_ so. My character has ever been +celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such +moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most +alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told that not only your +sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that +you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon +afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I +_know_ it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him +so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved +on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to +you." + +"If you believed it impossible to be true," said Elizabeth, colouring +with astonishment and disdain, "I wonder you took the trouble of coming +so far. What could your ladyship propose by it?" + +"At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted." + +"Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family," said Elizabeth +coolly, "will be rather a confirmation of it; if, indeed, such a report +is in existence." + +"If! Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been +industriously circulated by yourselves? Do you not know that such a +report is spread abroad?" + +"I never heard that it was." + +"And can you likewise declare, that there is no foundation for it?" + +"I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may +ask questions which I shall not choose to answer." + +"This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has +he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?" + +"Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible." + +"It ought to be so; it must be so, while he retains the use of his +reason. But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, +have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You +may have drawn him in." + +"If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it." + +"Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such +language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, +and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns." + +"But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this, +ever induce me to be explicit." + +"Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the +presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is +engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?" + +"Only this; that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will +make an offer to me." + +Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied: + +"The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, +they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of +_his_ mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles, we planned +the union: and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would +be accomplished in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of +inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to +the family! Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his +tacit engagement with Miss de Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of +propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest +hours he was destined for his cousin?" + +"Yes, and I had heard it before. But what is that to me? If there is +no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not +be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to +marry Miss de Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the +marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither +by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make +another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?" + +"Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, +Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or +friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will +be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. +Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned +by any of us." + +"These are heavy misfortunes," replied Elizabeth. "But the wife of Mr. +Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily +attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause +to repine." + +"Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude +for my attentions to you last spring? Is nothing due to me on that +score? Let us sit down. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came +here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will +I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person's +whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment." + +"_That_ will make your ladyship's situation at present more pitiable; +but it will have no effect on me." + +"I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. My daughter and my +nephew are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal +side, from the same noble line; and, on the father's, from respectable, +honourable, and ancient--though untitled--families. Their fortune on +both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of +every member of their respective houses; and what is to divide them? +The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, +or fortune. Is this to be endured! But it must not, shall not be. If you +were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in +which you have been brought up." + +"In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that +sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are +equal." + +"True. You _are_ a gentleman's daughter. But who was your mother? +Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their +condition." + +"Whatever my connections may be," said Elizabeth, "if your nephew does +not object to them, they can be nothing to _you_." + +"Tell me once for all, are you engaged to him?" + +Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady +Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a +moment's deliberation: + +"I am not." + +Lady Catherine seemed pleased. + +"And will you promise me, never to enter into such an engagement?" + +"I will make no promise of the kind." + +"Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more +reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that +I will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the +assurance I require." + +"And I certainly _never_ shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into +anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry +your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their +marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would +my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? +Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have +supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the +application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if +you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your +nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; +but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, +therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject." + +"Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done. To all the +objections I have already urged, I have still another to add. I am +no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister's infamous +elopement. I know it all; that the young man's marrying her was a +patched-up business, at the expence of your father and uncles. And is +such a girl to be my nephew's sister? Is her husband, is the son of his +late father's steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth!--of what are +you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?" + +"You can now have nothing further to say," she resentfully answered. +"You have insulted me in every possible method. I must beg to return to +the house." + +And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine rose also, and they turned +back. Her ladyship was highly incensed. + +"You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! +Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you +must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?" + +"Lady Catherine, I have nothing further to say. You know my sentiments." + +"You are then resolved to have him?" + +"I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner, +which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without +reference to _you_, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me." + +"It is well. You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the +claims of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin him in +the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world." + +"Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude," replied Elizabeth, "have any +possible claim on me, in the present instance. No principle of either +would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the +resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former +_were_ excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's +concern--and the world in general would have too much sense to join in +the scorn." + +"And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. +I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your +ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you +reasonable; but, depend upon it, I will carry my point." + +In this manner Lady Catherine talked on, till they were at the door of +the carriage, when, turning hastily round, she added, "I take no leave +of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve +no such attention. I am most seriously displeased." + +Elizabeth made no answer; and without attempting to persuade her +ladyship to return into the house, walked quietly into it herself. She +heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded up stairs. Her mother +impatiently met her at the door of the dressing-room, to ask why Lady +Catherine would not come in again and rest herself. + +"She did not choose it," said her daughter, "she would go." + +"She is a very fine-looking woman! and her calling here was prodigiously +civil! for she only came, I suppose, to tell us the Collinses were +well. She is on her road somewhere, I dare say, and so, passing through +Meryton, thought she might as well call on you. I suppose she had +nothing particular to say to you, Lizzy?" + +Elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here; for to +acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible. + + + +Chapter 57 + + +The discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw +Elizabeth into, could not be easily overcome; nor could she, for many +hours, learn to think of it less than incessantly. Lady Catherine, it +appeared, had actually taken the trouble of this journey from Rosings, +for the sole purpose of breaking off her supposed engagement with Mr. +Darcy. It was a rational scheme, to be sure! but from what the report +of their engagement could originate, Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine; +till she recollected that _his_ being the intimate friend of Bingley, +and _her_ being the sister of Jane, was enough, at a time when the +expectation of one wedding made everybody eager for another, to supply +the idea. She had not herself forgotten to feel that the marriage of her +sister must bring them more frequently together. And her neighbours +at Lucas Lodge, therefore (for through their communication with the +Collinses, the report, she concluded, had reached Lady Catherine), had +only set that down as almost certain and immediate, which she had looked +forward to as possible at some future time. + +In revolving Lady Catherine's expressions, however, she could not help +feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting +in this interference. From what she had said of her resolution to +prevent their marriage, it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate +an application to her nephew; and how _he_ might take a similar +representation of the evils attached to a connection with her, she dared +not pronounce. She knew not the exact degree of his affection for his +aunt, or his dependence on her judgment, but it was natural to suppose +that he thought much higher of her ladyship than _she_ could do; and it +was certain that, in enumerating the miseries of a marriage with _one_, +whose immediate connections were so unequal to his own, his aunt would +address him on his weakest side. With his notions of dignity, he would +probably feel that the arguments, which to Elizabeth had appeared weak +and ridiculous, contained much good sense and solid reasoning. + +If he had been wavering before as to what he should do, which had often +seemed likely, the advice and entreaty of so near a relation might +settle every doubt, and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity +unblemished could make him. In that case he would return no more. Lady +Catherine might see him in her way through town; and his engagement to +Bingley of coming again to Netherfield must give way. + +"If, therefore, an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his +friend within a few days," she added, "I shall know how to understand +it. I shall then give over every expectation, every wish of his +constancy. If he is satisfied with only regretting me, when he might +have obtained my affections and hand, I shall soon cease to regret him +at all." + + * * * * * + +The surprise of the rest of the family, on hearing who their visitor had +been, was very great; but they obligingly satisfied it, with the same +kind of supposition which had appeased Mrs. Bennet's curiosity; and +Elizabeth was spared from much teasing on the subject. + +The next morning, as she was going downstairs, she was met by her +father, who came out of his library with a letter in his hand. + +"Lizzy," said he, "I was going to look for you; come into my room." + +She followed him thither; and her curiosity to know what he had to +tell her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner +connected with the letter he held. It suddenly struck her that it +might be from Lady Catherine; and she anticipated with dismay all the +consequent explanations. + +She followed her father to the fire place, and they both sat down. He +then said, + +"I have received a letter this morning that has astonished me +exceedingly. As it principally concerns yourself, you ought to know its +contents. I did not know before, that I had two daughters on the brink +of matrimony. Let me congratulate you on a very important conquest." + +The colour now rushed into Elizabeth's cheeks in the instantaneous +conviction of its being a letter from the nephew, instead of the aunt; +and she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained +himself at all, or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to +herself; when her father continued: + +"You look conscious. Young ladies have great penetration in such matters +as these; but I think I may defy even _your_ sagacity, to discover the +name of your admirer. This letter is from Mr. Collins." + +"From Mr. Collins! and what can _he_ have to say?" + +"Something very much to the purpose of course. He begins with +congratulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest daughter, of +which, it seems, he has been told by some of the good-natured, gossiping +Lucases. I shall not sport with your impatience, by reading what he says +on that point. What relates to yourself, is as follows: 'Having thus +offered you the sincere congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself on +this happy event, let me now add a short hint on the subject of another; +of which we have been advertised by the same authority. Your daughter +Elizabeth, it is presumed, will not long bear the name of Bennet, after +her elder sister has resigned it, and the chosen partner of her fate may +be reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious personages in +this land.' + +"Can you possibly guess, Lizzy, who is meant by this?" 'This young +gentleman is blessed, in a peculiar way, with every thing the heart of +mortal can most desire,--splendid property, noble kindred, and extensive +patronage. Yet in spite of all these temptations, let me warn my cousin +Elizabeth, and yourself, of what evils you may incur by a precipitate +closure with this gentleman's proposals, which, of course, you will be +inclined to take immediate advantage of.' + +"Have you any idea, Lizzy, who this gentleman is? But now it comes out: + +"'My motive for cautioning you is as follows. We have reason to imagine +that his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, does not look on the match with +a friendly eye.' + +"_Mr. Darcy_, you see, is the man! Now, Lizzy, I think I _have_ +surprised you. Could he, or the Lucases, have pitched on any man within +the circle of our acquaintance, whose name would have given the lie +more effectually to what they related? Mr. Darcy, who never looks at any +woman but to see a blemish, and who probably never looked at you in his +life! It is admirable!" + +Elizabeth tried to join in her father's pleasantry, but could only force +one most reluctant smile. Never had his wit been directed in a manner so +little agreeable to her. + +"Are you not diverted?" + +"Oh! yes. Pray read on." + +"'After mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship last +night, she immediately, with her usual condescension, expressed what she +felt on the occasion; when it became apparent, that on the score of some +family objections on the part of my cousin, she would never give her +consent to what she termed so disgraceful a match. I thought it my duty +to give the speediest intelligence of this to my cousin, that she and +her noble admirer may be aware of what they are about, and not run +hastily into a marriage which has not been properly sanctioned.' Mr. +Collins moreover adds, 'I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia's sad +business has been so well hushed up, and am only concerned that their +living together before the marriage took place should be so generally +known. I must not, however, neglect the duties of my station, or refrain +from declaring my amazement at hearing that you received the young +couple into your house as soon as they were married. It was an +encouragement of vice; and had I been the rector of Longbourn, I should +very strenuously have opposed it. You ought certainly to forgive them, +as a Christian, but never to admit them in your sight, or allow their +names to be mentioned in your hearing.' That is his notion of Christian +forgiveness! The rest of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte's +situation, and his expectation of a young olive-branch. But, Lizzy, you +look as if you did not enjoy it. You are not going to be _missish_, +I hope, and pretend to be affronted at an idle report. For what do we +live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our +turn?" + +"Oh!" cried Elizabeth, "I am excessively diverted. But it is so +strange!" + +"Yes--_that_ is what makes it amusing. Had they fixed on any other man +it would have been nothing; but _his_ perfect indifference, and _your_ +pointed dislike, make it so delightfully absurd! Much as I abominate +writing, I would not give up Mr. Collins's correspondence for any +consideration. Nay, when I read a letter of his, I cannot help giving +him the preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impudence and +hypocrisy of my son-in-law. And pray, Lizzy, what said Lady Catherine +about this report? Did she call to refuse her consent?" + +To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh; and as it had +been asked without the least suspicion, she was not distressed by +his repeating it. Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her +feelings appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she +would rather have cried. Her father had most cruelly mortified her, by +what he said of Mr. Darcy's indifference, and she could do nothing but +wonder at such a want of penetration, or fear that perhaps, instead of +his seeing too little, she might have fancied too much. + + + +Chapter 58 + + +Instead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend, as +Elizabeth half expected Mr. Bingley to do, he was able to bring Darcy +with him to Longbourn before many days had passed after Lady Catherine's +visit. The gentlemen arrived early; and, before Mrs. Bennet had time +to tell him of their having seen his aunt, of which her daughter sat +in momentary dread, Bingley, who wanted to be alone with Jane, proposed +their all walking out. It was agreed to. Mrs. Bennet was not in the +habit of walking; Mary could never spare time; but the remaining five +set off together. Bingley and Jane, however, soon allowed the others +to outstrip them. They lagged behind, while Elizabeth, Kitty, and Darcy +were to entertain each other. Very little was said by either; Kitty +was too much afraid of him to talk; Elizabeth was secretly forming a +desperate resolution; and perhaps he might be doing the same. + +They walked towards the Lucases, because Kitty wished to call upon +Maria; and as Elizabeth saw no occasion for making it a general concern, +when Kitty left them she went boldly on with him alone. Now was the +moment for her resolution to be executed, and, while her courage was +high, she immediately said: + +"Mr. Darcy, I am a very selfish creature; and, for the sake of giving +relief to my own feelings, care not how much I may be wounding yours. I +can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness to my +poor sister. Ever since I have known it, I have been most anxious to +acknowledge to you how gratefully I feel it. Were it known to the rest +of my family, I should not have merely my own gratitude to express." + +"I am sorry, exceedingly sorry," replied Darcy, in a tone of surprise +and emotion, "that you have ever been informed of what may, in a +mistaken light, have given you uneasiness. I did not think Mrs. Gardiner +was so little to be trusted." + +"You must not blame my aunt. Lydia's thoughtlessness first betrayed to +me that you had been concerned in the matter; and, of course, I could +not rest till I knew the particulars. Let me thank you again and again, +in the name of all my family, for that generous compassion which induced +you to take so much trouble, and bear so many mortifications, for the +sake of discovering them." + +"If you _will_ thank me," he replied, "let it be for yourself alone. +That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other +inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your +_family_ owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought +only of _you_." + +Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, +her companion added, "You are too generous to trifle with me. If your +feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. _My_ +affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence +me on this subject for ever." + +Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of +his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not +very fluently, gave him to understand that her sentiments had undergone +so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make +her receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances. The +happiness which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never +felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as +warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do. Had Elizabeth +been able to encounter his eye, she might have seen how well the +expression of heartfelt delight, diffused over his face, became him; +but, though she could not look, she could listen, and he told her of +feelings, which, in proving of what importance she was to him, made his +affection every moment more valuable. + +They walked on, without knowing in what direction. There was too much to +be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects. She +soon learnt that they were indebted for their present good understanding +to the efforts of his aunt, who did call on him in her return through +London, and there relate her journey to Longbourn, its motive, and the +substance of her conversation with Elizabeth; dwelling emphatically on +every expression of the latter which, in her ladyship's apprehension, +peculiarly denoted her perverseness and assurance; in the belief that +such a relation must assist her endeavours to obtain that promise +from her nephew which she had refused to give. But, unluckily for her +ladyship, its effect had been exactly contrariwise. + +"It taught me to hope," said he, "as I had scarcely ever allowed myself +to hope before. I knew enough of your disposition to be certain that, +had you been absolutely, irrevocably decided against me, you would have +acknowledged it to Lady Catherine, frankly and openly." + +Elizabeth coloured and laughed as she replied, "Yes, you know enough +of my frankness to believe me capable of _that_. After abusing you so +abominably to your face, I could have no scruple in abusing you to all +your relations." + +"What did you say of me, that I did not deserve? For, though your +accusations were ill-founded, formed on mistaken premises, my +behaviour to you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was +unpardonable. I cannot think of it without abhorrence." + +"We will not quarrel for the greater share of blame annexed to that +evening," said Elizabeth. "The conduct of neither, if strictly examined, +will be irreproachable; but since then, we have both, I hope, improved +in civility." + +"I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself. The recollection of what I +then said, of my conduct, my manners, my expressions during the whole of +it, is now, and has been many months, inexpressibly painful to me. Your +reproof, so well applied, I shall never forget: 'had you behaved in a +more gentlemanlike manner.' Those were your words. You know not, you can +scarcely conceive, how they have tortured me;--though it was some time, +I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice." + +"I was certainly very far from expecting them to make so strong an +impression. I had not the smallest idea of their being ever felt in such +a way." + +"I can easily believe it. You thought me then devoid of every proper +feeling, I am sure you did. The turn of your countenance I shall never +forget, as you said that I could not have addressed you in any possible +way that would induce you to accept me." + +"Oh! do not repeat what I then said. These recollections will not do at +all. I assure you that I have long been most heartily ashamed of it." + +Darcy mentioned his letter. "Did it," said he, "did it soon make you +think better of me? Did you, on reading it, give any credit to its +contents?" + +She explained what its effect on her had been, and how gradually all her +former prejudices had been removed. + +"I knew," said he, "that what I wrote must give you pain, but it was +necessary. I hope you have destroyed the letter. There was one part +especially, the opening of it, which I should dread your having the +power of reading again. I can remember some expressions which might +justly make you hate me." + +"The letter shall certainly be burnt, if you believe it essential to the +preservation of my regard; but, though we have both reason to think my +opinions not entirely unalterable, they are not, I hope, quite so easily +changed as that implies." + +"When I wrote that letter," replied Darcy, "I believed myself perfectly +calm and cool, but I am since convinced that it was written in a +dreadful bitterness of spirit." + +"The letter, perhaps, began in bitterness, but it did not end so. The +adieu is charity itself. But think no more of the letter. The feelings +of the person who wrote, and the person who received it, are now +so widely different from what they were then, that every unpleasant +circumstance attending it ought to be forgotten. You must learn some +of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you +pleasure." + +"I cannot give you credit for any philosophy of the kind. Your +retrospections must be so totally void of reproach, that the contentment +arising from them is not of philosophy, but, what is much better, of +innocence. But with me, it is not so. Painful recollections will intrude +which cannot, which ought not, to be repelled. I have been a selfish +being all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child I +was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I +was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. +Unfortunately an only son (for many years an only child), I was spoilt +by my parents, who, though good themselves (my father, particularly, all +that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught +me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family +circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least +to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. Such I +was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been +but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You +taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, +I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. +You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman +worthy of being pleased." + +"Had you then persuaded yourself that I should?" + +"Indeed I had. What will you think of my vanity? I believed you to be +wishing, expecting my addresses." + +"My manners must have been in fault, but not intentionally, I assure +you. I never meant to deceive you, but my spirits might often lead me +wrong. How you must have hated me after _that_ evening?" + +"Hate you! I was angry perhaps at first, but my anger soon began to take +a proper direction." + +"I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me, when we met at +Pemberley. You blamed me for coming?" + +"No indeed; I felt nothing but surprise." + +"Your surprise could not be greater than _mine_ in being noticed by you. +My conscience told me that I deserved no extraordinary politeness, and I +confess that I did not expect to receive _more_ than my due." + +"My object then," replied Darcy, "was to show you, by every civility in +my power, that I was not so mean as to resent the past; and I hoped to +obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill opinion, by letting you +see that your reproofs had been attended to. How soon any other wishes +introduced themselves I can hardly tell, but I believe in about half an +hour after I had seen you." + +He then told her of Georgiana's delight in her acquaintance, and of her +disappointment at its sudden interruption; which naturally leading to +the cause of that interruption, she soon learnt that his resolution of +following her from Derbyshire in quest of her sister had been formed +before he quitted the inn, and that his gravity and thoughtfulness +there had arisen from no other struggles than what such a purpose must +comprehend. + +She expressed her gratitude again, but it was too painful a subject to +each, to be dwelt on farther. + +After walking several miles in a leisurely manner, and too busy to know +anything about it, they found at last, on examining their watches, that +it was time to be at home. + +"What could become of Mr. Bingley and Jane!" was a wonder which +introduced the discussion of their affairs. Darcy was delighted with +their engagement; his friend had given him the earliest information of +it. + +"I must ask whether you were surprised?" said Elizabeth. + +"Not at all. When I went away, I felt that it would soon happen." + +"That is to say, you had given your permission. I guessed as much." And +though he exclaimed at the term, she found that it had been pretty much +the case. + +"On the evening before my going to London," said he, "I made a +confession to him, which I believe I ought to have made long ago. I +told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his +affairs absurd and impertinent. His surprise was great. He had never had +the slightest suspicion. I told him, moreover, that I believed myself +mistaken in supposing, as I had done, that your sister was indifferent +to him; and as I could easily perceive that his attachment to her was +unabated, I felt no doubt of their happiness together." + +Elizabeth could not help smiling at his easy manner of directing his +friend. + +"Did you speak from your own observation," said she, "when you told him +that my sister loved him, or merely from my information last spring?" + +"From the former. I had narrowly observed her during the two visits +which I had lately made here; and I was convinced of her affection." + +"And your assurance of it, I suppose, carried immediate conviction to +him." + +"It did. Bingley is most unaffectedly modest. His diffidence had +prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but +his reliance on mine made every thing easy. I was obliged to confess +one thing, which for a time, and not unjustly, offended him. I could not +allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months +last winter, that I had known it, and purposely kept it from him. He was +angry. But his anger, I am persuaded, lasted no longer than he remained +in any doubt of your sister's sentiments. He has heartily forgiven me +now." + +Elizabeth longed to observe that Mr. Bingley had been a most delightful +friend; so easily guided that his worth was invaluable; but she checked +herself. She remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at, +and it was rather too early to begin. In anticipating the happiness +of Bingley, which of course was to be inferior only to his own, he +continued the conversation till they reached the house. In the hall they +parted. + + + +Chapter 59 + + +"My dear Lizzy, where can you have been walking to?" was a question +which Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she entered their room, +and from all the others when they sat down to table. She had only to +say in reply, that they had wandered about, till she was beyond her own +knowledge. She coloured as she spoke; but neither that, nor anything +else, awakened a suspicion of the truth. + +The evening passed quietly, unmarked by anything extraordinary. The +acknowledged lovers talked and laughed, the unacknowledged were silent. +Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth; +and Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather _knew_ that she was happy +than _felt_ herself to be so; for, besides the immediate embarrassment, +there were other evils before her. She anticipated what would be felt +in the family when her situation became known; she was aware that no +one liked him but Jane; and even feared that with the others it was a +dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away. + +At night she opened her heart to Jane. Though suspicion was very far +from Miss Bennet's general habits, she was absolutely incredulous here. + +"You are joking, Lizzy. This cannot be!--engaged to Mr. Darcy! No, no, +you shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible." + +"This is a wretched beginning indeed! My sole dependence was on you; and +I am sure nobody else will believe me, if you do not. Yet, indeed, I am +in earnest. I speak nothing but the truth. He still loves me, and we are +engaged." + +Jane looked at her doubtingly. "Oh, Lizzy! it cannot be. I know how much +you dislike him." + +"You know nothing of the matter. _That_ is all to be forgot. Perhaps I +did not always love him so well as I do now. But in such cases as +these, a good memory is unpardonable. This is the last time I shall ever +remember it myself." + +Miss Bennet still looked all amazement. Elizabeth again, and more +seriously assured her of its truth. + +"Good Heaven! can it be really so! Yet now I must believe you," cried +Jane. "My dear, dear Lizzy, I would--I do congratulate you--but are you +certain? forgive the question--are you quite certain that you can be +happy with him?" + +"There can be no doubt of that. It is settled between us already, that +we are to be the happiest couple in the world. But are you pleased, +Jane? Shall you like to have such a brother?" + +"Very, very much. Nothing could give either Bingley or myself more +delight. But we considered it, we talked of it as impossible. And do you +really love him quite well enough? Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than +marry without affection. Are you quite sure that you feel what you ought +to do?" + +"Oh, yes! You will only think I feel _more_ than I ought to do, when I +tell you all." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley. I am +afraid you will be angry." + +"My dearest sister, now _be_ serious. I want to talk very seriously. Let +me know every thing that I am to know, without delay. Will you tell me +how long you have loved him?" + +"It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. +But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds +at Pemberley." + +Another entreaty that she would be serious, however, produced the +desired effect; and she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn assurances +of attachment. When convinced on that article, Miss Bennet had nothing +further to wish. + +"Now I am quite happy," said she, "for you will be as happy as myself. +I always had a value for him. Were it for nothing but his love of you, +I must always have esteemed him; but now, as Bingley's friend and your +husband, there can be only Bingley and yourself more dear to me. But +Lizzy, you have been very sly, very reserved with me. How little did you +tell me of what passed at Pemberley and Lambton! I owe all that I know +of it to another, not to you." + +Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy. She had been unwilling +to mention Bingley; and the unsettled state of her own feelings had made +her equally avoid the name of his friend. But now she would no longer +conceal from her his share in Lydia's marriage. All was acknowledged, +and half the night spent in conversation. + + * * * * * + +"Good gracious!" cried Mrs. Bennet, as she stood at a window the next +morning, "if that disagreeable Mr. Darcy is not coming here again with +our dear Bingley! What can he mean by being so tiresome as to be always +coming here? I had no notion but he would go a-shooting, or something or +other, and not disturb us with his company. What shall we do with him? +Lizzy, you must walk out with him again, that he may not be in Bingley's +way." + +Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a proposal; yet +was really vexed that her mother should be always giving him such an +epithet. + +As soon as they entered, Bingley looked at her so expressively, and +shook hands with such warmth, as left no doubt of his good information; +and he soon afterwards said aloud, "Mrs. Bennet, have you no more lanes +hereabouts in which Lizzy may lose her way again to-day?" + +"I advise Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy, and Kitty," said Mrs. Bennet, "to walk +to Oakham Mount this morning. It is a nice long walk, and Mr. Darcy has +never seen the view." + +"It may do very well for the others," replied Mr. Bingley; "but I am +sure it will be too much for Kitty. Won't it, Kitty?" Kitty owned that +she had rather stay at home. Darcy professed a great curiosity to see +the view from the Mount, and Elizabeth silently consented. As she went +up stairs to get ready, Mrs. Bennet followed her, saying: + +"I am quite sorry, Lizzy, that you should be forced to have that +disagreeable man all to yourself. But I hope you will not mind it: it is +all for Jane's sake, you know; and there is no occasion for talking +to him, except just now and then. So, do not put yourself to +inconvenience." + +During their walk, it was resolved that Mr. Bennet's consent should be +asked in the course of the evening. Elizabeth reserved to herself the +application for her mother's. She could not determine how her mother +would take it; sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur +would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man. But whether she +were violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it, it +was certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit +to her sense; and she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear +the first raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her +disapprobation. + + * * * * * + +In the evening, soon after Mr. Bennet withdrew to the library, she saw +Mr. Darcy rise also and follow him, and her agitation on seeing it was +extreme. She did not fear her father's opposition, but he was going to +be made unhappy; and that it should be through her means--that _she_, +his favourite child, should be distressing him by her choice, should be +filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her--was a wretched +reflection, and she sat in misery till Mr. Darcy appeared again, when, +looking at him, she was a little relieved by his smile. In a few minutes +he approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty; and, while +pretending to admire her work said in a whisper, "Go to your father, he +wants you in the library." She was gone directly. + +Her father was walking about the room, looking grave and anxious. +"Lizzy," said he, "what are you doing? Are you out of your senses, to be +accepting this man? Have not you always hated him?" + +How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more +reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would have spared her from +explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give; +but they were now necessary, and she assured him, with some confusion, +of her attachment to Mr. Darcy. + +"Or, in other words, you are determined to have him. He is rich, to be +sure, and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. +But will they make you happy?" + +"Have you any other objection," said Elizabeth, "than your belief of my +indifference?" + +"None at all. We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but +this would be nothing if you really liked him." + +"I do, I do like him," she replied, with tears in her eyes, "I love him. +Indeed he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable. You do not +know what he really is; then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in +such terms." + +"Lizzy," said her father, "I have given him my consent. He is the kind +of man, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse anything, which he +condescended to ask. I now give it to _you_, if you are resolved on +having him. But let me advise you to think better of it. I know +your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor +respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked +up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the +greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape +discredit and misery. My child, let me not have the grief of seeing +_you_ unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are +about." + +Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and solemn in her reply; and +at length, by repeated assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object +of her choice, by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of +him had undergone, relating her absolute certainty that his affection +was not the work of a day, but had stood the test of many months' +suspense, and enumerating with energy all his good qualities, she did +conquer her father's incredulity, and reconcile him to the match. + +"Well, my dear," said he, when she ceased speaking, "I have no more to +say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with +you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy." + +To complete the favourable impression, she then told him what Mr. Darcy +had voluntarily done for Lydia. He heard her with astonishment. + +"This is an evening of wonders, indeed! And so, Darcy did every thing; +made up the match, gave the money, paid the fellow's debts, and got him +his commission! So much the better. It will save me a world of trouble +and economy. Had it been your uncle's doing, I must and _would_ have +paid him; but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own +way. I shall offer to pay him to-morrow; he will rant and storm about +his love for you, and there will be an end of the matter." + +He then recollected her embarrassment a few days before, on his reading +Mr. Collins's letter; and after laughing at her some time, allowed her +at last to go--saying, as she quitted the room, "If any young men come +for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at leisure." + +Elizabeth's mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight; and, after +half an hour's quiet reflection in her own room, she was able to join +the others with tolerable composure. Every thing was too recent for +gaiety, but the evening passed tranquilly away; there was no longer +anything material to be dreaded, and the comfort of ease and familiarity +would come in time. + +When her mother went up to her dressing-room at night, she followed her, +and made the important communication. Its effect was most extraordinary; +for on first hearing it, Mrs. Bennet sat quite still, and unable to +utter a syllable. Nor was it under many, many minutes that she could +comprehend what she heard; though not in general backward to credit +what was for the advantage of her family, or that came in the shape of a +lover to any of them. She began at length to recover, to fidget about in +her chair, get up, sit down again, wonder, and bless herself. + +"Good gracious! Lord bless me! only think! dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would +have thought it! And is it really true? Oh! my sweetest Lizzy! how rich +and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages +you will have! Jane's is nothing to it--nothing at all. I am so +pleased--so happy. Such a charming man!--so handsome! so tall!--Oh, my +dear Lizzy! pray apologise for my having disliked him so much before. I +hope he will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Every thing +that is charming! Three daughters married! Ten thousand a year! Oh, +Lord! What will become of me. I shall go distracted." + +This was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted: and +Elizabeth, rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself, +soon went away. But before she had been three minutes in her own room, +her mother followed her. + +"My dearest child," she cried, "I can think of nothing else! Ten +thousand a year, and very likely more! 'Tis as good as a Lord! And a +special licence. You must and shall be married by a special licence. But +my dearest love, tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of, +that I may have it to-morrow." + +This was a sad omen of what her mother's behaviour to the gentleman +himself might be; and Elizabeth found that, though in the certain +possession of his warmest affection, and secure of her relations' +consent, there was still something to be wished for. But the morrow +passed off much better than she expected; for Mrs. Bennet luckily stood +in such awe of her intended son-in-law that she ventured not to speak to +him, unless it was in her power to offer him any attention, or mark her +deference for his opinion. + +Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get +acquainted with him; and Mr. Bennet soon assured her that he was rising +every hour in his esteem. + +"I admire all my three sons-in-law highly," said he. "Wickham, perhaps, +is my favourite; but I think I shall like _your_ husband quite as well +as Jane's." + + + +Chapter 60 + + +Elizabeth's spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. +Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. "How could +you begin?" said she. "I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when +you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first +place?" + +"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which +laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I +knew that I _had_ begun." + +"My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners--my behaviour +to _you_ was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke +to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now be sincere; +did you admire me for my impertinence?" + +"For the liveliness of your mind, I did." + +"You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. +The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious +attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking, +and looking, and thinking for _your_ approbation alone. I roused, and +interested you, because I was so unlike _them_. Had you not been really +amiable, you would have hated me for it; but in spite of the pains you +took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and +in your heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously +courted you. There--I have saved you the trouble of accounting for +it; and really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfectly +reasonable. To be sure, you knew no actual good of me--but nobody thinks +of _that_ when they fall in love." + +"Was there no good in your affectionate behaviour to Jane while she was +ill at Netherfield?" + +"Dearest Jane! who could have done less for her? But make a virtue of it +by all means. My good qualities are under your protection, and you are +to exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me +to find occasions for teasing and quarrelling with you as often as may +be; and I shall begin directly by asking you what made you so unwilling +to come to the point at last. What made you so shy of me, when you first +called, and afterwards dined here? Why, especially, when you called, did +you look as if you did not care about me?" + +"Because you were grave and silent, and gave me no encouragement." + +"But I was embarrassed." + +"And so was I." + +"You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner." + +"A man who had felt less, might." + +"How unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give, and that +I should be so reasonable as to admit it! But I wonder how long you +_would_ have gone on, if you had been left to yourself. I wonder when +you _would_ have spoken, if I had not asked you! My resolution of +thanking you for your kindness to Lydia had certainly great effect. +_Too much_, I am afraid; for what becomes of the moral, if our comfort +springs from a breach of promise? for I ought not to have mentioned the +subject. This will never do." + +"You need not distress yourself. The moral will be perfectly fair. Lady +Catherine's unjustifiable endeavours to separate us were the means of +removing all my doubts. I am not indebted for my present happiness to +your eager desire of expressing your gratitude. I was not in a humour +to wait for any opening of yours. My aunt's intelligence had given me +hope, and I was determined at once to know every thing." + +"Lady Catherine has been of infinite use, which ought to make her happy, +for she loves to be of use. But tell me, what did you come down to +Netherfield for? Was it merely to ride to Longbourn and be embarrassed? +or had you intended any more serious consequence?" + +"My real purpose was to see _you_, and to judge, if I could, whether I +might ever hope to make you love me. My avowed one, or what I avowed to +myself, was to see whether your sister were still partial to Bingley, +and if she were, to make the confession to him which I have since made." + +"Shall you ever have courage to announce to Lady Catherine what is to +befall her?" + +"I am more likely to want more time than courage, Elizabeth. But it +ought to be done, and if you will give me a sheet of paper, it shall be +done directly." + +"And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by you and +admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But +I have an aunt, too, who must not be longer neglected." + +From an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with Mr. Darcy +had been over-rated, Elizabeth had never yet answered Mrs. Gardiner's +long letter; but now, having _that_ to communicate which she knew would +be most welcome, she was almost ashamed to find that her uncle and +aunt had already lost three days of happiness, and immediately wrote as +follows: + +"I would have thanked you before, my dear aunt, as I ought to have done, +for your long, kind, satisfactory, detail of particulars; but to say the +truth, I was too cross to write. You supposed more than really existed. +But _now_ suppose as much as you choose; give a loose rein to your +fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the +subject will afford, and unless you believe me actually married, you +cannot greatly err. You must write again very soon, and praise him a +great deal more than you did in your last. I thank you, again and again, +for not going to the Lakes. How could I be so silly as to wish it! Your +idea of the ponies is delightful. We will go round the Park every day. I +am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so +before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she +only smiles, I laugh. Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that +he can spare from me. You are all to come to Pemberley at Christmas. +Yours, etc." + +Mr. Darcy's letter to Lady Catherine was in a different style; and still +different from either was what Mr. Bennet sent to Mr. Collins, in reply +to his last. + +"DEAR SIR, + +"I must trouble you once more for congratulations. Elizabeth will soon +be the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Catherine as well as you can. +But, if I were you, I would stand by the nephew. He has more to give. + +"Yours sincerely, etc." + +Miss Bingley's congratulations to her brother, on his approaching +marriage, were all that was affectionate and insincere. She wrote even +to Jane on the occasion, to express her delight, and repeat all her +former professions of regard. Jane was not deceived, but she was +affected; and though feeling no reliance on her, could not help writing +her a much kinder answer than she knew was deserved. + +The joy which Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar information, +was as sincere as her brother's in sending it. Four sides of paper were +insufficient to contain all her delight, and all her earnest desire of +being loved by her sister. + +Before any answer could arrive from Mr. Collins, or any congratulations +to Elizabeth from his wife, the Longbourn family heard that the +Collinses were come themselves to Lucas Lodge. The reason of this +sudden removal was soon evident. Lady Catherine had been rendered +so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew's letter, that +Charlotte, really rejoicing in the match, was anxious to get away till +the storm was blown over. At such a moment, the arrival of her friend +was a sincere pleasure to Elizabeth, though in the course of their +meetings she must sometimes think the pleasure dearly bought, when she +saw Mr. Darcy exposed to all the parading and obsequious civility of +her husband. He bore it, however, with admirable calmness. He could even +listen to Sir William Lucas, when he complimented him on carrying away +the brightest jewel of the country, and expressed his hopes of their all +meeting frequently at St. James's, with very decent composure. If he did +shrug his shoulders, it was not till Sir William was out of sight. + +Mrs. Phillips's vulgarity was another, and perhaps a greater, tax on his +forbearance; and though Mrs. Phillips, as well as her sister, stood in +too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which Bingley's good +humour encouraged, yet, whenever she _did_ speak, she must be vulgar. +Nor was her respect for him, though it made her more quiet, at all +likely to make her more elegant. Elizabeth did all she could to shield +him from the frequent notice of either, and was ever anxious to keep +him to herself, and to those of her family with whom he might converse +without mortification; and though the uncomfortable feelings arising +from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure, it +added to the hope of the future; and she looked forward with delight to +the time when they should be removed from society so little pleasing +to either, to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at +Pemberley. + + + +Chapter 61 + + +Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got +rid of her two most deserving daughters. With what delighted pride +she afterwards visited Mrs. Bingley, and talked of Mrs. Darcy, may +be guessed. I wish I could say, for the sake of her family, that the +accomplishment of her earnest desire in the establishment of so many +of her children produced so happy an effect as to make her a sensible, +amiable, well-informed woman for the rest of her life; though perhaps it +was lucky for her husband, who might not have relished domestic felicity +in so unusual a form, that she still was occasionally nervous and +invariably silly. + +Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly; his affection for her +drew him oftener from home than anything else could do. He delighted in +going to Pemberley, especially when he was least expected. + +Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelvemonth. So near +a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to +_his_ easy temper, or _her_ affectionate heart. The darling wish of his +sisters was then gratified; he bought an estate in a neighbouring county +to Derbyshire, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source +of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other. + +Kitty, to her very material advantage, spent the chief of her time with +her two elder sisters. In society so superior to what she had generally +known, her improvement was great. She was not of so ungovernable a +temper as Lydia; and, removed from the influence of Lydia's example, +she became, by proper attention and management, less irritable, less +ignorant, and less insipid. From the further disadvantage of Lydia's +society she was of course carefully kept, and though Mrs. Wickham +frequently invited her to come and stay with her, with the promise of +balls and young men, her father would never consent to her going. + +Mary was the only daughter who remained at home; and she was necessarily +drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by Mrs. Bennet's being quite +unable to sit alone. Mary was obliged to mix more with the world, but +she could still moralize over every morning visit; and as she was no +longer mortified by comparisons between her sisters' beauty and her own, +it was suspected by her father that she submitted to the change without +much reluctance. + +As for Wickham and Lydia, their characters suffered no revolution from +the marriage of her sisters. He bore with philosophy the conviction that +Elizabeth must now become acquainted with whatever of his ingratitude +and falsehood had before been unknown to her; and in spite of every +thing, was not wholly without hope that Darcy might yet be prevailed on +to make his fortune. The congratulatory letter which Elizabeth received +from Lydia on her marriage, explained to her that, by his wife at least, +if not by himself, such a hope was cherished. The letter was to this +effect: + +"MY DEAR LIZZY, + +"I wish you joy. If you love Mr. Darcy half as well as I do my dear +Wickham, you must be very happy. It is a great comfort to have you so +rich, and when you have nothing else to do, I hope you will think of us. +I am sure Wickham would like a place at court very much, and I do not +think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help. +Any place would do, of about three or four hundred a year; but however, +do not speak to Mr. Darcy about it, if you had rather not. + +"Yours, etc." + +As it happened that Elizabeth had _much_ rather not, she endeavoured in +her answer to put an end to every entreaty and expectation of the kind. +Such relief, however, as it was in her power to afford, by the practice +of what might be called economy in her own private expences, she +frequently sent them. It had always been evident to her that such an +income as theirs, under the direction of two persons so extravagant in +their wants, and heedless of the future, must be very insufficient to +their support; and whenever they changed their quarters, either Jane or +herself were sure of being applied to for some little assistance +towards discharging their bills. Their manner of living, even when the +restoration of peace dismissed them to a home, was unsettled in the +extreme. They were always moving from place to place in quest of a cheap +situation, and always spending more than they ought. His affection for +her soon sunk into indifference; hers lasted a little longer; and +in spite of her youth and her manners, she retained all the claims to +reputation which her marriage had given her. + +Though Darcy could never receive _him_ at Pemberley, yet, for +Elizabeth's sake, he assisted him further in his profession. Lydia was +occasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himself +in London or Bath; and with the Bingleys they both of them frequently +staid so long, that even Bingley's good humour was overcome, and he +proceeded so far as to talk of giving them a hint to be gone. + +Miss Bingley was very deeply mortified by Darcy's marriage; but as she +thought it advisable to retain the right of visiting at Pemberley, she +dropt all her resentment; was fonder than ever of Georgiana, almost as +attentive to Darcy as heretofore, and paid off every arrear of civility +to Elizabeth. + +Pemberley was now Georgiana's home; and the attachment of the sisters +was exactly what Darcy had hoped to see. They were able to love each +other even as well as they intended. Georgiana had the highest opinion +in the world of Elizabeth; though at first she often listened with +an astonishment bordering on alarm at her lively, sportive, manner of +talking to her brother. He, who had always inspired in herself a respect +which almost overcame her affection, she now saw the object of open +pleasantry. Her mind received knowledge which had never before fallen +in her way. By Elizabeth's instructions, she began to comprehend that +a woman may take liberties with her husband which a brother will not +always allow in a sister more than ten years younger than himself. + +Lady Catherine was extremely indignant on the marriage of her nephew; +and as she gave way to all the genuine frankness of her character in +her reply to the letter which announced its arrangement, she sent him +language so very abusive, especially of Elizabeth, that for some time +all intercourse was at an end. But at length, by Elizabeth's persuasion, +he was prevailed on to overlook the offence, and seek a reconciliation; +and, after a little further resistance on the part of his aunt, her +resentment gave way, either to her affection for him, or her curiosity +to see how his wife conducted herself; and she condescended to wait +on them at Pemberley, in spite of that pollution which its woods had +received, not merely from the presence of such a mistress, but the +visits of her uncle and aunt from the city. + +With the Gardiners, they were always on the most intimate terms. +Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever +sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing +her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them. + + + + + + + + + + + SENSE & SENSIBILITY + + + + BY + + JANE AUSTEN + + + + WITH AN INTRODUCTION + + + BY + + AUSTIN DOBSON + + + + ILLUSTRATED + + + BY + + HUGH THOMSON + + + + + + + LONDON: MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED + + NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + + 1902 + + + + _First Edition with Hugh Thomson's Illustrations_ 1896 + + * * * * * + + + + Transcriber's Note: + +The Table of Contents is not part of the original book. The illustration +on page 290 is missing from the book. The Introduction ends abruptly. +Seems incomplete. + + + [Illustration: _Mr. Dashwood introduced him._--P. 219.] + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +INTRODUCTION +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS +CHAPTER I +CHAPTER II +CHAPTER III +CHAPTER IV +CHAPTER V +CHAPTER VI +CHAPTER VII +CHAPTER VIII +CHAPTER IX +CHAPTER X +CHAPTER XI +CHAPTER XII +CHAPTER XIII +CHAPTER XIV +CHAPTER XV +CHAPTER XVI +CHAPTER XVII +CHAPTER XVIII +CHAPTER XIX +CHAPTER XX +CHAPTER XXI +CHAPTER XXII +CHAPTER XXIII +CHAPTER XXIV +CHAPTER XXV +CHAPTER XXVI +CHAPTER XXVII +CHAPTER XXVIII +CHAPTER XXIX +CHAPTER XXX +CHAPTER XXXI +CHAPTER XXXII +CHAPTER XXXIII +CHAPTER XXXIV +CHAPTER XXXV +CHAPTER XXXVI +CHAPTER XXXVII +CHAPTER XXXVIII +CHAPTER XXXIX +CHAPTER XL +CHAPTER XLI +CHAPTER XLII +CHAPTER XLIII +CHAPTER XLIV +CHAPTER XLV +CHAPTER XLVI +CHAPTER XLVII +CHAPTER XLVIII +CHAPTER XLIX +CHAPTER L + + * * * * * + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +With the title of _Sense and Sensibility_ is connected one of those minor +problems which delight the cummin-splitters of criticism. In the _Cecilia_ +of Madame D'Arblay--the forerunner, if not the model, of Miss Austen--is a +sentence which at first sight suggests some relationship to the name of +the book which, in the present series, inaugurated Miss Austen's novels. +'The whole of this unfortunate business'--says a certain didactic Dr. +Lyster, talking in capitals, towards the end of volume three of +_Cecilia_--'has been the result of PRIDE and PREJUDICE,' and looking to +the admitted familiarity of Miss Austen with Madame D'Arblay's work, it +has been concluded that Miss Austen borrowed from _Cecilia_, the title of +her second novel. But here comes in the little problem to which we have +referred. _Pride and Prejudice_ it is true, was written and finished +before _Sense and Sensibility_--its original title for several years being +_First Impressions_. Then, in 1797, the author fell to work upon an older +essay in letters _a la_ Richardson, called _Elinor and Marianne_, which +she re-christened _Sense and Sensibility._ This, as we know, was her first +published book; and whatever may be the connection between the title of +_Pride and Prejudice_ and the passage in _Cecilia_, there is an obvious +connection between the title of _Pride and Prejudice_ and the _title of +Sense and Sensibility_. If Miss Austen re-christened _Elinor and +Marianne_ before she changed the title of _First Impressions_, as she well +may have, it is extremely unlikely that the name of _Pride and Prejudice_ +has anything to do with _Cecilia_ (which, besides, had been published at +least twenty years before). Upon the whole, therefore, it is most likely +that the passage in Madame D'Arblay is a mere coincidence; and that in +_Sense and Sensibility_, as well as in the novel that succeeded it in +publication, Miss Austen, after the fashion of the old morality plays, +simply substituted the leading characteristics of her principal personages +for their names. Indeed, in _Sense and Sensibility_ the sense of Elinor, +and the sensibility (or rather _sensiblerie_) of Marianne, are markedly +emphasised in the opening pages of the book But Miss Austen subsequently, +and, as we think, wisely, discarded in her remaining efforts the cheap +attraction of an alliterative title. _Emma_ and _Persuasion, Northanger +Abbey_ and _Mansfield Park_, are names far more in consonance with the +quiet tone of her easy and unobtrusive art. + +_Elinor and Marianne_ was originally written about 1792. After the +completion--or partial completion, for it was again revised in +1811--of _First Impressions_ (subsequently _Pride and Prejudice_), +Miss Austen set about recasting _Elinor and Marianne_, then composed +in the form of letters; and she had no sooner accomplished this task, +than she began _Northanger Abbey_. It would be interesting to know to +what extent she remodelled _Sense and Sensibility_ in 1797-98, for we +are told that previous to its publication in 1811 she again devoted a +considerable time to its preparation for the press, and it is clear +that this does not mean the correction of proofs alone, but also a +preliminary revision of MS. Especially would it be interesting if we +could ascertain whether any of its more finished passages, _e.g._ the +admirable conversation between the Miss Dashwoods and Willoughby in +chapter x., were the result of those fallow and apparently barren +years at Bath and Southampton, or whether they were already part of +the second version of 1797-98. But upon this matter the records are +mute. A careful examination of the correspondence published by Lord +Brabourne in 1884 only reveals two definite references to _Sense and +Sensibility_ and these are absolutely unfruitful in suggestion. In +April 1811 she speaks of having corrected two sheets of 'S and S,' +which she has scarcely a hope of getting out in the following June; +and in September, an extract from the diary of another member of the +family indirectly discloses the fact that the book had by that time +been published. This extract is a brief reference to a letter which +had been received from Cassandra Austen, begging her correspondent not +to mention that Aunt Jane wrote _Sense and Sensibility._ Beyond these +minute items of information, and the statement--already referred to in +the Introduction to _Pride and Prejudice_--that she considered herself +overpaid for the labour she had bestowed upon it, absolutely nothing +seems to have been preserved by her descendants respecting her first +printed effort. In the absence of particulars some of her critics have +fallen to speculate upon the reason which made her select it, and not +_Pride and Prejudice_, for her debut; and they have, perhaps +naturally, found in the fact a fresh confirmation of that traditional +blindness of authors to their own best work, which is one of the +commonplaces of literary history. But this is to premise that she +_did_ regard it as her masterpiece, a fact which, apart from this +accident of priority of issue, is, as far as we are aware, nowhere +asserted. A simpler solution is probably that, of the three novels she +had written or sketched by 1811, _Pride and Prejudice_ was languishing +under the stigma of having been refused by one bookseller without the +formality of inspection, while _Northanger Abbey_ was lying _perdu_ in +another bookseller's drawer at Bath. In these circumstances it is +intelligible that she should turn to _Sense and Sensibility_, when, at +length--upon the occasion of a visit to her brother in London in the +spring of 1811--Mr. T. Egerton of the 'Military Library,' Whitehall, +dawned upon the horizon as a practicable publisher. + +By the time _Sense and Sensibility_ left the press, Miss Austen was +again domiciled at Chawton Cottage. For those accustomed to the +swarming reviews of our day, with their Babel of notices, it may seem +strange that there should be no record of the effect produced, seeing +that, as already stated, the book sold well enough to enable its +putter-forth to hand over to its author what Mr. Gargery, in _Great +Expectations_, would have described as 'a cool L150.' Surely Mr. +Egerton, who had visited Miss Austen at Sloane Street, must have later +conveyed to her some intelligence of the way in which her work had +been welcomed by the public. But if he did, it is no longer +discoverable. Mr. Austen Leigh, her first and best biographer, could +find no account either of the publication or of the author's feelings +thereupon. As far as it is possible to judge, the critical verdicts +she obtained were mainly derived from her own relatives and intimate +friends, and some of these latter--if one may trust a little anthology +which she herself collected, and from which Mr. Austen Leigh prints +extracts--must have been more often exasperating than sympathetic. The +long chorus of intelligent approval by which she was afterwards +greeted did not begin to be really audible before her death, and her +'fit audience' during her lifetime must have been emphatically 'few,' +Of two criticisms which came out in the _Quarterly_ early in the +century, she could only have seen one, that of 1815; the other, by +Archbishop Whately, the first which treated her in earnest, did not +appear until she had been three years dead. Dr. Whately deals mainly +with _Mansfield Park_ and _Persuasion_; his predecessor professed to +review _Emma_, though he also gives brief summaries of _Sense and +Sensibility_ and _Pride and Prejudice_. Mr. Austen Leigh, we think, +speaks too contemptuously of this initial notice of 1815. If, at +certain points, it is half-hearted and inadequate, it is still fairly +accurate in its recognition of Miss Austen's supreme merit, as +contrasted with her contemporaries--to wit, her skill in investing the +fortunes of ordinary characters and the narrative of common +occurrences with all the sustained excitement of romance. The Reviewer +points out very justly that this kind of work, 'being deprived of all +that, according to Bayes, goes "to elevate and surprise," must make +amends by displaying depth of knowledge and dexterity of execution.' +And in these qualities, even with such living competitors of her own +sex as Miss Edgeworth and Miss Brunton (whose _Self-control_ came out +in the same year as _Sense and Sensibility_), he does not scruple to +declare that 'Miss Austen stands almost alone.' If he omits to lay +stress upon her judgment, her nice sense of fitness, her restraint, +her fine irony, and the delicacy of her artistic touch, something must +be allowed for the hesitations and reservations which invariably beset +the critical pioneer. + +To contend, however, for a moment that the present volume is Miss +Austen's greatest, as it was her first published, novel, would be a +mere exercise in paradox. There are, who swear by _Persuasion_; there +are, who prefer _Emma_ and _Mansfield Park_; there is a large +contingent for _Pride and Prejudice_; and there is even a section +which advocates the pre-eminence of _Northanger Abbey_. But no one, as +far as we can remember, has ever put _Sense and Sensibility_ first, +nor can we believe that its author did so herself. And yet it is she +herself who has furnished the standard by which we judge it, and it is +by comparison with _Pride and Prejudice_, in which the leading +characters are also two sisters, that we assess and depress its merit. +The Elinor and Marianne of _Sense and Sensibility_ are only inferior +when they are contrasted with the Elizabeth and Jane of _Pride and +Prejudice_; and even then, it is probably because we personally like +the handsome and amiable Jane Bennet rather better than the obsolete +survival of the sentimental novel represented by Marianne Dashwood. +Darcy and Bingley again are much more 'likeable' (to use Lady +Queensberry's word) than the colourless Edward Ferrars and the +stiff-jointed Colonel Brandon. Yet it might not unfairly be contended +that there is more fidelity to what Mr. Thomas Hardy has termed +'life's little ironies' in Miss Austen's disposal of the two Miss +Dashwoods than there is in her disposal of the heroines of _Pride and +Prejudice_. Every one does not get a Bingley, or a Darcy (with a +park); but a good many sensible girls like Elinor pair off contentedly +with poor creatures like Edward Ferrars, while not a few enthusiasts +like Marianne decline at last upon middle-aged colonels with flannel +waistcoats. George Eliot, we fancy, would have held that the fates of +Elinor and Marianne were more probable than the fortunes of Jane and +Eliza Bennet. That, of the remaining characters, there is certainly +none to rival Mr. Bennet, or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, or the +ineffable Mr. Collins, of _Pride and Prejudice_, is true; but we +confess to a kindness for vulgar matchmaking Mrs. Jennings with her +still-room 'parmaceti for an inward bruise' in the shape of a glass of +old Constantia; and for the diluted Squire Western, Sir John +Middleton, whose horror of being alone carries him to the point of +rejoicing in the acquisition of _two_ to the population of London. +Excellent again are Mr. Palmer and his wife; excellent, in their +sordid veracity, the self-seeking figures of the Miss Steeles. But the +pearls of the book must be allowed to be that egregious amateur in +toothpick-cases, Mr. Robert Ferrars (with his excursus in chapter +xxxvi. on life in a cottage), and the admirably-matched Mr. and Mrs. +John Dashwood. Miss Austen herself has never done anything better than +the inimitable and oft-quoted chapter wherein is debated between the +last-named pair the momentous matter of the amount to be devoted to +Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters; while the suggestion in chapters +xxxiii. and xxxiv. that the owner of Norland was once within some +thousands of having to sell out at a loss, deserves to be remembered +with that other memorable escape of Sir Roger de Coverley's ancestor, +who was only not killed in the civil wars because 'he was sent out of +the field upon a private message, the day before the battle of +Worcester.' + +Of local colouring there is as little in _Sense and Sensibility_ as in +_Pride and Prejudice_. It is not unlikely that some memories of +Steventon may survive in Norland; and it may be noted that there is +actually a Barton Place to the north of Exeter, not far from Lord +Iddesleigh's well-known seat of Upton Pynes. It is scarcely possible, +also, not to believe that, in Mrs. Jennings's description of +Delaford--'a nice place, I can tell you; exactly what I call a nice +old-fashioned place, full of comforts and conveniences; quite shut in +with great garden walls that are covered with the best fruit-trees in +the country; and such a mulberry tree in one corner!'--Miss Austen had +in mind some real Hampshire or Devonshire country house. In any case, +it comes nearer a picture than what we usually get from her pen. 'Then +there is a dovecote, some delightful stew-ponds, and a very pretty +canal; and everything, in short, that one could wish for; and, +moreover, it is close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile +from the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only go and sit +up in an old yew arbour behind the house, you may see all the +carriages that pass along.' The last lines suggest those quaint +'gazebos' and alcoves, which, in the coaching days, were so often to +be found perched at the roadside, where one might sit and watch the +Dover or Canterbury stage go whirling by. Of genteel accomplishments +there is a touch In the 'landscape in coloured silks' which Charlotte +Palmer had worked at school (chap, xxvi.); and of old remedies for the +lost art of swooning, in the 'lavender drops' of chapter xxix. The +mention of a dance as a 'little hop' in chapter ix. reads like a +premature instance of middle Victorian slang. But nothing is new--even +in a novel--and 'hop,' in this sense, is at least as old as _Joseph +Andrews_. + + * * * * * + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Mr. Dashwood introduced him _Frontispiece_ + +His son's son, a child of four years old + +"I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it" + +So shy before company + +They sang together + +He cut off a long lock of her hair + +"I have found you out in spite of all your tricks" + +Apparently In violent affliction + +Begging her to stop + +Came to take a survey of the guest + +"I declare they are quite charming" + +Mischievous tricks + +Drinking to her best affections + +Amiably bashful + +"I can answer for it," said Mrs. Jennings + +At that moment she first perceived him + +"How fond he was of it!" + +Offered him one of Folly's puppies + +A very smart beau + +Introduced to Mrs. Jennings + +Mrs. Jennings assured him directly that she should not stand +upon ceremony + +Mrs. Ferrars + +Drawing him a little aside + +In a whisper + +"You have heard, I suppose" + +Talking over the business + +"She put in the feather last night" + +Listening at the door + +Both gained considerable amusement + +"Of one thing I may assure you" + +Showing her child to the housekeeper + +The gardener's lamentations + +Opened a window-shutter + +"I entreat you to stay" + +"I was formally dismissed" + +"I have entered many a shop to avoid your sight" + +"And see how the children go on" + +"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is married" + +It _was_ Edward + +"Everything in such respectable condition" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +The family of Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex. Their estate +was large, and their residence was at Norland Park, in the centre of +their property, where, for many generations, they had lived in so +respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their +surrounding acquaintance. The late owner of this estate was a single +man, who lived to a very advanced age, and who for many years of his +life, had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister. But her +death, which happened ten years before his own, produced a great +alteration in his home; for to supply her loss, he invited and +received into his house the family of his nephew Mr. Henry Dashwood, +the legal inheritor of the Norland estate, and the person to whom he +intended to bequeath it. In the society of his nephew and niece, and +their children, the old Gentleman's days were comfortably spent. His +attachment to them all increased. The constant attention of Mr. and +Mrs. Henry Dashwood to his wishes, which proceeded not merely from +interest, but from goodness of heart, gave him every degree of solid +comfort which his age could receive; and the cheerfulness of the +children added a relish to his existence. + +By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present +lady, three daughters. The son, a steady respectable young man, was +amply provided for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large, +and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age. By his own +marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards, he added to his +wealth. To him therefore the succession to the Norland estate was not +so really important as to his sisters; for their fortune, independent +of what might arise to them from their father's inheriting that +property, could be but small. Their mother had nothing, and their +father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the +remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was also secured to her +child, and he had only a life-interest in it. + +The old gentleman died: his will was read, and like almost every +other will, gave as much disappointment as pleasure. He was neither so +unjust, nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew; but +he left it to him on such terms as destroyed half the value of the +bequest. Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his wife +and daughters than for himself or his son; but to his son, and his +son's son, a child of four years old, it was secured, in such a way, +as to leave to himself no power of providing for those who were most +dear to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge on the +estate, or by any sale of its valuable woods. The whole was tied up +for the benefit of this child, who, in occasional visits with his +father and mother at Norland, had so far gained on the affections of +his uncle, by such attractions as are by no means unusual in children +of two or three years old; an imperfect articulation, an earnest +desire of having his own way, many cunning tricks, and a great deal of +noise, as to outweigh all the value of all the attention which, for +years, he had received from his niece and her daughters. He meant not +to be unkind, however, and, as a mark of his affection for the three +girls, he left them a thousand pounds a-piece. + +Mr. Dashwood's disappointment was, at first, severe; but his temper +was cheerful and sanguine; and he might reasonably hope to live many +years, and by living economically, lay by a considerable sum from the +produce of an estate already large, and capable of almost immediate +improvement. But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was +his only one twelvemonth. He survived his uncle no longer; and ten +thousand pounds, including the late legacies, was all that remained +for his widow and daughters. + +His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known, and to him Mr. +Dashwood recommended, with all the strength and urgency which illness +could command, the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters. + +Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the +family; but he was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at +such a time, and he promised to do every thing in his power to make +them comfortable. His father was rendered easy by such an assurance, +and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there +might prudently be in his power to do for them. + +[Illustration: _His son's son, a child of four years old._] + +He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted +and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well +respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of +his ordinary duties. Had he married a more amiable woman, he might +have been made still more respectable than he was: he might even have +been made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married, and +very fond of his wife. But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature +of himself; more narrow-minded and selfish. + +When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated within himself to +increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand +pounds a-piece. He then really thought himself equal to it. The +prospect of four thousand a-year, in addition to his present income, +besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune, warmed his +heart, and made him feel capable of generosity. "Yes, he would give +them three thousand pounds: it would be liberal and handsome! It would +be enough to make them completely easy. Three thousand pounds! he +could spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience." He +thought of it all day long, and for many days successively, and he did +not repent. + +No sooner was his father's funeral over, than Mrs. John Dashwood, +without sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law, +arrived with her child and their attendants. No one could dispute her +right to come; the house was her husband's from the moment of his +father's decease; but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the +greater, and to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only common +feelings, must have been highly unpleasing. But in _her_ mind there +was a sense of honor so keen, a generosity so romantic, that any +offence of the kind, by whomsoever given or received, was to her a +source of immovable disgust. Mrs. John Dashwood had never been a +favourite with any of her husband's family; but she had had no +opportunity, till the present, of showing them with how little +attention to the comfort of other people she could act when occasion +required it. + +So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour, and so +earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it, that, on the +arrival of the latter, she would have quitted the house for ever, had +not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on +the propriety of going, and her own tender love for all her three +children determined her afterwards to stay, and for their sakes avoid +a breach with their brother. + +Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed +a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified +her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and +enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all, +that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led +to imprudence. She had an excellent heart; her disposition was +affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern +them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn; and which +one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught. + +Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's. +She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her +joys, could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, +interesting: she was everything but prudent. The resemblance between +her and her mother was strikingly great. + +Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister's sensibility; but +by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued and cherished. They encouraged each +other now in the violence of their affliction. The agony of grief +which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed, was sought +for, was created again and again. They gave themselves up wholly to +their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection +that could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation +in future. Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still she could +struggle, she could exert herself. She could consult with her brother, +could receive her sister-in-law on her arrival, and treat her with +proper attention; and could strive to rouse her mother to similar +exertion, and encourage her to similar forbearance. + +Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored, well-disposed girl; +but as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, +without having much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair +to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Mrs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of Norland; and her +mother and sisters-in-law were degraded to the condition of visitors. +As such, however, they were treated by her with quiet civility; and by +her husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody +beyond himself, his wife, and their child. He really pressed them, +with some earnestness, to consider Norland as their home; and, as no +plan appeared so eligible to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she +could accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood, his +invitation was accepted. + +A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former +delight, was exactly what suited her mind. In seasons of cheerfulness, +no temper could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater +degree, that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness +itself. But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy, +and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy. + +Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended +to do for his sisters. To take three thousand pounds from the fortune +of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most +dreadful degree. She begged him to think again on the subject. How +could he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only child +too, of so large a sum? And what possible claim could the Miss +Dashwoods, who were related to him only by half blood, which she +considered as no relationship at all, have on his generosity to so +large an amount. It was very well known that no affection was ever +supposed to exist between the children of any man by different +marriages; and why was he to ruin himself, and their poor little +Harry, by giving away all his money to his half sisters? + +"It was my father's last request to me," replied her husband, "that I +should assist his widow and daughters." + +"He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one but he +was light-headed at the time. Had he been in his right senses, he +could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away +half your fortune from your own child." + +"He did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only +requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make their +situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do. Perhaps it +would have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself. He could +hardly suppose I should neglect them. But as he required the promise, +I could not do less than give it; at least I thought so at the time. +The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed. Something +must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new +home." + +"Well, then, _let_ something be done for them; but _that_ something +need not be three thousand pounds. Consider," she added, "that when +the money is once parted with, it never can return. Your sisters will +marry, and it will be gone for ever. If, indeed, it could be restored +to our poor little boy--" + +"Why, to be sure," said her husband, very gravely, "that would make +great difference. The time may come when Harry will regret that so +large a sum was parted with. If he should have a numerous family, for +instance, it would be a very convenient addition." + +"To be sure it would." + +"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were +diminished one half. Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious +increase to their fortunes!" + +"Oh! beyond anything great! What brother on earth would do half so +much for his sisters, even if _really_ his sisters! And as it is--only +half blood! But you have such a generous spirit!" + +"I would not wish to do any thing mean," he replied. "One had rather, +on such occasions, do too much than too little. No one, at least, can +think I have not done enough for them: even themselves, they can +hardly expect more." + +"There is no knowing what _they_ may expect," said the lady, "but we +are not to think of their expectations: the question is, what you can +afford to do." + +"Certainly; and I think I may afford to give them five hundred pounds +a-piece. As it is, without any addition of mine, they will each have +about three thousand pounds on their mother's death--a very +comfortable fortune for any young woman." + +"To be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that they can want no +addition at all. They will have ten thousand pounds divided amongst +them. If they marry, they will be sure of doing well, and if they do +not, they may all live very comfortably together on the interest of +ten thousand pounds." + +"That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon the +whole, it would not be more advisable to do something for their mother +while she lives, rather than for them--something of the annuity kind I +mean. My sisters would feel the good effects of it as well as herself. +A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable." + +His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving her consent to this +plan. + +"To be sure," said she, "it is better than parting with fifteen +hundred pounds at once. But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood should live +fifteen years we shall be completely taken in." + +"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot be worth half that +purchase." + +"Certainly not; but if you observe, people always live for ever when +there is an annuity to be paid them; and she is very stout and +healthy, and hardly forty. An annuity is a very serious business; it +comes over and over every year, and there is no getting rid of it. You +are not aware of what you are doing. I have known a great deal of the +trouble of annuities; for my mother was clogged with the payment of +three to old superannuated servants by my father's will, and it is +amazing how disagreeable she found it. Twice every year these +annuities were to be paid; and then there was the trouble of getting +it to them; and then one of them was said to have died, and afterwards +it turned out to be no such thing. My mother was quite sick of it. Her +income was not her own, she said, with such perpetual claims on it; +and it was the more unkind in my father, because, otherwise, the money +would have been entirely at my mother's disposal, without any +restriction whatever. It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, +that I am sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for +all the world." + +"It is certainly an unpleasant thing," replied Mr. Dashwood, "to have +those kind of yearly drains on one's income. One's fortune, as your +mother justly says, is _not_ one's own. To be tied down to the regular +payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it +takes away one's independence." + +"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it. They think +themselves secure, you do no more than what is expected, and it raises +no gratitude at all. If I were you, whatever I did should be done at +my own discretion entirely. I would not bind myself to allow them any +thing yearly. It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a +hundred, or even fifty pounds from our own expenses." + +"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should +be no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them occasionally will +be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they +would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger +income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the +year. It will certainly be much the best way. A present of fifty +pounds, now and then, will prevent their ever being distressed for +money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my +father." + +"To be sure it will. Indeed, to say the truth, I am convinced within +myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at +all. The assistance he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might +be reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking out for a +comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things, +and sending them presents of fish and game, and so forth, whenever +they are in season. I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; +indeed, it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did. Do but +consider, my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively comfortable your +mother-in-law and her daughters may live on the interest of seven +thousand pounds, besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the +girls, which brings them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of +course, they will pay their mother for their board out of it. +Altogether, they will have five hundred a-year amongst them, and what +on earth can four women want for more than that?--They will live so +cheap! Their housekeeping will be nothing at all. They will have no +carriage, no horses, and hardly any servants; they will keep no +company, and can have no expenses of any kind! Only conceive how +comfortable they will be! Five hundred a year! I am sure I cannot +imagine how they will spend half of it; and as to your giving them +more, it is quite absurd to think of it. They will be much more able +to give _you_ something." + +"Upon my word," said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right. +My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than +what you say. I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil +my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you +have described. When my mother removes into another house my services +shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can. Some little +present of furniture too may be acceptable then." + +"Certainly," returned Mrs. John Dashwood. "But, however, _one_ thing +must be considered. When your father and mother moved to Norland, +though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and +linen was saved, and is now left to your mother. Her house will +therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it." + +"That is a material consideration undoubtedly. A valuable legacy +indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant +addition to our own stock here." + +"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what +belongs to this house. A great deal too handsome, in my opinion, for +any place _they_ can ever afford to live in. But, however, so it is. +Your father thought only of _them_ And I must say this: that you owe +no particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we +very well know that if he could, he would have left almost everything +in the world to _them._" + +This argument was irresistible. It gave to his intentions whatever of +decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be +absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the +widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts +as his own wife pointed out. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norland several months; not from any +disinclination to move when the sight of every well known spot ceased +to raise the violent emotion which it produced for a while; for when +her spirits began to revive, and her mind became capable of some other +exertion than that of heightening its affliction by melancholy +remembrances, she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her +inquiries for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland; for +to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible. But she could +hear of no situation that at once answered her notions of comfort and +ease, and suited the prudence of her eldest daughter, whose steadier +judgment rejected several houses as too large for their income, which +her mother would have approved. + +[Illustration: "_I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it._"] + +Mrs. Dashwood had been informed by her husband of the solemn promise +on the part of his son in their favour, which gave comfort to his last +earthly reflections. She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no +more than he had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for her +daughters' sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was +persuaded that a much smaller provision than 7000L would support her +in affluence. For their brother's sake, too, for the sake of his own +heart, she rejoiced; and she reproached herself for being unjust to +his merit before, in believing him incapable of generosity. His +attentive behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that +their welfare was dear to him, and, for a long time, she firmly relied +on the liberality of his intentions. + +The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance, felt for +her daughter-in-law, was very much increased by the farther knowledge +of her character, which half a year's residence in her family +afforded; and perhaps in spite of every consideration of politeness or +maternal affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might +have found it impossible to have lived together so long, had not a +particular circumstance occurred to give still greater eligibility, +according to the opinions of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters' +continuance at Norland. + +This circumstance was a growing attachment between her eldest girl and +the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood, a gentlemanlike and pleasing young +man, who was introduced to their acquaintance soon after his sister's +establishment at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part of +his time there. + +Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from motives of +interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son of a man who had died +very rich; and some might have repressed it from motives of prudence, +for, except a trifling sum, the whole of his fortune depended on the +will of his mother. But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either +consideration. It was enough for her that he appeared to be amiable, +that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned the partiality. +It was contrary to every doctrine of her's that difference of fortune +should keep any couple asunder who were attracted by resemblance of +disposition; and that Elinor's merit should not be acknowledged by +every one who knew her, was to her comprehension impossible. + +Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by any +peculiar graces of person or address. He was not handsome, and his +manners required intimacy to make them pleasing. He was too diffident +to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome, +his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart. +His understanding was good, and his education had given it solid +improvement. But he was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition to +answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed to see him +distinguished as--they hardly knew what. They wanted him to make a +fine figure in the world in some manner or other. His mother wished to +interest him in political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to +see him connected with some of the great men of the day. Mrs. John +Dashwood wished it likewise; but in the mean while, till one of these +superior blessings could be attained, it would have quieted her +ambition to see him driving a barouche. But Edward had no turn for +great men or barouches. All his wishes centered in domestic comfort +and the quiet of private life. Fortunately he had a younger brother +who was more promising. + +Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged +much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention; for she was, at that time, in such +affliction as rendered her careless of surrounding objects. She saw +only that he was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it. He +did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by ill-timed +conversation. She was first called to observe and approve him farther, +by a reflection which Elinor chanced one day to make on the +difference between him and his sister. It was a contrast which +recommended him most forcibly to her mother. + +"It is enough," said she; "to say that he is unlike Fanny is enough. +It implies everything amiable. I love him already." + +"I think you will like him," said Elinor, "when you know more of him." + +"Like him!" replied her mother with a smile. "I feel no sentiment of +approbation inferior to love." + +"You may esteem him." + +"I have never yet known what it was to separate esteem and love." + +Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him. Her manners +were attaching, and soon banished his reserve. She speedily +comprehended all his merits; the persuasion of his regard for Elinor +perhaps assisted her penetration; but she really felt assured of his +worth: and even that quietness of manner, which militated against all +her established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be, was +no longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be warm and his +temper affectionate. + +No sooner did she perceive any symptom of love in his behaviour to +Elinor, than she considered their serious attachment as certain, and +looked forward to their marriage as rapidly approaching. + +"In a few months, my dear Marianne," said she, "Elinor will, in all +probability be settled for life. We shall miss her; but _she_ will be +happy." + +"Oh! Mamma, how shall we do without her?" + +"My love, it will be scarcely a separation. We shall live within a few +miles of each other, and shall meet every day of our lives. You will +gain a brother--a real, affectionate brother. I have the highest +opinion in the world of Edward's heart. But you look grave, Marianne; +do you disapprove your sister's choice?" + +"Perhaps," said Marianne, "I may consider it with some surprise. +Edward is very amiable, and I love him tenderly. But yet--he is not +the kind of young man; there is something wanting--his figure is not +striking; it has none of that grace which I should expect in the man +who could seriously attach my sister. His eyes want all that spirit, +that fire, which at once announce virtue and intelligence. And besides +all this, I am afraid, Mamma, he has no real taste. Music seems +scarcely to attract him, and though he admires Elinor's drawings very +much, it is not the admiration of a person who can understand their +worth. It is evident, in spite of his frequent attention to her while +she draws, that in fact he knows nothing of the matter. He admires as +a lover, not as a connoisseur. To satisfy me, those characters must be +united. I could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every +point coincide with my own. He must enter into all my feelings; the +same books, the same music must charm us both. Oh! mama, how +spiritless, how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night! +I felt for my sister most severely. Yet she bore it with so much +composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it. I could hardly keep my +seat. To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost +driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such +dreadful indifference!" + +"He would certainly have done more justice to simple and elegant +prose. I thought so at the time; but you _would_ give him Cowper." + +"Nay, Mamma, if he is not to be animated by Cowper!--but we must allow +for difference of taste. Elinor has not my feelings, and therefore she +may overlook it, and be happy with him. But it would have broke _my_ +heart, had I loved him, to hear him read with so little sensibility. +Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I +shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much! He +must have all Edward's virtues, and his person and manners must +ornament his goodness with every possible charm." + +"Remember, my love, that you are not seventeen. It is yet too early in +life to despair of such a happiness. Why should you be less fortunate +than your mother? In one circumstance only, my Marianne, may your +destiny be different from her's!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +"What a pity it is, Elinor," said Marianne, "that Edward should have +no taste for drawing." + +"No taste for drawing!" replied Elinor, "why should you think so? He +does not draw himself, indeed, but he has great pleasure in seeing the +performances of other people, and I assure you he is by no means +deficient in natural taste, though he has not had opportunities of +improving it. Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he +would have drawn very well. He distrusts his own judgment in such +matters so much, that he is always unwilling to give his opinion on +any picture; but he has an innate propriety and simplicity of taste, +which in general direct him perfectly right." + +Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no more on the subject; but +the kind of approbation which Elinor described as excited in him by +the drawings of other people, was very far from that rapturous +delight, which, in her opinion, could alone be called taste. Yet, +though smiling within herself at the mistake, she honoured her sister +for that blind partiality to Edward which produced it. + +"I hope, Marianne," continued Elinor, "you do not consider him as +deficient in general taste. Indeed, I think I may say that you cannot, +for your behaviour to him is perfectly cordial, and if _that_ were +your opinion, I am sure you could never be civil to him." + +Marianne hardly knew what to say. She would not wound the feelings of +her sister on any account, and yet to say what she did not believe was +impossible. At length she replied: + +"Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him is not in every thing +equal to your sense of his merits. I have not had so many +opportunities of estimating the minuter propensities of his mind, his +inclinations and tastes, as you have; but I have the highest opinion +in the world of his goodness and sense. I think him every thing that +is worthy and amiable." + +"I am sure," replied Elinor, with a smile, "that his dearest friends +could not be dissatisfied with such commendation as that. I do not +perceive how you could express yourself more warmly." + +Marianne was rejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased. + +"Of his sense and his goodness," continued Elinor, "no one can, I +think, be in doubt, who has seen him often enough to engage him in +unreserved conversation. The excellence of his understanding and his +principles can be concealed only by that shyness which too often keeps +him silent. You know enough of him to do justice to his solid worth. +But of his minuter propensities, as you call them you have from +peculiar circumstances been kept more ignorant than myself. He and I +have been at times thrown a good deal together, while you have been +wholly engrossed on the most affectionate principle by my mother. I +have seen a great deal of him, have studied his sentiments and heard +his opinion on subjects of literature and taste; and, upon the whole, +I venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed, enjoyment of +books exceedingly great, his imagination lively, his observation just +and correct, and his taste delicate and pure. His abilities in every +respect improve as much upon acquaintance as his manners and person. +At first sight, his address is certainly not striking; and his person +can hardly be called handsome, till the expression of his eyes, which +are uncommonly good, and the general sweetness of his countenance, is +perceived. At present, I know him so well, that I think him really +handsome; or at least, almost so. What say you, Marianne?" + +"I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, if I do not now. When +you tell me to love him as a brother, I shall no more see imperfection +in his face, than I now do in his heart." + +Elinor started at this declaration, and was sorry for the warmth she +had been betrayed into, in speaking of him. She felt that Edward stood +very high in her opinion. She believed the regard to be mutual; but +she required greater certainty of it to make Marianne's conviction of +their attachment agreeable to her. She knew that what Marianne and her +mother conjectured one moment, they believed the next--that with them, +to wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect. She tried to explain +the real state of the case to her sister. + +"I do not attempt to deny," said she, "that I think very highly of +him--that I greatly esteem, that I like him." + +Marianne here burst forth with indignation-- + +"Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh! worse than +cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise. Use those words again, and I +will leave the room this moment." + +Elinor could not help laughing. "Excuse me," said she; "and be assured +that I meant no offence to you, by speaking, in so quiet a way, of my +own feelings. Believe them to be stronger than I have declared; +believe them, in short, to be such as his merit, and the +suspicion--the hope--of his affection for me may warrant, without +imprudence or folly. But farther than this you must not believe. I am +by no means assured of his regard for me. There are moments when the +extent of it seems doubtful; and till his sentiments are fully known, +you cannot wonder at my wishing to avoid any encouragement of my own +partiality, by believing or calling it more than it is. In my heart I +feel little--scarcely any doubt of his preference. But there are other +points to be considered besides his inclination. He is very far from +being independent. What his mother really is we cannot know; but, from +Fanny's occasional mention of her conduct and opinions, we have never +been disposed to think her amiable; and I am very much mistaken if +Edward is not himself aware that there would be many difficulties in +his way, if he were to wish to marry a woman who had not either a +great fortune or high rank." + +Marianne was astonished to find how much the imagination of her mother +and herself had outstripped the truth. + +"And you really are not engaged to him!" said she. "Yet it certainly +soon will happen. But two advantages will proceed from this delay. I +shall not lose you so soon, and Edward will have greater opportunity +of improving that natural taste for your favourite pursuit which must +be so indispensably necessary to your future felicity. Oh! if he +should be so far stimulated by your genius as to learn to draw +himself, how delightful it would be!" + +Elinor had given her real opinion to her sister. She could not +consider her partiality for Edward in so prosperous a state as +Marianne had believed it. There was, at times, a want of spirits about +him which, if it did not denote indifference, spoke of something +almost as unpromising. A doubt of her regard, supposing him to feel +it, need not give him more than inquietude. It would not be likely to +produce that dejection of mind which frequently attended him. A more +reasonable cause might be found in the dependent situation which +forbade the indulgence of his affection. She knew that his mother +neither behaved to him so as to make his home comfortable at present, +nor to give him any assurance that he might form a home for himself, +without strictly attending to her views for his aggrandizement. With +such a knowledge as this, it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy on +the subject. She was far from depending on that result of his +preference of her, which her mother and sister still considered as +certain. Nay, the longer they were together the more doubtful seemed +the nature of his regard; and sometimes, for a few painful minutes, +she believed it to be no more than friendship. + +But, whatever might really be its limits, it was enough, when +perceived by his sister, to make her uneasy, and at the same time, +(which was still more common,) to make her uncivil. She took the first +opportunity of affronting her mother-in-law on the occasion, talking +to her so expressively of her brother's great expectations, of Mrs. +Ferrars's resolution that both her sons should marry well, and of the +danger attending any young woman who attempted to _draw him in_, that +Mrs. Dashwood could neither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavor to +be calm. She gave her an answer which marked her contempt, and +instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever might be the +inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal, her beloved Elinor +should not be exposed another week to such insinuations. + +In this state of her spirits, a letter was delivered to her from the +post, which contained a proposal particularly well timed. It was the +offer of a small house, on very easy terms, belonging to a relation of +her own, a gentleman of consequence and property in Devonshire. The +letter was from this gentleman himself, and written in the true spirit +of friendly accommodation. He understood that she was in need of a +dwelling; and though the house he now offered her was merely a +cottage, he assured her that everything should be done to it which she +might think necessary, if the situation pleased her. He earnestly +pressed her, after giving the particulars of the house and garden, to +come with her daughters to Barton Park, the place of his own +residence, from whence she might judge, herself, whether Barton +Cottage, for the houses were in the same parish, could, by any +alteration, be made comfortable to her. He seemed really anxious to +accommodate them and the whole of his letter was written in so +friendly a style as could not fail of giving pleasure to his cousin; +more especially at a moment when she was suffering under the cold and +unfeeling behaviour of her nearer connections. She needed no time for +deliberation or inquiry. Her resolution was formed as she read. The +situation of Barton, in a county so far distant from Sussex as +Devonshire, which, but a few hours before, would have been a +sufficient objection to outweigh every possible advantage belonging to +the place, was now its first recommendation. To quit the neighbourhood +of Norland was no longer an evil; it was an object of desire; it was a +blessing, in comparison of the misery of continuing her +daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for ever from that beloved +place would be less painful than to inhabit or visit it while such a +woman was its mistress. She instantly wrote Sir John Middleton her +acknowledgment of his kindness, and her acceptance of his proposal; +and then hastened to show both letters to her daughters, that she +might be secure of their approbation before her answer were sent. + +Elinor had always thought it would be more prudent for them to settle +at some distance from Norland, than immediately amongst their present +acquaintance. On _that_ head, therefore, it was not for her to oppose +her mother's intention of removing into Devonshire. The house, too, as +described by Sir John, was on so simple a scale, and the rent so +uncommonly moderate, as to leave her no right of objection on either +point; and, therefore, though it was not a plan which brought any +charm to her fancy, though it was a removal from the vicinity of +Norland beyond her wishes, she made no attempt to dissuade her mother +from sending a letter of acquiescence. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +No sooner was her answer dispatched, than Mrs. Dashwood indulged +herself in the pleasure of announcing to her son-in-law and his wife +that she was provided with a house, and should incommode them no +longer than till every thing were ready for her inhabiting it. They +heard her with surprise. Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but her +husband civilly hoped that she would not be settled far from Norland. +She had great satisfaction in replying that she was going into +Devonshire. Edward turned hastily towards her, on hearing this, and, +in a voice of surprise and concern, which required no explanation to +her, repeated, "Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there? So far from +hence! And to what part of it?" She explained the situation. It was +within four miles northward of Exeter. + +"It is but a cottage," she continued, "but I hope to see many of my +friends in it. A room or two can easily be added; and if my friends +find no difficulty in travelling so far to see me, I am sure I will +find none in accommodating them." + +She concluded with a very kind invitation to Mr. and Mrs. John +Dashwood to visit her at Barton; and to Edward she gave one with still +greater affection. Though her late conversation with her +daughter-in-law had made her resolve on remaining at Norland no longer +than was unavoidable, it had not produced the smallest effect on her +in that point to which it principally tended. To separate Edward and +Elinor was as far from being her object as ever; and she wished to +show Mrs. John Dashwood, by this pointed invitation to her brother, +how totally she disregarded her disapprobation of the match. + +Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and again how exceedingly +sorry he was that she had taken a house at such a distance from +Norland as to prevent his being of any service to her in removing her +furniture. He really felt conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for +the very exertion to which he had limited the performance of his +promise to his father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable. +The furniture was all sent around by water. It chiefly consisted of +household linen, plate, china, and books, with a handsome pianoforte +of Marianne's. Mrs. John Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: +she could not help feeling it hard that as Mrs. Dashwood's income +would be so trifling in comparison with their own, she should have any +handsome article of furniture. + +Mrs. Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was ready +furnished, and she might have immediate possession. No difficulty +arose on either side in the agreement; and she waited only for the +disposal of her effects at Norland, and to determine her future +household, before she set off for the west; and this, as she was +exceedingly rapid in the performance of everything that interested +her, was soon done. The horses which were left her by her husband had +been sold soon after his death, and an opportunity now offering of +disposing of her carriage, she agreed to sell that likewise at the +earnest advice of her eldest daughter. For the comfort of her +children, had she consulted only her own wishes, she would have kept +it; but the discretion of Elinor prevailed. _Her_ wisdom too limited +the number of their servants to three; two maids and a man, with whom +they were speedily provided from amongst those who had formed their +establishment at Norland. + +The man and one of the maids were sent off immediately into +Devonshire, to prepare the house for their mistress's arrival; for as +Lady Middleton was entirely unknown to Mrs. Dashwood, she preferred +going directly to the cottage to being a visitor at Barton Park; and +she relied so undoubtingly on Sir John's description of the house, as +to feel no curiosity to examine it herself till she entered it as her +own. Her eagerness to be gone from Norland was preserved from +diminution by the evident satisfaction of her daughter-in-law in the +prospect of her removal; a satisfaction which was but feebly attempted +to be concealed under a cold invitation to her to defer her departure. +Now was the time when her son-in-law's promise to his father might +with particular propriety be fulfilled. Since he had neglected to do +it on first coming to the estate, their quitting his house might be +looked on as the most suitable period for its accomplishment. But Mrs. +Dashwood began shortly to give over every hope of the kind, and to be +convinced, from the general drift of his discourse, that his +assistance extended no farther than their maintenance for six months +at Norland. He so frequently talked of the increasing expenses of +housekeeping, and of the perpetual demands upon his purse, which a man +of any consequence in the world was beyond calculation exposed to, +that he seemed rather to stand in need of more money himself than to +have any design of giving money away. + +In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir John Middleton's +first letter to Norland, every thing was so far settled in their +future abode as to enable Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to begin +their journey. + +Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place so +much beloved. "Dear, dear Norland!" said Marianne, as she wandered +alone before the house, on the last evening of their being there; +"when shall I cease to regret you!--when learn to feel a home +elsewhere! Oh! happy house, could you know what I suffer in now +viewing you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may view you no +more! And you, ye well-known trees!--but you will continue the same. +No leaf will decay because we are removed, nor any branch become +motionless although we can observe you no longer! No; you will +continue the same; unconscious of the pleasure or the regret you +occasion, and insensible of any change in those who walk under your +shade! But who will remain to enjoy you?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The first part of their journey was performed in too melancholy a +disposition to be otherwise than tedious and unpleasant. But as they +drew towards the end of it, their interest in the appearance of a +country which they were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a +view of Barton Valley as they entered it gave them cheerfulness. It +was a pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich in pasture. After +winding along it for more than a mile, they reached their own house. A +small green court was the whole of its demesne in front; and a neat +wicket gate admitted them into it. + +As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and compact; +but as a cottage it was defective, for the building was regular, the +roof was tiled, the window shutters were not painted green, nor were +the walls covered with honeysuckles. A narrow passage led directly +through the house into the garden behind. On each side of the entrance +was a sitting room, about sixteen feet square; and beyond them were +the offices and the stairs. Four bedrooms and two garrets formed the +rest of the house. It had not been built many years and was in good +repair. In comparison of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!--but +the tears which recollection called forth as they entered the house +were soon dried away. They were cheered by the joy of the servants on +their arrival, and each for the sake of the others resolved to appear +happy. It was very early in September; the season was fine, and from +first seeing the place under the advantage of good weather, they +received an impression in its favour which was of material service in +recommending it to their lasting approbation. + +The situation of the house was good. High hills rose immediately +behind, and at no great distance on each side; some of which were open +downs, the others cultivated and woody. The village of Barton was +chiefly on one of these hills, and formed a pleasant view from the +cottage windows. The prospect in front was more extensive; it +commanded the whole of the valley, and reached into the country +beyond. The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated the valley +in that direction; under another name, and in another course, it +branched out again between two of the steepest of them. + +With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashwood was upon the +whole well satisfied; for though her former style of life rendered +many additions to the latter indispensable, yet to add and improve was +a delight to her; and she had at this time ready money enough to +supply all that was wanted of greater elegance to the apartments. "As +for the house itself, to be sure," said she, "it is too small for our +family, but we will make ourselves tolerably comfortable for the +present, as it is too late in the year for improvements. Perhaps in +the spring, if I have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may +think about building. These parlors are both too small for such +parties of our friends as I hope to see often collected here; and I +have some thoughts of throwing the passage into one of them with +perhaps a part of the other, and so leave the remainder of that other +for an entrance; this, with a new drawing room which may be easily +added, and a bed-chamber and garret above, will make it a very snug +little cottage. I could wish the stairs were handsome. But one must +not expect every thing; though I suppose it would be no difficult +matter to widen them. I shall see how much I am before-hand with the +world in the spring, and we will plan our improvements accordingly." + +In the mean time, till all these alterations could be made from the +savings of an income of five hundred a-year by a woman who never +saved in her life, they were wise enough to be contented with the +house as it was; and each of them was busy in arranging their +particular concerns, and endeavoring, by placing around them books and +other possessions, to form themselves a home. Marianne's pianoforte +was unpacked and properly disposed of; and Elinor's drawings were +affixed to the walls of their sitting room. + +In such employments as these they were interrupted soon after +breakfast the next day by the entrance of their landlord, who called +to welcome them to Barton, and to offer them every accommodation from +his own house and garden in which theirs might at present be +deficient. Sir John Middleton was a good looking man about forty. He +had formerly visited at Stanhill, but it was too long for his young +cousins to remember him. His countenance was thoroughly good-humoured; +and his manners were as friendly as the style of his letter. Their +arrival seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort to +be an object of real solicitude to him. He said much of his earnest +desire of their living in the most sociable terms with his family, and +pressed them so cordially to dine at Barton Park every day till they +were better settled at home, that, though his entreaties were carried +to a point of perseverance beyond civility, they could not give +offence. His kindness was not confined to words; for within an hour +after he left them, a large basket full of garden stuff and fruit +arrived from the park, which was followed before the end of the day by +a present of game. He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their +letters to and from the post for them, and would not be denied the +satisfaction of sending them his newspaper every day. + +Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him, denoting her +intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as she could be assured +that her visit would be no inconvenience; and as this message was +answered by an invitation equally polite, her ladyship was introduced +to them the next day. + +[Illustration: _So shy before company._] + +They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on whom so much of +their comfort at Barton must depend; and the elegance of her +appearance was favourable to their wishes. Lady Middleton was not more +than six or seven and twenty; her face was handsome, her figure tall +and striking, and her address graceful. Her manners had all the +elegance which her husband's wanted. But they would have been improved +by some share of his frankness and warmth; and her visit was long +enough to detract something from their first admiration, by showing +that, though perfectly well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had +nothing to say for herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or +remark. + +Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and +Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her +their eldest child, a fine little boy about six years old, by which +means there was one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in +case of extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age, admire +his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother answered for him, +while he hung about her and held down his head, to the great surprise +of her ladyship, who wondered at his being so shy before company, as +he could make noise enough at home. On every formal visit a child +ought to be of the party, by way of provision for discourse. In the +present case it took up ten minutes to determine whether the boy were +most like his father or mother, and in what particular he resembled +either, for of course every body differed, and every body was +astonished at the opinion of the others. + +An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on +the rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house +without securing their promise of dining at the park the next day. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Barton Park was about half a mile from the cottage. The ladies had +passed near it in their way along the valley, but it was screened from +their view at home by the projection of a hill. The house was large +and handsome; and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality +and elegance. The former was for Sir John's gratification, the latter +for that of his lady. They were scarcely ever without some friends +staying with them in the house, and they kept more company of every +kind than any other family in the neighbourhood. It was necessary to +the happiness of both; for however dissimilar in temper and outward +behaviour, they strongly resembled each other in that total want of +talent and taste which confined their employments, unconnected with +such as society produced, within a very narrow compass. Sir John was a +sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother. He hunted and shot, and she +humoured her children; and these were their only resources. Lady +Middleton had the advantage of being able to spoil her children all +the year round, while Sir John's independent employments were in +existence only half the time. Continual engagements at home and +abroad, however, supplied all the deficiencies of nature and +education; supported the good spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise +to the good breeding of his wife. + +Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance of her table, and of +all her domestic arrangements; and from this kind of vanity was her +greatest enjoyment in any of their parties. But Sir John's +satisfaction in society was much more real; he delighted in collecting +about him more young people than his house would hold, and the noisier +they were the better was he pleased. He was a blessing to all the +juvenile part of the neighbourhood, for in summer he was for ever +forming parties to eat cold ham and chicken out of doors, and in +winter his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who +was not suffering under the insatiable appetite of fifteen. + +The arrival of a new family in the country was always a matter of joy +to him, and in every point of view he was charmed with the inhabitants +he had now procured for his cottage at Barton. The Miss Dashwoods were +young, pretty, and unaffected. It was enough to secure his good +opinion; for to be unaffected was all that a pretty girl could want to +make her mind as captivating as her person. The friendliness of his +disposition made him happy in accommodating those, whose situation +might be considered, in comparison with the past, as unfortunate. In +showing kindness to his cousins therefore he had the real satisfaction +of a good heart; and in settling a family of females only in his +cottage, he had all the satisfaction of a sportsman; for a sportsman, +though he esteems only those of his sex who are sportsmen likewise, is +not often desirous of encouraging their taste by admitting them to a +residence within his own manor. + +Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door of the house by +Sir John, who welcomed them to Barton Park with unaffected sincerity; +and as he attended them to the drawing room repeated to the young +ladies the concern which the same subject had drawn from him the day +before, at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them. They +would see, he said, only one gentleman there besides himself; a +particular friend who was staying at the park, but who was neither +very young nor very gay. He hoped they would all excuse the smallness +of the party, and could assure them it should never happen so again. +He had been to several families that morning in hopes of procuring +some addition to their number, but it was moonlight and every body was +full of engagements. Luckily Lady Middleton's mother had arrived at +Barton within the last hour, and as she was a very cheerful agreeable +woman, he hoped the young ladies would not find it so very dull as +they might imagine. The young ladies, as well as their mother, were +perfectly satisfied with having two entire strangers of the party, and +wished for no more. + +Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a good-humoured, merry, +fat, elderly woman, who talked a great deal, seemed very happy, and +rather vulgar. She was full of jokes and laughter, and before dinner +was over had said many witty things on the subject of lovers and +husbands; hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex, +and pretended to see them blush whether they did or not. Marianne was +vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned her eyes towards Elinor +to see how she bore these attacks, with an earnestness which gave +Elinor far more pain than could arise from such common-place raillery +as Mrs. Jennings's. + +Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no more adapted by +resemblance of manner to be his friend, than Lady Middleton was to be +his wife, or Mrs. Jennings to be Lady Middleton's mother. He was +silent and grave. His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite +of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret an absolute old +bachelor, for he was on the wrong side of five and thirty; but though +his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his +address was particularly gentlemanlike. + +There was nothing in any of the party which could recommend them as +companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold insipidity of Lady Middleton +was so particularly repulsive, that in comparison of it the gravity +of Colonel Brandon, and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his +mother-in-law was interesting. Lady Middleton seemed to be roused to +enjoyment only by the entrance of her four noisy children after +dinner, who pulled her about, tore her clothes, and put an end to +every kind of discourse except what related to themselves. + +In the evening, as Marianne was discovered to be musical, she was +invited to play. The instrument was unlocked, every body prepared to +be charmed, and Marianne, who sang very well, at their request went +through the chief of the songs which Lady Middleton had brought into +the family on her marriage, and which perhaps had lain ever since in +the same position on the pianoforte, for her ladyship had celebrated +that event by giving up music, although by her mother's account, she +had played extremely well, and by her own was very fond of it. + +Marianne's performance was highly applauded. Sir John was loud in his +admiration at the end of every song, and as loud in his conversation +with the others while every song lasted. Lady Middleton frequently +called him to order, wondered how any one's attention could be +diverted from music for a moment, and asked Marianne to sing a +particular song which Marianne had just finished. Colonel Brandon +alone, of all the party, heard her without being in raptures. He paid +her only the compliment of attention; and she felt a respect for him +on the occasion, which the others had reasonably forfeited by their +shameless want of taste. His pleasure in music, though it amounted not +to that ecstatic delight which alone could sympathize with her own, +was estimable when contrasted against the horrible insensibility of +the others; and she was reasonable enough to allow that a man of five +and thirty might well have outlived all acuteness of feeling and every +exquisite power of enjoyment. She was perfectly disposed to make every +allowance for the colonel's advanced state of life which humanity +required. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure. She had only two +daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and +she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the +world. In the promotion of this object she was zealously active, as +far as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity of projecting +weddings among all the young people of her acquaintance. She was +remarkably quick in the discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the +advantage of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young lady +by insinuations of her power over such a young man; and this kind of +discernment enabled her soon after her arrival at Barton decisively to +pronounce that Colonel Brandon was very much in love with Marianne +Dashwood. She rather suspected it to be so, on the very first evening +of their being together, from his listening so attentively while she +sang to them; and when the visit was returned by the Middletons' +dining at the cottage, the fact was ascertained by his listening to +her again. It must be so. She was perfectly convinced of it. It would +be an excellent match, for _he_ was rich, and _she_ was handsome. Mrs. +Jennings had been anxious to see Colonel Brandon well married, ever +since her connection with Sir John first brought him to her knowledge; +and she was always anxious to get a good husband for every pretty +girl. + +The immediate advantage to herself was by no means inconsiderable, for +it supplied her with endless jokes against them both. At the park she +laughed at the colonel, and in the cottage at Marianne. To the former +her raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only himself, +perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was at first +incomprehensible; and when its object was understood, she hardly knew +whether most to laugh at its absurdity, or censure its impertinence, +for she considered it as an unfeeling reflection on the colonel's +advanced years, and on his forlorn condition as an old bachelor. + +Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man five years younger than +herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared to the youthful fancy +of her daughter, ventured to clear Mrs. Jennings from the probability +of wishing to throw ridicule on his age. + +"But at least, Mamma, you cannot deny the absurdity of the accusation, +though you may not think it intentionally ill-natured. Colonel Brandon +is certainly younger than Mrs. Jennings, but he is old enough to be +_my_ father; and if he were ever animated enough to be in love, must +have long outlived every sensation of the kind. It is too ridiculous! +When is a man to be safe from such wit, if age and infirmity will not +protect him?" + +"Infirmity!" said Elinor, "do you call Colonel Brandon infirm? I can +easily suppose that his age may appear much greater to you than to my +mother; but you can hardly deceive yourself as to his having the use +of his limbs!" + +"Did not you hear him complain of the rheumatism? and is not that the +commonest infirmity of declining life?" + +"My dearest child," said her mother, laughing, "at this rate you must +be in continual terror of _my_ decay; and it must seem to you a +miracle that my life has been extended to the advanced age of forty." + +"Mamma, you are not doing me justice. I know very well that Colonel +Brandon is not old enough to make his friends yet apprehensive of +losing him in the course of nature. He may live twenty years longer. +But thirty-five has nothing to do with matrimony." + +"Perhaps," said Elinor, "thirty-five and seventeen had better not have +any thing to do with matrimony together. But if there should by any +chance happen to be a woman who is single at seven and twenty, I +should not think Colonel Brandon's being thirty-five any objection to +his marrying _her_ ." + +"A woman of seven and twenty," said Marianne, after pausing a moment, +"can never hope to feel or inspire affection again, and if her home be +uncomfortable, or her fortune small, I can suppose that she might +bring herself to submit to the offices of a nurse, for the sake of the +provision and security of a wife. In his marrying such a woman +therefore there would be nothing unsuitable. It would be a compact of +convenience, and the world would be satisfied. In my eyes it would be +no marriage at all, but that would be nothing. To me it would seem +only a commercial exchange, in which each wished to be benefited at +the expense of the other." + +"It would be impossible, I know," replied Elinor, "to convince you +that a woman of seven and twenty could feel for a man of thirty-five +anything near enough to love, to make him a desirable companion to +her. But I must object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and his wife to +the constant confinement of a sick chamber, merely because he chanced +to complain yesterday (a very cold damp day) of a slight rheumatic +feel in one of his shoulders." + +"But he talked of flannel waistcoats," said Marianne; "and with me a +flannel waistcoat is invariably connected with aches, cramps, +rheumatisms, and every species of ailment that can afflict the old and +the feeble." + +"Had he been only in a violent fever, you would not have despised him +half so much. Confess, Marianne, is not there something interesting to +you in the flushed cheek, hollow eye, and quick pulse of a fever?" + +Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the room, "Mamma," said +Marianne, "I have an alarm on the subject of illness which I cannot +conceal from you. I am sure Edward Ferrars is not well. We have now +been here almost a fortnight, and yet he does not come. Nothing but +real indisposition could occasion this extraordinary delay. What else +can detain him at Norland?" + +"Had you any idea of his coming so soon?" said Mrs. Dashwood. "I had +none. On the contrary, if I have felt any anxiety at all on the +subject, it has been in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want +of pleasure and readiness in accepting my invitation, when I talked of +his coming to Barton. Does Elinor expect him already?" + +"I have never mentioned it to her, but of course she must." + +"I rather think you are mistaken, for when I was talking to her +yesterday of getting a new grate for the spare bed-chamber, she +observed that there was no immediate hurry for it, as it was not +likely that the room would be wanted for some time." + +"How strange this is! what can be the meaning of it! But the whole of +their behaviour to each other has been unaccountable! How cold, how +composed were their last adieus! How languid their conversation the +last evening of their being together! In Edward's farewell there was +no distinction between Elinor and me: it was the good wishes of an +affectionate brother to both. Twice did I leave them purposely +together in the course of the last morning, and each time did he most +unaccountably follow me out of the room. And Elinor, in quitting +Norland and Edward, cried not as I did. Even now her self-command is +invariable. When is she dejected or melancholy? When does she try to +avoid society, or appear restless and dissatisfied in it?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +The Dashwoods were now settled at Barton with tolerable comfort to +themselves. The house and the garden, with all the objects surrounding +them, were now become familiar, and the ordinary pursuits which had +given to Norland half its charms were engaged in again with far +greater enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, since the loss +of their father. Sir John Middleton, who called on them every day for +the first fortnight, and who was not in the habit of seeing much +occupation at home, could not conceal his amazement on finding them +always employed. + +Their visitors, except those from Barton Park, were not many; for, in +spite of Sir John's urgent entreaties that they would mix more in the +neighbourhood, and repeated assurances of his carriage being always at +their service, the independence of Mrs. Dashwood's spirit overcame the +wish of society for her children; and she was resolute in declining to +visit any family beyond the distance of a walk. There were but few who +could be so classed; and it was not all of them that were attainable. +About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow winding +valley of Allenham, which issued from that of Barton, as formerly +described, the girls had, in one of their earliest walks, discovered +an ancient respectable looking mansion which, by reminding them a +little of Norland, interested their imagination and made them wish to +be better acquainted with it. But they learnt, on enquiry, that its +possessor, an elderly lady of very good character, was unfortunately +too infirm to mix with the world, and never stirred from home. + +The whole country about them abounded in beautiful walks. The high +downs which invited them from almost every window of the cottage to +seek the exquisite enjoyment of air on their summits, were a happy +alternative when the dirt of the valleys beneath shut up their +superior beauties; and towards one of these hills did Marianne and +Margaret one memorable morning direct their steps, attracted by the +partial sunshine of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear the +confinement which the settled rain of the two preceding days had +occasioned. The weather was not tempting enough to draw the two others +from their pencil and their book, in spite of Marianne's declaration +that the day would be lastingly fair, and that every threatening cloud +would be drawn off from their hills; and the two girls set off +together. + +They gaily ascended the downs, rejoicing in their own penetration at +every glimpse of blue sky; and when they caught in their faces the +animating gales of a high south-westerly wind, they pitied the fears +which had prevented their mother and Elinor from sharing such +delightful sensations. + +"Is there a felicity in the world," said Marianne, "superior to +this?--Margaret, we will walk here at least two hours." + +Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way against the wind, +resisting it with laughing delight for about twenty minutes longer, +when suddenly the clouds united over their heads, and a driving rain +set full in their face. Chagrined and surprised, they were obliged, +though unwillingly, to turn back, for no shelter was nearer than their +own house. One consolation however remained for them, to which the +exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety,--it was that of +running with all possible speed down the steep side of the hill which +led immediately to their garden gate. + +They set off. Marianne had at first the advantage, but a false step +brought her suddenly to the ground; and Margaret, unable to stop +herself to assist her, was involuntarily hurried along, and reached +the bottom in safety. + +A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers playing round him, was +passing up the hill and within a few yards of Marianne, when her +accident happened. He put down his gun and ran to her assistance. She +had raised herself from the ground, but her foot had been twisted in +her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand. The gentleman offered +his services; and perceiving that her modesty declined what her +situation rendered necessary, took her up in his arms without farther +delay, and carried her down the hill. Then passing through the garden, +the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore her directly +into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived, and quitted not his +hold till he had seated her in a chair in the parlour. + +Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at their entrance, and +while the eyes of both were fixed on him with an evident wonder and a +secret admiration which equally sprung from his appearance, he +apologized for his intrusion by relating its cause, in a manner so +frank and so graceful that his person, which was uncommonly handsome, +received additional charms from his voice and expression. Had he been +even old, ugly, and vulgar, the gratitude and kindness of Mrs. +Dashwood would have been secured by any act of attention to her child; +but the influence of youth, beauty, and elegance, gave an interest to +the action which came home to her feelings. + +She thanked him again and again; and, with a sweetness of address +which always attended her, invited him to be seated. But this he +declined, as he was dirty and wet. Mrs. Dashwood then begged to know +to whom she was obliged. His name, he replied, was Willoughby, and his +present home was at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would allow him +the honour of calling tomorrow to enquire after Miss Dashwood. The +honour was readily granted, and he then departed, to make himself +still more interesting, in the midst of a heavy rain. + +His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were instantly the +theme of general admiration, and the laugh which his gallantry raised +against Marianne received particular spirit from his exterior +attractions. Marianne herself had seen less of his person than the +rest, for the confusion which crimsoned over her face, on his lifting +her up, had robbed her of the power of regarding him after their +entering the house. But she had seen enough of him to join in all the +admiration of the others, and with an energy which always adorned her +praise. His person and air were equal to what her fancy had ever drawn +for the hero of a favourite story; and in his carrying her into the +house with so little previous formality, there was a rapidity of +thought which particularly recommended the action to her. Every +circumstance belonging to him was interesting. His name was good, his +residence was in their favourite village, and she soon found out that +of all manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming. Her +imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant, and the pain of a +sprained ankle was disregarded. + +Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval of fair weather +that morning allowed him to get out of doors; and Marianne's accident +being related to him, he was eagerly asked whether he knew any +gentleman of the name of Willoughby at Allenham. + +"Willoughby!" cried Sir John; "what, is _he_ in the country? That is +good news however; I will ride over tomorrow, and ask him to dinner on +Thursday." + +"You know him then," said Mrs. Dashwood. + +"Know him! to be sure I do. Why, he is down here every year." + +"And what sort of a young man is he?" + +"As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you. A very decent +shot, and there is not a bolder rider in England." + +"And is that all you can say for him?" cried Marianne, indignantly. +"But what are his manners on more intimate acquaintance? What his +pursuits, his talents, and genius?" + +Sir John was rather puzzled. + +"Upon my soul," said he, "I do not know much about him as to all +_that._ But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow, and has got the +nicest little black bitch of a pointer I ever saw. Was she out with +him today?" + +But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the colour of Mr. +Willoughby's pointer, than he could describe to her the shades of his +mind. + +"But who is he?" said Elinor. "Where does he come from? Has he a house +at Allenham?" + +On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence; and he +told them that Mr. Willoughby had no property of his own in the +country; that he resided there only while he was visiting the old lady +at Allenham Court, to whom he was related, and whose possessions he +was to inherit; adding, "Yes, yes, he is very well worth catching I +can tell you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty little estate of his own +in Somersetshire besides; and if I were you, I would not give him up +to my younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling down hills. Miss +Marianne must not expect to have all the men to herself. Brandon will +be jealous, if she does not take care." + +"I do not believe," said Mrs. Dashwood, with a good humoured smile, +"that Mr. Willoughby will be incommoded by the attempts of either of +_my_ daughters towards what you call _catching him._ It is not an +employment to which they have been brought up. Men are very safe with +us, let them be ever so rich. I am glad to find, however, from what +you say, that he is a respectable young man, and one whose +acquaintance will not be ineligible." + +"He is as good a sort of fellow, I believe, as ever lived," repeated +Sir John. "I remember last Christmas at a little hop at the park, he +danced from eight o'clock till four, without once sitting down." + +"Did he indeed?" cried Marianne with sparkling eyes, "and with +elegance, with spirit?" + +"Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert." + +"That is what I like; that is what a young man ought to be. Whatever +be his pursuits, his eagerness in them should know no moderation, and +leave him no sense of fatigue." + +"Aye, aye, I see how it will be," said Sir John, "I see how it will +be. You will be setting your cap at him now, and never think of poor +Brandon." + +"That is an expression, Sir John," said Marianne, warmly, "which I +particularly dislike. I abhor every common-place phrase by which wit +is intended; and 'setting one's cap at a man,' or 'making a conquest,' +are the most odious of all. Their tendency is gross and illiberal; and +if their construction could ever be deemed clever, time has long ago +destroyed all its ingenuity." + +Sir John did not much understand this reproof; but he laughed as +heartily as if he did, and then replied-- + +"Ay, you will make conquests enough, I dare say, one way or other. +Poor Brandon! he is quite smitten already, and he is very well worth +setting your cap at, I can tell you, in spite of all this tumbling +about and spraining of ankles." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Marianne's preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than precision, +styled Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next morning to +make his personal enquiries. He was received by Mrs. Dashwood with +more than politeness; with a kindness which Sir John's account of him +and her own gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed during the +visit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance, mutual affection, +and domestic comfort of the family to whom accident had now introduced +him. Of their personal charms he had not required a second interview +to be convinced. + +Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion, regular features, and a +remarkably pretty figure. Marianne was still handsomer. Her form, +though not so correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of +height, was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when in +the common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl, truth was +less violently outraged than usually happens. Her skin was very brown, +but, from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; +her features were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in +her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an +eagerness, which could hardily be seen without delight. From +Willoughby their expression was at first held back, by the +embarrassment which the remembrance of his assistance created. But +when this passed away, when her spirits became collected, when she saw +that to the perfect good-breeding of the gentleman, he united +frankness and vivacity, and above all, when she heard him declare, +that of music and dancing he was passionately fond, she gave him such +a look of approbation as secured the largest share of his discourse to +herself for the rest of his stay. + +It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage her +to talk. She could not be silent when such points were introduced, and +she had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion. They speedily +discovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual, and +that it arose from a general conformity of judgment in all that +related to either. Encouraged by this to a further examination of his +opinions, she proceeded to question him on the subject of books; her +favourite authors were brought forward and dwelt upon with so +rapturous a delight, that any young man of five and twenty must have +been insensible indeed, not to become an immediate convert to the +excellence of such works, however disregarded before. Their taste was +strikingly alike. The same books, the same passages were idolized by +each; or if any difference appeared, any objection arose, it lasted no +longer than till the force of her arguments and the brightness of her +eyes could be displayed. He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught +all her enthusiasm; and long before his visit concluded, they +conversed with the familiarity of a long-established acquaintance. + +"Well, Marianne," said Elinor, as soon as he had left them, "for _one_ +morning I think you have done pretty well. You have already +ascertained Mr. Willoughby's opinion in almost every matter of +importance. You know what he thinks of Cowper and Scott; you are +certain of his estimating their beauties as he ought, and you have +received every assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is proper. +But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under such +extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse? You will soon +have exhausted each favourite topic. Another meeting will suffice to +explain his sentiments on picturesque beauty, and second marriages, +and then you can have nothing farther to ask." + +"Elinor," cried Marianne, "is this fair? is this just? are my ideas so +scanty? But I see what you mean. I have been too much at my ease, too +happy, too frank. I have erred against every common-place notion of +decorum; I have been open and sincere where I ought to have been +reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful:--had I talked only of the +weather and the roads, and had I spoken only once in ten minutes, this +reproach would have been spared." + +"My love," said her mother, "you must not be offended with Elinor--she +was only in jest. I should scold her myself, if she were capable of +wishing to check the delight of your conversation with our new +friend." Marianne was softened in a moment. + +Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his pleasure in their +acquaintance, which an evident wish of improving it could offer. He +came to them every day. To enquire after Marianne was at first his +excuse; but the encouragement of his reception, to which every day +gave greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it had +ceased to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery. She was +confined for some days to the house; but never had any confinement +been less irksome. Willoughby was a young man of good abilities, quick +imagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners. He was +exactly formed to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he +joined not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind +which was now roused and increased by the example of her own, and +which recommended him to her affection beyond every thing else. + +His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment. They read, +they talked, they sang together; his musical talents were +considerable; and he read with all the sensibility and spirit which +Edward had unfortunately wanted. + +In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless as in Marianne's; +and Elinor saw nothing to censure in him but a propensity, in which he +strongly resembled and peculiarly delighted her sister, of saying too +much what he thought on every occasion, without attention to persons +or circumstances. In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other +people, in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment of +undivided attention where his heart was engaged, and in slighting too +easily the forms of worldly propriety, he displayed a want of caution +which Elinor could not approve, in spite of all that he and Marianne +could say in its support. + +Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation which had seized +her at sixteen and a half, of ever seeing a man who could satisfy her +ideas of perfection, had been rash and unjustifiable. Willoughby was +all that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour and in every +brighter period, as capable of attaching her; and his behaviour +declared his wishes to be in that respect as earnest, as his abilities +were strong. + +[Illustration: _They sang together._] + +Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative thought of their +marriage had been raised, by his prospect of riches, was led before +the end of a week to hope and expect it; and secretly to congratulate +herself on having gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and +Willoughby. + +Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had so +early been discovered by his friends, now first became perceptible to +Elinor, when it ceased to be noticed by them. Their attention and wit +were drawn off to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the +other had incurred before any partiality arose, was removed when his +feelings began really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to +sensibility. Elinor was obliged, though unwillingly, to believe that +the sentiments which Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own +satisfaction, were now actually excited by her sister; and that +however a general resemblance of disposition between the parties might +forward the affection of Mr. Willoughby, an equally striking +opposition of character was no hindrance to the regard of Colonel +Brandon. She saw it with concern; for what could a silent man of five +and thirty hope, when opposed to a very lively one of five and twenty? +and as she could not even wish him successful, she heartily wished him +indifferent. She liked him--in spite of his gravity and reserve, she +beheld in him an object of interest. His manners, though serious, were +mild; and his reserve appeared rather the result of some oppression of +spirits than of any natural gloominess of temper. Sir John had dropped +hints of past injuries and disappointments, which justified her belief +of his being an unfortunate man, and she regarded him with respect and +compassion. + +Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more because he was slighted +by Willoughby and Marianne, who, prejudiced against him for being +neither lively nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits. + +"Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when they +were talking of him together, "whom every body speaks well of, and +nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody +remembers to talk to." + +"That is exactly what I think of him," cried Marianne. + +"Do not boast of it, however," said Elinor, "for it is injustice in +both of you. He is highly esteemed by all the family at the park, and +I never see him myself without taking pains to converse with him." + +"That he is patronised by _you_," replied Willoughby, "is certainly in +his favour; but as for the esteem of the others, it is a reproach in +itself. Who would submit to the indignity of being approved by such a +woman as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command the +indifference of any body else?" + +"But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself and Marianne will +make amends for the regard of Lady Middleton and her mother. If their +praise is censure, your censure may be praise, for they are not more +undiscerning, than you are prejudiced and unjust." + +"In defence of your _protege_ you can even be saucy." + +"My _protege_, as you call him, is a sensible man; and sense will +always have attractions for me. Yes, Marianne, even in a man between +thirty and forty. He has seen a great deal of the world; has been +abroad, has read, and has a thinking mind. I have found him capable of +giving me much information on various subjects; and he has always +answered my inquiries with readiness of good-breeding and good +nature." + +"That is to say," cried Marianne contemptuously, "he has told you, +that in the East Indies the climate is hot, and the mosquitoes are +troublesome." + +"He _would_ have told me so, I doubt not, had I made any such +inquiries, but they happened to be points on which I had been +previously informed." + +"Perhaps," said Willoughby, "his observations may have extended to the +existence of nabobs, gold mohrs, and palanquins." + +"I may venture to say that _his_ observations have stretched much +further than _your_ candour. But why should you dislike him?" + +"I do not dislike him. I consider him, on the contrary, as a very +respectable man, who has every body's good word, and nobody's notice; +who, has more money than he can spend, more time than he knows how to +employ, and two new coats every year." + +"Add to which," cried Marianne, "that he has neither genius, taste, +nor spirit. That his understanding has no brilliancy, his feelings no +ardour, and his voice no expression." + +"You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass," replied Elinor, +"and so much on the strength of your own imagination, that the +commendation I am able to give of him is comparatively cold and +insipid. I can only pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred, +well-informed, of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an +amiable heart." + +"Miss Dashwood," cried Willoughby, "you are now using me unkindly. You +are endeavouring to disarm me by reason, and to convince me against my +will. But it will not do. You shall find me as stubborn as you can be +artful. I have three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel +Brandon; he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine; he +has found fault with the hanging of my curricle, and I cannot persuade +him to buy my brown mare. If it will be any satisfaction to you, +however, to be told, that I believe his character to be in other +respects irreproachable, I am ready to confess it. And in return for +an acknowledgment, which must give me some pain, you cannot deny me +the privilege of disliking him as much as ever." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined when they first +came into Devonshire, that so many engagements would arise to occupy +their time as shortly presented themselves, or that they should have +such frequent invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them +little leisure for serious employment. Yet such was the case. When +Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home and abroad, +which Sir John had been previously forming, were put into execution. +The private balls at the park then began; and parties on the water +were made and accomplished as often as a showery October would allow. +In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was included; and the ease and +familiarity which naturally attended these parties were exactly +calculated to give increasing intimacy to his acquaintance with the +Dashwoods, to afford him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of +Marianne, of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving, +in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance of her +affection. + +Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment. She only wished +that it were less openly shown; and once or twice did venture to +suggest the propriety of some self-command to Marianne. But Marianne +abhorred all concealment where no real disgrace could attend +unreserve; and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not in +themselves illaudable, appeared to her not merely an unnecessary +effort, but a disgraceful subjection of reason to common-place and +mistaken notions. Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at +all times, was an illustration of their opinions. + +When he was present she had no eyes for any one else. Every thing he +did, was right. Every thing he said, was clever. If their evenings at +the park were concluded with cards, he cheated himself and all the +rest of the party to get her a good hand. If dancing formed the +amusement of the night, they were partners for half the time; and when +obliged to separate for a couple of dances, were careful to stand +together and scarcely spoke a word to any body else. Such conduct made +them of course most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not +shame, and seemed hardly to provoke them. + +Mrs. Dashwood entered into all their feelings with a warmth which left +her no inclination for checking this excessive display of them. To her +it was but the natural consequence of a strong affection in a young +and ardent mind. + +This was the season of happiness to Marianne. Her heart was devoted to +Willoughby, and the fond attachment to Norland, which she brought with +her from Sussex, was more likely to be softened than she had thought +it possible before, by the charms which his society bestowed on her +present home. + +Elinor's happiness was not so great. Her heart was not so much at +ease, nor her satisfaction in their amusements so pure. They afforded +her no companion that could make amends for what she had left behind, +nor that could teach her to think of Norland with less regret than +ever. Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings could supply to her the +conversation she missed; although the latter was an everlasting +talker, and from the first had regarded her with a kindness which +ensured her a large share of her discourse. She had already repeated +her own history to Elinor three or four times; and had Elinor's memory +been equal to her means of improvement, she might have known very +early in their acquaintance all the particulars of Mr. Jennings's last +illness, and what he said to his wife a few minutes before he died. +Lady Middleton was more agreeable than her mother only in being more +silent. Elinor needed little observation to perceive that her reserve +was a mere calmness of manner with which sense had nothing to do. +Towards her husband and mother she was the same as to them; and +intimacy was therefore neither to be looked for nor desired. She had +nothing to say one day that she had not said the day before. Her +insipidity was invariable, for even her spirits were always the same; +and though she did not oppose the parties arranged by her husband, +provided every thing were conducted in style and her two eldest +children attended her, she never appeared to receive more enjoyment +from them than she might have experienced in sitting at home; and so +little did her presence add to the pleasure of the others, by any +share in their conversation, that they were sometimes only reminded of +her being amongst them by her solicitude about her troublesome boys. + +In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance, did Elinor find +a person who could in any degree claim the respect of abilities, +excite the interest of friendship, or give pleasure as a companion. +Willoughby was out of the question. Her admiration and regard, even +her sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover; his +attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a far less agreeable man might +have been more generally pleasing. Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for +himself, had no such encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in +conversing with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the +indifference of her sister. + +Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she had reason to suspect +that the misery of disappointed love had already been known to him. +This suspicion was given by some words which accidentally dropped from +him one evening at the park, when they were sitting down together by +mutual consent, while the others were dancing. His eyes were fixed on +Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes, he said, with a faint +smile, "Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second +attachments." + +"No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic." + +"Or rather, as I believe, she considers them impossible to exist." + +"I believe she does. But how she contrives it without reflecting on +the character of her own father, who had himself two wives, I know +not. A few years however will settle her opinions on the reasonable +basis of common sense and observation; and then they may be more easy +to define and to justify than they now are, by any body but herself." + +"This will probably be the case," he replied; "and yet there is +something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is +sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions." + +"I cannot agree with you there," said Elinor. "There are +inconveniences attending such feelings as Marianne's, which all the +charms of enthusiasm and ignorance of the world cannot atone for. Her +systems have all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at +nought; and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look +forward to as her greatest possible advantage." + +After a short pause he resumed the conversation by saying-- + +"Does your sister make no distinction in her objections against a +second attachment? or is it equally criminal in every body? Are those +who have been disappointed in their first choice, whether from the +inconstancy of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances, to be +equally indifferent during the rest of their lives?" + +"Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae of her principles. +I only know that I never yet heard her admit any instance of a second +attachment's being pardonable." + +"This," said he, "cannot hold; but a change, a total change of +sentiments--No, no, do not desire it; for when the romantic +refinements of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently +are they succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too +dangerous! I speak from experience. I once knew a lady who in temper +and mind greatly resembled your sister, who thought and judged like +her, but who from an enforced change--from a series of unfortunate +circumstances--" Here he stopped suddenly; appeared to think that he +had said too much, and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures, +which might not otherwise have entered Elinor's head. The lady would +probably have passed without suspicion, had he not convinced Miss +Dashwood that what concerned her ought not to escape his lips. As it +was, it required but a slight effort of fancy to connect his emotion +with the tender recollection of past regard. Elinor attempted no more. +But Marianne, in her place, would not have done so little. The whole +story would have been speedily formed under her active imagination; +and every thing established in the most melancholy order of disastrous +love. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the next morning the +latter communicated a piece of news to her sister, which in spite of +all that she knew before of Marianne's imprudence and want of thought, +surprised her by its extravagant testimony of both. Marianne told her, +with the greatest delight, that Willoughby had given her a horse, one +that he had bred himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and which was +exactly calculated to carry a woman. Without considering that it was +not in her mother's plan to keep any horse, that if she were to alter +her resolution in favour of this gift, she must buy another for the +servant, and keep a servant to ride it, and after all, build a stable +to receive them, she had accepted the present without hesitation, and +told her sister of it in raptures. + +"He intends to send his groom into Somersetshire immediately for it," +she added, "and when it arrives we will ride every day. You shall +share its use with me. Imagine to yourself, my dear Elinor, the +delight of a gallop on some of these downs." + +Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of felicity to +comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended the affair; and for +some time she refused to submit to them. As to an additional servant, +the expense would be a trifle; Mamma she was sure would never object +to it; and any horse would do for _him_; he might always get one at +the park; as to a stable, the merest shed would be sufficient. Elinor +then ventured to doubt the propriety of her receiving such a present +from a man so little, or at least so lately known to her. This was too +much. + +"You are mistaken, Elinor," said she warmly, "in supposing I know very +little of Willoughby. I have not known him long indeed, but I am much +better acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature in the +world, except yourself and mama. It is not time or opportunity that is +to determine intimacy; it is disposition alone. Seven years would be +insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven +days are more than enough for others. I should hold myself guilty of +greater impropriety in accepting a horse from my brother, than from +Willoughby. Of John I know very little, though we have lived together +for years; but of Willoughby my judgment has long been formed." + +Elinor thought it wisest to touch that point no more. She knew her +sister's temper. Opposition on so tender a subject would only attach +her the more to her own opinion. But by an appeal to her affection for +her mother, by representing the inconveniences which that indulgent +mother must draw on herself, if (as would probably be the case) she +consented to this increase of establishment, Marianne was shortly +subdued; and she promised not to tempt her mother to such imprudent +kindness by mentioning the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw +him next, that it must be declined. + +She was faithful to her word; and when Willoughby called at the +cottage, the same day, Elinor heard her express her disappointment to +him in a low voice, on being obliged to forego the acceptance of his +present. The reasons for this alteration were at the same time +related, and they were such as to make further entreaty on his side +impossible. His concern however was very apparent; and after +expressing it with earnestness, he added, in the same low voice, "But, +Marianne, the horse is still yours, though you cannot use it now. I +shall keep it only till you can claim it. When you leave Barton to +form your own establishment in a more lasting home, Queen Mab shall +receive you." + +This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood; and in the whole of the +sentence, in his manner of pronouncing it, and in his addressing her +sister by her Christian name alone, she instantly saw an intimacy so +decided, a meaning so direct, as marked a perfect agreement between +them. From that moment she doubted not of their being engaged to each +other; and the belief of it created no other surprise than that she, +or any of their friends, should be left by tempers so frank, to +discover it by accident. + +Margaret related something to her the next day, which placed this +matter in a still clearer light. Willoughby had spent the preceding +evening with them, and Margaret, by being left some time in the +parlour with only him and Marianne, had had opportunity for +observations, which, with a most important face, she communicated to +her eldest sister, when they were next by themselves. + +"Oh, Elinor!" she cried, "I have such a secret to tell you about +Marianne. I am sure she will be married to Mr. Willoughby very soon." + +"You have said so," replied Elinor, "almost every day since they first +met on High-church Down; and they had not known each other a week, I +believe, before you were certain that Marianne wore his picture round +her neck; but it turned out to be only the miniature of our great +uncle." + +"But indeed this is quite another thing. I am sure they will be +married very soon, for he has got a lock of her hair." + +"Take care, Margaret. It may be only the hair of some great uncle of +_his_." + +"But, indeed, Elinor, it is Marianne's. I am almost sure it is, for I +saw him cut it off. Last night after tea, when you and mama went out +of the room, they were whispering and talking together as fast as +could be, and he seemed to be begging something of her, and presently +he took up her scissors and cut off a long lock of her hair, for it +was all tumbled down her back; and he kissed it, and folded it up in a +piece of white paper; and put it into his pocket-book." + +For such particulars, stated on such authority, Elinor could not +withhold her credit; nor was she disposed to it, for the circumstance +was in perfect unison with what she had heard and seen herself. + +Margaret's sagacity was not always displayed in a way so satisfactory +to her sister. When Mrs. Jennings attacked her one evening at the +park, to give the name of the young man who was Elinor's particular +favourite, which had been long a matter of great curiosity to her, +Margaret answered by looking at her sister, and saying, "I must not +tell, may I, Elinor?" + +This of course made every body laugh; and Elinor tried to laugh too. +But the effort was painful. She was convinced that Margaret had fixed +on a person whose name she could not bear with composure to become a +standing joke with Mrs. Jennings. + +[Illustration: _He cut off a long lock of her hair._] + +Marianne felt for her most sincerely; but she did more harm than good +to the cause, by turning very red and saying in an angry manner to +Margaret-- + +"Remember that whatever your conjectures may be, you have no right to +repeat them." + +"I never had any conjectures about it," replied Margaret; "it was you +who told me of it yourself." + +This increased the mirth of the company, and Margaret was eagerly +pressed to say something more. + +"Oh! pray, Miss Margaret, let us know all about it," said Mrs. +Jennings. "What is the gentleman's name?" + +"I must not tell, ma'am. But I know very well what it is; and I know +where he is too." + +"Yes, yes, we can guess where he is; at his own house at Norland to be +sure. He is the curate of the parish I dare say." + +"No, _that_ he is not. He is of no profession at all." + +"Margaret," said Marianne with great warmth, "you know that all this +is an invention of your own, and that there is no such person in +existence." + +"Well, then, he is lately dead, Marianne, for I am sure there was such +a man once, and his name begins with an F." + +Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton for observing, at this +moment, "that it rained very hard," though she believed the +interruption to proceed less from any attention to her, than from her +ladyship's great dislike of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as +delighted her husband and mother. The idea however started by her, was +immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was on every occasion +mindful of the feelings of others; and much was said on the subject of +rain by both of them. Willoughby opened the piano-forte, and asked +Marianne to sit down to it; and thus amidst the various endeavours of +different people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground. But not so +easily did Elinor recover from the alarm into which it had thrown her. + +A party was formed this evening for going on the following day to see +a very fine place about twelve miles from Barton, belonging to a +brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon, without whose interest it could not +be seen, as the proprietor, who was then abroad, had left strict +orders on that head. The grounds were declared to be highly beautiful, +and Sir John, who was particularly warm in their praise, might be +allowed to be a tolerable judge, for he had formed parties to visit +them, at least, twice every summer for the last ten years. They +contained a noble piece of water--a sail on which was to a form a +great part of the morning's amusement; cold provisions were to be +taken, open carriages only to be employed, and every thing conducted +in the usual style of a complete party of pleasure. + +To some few of the company it appeared rather a bold undertaking, +considering the time of year, and that it had rained every day for the +last fortnight; and Mrs. Dashwood, who had already a cold, was +persuaded by Elinor to stay at home. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Their intended excursion to Whitwell turned out very different from +what Elinor had expected. She was prepared to be wet through, +fatigued, and frightened; but the event was still more unfortunate, +for they did not go at all. + +By ten o'clock the whole party was assembled at the park, where they +were to breakfast. The morning was rather favourable, though it had +rained all night, as the clouds were then dispersing across the sky, +and the sun frequently appeared. They were all in high spirits and +good humour, eager to be happy, and determined to submit to the +greatest inconveniences and hardships rather than be otherwise. + +While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in. Among the +rest there was one for Colonel Brandon:--he took it, looked at the +direction, changed colour, and immediately left the room. + +"What is the matter with Brandon?" said Sir John. + +Nobody could tell. + +"I hope he has had no bad news," said Lady Middleton. "It must be +something extraordinary that could make Colonel Brandon leave my +breakfast table so suddenly." + +In about five minutes he returned. + +"No bad news, Colonel, I hope;" said Mrs. Jennings, as soon as he +entered the room. + +"None at all, ma'am, I thank you." + +"Was it from Avignon? I hope it is not to say that your sister is +worse." + +"No, ma'am. It came from town, and is merely a letter of business." + +"But how came the hand to discompose you so much, if it was only a +letter of business? Come, come, this won't do, Colonel; so let us hear +the truth of it." + +"My dear madam," said Lady Middleton, "recollect what you are saying." + +"Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fanny is married?" said +Mrs. Jennings, without attending to her daughter's reproof. + +"No, indeed, it is not." + +"Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel. And I hope she is well." + +"Whom do you mean, ma'am?" said he, colouring a little. + +"Oh! you know who I mean." + +"I am particularly sorry, ma'am," said he, addressing Lady Middleton, +"that I should receive this letter today, for it is on business which +requires my immediate attendance in town." + +"In town!" cried Mrs. Jennings. "What can you have to do in town at +this time of year?" + +"My own loss is great," he continued, "in being obliged to leave so +agreeable a party; but I am the more concerned, as I fear my presence +is necessary to gain your admittance at Whitwell." + +What a blow upon them all was this! + +"But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr. Brandon," said +Marianne, eagerly, "will it not be sufficient?" + +He shook his head. + +"We must go," said Sir John. "It shall not be put off when we are so +near it. You cannot go to town till tomorrow, Brandon, that is all." + +"I wish it could be so easily settled. But it is not in my power to +delay my journey for one day!" + +"If you would but let us know what your business is," said Mrs. +Jennings, "we might see whether it could be put off or not." + +"You would not be six hours later," said Willoughby, "if you were to +defer your journey till our return." + +"I cannot afford to lose _one_ hour." + +Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne, "There +are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure. Brandon is one of +them. He was afraid of catching cold I dare say, and invented this +trick for getting out of it. I would lay fifty guineas the letter was +of his own writing." + +"I have no doubt of it," replied Marianne. + +"There is no persuading you to change your mind, Brandon, I know of +old," said Sir John, "when once you are determined on anything. But, +however, I hope you will think better of it. Consider, here are the +two Miss Careys come over from Newton, the three Miss Dashwoods walked +up from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got up two hours before his +usual time, on purpose to go to Whitwell." + +Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being the cause of +disappointing the party; but at the same time declared it to be +unavoidable. + +"Well, then, when will you come back again?" + +"I hope we shall see you at Barton," added her ladyship, "as soon as +you can conveniently leave town; and we must put off the party to +Whitwell till you return." + +"You are very obliging. But it is so uncertain, when I may have it in +my power to return, that I dare not engage for it at all." + +"Oh! he must and shall come back," cried Sir John. "If he is not here +by the end of the week, I shall go after him." + +"Ay, so do, Sir John," cried Mrs. Jennings, "and then perhaps you may +find out what his business is." + +"I do not want to pry into other men's concerns. I suppose it is +something he is ashamed of." + +Colonel Brandon's horses were announced. + +"You do not go to town on horseback, do you?" added Sir John. + +"No. Only to Honiton. I shall then go post." + +"Well, as you are resolved to go, I wish you a good journey. But you +had better change your mind." + +"I assure you it is not in my power." + +He then took leave of the whole party. + +"Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sisters in town this +winter, Miss Dashwood?" + +"I am afraid, none at all." + +"Then I must bid you farewell for a longer time than I should wish to +do." + +To Marianne, he merely bowed and said nothing. + +"Come Colonel," said Mrs. Jennings, "before you go, do let us know +what you are going about." + +He wished her a good morning, and, attended by Sir John, left the +room. + +The complaints and lamentations which politeness had hitherto +restrained, now burst forth universally; and they all agreed again and +again how provoking it was to be so disappointed. + +"I can guess what his business is, however," said Mrs. Jennings +exultingly. + +"Can you, ma'am?" said almost every body. + +"Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure." + +"And who is Miss Williams?" asked Marianne. + +"What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? I am sure you must have +heard of her before. She is a relation of the Colonel's, my dear; a +very near relation. We will not say how near, for fear of shocking the +young ladies." Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor, +"She is his natural daughter." + +"Indeed!" + +"Oh, yes; and as like him as she can stare. I dare say the Colonel +will leave her all his fortune." + +When Sir John returned, he joined most heartily in the general regret +on so unfortunate an event; concluding however by observing, that as +they were all got together, they must do something by way of being +happy; and after some consultation it was agreed, that although +happiness could only be enjoyed at Whitwell, they might procure a +tolerable composure of mind by driving about the country. The +carriages were then ordered; Willoughby's was first, and Marianne +never looked happier than when she got into it. He drove through the +park very fast, and they were soon out of sight; and nothing more of +them was seen till their return, which did not happen till after the +return of all the rest. They both seemed delighted with their drive; +but said only in general terms that they had kept in the lanes, while +the others went on the downs. + +It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening, and that +every body should be extremely merry all day long. Some more of the +Careys came to dinner, and they had the pleasure of sitting down +nearly twenty to table, which Sir John observed with great +contentment. Willoughby took his usual place between the two elder +Miss Dashwoods. Mrs. Jennings sat on Elinor's right hand; and they had +not been long seated, before she leant behind her and Willoughby, and +said to Marianne, loud enough for them both to hear, "I have found you +out in spite of all your tricks. I know where you spent the morning." + +Marianne coloured, and replied very hastily, "Where, pray?" + +"Did not you know," said Willoughby, "that we had been out in my +curricle?" + +"Yes, yes, Mr. Impudence, I know that very well, and I was determined +to find out _where_ you had been to. I hope you like your house, Miss +Marianne. It is a very large one, I know; and when I come to see you, +I hope you will have new-furnished it, for it wanted it very much when +I was there six years ago." + +Marianne turned away in great confusion. Mrs. Jennings laughed +heartily; and Elinor found that in her resolution to know where they +had been, she had actually made her own woman enquire of Mr. +Willoughby's groom; and that she had by that method been informed that +they had gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time there in +walking about the garden and going all over the house. + +Elinor could hardly believe this to be true, as it seemed very +unlikely that Willoughby should propose, or Marianne consent, to enter +the house while Mrs. Smith was in it, with whom Marianne had not the +smallest acquaintance. + +As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquired of her about it; +and great was her surprise when she found that every circumstance +related by Mrs. Jennings was perfectly true. Marianne was quite angry +with her for doubting it. + +"Why should you imagine, Elinor, that we did not go there, or that we +did not see the house? Is not it what you have often wished to do +yourself?" + +"Yes, Marianne, but I would not go while Mrs. Smith was there, and +with no other companion than Mr. Willoughby." + +[Illustration: "_I have found you out in spite of all your tricks._"] + +"Mr. Willoughby however is the only person who can have a right to +show that house; and as he went in an open carriage, it was +impossible to have any other companion. I never spent a pleasanter +morning in my life." + +"I am afraid," replied Elinor, "that the pleasantness of an employment +does not always evince its propriety." + +"On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proof of it, Elinor; for +if there had been any real impropriety in what I did, I should have +been sensible of it at the time, for we always know when we are acting +wrong, and with such a conviction I could have had no pleasure." + +"But, my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed you to some very +impertinent remarks, do you not now begin to doubt the discretion of +your own conduct?" + +"If the impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings are to be the proof of +impropriety in conduct, we are all offending every moment of our +lives. I value not her censure any more than I should do her +commendation. I am not sensible of having done anything wrong in +walking over Mrs. Smith's grounds, or in seeing her house. They will +one day be Mr. Willoughby's, and--" + +"If they were one day to be your own, Marianne, you would not be +justified in what you have done." + +She blushed at this hint; but it was even visibly gratifying to her; +and after a ten minutes' interval of earnest thought, she came to her +sister again, and said with great good humour, "Perhaps, Elinor, it +_was_ rather ill-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr. Willoughby +wanted particularly to show me the place; and it is a charming house, +I assure you. There is one remarkably pretty sitting room up stairs; +of a nice comfortable size for constant use, and with modern furniture +it would be delightful. It is a corner room, and has windows on two +sides. On one side you look across the bowling-green, behind the +house, to a beautiful hanging wood, and on the other you have a view +of the church and village, and, beyond them, of those fine bold hills +that we have so often admired. I did not see it to advantage, for +nothing could be more forlorn than the furniture; but if it were newly +fitted up--a couple of hundred pounds, Willoughby says, would make it +one of the pleasantest summer-rooms in England." + +Could Elinor have listened to her without interruption from the +others, she would have described every room in the house with equal +delight. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon's visit at the park, with +his steadiness in concealing its cause, filled the mind, and raised +the wonder of Mrs. Jennings for two or three days; she was a great +wonderer, as every one must be who takes a very lively interest in all +the comings and goings of all their acquaintance. She wondered, with +little intermission what could be the reason of it; was sure there +must be some bad news, and thought over every kind of distress that +could have befallen him, with a fixed determination that he should not +escape them all. + +"Something very melancholy must be the matter, I am sure," said she. +"I could see it in his face. Poor man! I am afraid his circumstances +may be bad. The estate at Delaford was never reckoned more than two +thousand a year, and his brother left everything sadly involved. I do +think he must have been sent for about money matters, for what else +can it be? I wonder whether it is so. I would give anything to know +the truth of it. Perhaps it is about Miss Williams and, by the bye, I +dare say it is, because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her. +May be she is ill in town; nothing in the world more likely, for I +have a notion she is always rather sickly. I would lay any wager it is +about Miss Williams. It is not so very likely he should be distressed +in his circumstances _now_, for he is a very prudent man, and to be +sure must have cleared the estate by this time. I wonder what it can +be! May be his sister is worse at Avignon, and has sent for him over. +His setting off in such a hurry seems very like it. Well, I wish him +out of all his trouble with all my heart, and a good wife into the +bargain." + +So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings. Her opinion varying with every +fresh conjecture, and all seeming equally probable as they arose. +Elinor, though she felt really interested in the welfare of Colonel +Brandon, could not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly +away, which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling; for besides +that the circumstance did not in her opinion justify such lasting +amazement or variety of speculation, her wonder was otherwise +disposed of. It was engrossed by the extraordinary silence of her +sister and Willoughby on the subject, which they must know to be +peculiarly interesting to them all. As this silence continued, every +day made it appear more strange and more incompatible with the +disposition of both. Why they should not openly acknowledge to her +mother and herself, what their constant behaviour to each other +declared to have taken place, Elinor could not imagine. + +She could easily conceive that marriage might not be immediately in +their power; for though Willoughby was independent, there was no +reason to believe him rich. His estate had been rated by Sir John at +about six or seven hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which +that income could hardly be equal, and he had himself often complained +of his poverty. But for this strange kind of secrecy maintained by +them relative to their engagement, which in fact concealed nothing at +all, she could not account; and it was so wholly contradictory to +their general opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes entered +her mind of their being really engaged, and this doubt was enough to +prevent her making any inquiry of Marianne. + +Nothing could be more expressive of attachment to them all, than +Willoughby's behaviour. To Marianne it had all the distinguishing +tenderness which a lover's heart could give, and to the rest of the +family it was the affectionate attention of a son and a brother. The +cottage seemed to be considered and loved by him as his home; many +more of his hours were spent there than at Allenham; and if no general +engagement collected them at the park, the exercise which called him +out in the morning was almost certain of ending there, where the rest +of the day was spent by himself at the side of Marianne, and by his +favourite pointer at her feet. + +One evening in particular, about a week after Colonel Brandon left the +country, his heart seemed more than usually open to every feeling of +attachment to the objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood's happening +to mention her design of improving the cottage in the spring, he +warmly opposed every alteration of a place which affection had +established as perfect with him. + +"What!" he exclaimed, "Improve this dear cottage! No. _That_ I will +never consent to. Not a stone must be added to its walls, not an inch +to its size, if my feelings are regarded." + +"Do not be alarmed," said Miss Dashwood, "nothing of the kind will be +done; for my mother will never have money enough to attempt it." + +"I am heartily glad of it," he cried. "May she always be poor, if she +can employ her riches no better." + +"Thank you, Willoughby. But you may be assured that I would not +sacrifice one sentiment of local attachment of yours, or of any one +whom I loved, for all the improvements in the world. Depend upon it +that whatever unemployed sum may remain, when I make up my accounts in +the spring, I would even rather lay it uselessly by than dispose of it +in a manner so painful to you. But are you really so attached to this +place as to see no defect in it?" + +"I am," said he. "To me it is faultless. Nay, more, I consider it as +the only form of building in which happiness is attainable, and were I +rich enough I would instantly pull Combe down, and build it up again +in the exact plan of this cottage." + +"With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes, I suppose," said +Elinor. + +"Yes," cried he in the same eager tone, "with all and every thing +belonging to it--in no one convenience or inconvenience about it, +should the least variation be perceptible. Then, and then only, under +such a roof, I might perhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at +Barton." + +"I flatter myself," replied Elinor, "that even under the disadvantage +of better rooms and a broader staircase, you will hereafter find your +own house as faultless as you now do this." + +"There certainly are circumstances," said Willoughby, "which might +greatly endear it to me; but this place will always have one claim of +my affection, which no other can possibly share." + +Mrs. Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne, whose fine eyes were +fixed so expressively on Willoughby, as plainly denoted how well she +understood him. + +"How often did I wish," added he, "when I was at Allenham this time +twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were inhabited! I never passed within +view of it without admiring its situation, and grieving that no one +should live in it. How little did I then think that the very first +news I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into the country, +would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I felt an immediate +satisfaction and interest in the event, which nothing but a kind of +prescience of what happiness I should experience from it, can account +for. Must it not have been so, Marianne?" speaking to her in a lowered +voice. Then continuing his former tone, he said, "And yet this house +you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood? You would rob it of its simplicity by +imaginary improvement! and this dear parlour in which our acquaintance +first began, and in which so many happy hours have been since spent by +us together, you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance, +and every body would be eager to pass through the room which has +hitherto contained within itself more real accommodation and comfort +than any other apartment of the handsomest dimensions in the world +could possibly afford." + +Mrs. Dashwood again assured him that no alteration of the kind should +be attempted. + +"You are a good woman," he warmly replied. "Your promise makes me +easy. Extend it a little farther, and it will make me happy. Tell me +that not only your house will remain the same, but that I shall ever +find you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you will +always consider me with the kindness which has made everything +belonging to you so dear to me." + +The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's behaviour during the +whole of the evening declared at once his affection and happiness. + +"Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?" said Mrs. Dashwood, when he was +leaving them. "I do not ask you to come in the morning, for we must +walk to the park, to call on Lady Middleton." + +He engaged to be with them by four o'clock. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Mrs. Dashwood's visit to Lady Middleton took place the next day, and +two of her daughters went with her; but Marianne excused herself from +being of the party, under some trifling pretext of employment; and her +mother, who concluded that a promise had been made by Willoughby the +night before of calling on her while they were absent, was perfectly +satisfied with her remaining at home. + +On their return from the park they found Willoughby's curricle and +servant in waiting at the cottage, and Mrs. Dashwood was convinced +that her conjecture had been just. So far it was all as she had +foreseen; but on entering the house she beheld what no foresight had +taught her to expect. They were no sooner in the passage than Marianne +came hastily out of the parlour apparently in violent affliction, with +her handkerchief at her eyes; and without noticing them ran up stairs. +Surprised and alarmed they proceeded directly into the room she had +just quitted, where they found only Willoughby, who was leaning +against the mantelpiece with his back towards them. He turned round +on their coming in, and his countenance showed that he strongly +partook of the emotion which overpowered Marianne. + +"Is anything the matter with her?" cried Mrs. Dashwood as she +entered:--"is she ill?" + +"I hope not," he replied, trying to look cheerful; and with a forced +smile presently added, "It is I who may rather expect to be ill--for I +am now suffering under a very heavy disappointment!" + +"Disappointment?" + +"Yes, for I am unable to keep my engagement with you. Mrs. Smith has +this morning exercised the privilege of riches upon a poor dependent +cousin, by sending me on business to London. I have just received my +dispatches, and taken my farewell of Allenham; and by way of +exhilaration I am now come to take my farewell of you." + +"To London!--and are you going this morning?" + +"Almost this moment." + +[Illustration: _Apparently in violent affliction._] + +"This is very unfortunate. But Mrs. Smith must be obliged, and her +business will not detain you from us long I hope." + +He coloured as he replied, "You are very kind, but I have no idea of +returning into Devonshire immediately. My visits to Mrs. Smith are +never repeated within the twelvemonth." + +"And is Mrs. Smith your only friend? Is Allenham the only house in the +neighbourhood to which you will be welcome? For shame, Willoughby, can +you wait for an invitation here?" + +His colour increased; and with his eyes fixed on the ground he only +replied, "You are too good." + +Mrs. Dashwood looked at Elinor with surprise. Elinor felt equal +amazement. For a few moments every one was silent. Mrs. Dashwood first +spoke. + +"I have only to add, my dear Willoughby, that at Barton cottage you +will always be welcome; for I will not press you to return here +immediately, because you only can judge how far _that_ might be +pleasing to Mrs. Smith; and on this head I shall be no more disposed +to question your judgment than to doubt your inclination." + +"My engagements at present," replied Willoughby, confusedly, "are of +such a nature--that--I dare not flatter myself--" + +He stopped. Mrs. Dashwood was too much astonished to speak, and +another pause succeeded. This was broken by Willoughby, who said with +a faint smile, "It is folly to linger in this manner. I will not +torment myself any longer by remaining among friends whose society it +is impossible for me now to enjoy." + +He then hastily took leave of them all and left the room. They saw him +step into his carriage, and in a minute it was out of sight. + +Mrs. Dashwood felt too much for speech, and instantly quitted the +parlour to give way in solitude to the concern and alarm which this +sudden departure occasioned. + +Elinor's uneasiness was at least equal to her mother's. She thought of +what had just passed with anxiety and distrust. Willoughby's behaviour +in taking leave of them, his embarrassment, and affectation of +cheerfulness, and, above all, his unwillingness to accept her mother's +invitation--a backwardness so unlike a lover, so unlike +himself--greatly disturbed her. One moment she feared that no serious +design had ever been formed on his side; and the next that some +unfortunate quarrel had taken place between him and her sister. The +distress in which Marianne had quitted the room was such as a serious +quarrel could most reasonably account for, though when she considered +what Marianne's love for him was, a quarrel seemed almost impossible. + +But whatever might be the particulars of their separation, her +sister's affliction was indubitable; and she thought with the +tenderest compassion of that violent sorrow which Marianne was in all +probability not merely giving way to as a relief, but feeding and +encouraging as a duty. + +In about half an hour her mother returned, and though her eyes were +red, her countenance was not uncheerful. + +"Our dear Willoughby is now some miles from Barton, Elinor," said she, +as she sat down to work, "and with how heavy a heart does he travel?" + +"It is all very strange. So suddenly to be gone! It seems but the work +of a moment. And last night he was with us so happy, so cheerful, so +affectionate? And now, after only ten minutes notice,--gone too +without intending to return! Something more than what he owned to us +must have happened. He did not speak, he did not behave like himself. +_You_ must have seen the difference as well as I. What can it be? Can +they have quarrelled? Why else should he have shown such unwillingness +to accept your invitation here?" + +"It was not inclination that he wanted, Elinor; I could plainly see +_that._ He had not the power of accepting it. I have thought it all +over I assure you, and I can perfectly account for every thing that at +first seemed strange to me as well as to you." + +"Can you, indeed!" + +"Yes. I have explained it to myself in the most satisfactory way; but +you, Elinor, who love to doubt where you can--it will not satisfy +_you_, I know; but you shall not talk _me_ out of my trust in it. I am +persuaded that Mrs. Smith suspects his regard for Marianne, +disapproves of it, (perhaps because she has other views for him,) and +on that account is eager to get him away; and that the business which +she sends him off to transact is invented as an excuse to dismiss +him. This is what I believe to have happened. He is, moreover, aware +that she _does_ disapprove the connection, he dares not therefore at +present confess to her his engagement with Marianne, and he feels +himself obliged, from his dependent situation, to give into her +schemes, and absent himself from Devonshire for a while. You will tell +me, I know, that this may or may _not_ have happened; but I will +listen to no cavil, unless you can point out any other method of +understanding the affair as satisfactory at this. And now, Elinor, +what have you to say?" + +"Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer." + +"Then you would have told me, that it might or might not have +happened. Oh, Elinor, how incomprehensible are your feelings! You had +rather take evil upon credit than good. You had rather look out for +misery for Marianne, and guilt for poor Willoughby, than an apology +for the latter. You are resolved to think him blamable, because he +took leave of us with less affection than his usual behaviour has +shown. And is no allowance to be made for inadvertence, or for spirits +depressed by recent disappointment? Are no probabilities to be +accepted, merely because they are not certainties? Is nothing due to +the man whom we have all such reason to love, and no reason in the +world to think ill of?--to the possibility of motives unanswerable in +themselves, though unavoidably secret for a while? And, after all, +what is it you suspect him of?" + +"I can hardly tell myself. But suspicion of something unpleasant is +the inevitable consequence of such an alteration as we just witnessed +in him. There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged of +the allowances which ought to be made for him, and it is my wish to be +candid in my judgment of every body. Willoughby may undoubtedly have +very sufficient reasons for his conduct, and I will hope that he has. +But it would have been more like Willoughby to acknowledge them at +once. Secrecy may be advisable; but still I cannot help wondering at +its being practiced by him." + +"Do not blame him, however, for departing from his character, where +the deviation is necessary. But you really do admit the justice of +what I have said in his defence?--I am happy--and he is acquitted." + +"Not entirely. It may be proper to conceal their engagement (if they +_are_ engaged) from Mrs. Smith; and if that is the case, it must be +highly expedient for Willoughby to be but little in Devonshire at +present. But this is no excuse for their concealing it from us." + +"Concealing it from us! my dear child, do you accuse Willoughby and +Marianne of concealment? This is strange indeed, when your eyes have +been reproaching them every day for incautiousness." + +"I want no proof of their affection," said Elinor; "but of their +engagement I do." + +"I am perfectly satisfied of both." + +"Yet not a syllable has been said to you on the subject, by either of +them." + +"I have not wanted syllables where actions have spoken so plainly. Has +not his behaviour to Marianne and to all of us, for at least the last +fortnight, declared that he loved and considered her as his future +wife, and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest relation? +Have we not perfectly understood each other? Has not my consent been +daily asked by his looks, his manner, his attentive and affectionate +respect? My Elinor, is it possible to doubt their engagement? How +could such a thought occur to you? How is it to be supposed that +Willoughby, persuaded as he must be of your sister's love, should +leave her, and leave her perhaps for months, without telling her of +his affection,--that they should part without a mutual exchange of +confidence?" + +"I confess," replied Elinor, "that every circumstance except _one_ is +in favour of their engagement; but that _one_ is the total silence of +both on the subject, and with me it almost outweighs every other." + +"How strange this is! You must think wretchedly indeed of Willoughby, +if, after all that has openly passed between them, you can doubt the +nature of the terms on which they are together. Has he been acting a +part in his behaviour to your sister all this time? Do you suppose him +really indifferent to her?" + +"No, I cannot think that. He must and does love her I am sure." + +"But with a strange kind of tenderness, if he can leave her with such +indifference, such carelessness of the future, as you attribute to +him." + +"You must remember, my dear mother, that I have never considered this +matter as certain. I have had my doubts, I confess; but they are +fainter than they were, and they may soon be entirely done away. If we +find they correspond, every fear of mine will be removed." + +"A mighty concession indeed! If you were to see them at the altar, you +would suppose they were going to be married. Ungracious girl! But I +require no such proof. Nothing in my opinion has ever passed to +justify doubt; no secrecy has been attempted; all has been uniformly +open and unreserved. You cannot doubt your sister's wishes. It must be +Willoughby therefore whom you suspect. But why? Is he not a man of +honour and feeling? Has there been any inconsistency on his side to +create alarm? can he be deceitful?" + +"I hope not, I believe not," cried Elinor. "I love Willoughby, +sincerely love him; and suspicion of his integrity cannot be more +painful to yourself than to me. It has been involuntary, and I will +not encourage it. I was startled, I confess, by the alteration in his +manners this morning; he did not speak like himself, and did not +return your kindness with any cordiality. But all this may be +explained by such a situation of his affairs as you have supposed. He +had just parted from my sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest +affliction; and if he felt obliged, from a fear of offending Mrs. +Smith, to resist the temptation of returning here soon, and yet aware +that by declining your invitation, by saying that he was going away +for some time, he should seem to act an ungenerous, a suspicious part +by our family, he might well be embarrassed and disturbed. In such a +case, a plain and open avowal of his difficulties would have been more +to his honour I think, as well as more consistent with his general +character;--but I will not raise objections against any one's conduct +on so illiberal a foundation, as a difference in judgment from myself, +or a deviation from what I may think right and consistent." + +"You speak very properly. Willoughby certainly does not deserve to be +suspected. Though _we_ have not known him long, he is no stranger in +this part of the world; and who has ever spoken to his disadvantage? +Had he been in a situation to act independently and marry immediately, +it might have been odd that he should leave us without acknowledging +everything to me at once: but this is not the case. It is an +engagement in some respects not prosperously begun, for their marriage +must be at a very uncertain distance; and even secrecy, as far as it +can be observed, may now be very advisable." + +They were interrupted by the entrance of Margaret; and Elinor was then +at liberty to think over the representations of her mother, to +acknowledge the probability of many, and hope for the justice of all. + +They saw nothing of Marianne till dinner time, when she entered the +room and took her place at the table without saying a word. Her eyes +were red and swollen; and it seemed as if her tears were even then +restrained with difficulty. She avoided the looks of them all, could +neither eat nor speak, and after some time, on her mother's silently +pressing her hand with tender compassion, her small degree of +fortitude was quite overcome, she burst into tears and left the room. + +This violent oppression of spirits continued the whole evening. She +was without any power, because she was without any desire of command +over herself. The slightest mention of anything relative to Willoughby +overpowered her in an instant; and though her family were most +anxiously attentive to her comfort, it was impossible for them, if +they spoke at all, to keep clear of every subject which her feelings +connected with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable had she been able +to sleep at all the first night after parting from Willoughby. She +would have been ashamed to look her family in the face the next +morning, had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose than +when she lay down in it. But the feelings which made such composure a +disgrace, left her in no danger of incurring it. She was awake the +whole night, and she wept the greatest part of it. She got up with a +headache, was unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment; +giving pain every moment to her mother and sisters, and forbidding +all attempt at consolation from either. Her sensibility was potent +enough! + +When breakfast was over she walked out by herself, and wandered about +the village of Allenham, indulging the recollection of past enjoyment +and crying over the present reverse for the chief of the morning. + +The evening passed off in the equal indulgence of feeling. She played +over every favourite song that she had been used to play to +Willoughby, every air in which their voices had been oftenest joined, +and sat at the instrument gazing on every line of music that he had +written out for her, till her heart was so heavy that no farther +sadness could be gained; and this nourishment of grief was every day +applied. She spent whole hours at the pianoforte alternately singing +and crying; her voice often totally suspended by her tears. In books +too, as well as in music, she courted the misery which a contrast +between the past and present was certain of giving. She read nothing +but what they had been used to read together. + +Such violence of affliction indeed could not be supported for ever; it +sunk within a few days into a calmer melancholy; but these +employments, to which she daily recurred, her solitary walks and +silent meditations, still produced occasional effusions of sorrow as +lively as ever. + +No letter from Willoughby came; and none seemed expected by Marianne. +Her mother was surprised, and Elinor again became uneasy. But Mrs. +Dashwood could find explanations whenever she wanted them, which at +least satisfied herself. + +"Remember, Elinor," said she, "how very often Sir John fetches our +letters himself from the post, and carries them to it. We have already +agreed that secrecy may be necessary, and we must acknowledge that it +could not be maintained if their correspondence were to pass through +Sir John's hands." + +Elinor could not deny the truth of this, and she tried to find in it a +motive sufficient for their silence. But there was one method so +direct, so simple, and in her opinion so eligible of knowing the real +state of the affair, and of instantly removing all mystery, that she +could not help suggesting it to her mother. + +"Why do you not ask Marianne at once," said she, "whether she is or +she is not engaged to Willoughby? From you, her mother, and so kind, +so indulgent a mother, the question could not give offence. It would +be the natural result of your affection for her. She used to be all +unreserve, and to you more especially." + +"I would not ask such a question for the world. Supposing it possible +that they are not engaged, what distress would not such an enquiry +inflict! At any rate it would be most ungenerous. I should never +deserve her confidence again, after forcing from her a confession of +what is meant at present to be unacknowledged to any one. I know +Marianne's heart: I know that she dearly loves me, and that I shall +not be the last to whom the affair is made known, when circumstances +make the revealment of it eligible. I would not attempt to force the +confidence of any one; of a child much less; because a sense of duty +would prevent the denial which her wishes might direct." + +Elinor thought this generosity overstrained, considering her sister's +youth, and urged the matter farther, but in vain; common sense, common +care, common prudence, were all sunk in Mrs. Dashwood's romantic +delicacy. + +It was several days before Willoughby's name was mentioned before +Marianne by any of her family; Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, indeed, +were not so nice; their witticisms added pain to many a painful hour; +but one evening, Mrs. Dashwood, accidentally taking up a volume of +Shakespeare, exclaimed-- + +"We have never finished _Hamlet_, Marianne; our dear Willoughby went +away before we could get through it. We will put it by, that when he +comes again--; But it may be months, perhaps, before _that_ happens." + +"Months!" cried Marianne, with strong surprise. "No--nor many weeks." + +Mrs. Dashwood was sorry for what she had said; but it gave Elinor +pleasure, as it produced a reply from Marianne so expressive of +confidence in Willoughby and knowledge of his intentions. + +One morning, about a week after his leaving the country, Marianne was +prevailed on to join her sisters in their usual walk, instead of +wandering away by herself. Hitherto she had carefully avoided every +companion in her rambles. If her sisters intended to walk on the +downs, she directly stole away towards the lanes; if they talked of +the valley, she was as speedy in climbing the hills, and could never +be found when the others set off. But at length she was secured by the +exertions of Elinor, who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion. +They walked along the road through the valley, and chiefly in silence, +for Marianne's _mind_ could not be controlled, and Elinor, satisfied +with gaining one point, would not then attempt more. Beyond the +entrance of the valley, where the country, though still rich, was less +wild and more open, a long stretch of the road which they had +travelled on first coming to Barton, lay before them; and on reaching +that point, they stopped to look around them, and examine a prospect +which formed the distance of their view from the cottage, from a spot +which they had never happened to reach in any of their walks before. + +Amongst the objects in the scene, they soon discovered an animated +one; it was a man on horseback riding towards them. In a few minutes +they could distinguish him to be a gentleman; and in a moment +afterwards Marianne rapturously exclaimed-- + +"It is he; it is indeed--I know it is!" and was hastening to meet him, +when Elinor cried out-- + +"Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mistaken. It is not Willoughby. The +person is not tall enough for him, and has not his air." + +"He has, he has," cried Marianne, "I am sure he has. His air, his +coat, his horse. I knew how soon he would come." + +She walked eagerly on as she spoke; and Elinor, to screen Marianne +from particularity, as she felt almost certain of its not being +Willoughby, quickened her pace and kept up with her. They were soon +within thirty yards of the gentleman. Marianne looked again; her heart +sunk within her; and abruptly turning round, she was hurrying back, +when the voices of both her sisters were raised to detain her; a +third, almost as well known as Willoughby's, joined them in begging +her to stop, and she turned round with surprise to see and welcome +Edward Ferrars. + +[Illustration: _Begging her to stop._] + +He was the only person in the world who could at that moment be +forgiven for not being Willoughby; the only one who could have gained +a smile from her; but she dispersed her tears to smile on _him_, and +in her sister's happiness forgot for a time her own disappointment. + +He dismounted, and giving his horse to his servant, walked back with +them to Barton, whither he was purposely coming to visit them. + +He was welcomed by them all with great cordiality, but especially by +Marianne, who showed more warmth of regard in her reception of him +than even Elinor herself. To Marianne, indeed, the meeting between +Edward and her sister was but a continuation of that unaccountable +coldness which she had often observed at Norland in their mutual +behaviour. On Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency +of all that a lover ought to look and say on such an occasion. He was +confused, seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure in seeing them, looked +neither rapturous nor gay, said little but what was forced from him by +questions, and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection. Marianne +saw and listened with increasing surprise. She began almost to feel a +dislike of Edward; and it ended, as every feeling must end with her, +by carrying back her thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a +contrast sufficiently striking to those of his brother elect. + +After a short silence which succeeded the first surprise and enquiries +of meeting, Marianne asked Edward if he came directly from London. No, +he had been in Devonshire a fortnight. + +"A fortnight!" she repeated, surprised at his being so long in the +same county with Elinor without seeing her before. + +He looked rather distressed as he added, that he had been staying with +some friends near Plymouth. + +"Have you been lately in Sussex?" said Elinor. + +"I was at Norland about a month ago." + +"And how does dear, dear Norland look?" cried Marianne. + +"Dear, dear Norland," said Elinor, "probably looks much as it always +does at this time of the year--the woods and walks thickly covered +with dead leaves." + +"Oh," cried Marianne, "with what transporting sensation have I +formerly seen them fall! How have I delighted, as I walked, to see +them driven in showers about me by the wind! What feelings have they, +the season, the air altogether inspired! Now there is no one to regard +them. They are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off, and driven +as much as possible from the sight." + +"It is not every one," said Elinor, "who has your passion for dead +leaves." + +"No; my feelings are not often shared, not often understood. But +_sometimes_ they are." As she said this, she sunk into a reverie for a +few moments; but rousing herself again, "Now, Edward," said she, +calling his attention to the prospect, "here is Barton valley. Look up +to it, and be tranquil if you can. Look at those hills! Did you ever +see their equals? To the left is Barton park, amongst those woods and +plantations. You may see the end of the house. And there, beneath that +farthest hill, which rises with such grandeur, is our cottage." + +"It is a beautiful country," he replied; "but these bottoms must be +dirty in winter." + +"How can you think of dirt, with such objects before you?" + +"Because," replied he, smiling, "among the rest of the objects before +me, I see a very dirty lane." + +"How strange!" said Marianne to herself as she walked on. + +"Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here? Are the Middletons pleasant +people?" + +"No, not all," answered Marianne; "we could not be more unfortunately +situated." + +"Marianne," cried her sister, "how can you say so? How can you be so +unjust? They are a very respectable family, Mr. Ferrars; and towards +us have behaved in the friendliest manner. Have you forgot, Marianne, +how many pleasant days we have owed to them?" + +"No," said Marianne, in a low voice, "nor how many painful moments." + +Elinor took no notice of this; and directing her attention to their +visitor, endeavoured to support something like discourse with him, by +talking of their present residence, its conveniences, &c. extorting +from him occasional questions and remarks. His coldness and reserve +mortified her severely; she was vexed and half angry; but resolving to +regulate her behaviour to him by the past rather than the present, +she avoided every appearance of resentment or displeasure, and treated +him as she thought he ought to be treated from the family connection. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Mrs. Dashwood was surprised only for a moment at seeing him; for his +coming to Barton was, in her opinion, of all things the most natural. +Her joy and expression of regard long outlived her wonder. He received +the kindest welcome from her; and shyness, coldness, reserve could not +stand against such a reception. They had begun to fail him before he +entered the house, and they were quite overcome by the captivating +manners of Mrs. Dashwood. Indeed a man could not very well be in love +with either of her daughters, without extending the passion to her; +and Elinor had the satisfaction of seeing him soon become more like +himself. His affections seemed to reanimate towards them all, and his +interest in their welfare again became perceptible. He was not in +spirits, however; he praised their house, admired its prospect, was +attentive, and kind; but still he was not in spirits. The whole family +perceived it, and Mrs. Dashwood, attributing it to some want of +liberality in his mother, sat down to table indignant against all +selfish parents. + +"What are Mrs. Ferrars's views for you at present, Edward?" said she, +when dinner was over and they had drawn round the fire; "are you still +to be a great orator in spite of yourself?" + +"No. I hope my mother is now convinced that I have no more talents +than inclination for a public life!" + +"But how is your fame to be established? for famous you must be to +satisfy all your family; and with no inclination for expense, no +affection for strangers, no profession, and no assurance, you may find +it a difficult matter." + +"I shall not attempt it. I have no wish to be distinguished; and have +every reason to hope I never shall. Thank Heaven! I cannot be forced +into genius and eloquence." + +"You have no ambition, I well know. Your wishes are all moderate." + +"As moderate as those of the rest of the world, I believe. I wish as +well as every body else to be perfectly happy; but, like every body +else it must be in my own way. Greatness will not make me so." + +"Strange that it would!" cried Marianne. "What have wealth or grandeur +to do with happiness?" + +"Grandeur has but little," said Elinor, "but wealth has much to do +with it." + +"Elinor, for shame!" said Marianne, "money can only give happiness +where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence, it can +afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned." + +"Perhaps," said Elinor, smiling, "we may come to the same point. +_Your_ competence and _my_ wealth are very much alike, I dare say; and +without them, as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every +kind of external comfort must be wanting. Your ideas are only more +noble than mine. Come, what is your competence?" + +"About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year; not more than _that._" + +Elinor laughed. "_Two_ thousand a year! _One_ is my wealth! I guessed +how it would end." + +"And yet two thousand a-year is a very moderate income," said +Marianne. "A family cannot well be maintained on a smaller. I am sure +I am not extravagant in my demands. A proper establishment of +servants, a carriage, perhaps two, and hunters, cannot be supported on +less." + +Elinor smiled again, to hear her sister describing so accurately their +future expenses at Combe Magna. + +"Hunters!" repeated Edward; "but why must you have hunters? Every body +does not hunt." + +Marianne coloured as she replied, "But most people do." + +"I wish," said Margaret, striking out a novel thought, "that somebody +would give us all a large fortune a-piece!" + +"Oh that they would!" cried Marianne, her eyes sparkling with +animation, and her cheeks glowing with the delight of such imaginary +happiness. + +"We are all unanimous in that wish, I suppose," said Elinor, "in spite +of the insufficiency of wealth." + +"Oh dear!" cried Margaret, "how happy I should be! I wonder what I +should do with it!" + +Marianne looked as if she had no doubt on that point. + +"I should be puzzled to spend so large a fortune myself," said Mrs. +Dashwood, "if my children were all to be rich without my help." + +"You must begin your improvements on this house," observed Elinor, +"and your difficulties will soon vanish." + +"What magnificent orders would travel from this family to London," +said Edward, "in such an event! What a happy day for booksellers, +music-sellers, and print-shops! You, Miss Dashwood, would give a +general commission for every new print of merit to be sent you--and as +for Marianne, I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music +enough in London to content her. And books!--Thomson, Cowper, +Scott--she would buy them all over and over again: she would buy up +every copy, I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands; +and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old +twisted tree. Should not you, Marianne? Forgive me, if I am very +saucy. But I was willing to show you that I had not forgot our old +disputes." + +"I love to be reminded of the past, Edward--whether it be melancholy +or gay, I love to recall it--and you will never offend me by talking +of former times. You are very right in supposing how my money would be +spent; some of it, at least--my loose cash--would certainly be +employed in improving my collection of music and books." + +"And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on the +authors or their heirs." + +"No, Edward, I should have something else to do with it." + +"Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that person who +wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim, that no one can ever +be in love more than once in their life--for your opinion on that +point is unchanged, I presume?" + +"Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed. It is +not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to change them." + +"Marianne is as steadfast as ever, you see," said Elinor, "she is not +at all altered." + +"She is only grown a little more grave than she was." + +"Nay, Edward," said Marianne, "you need not reproach me. You are not +very gay yourself." + +"Why should you think so!" replied he, with a sigh. "But gaiety never +was a part of _my_ character." + +"Nor do I think it a part of Marianne's," said Elinor; "I should +hardly call her a lively girl--she is very earnest, very eager in all +she does--sometimes talks a great deal and always with animation--but +she is not often really merry." + +"I believe you are right," he replied, "and yet I have always set her +down as a lively girl." + +"I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes," said +Elinor, "in a total misapprehension of character in some point or +other: fancying people so much more gay or grave, or ingenious or +stupid than they really are, and I can hardly tell why or in what the +deception originated. Sometimes one is guided by what they say of +themselves, and very frequently by what other people say of them, +without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge." + +"But I thought it was right, Elinor," said Marianne, "to be guided +wholly by the opinion of other people. I thought our judgments were +given us merely to be subservient to those of neighbours. This has +always been your doctrine, I am sure." + +"No, Marianne, never. My doctrine has never aimed at the subjection of +the understanding. All I have ever attempted to influence has been the +behaviour. You must not confound my meaning. I am guilty, I confess, +of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance in general with +greater attention; but when have I advised you to adopt their +sentiments or to conform to their judgment in serious matters?" + +"You have not been able to bring your sister over to your plan of +general civility," said Edward to Elinor, "Do you gain no ground?" + +"Quite the contrary," replied Elinor, looking expressively at +Marianne. + +"My judgment," he returned, "is all on your side of the question; but +I am afraid my practice is much more on your sister's. I never wish to +offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I +am only kept back by my natural awkwardness. I have frequently thought +that I must have been intended by nature to be fond of low company, I +am so little at my ease among strangers of gentility!" + +"Marianne has not shyness to excuse any inattention of hers," said +Elinor. + +"She knows her own worth too well for false shame," replied Edward. +"Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority in some way or +other. If I could persuade myself that my manners were perfectly easy +and graceful, I should not be shy." + +"But you would still be reserved," said Marianne, "and that is worse." + +Edward started. "Reserved! Am I reserved, Marianne?" + +"Yes, very." + +"I do not understand you," replied he, colouring. "Reserved!--how, in +what manner? What am I to tell you? What can you suppose?" + +Elinor looked surprised at his emotion; but trying to laugh off the +subject, she said to him, "Do not you know my sister well enough to +understand what she means? Do not you know she calls every one +reserved who does not talk as fast, and admire what she admires as +rapturously as herself?" + +Edward made no answer. His gravity and thoughtfulness returned on him +in their fullest extent--and he sat for some time silent and dull. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +Elinor saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits of her friend. His +visit afforded her but a very partial satisfaction, while his own +enjoyment in it appeared so imperfect. It was evident that he was +unhappy; she wished it were equally evident that he still +distinguished her by the same affection which once she had felt no +doubt of inspiring; but hitherto the continuance of his preference +seemed very uncertain; and the reservedness of his manner towards her +contradicted one moment what a more animated look had intimated the +preceding one. + +He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room the next morning +before the others were down; and Marianne, who was always eager to +promote their happiness as far as she could, soon left them to +themselves. But before she was half way upstairs she heard the parlour +door open, and, turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself +come out. + +"I am going into the village to see my horses," said he, "as you are +not yet ready for breakfast; I shall be back again presently." + + * * * * * + +Edward returned to them with fresh admiration of the surrounding +country; in his walk to the village, he had seen many parts of the +valley to advantage; and the village itself, in a much higher +situation than the cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, +which had exceedingly pleased him. This was a subject which ensured +Marianne's attention, and she was beginning to describe her own +admiration of these scenes, and to question him more minutely on the +objects that had particularly struck him, when Edward interrupted her +by saying, "You must not enquire too far, Marianne: remember I have no +knowledge in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance +and want of taste if we come to particulars. I shall call hills steep, +which ought to be bold; surfaces strange and uncouth, which ought to +be irregular and rugged; and distant objects out of sight, which ought +only to be indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosphere. +You must be satisfied with such admiration as I can honestly give. I +call it a very fine country,--the hills are steep, the woods seem full +of fine timber, and the valley looks comfortable and snug,--with rich +meadows and several neat farm houses scattered here and there. It +exactly answers my idea of a fine country, because it unites beauty +with utility--and I dare say it is a picturesque one too, because you +admire it; I can easily believe it to be full of rocks and +promontories, grey moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me. +I know nothing of the picturesque." + +"I am afraid it is but too true," said Marianne; "but why should you +boast of it?" + +"I suspect," said Elinor, "that to avoid one kind of affectation, +Edward here falls into another. Because he believes many people +pretend to more admiration of the beauties of nature than they really +feel, and is disgusted with such pretensions, he affects greater +indifference and less discrimination in viewing them himself than he +possesses. He is fastidious and will have an affectation of his own." + +"It is very true," said Marianne, "that admiration of landscape +scenery is become a mere jargon. Every body pretends to feel and tries +to describe with the taste and elegance of him who first defined what +picturesque beauty was. I detest jargon of every kind, and sometimes I +have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to +describe them in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and +meaning." + +"I am convinced," said Edward, "that you really feel all the delight +in a fine prospect which you profess to feel. But, in return, your +sister must allow me to feel no more than I profess. I like a fine +prospect, but not on picturesque principles. I do not like crooked, +twisted, blasted trees. I admire them much more if they are tall, +straight, and flourishing. I do not like ruined, tattered cottages. I +am not fond of nettles or thistles, or heath blossoms. I have more +pleasure in a snug farm-house than a watch-tower,--and a troop of +tidy, happy villages please me better than the finest banditti in the +world." + +Marianne looked with amazement at Edward, with compassion at her +sister. Elinor only laughed. + +The subject was continued no farther; and Marianne remained +thoughtfully silent, till a new object suddenly engaged her attention. +She was sitting by Edward, and in taking his tea from Mrs. Dashwood, +his hand passed so directly before her, as to make a ring, with a +plait of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one of his fingers. + +"I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward," she cried. "Is that +Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give you some. But I should +have thought her hair had been darker." + +Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt; but when she saw +how much she had pained Edward, her own vexation at her want of +thought could not be surpassed by his. He coloured very deeply, and +giving a momentary glance at Elinor, replied, "Yes; it is my sister's +hair. The setting always casts a different shade on it, you know." + +Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise. That the hair +was her own, she instantaneously felt as well satisfied as Marianne; +the only difference in their conclusions was, that what Marianne +considered as a free gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious must +have been procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself. +She was not in a humour, however, to regard it as an affront, and +affecting to take no notice of what passed, by instantly talking of +something else, she internally resolved henceforward to catch every +opportunity of eyeing the hair and of satisfying herself, beyond all +doubt, that it was exactly the shade of her own. + +Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it ended in an absence of +mind still more settled. He was particularly grave the whole morning. +Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said; but her own +forgiveness might have been more speedy, had she known how little +offence it had given her sister. + +Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir John and Mrs. +Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival of a gentleman at the +cottage, came to take a survey of the guest. With the assistance of +his mother-in-law, Sir John was not long in discovering that the name +of Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine of +raillery against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but the newness of +their acquaintance with Edward could have prevented from being +immediately sprung. But, as it was, she only learned, from some very +significant looks, how far their penetration, founded on Margaret's +instructions, extended. + +Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either inviting them to +dine at the park the next day, or to drink tea with them that evening. +On the present occasion, for the better entertainment of their +visitor, towards whose amusement he felt himself bound to contribute, +he wished to engage them for both. + +"You _must_ drink tea with us to night," said he, "for we shall be +quite alone; and tomorrow you must absolutely dine with us, for we +shall be a large party." + +Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity. "And who knows but you may raise +a dance," said she. "And that will tempt _you_, Miss Marianne." + +"A dance!" cried Marianne. "Impossible! Who is to dance?" + +[Illustration: _Came to take a survey of the guest._] + +"Who? why yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers to be sure. +What! you thought nobody could dance because a certain person that +shall be nameless is gone!" + +"I wish with all my soul," cried Sir John, "that Willoughby were among +us again." + +This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions to Edward. "And who +is Willoughby?" said he, in a low voice, to Miss Dashwood, by whom he +was sitting. + +She gave him a brief reply. Marianne's countenance was more +communicative. Edward saw enough to comprehend, not only the meaning +of others, but such of Marianne's expressions as had puzzled him +before; and when their visitors left them, he went immediately round +her, and said, in a whisper, "I have been guessing. Shall I tell you +my guess?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"Shall I tell you." + +"Certainly." + +"Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts." + +Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could not help smiling at +the quiet archness of his manner, and after a moment's silence, said-- + +"Oh, Edward! How can you?--But the time will come I hope--I am sure +you will like him." + +"I do not doubt it," replied he, rather astonished at her earnestness +and warmth; for had he not imagined it to be a joke for the good of +her acquaintance in general, founded only on a something or a nothing +between Mr. Willoughby and herself, he would not have ventured to +mention it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Edward remained a week at the cottage; he was earnestly pressed by +Mrs. Dashwood to stay longer; but, as if he were bent only on +self-mortification, he seemed resolved to be gone when his enjoyment +among his friends was at the height. His spirits, during the last two +or three days, though still very unequal, were greatly improved--he +grew more and more partial to the house and environs--never spoke of +going away without a sigh--declared his time to be wholly +disengaged--even doubted to what place he should go when he left +them--but still, go he must. Never had any week passed so quickly--he +could hardly believe it to be gone. He said so repeatedly; other +things he said too, which marked the turn of his feelings and gave the +lie to his actions. He had no pleasure at Norland; he detested being +in town; but either to Norland or London, he must go. He valued their +kindness beyond any thing, and his greatest happiness was in being +with them. Yet, he must leave them at the end of a week, in spite of +their wishes and his own, and without any restraint on his time. + +Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this way of acting to his +mother's account; and it was happy for her that he had a mother whose +character was so imperfectly known to her, as to be the general excuse +for every thing strange on the part of her son. Disappointed, however, +and vexed as she was, and sometimes displeased with his uncertain +behaviour to herself, she was very well disposed on the whole to +regard his actions with all the candid allowances and generous +qualifications, which had been rather more painfully extorted from +her, for Willoughby's service, by her mother. His want of spirits, of +openness, and of consistency, were most usually attributed to his want +of independence, and his better knowledge of Mrs. Ferrars's +disposition and designs. The shortness of his visit, the steadiness of +his purpose in leaving them, originated in the same fettered +inclination, the same inevitable necessity of temporizing with his +mother. The old well-established grievance of duty against will, +parent against child, was the cause of all. She would have been glad +to know when these difficulties were to cease, this opposition was to +yield, when Mrs. Ferrars would be reformed, and her son be at liberty +to be happy. But from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for +comfort to the renewal of her confidence in Edward's affection, to the +remembrance of every mark of regard in look or word which fell from +him while at Barton, and above all to that flattering proof of it +which he constantly wore round his finger. + +"I think, Edward," said Mrs. Dashwood, as they were at breakfast the +last morning, "you would be a happier man if you had any profession to +engage your time and give an interest to your plans and actions. Some +inconvenience to your friends, indeed, might result from it--you would +not be able to give them so much of your time. But (with a smile) you +would be materially benefited in one particular at least--you would +know where to go when you left them." + +"I do assure you," he replied, "that I have long thought on this +point, as you think now. It has been, and is, and probably will always +be a heavy misfortune to me, that I have had no necessary business to +engage me, no profession to give me employment, or afford me any thing +like independence. But unfortunately my own nicety, and the nicety of +my friends, have made me what I am, an idle, helpless being. We never +could agree in our choice of a profession. I always preferred the +church, as I still do. But that was not smart enough for my family. +They recommended the army. That was a great deal too smart for me. The +law was allowed to be genteel enough; many young men, who had chambers +in the Temple, made a very good appearance in the first circles, and +drove about town in very knowing gigs. But I had no inclination for +the law, even in this less abstruse study of it, which my family +approved. As for the navy, it had fashion on its side, but I was too +old when the subject was first started to enter it; and, at length, as +there was no necessity for my having any profession at all, as I might +be as dashing and expensive without a red coat on my back as with one, +idleness was pronounced on the whole to be most advantageous and +honourable, and a young man of eighteen is not in general so earnestly +bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his friends to do +nothing. I was therefore entered at Oxford and have been properly idle +ever since." + +"The consequence of which, I suppose, will be," said Mrs. Dashwood, +"since leisure has not promoted your own happiness, that your sons +will be brought up to as many pursuits, employments, professions, and +trades as Columella's." + +"They will be brought up," said he, in a serious accent, "to be as +unlike myself as is possible. In feeling, in action, in condition, in +every thing." + +"Come, come; this is all an effusion of immediate want of spirits, +Edward. You are in a melancholy humour, and fancy that any one unlike +yourself must be happy. But remember that the pain of parting from +friends will be felt by every body at times, whatever be their +education or state. Know your own happiness. You want nothing but +patience--or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope. Your +mother will secure to you, in time, that independence you are so +anxious for; it is her duty, and it will, it must ere long become her +happiness to prevent your whole youth from being wasted in discontent. +How much may not a few months do?" + +"I think," replied Edward, "that I may defy many months to produce any +good to me." + +This desponding turn of mind, though it could not be communicated to +Mrs. Dashwood, gave additional pain to them all in the parting, which +shortly took place, and left an uncomfortable impression on Elinor's +feelings especially, which required some trouble and time to subdue. +But as it was her determination to subdue it, and to prevent herself +from appearing to suffer more than what all her family suffered on his +going away, she did not adopt the method so judiciously employed by +Marianne, on a similar occasion, to augment and fix her sorrow, by +seeking silence, solitude and idleness. Their means were as different +as their objects, and equally suited to the advancement of each. + +Elinor sat down to her drawing-table as soon as he was out of the +house, busily employed herself the whole day, neither sought nor +avoided the mention of his name, appeared to interest herself almost +as much as ever in the general concerns of the family, and if, by this +conduct, she did not lessen her own grief, it was at least prevented +from unnecessary increase, and her mother and sisters were spared much +solicitude on her account. + +Such behaviour as this, so exactly the reverse of her own, appeared no +more meritorious to Marianne, than her own had seemed faulty to her. +The business of self-command she settled very easily;--with strong +affections it was impossible, with calm ones it could have no merit. +That her sister's affections _were_ calm, she dared not deny, though +she blushed to acknowledge it; and of the strength of her own, she +gave a very striking proof, by still loving and respecting that +sister, in spite of this mortifying conviction. + +Without shutting herself up from her family, or leaving the house in +determined solitude to avoid them, or lying awake the whole night to +indulge meditation, Elinor found every day afforded her leisure enough +to think of Edward, and of Edward's behaviour, in every possible +variety which the different state of her spirits at different times +could produce,--with tenderness, pity, approbation, censure, and +doubt. There were moments in abundance, when, if not by the absence of +her mother and sisters, at least by the nature of their employments, +conversation was forbidden among them, and every effect of solitude +was produced. Her mind was inevitably at liberty; her thoughts could +not be chained elsewhere; and the past and the future, on a subject so +interesting, must be before her, must force her attention, and engross +her memory, her reflection, and her fancy. + +From a reverie of this kind, as she sat at her drawing-table, she was +roused one morning, soon after Edward's leaving them, by the arrival +of company. She happened to be quite alone. The closing of the little +gate, at the entrance of the green court in front of the house, drew +her eyes to the window, and she saw a large party walking up to the +door. Amongst them were Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, +but there were two others, a gentleman and lady, who were quite +unknown to her. She was sitting near the window, and as soon as Sir +John perceived her, he left the rest of the party to the ceremony of +knocking at the door, and stepping across the turf, obliged her to +open the casement to speak to him, though the space was so short +between the door and the window, as to make it hardly possible to +speak at one without being heard at the other. + +"Well," said he, "we have brought you some strangers. How do you like +them?" + +"Hush! they will hear you." + +"Never mind if they do. It is only the Palmers. Charlotte is very +pretty, I can tell you. You may see her if you look this way." + +As Elinor was certain of seeing her in a couple of minutes, without +taking that liberty, she begged to be excused. + +"Where is Marianne? Has she run away because we are come? I see her +instrument is open." + +"She is walking, I believe." + +They were now joined by Mrs. Jennings, who had not patience enough to +wait till the door was opened before she told _her_ story. She came +hallooing to the window, "How do you do, my dear? How does Mrs. +Dashwood do? And where are your sisters? What! all alone! you will be +glad of a little company to sit with you. I have brought my other son +and daughter to see you. Only think of their coming so suddenly! I +thought I heard a carriage last night, while we were drinking our tea, +but it never entered my head that it could be them. I thought of +nothing but whether it might not be Colonel Brandon come back again; +so I said to Sir John, I do think I hear a carriage; perhaps it is +Colonel Brandon come back again--" + +Elinor was obliged to turn from her, in the middle of her story, to +receive the rest of the party; Lady Middleton introduced the two +strangers; Mrs. Dashwood and Margaret came down stairs at the same +time, and they all sat down to look at one another, while Mrs. +Jennings continued her story as she walked through the passage into +the parlour, attended by Sir John. + +Mrs. Palmer was several years younger than Lady Middleton, and totally +unlike her in every respect. She was short and plump, had a very +pretty face, and the finest expression of good humour in it that could +possibly be. Her manners were by no means so elegant as her sister's, +but they were much more prepossessing. She came in with a smile, +smiled all the time of her visit, except when she laughed, and smiled +when she went away. Her husband was a grave looking young man of five +or six and twenty, with an air of more fashion and sense than his +wife, but of less willingness to please or be pleased. He entered the +room with a look of self-consequence, slightly bowed to the ladies, +without speaking a word, and, after briefly surveying them and their +apartments, took up a newspaper from the table, and continued to read +it as long as he stayed. + +Mrs. Palmer, on the contrary, who was strongly endowed by nature with +a turn for being uniformly civil and happy, was hardly seated before +her admiration of the parlour and every thing in it burst forth. + +"Well! what a delightful room this is! I never saw anything so +charming! Only think, Mamma, how it is improved since I was here last! +I always thought it such a sweet place, ma'am! (turning to Mrs. +Dashwood) but you have made it so charming! Only look, sister, how +delightful every thing is! How I should like such a house for myself! +Should not you, Mr. Palmer?" + +Mr. Palmer made her no answer, and did not even raise his eyes from +the newspaper. + +"Mr. Palmer does not hear me," said she, laughing; "he never does +sometimes. It is so ridiculous!" + +This was quite a new idea to Mrs. Dashwood; she had never been used to +find wit in the inattention of any one, and could not help looking +with surprise at them both. + +Mrs. Jennings, in the meantime, talked on as loud as she could, and +continued her account of their surprise, the evening before, on seeing +their friends, without ceasing till every thing was told. Mrs. Palmer +laughed heartily at the recollection of their astonishment, and every +body agreed, two or three times over, that it had been quite an +agreeable surprise. + +"You may believe how glad we all were to see them," added Mrs. +Jennings, leaning forward towards Elinor, and speaking in a low voice +as if she meant to be heard by no one else, though they were seated on +different sides of the room; "but, however, I can't help wishing they +had not travelled quite so fast, nor made such a long journey of it, +for they came all round by London upon account of some business, for +you know (nodding significantly and pointing to her daughter) it was +wrong in her situation. I wanted her to stay at home and rest this +morning, but she would come with us; she longed so much to see you +all!" + +Mrs. Palmer laughed, and said it would not do her any harm. + +"She expects to be confined in February," continued Mrs. Jennings. + +Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversation, and +therefore exerted herself to ask Mr. Palmer if there was any news in +the paper. + +"No, none at all," he replied, and read on. + +"Here comes Marianne," cried Sir John. "Now, Palmer, you shall see a +monstrous pretty girl." + +He immediately went into the passage, opened the front door, and +ushered her in himself. Mrs. Jennings asked her, as soon as she +appeared, if she had not been to Allenham; and Mrs. Palmer laughed so +heartily at the question, as to show she understood it. Mr. Palmer +looked up on her entering the room, stared at her some minutes, and +then returned to his newspaper. Mrs. Palmer's eye was now caught by +the drawings which hung round the room. She got up to examine them. + +[Illustration: "_I declare they are quite charming_."] + +"Oh! dear, how beautiful these are! Well! how delightful! Do but look, +mama, how sweet! I declare they are quite charming; I could look at +them for ever." And then sitting down again, she very soon forgot that +there were any such things in the room. + +When Lady Middleton rose to go away, Mr. Palmer rose also, laid down +the newspaper, stretched himself and looked at them all around. + +"My love, have you been asleep?" said his wife, laughing. + +He made her no answer; and only observed, after again examining the +room, that it was very low pitched, and that the ceiling was crooked. +He then made his bow, and departed with the rest. + +Sir John had been very urgent with them all to spend the next day at +the park. Mrs. Dashwood, who did not choose to dine with them oftener +than they dined at the cottage, absolutely refused on her own account; +her daughters might do as they pleased. But they had no curiosity to +see how Mr. and Mrs. Palmer ate their dinner, and no expectation of +pleasure from them in any other way. They attempted, therefore, +likewise, to excuse themselves; the weather was uncertain, and not +likely to be good. But Sir John would not be satisfied--the carriage +should be sent for them and they must come. Lady Middleton too, though +she did not press their mother, pressed them. Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. +Palmer joined their entreaties, all seemed equally anxious to avoid a +family party; and the young ladies were obliged to yield. + +"Why should they ask us?" said Marianne, as soon as they were gone. +"The rent of this cottage is said to be low; but we have it on very +hard terms, if we are to dine at the park whenever any one is staying +either with them, or with us." + +"They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now," said Elinor, "by +these frequent invitations, than by those which we received from them +a few weeks ago. The alteration is not in them, if their parties are +grown tedious and dull. We must look for the change elsewhere." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +As the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing-room of the park the next +day, at one door, Mrs. Palmer came running in at the other, looking as +good humoured and merry as before. She took them all most +affectionately by the hand, and expressed great delight in seeing them +again. + +"I am so glad to see you!" said she, seating herself between Elinor +and Marianne, "for it is so bad a day I was afraid you might not come, +which would be a shocking thing, as we go away again tomorrow. We must +go, for the Westons come to us next week you know. It was quite a +sudden thing our coming at all, and I knew nothing of it till the +carriage was coming to the door, and then Mr. Palmer asked me if I +would go with him to Barton. He is so droll! He never tells me any +thing! I am so sorry we cannot stay longer; however we shall meet +again in town very soon, I hope." + +They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation. + +"Not go to town!" cried Mrs. Palmer, with a laugh, "I shall be quite +disappointed if you do not. I could get the nicest house in world for +you, next door to ours, in Hanover-square. You must come, indeed. I am +sure I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time till I am +confined, if Mrs. Dashwood should not like to go into public." + +They thanked her; but were obliged to resist all her entreaties. + +"Oh, my love," cried Mrs. Palmer to her husband, who just then entered +the room--"you must help me to persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to +town this winter." + +Her love made no answer; and after slightly bowing to the ladies, +began complaining of the weather. + +"How horrid all this is!" said he. "Such weather makes every thing and +every body disgusting. Dullness is as much produced within doors as +without, by rain. It makes one detest all one's acquaintance. What the +devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room in his house? +How few people know what comfort is! Sir John is as stupid as the +weather." + +The rest of the company soon dropt in. + +"I am afraid, Miss Marianne," said Sir John, "you have not been able +to take your usual walk to Allenham today." + +Marianne looked very grave and said nothing. + +"Oh, don't be so sly before us," said Mrs. Palmer; "for we know all +about it, I assure you; and I admire your taste very much, for I think +he is extremely handsome. We do not live a great way from him in the +country, you know. Not above ten miles, I dare say." + +"Much nearer thirty," said her husband. + +"Ah, well! there is not much difference. I never was at his house; but +they say it is a sweet pretty place." + +"As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life," said Mr. Palmer. + +Marianne remained perfectly silent, though her countenance betrayed +her interest in what was said. + +"Is it very ugly?" continued Mrs. Palmer--"then it must be some other +place that is so pretty I suppose." + +When they were seated in the dining room, Sir John observed with +regret that they were only eight all together. + +"My dear," said he to his lady, "it is very provoking that we should +be so few. Why did not you ask the Gilberts to come to us today?" + +"Did not I tell you, Sir John, when you spoke to me about it before, +that it could not be done? They dined with us last." + +"You and I, Sir John," said Mrs. Jennings, "should not stand upon such +ceremony." + +"Then you would be very ill-bred," cried Mr. Palmer. + +"My love you contradict every body," said his wife with her usual +laugh. "Do you know that you are quite rude?" + +"I did not know I contradicted any body in calling your mother +ill-bred." + +"Ay, you may abuse me as you please," said the good-natured old lady, +"you have taken Charlotte off my hands, and cannot give her back +again. So there I have the whip hand of you." + +Charlotte laughed heartily to think that her husband could not get rid +of her; and exultingly said, she did not care how cross he was to her, +as they must live together. It was impossible for any one to be more +thoroughly good-natured, or more determined to be happy than Mrs. +Palmer. The studied indifference, insolence, and discontent of her +husband gave her no pain; and when he scolded or abused her, she was +highly diverted. + +"Mr. Palmer is so droll!" said she, in a whisper, to Elinor. "He is +always out of humour." + +Elinor was not inclined, after a little observation, to give him +credit for being so genuinely and unaffectedly ill-natured or ill-bred +as he wished to appear. His temper might perhaps be a little soured by +finding, like many others of his sex, that through some unaccountable +bias in favour of beauty, he was the husband of a very silly +woman,--but she knew that this kind of blunder was too common for any +sensible man to be lastingly hurt by it. It was rather a wish of +distinction, she believed, which produced his contemptuous treatment +of every body, and his general abuse of every thing before him. It was +the desire of appearing superior to other people. The motive was too +common to be wondered at; but the means, however they might succeed by +establishing his superiority in ill-breeding, were not likely to +attach any one to him except his wife. + +"Oh, my dear Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Palmer soon afterwards, "I have +got such a favour to ask of you and your sister. Will you come and +spend some time at Cleveland this Christmas? Now, pray do,--and come +while the Westons are with us. You cannot think how happy I shall be! +It will be quite delightful!--My love," applying to her husband, +"don't you long to have the Miss Dashwoods come to Cleveland?" + +"Certainly," he replied, with a sneer--"I came into Devonshire with no +other view." + +"There now,"--said his lady, "you see Mr. Palmer expects you; so you +cannot refuse to come." + +They both eagerly and resolutely declined her invitation. + +"But indeed you must and shall come. I am sure you will like it of all +things. The Westons will be with us, and it will be quite delightful. +You cannot think what a sweet place Cleveland is; and we are so gay +now, for Mr. Palmer is always going about the country canvassing +against the election; and so many people came to dine with us that I +never saw before, it is quite charming! But, poor fellow! it is very +fatiguing to him! for he is forced to make every body like him." + +Elinor could hardly keep her countenance as she assented to the +hardship of such an obligation. + +"How charming it will be," said Charlotte, "when he is in +Parliament!--won't it? How I shall laugh! It will be so ridiculous to +see all his letters directed to him with an M.P. But do you know, he +says, he will never frank for me? He declares he won't. Don't you, Mr. +Palmer?" + +Mr. Palmer took no notice of her. + +"He cannot bear writing, you know," she continued; "he says it is +quite shocking." + +"No," said he, "I never said any thing so irrational. Don't palm all +your abuses of languages upon me." + +"There now; you see how droll he is. This is always the way with him! +Sometimes he won't speak to me for half a day together, and then he +comes out with something so droll--all about any thing in the world." + +She surprised Elinor very much as they returned into the drawing-room, +by asking her whether she did not like Mr. Palmer excessively. + +"Certainly," said Elinor; "he seems very agreeable." + +"Well--I am so glad you do. I thought you would, he is so pleasant; +and Mr. Palmer is excessively pleased with you and your sisters I can +tell you, and you can't think how disappointed he will be if you don't +come to Cleveland. I can't imagine why you should object to it." + +Elinor was again obliged to decline her invitation; and by changing +the subject, put a stop to her entreaties. She thought it probable +that as they lived in the same county, Mrs. Palmer might be able to +give some more particular account of Willoughby's general character, +than could be gathered from the Middletons' partial acquaintance with +him; and she was eager to gain from any one, such a confirmation of +his merits as might remove the possibility of fear from Marianne. She +began by inquiring if they saw much of Mr. Willoughby at Cleveland, +and whether they were intimately acquainted with him. + +"Oh dear, yes; I know him extremely well," replied Mrs. Palmer;--"Not +that I ever spoke to him, indeed; but I have seen him for ever in +town. Somehow or other I never happened to be staying at Barton while +he was at Allenham. Mama saw him here once before, but I was with my +uncle at Weymouth. However, I dare say we should have seen a great +deal of him in Somersetshire, if it had not happened very unluckily +that we should never have been in the country together. He is very +little at Combe, I believe; but if he were ever so much there, I do +not think Mr. Palmer would visit him, for he is in the opposition, you +know, and besides it is such a way off. I know why you inquire about +him, very well; your sister is to marry him. I am monstrous glad of +it, for then I shall have her for a neighbour you know." + +"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "you know much more of the matter than +I do, if you have any reason to expect such a match." + +"Don't pretend to deny it, because you know it is what every body +talks of. I assure you I heard of it in my way through town." + +"My dear Mrs. Palmer!" + +"Upon my honour I did. I met Colonel Brandon Monday morning in +Bond-street, just before we left town, and he told me of it directly." + +"You surprise me very much. Colonel Brandon tell you of it! Surely you +must be mistaken. To give such intelligence to a person who could not +be interested in it, even if it were true, is not what I should expect +Colonel Brandon to do." + +"But I do assure you it was so, for all that, and I will tell you how +it happened. When we met him, he turned back and walked with us; and +so we began talking of my brother and sister, and one thing and +another, and I said to him, 'So, Colonel, there is a new family come +to Barton cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word they are very +pretty, and that one of them is going to be married to Mr. Willoughby +of Combe Magna. Is it true, pray? for of course you must know, as you +have been in Devonshire so lately.'" + +"And what did the Colonel say?" + +"Oh--he did not say much; but he looked as if he knew it to be true, +so from that moment I set it down as certain. It will be quite +delightful, I declare! When is it to take place?" + +"Mr. Brandon was very well I hope?" + +"Oh! yes, quite well; and so full of your praises, he did nothing but +say fine things of you." + +"I am flattered by his commendation. He seems an excellent man; and I +think him uncommonly pleasing." + +"So do I. He is such a charming man, that it is quite a pity he should +be so grave and so dull. Mamma says _he_ was in love with your sister +too. I assure you it was a great compliment if he was, for he hardly +ever falls in love with any body." + +"Is Mr. Willoughby much known in your part of Somersetshire?" said +Elinor. + +"Oh! yes, extremely well; that is, I do not believe many people are +acquainted with him, because Combe Magna is so far off; but they all +think him extremely agreeable I assure you. Nobody is more liked than +Mr. Willoughby wherever he goes, and so you may tell your sister. She +is a monstrous lucky girl to get him, upon my honour; not but that he +is much more lucky in getting her, because she is so very handsome and +agreeable, that nothing can be good enough for her. However, I don't +think her hardly at all handsomer than you, I assure you; for I think +you both excessively pretty, and so does Mr. Palmer too I am sure, +though we could not get him to own it last night." + +Mrs. Palmer's information respecting Willoughby was not very material; +but any testimony in his favour, however small, was pleasing to her. + +"I am so glad we are got acquainted at last," continued Charlotte. +"And now I hope we shall always be great friends. You can't think how +much I longed to see you! It is so delightful that you should live at +the cottage! Nothing can be like it, to be sure! And I am so glad your +sister is going to be well married! I hope you will be a great deal at +Combe Magna. It is a sweet place, by all accounts." + +"You have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon, have not you?" + +"Yes, a great while; ever since my sister married. He was a particular +friend of Sir John's. I believe," she added in a low voice, "he would +have been very glad to have had me, if he could. Sir John and Lady +Middleton wished it very much. But mama did not think the match good +enough for me, otherwise Sir John would have mentioned it to the +Colonel, and we should have been married immediately." + +"Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal to your mother +before it was made? Had he never owned his affection to yourself?" + +"Oh, no; but if mama had not objected to it, I dare say he would have +liked it of all things. He had not seen me then above twice, for it +was before I left school. However, I am much happier as I am. Mr. +Palmer is the kind of man I like." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +The Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day, and the two families +at Barton were again left to entertain each other. But this did not +last long; Elinor had hardly got their last visitors out of her head, +had hardly done wondering at Charlotte's being so happy without a +cause, at Mr. Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities, and at +the strange unsuitableness which often existed between husband and +wife, before Sir John's and Mrs. Jennings's active zeal in the cause +of society, procured her some other new acquaintance to see and +observe. + +In a morning's excursion to Exeter, they had met with two young +ladies, whom Mrs. Jennings had the satisfaction of discovering to be +her relations, and this was enough for Sir John to invite them +directly to the park, as soon as their present engagements at Exeter +were over. Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before such +an invitation, and Lady Middleton was thrown into no little alarm on +the return of Sir John, by hearing that she was very soon to receive a +visit from two girls whom she had never seen in her life, and of whose +elegance--whose tolerable gentility even--she could have no proof; for +the assurances of her husband and mother on that subject went for +nothing at all. Their being her relations too made it so much the +worse; and Mrs. Jennings's attempts at consolation were therefore +unfortunately founded, when she advised her daughter not to care about +their being so fashionable; because they were all cousins and must put +up with one another. As it was impossible, however, now to prevent +their coming, Lady Middleton resigned herself to the idea of it, with +all the philosophy of a well-bred woman, contenting herself with +merely giving her husband a gentle reprimand on the subject five or +six times every day. + +The young ladies arrived: their appearance was by no means ungenteel +or unfashionable. Their dress was very smart, their manners very +civil, they were delighted with the house, and in raptures with the +furniture, and they happened to be so doatingly fond of children that +Lady Middleton's good opinion was engaged in their favour before they +had been an hour at the Park. She declared them to be very agreeable +girls indeed, which for her ladyship was enthusiastic admiration. Sir +John's confidence in his own judgment rose with this animated praise, +and he set off directly for the cottage to tell the Miss Dashwoods of +the Miss Steeles' arrival, and to assure them of their being the +sweetest girls in the world. From such commendation as this, however, +there was not much to be learned; Elinor well knew that the sweetest +girls in the world were to be met with in every part of England, under +every possible variation of form, face, temper and understanding. Sir +John wanted the whole family to walk to the Park directly and look at +his guests. Benevolent, philanthropic man! It was painful to him even +to keep a third cousin to himself. + +"Do come now," said he--"pray come--you must come--I declare you shall +come--You can't think how you will like them. Lucy is monstrous +pretty, and so good humoured and agreeable! The children are all +hanging about her already, as if she was an old acquaintance. And they +both long to see you of all things, for they have heard at Exeter that +you are the most beautiful creatures in the world; and I have told +them it is all very true, and a great deal more. You will be delighted +with them I am sure. They have brought the whole coach full of +playthings for the children. How can you be so cross as not to come? +Why they are your cousins, you know, after a fashion. _You_ are my +cousins, and they are my wife's, so you must be related." + +But Sir John could not prevail. He could only obtain a promise of +their calling at the Park within a day or two, and then left them in +amazement at their indifference, to walk home and boast anew of their +attractions to the Miss Steeles, as he had been already boasting of +the Miss Steeles to them. + +When their promised visit to the Park and consequent introduction to +these young ladies took place, they found in the appearance of the +eldest, who was nearly thirty, with a very plain and not a sensible +face, nothing to admire; but in the other, who was not more than two +or three and twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty; her +features were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye, and a smartness +of air, which though it did not give actual elegance or grace, gave +distinction to her person. Their manners were particularly civil, and +Elinor soon allowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she saw +with what constant and judicious attention they were making themselves +agreeable to Lady Middleton. With her children they were in continual +raptures, extolling their beauty, courting their notice, and humouring +their whims; and such of their time as could be spared from the +importunate demands which this politeness made on it, was spent in +admiration of whatever her ladyship was doing, if she happened to be +doing any thing, or in taking patterns of some elegant new dress, in +which her appearance the day before had thrown them into unceasing +delight. Fortunately for those who pay their court through such +foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of praise for her children, +the most rapacious of human beings, is likewise the most credulous; +her demands are exorbitant; but she will swallow any thing; and the +excessive affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles towards her +offspring were viewed therefore by Lady Middleton without the smallest +surprise or distrust. She saw with maternal complacency all the +impertinent encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her cousins +submitted. She saw their sashes untied, their hair pulled about their +ears, their work-bags searched, and their knives and scissors stolen +away, and felt no doubt of its being a reciprocal enjoyment. It +suggested no other surprise than that Elinor and Marianne should sit +so composedly by, without claiming a share in what was passing. + +"John is in such spirits today!" said she, on his taking Miss Steele's +pocket handkerchief, and throwing it out of window--"He is full of +monkey tricks." + +And soon afterwards, on the second boy's violently pinching one of the +same lady's fingers, she fondly observed, "How playful William is!" + +[Illustration: _Mischievous tricks._] + +"And here is my sweet little Annamaria," she added, tenderly caressing +a little girl of three years old, who had not made a noise for the +last two minutes; "And she is always so gentle and quiet--Never was +there such a quiet little thing!" + +But unfortunately in bestowing these embraces, a pin in her ladyship's +head dress slightly scratching the child's neck, produced from this +pattern of gentleness such violent screams, as could hardly be outdone +by any creature professedly noisy. The mother's consternation was +excessive; but it could not surpass the alarm of the Miss Steeles, and +every thing was done by all three, in so critical an emergency, which +affection could suggest as likely to assuage the agonies of the little +sufferer. She was seated in her mother's lap, covered with kisses, her +wound bathed with lavender-water, by one of the Miss Steeles, who was +on her knees to attend her, and her mouth stuffed with sugar plums by +the other. With such a reward for her tears, the child was too wise to +cease crying. She still screamed and sobbed lustily, kicked her two +brothers for offering to touch her, and all their united soothings +were ineffectual till Lady Middleton luckily remembering that in a +scene of similar distress last week, some apricot marmalade had been +successfully applied for a bruised temple, the same remedy was eagerly +proposed for this unfortunate scratch, and a slight intermission of +screams in the young lady on hearing it, gave them reason to hope that +it would not be rejected. She was carried out of the room therefore in +her mother's arms, in quest of this medicine, and as the two boys +chose to follow, though earnestly entreated by their mother to stay +behind, the four young ladies were left in a quietness which the room +had not known for many hours. + +"Poor little creatures!" said Miss Steele, as soon as they were gone. +"It might have been a very sad accident." + +"Yet I hardly know how," cried Marianne, "unless it had been under +totally different circumstances. But this is the usual way of +heightening alarm, where there is nothing to be alarmed at in +reality." + +"What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is!" said Lucy Steele. + +Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say what she did not +feel, however trivial the occasion; and upon Elinor therefore the +whole task of telling lies when politeness required it, always fell. +She did her best when thus called on, by speaking of Lady Middleton +with more warmth than she felt, though with far less than Miss Lucy. + +"And Sir John too," cried the elder sister, "what a charming man he +is!" + +Here too, Miss Dashwood's commendation, being only simple and just, +came in without any eclat. She merely observed that he was perfectly +good humoured and friendly. + +"And what a charming little family they have! I never saw such fine +children in my life. I declare I quite doat upon them already, and +indeed I am always distractedly fond of children." + +"I should guess so," said Elinor, with a smile, "from what I have +witnessed this morning." + +"I have a notion," said Lucy, "you think the little Middletons rather +too much indulged; perhaps they may be the outside of enough; but it +is so natural in Lady Middleton; and for my part, I love to see +children full of life and spirits; I cannot bear them if they are tame +and quiet." + +"I confess," replied Elinor, "that while I am at Barton Park, I never +think of tame and quiet children with any abhorrence." + +A short pause succeeded this speech, which was first broken by Miss +Steele, who seemed very much disposed for conversation, and who now +said rather abruptly, "And how do you like Devonshire, Miss Dashwood? +I suppose you were very sorry to leave Sussex." + +In some surprise at the familiarity of this question, or at least of +the manner in which it was spoken, Elinor replied that she was. + +"Norland is a prodigious beautiful place, is not it?" added Miss +Steele. + +"We have heard Sir John admire it excessively," said Lucy, who seemed +to think some apology necessary for the freedom of her sister. + +"I think every one _must_ admire it," replied Elinor, "who ever saw +the place; though it is not to be supposed that any one can estimate +its beauties as we do." + +"And had you a great many smart beaux there? I suppose you have not so +many in this part of the world; for my part, I think they are a vast +addition always." + +"But why should you think," said Lucy, looking ashamed of her sister, +"that there are not as many genteel young men in Devonshire as +Sussex?" + +"Nay, my dear, I'm sure I don't pretend to say that there an't. I'm +sure there's a vast many smart beaux in Exeter; but you know, how +could I tell what smart beaux there might be about Norland; and I was +only afraid the Miss Dashwoods might find it dull at Barton, if they +had not so many as they used to have. But perhaps you young ladies may +not care about the beaux, and had as lief be without them as with +them. For my part, I think they are vastly agreeable, provided they +dress smart and behave civil. But I can't bear to see them dirty and +nasty. Now there's Mr. Rose at Exeter, a prodigious smart young man, +quite a beau, clerk to Mr. Simpson, you know, and yet if you do but +meet him of a morning, he is not fit to be seen. I suppose your +brother was quite a beau, Miss Dashwood, before he married, as he was +so rich?" + +"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "I cannot tell you, for I do not +perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word. But this I can say, that +if he ever was a beau before he married, he is one still for there is +not the smallest alteration in him." + +"Oh! dear! one never thinks of married men's being beaux--they have +something else to do." + +"Lord! Anne," cried her sister, "you can talk of nothing but +beaux;--you will make Miss Dashwood believe you think of nothing +else." And then to turn the discourse, she began admiring the house +and the furniture. + +This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough. The vulgar freedom and +folly of the eldest left her no recommendation, and as Elinor was not +blinded by the beauty, or the shrewd look of the youngest, to her want +of real elegance and artlessness, she left the house without any wish +of knowing them better. + +Not so the Miss Steeles. They came from Exeter, well provided with +admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton, his family, and all his +relations, and no niggardly proportion was now dealt out to his fair +cousins, whom they declared to be the most beautiful, elegant, +accomplished, and agreeable girls they had ever beheld, and with whom +they were particularly anxious to be better acquainted. And to be +better acquainted therefore, Elinor soon found was their inevitable +lot, for as Sir John was entirely on the side of the Miss Steeles, +their party would be too strong for opposition, and that kind of +intimacy must be submitted to, which consists of sitting an hour or +two together in the same room almost every day. Sir John could do no +more; but he did not know that any more was required: to be together +was, in his opinion, to be intimate, and while his continual schemes +for their meeting were effectual, he had not a doubt of their being +established friends. + +To do him justice, he did every thing in his power to promote their +unreserve, by making the Miss Steeles acquainted with whatever he knew +or supposed of his cousins' situations in the most delicate +particulars,--and Elinor had not seen them more than twice, before the +eldest of them wished her joy on her sister's having been so lucky as +to make a conquest of a very smart beau since she came to Barton. + +"'Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young to be sure," said +she, "and I hear he is quite a beau, and prodigious handsome. And I +hope you may have as good luck yourself soon,--but perhaps you may +have a friend in the corner already." + +Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more nice in +proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward, than he had been +with respect to Marianne; indeed it was rather his favourite joke of +the two, as being somewhat newer and more conjectural; and since +Edward's visit, they had never dined together without his drinking to +her best affections with so much significancy and so many nods and +winks, as to excite general attention. The letter F had been likewise +invariably brought forward, and found productive of such countless +jokes, that its character as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had +been long established with Elinor. + +The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the benefit of these +jokes, and in the eldest of them they raised a curiosity to know the +name of the gentleman alluded to, which, though often impertinently +expressed, was perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness +into the concerns of their family. But Sir John did not sport long +with the curiosity which he delighted to raise, for he had at least as +much pleasure in telling the name, as Miss Steele had in hearing it. + +"His name is Ferrars," said he, in a very audible whisper; "but pray +do not tell it, for it's a great secret." + +[Illustration: _Drinking to her best affections._] + +"Ferrars!" repeated Miss Steele; "Mr. Ferrars is the happy man, is he? +What! your sister-in-law's brother, Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable +young man to be sure; I know him very well." + +"How can you say so, Anne?" cried Lucy, who generally made an +amendment to all her sister's assertions. "Though we have seen him +once or twice at my uncle's, it is rather too much to pretend to know +him very well." + +Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise. "And who was this +uncle? Where did he live? How came they acquainted?" She wished very +much to have the subject continued, though she did not choose to join +in it herself; but nothing more of it was said, and for the first time +in her life, she thought Mrs. Jennings deficient either in curiosity +after petty information, or in a disposition to communicate it. The +manner in which Miss Steele had spoken of Edward, increased her +curiosity; for it struck her as being rather ill-natured, and +suggested the suspicion of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to +know something to his disadvantage. But her curiosity was unavailing, +for no farther notice was taken of Mr. Ferrars's name by Miss Steele +when alluded to, or even openly mentioned by Sir John. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +Marianne, who had never much toleration for any thing like +impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts, or even difference of +taste from herself, was at this time particularly ill-disposed, from +the state of her spirits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles, or to +encourage their advances; and to the invariable coldness of her +behaviour towards them, which checked every endeavour at intimacy on +their side, Elinor principally attributed that preference of herself +which soon became evident in the manners of both, but especially of +Lucy, who missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation, or of +striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank +communication of her sentiments. + +Lucy was naturally clever; her remarks were often just and amusing; +and as a companion for half an hour Elinor frequently found her +agreeable; but her powers had received no aid from education: she was +ignorant and illiterate; and her deficiency of all mental improvement, +her want of information in the most common particulars, could not be +concealed from Miss Dashwood, in spite of her constant endeavour to +appear to advantage. Elinor saw, and pitied her for, the neglect of +abilities which education might have rendered so respectable; but she +saw, with less tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy, +of rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her attentions, her +assiduities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed; and she could have +no lasting satisfaction in the company of a person who joined +insincerity with ignorance; whose want of instruction prevented their +meeting in conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct toward +others made every show of attention and deference towards herself +perfectly valueless. + +"You will think my question an odd one, I dare say," said Lucy to her +one day, as they were walking together from the park to the +cottage--"but pray, are you personally acquainted with your +sister-in-law's mother, Mrs. Ferrars?" + +Elinor _did_ think the question a very odd one, and her countenance +expressed it, as she answered that she had never seen Mrs. Ferrars. + +"Indeed!" replied Lucy; "I wonder at that, for I thought you must have +seen her at Norland sometimes. Then, perhaps, you cannot tell me what +sort of a woman she is?" + +"No," returned Elinor, cautious of giving her real opinion of Edward's +mother, and not very desirous of satisfying what seemed impertinent +curiosity; "I know nothing of her." + +"I am sure you think me very strange, for enquiring about her in such +a way," said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively as she spoke; "but +perhaps there may be reasons--I wish I might venture; but however I +hope you will do me the justice of believing that I do not mean to be +impertinent." + +Elinor made her a civil reply, and they walked on for a few minutes in +silence. It was broken by Lucy, who renewed the subject again by +saying, with some hesitation-- + +"I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious. I am sure I +would rather do any thing in the world than be thought so by a person +whose good opinion is so well worth having as yours. And I am sure I +should not have the smallest fear of trusting _you_; indeed, I should +be very glad of your advice how to manage in such and uncomfortable +situation as I am; but, however, there is no occasion to trouble +_you._ I am sorry you do not happen to know Mrs. Ferrars." + +"I am sorry I do _not_," said Elinor, in great astonishment, "if it +could be of any use to _you_ to know my opinion of her. But really I +never understood that you were at all connected with that family, and +therefore I am a little surprised, I confess, at so serious an inquiry +into her character." + +"I dare say you are, and I am sure I do not at all wonder at it. But +if I dared tell you all, you would not be so much surprised. Mrs. +Ferrars is certainly nothing to me at present--but the time _may_ +come--how soon it will come must depend upon herself--when we may be +very intimately connected." + +She looked down as she said this, amiably bashful, with only one side +glance at her companion to observe its effect on her. + +"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "what do you mean? Are you acquainted +with Mr. Robert Ferrars? Can you be?" And she did not feel much +delighted with the idea of such a sister-in-law. + +"No," replied Lucy, "not to Mr. _Robert_ Ferrars--I never saw him in +my life; but," fixing her eyes upon Elinor, "to his eldest brother." + +What felt Elinor at that moment? Astonishment, that would have been as +painful as it was strong, had not an immediate disbelief of the +assertion attended it. She turned towards Lucy in silent amazement, +unable to divine the reason or object of such a declaration; and +though her complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity, and felt +in no danger of an hysterical fit, or a swoon. + +"You may well be surprised," continued Lucy; "for to be sure you could +have had no idea of it before; for I dare say he never dropped the +smallest hint of it to you or any of your family; because it was +always meant to be a great secret, and I am sure has been faithfully +kept so by me to this hour. Not a soul of all my relations know of it +but Anne, and I never should have mentioned it to you, if I had not +felt the greatest dependence in the world upon your secrecy; and I +really thought my behaviour in asking so many questions about Mrs. +Ferrars must seem so odd, that it ought to be explained. And I do not +think Mr. Ferrars can be displeased, when he knows I have trusted +you, because I know he has the highest opinion in the world of all +your family, and looks upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods +quite as his own sisters."--She paused. + +[Illustration: _Amiably bashful._] + +Elinor for a few moments remained silent. Her astonishment at what she +heard was at first too great for words; but at length forcing herself +to speak, and to speak cautiously, she said, with calmness of manner, +which tolerably well concealed her surprise and solicitude--"May I ask +if your engagement is of long standing?" + +"We have been engaged these four years." + +"Four years!" + +"Yes." + +Elinor, though greatly shocked, still felt unable to believe it. + +"I did not know," said she, "that you were even acquainted till the +other day." + +"Our acquaintance, however, is of many years date. He was under my +uncle's care, you know, a considerable while." + +"Your uncle!" + +"Yes; Mr. Pratt. Did you never hear him talk of Mr. Pratt?" + +"I think I have," replied Elinor, with an exertion of spirits, which +increased with her increase of emotion. + +"He was four years with my uncle, who lives at Longstaple, near +Plymouth. It was there our acquaintance begun, for my sister and me +was often staying with my uncle, and it was there our engagement was +formed, though not till a year after he had quitted as a pupil; but he +was almost always with us afterwards. I was very unwilling to enter +into it, as you may imagine, without the knowledge and approbation of +his mother; but I was too young, and loved him too well, to be so +prudent as I ought to have been. Though you do not know him so well as +me, Miss Dashwood, you must have seen enough of him to be sensible he +is very capable of making a woman sincerely attached to him." + +"Certainly," answered Elinor, without knowing what she said; but after +a moment's reflection, she added, with revived security of Edward's +honour and love, and her companion's falsehood--"Engaged to Mr. Edward +Ferrars!--I confess myself so totally surprised at what you tell me, +that really--I beg your pardon; but surely there must be some mistake +of person or name. We cannot mean the same Mr. Ferrars." + +"We can mean no other," cried Lucy, smiling. "Mr. Edward Ferrars, the +eldest son of Mrs. Ferrars, of Park Street, and brother of your +sister-in-law, Mrs. John Dashwood, is the person I mean; you must +allow that I am not likely to be deceived as to the name of the man on +who all my happiness depends." + +"It is strange," replied Elinor, in a most painful perplexity, "that I +should never have heard him even mention your name." + +"No; considering our situation, it was not strange. Our first care has +been to keep the matter secret. You knew nothing of me, or my family, +and, therefore, there could be no _occasion_ for ever mentioning my +name to you; and, as he was always particularly afraid of his sister's +suspecting any thing, _that_ was reason enough for his not mentioning +it." + +She was silent. Elinor's security sunk; but her self-command did not +sink with it. + +"Four years you have been engaged," said she with a firm voice. + +"Yes; and heaven knows how much longer we may have to wait. Poor +Edward! It puts him quite out of heart." Then taking a small miniature +from her pocket, she added, "To prevent the possibility of mistake, be +so good as to look at this face. It does not do him justice, to be +sure, but yet I think you cannot be deceived as to the person it was +drew for. I have had it above these three years." + +She put it into her hands as she spoke; and when Elinor saw the +painting, whatever other doubts her fear of a too hasty decision, or +her wish of detecting falsehood might suffer to linger in her mind, +she could have none of its being Edward's face. She returned it almost +instantly, acknowledging the likeness. + +"I have never been able," continued Lucy, "to give him my picture in +return, which I am very much vexed at, for he has been always so +anxious to get it! But I am determined to set for it the very first +opportunity." + +"You are quite in the right," replied Elinor calmly. They then +proceeded a few paces in silence. Lucy spoke first. + +"I am sure," said she, "I have no doubt in the world of your +faithfully keeping this secret, because you must know of what +importance it is to us, not to have it reach his mother; for she +would never approve of it, I dare say. I shall have no fortune, and I +fancy she is an exceeding proud woman." + +"I certainly did not seek your confidence," said Elinor; "but you do +me no more than justice in imagining that I may be depended on. Your +secret is safe with me; but pardon me if I express some surprise at so +unnecessary a communication. You must at least have felt that my being +acquainted with it could not add to its safety." + +As she said this, she looked earnestly at Lucy, hoping to discover +something in her countenance; perhaps the falsehood of the greatest +part of what she had been saying; but Lucy's countenance suffered no +change. + +"I was afraid you would think I was taking a great liberty with you," +said she, "in telling you all this. I have not known you long to be +sure, personally at least, but I have known you and all your family by +description a great while; and as soon as I saw you, I felt almost as +if you was an old acquaintance. Besides in the present case, I really +thought some explanation was due to you after my making such +particular inquiries about Edward's mother; and I am so unfortunate, +that I have not a creature whose advice I can ask. Anne is the only +person that knows of it, and she has no judgment at all; indeed, she +does me a great deal more harm than good, for I am in constant fear of +her betraying me. She does not know how to hold her tongue, as you +must perceive, and I am sure I was in the greatest fright in the world +t'other day, when Edward's name was mentioned by Sir John, lest she +should out with it all. You can't think how much I go through in my +mind from it altogether. I only wonder that I am alive after what I +have suffered for Edward's sake these last four years. Every thing in +such suspense and uncertainty; and seeing him so seldom--we can hardly +meet above twice a-year. I am sure I wonder my heart is not quite +broke." + +Here she took out her handkerchief; but Elinor did not feel very +compassionate. + +"Sometimes," continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes, "I think whether +it would not be better for us both to break off the matter entirely." +As she said this, she looked directly at her companion. "But then at +other times I have not resolution enough for it. I cannot bear the +thoughts of making him so miserable, as I know the very mention of +such a thing would do. And on my own account too--so dear as he is to +me--I don't think I could be equal to it. What would you advise me to +do in such a case, Miss Dashwood? What would you do yourself?" + +"Pardon me," replied Elinor, startled by the question; "but I can give +you no advice under such circumstances. Your own judgment must direct +you." + +"To be sure," continued Lucy, after a few minutes silence on both +sides, "his mother must provide for him sometime or other; but poor +Edward is so cast down by it! Did you not think him dreadful +low-spirited when he was at Barton? He was so miserable when he left +us at Longstaple, to go to you, that I was afraid you would think him +quite ill." + +"Did he come from your uncle's, then, when he visited us?" + +"Oh, yes; he had been staying a fortnight with us. Did you think he +came directly from town?" + +"No," replied Elinor, most feelingly sensible of every fresh +circumstance in favour of Lucy's veracity; "I remember he told us, +that he had been staying a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth." +She remembered too, her own surprise at the time, at his mentioning +nothing farther of those friends, at his total silence with respect +even to their names. + +"Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?" repeated Lucy. + +"We did, indeed, particularly so when he first arrived." + +"I begged him to exert himself for fear you should suspect what was +the matter; but it made him so melancholy, not being able to stay more +than a fortnight with us, and seeing me so much affected. Poor +fellow!--I am afraid it is just the same with him now; for he writes +in wretched spirits. I heard from him just before I left Exeter;" +taking a letter from her pocket and carelessly showing the direction +to Elinor. "You know his hand, I dare say, a charming one it is; but +that is not written so well as usual. He was tired, I dare say, for he +had just filled the sheet to me as full as possible." + +Elinor saw that it _was_ his hand, and she could doubt no longer. This +picture, she had allowed herself to believe, might have been +accidentally obtained; it might not have been Edward's gift; but a +correspondence between them by letter, could subsist only under a +positive engagement, could be authorised by nothing else; for a few +moments, she was almost overcome--her heart sunk within her, and she +could hardly stand; but exertion was indispensably necessary; and she +struggled so resolutely against the oppression of her feelings, that +her success was speedy, and for the time complete. + +"Writing to each other," said Lucy, returning the letter into her +pocket, "is the only comfort we have in such long separations. Yes, I +have one other comfort in his picture, but poor Edward has not even +_that._ If he had but my picture, he says he should be easy. I gave +him a lock of my hair set in a ring when he was at Longstaple last, +and that was some comfort to him, he said, but not equal to a picture. +Perhaps you might notice the ring when you saw him?" + +"I did," said Elinor, with a composure of voice, under which was +concealed an emotion and distress beyond any thing she had ever felt +before. She was mortified, shocked, confounded. + +Fortunately for her, they had now reached the cottage, and the +conversation could be continued no farther. After sitting with them a +few minutes, the Miss Steeles returned to the Park, and Elinor was +then at liberty to think and be wretched. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +However small Elinor's general dependence on Lucy's veracity might be, +it was impossible for her on serious reflection to suspect it in the +present case, where no temptation could be answerable to the folly of +inventing a falsehood of such a description. What Lucy had asserted to +be true, therefore, Elinor could not, dared not longer doubt; +supported as it was too on every side by such probabilities and +proofs, and contradicted by nothing but her own wishes. Their +opportunity of acquaintance in the house of Mr. Pratt was a foundation +for the rest, at once indisputable and alarming; and Edward's visit +near Plymouth, his melancholy state of mind, his dissatisfaction at +his own prospects, his uncertain behaviour towards herself, the +intimate knowledge of the Miss Steeles as to Norland and their family +connections, which had often surprised her, the picture, the letter, +the ring, formed altogether such a body of evidence, as overcame +every fear of condemning him unfairly, and established as a fact, +which no partiality could set aside, his ill-treatment of herself. Her +resentment of such behaviour, her indignation at having been its dupe, +for a short time made her feel only for herself; but other ideas, +other considerations, soon arose. Had Edward been intentionally +deceiving her? Had he feigned a regard for her which he did not feel? +Was his engagement to Lucy an engagement of the heart? No; whatever it +might once have been, she could not believe it such at present. His +affection was all her own. She could not be deceived in that. Her +mother, sisters, Fanny, all had been conscious of his regard for her +at Norland; it was not an illusion of her own vanity. He certainly +loved her. What a softener of the heart was this persuasion! How much +could it not tempt her to forgive! He had been blamable, highly +blamable, in remaining at Norland after he first felt her influence +over him to be more than it ought to be. In that, he could not be +defended; but if he had injured her, how much more had he injured +himself; if her case were pitiable, his was hopeless. His imprudence +had made her miserable for a while; but it seemed to have deprived +himself of all chance of ever being otherwise. She might in time +regain tranquillity; but _he_, what had he to look forward to? Could +he ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele; could he, were his +affection for herself out of the question, with his integrity, his +delicacy, and well-informed mind, be satisfied with a wife like +her--illiterate, artful, and selfish? + +The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally blind him to +every thing but her beauty and good nature; but the four succeeding +years--years, which if rationally spent, give such improvement to the +understanding, must have opened his eyes to her defects of education, +while the same period of time, spent on her side in inferior society +and more frivolous pursuits, had perhaps robbed her of that simplicity +which might once have given an interesting character to her beauty. + +If in the supposition of his seeking to marry herself, his +difficulties from his mother had seemed great, how much greater were +they now likely to be, when the object of his engagement was +undoubtedly inferior in connections, and probably inferior in fortune +to herself. These difficulties, indeed, with a heart so alienated +from Lucy, might not press very hard upon his patience; but melancholy +was the state of the person by whom the expectation of family +opposition and unkindness, could be felt as a relief! + +As these considerations occurred to her in painful succession, she +wept for him, more than for herself. Supported by the conviction of +having done nothing to merit her present unhappiness, and consoled by +the belief that Edward had done nothing to forfeit her esteem, she +thought she could even now, under the first smart of the heavy blow, +command herself enough to guard every suspicion of the truth from her +mother and sisters. And so well was she able to answer her own +expectations, that when she joined them at dinner only two hours after +she had first suffered the extinction of all her dearest hopes, no one +would have supposed from the appearance of the sisters, that Elinor +was mourning in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever +from the object of her love, and that Marianne was internally dwelling +on the perfections of a man, of whose whole heart she felt thoroughly +possessed, and whom she expected to see in every carriage which drove +near their house. + +The necessity of concealing from her mother and Marianne, what had +been entrusted in confidence to herself, though it obliged her to +unceasing exertion, was no aggravation of Elinor's distress. On the +contrary it was a relief to her, to be spared the communication of +what would give such affliction to them, and to be saved likewise from +hearing that condemnation of Edward, which would probably flow from +the excess of their partial affection for herself, and which was more +than she felt equal to support. + +From their counsel, or their conversation, she knew she could receive +no assistance, their tenderness and sorrow must add to her distress, +while her self-command would neither receive encouragement from their +example nor from their praise. She was stronger alone, and her own +good sense so well supported her, that her firmness was as unshaken, +her appearance of cheerfulness as invariable, as with regrets so +poignant and so fresh, it was possible for them to be. + +Much as she had suffered from her first conversation with Lucy on the +subject, she soon felt an earnest wish of renewing it; and this for +more reasons than one. She wanted to hear many particulars of their +engagement repeated again, she wanted more clearly to understand what +Lucy really felt for Edward, whether there were any sincerity in her +declaration of tender regard for him, and she particularly wanted to +convince Lucy, by her readiness to enter on the matter again, and her +calmness in conversing on it, that she was no otherwise interested in +it than as a friend, which she very much feared her involuntary +agitation, in their morning discourse, must have left at least +doubtful. That Lucy was disposed to be jealous of her appeared very +probable: it was plain that Edward had always spoken highly in her +praise, not merely from Lucy's assertion, but from her venturing to +trust her on so short a personal acquaintance, with a secret so +confessedly and evidently important. And even Sir John's joking +intelligence must have had some weight. But indeed, while Elinor +remained so well assured within herself of being really beloved by +Edward, it required no other consideration of probabilities to make it +natural that Lucy should be jealous; and that she was so, her very +confidence was a proof. What other reason for the disclosure of the +affair could there be, but that Elinor might be informed by it of +Lucy's superior claims on Edward, and be taught to avoid him in +future? She had little difficulty in understanding thus much of her +rival's intentions, and while she was firmly resolved to act by her as +every principle of honour and honesty directed, to combat her own +affection for Edward and to see him as little as possible; she could +not deny herself the comfort of endeavouring to convince Lucy that her +heart was unwounded. And as she could now have nothing more painful to +hear on the subject than had already been told, she did not mistrust +her own ability of going through a repetition of particulars with +composure. + +But it was not immediately that an opportunity of doing so could be +commanded, though Lucy was as well disposed as herself to take +advantage of any that occurred; for the weather was not often fine +enough to allow of their joining in a walk, where they might most +easily separate themselves from the others; and though they met at +least every other evening either at the park or cottage, and chiefly +at the former, they could not be supposed to meet for the sake of +conversation. Such a thought would never enter either Sir John or +Lady Middleton's head; and therefore very little leisure was ever +given for a general chat, and none at all for particular discourse. +They met for the sake of eating, drinking, and laughing together, +playing at cards, or consequences, or any other game that was +sufficiently noisy. + +One or two meetings of this kind had taken place, without affording +Elinor any chance of engaging Lucy in private, when Sir John called at +the cottage one morning, to beg, in the name of charity, that they +would all dine with Lady Middleton that day, as he was obliged to +attend the club at Exeter, and she would otherwise be quite alone, +except her mother and the two Miss Steeles. Elinor, who foresaw a +fairer opening for the point she had in view, in such a party as this +was likely to be, more at liberty among themselves under the tranquil +and well-bred direction of Lady Middleton than when her husband united +them together in one noisy purpose, immediately accepted the +invitation; Margaret, with her mother's permission, was equally +compliant, and Marianne, though always unwilling to join any of their +parties, was persuaded by her mother, who could not bear to have her +seclude herself from any chance of amusement, to go likewise. + +The young ladies went, and Lady Middleton was happily preserved from +the frightful solitude which had threatened her. The insipidity of the +meeting was exactly such as Elinor had expected; it produced not one +novelty of thought or expression, and nothing could be less +interesting than the whole of their discourse both in the dining +parlour and drawing room: to the latter, the children accompanied +them, and while they remained there, she was too well convinced of the +impossibility of engaging Lucy's attention to attempt it. They quitted +it only with the removal of the tea-things. The card-table was then +placed, and Elinor began to wonder at herself for having ever +entertained a hope of finding time for conversation at the park. They +all rose up in preparation for a round game. + +"I am glad," said Lady Middleton to Lucy, "you are not going to finish +poor little Annamaria's basket this evening; for I am sure it must +hurt your eyes to work filigree by candlelight. And we will make the +dear little love some amends for her disappointment to-morrow, and +then I hope she will not much mind it." + +This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself instantly and replied, +"Indeed you are very much mistaken, Lady Middleton; I am only waiting +to know whether you can make your party without me, or I should have +been at my filigree already. I would not disappoint the little angel +for all the world: and if you want me at the card-table now, I am +resolved to finish the basket after supper." + +"You are very good, I hope it won't hurt your eyes:--will you ring the +bell for some working candles? My poor little girl would be sadly +disappointed, I know, if the basket was not finished tomorrow, for +though I told her it certainly would not, I am sure she depends upon +having it done." + +Lucy directly drew her work table near her and reseated herself with +an alacrity and cheerfulness which seemed to infer that she could +taste no greater delight than in making a filigree basket for a spoilt +child. + +Lady Middleton proposed a rubber of Casino to the others. No one made +any objection but Marianne, who with her usual inattention to the +forms of general civility, exclaimed, "Your Ladyship will have the +goodness to excuse _me_--you know I detest cards. I shall go to the +piano-forte; I have not touched it since it was tuned." And without +farther ceremony, she turned away and walked to the instrument. + +Lady Middleton looked as if she thanked heaven that _she_ had never +made so rude a speech. + +"Marianne can never keep long from that instrument you know, ma'am," +said Elinor, endeavouring to smooth away the offence; "and I do not +much wonder at it; for it is the very best toned piano-forte I ever +heard." + +The remaining five were now to draw their cards. + +"Perhaps," continued Elinor, "if I should happen to cut out, I may be +of some use to Miss Lucy Steele, in rolling her papers for her; and +there is so much still to be done to the basket, that it must be +impossible I think for her labour singly, to finish it this evening. I +should like the work exceedingly, if she would allow me a share in +it." + +"Indeed I shall be very much obliged to you for your help," cried +Lucy, "for I find there is more to be done to it than I thought there +was; and it would be a shocking thing to disappoint dear Annamaria +after all." + +"Oh! that would be terrible, indeed," said Miss Steele. "Dear little +soul, how I do love her!" + +"You are very kind," said Lady Middleton to Elinor; "and as you +really like the work, perhaps you will be as well pleased not to cut +in till another rubber, or will you take your chance now?" + +Elinor joyfully profited by the first of these proposals, and thus by +a little of that address which Marianne could never condescend to +practise, gained her own end, and pleased Lady Middleton at the same +time. Lucy made room for her with ready attention, and the two fair +rivals were thus seated side by side at the same table, and, with the +utmost harmony, engaged in forwarding the same work. The pianoforte at +which Marianne, wrapped up in her own music and her own thoughts, had +by this time forgotten that any body was in the room besides herself, +was luckily so near them that Miss Dashwood now judged she might +safely, under the shelter of its noise, introduce the interesting +subject, without any risk of being heard at the card-table. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +In a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began. + +"I should be undeserving of the confidence you have honoured me with, +if I felt no desire for its continuance, or no farther curiosity on +its subject. I will not apologize therefore for bringing it forward +again." + +"Thank you," cried Lucy warmly, "for breaking the ice; you have set my +heart at ease by it; for I was somehow or other afraid I had offended +you by what I told you that Monday." + +"Offended me! How could you suppose so? Believe me," and Elinor spoke +it with the truest sincerity, "nothing could be farther from my +intention than to give you such an idea. Could you have a motive for +the trust, that was not honourable and flattering to me?" + +"And yet I do assure you," replied Lucy, her little sharp eyes full of +meaning, "there seemed to me to be a coldness and displeasure in your +manner that made me quite uncomfortable. I felt sure that you was +angry with me; and have been quarrelling with myself ever since, for +having took such a liberty as to trouble you with my affairs. But I am +very glad to find it was only my own fancy, and that you really do not +blame me. If you knew what a consolation it was to me to relieve my +heart speaking to you of what I am always thinking of every moment of +my life, your compassion would make you overlook every thing else I am +sure." + +"Indeed, I can easily believe that it was a very great relief to you, +to acknowledge your situation to me, and be assured that you shall +never have reason to repent it. Your case is a very unfortunate one; +you seem to me to be surrounded with difficulties, and you will have +need of all your mutual affection to support you under them. Mr. +Ferrars, I believe, is entirely dependent on his mother." + +"He has only two thousand pounds of his own; it would be madness to +marry upon that, though for my own part, I could give up every +prospect of more without a sigh. I have been always used to a very +small income, and could struggle with any poverty for him; but I love +him too well to be the selfish means of robbing him, perhaps, of all +that his mother might give him if he married to please her. We must +wait, it may be for many years. With almost every other man in the +world, it would be an alarming prospect; but Edward's affection and +constancy nothing can deprive me of I know." + +"That conviction must be every thing to you; and he is undoubtedly +supported by the same trust in your's. If the strength of your +reciprocal attachment had failed, as between many people, and under +many circumstances it naturally would during a four years' engagement, +your situation would have been pitiable, indeed." + +Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful in guarding her +countenance from every expression that could give her words a +suspicious tendency. + +"Edward's love for me," said Lucy, "has been pretty well put to the +test, by our long, very long absence since we were first engaged, and +it has stood the trial so well, that I should be unpardonable to doubt +it now. I can safely say that he has never gave me one moment's alarm +on that account from the first." + +Elinor hardly knew whether to smile or sigh at this assertion. + +Lucy went on. "I am rather of a jealous temper too by nature, and from +our different situations in life, from his being so much more in the +world than me, and our continual separation, I was enough inclined for +suspicion, to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had +been the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met, or +any lowness of spirits that I could not account for, or if he had +talked more of one lady than another, or seemed in any respect less +happy at Longstaple than he used to be. I do not mean to say that I am +particularly observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case +I am sure I could not be deceived." + +"All this," thought Elinor, "is very pretty; but it can impose upon +neither of us." + +"But what," said she after a short silence, "are your views? or have +you none but that of waiting for Mrs. Ferrars's death, which is a +melancholy and shocking extremity?--Is her son determined to submit to +this, and to all the tediousness of the many years of suspense in +which it may involve you, rather than run the risk of her displeasure +for a while by owning the truth?" + +"If we could be certain that it would be only for a while! But Mrs. +Ferrars is a very headstrong proud woman, and in her first fit of +anger upon hearing it, would very likely secure every thing to Robert, +and the idea of that, for Edward's sake, frightens away all my +inclination for hasty measures." + +"And for your own sake too, or you are carrying your disinterestedness +beyond reason." + +Lucy looked at Elinor again, and was silent. + +"Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?" asked Elinor. + +"Not at all--I never saw him; but I fancy he is very unlike his +brother--silly and a great coxcomb." + +"A great coxcomb!" repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had caught those +words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music. "Oh, they are talking of +their favourite beaux, I dare say." + +"No sister," cried Lucy, "you are mistaken there, our favourite beaux +are _not_ great coxcombs." + +"I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's is not," said Mrs. Jennings, +laughing heartily; "for he is one of the modestest, prettiest behaved +young men I ever saw; but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little +creature, there is no finding out who _she_ likes." + +[Illustration: "_I can answer for it," said Mrs. Jennings._] + +"Oh," cried Miss Steele, looking significantly round at them, "I dare +say Lucy's beau is quite as modest and pretty behaved as Miss +Dashwood's." + +Elinor blushed in spite of herself. Lucy bit her lip, and looked +angrily at her sister. A mutual silence took place for some time. Lucy +first put an end to it by saying in a lower tone, though Marianne was +then giving them the powerful protection of a very magnificent +concerto-- + +"I will honestly tell you of one scheme which has lately come into my +head, for bringing matters to bear; indeed I am bound to let you into +the secret, for you are a party concerned. I dare say you have seen +enough of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every +other profession; now my plan is that he should take orders as soon as +he can, and then through your interest, which I am sure you would be +kind enough to use out of friendship for him, and I hope out of some +regard to me, your brother might be persuaded to give him Norland +living; which I understand is a very good one, and the present +incumbent not likely to live a great while. That would be enough for +us to marry upon, and we might trust to time and chance for the rest." + +"I should always be happy," replied Elinor, "to show any mark of my +esteem and friendship for Mr. Ferrars; but do you not perceive that my +interest on such an occasion would be perfectly unnecessary? He is +brother to Mrs. John Dashwood--_that_ must be recommendation enough to +her husband." + +"But Mrs. John Dashwood would not much approve of Edward's going into +orders." + +"Then I rather suspect that my interest would do very little." + +They were again silent for many minutes. At length Lucy exclaimed with +a deep sigh-- + +"I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end to the business at +once by dissolving the engagement. We seem so beset with difficulties +on every side, that though it would make us miserable for a time, we +should be happier perhaps in the end. But you will not give me your +advice, Miss Dashwood?" + +"No," answered Elinor, with a smile, which concealed very agitated +feelings, "on such a subject I certainly will not. You know very well +that my opinion would have no weight with you, unless it were on the +side of your wishes." + +"Indeed you wrong me," replied Lucy, with great solemnity; "I know +nobody of whose judgment I think so highly as I do of yours; and I do +really believe, that if you was to say to me, 'I advise you by all +means to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars, it will be +more for the happiness of both of you,' I should resolve upon doing it +immediately." + +Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's future wife, and +replied, "This compliment would effectually frighten me from giving +any opinion on the subject had I formed one. It raises my influence +much too high; the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached +is too much for an indifferent person." + +"'Tis because you are an indifferent person," said Lucy, with some +pique, and laying a particular stress on those words, "that your +judgment might justly have such weight with me. If you could be +supposed to be biased in any respect by your own feelings, your +opinion would not be worth having." + +Elinor thought it wisest to make no answer to this, lest they might +provoke each other to an unsuitable increase of ease and unreserve; +and was even partly determined never to mention the subject again. +Another pause therefore of many minutes' duration, succeeded this +speech, and Lucy was still the first to end it. + +"Shall you be in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?" said she with all +her accustomary complacency. + +"Certainly not." + +"I am sorry for that," returned the other, while her eyes brightened +at the information, "it would have gave me such pleasure to meet you +there! But I dare say you will go for all that. To be sure, your +brother and sister will ask you to come to them." + +"It will not be in my power to accept their invitation if they do." + +"How unlucky that is! I had quite depended upon meeting you there. +Anne and me are to go the latter end of January to some relations who +have been wanting us to visit them these several years! But I only go +for the sake of seeing Edward. He will be there in February, otherwise +London would have no charms for me; I have not spirits for it." + +Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the conclusion of the +first rubber, and the confidential discourse of the two ladies was +therefore at an end, to which both of them submitted without any +reluctance, for nothing had been said on either side to make them +dislike each other less than they had done before; and Elinor sat down +to the card table with the melancholy persuasion that Edward was not +only without affection for the person who was to be his wife; but that +he had not even the chance of being tolerably happy in marriage, which +sincere affection on _her_ side would have given, for self-interest +alone could induce a woman to keep a man to an engagement, of which +she seemed so thoroughly aware that he was weary. + +From this time the subject was never revived by Elinor, and when +entered on by Lucy, who seldom missed an opportunity of introducing +it, and was particularly careful to inform her confidante, of her +happiness whenever she received a letter from Edward, it was treated +by the former with calmness and caution, and dismissed as soon as +civility would allow; for she felt such conversations to be an +indulgence which Lucy did not deserve, and which were dangerous to +herself. + +The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was lengthened far beyond +what the first invitation implied. Their favour increased; they could +not be spared; Sir John would not hear of their going; and in spite of +their numerous and long arranged engagements in Exeter, in spite of +the absolute necessity of returning to fulfill them immediately, which +was in full force at the end of every week, they were prevailed on to +stay nearly two months at the park, and to assist in the due +celebration of that festival which requires a more than ordinary share +of private balls and large dinners to proclaim its importance. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +Though Mrs. Jennings was in the habit of spending a large portion of +the year at the houses of her children and friends, she was not +without a settled habitation of her own. Since the death of her +husband, who had traded with success in a less elegant part of the +town, she had resided every winter in a house in one of the streets +near Portman Square. Towards this home, she began on the approach of +January to turn her thoughts, and thither she one day abruptly, and +very unexpectedly by them, asked the elder Misses Dashwood to +accompany her. Elinor, without observing the varying complexion of her +sister, and the animated look which spoke no indifference to the plan, +immediately gave a grateful but absolute denial for both, in which she +believed herself to be speaking their united inclinations. The reason +alleged was their determined resolution of not leaving their mother at +that time of the year. Mrs. Jennings received the refusal with some +surprise, and repeated her invitation immediately. + +"Oh, Lord! I am sure your mother can spare you very well, and I _do_ +beg you will favour me with your company, for I've quite set my heart +upon it. Don't fancy that you will be any inconvenience to me, for I +shan't put myself at all out of my way for you. It will only be +sending Betty by the coach, and I hope I can afford _that._ We three +shall be able to go very well in my chaise; and when we are in town, +if you do not like to go wherever I do, well and good, you may always +go with one of my daughters. I am sure your mother will not object to +it; for I have had such good luck in getting my own children off my +hands that she will think me a very fit person to have the charge of +you; and if I don't get one of you at least well married before I have +done with you, it shall not be my fault. I shall speak a good word for +you to all the young men, you may depend upon it." + +"I have a notion," said Sir John, "that Miss Marianne would not object +to such a scheme, if her elder sister would come into it. It is very +hard indeed that she should not have a little pleasure, because Miss +Dashwood does not wish it. So I would advise you two, to set off for +town, when you are tired of Barton, without saying a word to Miss +Dashwood about it." + +"Nay," cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure I shall be monstrous glad of +Miss Marianne's company, whether Miss Dashwood will go or not, only +the more the merrier say I, and I thought it would be more comfortable +for them to be together; because, if they got tired of me, they might +talk to one another, and laugh at my old ways behind my back. But one +or the other, if not both of them, I must have. Lord bless me! how do +you think I can live poking by myself, I who have been always used +till this winter to have Charlotte with me. Come, Miss Marianne, let +us strike hands upon the bargain, and if Miss Dashwood will change her +mind by and bye, why so much the better." + +"I thank you, ma'am, sincerely thank you," said Marianne, with warmth: +"your invitation has insured my gratitude for ever, and it would give +me such happiness, yes, almost the greatest happiness I am capable of, +to be able to accept it. But my mother, my dearest, kindest mother,--I +feel the justice of what Elinor has urged, and if she were to be made +less happy, less comfortable by our absence--Oh! no, nothing should +tempt me to leave her. It should not, must not be a struggle." + +Mrs. Jennings repeated her assurance that Mrs. Dashwood could spare +them perfectly well; and Elinor, who now understood her sister, and +saw to what indifference to almost every thing else she was carried by +her eagerness to be with Willoughby again, made no farther direct +opposition to the plan, and merely referred it to her mother's +decision, from whom however she scarcely expected to receive any +support in her endeavour to prevent a visit, which she could not +approve of for Marianne, and which on her own account she had +particular reasons to avoid. Whatever Marianne was desirous of, her +mother would be eager to promote--she could not expect to influence +the latter to cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which +she had never been able to inspire her with distrust; and she dared +not explain the motive of her own disinclination for going to London. +That Marianne, fastidious as she was, thoroughly acquainted with Mrs. +Jennings' manners, and invariably disgusted by them, should overlook +every inconvenience of that kind, should disregard whatever must be +most wounding to her irritable feelings, in her pursuit of one object, +was such a proof, so strong, so full, of the importance of that object +to her, as Elinor, in spite of all that had passed, was not prepared +to witness. + +On being informed of the invitation, Mrs. Dashwood, persuaded that +such an excursion would be productive of much amusement to both her +daughters, and perceiving through all her affectionate attention to +herself, how much the heart of Marianne was in it, would not hear of +their declining the offer upon _her_ account; insisted on their both +accepting it directly; and then began to foresee, with her usual +cheerfulness, a variety of advantages that would accrue to them all, +from this separation. + +"I am delighted with the plan," she cried, "it is exactly what I could +wish. Margaret and I shall be as much benefited by it as yourselves. +When you and the Middletons are gone, we shall go on so quietly and +happily together with our books and our music! You will find Margaret +so improved when you come back again! I have a little plan of +alteration for your bedrooms too, which may now be performed without +any inconvenience to any one. It is very right that you _should_ go to +town; I would have every young woman of your condition in life +acquainted with the manners and amusements of London. You will be +under the care of a motherly good sort of woman, of whose kindness to +you I can have no doubt. And in all probability you will see your +brother, and whatever may be his faults, or the faults of his wife, +when I consider whose son he is, I cannot bear to have you so wholly +estranged from each other." + +"Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness," said Elinor, "you +have been obviating every impediment to the present scheme which +occurred to you, there is still one objection which, in my opinion, +cannot be so easily removed." + +Marianne's countenance sunk. + +"And what," said Mrs. Dashwood, "is my dear prudent Elinor going to +suggest? What formidable obstacle is she now to bring forward? Do let +me hear a word about the expense of it." + +"My objection is this; though I think very well of Mrs. Jennings's +heart, she is not a woman whose society can afford us pleasure, or +whose protection will give us consequence." + +"That is very true," replied her mother, "but of her society, +separately from that of other people, you will scarcely have any thing +at all, and you will almost always appear in public with Lady +Middleton." + +"If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of Mrs. Jennings," said +Marianne, "at least it need not prevent _my_ accepting her invitation. +I have no such scruples, and I am sure I could put up with every +unpleasantness of that kind with very little effort." + +Elinor could not help smiling at this display of indifference towards +the manners of a person, to whom she had often had difficulty in +persuading Marianne to behave with tolerable politeness; and resolved +within herself, that if her sister persisted in going, she would go +likewise, as she did not think it proper that Marianne should be left +to the sole guidance of her own judgment, or that Mrs. Jennings should +be abandoned to the mercy of Marianne for all the comfort of her +domestic hours. To this determination she was the more easily +reconciled, by recollecting that Edward Ferrars, by Lucy's account, +was not to be in town before February; and that their visit, without +any unreasonable abridgement, might be previously finished. + +"I will have you _both_ go," said Mrs. Dashwood; "these objections are +nonsensical. You will have much pleasure in being in London, and +especially in being together; and if Elinor would ever condescend to +anticipate enjoyment, she would foresee it there from a variety of +sources; she would, perhaps, expect some from improving her +acquaintance with her sister-in-law's family." + +Elinor had often wished for an opportunity of attempting to weaken her +mother's dependence on the attachment of Edward and herself, that the +shock might be less when the whole truth were revealed, and now on +this attack, though almost hopeless of success, she forced herself to +begin her design by saying, as calmly as she could, "I like Edward +Ferrars very much, and shall always be glad to see him; but as to the +rest of the family, it is a matter of perfect indifference to me, +whether I am ever known to them or not." + +Mrs. Dashwood smiled, and said nothing. Marianne lifted up her eyes in +astonishment, and Elinor conjectured that she might as well have held +her tongue. + +After very little farther discourse, it was finally settled that the +invitation should be fully accepted. Mrs. Jennings received the +information with a great deal of joy, and many assurances of kindness +and care; nor was it a matter of pleasure merely to her. Sir John was +delighted; for to a man, whose prevailing anxiety was the dread of +being alone, the acquisition of two, to the number of inhabitants in +London, was something. Even Lady Middleton took the trouble of being +delighted, which was putting herself rather out of her way; and as +for the Miss Steeles, especially Lucy, they had never been so happy in +their lives as this intelligence made them. + +Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted her wishes with +less reluctance than she had expected to feel. With regard to herself, +it was now a matter of unconcern whether she went to town or not, and +when she saw her mother so thoroughly pleased with the plan, and her +sister exhilarated by it in look, voice, and manner, restored to all +her usual animation, and elevated to more than her usual gaiety, she +could not be dissatisfied with the cause, and would hardly allow +herself to distrust the consequence. + +Marianne's joy was almost a degree beyond happiness, so great was the +perturbation of her spirits and her impatience to be gone. Her +unwillingness to quit her mother was her only restorative to calmness; +and at the moment of parting her grief on that score was excessive. +Her mother's affliction was hardly less, and Elinor was the only one +of the three, who seemed to consider the separation as any thing short +of eternal. + +Their departure took place in the first week in January. The +Middletons were to follow in about a week. The Miss Steeles kept their +station at the park, and were to quit it only with the rest of the +family. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Elinor could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs. Jennings, and +beginning a journey to London under her protection, and as her guest, +without wondering at her own situation, so short had their +acquaintance with that lady been, so wholly unsuited were they in age +and disposition, and so many had been her objections against such a +measure only a few days before! But these objections had all, with +that happy ardour of youth which Marianne and her mother equally +shared, been overcome or overlooked; and Elinor, in spite of every +occasional doubt of Willoughby's constancy, could not witness the +rapture of delightful expectation which filled the whole soul and +beamed in the eyes of Marianne, without feeling how blank was her own +prospect, how cheerless her own state of mind in the comparison, and +how gladly she would engage in the solicitude of Marianne's situation +to have the same animating object in view, the same possibility of +hope. A short, a very short time however must now decide what +Willoughby's intentions were; in all probability he was already in +town. Marianne's eagerness to be gone declared her dependence on +finding him there; and Elinor was resolved not only upon gaining every +new light as to his character which her own observation or the +intelligence of others could give her, but likewise upon watching his +behaviour to her sister with such zealous attention, as to ascertain +what he was and what he meant, before many meetings had taken place. +Should the result of her observations be unfavourable, she was +determined at all events to open the eyes of her sister; should it be +otherwise, her exertions would be of a different nature--she must then +learn to avoid every selfish comparison, and banish every regret which +might lessen her satisfaction in the happiness of Marianne. + +They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's behaviour as +they travelled was a happy specimen of what future complaisance and +companionableness to Mrs. Jennings might be expected to be. She sat in +silence almost all the way, wrapt in her own meditations, and scarcely +ever voluntarily speaking, except when any object of picturesque +beauty within their view drew from her an exclamation of delight +exclusively addressed to her sister. To atone for this conduct +therefore, Elinor took immediate possession of the post of civility +which she had assigned herself, behaved with the greatest attention to +Mrs. Jennings, talked with her, laughed with her, and listened to her +whenever she could; and Mrs. Jennings on her side treated them both +with all possible kindness, was solicitous on every occasion for their +ease and enjoyment, and only disturbed that she could not make them +choose their own dinners at the inn, nor extort a confession of their +preferring salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutlets. They +reached town by three o'clock the third day, glad to be released, +after such a journey, from the confinement of a carriage, and ready to +enjoy all the luxury of a good fire. + +The house was handsome, and handsomely fitted up, and the young +ladies were immediately put in possession of a very comfortable +apartment. It had formerly been Charlotte's, and over the mantelpiece +still hung a landscape in coloured silks of her performance, in proof +of her having spent seven years at a great school in town to some +effect. + +As dinner was not to be ready in less than two hours from their +arrival, Elinor determined to employ the interval in writing to her +mother, and sat down for that purpose. In a few moments Marianne did +the same. "I am writing home, Marianne," said Elinor; "had not you +better defer your letter for a day or two?" + +"I am _not_ going to write to my mother," replied Marianne, hastily, +and as if wishing to avoid any farther inquiry. Elinor said no more; +it immediately struck her that she must then be writing to Willoughby; +and the conclusion which as instantly followed was, that, however +mysteriously they might wish to conduct the affair, they must be +engaged. This conviction, though not entirely satisfactory, gave her +pleasure, and she continued her letter with greater alacrity. +Marianne's was finished in a very few minutes; in length it could be +no more than a note; it was then folded up, sealed, and directed with +eager rapidity. Elinor thought she could distinguish a large W in the +direction; and no sooner was it complete than Marianne, ringing the +bell, requested the footman who answered it to get that letter +conveyed for her to the two-penny post. This decided the matter at +once. + +Her spirits still continued very high; but there was a flutter in them +which prevented their giving much pleasure to her sister, and this +agitation increased as the evening drew on. She could scarcely eat any +dinner, and when they afterwards returned to the drawing room, seemed +anxiously listening to the sound of every carriage. + +It was a great satisfaction to Elinor that Mrs. Jennings, by being +much engaged in her own room, could see little of what was passing. +The tea things were brought in, and already had Marianne been +disappointed more than once by a rap at a neighbouring door, when a +loud one was suddenly heard which could not be mistaken for one at any +other house, Elinor felt secure of its announcing Willoughby's +approach, and Marianne, starting up, moved towards the door. Every +thing was silent; this could not be borne many seconds; she opened +the door, advanced a few steps towards the stairs, and after listening +half a minute, returned into the room in all the agitation which a +conviction of having heard him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy +of her feelings at that instant she could not help exclaiming, "Oh, +Elinor, it is Willoughby, indeed it is!" and seemed almost ready to +throw herself into his arms, when Colonel Brandon appeared. + +It was too great a shock to be borne with calmness, and she +immediately left the room. Elinor was disappointed too; but at the +same time her regard for Colonel Brandon ensured his welcome with her; +and she felt particularly hurt that a man so partial to her sister +should perceive that she experienced nothing but grief and +disappointment in seeing him. She instantly saw that it was not +unnoticed by him, that he even observed Marianne as she quitted the +room, with such astonishment and concern, as hardly left him the +recollection of what civility demanded towards herself. + +"Is your sister ill?" said he. + +Elinor answered in some distress that she was, and then talked of +head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues; and of every thing to +which she could decently attribute her sister's behaviour. + +He heard her with the most earnest attention, but seeming to recollect +himself, said no more on the subject, and began directly to speak of +his pleasure at seeing them in London, making the usual inquiries +about their journey, and the friends they had left behind. + +In this calm kind of way, with very little interest on either side, +they continued to talk, both of them out of spirits, and the thoughts +of both engaged elsewhere. Elinor wished very much to ask whether +Willoughby were then in town, but she was afraid of giving him pain by +any enquiry after his rival; and at length, by way of saying +something, she asked if he had been in London ever since she had seen +him last. "Yes," he replied, with some embarrassment, "almost ever +since; I have been once or twice at Delaford for a few days, but it +has never been in my power to return to Barton." + +This, and the manner in which it was said, immediately brought back to +her remembrance all the circumstances of his quitting that place, with +the uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs. Jennings, and +she was fearful that her question had implied much more curiosity on +the subject than she had ever felt. + +Mrs. Jennings soon came in. "Oh! Colonel," said she, with her usual +noisy cheerfulness, "I am monstrous glad to see you--sorry I could not +come before--beg your pardon, but I have been forced to look about me +a little, and settle my matters; for it is a long while since I have +been at home, and you know one has always a world of little odd things +to do after one has been away for any time; and then I have had +Cartwright to settle with. Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever +since dinner! But pray, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I +should be in town today?" + +"I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's, where I have been +dining." + +"Oh, you did; well, and how do they all do at their house? How does +Charlotte do? I warrant you she is a fine size by this time." + +"Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned to tell you, +that you will certainly see her to-morrow." + +"Ay, to be sure, I thought as much. Well, Colonel, I have brought two +young ladies with me, you see--that is, you see but one of them now, +but there is another somewhere. Your friend, Miss Marianne, too--which +you will not be sorry to hear. I do not know what you and Mr. +Willoughby will do between you about her. Ay, it is a fine thing to be +young and handsome. Well! I was young once, but I never was very +handsome--worse luck for me. However, I got a very good husband, and I +don't know what the greatest beauty can do more. Ah! poor man! he has +been dead these eight years and better. But Colonel, where have you +been to since we parted? And how does your business go on? Come, come, +let's have no secrets among friends." + +He replied with his accustomary mildness to all her inquiries, but +without satisfying her in any. Elinor now began to make the tea, and +Marianne was obliged to appear again. + +After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became more thoughtful and silent +than he had been before, and Mrs. Jennings could not prevail on him to +stay long. No other visitor appeared that evening, and the ladies were +unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed. + +Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits and happy looks. +The disappointment of the evening before seemed forgotten in the +expectation of what was to happen that day. They had not long finished +their breakfast before Mrs. Palmer's barouche stopped at the door, and +in a few minutes she came laughing into the room: so delighted to see +them all, that it was hard to say whether she received most pleasure +from meeting her mother or the Miss Dashwoods again. So surprised at +their coming to town, though it was what she had rather expected all +along; so angry at their accepting her mother's invitation after +having declined her own, though at the same time she would never have +forgiven them if they had not come! + +"Mr. Palmer will be so happy to see you," said she; "What do you think +he said when he heard of your coming with Mamma? I forget what it was +now, but it was something so droll!" + +After an hour or two spent in what her mother called comfortable chat, +or in other words, in every variety of inquiry concerning all their +acquaintance on Mrs. Jennings's side, and in laughter without cause on +Mrs. Palmer's, it was proposed by the latter that they should all +accompany her to some shops where she had business that morning, to +which Mrs. Jennings and Elinor readily consented, as having likewise +some purchases to make themselves; and Marianne, though declining it +at first was induced to go likewise. + +Wherever they went, she was evidently always on the watch. In Bond +Street especially, where much of their business lay, her eyes were in +constant inquiry; and in whatever shop the party were engaged, her +mind was equally abstracted from every thing actually before them, +from all that interested and occupied the others. Restless and +dissatisfied every where, her sister could never obtain her opinion of +any article of purchase, however it might equally concern them both: +she received no pleasure from anything; was only impatient to be at +home again, and could with difficulty govern her vexation at the +tediousness of Mrs. Palmer, whose eye was caught by every thing +pretty, expensive, or new; who was wild to buy all, could determine on +none, and dawdled away her time in rapture and indecision. + +It was late in the morning before they returned home; and no sooner +had they entered the house than Marianne flew eagerly up stairs, and +when Elinor followed, she found her turning from the table with a +sorrowful countenance, which declared that no Willoughby had been +there. + +"Has no letter been left here for me since we went out?" said she to +the footman who then entered with the parcels. She was answered in the +negative. "Are you quite sure of it?" she replied. "Are you certain +that no servant, no porter has left any letter or note?" + +The man replied that none had. + +"How very odd!" said she, in a low and disappointed voice, as she +turned away to the window. + +"How odd, indeed!" repeated Elinor within herself, regarding her +sister with uneasiness. "If she had not known him to be in town she +would not have written to him, as she did; she would have written to +Combe Magna; and if he is in town, how odd that he should neither come +nor write! Oh! my dear mother, you must be wrong in permitting an +engagement between a daughter so young, a man so little known, to be +carried on in so doubtful, so mysterious a manner! I long to inquire; +and how will _my_ interference be borne." + +She determined, after some consideration, that if appearances +continued many days longer as unpleasant as they now were, she would +represent in the strongest manner to her mother the necessity of some +serious enquiry into the affair. + +Mrs. Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs. Jennings's intimate +acquaintance, whom she had met and invited in the morning, dined with +them. The former left them soon after tea to fulfill her evening +engagements; and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a whist table +for the others. Marianne was of no use on these occasions, as she +would never learn the game; but though her time was therefore at her +own disposal, the evening was by no means more productive of pleasure +to her than to Elinor, for it was spent in all the anxiety of +expectation and the pain of disappointment. She sometimes endeavoured +for a few minutes to read; but the book was soon thrown aside, and she +returned to the more interesting employment of walking backwards and +forwards across the room, pausing for a moment whenever she came to +the window, in hopes of distinguishing the long-expected rap. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +"If this open weather holds much longer," said Mrs. Jennings, when +they met at breakfast the following morning, "Sir John will not like +leaving Barton next week; 'tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a +day's pleasure. Poor souls! I always pity them when they do; they seem +to take it so much to heart." + +"That is true," cried Marianne, in a cheerful voice, and walking to +the window as she spoke, to examine the day. "I had not thought of +that. This weather will keep many sportsmen in the country." + +It was a lucky recollection, all her good spirits were restored by it. +"It is charming weather for _them_ indeed," she continued, as she sat +down to the breakfast table with a happy countenance. "How much they +must enjoy it! But" (with a little return of anxiety) "it cannot be +expected to last long. At this time of the year, and after such a +series of rain, we shall certainly have very little more of it. Frosts +will soon set in, and in all probability with severity. In another day +or two perhaps; this extreme mildness can hardly last longer--nay, +perhaps it may freeze tonight!" + +"At any rate," said Elinor, wishing to prevent Mrs. Jennings from +seeing her sister's thoughts as clearly as she did, "I dare say we +shall have Sir John and Lady Middleton in town by the end of next +week." + +"Ay, my dear, I'll warrant you we do. Mary always has her own way." + +"And now," silently conjectured Elinor, "she will write to Combe by +this day's post." + +But if she _did_, the letter was written and sent away with a privacy +which eluded all her watchfulness to ascertain the fact. Whatever the +truth of it might be, and far as Elinor was from feeling thorough +contentment about it, yet while she saw Marianne in spirits, she could +not be very uncomfortable herself. And Marianne was in spirits; happy +in the mildness of the weather, and still happier in her expectation +of a frost. + +The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at the houses of Mrs. +Jennings's acquaintance to inform them of her being in town; and +Marianne was all the time busy in observing the direction of the wind, +watching the variations of the sky and imagining an alteration in the +air. + +"Don't you find it colder than it was in the morning, Elinor? There +seems to me a very decided difference. I can hardly keep my hands warm +even in my muff. It was not so yesterday, I think. The clouds seem +parting too, the sun will be out in a moment, and we shall have a +clear afternoon." + +Elinor was alternately diverted and pained; but Marianne persevered, +and saw every night in the brightness of the fire, and every morning +in the appearance of the atmosphere, the certain symptoms of +approaching frost. + +The Miss Dashwoods had no greater reason to be dissatisfied with Mrs. +Jennings's style of living, and set of acquaintance, than with her +behaviour to themselves, which was invariably kind. Every thing in her +household arrangements was conducted on the most liberal plan, and +excepting a few old city friends, whom, to Lady Middleton's regret, +she had never dropped, she visited no one to whom an introduction +could at all discompose the feelings of her young companions. Pleased +to find herself more comfortably situated in that particular than she +had expected, Elinor was very willing to compound for the want of much +real enjoyment from any of their evening parties, which, whether at +home or abroad, formed only for cards, could have little to amuse her. + +Colonel Brandon, who had a general invitation to the house, was with +them almost every day; he came to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor, +who often derived more satisfaction from conversing with him than from +any other daily occurrence, but who saw at the same time with much +concern his continued regard for her sister. She feared it was a +strengthening regard. It grieved her to see the earnestness with which +he often watched Marianne, and his spirits were certainly worse than +when at Barton. + +About a week after their arrival, it became certain that Willoughby +was also arrived. His card was on the table when they came in from the +morning's drive. + +"Good God!" cried Marianne, "he has been here while we were out." +Elinor, rejoiced to be assured of his being in London, now ventured +to say, "Depend upon it, he will call again tomorrow." But Marianne +seemed hardly to hear her, and on Mrs. Jennings's entrance, escaped +with the precious card. + +This event, while it raised the spirits of Elinor, restored to those +of her sister all, and more than all, their former agitation. From +this moment her mind was never quiet; the expectation of seeing him +every hour of the day, made her unfit for any thing. She insisted on +being left behind, the next morning, when the others went out. + +Elinor's thoughts were full of what might be passing in Berkeley +Street during their absence; but a moment's glance at her sister when +they returned was enough to inform her, that Willoughby had paid no +second visit there. A note was just then brought in, and laid on the +table. + +"For me!" cried Marianne, stepping hastily forward. + +"No, ma'am, for my mistress." + +But Marianne, not convinced, took it instantly up. + +"It is indeed for Mrs. Jennings; how provoking!" + +"You are expecting a letter, then?" said Elinor, unable to be longer +silent. + +"Yes, a little--not much." + +After a short pause. "You have no confidence in me, Marianne." + +"Nay, Elinor, this reproach from _you_--you who have confidence in no +one!" + +"Me!" returned Elinor in some confusion; "indeed, Marianne, I have +nothing to tell." + +"Nor I," answered Marianne with energy, "our situations then are +alike. We have neither of us any thing to tell; you, because you do +not communicate, and I, because I conceal nothing." + +Elinor, distressed by this charge of reserve in herself, which she was +not at liberty to do away, knew not how, under such circumstances, to +press for greater openness in Marianne. + +Mrs. Jennings soon appeared, and the note being given her, she read it +aloud. It was from Lady Middleton, announcing their arrival in Conduit +Street the night before, and requesting the company of her mother and +cousins the following evening. Business on Sir John's part, and a +violent cold on her own, prevented their calling in Berkeley Street. +The invitation was accepted; but when the hour of appointment drew +near, necessary as it was in common civility to Mrs. Jennings, that +they should both attend her on such a visit, Elinor had some +difficulty in persuading her sister to go, for still she had seen +nothing of Willoughby; and therefore was not more indisposed for +amusement abroad, than unwilling to run the risk of his calling again +in her absence. + +Elinor found, when the evening was over, that disposition is not +materially altered by a change of abode, for although scarcely settled +in town, Sir John had contrived to collect around him, nearly twenty +young people, and to amuse them with a ball. This was an affair, +however, of which Lady Middleton did not approve. In the country, an +unpremeditated dance was very allowable; but in London, where the +reputation of elegance was more important and less easily attained, it +was risking too much for the gratification of a few girls, to have it +known that Lady Middleton had given a small dance of eight or nine +couple, with two violins, and a mere side-board collation. + +Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were of the party; from the former, whom they had +not seen before since their arrival in town, as he was careful to +avoid the appearance of any attention to his mother-in-law, and +therefore never came near her, they received no mark of recognition on +their entrance. He looked at them slightly, without seeming to know +who they were, and merely nodded to Mrs. Jennings from the other side +of the room. Marianne gave one glance round the apartment as she +entered: it was enough--_he_ was not there--and she sat down, equally +ill-disposed to receive or communicate pleasure. After they had been +assembled about an hour, Mr. Palmer sauntered towards the Miss +Dashwoods to express his surprise on seeing them in town, though +Colonel Brandon had been first informed of their arrival at his house, +and he had himself said something very droll on hearing that they were +to come. + +"I thought you were both in Devonshire," said he. + +"Did you?" replied Elinor. + +"When do you go back again?" + +"I do not know." And thus ended their discourse. + +Never had Marianne been so unwilling to dance in her life, as she was +that evening, and never so much fatigued by the exercise. She +complained of it as they returned to Berkeley Street. + +"Aye, aye," said Mrs. Jennings, "we know the reason of all that very +well; if a certain person who shall be nameless, had been there, you +would not have been a bit tired: and to say the truth it was not very +pretty of him not to give you the meeting when he was invited." + +"Invited!" cried Marianne. + +"So my daughter Middleton told me, for it seems Sir John met him +somewhere in the street this morning." Marianne said no more, but +looked exceedingly hurt. Impatient in this situation to be doing +something that might lead to her sister's relief, Elinor resolved to +write the next morning to her mother, and hoped by awakening her fears +for the health of Marianne, to procure those inquiries which had been +so long delayed; and she was still more eagerly bent on this measure +by perceiving after breakfast on the morrow, that Marianne was again +writing to Willoughby, for she could not suppose it to be to any other +person. + +About the middle of the day, Mrs. Jennings went out by herself on +business, and Elinor began her letter directly, while Marianne, too +restless for employment, too anxious for conversation, walked from one +window to the other, or sat down by the fire in melancholy meditation. +Elinor was very earnest in her application to her mother, relating all +that had passed, her suspicions of Willoughby's inconstancy, urging +her by every plea of duty and affection to demand from Marianne an +account of her real situation with respect to him. + +Her letter was scarcely finished, when a rap foretold a visitor, and +Colonel Brandon was announced. Marianne, who had seen him from the +window, and who hated company of any kind, left the room before he +entered it. He looked more than usually grave, and though expressing +satisfaction at finding Miss Dashwood alone, as if he had somewhat in +particular to tell her, sat for some time without saying a word. +Elinor, persuaded that he had some communication to make in which her +sister was concerned, impatiently expected its opening. It was not the +first time of her feeling the same kind of conviction; for, more than +once before, beginning with the observation of "your sister looks +unwell to-day," or "your sister seems out of spirits," he had +appeared on the point, either of disclosing, or of inquiring, +something particular about her. After a pause of several minutes, +their silence was broken, by his asking her in a voice of some +agitation, when he was to congratulate her on the acquisition of a +brother? Elinor was not prepared for such a question, and having no +answer ready, was obliged to adopt the simple and common expedient, of +asking what he meant? He tried to smile as he replied, "your sister's +engagement to Mr. Willoughby is very generally known." + +"It cannot be generally known," returned Elinor, "for her own family +do not know it." + +He looked surprised and said, "I beg your pardon, I am afraid my +inquiry has been impertinent; but I had not supposed any secrecy +intended, as they openly correspond, and their marriage is universally +talked of." + +"How can that be? By whom can you have heard it mentioned?" + +"By many--by some of whom you know nothing, by others with whom you +are most intimate, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer, and the Middletons. But +still I might not have believed it, for where the mind is perhaps +rather unwilling to be convinced, it will always find something to +support its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today, +accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directed to Mr. Willoughby in +your sister's writing. I came to inquire, but I was convinced before I +could ask the question. Is every thing finally settled? Is it +impossible to-? But I have no right, and I could have no chance of +succeeding. Excuse me, Miss Dashwood. I believe I have been wrong in +saying so much, but I hardly know what to do, and on your prudence I +have the strongest dependence. Tell me that it is all absolutely +resolved on, that any attempt, that in short concealment, if +concealment be possible, is all that remains." + +These words, which conveyed to Elinor a direct avowal of his love for +her sister, affected her very much. She was not immediately able to +say anything, and even when her spirits were recovered, she debated +for a short time, on the answer it would be most proper to give. The +real state of things between Willoughby and her sister was so little +known to herself, that in endeavouring to explain it, she might be as +liable to say too much as too little. Yet as she was convinced that +Marianne's affection for Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel +Brandon's success, whatever the event of that affection might be, and +at the same time wished to shield her conduct from censure, she +thought it most prudent and kind, after some consideration, to say +more than she really knew or believed. She acknowledged, therefore, +that though she had never been informed by themselves of the terms on +which they stood with each other, of their mutual affection she had no +doubt, and of their correspondence she was not astonished to hear. + +He listened to her with silent attention, and on her ceasing to speak, +rose directly from his seat, and after saying in a voice of emotion, +"to your sister I wish all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby that he +may endeavour to deserve her,"--took leave, and went away. + +Elinor derived no comfortable feelings from this conversation, to +lessen the uneasiness of her mind on other points; she was left, on +the contrary, with a melancholy impression of Colonel Brandon's +unhappiness, and was prevented even from wishing it removed, by her +anxiety for the very event that must confirm it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Nothing occurred during the next three or four days, to make Elinor +regret what she had done, in applying to her mother; for Willoughby +neither came nor wrote. They were engaged about the end of that time +to attend Lady Middleton to a party, from which Mrs. Jennings was kept +away by the indisposition of her youngest daughter; and for this +party, Marianne, wholly dispirited, careless of her appearance, and +seeming equally indifferent whether she went or staid, prepared, +without one look of hope or one expression of pleasure. She sat by the +drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of Lady Middleton's +arrival, without once stirring from her seat, or altering her +attitude, lost in her own thoughts, and insensible of her sister's +presence; and when at last they were told that Lady Middleton waited +for them at the door, she started as if she had forgotten that any one +was expected. + +They arrived in due time at the place of destination, and as soon as +the string of carriages before them would allow, alighted, ascended +the stairs, heard their names announced from one landing-place to +another in an audible voice, and entered a room splendidly lit up, +quite full of company, and insufferably hot. When they had paid their +tribute of politeness by curtsying to the lady of the house, they were +permitted to mingle in the crowd, and take their share of the heat and +inconvenience, to which their arrival must necessarily add. After some +time spent in saying little or doing less, Lady Middleton sat down to +Cassino, and as Marianne was not in spirits for moving about, she and +Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs, placed themselves at no great +distance from the table. + +They had not remained in this manner long, before Elinor perceived +Willoughby, standing within a few yards of them, in earnest +conversation with a very fashionable looking young woman. She soon +caught his eye, and he immediately bowed, but without attempting to +speak to her, or to approach Marianne, though he could not but see +her; and then continued his discourse with the same lady. Elinor +turned involuntarily to Marianne, to see whether it could be +unobserved by her. At that moment she first perceived him, and her +whole countenance glowing with sudden delight, she would have moved +towards him instantly, had not her sister caught hold of her. + +"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "he is there--he is there--Oh! why does +he not look at me? why cannot I speak to him?" + +"Pray, pray be composed," cried Elinor, "and do not betray what you +feel to every body present. Perhaps he has not observed you yet." + +This however was more than she could believe herself; and to be +composed at such a moment was not only beyond the reach of Marianne, +it was beyond her wish. She sat in an agony of impatience which +affected every feature. + +[Illustration: _At that moment she first perceived him._] + +At last he turned round again, and regarded them both; she started up, +and pronouncing his name in a tone of affection, held out her hand to +him. He approached, and addressing himself rather to Elinor than +Marianne, as if wishing to avoid her eye, and determined not to +observe her attitude, inquired in a hurried manner after Mrs. +Dashwood, and asked how long they had been in town. Elinor was robbed +of all presence of mind by such an address, and was unable to say a +word. But the feelings of her sister were instantly expressed. Her +face was crimsoned over, and she exclaimed, in a voice of the greatest +emotion, "Good God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this? Have you +not received my letters? Will you not shake hands with me?" + +He could not then avoid it, but her touch seemed painful to him, and +he held her hand only for a moment. During all this time he was +evidently struggling for composure. Elinor watched his countenance and +saw its expression becoming more tranquil. After a moment's pause, he +spoke with calmness. + +"I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley Street last Tuesday, +and very much regretted that I was not fortunate enough to find +yourselves and Mrs. Jennings at home. My card was not lost, I hope." + +"But have you not received my notes?" cried Marianne in the wildest +anxiety. "Here is some mistake I am sure--some dreadful mistake. What +can be the meaning of it? Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake tell +me, what is the matter?" + +He made no reply; his complexion changed and all his embarrassment +returned; but as if, on catching the eye of the young lady with whom +he had been previously talking, he felt the necessity of instant +exertion, he recovered himself again, and after saying, "Yes, I had +the pleasure of receiving the information of your arrival in town, +which you were so good as to send me," turned hastily away with a +slight bow and joined his friend. + +Marianne, now looking dreadfully white, and unable to stand, sunk into +her chair, and Elinor, expecting every moment to see her faint, tried +to screen her from the observation of others, while reviving her with +lavender water. + +"Go to him, Elinor," she cried, as soon as she could speak, "and force +him to come to me. Tell him I must see him again--must speak to him +instantly. I cannot rest--I shall not have a moment's peace till this +is explained--some dreadful misapprehension or other. Oh, go to him +this moment." + +"How can that be done? No, my dearest Marianne, you must wait. This is +not the place for explanations. Wait only till tomorrow." + +With difficulty however could she prevent her from following him +herself; and to persuade her to check her agitation, to wait, at +least, with the appearance of composure, till she might speak to him +with more privacy and more effect, was impossible; for Marianne +continued incessantly to give way in a low voice to the misery of her +feelings, by exclamations of wretchedness. In a short time Elinor saw +Willoughby quit the room by the door towards the staircase, and +telling Marianne that he was gone, urged the impossibility of speaking +to him again that evening, as a fresh argument for her to be calm. She +instantly begged her sister would entreat Lady Middleton to take them +home, as she was too miserable to stay a minute longer. + +Lady Middleton, though in the middle of a rubber, on being informed +that Marianne was unwell, was too polite to object for a moment to her +wish of going away, and making over her cards to a friend, they +departed as soon as the carriage could be found. Scarcely a word was +spoken during their return to Berkeley Street. Marianne was in a +silent agony, too much oppressed even for tears; but as Mrs. Jennings +was luckily not come home, they could go directly to their own room, +where hartshorn restored her a little to herself. She was soon +undressed and in bed, and as she seemed desirous of being alone, her +sister then left her, and while she waited the return of Mrs. +Jennings, had leisure enough for thinking over the past. + +That some kind of engagement had subsisted between Willoughby and +Marianne she could not doubt, and that Willoughby was weary of it, +seemed equally clear; for however Marianne might still feed her own +wishes, _she_ could not attribute such behaviour to mistake or +misapprehension of any kind. Nothing but a thorough change of +sentiment could account for it. Her indignation would have been still +stronger than it was, had she not witnessed that embarrassment which +seemed to speak a consciousness of his own misconduct, and prevented +her from believing him so unprincipled as to have been sporting with +the affections of her sister from the first, without any design that +would bear investigation. Absence might have weakened his regard, and +convenience might have determined him to overcome it, but that such a +regard had formerly existed she could not bring herself to doubt. + +As for Marianne, on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting must already +have given her, and on those still more severe which might await her +in its probable consequence, she could not reflect without the deepest +concern. Her own situation gained in the comparison; for while she +could _esteem_ Edward as much as ever, however they might be divided +in future, her mind might be always supported. But every circumstance +that could embitter such an evil seemed uniting to heighten the misery +of Marianne in a final separation from Willoughby--in an immediate and +irreconcilable rupture with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +Before the housemaid had lit their fire the next day, or the sun +gained any power over a cold, gloomy morning in January, Marianne, +only half dressed, was kneeling against one of the window-seats for +the sake of all the little light she could command from it, and +writing as fast as a continual flow of tears would permit her. In this +situation, Elinor, roused from sleep by her agitation and sobs, first +perceived her; and after observing her for a few moments with silent +anxiety, said, in a tone of the most considerate gentleness-- + +"Marianne, may I ask--" + +"No, Elinor," she replied, "ask nothing; you will soon know all." + +The sort of desperate calmness with which this was said, lasted no +longer than while she spoke, and was immediately followed by a return +of the same excessive affliction. It was some minutes before she could +go on with her letter, and the frequent bursts of grief which still +obliged her, at intervals, to withhold her pen, were proofs enough of +her feeling how more than probable it was that she was writing for the +last time to Willoughby. + +Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention in her power; +and she would have tried to sooth and tranquilize her still more, had +not Marianne entreated her, with all the eagerness of the most nervous +irritability, not to speak to her for the world. In such +circumstances, it was better for both that they should not be long +together; and the restless state of Marianne's mind not only prevented +her from remaining in the room a moment after she was dressed, but +requiring at once solitude and continual change of place, made her +wander about the house till breakfast time, avoiding the sight of +every body. + +At breakfast she neither ate, nor attempted to eat any thing; and +Elinor's attention was then all employed, not in urging her, not in +pitying her, nor in appearing to regard her, but in endeavouring to +engage Mrs. Jennings's notice entirely to herself. + +As this was a favourite meal with Mrs. Jennings, it lasted a +considerable time, and they were just setting themselves, after it, +round the common working table, when a letter was delivered to +Marianne, which she eagerly caught from the servant, and, turning of a +death-like paleness, instantly ran out of the room. Elinor, who saw as +plainly by this, as if she had seen the direction, that it must come +from Willoughby, felt immediately such a sickness at heart as made her +hardly able to hold up her head, and sat in such a general tremor as +made her fear it impossible to escape Mrs. Jennings's notice. That +good lady, however, saw only that Marianne had received a letter from +Willoughby, which appeared to her a very good joke, and which she +treated accordingly, by hoping, with a laugh, that she would find it +to her liking. Of Elinor's distress, she was too busily employed in +measuring lengths of worsted for her rug, to see any thing at all; and +calmly continuing her talk, as soon as Marianne disappeared, she +said-- + +"Upon my word, I never saw a young woman so desperately in love in my +life! _My_ girls were nothing to her, and yet they used to be foolish +enough; but as for Miss Marianne, she is quite an altered creature. I +hope, from the bottom of my heart, he won't keep her waiting much +longer, for it is quite grievous to see her look so ill and forlorn. +Pray, when are they to be married?" + +Elinor, though never less disposed to speak than at that moment, +obliged herself to answer such an attack as this, and, therefore, +trying to smile, replied, "And have you really, Ma'am, talked yourself +into a persuasion of my sister's being engaged to Mr. Willoughby? I +thought it had been only a joke, but so serious a question seems to +imply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will not deceive +yourself any longer. I do assure you that nothing would surprise me +more than to hear of their being going to be married." + +"For shame, for shame, Miss Dashwood! how can you talk so? Don't we +all know that it must be a match, that they were over head and ears in +love with each other from the first moment they met? Did not I see +them together in Devonshire every day, and all day long; and did not I +know that your sister came to town with me on purpose to buy wedding +clothes? Come, come, this won't do. Because you are so sly about it +yourself, you think nobody else has any senses; but it is no such +thing, I can tell you, for it has been known all over town this ever +so long. I tell every body of it and so does Charlotte." + +"Indeed, Ma'am," said Elinor, very seriously, "you are mistaken. +Indeed, you are doing a very unkind thing in spreading the report, and +you will find that you have though you will not believe me now." + +Mrs. Jennings laughed again, but Elinor had not spirits to say more, +and eager at all events to know what Willoughby had written, hurried +away to their room, where, on opening the door, she saw Marianne +stretched on the bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her hand, +and two or three others laying by her. Elinor drew near, but without +saying a word; and seating herself on the bed, took her hand, kissed +her affectionately several times, and then gave way to a burst of +tears, which at first was scarcely less violent than Marianne's. The +latter, though unable to speak, seemed to feel all the tenderness of +this behaviour, and after some time thus spent in joint affliction, +she put all the letters into Elinor's hands; and then covering her +face with her handkerchief, almost screamed with agony. Elinor, who +knew that such grief, shocking as it was to witness it, must have its +course, watched by her till this excess of suffering had somewhat +spent itself, and then turning eagerly to Willoughby's letter, read as +follows:-- + +"Bond Street, January. + +"MY DEAR MADAM, + + "I have just had the honour of receiving your letter, for + which I beg to return my sincere acknowledgments. I am much + concerned to find there was anything in my behaviour last + night that did not meet your approbation; and though I am + quite at a loss to discover in what point I could be so + unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your forgiveness of + what I can assure you to have been perfectly unintentional. + I shall never reflect on my former acquaintance with your + family in Devonshire without the most grateful pleasure, and + flatter myself it will not be broken by any mistake or + misapprehension of my actions. My esteem for your whole + family is very sincere; but if I have been so unfortunate as + to give rise to a belief of more than I felt, or meant to + express, I shall reproach myself for not having been more + guarded in my professions of that esteem. That I should ever + have meant more you will allow to be impossible, when you + understand that my affections have been long engaged + elsewhere, and it will not be many weeks, I believe, before + this engagement is fulfilled. It is with great regret that I + obey your commands in returning the letters with which I + have been honoured from you, and the lock of hair, which you + so obligingly bestowed on me. + +I am, dear Madam, + +Your most obedient humble servant, + +"JOHN WILLOUGHBY." + +With what indignation such a letter as this must be read by Miss +Dashwood, may be imagined. Though aware, before she began it, that it +must bring a confession of his inconstancy, and confirm their +separation for ever, she was not aware that such language could be +suffered to announce it; nor could she have supposed Willoughby +capable of departing so far from the appearance of every honourable +and delicate feeling--so far from the common decorum of a gentleman, +as to send a letter so impudently cruel: a letter which, instead of +bringing with his desire of a release any professions of regret, +acknowledged no breach of faith, denied all peculiar affection +whatever;--a letter of which every line was an insult, and which +proclaimed its writer to be deep in hardened villainy. + +She paused over it for some time with indignant astonishment; then +read it again and again; but every perusal only served to increase +her abhorrence of the man, and so bitter were her feelings against +him, that she dared not trust herself to speak, lest she might wound +Marianne still deeper by treating their disengagement, not as a loss +to her of any possible good but as an escape from the worst and most +irremediable of all evils,--a connection, for life, with an +unprincipled man, as a deliverance the most real, a blessing the most +important. + +In her earnest meditations on the contents of the letter, on the +depravity of that mind which could dictate it, and probably, on the +very different mind of a very different person, who had no other +connection whatever with the affair than what her heart gave him with +every thing that passed, Elinor forgot the immediate distress of her +sister, forgot that she had three letters on her lap yet unread, and +so entirely forgot how long she had been in the room, that when on +hearing a carriage drive up to the door, she went to the window to see +who could be coming so unreasonably early, she was all astonishment to +perceive Mrs. Jennings's chariot, which she knew had not been ordered +till one. Determined not to quit Marianne, though hopeless of +contributing, at present, to her ease, she hurried away to excuse +herself from attending Mrs. Jennings, on account of her sister being +indisposed. Mrs. Jennings, with a thoroughly good-humoured concern for +its cause, admitted the excuse most readily, and Elinor, after seeing +her safe off, returned to Marianne, whom she found attempting to rise +from the bed, and whom she reached just in time to prevent her from +falling on the floor, faint and giddy from a long want of proper rest +and food; for it was many days since she had any appetite, and many +nights since she had really slept; and now, when her mind was no +longer supported by the fever of suspense, the consequence of all this +was felt in an aching head, a weakened stomach, and a general nervous +faintness. A glass of wine, which Elinor procured for her directly, +made her more comfortable, and she was at last able to express some +sense of her kindness, by saying, "Poor Elinor! how unhappy I make +you!" + +"I only wish," replied her sister, "there were any thing I _could_ do, +which might be of comfort to you." + +This, as every thing else would have been, was too much for Marianne, +who could only exclaim, in the anguish of her heart, "Oh! Elinor, I +am miserable, indeed," before her voice was entirely lost in sobs. + +Elinor could no longer witness this torrent of unresisted grief in +silence. + +"Exert yourself, dear Marianne," she cried, "if you would not kill +yourself and all who love you. Think of your mother; think of her +misery while _you_ suffer: for her sake you must exert yourself." + +"I cannot, I cannot," cried Marianne; "leave me, leave me, if I +distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me! but do not torture me so. +Oh! how easy for those, who have no sorrow of their own to talk of +exertion! Happy, happy Elinor, _you_ cannot have an idea of what I +suffer." + +"Do you call _me_ happy, Marianne? Ah! if you knew! And can you +believe me to be so, while I see you so wretched!" + +"Forgive me, forgive me," throwing her arms round her sister's neck; +"I know you feel for me; I know what a heart you have; but yet you +are--you must be happy; Edward loves you--what, oh what, can do away +such happiness as that?" + +"Many, many circumstances," said Elinor, solemnly. + +"No, no, no," cried Marianne wildly, "he loves you, and only you. You +_can_ have no grief." + +"I can have no pleasure while I see you in this state." + +"And you will never see me otherwise. Mine is a misery which nothing +can do away." + +"You must not talk so, Marianne. Have you no comforts? no friends? Is +your loss such as leaves no opening for consolation? Much as you +suffer now, think of what you would have suffered if the discovery of +his character had been delayed to a later period;--if your engagement +had been carried on for months and months, as it might have been, +before he chose to put an end to it. Every additional day of unhappy +confidence, on your side, would have made the blow more dreadful." + +"Engagement!" cried Marianne, "there has been no engagement." + +"No engagement!" + +"No, he is not so unworthy as you believe him. He has broken no faith +with me." + +"But he told you that he loved you." + +"Yes--no--never absolutely. It was every day implied, but never +professedly declared. Sometimes I thought it had been--but it never +was." + +"Yet you wrote to him?" + +"Yes: could that be wrong after all that had passed? But I cannot +talk." + +Elinor said no more, and turning again to the three letters which now +raised a much stronger curiosity than before, directly ran over the +contents of all. The first, which was what her sister had sent him on +their arrival in town, was to this effect:-- + +"Berkeley Street, January. + + "How surprised you will be, Willoughby, on receiving this; + and I think you will feel something more than surprise, when + you know that I am in town. An opportunity of coming hither, + though with Mrs. Jennings, was a temptation we could not + resist. I wish you may receive this in time to come here + tonight, but I will not depend on it. At any rate I shall + expect you to-morrow. For the present, adieu. + +M.D." + +Her second note, which had been written on the morning after the dance +at the Middletons', was in these words:-- + + "I cannot express my disappointment in having missed you the + day before yesterday, nor my astonishment at not having + received any answer to a note which I sent you above a week + ago. I have been expecting to hear from you, and still more + to see you, every hour of the day. Pray call again as soon + as possible, and explain the reason of my having expected + this in vain. You had better come earlier another time, + because we are generally out by one. We were last night at + Lady Middleton's, where there was a dance. I have been told + that you were asked to be of the party. But could it be so? + You must be very much altered indeed since we parted, if + that could be the case, and you not there. But I will not + suppose this possible, and I hope very soon to receive your + personal assurance of its being otherwise. + +M.D." + +The contents of her last note to him were these:-- + + "What am I to imagine, Willoughby, by your behaviour last + night? Again I demand an explanation of it. I was prepared + to meet you with the pleasure which our separation naturally + produced,--with the familiarity which our intimacy at Barton + appeared to me to justify. I was repulsed indeed! I have + passed a wretched night in endeavouring to excuse a conduct + which can scarcely be called less than insulting; but though + I have not yet been able to form any reasonable apology for + your behaviour, I am perfectly ready to hear your + justification of it. You have perhaps been misinformed, or + purposely deceived, in something concerning me, which may + have lowered me in your opinion. Tell me what it is, explain + the grounds on which you acted, and I shall be satisfied, in + being able to satisfy you. It would grieve me indeed to be + obliged to think ill of you; but if I am to do it, if I am + to learn that you are not what we have hitherto believed + you, that your regard for us all was insincere, that your + behaviour to me was intended only to deceive, let it be told + as soon as possible. My feelings are at present in a state + of dreadful indecision; I wish to acquit you, but certainty + on either side will be ease to what I now suffer. If your + sentiments are no longer what they were, you will return my + notes, and the lock of my hair which is in your possession. + +M.D." + +That such letters, so full of affection and confidence, could have +been so answered, Elinor, for Willoughby's sake, would have been +unwilling to believe. But her condemnation of him did not blind her to +the impropriety of their having been written at all; and she was +silently grieving over the imprudence which had hazarded such +unsolicited proofs of tenderness, not warranted by anything preceding, +and most severely condemned by the event, when Marianne, perceiving +that she had finished the letters, observed to her that they contained +nothing but what any one would have written in the same situation. + +"I felt myself," she added, "to be as solemnly engaged to him, as if +the strictest legal covenant had bound us to each other." + +"I can believe it," said Elinor; "but unfortunately he did not feel +the same." + +"He _did_ feel the same, Elinor--for weeks and weeks he felt it. I +know he did. Whatever may have changed him now, (and nothing but the +blackest art employed against me can have done it), I was once as dear +to him as my own soul could wish. This lock of hair, which now he can +so readily give up, was begged of me with the most earnest +supplication. Had you seen his look, his manner, had you heard his +voice at that moment! Have you forgot the last evening of our being +together at Barton? The morning that we parted too! When he told me +that it might be many weeks before we met again--his distress--can I +ever forget his distress?" + +For a moment or two she could say no more; but when this emotion had +passed away, she added, in a firmer tone-- + +"Elinor, I have been cruelly used; but not by Willoughby." + +"Dearest Marianne, who but himself? By whom can he have been +instigated?" + +"By all the world, rather than by his own heart. I could rather +believe every creature of my acquaintance leagued together to ruin me +in his opinion, than believe his nature capable of such cruelty. This +woman of whom he writes--whoever she be--or any one, in short, but +your own dear self, mama, and Edward, may have been so barbarous to +bely me. Beyond you three, is there a creature in the world whom I +would not rather suspect of evil than Willoughby, whose heart I know +so well?" + +Elinor would not contend, and only replied, "Whoever may have been so +detestably your enemy, let them be cheated of their malignant triumph, +my dear sister, by seeing how nobly the consciousness of your own +innocence and good intentions supports your spirits. It is a +reasonable and laudable pride which resists such malevolence." + +"No, no," cried Marianne, "misery such as mine has no pride. I care +not who knows that I am wretched. The triumph of seeing me so may be +open to all the world. Elinor, Elinor, they who suffer little may be +proud and independent as they like--may resist insult, or return +mortification--but I cannot. I must feel--I must be wretched--and they +are welcome to enjoy the consciousness of it that can." + +"But for my mother's sake and mine--" + +"I would do more than for my own. But to appear happy when I am so +miserable--oh! who can require it?" + +Again they were both silent. Elinor was employed in walking +thoughtfully from the fire to the window, from the window to the fire, +without knowing that she received warmth from one, or discerning +objects through the other; and Marianne, seated at the foot of the +bed, with her head leaning against one of its posts, again took up +Willoughby's letter, and, after shuddering over every sentence, +exclaimed-- + +"It is too much! Oh, Willoughby, Willoughby, could this be yours! +Cruel, cruel--nothing can acquit you. Elinor, nothing can. Whatever he +might have heard against me, ought he not to have suspended his +belief? ought he not to have told me of it, to have given me the power +of clearing myself? 'The lock of hair, (repeating it from the letter,) +which you so obligingly bestowed on me'--that is unpardonable. +Willoughby, where was your heart when you wrote those words? Oh, +barbarously insolent!--Elinor, can he be justified?" + +"No, Marianne, in no possible way." + +"And yet this woman--who knows what her art may have been?--how long +it may have been premeditated, and how deeply contrived by her!--Who +is she?--Who can she be?--Whom did I ever hear him talk of as young +and attractive among his female acquaintance?--Oh! no one, no one:--he +talked to me only of myself." + +Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly agitated, and it ended +thus:-- + +"Elinor, I must go home. I must go and comfort mama. Can not we be +gone to-morrow?" + +"To-morrow, Marianne!" + +"Yes, why should I stay here? I came only for Willoughby's sake--and +now who cares for me? Who regards me?" + +"It would be impossible to go to-morrow. We owe Mrs. Jennings much +more than civility; and civility of the commonest kind must prevent +such a hasty removal as that." + +"Well then, another day or two, perhaps; but I cannot stay here long, +I cannot stay to endure the questions and remarks of all these people. +The Middletons and Palmers--how am I to bear their pity? The pity of +such a woman as Lady Middleton! Oh, what would _he_ say to that!" + +Elinor advised her to lie down again, and for a moment she did so; but +no attitude could give her ease; and in restless pain of mind and body +she moved from one posture to another, till growing more and more +hysterical, her sister could with difficulty keep her on the bed at +all, and for some time was fearful of being constrained to call for +assistance. Some lavender drops, however, which she was at length +persuaded to take, were of use; and from that time till Mrs. Jennings +returned, she continued on the bed quiet and motionless. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + +Mrs. Jennings came immediately to their room on her return, and +without waiting to have her request of admittance answered, opened the +door and walked in with a look of real concern. + +"How do you do my dear?" said she in a voice of great compassion to +Marianne, who turned away her face without attempting to answer. + +"How is she, Miss Dashwood? Poor thing! she looks very bad. No +wonder. Ay, it is but too true. He is to be married very soon--a +good-for-nothing fellow! I have no patience with him. Mrs. Taylor told +me of it half an hour ago, and she was told it by a particular friend +of Miss Grey herself, else I am sure I should not have believed it; +and I was almost ready to sink as it was. Well, said I, all I can say +is, that if this be true, he has used a young lady of my acquaintance +abominably ill, and I wish with all my soul his wife may plague his +heart out. And so I shall always say, my dear, you may depend on it. I +have no notion of men's going on in this way; and if ever I meet him +again, I will give him such a dressing as he has not had this many a +day. But there is one comfort, my dear Miss Marianne--he is not the +only young man in the world worth having; and with your pretty face +you will never want admirers. Well, poor thing! I won't disturb her +any longer, for she had better have her cry out at once and have done +with. The Parrys and Sandersons luckily are coming tonight you know, +and that will amuse her." + +She then went away, walking on tiptoe out of the room, as if she +supposed her young friend's affliction could be increased by noise. + +Marianne, to the surprise of her sister, determined on dining with +them. Elinor even advised her against it. But "no, she would go down; +she could bear it very well, and the bustle about her would be less." +Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a moment by such a motive, +though believing it hardly possible that she could sit out the dinner, +said no more; and adjusting her dress for her as well as she could, +while Marianne still remained on the bed, was ready to assist her into +the dining room as soon as they were summoned to it. + +When there, though looking most wretchedly, she ate more and was +calmer than her sister had expected. Had she tried to speak, or had +she been conscious of half Mrs. Jennings's well-meant but ill-judged +attentions to her, this calmness could not have been maintained; but +not a syllable escaped her lips; and the abstraction of her thoughts +preserved her in ignorance of every thing that was passing before her. + +Elinor, who did justice to Mrs. Jennings's kindness, though its +effusions were often distressing, and sometimes almost ridiculous, +made her those acknowledgments, and returned her those civilities, +which her sister could not make or return for herself. Their good +friend saw that Marianne was unhappy, and felt that every thing was +due to her which might make her at all less so. She treated her +therefore, with all the indulgent fondness of a parent towards a +favourite child on the last day of its holidays. Marianne was to have +the best place by the fire, was to be tempted to eat by every delicacy +in the house, and to be amused by the relation of all the news of the +day. Had not Elinor, in the sad countenance of her sister, seen a +check to all mirth, she could have been entertained by Mrs. Jennings's +endeavours to cure a disappointment in love, by a variety of +sweetmeats and olives, and a good fire. As soon, however, as the +consciousness of all this was forced by continual repetition on +Marianne, she could stay no longer. With a hasty exclamation of +Misery, and a sign to her sister not to follow her, she directly got +up and hurried out of the room. + +"Poor soul!" cried Mrs. Jennings, as soon as she was gone, "how it +grieves me to see her! And I declare if she is not gone away without +finishing her wine! And the dried cherries too! Lord! nothing seems to +do her any good. I am sure if I knew of any thing she would like, I +would send all over the town for it. Well, it is the oddest thing to +me, that a man should use such a pretty girl so ill! But when there +is plenty of money on one side, and next to none on the other, Lord +bless you! they care no more about such things!" + +"The lady then,--Miss Grey I think you called her,--is very rich?" + +"Fifty thousand pounds, my dear. Did you ever see her? a smart, +stylish girl they say, but not handsome. I remember her aunt very +well, Biddy Henshawe; she married a very wealthy man. But the family +are all rich together. Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts, it +won't come before it's wanted; for they say he is all to pieces. No +wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters! Well, it don't +signify talking; but when a young man, be who he will, comes and makes +love to a pretty girl, and promises marriage, he has no business to +fly off from his word only because he grows poor, and a richer girl is +ready to have him. Why don't he, in such a case, sell his horses, let +his house, turn off his servants, and make a thorough reform at once? +I warrant you, Miss Marianne would have been ready to wait till +matters came round. But that won't do nowadays; nothing in the way +of pleasure can ever be given up by the young men of this age." + +"Do you know what kind of a girl Miss Grey is? Is she said to be +amiable?" + +"I never heard any harm of her; indeed I hardly ever heard her +mentioned; except that Mrs. Taylor did say this morning, that one day +Miss Walker hinted to her, that she believed Mr. and Mrs. Ellison +would not be sorry to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs. Ellison +could never agree." + +"And who are the Ellisons?" + +"Her guardians, my dear. But now she is of age and may choose for +herself; and a pretty choice she has made!--What now," after pausing a +moment, "your poor sister is gone to her own room, I suppose, to moan +by herself. Is there nothing one can get to comfort her? Poor dear, it +seems quite cruel to let her be alone. Well, by and by we shall have a +few friends, and that will amuse her a little. What shall we play at? +She hates whist I know; but is there no round game she cares for?" + +"Dear ma'am, this kindness is quite unnecessary. Marianne, I dare say, +will not leave her room again this evening. I shall persuade her if I +can to go early to bed, for I am sure she wants rest." + +"Aye, I believe that will be best for her. Let her name her own +supper, and go to bed. Lord! no wonder she has been looking so bad and +so cast down this last week or two, for this matter I suppose has been +hanging over her head as long as that. And so the letter that came +today finished it! Poor soul! I am sure if I had had a notion of it, I +would not have joked her about it for all my money. But then you know, +how should I guess such a thing? I made sure of its being nothing but +a common love letter, and you know young people like to be laughed at +about them. Lord! how concerned Sir John and my daughters will be when +they hear it! If I had my senses about me I might have called in +Conduit Street in my way home, and told them of it. But I shall see +them to-morrow." + +"It would be unnecessary I am sure, for you to caution Mrs. Palmer and +Sir John against ever naming Mr. Willoughby, or making the slightest +allusion to what has passed, before my sister. Their own good-nature +must point out to them the real cruelty of appearing to know any thing +about it when she is present; and the less that may ever be said to +myself on the subject, the more my feelings will be spared, as you my +dear madam will easily believe." + +"Oh! Lord! yes, that I do indeed. It must be terrible for you to hear +it talked of; and as for your sister, I am sure I would not mention a +word about it to her for the world. You saw I did not all dinner time. +No more would Sir John, nor my daughters, for they are all very +thoughtful and considerate; especially if I give them a hint, as I +certainly will. For my part, I think the less that is said about such +things, the better, the sooner 'tis blown over and forgot. And what +does talking ever do you know?" + +"In this affair it can only do harm; more so perhaps than in many +cases of a similar kind, for it has been attended by circumstances +which, for the sake of every one concerned in it, make it unfit to +become the public conversation. I must do _this_ justice to Mr. +Willoughby--he has broken no positive engagement with my sister." + +"Law, my dear! Don't pretend to defend him. No positive engagement +indeed! after taking her all over Allenham House, and fixing on the +very rooms they were to live in hereafter!" + +Elinor, for her sister's sake, could not press the subject farther, +and she hoped it was not required of her for Willoughby's; since, +though Marianne might lose much, he could gain very little by the +enforcement of the real truth. After a short silence on both sides, +Mrs. Jennings, with all her natural hilarity, burst forth again. + +"Well, my dear, 'tis a true saying about an ill wind, for it will be +all the better for Colonel Brandon. He will have her at last; aye, +that he will. Mind me, now, if they an't married by Mid-summer. Lord! +how he'll chuckle over this news! I hope he will come tonight. It will +be all to one a better match for your sister. Two thousand a year +without debt or drawback--except the little love-child, indeed; aye, I +had forgot her; but she may be 'prenticed out at a small cost, and +then what does it signify? Delaford is a nice place, I can tell you; +exactly what I call a nice old fashioned place, full of comforts and +conveniences; quite shut in with great garden walls that are covered +with the best fruit-trees in the country; and such a mulberry tree in +one corner! Lord! how Charlotte and I did stuff the only time we were +there! Then, there is a dovecote, some delightful stew-ponds, and a +very pretty canal; and every thing, in short, that one could wish for; +and, moreover, it is close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile +from the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only go and sit +up in an old yew arbour behind the house, you may see all the +carriages that pass along. Oh! 'tis a nice place! A butcher hard by in +the village, and the parsonage-house within a stone's throw. To my +fancy, a thousand times prettier than Barton Park, where they are +forced to send three miles for their meat, and have not a neighbour +nearer than your mother. Well, I shall spirit up the Colonel as soon +as I can. One shoulder of mutton, you know, drives another down. If we +_can_ but put Willoughby out of her head!" + +"Ay, if we can do that, Ma'am," said Elinor, "we shall do very well +with or without Colonel Brandon." And then rising, she went away to +join Marianne, whom she found, as she expected, in her own room, +leaning, in silent misery, over the small remains of a fire, which, +till Elinor's entrance, had been her only light. + +"You had better leave me," was all the notice that her sister received +from her. + +"I will leave you," said Elinor, "if you will go to bed." But this, +from the momentary perverseness of impatient suffering, she at first +refused to do. Her sister's earnest, though gentle persuasion, +however, soon softened her to compliance, and Elinor saw her lay her +aching head on the pillow, and as she hoped, in a way to get some +quiet rest before she left her. + +In the drawing-room, whither she then repaired, she was soon joined by +Mrs. Jennings, with a wine-glass, full of something, in her hand. + +"My dear," said she, entering, "I have just recollected that I have +some of the finest old Constantia wine in the house that ever was +tasted, so I have brought a glass of it for your sister. My poor +husband! how fond he was of it! Whenever he had a touch of his old +colicky gout, he said it did him more good than any thing else in the +world. Do take it to your sister." + +"Dear Ma'am," replied Elinor, smiling at the difference of the +complaints for which it was recommended, "how good you are! But I have +just left Marianne in bed, and, I hope, almost asleep; and as I think +nothing will be of so much service to her as rest, if you will give me +leave, I will drink the wine myself." + +Mrs. Jennings, though regretting that she had not been five minutes +earlier, was satisfied with the compromise; and Elinor, as she +swallowed the chief of it, reflected, that though its effects on a +colicky gout were, at present, of little importance to her, its +healing powers, on a disappointed heart might be as reasonably tried +on herself as on her sister. + +Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea, and by his manner +of looking round the room for Marianne, Elinor immediately fancied +that he neither expected nor wished to see her there, and, in short, +that he was already aware of what occasioned her absence. Mrs. +Jennings was not struck by the same thought; for soon after his +entrance, she walked across the room to the tea-table where Elinor +presided, and whispered, "The Colonel looks as grave as ever you see. +He knows nothing of it; do tell him, my dear." + +[Illustration: "_How fond he was of it!_"] + +He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her's, and, with a look +which perfectly assured her of his good information, inquired after +her sister. + +"Marianne is not well," said she. "She has been indisposed all day, +and we have persuaded her to go to bed." + +"Perhaps, then," he hesitatingly replied, "what I heard this morning +may be--there may be more truth in it than I could believe possible at +first." + +"What did you hear?" + +"That a gentleman, whom I had reason to think--in short, that a man, +whom I _knew_ to be engaged--but how shall I tell you? If you know it +already, as surely you must, I may be spared." + +"You mean," answered Elinor, with forced calmness, "Mr. Willoughby's +marriage with Miss Grey. Yes, we _do_ know it all. This seems to have +been a day of general elucidation, for this very morning first +unfolded it to us. Mr. Willoughby is unfathomable! Where did you hear +it?" + +"In a stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I had business. Two ladies +were waiting for their carriage, and one of them was giving the other +an account of the intended match, in a voice so little attempting +concealment, that it was impossible for me not to hear all. The name +of Willoughby, John Willoughby, frequently repeated, first caught my +attention; and what followed was a positive assertion that every thing +was now finally settled respecting his marriage with Miss Grey--it was +no longer to be a secret--it would take place even within a few weeks, +with many particulars of preparations and other matters. One thing, +especially, I remember, because it served to identify the man still +more:--as soon as the ceremony was over, they were to go to Combe +Magna, his seat in Somersetshire. My astonishment!--but it would be +impossible to describe what I felt. The communicative lady I learnt, +on inquiry,--for I stayed in the shop till they were gone,--was a Mrs. +Ellison, and that, as I have been since informed, is the name of Miss +Grey's guardian." + +"It is. But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey has fifty thousand +pounds? In that, if in any thing, we may find an explanation." + +"It may be so; but Willoughby is capable--at least I think--" He +stopped a moment; then added in a voice which seemed to distrust +itself, "And your sister,--how did she,--" + +"Her sufferings have been very severe. I have only to hope that they +may be proportionately short. It has been, it is a most cruel +affliction. Till yesterday, I believe, she never doubted his regard; +and even now, perhaps--but _I_ am almost convinced that he never was +really attached to her. He has been very deceitful! and, in some +points, there seems a hardness of heart about him." + +"Ah!" said Colonel Brandon, "there is, indeed! But your sister does +not--I think you said so--she does not consider quite as you do?" + +"You know her disposition, and may believe how eagerly she would still +justify him if she could." + +He made no answer; and soon afterwards, by the removal of the +tea-things, and the arrangement of the card parties, the subject was +necessarily dropped. Mrs. Jennings, who had watched them with pleasure +while they were talking, and who expected to see the effect of Miss +Dashwood's communication, in such an instantaneous gaiety on Colonel +Brandon's side, as might have become a man in the bloom of youth, of +hope and happiness, saw him, with amazement, remain the whole evening +more serious and thoughtful than usual. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + +From a night of more sleep than she had expected, Marianne awoke the +next morning to the same consciousness of misery in which she had +closed her eyes. + +Elinor encouraged her as much as possible to talk of what she felt; +and before breakfast was ready, they had gone through the subject +again and again; and with the same steady conviction and affectionate +counsel on Elinor's side, the same impetuous feelings and varying +opinions on Marianne's, as before. Sometimes she could believe +Willoughby to be as unfortunate and as innocent as herself, and at +others, lost every consolation in the impossibility of acquitting him. +At one moment she was absolutely indifferent to the observation of all +the world, at another she would seclude herself from it for ever, and +at a third could resist it with energy. In one thing, however, she +was uniform, when it came to the point, in avoiding, where it was +possible, the presence of Mrs. Jennings, and in a determined silence +when obliged to endure it. Her heart was hardened against the belief +of Mrs. Jennings's entering into her sorrows with any compassion. + +"No, no, no, it cannot be," she cried; "she cannot feel. Her kindness +is not sympathy; her good-nature is not tenderness. All that she wants +is gossip, and she only likes me now because I supply it." + +Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the injustice to which her +sister was often led in her opinion of others, by the irritable +refinement of her own mind, and the too great importance placed by her +on the delicacies of a strong sensibility, and the graces of a +polished manner. Like half the rest of the world, if more than half +there be that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent abilities +and an excellent disposition, was neither reasonable nor candid. She +expected from other people the same opinions and feelings as her own, +and she judged of their motives by the immediate effect of their +actions on herself. Thus a circumstance occurred, while the sisters +were together in their own room after breakfast, which sunk the heart +of Mrs. Jennings still lower in her estimation; because, through her +own weakness, it chanced to prove a source of fresh pain to herself, +though Mrs. Jennings was governed in it by an impulse of the utmost +good-will. + +With a letter in her outstretched hand, and countenance gaily smiling, +from the persuasion of bringing comfort, she entered their room, +saying-- + +"Now, my dear, I bring you something that I am sure will do you good." + +Marianne heard enough. In one moment her imagination placed before her +a letter from Willoughby, full of tenderness and contrition, +explanatory of all that had passed, satisfactory, convincing; and +instantly followed by Willoughby himself, rushing eagerly into the +room to enforce, at her feet, by the eloquence of his eyes, the +assurances of his letter. The work of one moment was destroyed by the +next. The hand writing of her mother, never till then unwelcome, was +before her; and, in the acuteness of the disappointment which followed +such an ecstasy of more than hope, she felt as if, till that instant, +she had never suffered. + +The cruelty of Mrs. Jennings, no language, within her reach in her +moments of happiest eloquence, could have expressed; and now she could +reproach her only by the tears which streamed from her eyes with +passionate violence;--a reproach, however, so entirely lost on its +object, that after many expressions of pity, she withdrew, still +referring her to the letter of comfort. But the letter, when she was +calm enough to read it, brought little comfort. Willoughby filled +every page. Her mother, still confident of their engagement, and +relying as warmly as ever on his constancy, had only been roused by +Elinor's application, to entreat from Marianne greater openness +towards them both; and this, with such tenderness towards her, such +affection for Willoughby, and such a conviction of their future +happiness in each other, that she wept with agony through the whole of +it. + +All her impatience to be at home again now returned; her mother was +dearer to her than ever; dearer through the very excess of her +mistaken confidence in Willoughby, and she was wildly urgent to be +gone. Elinor, unable herself to determine whether it were better for +Marianne to be in London or at Barton, offered no counsel of her own +except of patience till their mother's wishes could be known; and at +length she obtained her sister's consent to wait for that knowledge. + +Mrs. Jennings left them earlier than usual; for she could not be easy +till the Middletons and Palmers were able to grieve as much as +herself; and positively refusing Elinor's offered attendance, went out +alone for the rest of the morning. Elinor, with a very heavy heart, +aware of the pain she was going to communicate, and perceiving, by +Marianne's letter, how ill she had succeeded in laying any foundation +for it, then sat down to write her mother an account of what had +passed, and entreat her directions for the future; while Marianne, who +came into the drawing-room on Mrs. Jennings's going away, remained +fixed at the table where Elinor wrote, watching the advancement of her +pen, grieving over her for the hardship of such a task, and grieving +still more fondly over its effect on her mother. + +In this manner they had continued about a quarter of an hour, when +Marianne, whose nerves could not then bear any sudden noise, was +startled by a rap at the door. + +"Who can this be?" cried Elinor. "So early too! I thought we _had_ +been safe." + +Marianne moved to the window-- + +"It is Colonel Brandon!" said she, with vexation. "We are never safe +from _him._" + +"He will not come in, as Mrs. Jennings is from home." + +"I will not trust to _that_," retreating to her own room. "A man who +has nothing to do with his own time has no conscience in his intrusion +on that of others." + +The event proved her conjecture right, though it was founded on +injustice and error; for Colonel Brandon _did_ come in; and Elinor, +who was convinced that solicitude for Marianne brought him thither, +and who saw _that_ solicitude in his disturbed and melancholy look, +and in his anxious though brief inquiry after her, could not forgive +her sister for esteeming him so lightly. + +"I met Mrs. Jennings in Bond Street," said he, after the first +salutation, "and she encouraged me to come on; and I was the more +easily encouraged, because I thought it probable that I might find you +alone, which I was very desirous of doing. My object--my wish--my sole +wish in desiring it--I hope, I believe it is--is to be a means of +giving comfort;--no, I must not say comfort--not present comfort--but +conviction, lasting conviction to your sister's mind. My regard for +her, for yourself, for your mother--will you allow me to prove it, by +relating some circumstances which nothing but a _very_ sincere +regard--nothing but an earnest desire of being useful--I think I am +justified--though where so many hours have been spent in convincing +myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be +wrong?" He stopped. + +"I understand you," said Elinor. "You have something to tell me of Mr. +Willoughby, that will open his character farther. Your telling it will +be the greatest act of friendship that can be shown Marianne. _My_ +gratitude will be insured immediately by any information tending to +that end, and _hers_ must be gained by it in time. Pray, pray let me +hear it." + +"You shall; and, to be brief, when I quitted Barton last October,--but +this will give you no idea--I must go farther back. You will find me a +very awkward narrator, Miss Dashwood; I hardly know where to begin. A +short account of myself, I believe, will be necessary, and it _shall_ +be a short one. On such a subject," sighing heavily, "can I have +little temptation to be diffuse." + +He stopt a moment for recollection, and then, with another sigh, went +on. + +"You have probably entirely forgotten a conversation--(it is not to be +supposed that it could make any impression on you)--a conversation +between us one evening at Barton Park--it was the evening of a +dance--in which I alluded to a lady I had once known, as resembling, +in some measure, your sister Marianne." + +"Indeed," answered Elinor, "I have _not_ forgotten it." He looked +pleased by this remembrance, and added-- + +"If I am not deceived by the uncertainty, the partiality of tender +recollection, there is a very strong resemblance between them, as well +in mind as person. The same warmth of heart, the same eagerness of +fancy and spirits. This lady was one of my nearest relations, an +orphan from her infancy, and under the guardianship of my father. Our +ages were nearly the same, and from our earliest years we were +playfellows and friends. I cannot remember the time when I did not +love Eliza; and my affection for her, as we grew up, was such, as +perhaps, judging from my present forlorn and cheerless gravity, you +might think me incapable of having ever felt. Her's, for me, was, I +believe, fervent as the attachment of your sister to Mr. Willoughby +and it was, though from a different cause, no less unfortunate. At +seventeen she was lost to me for ever. She was married--married +against her inclination to my brother. Her fortune was large, and our +family estate much encumbered. And this, I fear, is all that can be +said for the conduct of one, who was at once her uncle and guardian. +My brother did not deserve her; he did not even love her. I had hoped +that her regard for me would support her under any difficulty, and for +some time it did; but at last the misery of her situation, for she +experienced great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though +she had promised me that nothing--but how blindly I relate! I have +never told you how this was brought on. We were within a few hours of +eloping together for Scotland. The treachery, or the folly, of my +cousin's maid betrayed us. I was banished to the house of a relation +far distant, and she was allowed no liberty, no society, no amusement, +till my father's point was gained. I had depended on her fortitude too +far, and the blow was a severe one, but had her marriage been happy, +so young as I then was, a few months must have reconciled me to it, +or at least I should not have now to lament it. This however was not +the case. My brother had no regard for her; his pleasures were not +what they ought to have been, and from the first he treated her +unkindly. The consequence of this, upon a mind so young, so lively, so +inexperienced as Mrs. Brandon's, was but too natural. She resigned +herself at first to all the misery of her situation; and happy had it +been if she had not lived to overcome those regrets which the +remembrance of me occasioned. But can we wonder that, with such a +husband to provoke inconstancy, and without a friend to advise or +restrain her (for my father lived only a few months after their +marriage, and I was with my regiment in the East Indies) she should +fall? Had I remained in England, perhaps--but I meant to promote the +happiness of both by removing from her for years, and for that purpose +had procured my exchange. The shock which her marriage had given me," +he continued, in a voice of great agitation, "was of trifling +weight--was nothing to what I felt when I heard, about two years +afterwards, of her divorce. It was _that_ which threw this +gloom,--even now the recollection of what I suffered--" + +He could say no more, and rising hastily walked for a few minutes +about the room. Elinor, affected by his relation, and still more by +his distress, could not speak. He saw her concern, and coming to her, +took her hand, pressed it, and kissed it with grateful respect. A few +minutes more of silent exertion enabled him to proceed with composure. + +"It was nearly three years after this unhappy period before I returned +to England. My first care, when I _did_ arrive, was of course to seek +for her; but the search was as fruitless as it was melancholy. I could +not trace her beyond her first seducer, and there was every reason to +fear that she had removed from him only to sink deeper in a life of +sin. Her legal allowance was not adequate to her fortune, nor +sufficient for her comfortable maintenance, and I learnt from my +brother that the power of receiving it had been made over some months +before to another person. He imagined, and calmly could he imagine it, +that her extravagance, and consequent distress, had obliged her to +dispose of it for some immediate relief. At last, however, and after I +had been six months in England, I _did_ find her. Regard for a former +servant of my own, who had since fallen into misfortune, carried me +to visit him in a spunging-house, where he was confined for debt; and +there, in the same house, under a similar confinement, was my +unfortunate sister. So altered--so faded--worn down by acute suffering +of every kind! hardly could I believe the melancholy and sickly figure +before me, to be the remains of the lovely, blooming, healthful girl, +on whom I had once doted. What I endured in so beholding her--but I +have no right to wound your feelings by attempting to describe it--I +have pained you too much already. That she was, to all appearance, in +the last stage of a consumption, was--yes, in such a situation it was +my greatest comfort. Life could do nothing for her, beyond giving time +for a better preparation for death; and that was given. I saw her +placed in comfortable lodgings, and under proper attendants; I visited +her every day during the rest of her short life: I was with her in her +last moments." + +Again he stopped to recover himself; and Elinor spoke her feelings in +an exclamation of tender concern, at the fate of his unfortunate +friend. + +"Your sister, I hope, cannot be offended," said he, "by the +resemblance I have fancied between her and my poor disgraced relation. +Their fates, their fortunes, cannot be the same; and had the natural +sweet disposition of the one been guarded by a firmer mind, or a +happier marriage, she might have been all that you will live to see +the other be. But to what does all this lead? I seem to have been +distressing you for nothing. Ah! Miss Dashwood--a subject such as +this--untouched for fourteen years--it is dangerous to handle it at +all! I _will_ be more collected--more concise. She left to my care her +only child, a little girl, the offspring of her first guilty +connection, who was then about three years old. She loved the child, +and had always kept it with her. It was a valued, a precious trust to +me; and gladly would I have discharged it in the strictest sense, by +watching over her education myself, had the nature of our situations +allowed it; but I had no family, no home; and my little Eliza was +therefore placed at school. I saw her there whenever I could, and +after the death of my brother, (which happened about five years ago, +and which left to me the possession of the family property,) she +visited me at Delaford. I called her a distant relation; but I am +well aware that I have in general been suspected of a much nearer +connection with her. It is now three years ago (she had just reached +her fourteenth year,) that I removed her from school, to place her +under the care of a very respectable woman, residing in Dorsetshire, +who had the charge of four or five other girls of about the same time +of life; and for two years I had every reason to be pleased with her +situation. But last February, almost a twelvemonth back, she suddenly +disappeared. I had allowed her, (imprudently, as it has since turned +out,) at her earnest desire, to go to Bath with one of her young +friends, who was attending her father there for his health. I knew him +to be a very good sort of man, and I thought well of his +daughter--better than she deserved, for, with a most obstinate and +ill-judged secrecy, she would tell nothing, would give no clue, though +she certainly knew all. He, her father, a well-meaning, but not a +quick-sighted man, could really, I believe, give no information; for +he had been generally confined to the house, while the girls were +ranging over the town and making what acquaintance they chose; and he +tried to convince me, as thoroughly as he was convinced himself, of +his daughter's being entirely unconcerned in the business. In short, I +could learn nothing but that she was gone; all the rest, for eight +long months, was left to conjecture. What I thought, what I feared, +may be imagined; and what I suffered too." + +"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "could it be--could Willoughby!"-- + +"The first news that reached me of her," he continued, "came in a +letter from herself, last October. It was forwarded to me from +Delaford, and I received it on the very morning of our intended party +to Whitwell; and this was the reason of my leaving Barton so suddenly, +which I am sure must at the time have appeared strange to every body, +and which I believe gave offence to some. Little did Mr. Willoughby +imagine, I suppose, when his looks censured me for incivility in +breaking up the party, that I was called away to the relief of one +whom he had made poor and miserable; but _had_ he known it, what would +it have availed? Would he have been less gay or less happy in the +smiles of your sister? No, he had already done that, which no man who +_can_ feel for another would do. He had left the girl whose youth and +innocence he had seduced, in a situation of the utmost distress, with +no creditable home, no help, no friends, ignorant of his address! He +had left her, promising to return; he neither returned, nor wrote, nor +relieved her." + +"This is beyond every thing!" exclaimed Elinor. + +"His character is now before you; expensive, dissipated, and worse +than both. Knowing all this, as I have now known it many weeks, guess +what I must have felt on seeing your sister as fond of him as ever, +and on being assured that she was to marry him: guess what I must have +felt for all your sakes. When I came to you last week and found you +alone, I came determined to know the truth; though irresolute what to +do when it _was_ known. My behaviour must have seemed strange to you +then; but now you will comprehend it. To suffer you all to be so +deceived; to see your sister--but what could I do? I had no hope of +interfering with success; and sometimes I thought your sister's +influence might yet reclaim him. But now, after such dishonorable +usage, who can tell what were his designs on her. Whatever they may +have been, however, she may now, and hereafter doubtless _will_, turn +with gratitude towards her own condition, when she compares it with +that of my poor Eliza, when she considers the wretched and hopeless +situation of this poor girl, and pictures her to herself, with an +affection for him so strong, still as strong as her own, and with a +mind tormented by self-reproach, which must attend her through life. +Surely this comparison must have its use with her. She will feel her +own sufferings to be nothing. They proceed from no misconduct, and can +bring no disgrace. On the contrary, every friend must be made still +more her friend by them. Concern for her unhappiness, and respect for +her fortitude under it, must strengthen every attachment. Use your own +discretion, however, in communicating to her what I have told you. You +must know best what will be its effect; but had I not seriously, and +from my heart believed it might be of service, might lessen her +regrets, I would not have suffered myself to trouble you with this +account of my family afflictions, with a recital which may seem to +have been intended to raise myself at the expense of others." + +Elinor's thanks followed this speech with grateful earnestness; +attended too with the assurance of her expecting material advantage +to Marianne, from the communication of what had passed. + +"I have been more pained," said she, "by her endeavors to acquit him +than by all the rest; for it irritates her mind more than the most +perfect conviction of his unworthiness can do. Now, though at first +she will suffer much, I am sure she will soon become easier. Have +you," she continued, after a short silence, "ever seen Mr. Willoughby +since you left him at Barton?" + +"Yes," he replied gravely, "once I have. One meeting was unavoidable." + +Elinor, startled by his manner, looked at him anxiously, saying-- + +"What? have you met him to--" + +"I could meet him no other way. Eliza had confessed to me, though most +reluctantly, the name of her lover; and when he returned to town, +which was within a fortnight after myself, we met by appointment, he +to defend, I to punish his conduct. We returned unwounded, and the +meeting, therefore, never got abroad." + +Elinor sighed over the fancied necessity of this; but to a man and a +soldier she presumed not to censure it. + +"Such," said Colonel Brandon, after a pause, "has been the unhappy +resemblance between the fate of mother and daughter! and so +imperfectly have I discharged my trust!" + +"Is she still in town?" + +"No; as soon as she recovered from her lying-in, for I found her near +her delivery, I removed her and her child into the country, and there +she remains." + +Recollecting, soon afterwards, that he was probably dividing Elinor +from her sister, he put an end to his visit, receiving from her again +the same grateful acknowledgments, and leaving her full of compassion +and esteem for him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +When the particulars of this conversation were repeated by Miss +Dashwood to her sister, as they very soon were, the effect on her was +not entirely such as the former had hoped to see. Not that Marianne +appeared to distrust the truth of any part of it, for she listened to +it all with the most steady and submissive attention, made neither +objection nor remark, attempted no vindication of Willoughby, and +seemed to show by her tears that she felt it to be impossible. But +though this behaviour assured Elinor that the conviction of this guilt +_was_ carried home to her mind, though she saw with satisfaction the +effect of it, in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brandon when he +called, in her speaking to him, even voluntarily speaking, with a kind +of compassionate respect, and though she saw her spirits less +violently irritated than before, she did not see her less wretched. +Her mind did become settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection. +She felt the loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily than she +had felt the loss of his heart; his seduction and desertion of Miss +Williams, the misery of that poor girl, and the doubt of what his +designs might _once_ have been on herself, preyed altogether so much +on her spirits, that she could not bring herself to speak of what she +felt even to Elinor; and, brooding over her sorrows in silence, gave +more pain to her sister than could have been communicated by the most +open and most frequent confession of them. + +To give the feelings or the language of Mrs. Dashwood on receiving and +answering Elinor's letter would be only to give a repetition of what +her daughters had already felt and said; of a disappointment hardly +less painful than Marianne's, and an indignation even greater than +Elinor's. Long letters from her, quickly succeeding each other, +arrived to tell all that she suffered and thought; to express her +anxious solicitude for Marianne, and entreat she would bear up with +fortitude under this misfortune. Bad indeed must the nature of +Marianne's affliction be, when her mother could talk of fortitude! +mortifying and humiliating must be the origin of those regrets, which +_she_ could wish her not to indulge! + +Against the interest of her own individual comfort, Mrs. Dashwood had +determined that it would be better for Marianne to be any where, at +that time, than at Barton, where every thing within her view would be +bringing back the past in the strongest and most afflicting manner, by +constantly placing Willoughby before her, such as she had always seen +him there. She recommended it to her daughters, therefore, by all +means not to shorten their visit to Mrs. Jennings; the length of +which, though never exactly fixed, had been expected by all to +comprise at least five or six weeks. A variety of occupations, of +objects, and of company, which could not be procured at Barton, would +be inevitable there, and might yet, she hoped, cheat Marianne, at +times, into some interest beyond herself, and even into some +amusement, much as the ideas of both might now be spurned by her. + +From all danger of seeing Willoughby again, her mother considered her +to be at least equally safe in town as in the country, since his +acquaintance must now be dropped by all who called themselves her +friends. Design could never bring them in each other's way: negligence +could never leave them exposed to a surprise; and chance had less in +its favour in the crowd of London than even in the retirement of +Barton, where it might force him before her while paying that visit at +Allenham on his marriage, which Mrs. Dashwood, from foreseeing at +first as a probable event, had brought herself to expect as a certain +one. + +She had yet another reason for wishing her children to remain where +they were; a letter from her son-in-law had told her that he and his +wife were to be in town before the middle of February, and she judged +it right that they should sometimes see their brother. + +Marianne had promised to be guided by her mother's opinion, and she +submitted to it therefore without opposition, though it proved +perfectly different from what she wished and expected, though she felt +it to be entirely wrong, formed on mistaken grounds, and that by +requiring her longer continuance in London it deprived her of the only +possible alleviation of her wretchedness, the personal sympathy of her +mother, and doomed her to such society and such scenes as must prevent +her ever knowing a moment's rest. + +But it was a matter of great consolation to her, that what brought +evil to herself would bring good to her sister; and Elinor, on the +other hand, suspecting that it would not be in her power to avoid +Edward entirely, comforted herself by thinking, that though their +longer stay would therefore militate against her own happiness, it +would be better for Marianne than an immediate return into Devonshire. + +Her carefulness in guarding her sister from ever hearing Willoughby's +name mentioned, was not thrown away. Marianne, though without knowing +it herself, reaped all its advantage; for neither Mrs. Jennings, nor +Sir John, nor even Mrs. Palmer herself, ever spoke of him before her. +Elinor wished that the same forbearance could have extended towards +herself, but that was impossible, and she was obliged to listen day +after day to the indignation of them all. + +Sir John, could not have thought it possible. "A man of whom he had +always had such reason to think well! Such a good-natured fellow! He +did not believe there was a bolder rider in England! It was an +unaccountable business. He wished him at the devil with all his heart. +He would not speak another word to him, meet him where he might, for +all the world! No, not if it were to be by the side of Barton covert, +and they were kept watching for two hours together. Such a scoundrel +of a fellow! such a deceitful dog! It was only the last time they met +that he had offered him one of Folly's puppies! and this was the end +of it!" + +Mrs. Palmer, in her way, was equally angry. "She was determined to +drop his acquaintance immediately, and she was very thankful that she +had never been acquainted with him at all. She wished with all her +heart Combe Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not signify, +for it was a great deal too far off to visit; she hated him so much +that she was resolved never to mention his name again, and she should +tell everybody she saw, how good-for-nothing he was." + +The rest of Mrs. Palmer's sympathy was shown in procuring all the +particulars in her power of the approaching marriage, and +communicating them to Elinor. She could soon tell at what coachmaker's +the new carriage was building, by what painter Mr. Willoughby's +portrait was drawn, and at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes might be +seen. + +[Illustration: _Offered him one of Folly's puppies._] + +The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton on the occasion was a +happy relief to Elinor's spirits, oppressed as they often were by +the clamorous kindness of the others. It was a great comfort to her to +be sure of exciting no interest in _one_ person at least among their +circle of friends: a great comfort to know that there was _one_ who +would meet her without feeling any curiosity after particulars, or any +anxiety for her sister's health. + +Every qualification is raised at times, by the circumstances of the +moment, to more than its real value; and she was sometimes worried +down by officious condolence to rate good-breeding as more +indispensable to comfort than good-nature. + +Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair about once every day, +or twice, if the subject occurred very often, by saying, "It is very +shocking, indeed!" and by the means of this continual though gentle +vent, was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the first +without the smallest emotion, but very soon to see them without +recollecting a word of the matter; and having thus supported the +dignity of her own sex, and spoken her decided censure of what was +wrong in the other, she thought herself at liberty to attend to the +interest of her own assemblies, and therefore determined (though +rather against the opinion of Sir John) that as Mrs. Willoughby would +at once be a woman of elegance and fortune, to leave her card with her +as soon as she married. + +Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive enquiries were never unwelcome +to Miss Dashwood. He had abundantly earned the privilege of intimate +discussion of her sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with +which he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always conversed with +confidence. His chief reward for the painful exertion of disclosing +past sorrows and present humiliations, was given in the pitying eye +with which Marianne sometimes observed him, and the gentleness of her +voice whenever (though it did not often happen) she was obliged, or +could oblige herself to speak to him. _These_ assured him that his +exertion had produced an increase of good-will towards himself, and +_these_ gave Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented hereafter; +but Mrs. Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew only that +the Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that she could neither +prevail on him to make the offer himself, nor commission her to make +it for him, began, at the end of two days, to think that, instead of +Mid-summer, they would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the end +of a week that it would not be a match at all. The good understanding +between the Colonel and Miss Dashwood seemed rather to declare that +the honours of the mulberry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour, would +all be made over to _her_; and Mrs. Jennings had, for some time ceased +to think at all of Mrs. Ferrars. + +Early in February, within a fortnight from the receipt of Willoughby's +letter, Elinor had the painful office of informing her sister that he +was married. She had taken care to have the intelligence conveyed to +herself, as soon as it was known that the ceremony was over, as she +was desirous that Marianne should not receive the first notice of it +from the public papers, which she saw her eagerly examining every +morning. + +She received the news with resolute composure; made no observation on +it, and at first shed no tears; but after a short time they would +burst out, and for the rest of the day, she was in a state hardly less +pitiable than when she first learnt to expect the event. + +The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married; and Elinor now +hoped, as there could be no danger of her seeing either of them, to +prevail on her sister, who had never yet left the house since the blow +first fell, to go out again by degrees as she had done before. + +About this time the two Miss Steeles, lately arrived at their cousin's +house in Bartlett's Buildings, Holborn, presented themselves again +before their more grand relations in Conduit and Berkeley Streets; and +were welcomed by them all with great cordiality. + +Elinor only was sorry to see them. Their presence always gave her +pain, and she hardly knew how to make a very gracious return to the +overpowering delight of Lucy in finding her _still_ in town. + +"I should have been quite disappointed if I had not found you here +_still_," said she repeatedly, with a strong emphasis on the word. +"But I always thought I _should_ I was almost sure you would not leave +London yet awhile; though you _told_ me, you know, at Barton, that you +should not stay above a _month._ But I thought, at the time, that you +would most likely change your mind when it came to the point. It would +have been such a great pity to have went away before your brother and +sister came. And now to be sure you will be in no _hurry_ to be gone. +I am amazingly glad you did not keep to _your word._" + +Elinor perfectly understood her, and was forced to use all her +self-command to make it appear that she did _not._ + +"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did you travel?" + +"Not in the stage, I assure you," replied Miss Steele, with quick +exultation; "we came post all the way, and had a very smart beau to +attend us. Dr. Davies was coming to town, and so we thought we'd join +him in a post-chaise; and he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or +twelve shillings more than we did." + +"Oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "very pretty, indeed! and the Doctor is +a single man, I warrant you." + +"There now," said Miss Steele, affectedly simpering, "everybody laughs +at me so about the Doctor, and I cannot think why. My cousins say they +are sure I have made a conquest; but for my part I declare I never +think about him from one hour's end to another. 'Lord! here comes your +beau, Nancy,' my cousin said t'other day, when she saw him crossing +the street to the house. My beau, indeed! said I--I cannot think who +you mean. The Doctor is no beau of mine." + +"Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking--but it won't do--the Doctor is +the man, I see." + +"No, indeed!" replied her cousin, with affected earnestness, "and I +beg you will contradict it, if you ever hear it talked of." + +Mrs. Jennings directly gave her the gratifying assurance that she +certainly would _not_, and Miss Steele was made completely happy. + +"I suppose you will go and stay with your brother and sister, Miss +Dashwood, when they come to town," said Lucy, returning, after a +cessation of hostile hints, to the charge. + +"No, I do not think we shall." + +"Oh, yes, I dare say you will." + +Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition. + +"What a charming thing it is that Mrs. Dashwood can spare you both for +so long a time together!" + +"Long a time, indeed!" interposed Mrs. Jennings. "Why, their visit is +but just begun!" + +[Illustration: _A very smart beau._] + +Lucy was silenced. + +"I am sorry we cannot see your sister, Miss Dashwood," said Miss +Steele. "I am sorry she is not well--" for Marianne had left the room +on their arrival. + +"You are very good. My sister will be equally sorry to miss the +pleasure of seeing you; but she has been very much plagued lately with +nervous head-aches, which make her unfit for company or conversation." + +"Oh, dear, that is a great pity! but such old friends as Lucy and +me!--I think she might see _us_; and I am sure we would not speak a +word." + +Elinor, with great civility, declined the proposal. Her sister was +perhaps laid down upon the bed, or in her dressing gown, and therefore +not able to come to them. + +"Oh, if that's all," cried Miss Steele, "we can just as well go and +see _her._" + +Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for her temper; but +she was saved the trouble of checking it, by Lucy's sharp reprimand, +which now, as on many occasions, though it did not give much sweetness +to the manners of one sister, was of advantage in governing those of +the other. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her sister's entreaties, +and consented to go out with her and Mrs. Jennings one morning for +half an hour. She expressly conditioned, however, for paying no +visits, and would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in +Sackville Street, where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation for the +exchange of a few old-fashioned jewels of her mother. + +When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected that there +was a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to call; +and as she had no business at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her +young friends transacted their's, she should pay her visit and return +for them. + +On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found so many people +before them in the room, that there was not a person at liberty to +tend to their orders; and they were obliged to wait. All that could be +done was, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to +promise the quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing +there, and it is probable that Elinor was not without hope of exciting +his politeness to a quicker despatch. But the correctness of his eye, +and the delicacy of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness. He +was giving orders for a toothpick-case for himself, and till its size, +shape, and ornaments were determined, all of which, after examining +and debating for a quarter of an hour over every toothpick-case in the +shop, were finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had no +leisure to bestow any other attention on the two ladies, than what was +comprised in three or four very broad stares; a kind of notice which +served to imprint on Elinor the remembrance of a person and face, of +strong, natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in the first +style of fashion. + +Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of contempt and +resentment, on this impertinent examination of their features, and on +the puppyism of his manner in deciding on all the different horrors of +the different toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by +remaining unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect +her thoughts within herself, and be as ignorant of what was passing +around her, in Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom. + +At last the affair was decided. The ivory, the gold, and the pearls, +all received their appointment, and the gentleman having named the +last day on which his existence could be continued without the +possession of the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely +care, and bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such a +one as seemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off +with a happy air of real conceit and affected indifference. + +Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward, was on the point +of concluding it, when another gentleman presented himself at her +side. She turned her eyes towards his face, and found him with some +surprise to be her brother. + +[Illustration: _Introduced to Mrs. Jennings._] + +Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to make a very +creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop. John Dashwood was really far +from being sorry to see his sisters again; it rather gave them +satisfaction; and his inquiries after their mother were respectful and +attentive. + +Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days. + +"I wished very much to call upon you yesterday," said he, "but it was +impossible, for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild beasts +at Exeter Exchange; and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. +Ferrars. Harry was vastly pleased. _This_ morning I had fully intended +to call on you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour, but one +has always so much to do on first coming to town. I am come here to +bespeak Fanny a seal. But tomorrow I think I shall certainly be able +to call in Berkeley Street, and be introduced to your friend Mrs. +Jennings. I understand she is a woman of very good fortune. And the +Middletons too, you must introduce me to _them_. As my mother-in-law's +relations, I shall be happy to show them every respect. They are +excellent neighbours to you in the country, I understand." + +"Excellent indeed. Their attention to our comfort, their friendliness +in every particular, is more than I can express." + +"I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word; extremely glad indeed. +But so it ought to be; they are people of large fortune, they are +related to you, and every civility and accommodation that can serve to +make your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected. And so you +are most comfortably settled in your little cottage and want for +nothing! Edward brought us a most charming account of the place: the +most complete thing of its kind, he said, that ever was, and you all +seemed to enjoy it beyond any thing. It was a great satisfaction to us +to hear it, I assure you." + +Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother; and was not sorry to +be spared the necessity of answering him, by the arrival of Mrs. +Jennings's servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited for +them at the door. + +Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs. +Jennings at the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of being +able to call on them the next day, took leave. + +[Illustration: _Mrs. Jennings assured him directly that she should not +stand upon ceremony._] + +His visit was duly paid. He came with a pretence at an apology from +their sister-in-law, for not coming too; "but she was so much engaged +with her mother, that really she had no leisure for going any where." +Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly, that she should not +stand upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something like +it, and she should certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood very soon, and +bring her sisters to see her. His manners to _them_, though calm, were +perfectly kind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on +Colonel Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a +curiosity which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be +rich, to be equally civil to _him._ + +After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to walk with him +to Conduit Street, and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton. +The weather was remarkably fine, and she readily consented. As soon as +they were out of the house, his enquiries began. + +"Who is Colonel Brandon? Is he a man of fortune?" + +"Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire." + +"I am glad of it. He seems a most gentlemanlike man; and I think, +Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable +establishment in life." + +"Me, brother! what do you mean?" + +"He likes you. I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it. What +is the amount of his fortune?" + +"I believe about two thousand a year." + +"Two thousand a-year;" and then working himself up to a pitch of +enthusiastic generosity, he added, "Elinor, I wish with all my heart +it were _twice_ as much, for your sake." + +"Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am very sure that +Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying _me._ + +"You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken. A very little +trouble on your side secures him. Perhaps just at present he may be +undecided; the smallness of your fortune may make him hang back; his +friends may all advise him against it. But some of those little +attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give will fix +him, in spite of himself. And there can be no reason why you should +not try for him. It is not to be supposed that any prior attachment on +your side--in short, you know as to an attachment of that kind, it is +quite out of the question, the objections are insurmountable--you have +too much sense not to see all that. Colonel Brandon must be the man; +and no civility shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased with +you and your family. It is a match that must give universal +satisfaction. In short, it is a kind of thing that," lowering his +voice to an important whisper, "will be exceedingly welcome to _all +parties._" Recollecting himself, however, he added, "That is, I mean +to say--your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; +Fanny particularly, for she has your interest very much at heart, I +assure you. And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured +woman, I am sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much +the other day." + +Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer. + +"It would be something remarkable, now," he continued, "something +droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister settling at the +same time. And yet it is not very unlikely." + +"Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution, "going to be +married?" + +"It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation. +He has a most excellent mother. Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost +liberality, will come forward, and settle on him a thousand a year, if +the match takes place. The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter +of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds. A very desirable +connection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its taking place +in time. A thousand a-year is a great deal for a mother to give away, +to make over for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit. To give +you another instance of her liberality:--The other day, as soon as we +came to town, aware that money could not be very plenty with us just +now, she put bank-notes into Fanny's hands to the amount of two +hundred pounds. And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a +great expense while we are here." + +He paused for her assent and compassion; and she forced herself to +say-- + +"Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be +considerable; but your income is a large one." + +"Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose. I do not mean to +complain, however; it is undoubtedly a comfortable one, and I hope +will in time be better. The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying +on, is a most serious drain. And then I have made a little purchase +within this half year; East Kingham Farm, you must remember the place, +where old Gibson used to live. The land was so very desirable for me +in every respect, so immediately adjoining my own property, that I +felt it my duty to buy it. I could not have answered it to my +conscience to let it fall into any other hands. A man must pay for his +convenience; and it _has_ cost me a vast deal of money." + +"More than you think it really and intrinsically worth." + +"Why, I hope not that. I might have sold it again, the next day, for +more than I gave: but, with regard to the purchase-money, I might have +been very unfortunate indeed; for the stocks were at that time so low, +that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's +hands, I must have sold out to very great loss." + +Elinor could only smile. + +"Other great and inevitable expenses too we have had on first coming +to Norland. Our respected father, as you well know, bequeathed all the +Stanhill effects that remained at Norland (and very valuable they +were) to your mother. Far be it from me to repine at his doing so; he +had an undoubted right to dispose of his own property as he chose, +but, in consequence of it, we have been obliged to make large +purchases of linen, china, &c. to supply the place of what was taken +away. You may guess, after all these expenses, how very far we must be +from being rich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's kindness is." + +"Certainly," said Elinor; "and assisted by her liberality, I hope you +may yet live to be in easy circumstances." + +"Another year or two may do much towards it," he gravely replied; "but +however there is still a great deal to be done. There is not a stone +laid of Fanny's green-house, and nothing but the plan of the +flower-garden marked out." + +"Where is the green-house to be?" + +"Upon the knoll behind the house. The old walnut trees are all come +down to make room for it. It will be a very fine object from many +parts of the park, and the flower-garden will slope down just before +it, and be exceedingly pretty. We have cleared away all the old thorns +that grew in patches over the brow." + +Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself; and was very +thankful that Marianne was not present, to share the provocation. + +Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away the +necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters, in +his next visit at Gray's his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he +began to congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings. + +"She seems a most valuable woman indeed--Her house, her style of +living, all bespeak an exceeding good income; and it is an +acquaintance that has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but +in the end may prove materially advantageous. Her inviting you to town +is certainly a vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it speaks +altogether so great a regard for you, that in all probability when she +dies you will not be forgotten. She must have a great deal to leave." + +"Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has only her +jointure, which will descend to her children." + +"But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income. Few +people of common prudence will do _that_; and whatever she saves, she +will be able to dispose of." + +"And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to her +daughters, than to us?" + +"Her daughters are both exceedingly well married, and therefore I +cannot perceive the necessity of her remembering them farther. +Whereas, in my opinion, by her taking so much notice of you, and +treating you in this kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on +her future consideration, which a conscientious woman would not +disregard. Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour; and she can +hardly do all this, without being aware of the expectation it raises." + +"But she raises none in those most concerned. Indeed, brother, your +anxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far." + +"Why, to be sure," said he, seeming to recollect himself, "people have +little, have very little in their power. But, my dear Elinor, what is +the matter with Marianne?--she looks very unwell, has lost her colour, +and is grown quite thin. Is she ill?" + +"She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint on her for several +weeks." + +"I am sorry for that. At her time of life, any thing of an illness +destroys the bloom for ever! Her's has been a very short one! She was +as handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to +attract the man. There was something in her style of beauty, to +please them particularly. I remember Fanny used to say that she would +marry sooner and better than you did; not but what she is exceedingly +fond of _you_, but so it happened to strike her. She will be mistaken, +however. I question whether Marianne _now_, will marry a man worth +more than five or six hundred a-year, at the utmost, and I am very +much deceived if _you_ do not do better. Dorsetshire! I know very +little of Dorsetshire; but, my dear Elinor, I shall be exceedingly +glad to know more of it; and I think I can answer for your having +Fanny and myself among the earliest and best pleased of your +visitors." + +Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no +likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but it was an expectation +of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished, and he was really +resolved on seeking an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the +marriage by every possible attention. He had just compunction enough +for having done nothing for his sisters himself, to be exceedingly +anxious that everybody else should do a great deal; and an offer from +Colonel Brandon, or a legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means +of atoning for his own neglect. + +They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home, and Sir John +came in before their visit ended. Abundance of civilities passed on +all sides. Sir John was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwood +did not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him down as a very +good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton saw enough of fashion in his +appearance to think his acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood +went away delighted with both. + +"I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny," said he, as he +walked back with his sister. "Lady Middleton is really a most elegant +woman! Such a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know. And Mrs. +Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman, though not so elegant +as her daughter. Your sister need not have any scruple even of +visiting _her_, which, to say the truth, has been a little the case, +and very naturally; for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow +of a man who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and Mrs. +Ferrars were both strongly prepossessed, that neither she nor her +daughters were such kind of women as Fanny would like to associate +with. But now I can carry her a most satisfactory account of both." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + +Mrs. John Dashwood had so much confidence in her husband's judgment, +that she waited the very next day both on Mrs. Jennings and her +daughter; and her confidence was rewarded by finding even the former, +even the woman with whom her sisters were staying, by no means +unworthy her notice; and as for Lady Middleton, she found her one of +the most charming women in the world! + +Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs. Dashwood. There was a +kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides, which mutually +attracted them; and they sympathised with each other in an insipid +propriety of demeanor, and a general want of understanding. + +The same manners, however, which recommended Mrs. John Dashwood to the +good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit the fancy of Mrs. +Jennings, and to _her_ she appeared nothing more than a little +proud-looking woman of uncordial address, who met her husband's +sisters without any affection, and almost without having anything to +say to them; for of the quarter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley +Street, she sat at least seven minutes and a half in silence. + +Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did not choose to ask, +whether Edward was then in town; but nothing would have induced Fanny +voluntarily to mention his name before her, till able to tell her that +his marriage with Miss Morton was resolved on, or till her husband's +expectations on Colonel Brandon were answered; because she believed +them still so very much attached to each other, that they could not be +too sedulously divided in word and deed on every occasion. The +intelligence however, which _she_ would not give, soon flowed from +another quarter. Lucy came very shortly to claim Elinor's compassion +on being unable to see Edward, though he had arrived in town with Mr. +and Mrs. Dashwood. He dared not come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear +of detection, and though their mutual impatience to meet, was not to +be told, they could do nothing at present but write. + +Edward assured them himself of his being in town, within a very short +time, by twice calling in Berkeley Street. Twice was his card found on +the table, when they returned from their morning's engagements. Elinor +was pleased that he had called; and still more pleased that she had +missed him. + +The Dashwoods were so prodigiously delighted with the Middletons, +that, though not much in the habit of giving anything, they determined +to give them--a dinner; and soon after their acquaintance began, +invited them to dine in Harley Street, where they had taken a very +good house for three months. Their sisters and Mrs. Jennings were +invited likewise, and John Dashwood was careful to secure Colonel +Brandon, who, always glad to be where the Miss Dashwoods were, +received his eager civilities with some surprise, but much more +pleasure. They were to meet Mrs. Ferrars; but Elinor could not learn +whether her sons were to be of the party. The expectation of seeing +_her_, however, was enough to make her interested in the engagement; +for though she could now meet Edward's mother without that strong +anxiety which had once promised to attend such an introduction, though +she could now see her with perfect indifference as to her opinion of +herself, her desire of being in company with Mrs. Ferrars, her +curiosity to know what she was like, was as lively as ever. + +The interest with which she thus anticipated the party, was soon +afterwards increased, more powerfully than pleasantly, by her hearing +that the Miss Steeles were also to be at it. + +So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton, so +agreeable had their assiduities made them to her, that though Lucy was +certainly not so elegant, and her sister not even genteel, she was as +ready as Sir John to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit +Street; and it happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss +Steeles, as soon as the Dashwoods' invitation was known, that their +visit should begin a few days before the party took place. + +Their claims to the notice of Mrs. John Dashwood, as the nieces of +the gentleman who for many years had had the care of her brother, +might not have done much, however, towards procuring them seats at her +table; but as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; and Lucy, +who had long wanted to be personally known to the family, to have a +nearer view of their characters and her own difficulties, and to have +an opportunity of endeavouring to please them, had seldom been happier +in her life, than she was on receiving Mrs. John Dashwood's card. + +On Elinor its effect was very different. She began immediately to +determine, that Edward who lived with his mother, must be asked as his +mother was, to a party given by his sister; and to see him for the +first time, after all that passed, in the company of Lucy!--she hardly +knew how she could bear it! + +These apprehensions, perhaps, were not founded entirely on reason, and +certainly not at all on truth. They were relieved however, not by her +own recollection, but by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself +to be inflicting a severe disappointment when she told her that Edward +certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday, and even hoped to +be carrying the pain still farther by persuading her that he was kept +away by the extreme affection for herself, which he could not conceal +when they were together. + +The important Tuesday came that was to introduce the two young ladies +to this formidable mother-in-law. + +"Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!" said Lucy, as they walked up the stairs +together--for the Middletons arrived so directly after Mrs. Jennings, +that they all followed the servant at the same time--"There is nobody +here but you, that can feel for me. I declare I can hardly stand. Good +gracious!--In a moment I shall see the person that all my happiness +depends on--that is to be my mother!"-- + +Elinor could have given her immediate relief by suggesting the +possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother, rather than her own, +whom they were about to behold; but instead of doing that, she assured +her, and with great sincerity, that she did pity her--to the utter +amazement of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself, hoped at +least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor. + +Mrs. Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright, even to formality, in +her figure, and serious, even to sourness, in her aspect. Her +complexion was sallow; and her features small, without beauty, and +naturally without expression; but a lucky contraction of the brow had +rescued her countenance from the disgrace of insipidity, by giving it +the strong characters of pride and ill nature. She was not a woman of +many words; for, unlike people in general, she proportioned them to +the number of her ideas; and of the few syllables that did escape her, +not one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed with the +spirited determination of disliking her at all events. + +Elinor could not _now_ be made unhappy by this behaviour. A few months +ago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it was not in Mrs. +Ferrars' power to distress her by it now; and the difference of her +manners to the Miss Steeles, a difference which seemed purposely made +to humble her more, only amused her. She could not but smile to see +the graciousness of both mother and daughter towards the very +person--for Lucy was particularly distinguished--whom of all others, +had they known as much as she did, they would have been most anxious +to mortify; while she herself, who had comparatively no power to wound +them, sat pointedly slighted by both. But while she smiled at a +graciousness so misapplied, she could not reflect on the mean-spirited +folly from which it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions with +which the Miss Steeles courted its continuance, without thoroughly +despising them all four. + +Lucy was all exultation on being so honorably distinguished; and Miss +Steele wanted only to be teased about Dr. Davies to be perfectly +happy. + +The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous, and every +thing bespoke the Mistress's inclination for show, and the Master's +ability to support it. In spite of the improvements and additions +which were making to the Norland estate, and in spite of its owner +having once been within some thousand pounds of being obliged to sell +out at a loss, nothing gave any symptom of that indigence which he had +tried to infer from it; no poverty of any kind, except of +conversation, appeared; but there, the deficiency was considerable. +John Dashwood had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing, +and his wife had still less. But there was no peculiar disgrace in +this; for it was very much the case with the chief of their visitors, +who almost all laboured under one or other of these disqualifications +for being agreeable--Want of sense, either natural or improved--want +of elegance--want of spirits--or want of temper. + +When the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room after dinner, this +poverty was particularly evident, for the gentlemen _had_ supplied the +discourse with some variety--the variety of politics, inclosing land, +and breaking horses--but then it was all over; and one subject only +engaged the ladies till coffee came in, which was the comparative +heights of Harry Dashwood, and Lady Middleton's second son William, +who were nearly of the same age. + +Had both the children been there, the affair might have been +determined too easily by measuring them at once; but as Harry only was +present, it was all conjectural assertion on both sides; and every +body had a right to be equally positive in their opinion, and to +repeat it over and over again as often as they liked. + +The parties stood thus:-- + +The two mothers, though each really convinced that her own son was the +tallest, politely decided in favour of the other. The two +grandmothers, with not less partiality, but more sincerity, were +equally earnest in support of their own descendant. + +Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent than the other, +thought the boys were both remarkably tall for their age, and could +not conceive that there could be the smallest difference in the world +between them; and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it, as +fast as she could, in favour of each. + +Elinor, having once delivered her opinion on William's side, by which +she offended Mrs. Ferrars and Fanny still more, did not see the +necessity of enforcing it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when +called on for her's, offended them all, by declaring that she had no +opinion to give, as she had never thought about it. + +Before her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted a very pretty +pair of screens for her sister-in-law, which being now just mounted +and brought home, ornamented her present drawing room; and these +screens, catching the eye of John Dashwood on his following the other +gentlemen into the room, were officiously handed by him to Colonel +Brandon for his admiration. + +"These are done by my eldest sister," said he; "and you, as a man of +taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them. I do not know whether +you have ever happened to see any of her performances before, but she +is in general reckoned to draw extremely well." + +The Colonel, though disclaiming all pretensions to connoisseurship, +warmly admired the screens, as he would have done any thing painted by +Miss Dashwood; and on the curiosity of the others being of course +excited, they were handed round for general inspection. Mrs. Ferrars, +not aware of their being Elinor's work, particularly requested to look +at them; and after they had received gratifying testimony of Lady +Middleton's approbation, Fanny presented them to her mother, +considerately informing her, at the same time, that they were done by +Miss Dashwood. + +"Hum"--said Mrs. Ferrars--"very pretty,"--and without regarding them +at all, returned them to her daughter. + +Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother had been quite rude +enough,--for, colouring a little, she immediately said-- + +"They are very pretty, ma'am--an't they?" But then again, the dread of +having been too civil, too encouraging herself, probably came over +her, for she presently added, "Do you not think they are something in +Miss Morton's style of painting, Ma'am?--She _does_ paint most +delightfully!--How beautifully her last landscape is done!" + +"Beautifully indeed! But _she_ does every thing well." + +Marianne could not bear this. She was already greatly displeased with +Mrs. Ferrars; and such ill-timed praise of another, at Elinor's +expense, though she had not any notion of what was principally meant +by it, provoked her immediately to say with warmth-- + +"This is admiration of a very particular kind! what is Miss Morton to +us? who knows, or who cares, for her?--it is Elinor of whom _we_ think +and speak." + +And so saying, she took the screens out of her sister-in-law's hands, +to admire them herself as they ought to be admired. + +[Illustration: _Mrs. Ferrars._] + +Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing herself up more +stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort this bitter philippic, "Miss +Morton is Lord Morton's daughter." + +Fanny looked very angry too, and her husband was all in a fright at +his sister's audacity. Elinor was much more hurt by Marianne's warmth +than she had been by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as +they were fixed on Marianne, declared that he noticed only what was +amiable in it, the affectionate heart which could not bear to see a +sister slighted in the smallest point. + +Marianne's feelings did not stop here. The cold insolence of Mrs. +Ferrars's general behaviour to her sister, seemed, to her, to foretell +such difficulties and distresses to Elinor, as her own wounded heart +taught her to think of with horror; and urged by a strong impulse of +affectionate sensibility, she moved after a moment, to her sister's +chair, and putting one arm round her neck, and one cheek close to +hers, said in a low, but eager, voice-- + +"Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them. Don't let them make _you_ +unhappy." + +She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome, and hiding her +face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst into tears. Every body's +attention was called, and almost every body was concerned. Colonel +Brandon rose up and went to them without knowing what he did. Mrs. +Jennings, with a very intelligent "Ah! poor dear," immediately gave +her her salts; and Sir John felt so desperately enraged against the +author of this nervous distress, that he instantly changed his seat to +one close by Lucy Steele, and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account +of the whole shocking affair. + +In a few minutes, however, Marianne was recovered enough to put an end +to the bustle, and sit down among the rest; though her spirits +retained the impression of what had passed, the whole evening. + +"Poor Marianne!" said her brother to Colonel Brandon, in a low voice, +as soon as he could secure his attention: "She has not such good +health as her sister,--she is very nervous,--she has not Elinor's +constitution;--and one must allow that there is something very trying +to a young woman who _has been_ a beauty in the loss of her personal +attractions. You would not think it perhaps, but Marianne _was_ +remarkably handsome a few months ago; quite as handsome as Elinor. Now +you see it is all gone." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + +Elinor's curiosity to see Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied. She had found in +her every thing that could tend to make a farther connection between +the families undesirable. She had seen enough of her pride, her +meanness, and her determined prejudice against herself, to comprehend +all the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement, and +retarded the marriage, of Edward and herself, had he been otherwise +free;--and she had seen almost enough to be thankful for her _own_ +sake, that one greater obstacle preserved her from suffering under any +other of Mrs. Ferrars's creation, preserved her from all dependence +upon her caprice, or any solicitude for her good opinion. Or at least, +if she did not bring herself quite to rejoice in Edward's being +fettered to Lucy, she determined, that had Lucy been more amiable, she +_ought_ to have rejoiced. + +She wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so very much elevated by the +civility of Mrs. Ferrars;--that her interest and her vanity should so +very much blind her as to make the attention which seemed only paid +her because she was _not Elinor_ appear a compliment to herself--or to +allow her to derive encouragement from a preference only given her, +because her real situation was unknown. But that it was so, had not +only been declared by Lucy's eyes at the time, but was declared over +again the next morning more openly, for at her particular desire, Lady +Middleton set her down in Berkeley Street on the chance of seeing +Elinor alone, to tell her how happy she was. + +The chance proved a lucky one, for a message from Mrs. Palmer soon +after she arrived, carried Mrs. Jennings away. + +"My dear friend," cried Lucy, as soon as they were by themselves, "I +come to talk to you of my happiness. Could anything be so flattering +as Mrs. Ferrars's way of treating me yesterday? So exceeding affable +as she was! You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her; but the +very moment I was introduced, there was such an affability in her +behaviour as really should seem to say, she had quite took a fancy to +me. Now was not it so? You saw it all; and was not you quite struck +with it?" + +"She was certainly very civil to you." + +"Civil!--Did you see nothing but only civility?--I saw a vast deal +more. Such kindness as fell to the share of nobody but me!--No pride, +no hauteur, and your sister just the same--all sweetness and +affability!" + +Elinor wished to talk of something else, but Lucy still pressed her to +own that she had reason for her happiness; and Elinor was obliged to +go on. + +"Undoubtedly, if they had known your engagement," said she, "nothing +could be more flattering than their treatment of you;--but as that was +not the case--" + +"I guessed you would say so," replied Lucy quickly--"but there was no +reason in the world why Mrs. Ferrars should seem to like me, if she +did not, and her liking me is every thing. You shan't talk me out of +my satisfaction. I am sure it will all end well, and there will be no +difficulties at all, to what I used to think. Mrs. Ferrars is a +charming woman, and so is your sister. They are both delightful women, +indeed!--I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeable Mrs. +Dashwood was!" + +To this Elinor had no answer to make, and did not attempt any. + +"Are you ill, Miss Dashwood?--you seem low--you don't speak;--sure you +an't well." + +"I never was in better health." + +"I am glad of it with all my heart; but really you did not look it. I +should be sorry to have _you_ ill; you, that have been the greatest +comfort to me in the world!--Heaven knows what I should have done +without your friendship."-- + +Elinor tried to make a civil answer, though doubting her own success. +But it seemed to satisfy Lucy, for she directly replied-- + +"Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard for me, and next to +Edward's love, it is the greatest comfort I have. Poor Edward!--But +now there is one good thing, we shall be able to meet, and meet pretty +often, for Lady Middleton's delighted with Mrs. Dashwood, so we shall +be a good deal in Harley Street, I dare say, and Edward spends half +his time with his sister--besides, Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars +will visit now;--and Mrs. Ferrars and your sister were both so good +to say more than once, they should always be glad to see me. They are +such charming women!--I am sure if ever you tell your sister what I +think of her, you cannot speak too high." + +But Elinor would not give her any encouragement to hope that she +_should_ tell her sister. Lucy continued. + +"I am sure I should have seen it in a moment, if Mrs. Ferrars had took +a dislike to me. If she had only made me a formal courtesy, for +instance, without saying a word, and never after had took any notice +of me, and never looked at me in a pleasant way--you know what I +mean--if I had been treated in that forbidding sort of way, I should +have gave it all up in despair. I could not have stood it. For where +she _does_ dislike, I know it is most violent." + +Elinor was prevented from making any reply to this civil triumph, by +the door's being thrown open, the servant's announcing Mr. Ferrars, +and Edward's immediately walking in. + +It was a very awkward moment; and the countenance of each showed that +it was so. They all looked exceedingly foolish; and Edward seemed to +have as great an inclination to walk out of the room again, as to +advance farther into it. The very circumstance, in its unpleasantest +form, which they would each have been most anxious to avoid, had +fallen on them. They were not only all three together, but were +together without the relief of any other person. The ladies recovered +themselves first. It was not Lucy's business to put herself forward, +and the appearance of secrecy must still be kept up. She could +therefore only _look_ her tenderness, and after slightly addressing +him, said no more. + +But Elinor had more to do; and so anxious was she, for his sake and +her own, to do it well, that she forced herself, after a moment's +recollection, to welcome him, with a look and manner that were almost +easy, and almost open; and another struggle, another effort still +improved them. She would not allow the presence of Lucy, nor the +consciousness of some injustice towards herself, to deter her from +saying that she was happy to see him, and that she had very much +regretted being from home, when he called before in Berkeley Street. +She would not be frightened from paying him those attentions which, as +a friend and almost a relation, were his due, by the observant eyes +of Lucy, though she soon perceived them to be narrowly watching her. + +Her manners gave some re-assurance to Edward, and he had courage +enough to sit down; but his embarrassment still exceeded that of the +ladies in a proportion, which the case rendered reasonable, though his +sex might make it rare; for his heart had not the indifference of +Lucy's, nor could his conscience have quite the ease of Elinor's. + +Lucy, with a demure and settled air, seemed determined to make no +contribution to the comfort of the others, and would not say a word; +and almost every thing that _was_ said, proceeded from Elinor, who was +obliged to volunteer all the information about her mother's health, +their coming to town, &c. which Edward ought to have inquired about, +but never did. + +Her exertions did not stop here; for she soon afterwards felt herself +so heroically disposed as to determine, under pretence of fetching +Marianne, to leave the others by themselves; and she really did it, +and _that_ in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away several +minutes on the landing-place, with the most high-minded fortitude, +before she went to her sister. When that was once done, however, it +was time for the raptures of Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy +hurried her into the drawing-room immediately. Her pleasure in seeing +him was like every other of her feelings, strong in itself, and +strongly spoken. She met him with a hand that would be taken, and a +voice that expressed the affection of a sister. + +"Dear Edward!" she cried, "this is a moment of great happiness!--This +would almost make amends for every thing?" + +Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved, but before such +witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt. Again they all +sat down, and for a moment or two all were silent; while Marianne was +looking with the most speaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and +sometimes at Elinor, regretting only that their delight in each other +should be checked by Lucy's unwelcome presence. Edward was the first +to speak, and it was to notice Marianne's altered looks, and express +his fear of her not finding London agree with her. + +"Oh, don't think of me!" she replied with spirited earnestness, though +her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke, "don't think of _my_ +health. Elinor is well, you see. That must be enough for us both." + +This remark was not calculated to make Edward or Elinor more easy, nor +to conciliate the good will of Lucy, who looked up at Marianne with no +very benignant expression. + +"Do you like London?" said Edward, willing to say any thing that might +introduce another subject. + +"Not at all. I expected much pleasure in it, but I have found none. +The sight of you, Edward, is the only comfort it has afforded; and +thank Heaven! you are what you always were!" + +She paused--no one spoke. + +"I think, Elinor," she presently added, "we must employ Edward to take +care of us in our return to Barton. In a week or two, I suppose, we +shall be going; and, I trust, Edward will not be very unwilling to +accept the charge." + +Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was, nobody knew, not even +himself. But Marianne, who saw his agitation, and could easily trace +it to whatever cause best pleased herself, was perfectly satisfied, +and soon talked of something else. + +"We spent such a day, Edward, in Harley Street yesterday! So dull, so +wretchedly dull!--But I have much to say to you on that head, which +cannot be said now." + +And with this admirable discretion did she defer the assurance of her +finding their mutual relatives more disagreeable than ever, and of her +being particularly disgusted with his mother, till they were more in +private. + +"But why were you not there, Edward?--Why did you not come?" + +"I was engaged elsewhere." + +"Engaged! But what was that, when such friends were to be met?" + +"Perhaps, Miss Marianne," cried Lucy, eager to take some revenge on +her, "you think young men never stand upon engagements, if they have +no mind to keep them, little as well as great." + +Elinor was very angry, but Marianne seemed entirely insensible of the +sting; for she calmly replied-- + +"Not so, indeed; for, seriously speaking, I am very sure that +conscience only kept Edward from Harley Street. And I really believe +he _has_ the most delicate conscience in the world; the most +scrupulous in performing every engagement, however minute, and however +it may make against his interest or pleasure. He is the most fearful +of giving pain, of wounding expectation, and the most incapable of +being selfish, of any body I ever saw. Edward, it is so, and I will +say it. What! are you never to hear yourself praised!--Then you must +be no friend of mine; for those who will accept of my love and esteem, +must submit to my open commendation." + +The nature of her commendation, in the present case, however, happened +to be particularly ill-suited to the feelings of two thirds of her +auditors, and was so very unexhilarating to Edward, that he very soon +got up to go away. + +"Going so soon!" said Marianne; "my dear Edward, this must not be." + +And drawing him a little aside, she whispered her persuasion that Lucy +could not stay much longer. But even this encouragement failed, for he +would go; and Lucy, who would have outstayed him, had his visit lasted +two hours, soon afterwards went away. + +"What can bring her here so often?" said Marianne, on her leaving +them. "Could not she see that we wanted her gone!--how teasing to +Edward!" + +"Why so?--we were all his friends, and Lucy has been the longest known +to him of any. It is but natural that he should like to see her as +well as ourselves." + +Marianne looked at her steadily, and said, "You know, Elinor, that +this is a kind of talking which I cannot bear. If you only hope to +have your assertion contradicted, as I must suppose to be the case, +you ought to recollect that I am the last person in the world to do +it. I cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances, that are not +really wanted." + +She then left the room; and Elinor dared not follow her to say more, +for bound as she was by her promise of secrecy to Lucy, she could give +no information that would convince Marianne; and painful as the +consequences of her still continuing in an error might be, she was +obliged to submit to it. All that she could hope, was that Edward +would not often expose her or himself to the distress of hearing +Marianne's mistaken warmth, nor to the repetition of any other part of +the pain that had attended their recent meeting--and this she had +every reason to expect. + +[Illustration: _Drawing him a little aside._] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + +Within a few days after this meeting, the newspapers announced to the +world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer, Esq. was safely delivered of a +son and heir; a very interesting and satisfactory paragraph, at least +to all those intimate connections who knew it before. + +This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness, produced a +temporary alteration in the disposal of her time, and influenced, in a +like degree, the engagements of her young friends; for as she wished +to be as much as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every +morning as soon as she was dressed, and did not return till late in +the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at the particular request of the +Middletons, spent the whole of every day, in Conduit Street. For their +own comfort they would much rather have remained, at least all the +morning, in Mrs. Jennings's house; but it was not a thing to be urged +against the wishes of everybody. Their hours were therefore made over +to Lady Middleton and the two Miss Steeles, by whom their company, in +fact was as little valued, as it was professedly sought. + +They had too much sense to be desirable companions to the former; and +by the latter they were considered with a jealous eye, as intruding on +_their_ ground, and sharing the kindness which they wanted to +monopolize. Though nothing could be more polite than Lady Middleton's +behaviour to Elinor and Marianne, she did not really like them at all. +Because they neither flattered herself nor her children, she could not +believe them good-natured; and because they were fond of reading, she +fancied them satirical: perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to +be satirical; but _that_ did not signify. It was censure in common +use, and easily given. + +Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy. It checked the +idleness of one, and the business of the other. Lady Middleton was +ashamed of doing nothing before them, and the flattery which Lucy was +proud to think of and administer at other times, she feared they would +despise her for offering. Miss Steele was the least discomposed of the +three, by their presence; and it was in their power to reconcile her +to it entirely. Would either of them only have given her a full and +minute account of the whole affair between Marianne and Mr. +Willoughby, she would have thought herself amply rewarded for the +sacrifice of the best place by the fire after dinner, which their +arrival occasioned. But this conciliation was not granted; for though +she often threw out expressions of pity for her sister to Elinor, and +more than once dropt a reflection on the inconstancy of beaux before +Marianne, no effect was produced, but a look of indifference from the +former, or of disgust in the latter. An effort even yet lighter might +have made her their friend. Would they only have laughed at her about +the Doctor! But so little were they, anymore than the others, inclined +to oblige her, that if Sir John dined from home, she might spend a +whole day without hearing any other raillery on the subject, than what +she was kind enough to bestow on herself. + +All these jealousies and discontents, however, were so totally +unsuspected by Mrs. Jennings, that she thought it a delightful thing +for the girls to be together; and generally congratulated her young +friends every night, on having escaped the company of a stupid old +woman so long. She joined them sometimes at Sir John's, sometimes at +her own house; but wherever it was, she always came in excellent +spirits, full of delight and importance, attributing Charlotte's well +doing to her own care, and ready to give so exact, so minute a detail +of her situation, as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desire. +One thing _did_ disturb her; and of that she made her daily complaint. +Mr. Palmer maintained the common, but unfatherly opinion among his +sex, of all infants being alike; and though she could plainly +perceive, at different times, the most striking resemblance between +this baby and every one of his relations on both sides, there was no +convincing his father of it; no persuading him to believe that it was +not exactly like every other baby of the same age; nor could he even +be brought to acknowledge the simple proposition of its being the +finest child in the world. + +I come now to the relation of a misfortune, which about this time +befell Mrs. John Dashwood. It so happened that while her two sisters +with Mrs. Jennings were first calling on her in Harley Street, another +of her acquaintance had dropt in--a circumstance in itself not +apparently likely to produce evil to her. But while the imaginations +of other people will carry them away to form wrong judgments of our +conduct, and to decide on it by slight appearances, one's happiness +must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance. In the present +instance, this last-arrived lady allowed her fancy to so far outrun +truth and probability, that on merely hearing the name of the Miss +Dashwoods, and understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters, she +immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Street; and this +misconstruction produced within a day or two afterwards, cards of +invitation for them as well as for their brother and sister, to a +small musical party at her house. The consequence of which was, that +Mrs. John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only to the exceedingly +great inconvenience of sending her carriage for the Miss Dashwoods, +but, what was still worse, must be subject to all the unpleasantness +of appearing to treat them with attention: and who could tell that +they might not expect to go out with her a second time? The power of +disappointing them, it was true, must always be her's. But that was +not enough; for when people are determined on a mode of conduct which +they know to be wrong, they feel injured by the expectation of any +thing better from them. + +Marianne had now been brought by degrees, so much into the habit of +going out every day, that it was become a matter of indifference to +her, whether she went or not: and she prepared quietly and +mechanically for every evening's engagement, though without expecting +the smallest amusement from any, and very often without knowing, till +the last moment, where it was to take her. + +To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly indifferent, as +not to bestow half the consideration on it, during the whole of her +toilet, which it received from Miss Steele in the first five minutes +of their being together, when it was finished. Nothing escaped _her_ +minute observation and general curiosity; she saw every thing, and +asked every thing; was never easy till she knew the price of every +part of Marianne's dress; could have guessed the number of her gowns +altogether with better judgment than Marianne herself, and was not +without hopes of finding out before they parted, how much her washing +cost per week, and how much she had every year to spend upon herself. +The impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover, was generally +concluded with a compliment, which though meant as its douceur, was +considered by Marianne as the greatest impertinence of all; for after +undergoing an examination into the value and make of her gown, the +colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair, she was almost +sure of being told that upon "her word she looked vastly smart, and +she dared to say she would make a great many conquests." + +With such encouragement as this, was she dismissed on the present +occasion, to her brother's carriage; which they were ready to enter +five minutes after it stopped at the door, a punctuality not very +agreeable to their sister-in-law, who had preceded them to the house +of her acquaintance, and was there hoping for some delay on their part +that might inconvenience either herself or her coachman. + +The events of this evening were not very remarkable. The party, like +other musical parties, comprehended a great many people who had real +taste for the performance, and a great many more who had none at all; +and the performers themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation, +and that of their immediate friends, the first private performers in +England. + +As Elinor was neither musical, nor affecting to be so, she made no +scruple of turning her eyes from the grand pianoforte, whenever it +suited her, and unrestrained even by the presence of a harp, and +violoncello, would fix them at pleasure on any other object in the +room. In one of these excursive glances she perceived among a group of +young men, the very he, who had given them a lecture on +toothpick-cases at Gray's. She perceived him soon afterwards looking +at herself, and speaking familiarly to her brother; and had just +determined to find out his name from the latter, when they both came +towards her, and Mr. Dashwood introduced him to her as Mr. Robert +Ferrars. + +He addressed her with easy civility, and twisted his head into a bow +which assured her as plainly as words could have done, that he was +exactly the coxcomb she had heard him described to be by Lucy. Happy +had it been for her, if her regard for Edward had depended less on his +own merit, than on the merit of his nearest relations! For then his +brother's bow must have given the finishing stroke to what the +ill-humour of his mother and sister would have begun. But while she +wondered at the difference of the two young men, she did not find that +the emptiness of conceit of the one, put her out of all charity with +the modesty and worth of the other. Why they _were_ different, Robert +exclaimed to her himself in the course of a quarter of an hour's +conversation; for, talking of his brother, and lamenting the extreme +_gaucherie_ which he really believed kept him from mixing in proper +society, he candidly and generously attributed it much less to any +natural deficiency, than to the misfortune of a private education; +while he himself, though probably without any particular, any material +superiority by nature, merely from the advantage of a public school, +was as well fitted to mix in the world as any other man. + +"Upon my soul," he added, "I believe it is nothing more; and so I +often tell my mother, when she is grieving about it. 'My dear Madam,' +I always say to her, 'you must make yourself easy. The evil is now +irremediable, and it has been entirely your own doing. Why would you +be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, against your own judgment, to +place Edward under private tuition, at the most critical time of his +life? If you had only sent him to Westminster as well as myself, +instead of sending him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would have been +prevented.' This is the way in which I always consider the matter, and +my mother is perfectly convinced of her error." + +Elinor would not oppose his opinion, because, whatever might be her +general estimation of the advantage of a public school, she could not +think of Edward's abode in Mr. Pratt's family, with any satisfaction. + +"You reside in Devonshire, I think,"--was his next observation, "in a +cottage near Dawlish." + +Elinor set him right as to its situation; and it seemed rather +surprising to him that anybody could live in Devonshire, without +living near Dawlish. He bestowed his hearty approbation however on +their species of house. + +"For my own part," said he, "I am excessively fond of a cottage; there +is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them. And I protest, +if I had any money to spare, I should buy a little land and build one +myself, within a short distance of London, where I might drive myself +down at any time, and collect a few friends about me, and be happy. I +advise every body who is going to build, to build a cottage. My friend +Lord Courtland came to me the other day on purpose to ask my advice, +and laid before me three different plans of Bonomi's. I was to decide +on the best of them. 'My dear Courtland,' said I, immediately throwing +them all into the fire, 'do not adopt either of them, but by all means +build a cottage.' And that I fancy, will be the end of it. + +"Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations, no space in +a cottage; but this is all a mistake. I was last month at my friend +Elliott's, near Dartford. Lady Elliott wished to give a dance. 'But +how can it be done?' said she; 'my dear Ferrars, do tell me how it is +to be managed. There is not a room in this cottage that will hold ten +couple, and where can the supper be?' I immediately saw that there +could be no difficulty in it, so I said, 'My dear Lady Elliott, do not +be uneasy. The dining parlour will admit eighteen couple with ease; +card-tables may be placed in the drawing-room; the library may be open +for tea and other refreshments; and let the supper be set out in the +saloon.' Lady Elliott was delighted with the thought. We measured the +dining-room, and found it would hold exactly eighteen couple, and the +affair was arranged precisely after my plan. So that, in fact, you +see, if people do but know how to set about it, every comfort may be +as well enjoyed in a cottage as in the most spacious dwelling." + +Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the +compliment of rational opposition. + +As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his eldest sister, +his mind was equally at liberty to fix on any thing else; and a +thought struck him during the evening, which he communicated to his +wife, for her approbation, when they got home. The consideration of +Mrs. Dennison's mistake, in supposing his sisters their guests, had +suggested the propriety of their being really invited to become such, +while Mrs. Jennings's engagements kept her from home. The expense +would be nothing, the inconvenience not more; and it was altogether an +attention which the delicacy of his conscience pointed out to be +requisite to its complete enfranchisement from his promise to his +father. Fanny was startled at the proposal. + +"I do not see how it can be done," said she, "without affronting Lady +Middleton, for they spend every day with her; otherwise I should be +exceedingly glad to do it. You know I am always ready to pay them any +attention in my power, as my taking them out this evening shows. But +they are Lady Middleton's visitors. How can I ask them away from her?" + +Her husband, but with great humility, did not see the force of her +objection. "They had already spent a week in this manner in Conduit +Street, and Lady Middleton could not be displeased at their giving the +same number of days to such near relations." + +Fanny paused a moment, and then, with fresh vigor, said-- + +"My love I would ask them with all my heart, if it was in my power. +But I had just settled within myself to ask the Miss Steeles to spend +a few days with us. They are very well behaved, good kind of girls; +and I think the attention is due to them, as their uncle did so very +well by Edward. We can ask your sisters some other year, you know; but +the Miss Steeles may not be in town any more. I am sure you will like +them; indeed, you _do_ like them, you know, very much already, and so +does my mother; and they are such favourites with Harry!" + +Mr. Dashwood was convinced. He saw the necessity of inviting the Miss +Steeles immediately, and his conscience was pacified by the resolution +of inviting his sisters another year; at the same time, however, slyly +suspecting that another year would make the invitation needless, by +bringing Elinor to town as Colonel Brandon's wife, and Marianne as +_their_ visitor. + +Fanny, rejoicing in her escape, and proud of the ready wit that had +procured it, wrote the next morning to Lucy, to request her company +and her sister's, for some days, in Harley Street, as soon as Lady +Middleton could spare them. This was enough to make Lucy really and +reasonably happy. Mrs. Dashwood seemed actually working for her, +herself; cherishing all her hopes, and promoting all her views! Such +an opportunity of being with Edward and his family was, above all +things, the most material to her interest, and such an invitation the +most gratifying to her feelings! It was an advantage that could not +be too gratefully acknowledged, nor too speedily made use of; and the +visit to Lady Middleton, which had not before had any precise limits, +was instantly discovered to have been always meant to end in two days' +time. + +When the note was shown to Elinor, as it was within ten minutes after +its arrival, it gave her, for the first time, some share in the +expectations of Lucy; for such a mark of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed +on so short an acquaintance, seemed to declare that the good-will +towards her arose from something more than merely malice against +herself; and might be brought, by time and address, to do every thing +that Lucy wished. Her flattery had already subdued the pride of Lady +Middleton, and made an entry into the close heart of Mrs. John +Dashwood; and these were effects that laid open the probability of +greater. + +The Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street, and all that reached Elinor +of their influence there, strengthened her expectation of the event. +Sir John, who called on them more than once, brought home such +accounts of the favour they were in, as must be universally striking. +Mrs. Dashwood had never been so much pleased with any young women in +her life, as she was with them; had given each of them a needle book +made by some emigrant; called Lucy by her Christian name; and did not +know whether she should ever be able to part with them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + + +Mrs. Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight, that her mother +felt it no longer necessary to give up the whole of her time to her; +and, contenting herself with visiting her once or twice a day, +returned from that period to her own home, and her own habits, in +which she found the Miss Dashwoods very ready to resume their former +share. + +About the third or fourth morning after their being thus resettled in +Berkeley Street, Mrs. Jennings, on returning from her ordinary visit +to Mrs. Palmer, entered the drawing-room, where Elinor was sitting by +herself, with an air of such hurrying importance as prepared her to +hear something wonderful; and giving her time only to form that idea, +began directly to justify it, by saying-- + +"Lord! my dear Miss Dashwood! have you heard the news?" + +"No, ma'am. What is it?" + +"Something so strange! But you shall hear it all. When I got to Mr. +Palmer's, I found Charlotte quite in a fuss about the child. She was +sure it was very ill--it cried, and fretted, and was all over pimples. +So I looked at it directly, and, 'Lord! my dear,' says I, 'it is +nothing in the world, but the red gum--' and nurse said just the same. +But Charlotte, she would not be satisfied, so Mr. Donavan was sent +for; and luckily he happened to just come in from Harley Street, so he +stepped over directly, and as soon as ever he saw the child, he said +just as we did, that it was nothing in the world but the red gum, and +then Charlotte was easy. And so, just as he was going away again, it +came into my head, I am sure I do not know how I happened to think of +it, but it came into my head to ask him if there was any news. So upon +that, he smirked, and simpered, and looked grave, and seemed to know +something or other, and at last he said in a whisper, 'For fear any +unpleasant report should reach the young ladies under your care as to +their sister's indisposition, I think it advisable to say, that I +believe there is no great reason for alarm; I hope Mrs. Dashwood will +do very well.'" + +"What! is Fanny ill?" + +[Illustration: _In a whisper._] + +"That is exactly what I said, my dear. 'Lord!' says I, 'is Mrs. +Dashwood ill?' So then it all came out; and the long and the short of +the matter, by all I can learn, seems to be this. Mr. Edward Ferrars, +the very young man I used to joke with you about (but however, as it +turns out, I am monstrous glad there was never any thing in it), Mr. +Edward Ferrars, it seems, has been engaged above this twelvemonth to +my cousin Lucy! There's for you, my dear! And not a creature knowing a +syllable of the matter, except Nancy! Could you have believed such a +thing possible? There is no great wonder in their liking one another; +but that matters should be brought so forward between them, and nobody +suspect it! _That_ is strange! I never happened to see them together, +or I am sure I should have found it out directly. Well, and so this +was kept a great secret, for fear of Mrs. Ferrars, and neither she nor +your brother or sister suspected a word of the matter: till this very +morning, poor Nancy, who, you know, is a well-meaning creature, but no +conjurer, popt it all out. 'Lord!' thinks she to herself, 'they are +all so fond of Lucy, to be sure they will make no difficulty about +it;' and so, away she went to your sister, who was sitting all alone +at her carpet-work, little suspecting what was to come--for she had +just been saying to your brother, only five minutes before, that she +thought to make a match between Edward and some Lord's daughter or +other, I forget who. So you may think what a blow it was to all her +vanity and pride. She fell into violent hysterics immediately, with +such screams as reached your brother's ears, as he was sitting in his +own dressing-room down stairs, thinking about writing a letter to his +steward in the country. So up he flew directly, and a terrible scene +took place, for Lucy was come to them by that time, little dreaming +what was going on. Poor soul! I pity _her._ And I must say, I think +she was used very hardly; for your sister scolded like any fury, and +soon drove her into a fainting fit. Nancy, she fell upon her knees, +and cried bitterly; and your brother, he walked about the room, and +said he did not know what to do. Mrs. Dashwood declared they should +not stay a minute longer in the house, and your brother was forced to +go down upon _his_ knees too, to persuade her to let them stay till +they had packed up their clothes. _Then_ she fell into hysterics +again, and he was so frightened that he would send for Mr. Donavan, +and Mr. Donavan found the house in all this uproar. The carriage was +at the door ready to take my poor cousins away, and they were just +stepping in as he came off; poor Lucy in such a condition, he says, +she could hardly walk; and Nancy, she was almost as bad. I declare, I +have no patience with your sister; and I hope, with all my heart, it +will be a match in spite of her. Lord! what a taking poor Mr. Edward +will be in when he hears of it! To have his love used so scornfully! +for they say he is monstrous fond of her, as well he may. I should not +wonder, if he was to be in the greatest passion!--and Mr. Donavan +thinks just the same. He and I had a great deal of talk about it; and +the best of all is, that he is gone back again to Harley Street, that +he may be within call when Mrs. Ferrars is told of it, for she was +sent for as soon as ever my cousins left the house, for your sister +was sure _she_ would be in hysterics too; and so she may, for what I +care. I have no pity for either of them. I have no notion of people's +making such a to-do about money and greatness. There is no reason on +earth why Mr. Edward and Lucy should not marry; for I am sure Mrs. +Ferrars may afford to do very well by her son, and though Lucy has +next to nothing herself, she knows better than any body how to make +the most of every thing; I dare say, if Mrs. Ferrars would only allow +him five hundred a-year, she would make as good an appearance with it +as any body else would with eight. Lord! how snug they might live in +such another cottage as yours--or a little bigger--with two maids, and +two men; and I believe I could help them to a housemaid, for my Betty +has a sister out of place, that would fit them exactly." + +Here Mrs. Jennings ceased, and as Elinor had had time enough to +collect her thoughts, she was able to give such an answer, and make +such observations, as the subject might naturally be supposed to +produce. Happy to find that she was not suspected of any extraordinary +interest in it; that Mrs. Jennings (as she had of late often hoped +might be the case) had ceased to imagine her at all attached to +Edward; and happy above all the rest, in the absence of Marianne, she +felt very well able to speak of the affair without embarrassment, and +to give her judgment, as she believed, with impartiality on the +conduct of every one concerned in it. + +She could hardly determine what her own expectation of its event +really was; though she earnestly tried to drive away the notion of its +being possible to end otherwise at last, than in the marriage of +Edward and Lucy. What Mrs. Ferrars would say and do, though there +could not be a doubt of its nature, she was anxious to hear; and still +more anxious to know how Edward would conduct himself. For _him_ she +felt much compassion;--for Lucy very little--and it cost her some +pains to procure that little;--for the rest of the party none at all. + +As Mrs. Jennings could talk on no other subject, Elinor soon saw the +necessity of preparing Marianne for its discussion. No time was to be +lost in undeceiving her, in making her acquainted with the real truth, +and in endeavouring to bring her to hear it talked of by others, +without betraying that she felt any uneasiness for her sister, or any +resentment against Edward. + +Elinor's office was a painful one. She was going to remove what she +really believed to be her sister's chief consolation,--to give such +particulars of Edward as she feared would ruin him for ever in her +good opinion,-and to make Marianne, by a resemblance in their +situations, which to _her_ fancy would seem strong, feel all her own +disappointment over again. But unwelcome as such a task must be, it +was necessary to be done, and Elinor therefore hastened to perform it. + +She was very far from wishing to dwell on her own feelings, or to +represent herself as suffering much, any otherwise than as the +self-command she had practised since her first knowledge of Edward's +engagement, might suggest a hint of what was practicable to Marianne. +Her narration was clear and simple; and though it could not be given +without emotion, it was not accompanied by violent agitation, nor +impetuous grief. _That_ belonged rather to the hearer, for Marianne +listened with horror, and cried excessively. Elinor was to be the +comforter of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs; and +all the comfort that could be given by assurances of her own composure +of mind, and a very earnest vindication of Edward from every charge +but of imprudence, was readily offered. + +But Marianne for some time would give credit to neither. Edward seemed +a second Willoughby; and acknowledging as Elinor did, that she _had_ +loved him most sincerely, could she feel less than herself! As for +Lucy Steele, she considered her so totally unamiable, so absolutely +incapable of attaching a sensible man, that she could not be persuaded +at first to believe, and afterwards to pardon, any former affection of +Edward for her. She would not even admit it to have been natural; and +Elinor left her to be convinced that it was so, by that which only +could convince her, a better knowledge of mankind. + +Her first communication had reached no farther than to state the fact +of the engagement, and the length of time it had existed. Marianne's +feelings had then broken in, and put an end to all regularity of +detail; and for some time all that could be done was to soothe her +distress, lessen her alarms, and combat her resentment. The first +question on her side, which led to farther particulars, was-- + +"How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has he written to you?" + +"I have known it these four months. When Lucy first came to Barton +Park last November, she told me in confidence of her engagement." + +At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment which her +lips could not utter. After a pause of wonder, she exclaimed-- + +"Four months!--Have you known of this four months?" + +Elinor confirmed it. + +"What!--while attending me in all my misery, has this been on your +heart?--And I have reproached you for being happy!"-- + +"It was not fit that you should then know how much I was the reverse!" + +"Four months!" cried Marianne again. "So calm! so cheerful! how have +you been supported?" + +"By feeling that I was doing my duty. My promise to Lucy, obliged me +to be secret. I owed it to her, therefore, to avoid giving any hint of +the truth; and I owed it to my family and friends, not to create in +them a solicitude about me, which it could not be in my power to +satisfy." + +Marianne seemed much struck. + +"I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and my mother," added +Elinor; "and once or twice I have attempted it; but without betraying +my trust, I never could have convinced you." + +"Four months! and yet you loved him!" + +"Yes. But I did not love only him;--and while the comfort of others +was dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing how much I felt. +Now, I can think and speak of it with little emotion. I would not have +you suffer on my account; for I assure you I no longer suffer +materially myself. I have many things to support me. I am not +conscious of having provoked the disappointment by any imprudence of +my own, I have borne it as much as possible without spreading it +farther. I acquit Edward of essential misconduct. I wish him very +happy; and I am so sure of his always doing his duty, that though now +he may harbour some regret, in the end he must become so. Lucy does +not want sense, and that is the foundation on which every thing good +may be built. And after all, Marianne, after all that is bewitching in +the idea of a single and constant attachment, and all that can be said +of one's happiness depending entirely on any particular person, it is +not meant--it is not fit--it is not possible that it should be so. +Edward will marry Lucy; he will marry a woman superior in person and +understanding to half her sex; and time and habit will teach him to +forget that he ever thought another superior to _her._" + +"If such is your way of thinking," said Marianne, "if the loss of what +is most valued is so easily to be made up by something else, your +resolution, your self-command, are, perhaps, a little less to be +wondered at. They are brought more within my comprehension." + +"I understand you. You do not suppose that I have ever felt much. For +four months, Marianne, I have had all this hanging on my mind, without +being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature; knowing that it +would make you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained +to you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least. It was told +me,--it was in a manner forced on me by the very person herself, whose +prior engagement ruined all my prospects; and told me, as I thought, +with triumph. This person's suspicions, therefore, I have had to +oppose, by endeavouring to appear indifferent where I have been most +deeply interested;--and it has not been only once;--I have had her +hopes and exultation to listen to again and again. I have known myself +to be divided from Edward for ever, without hearing one circumstance +that could make me less desire the connection. Nothing has proved him +unworthy; nor has anything declared him indifferent to me. I have had +to contend against the unkindness of his sister, and the insolence of +his mother; and have suffered the punishment of an attachment, without +enjoying its advantages. And all this has been going on at a time, +when, as you know too well, it has not been my only unhappiness. If +you can think me capable of ever feeling, surely you may suppose that +I have suffered _now._ The composure of mind with which I have brought +myself at present to consider the matter, the consolation that I have +been willing to admit, have been the effect of constant and painful +exertion; they did not spring up of themselves; they did not occur to +relieve my spirits at first. No, Marianne. _Then_, if I had not been +bound to silence, perhaps nothing could have kept me entirely--not +even what I owed to my dearest friends--from openly showing that I was +_very_ unhappy."-- + +Marianne was quite subdued. + +"Oh! Elinor," she cried, "you have made me hate myself for ever. How +barbarous have I been to you!--you, who have been my only comfort, who +have borne with me in all my misery, who have seemed to be only +suffering for me! Is this my gratitude? Is this the only return I can +make you? Because your merit cries out upon myself, I have been trying +to do it away." + +The tenderest caresses followed this confession. In such a frame of +mind as she was now in, Elinor had no difficulty in obtaining from her +whatever promise she required; and at her request, Marianne engaged +never to speak of the affair to any one with the least appearance of +bitterness;--to meet Lucy without betraying the smallest increase of +dislike to her;--and even to see Edward himself, if chance should +bring them together, without any diminution of her usual cordiality. +These were great concessions;--but where Marianne felt that she had +injured, no reparation could be too much for her to make. + +She performed her promise of being discreet, to admiration. She +attended to all that Mrs. Jennings had to say upon the subject, with +an unchanging complexion, dissented from her in nothing, and was heard +three times to say, "Yes, ma'am."--She listened to her praise of Lucy +with only moving from one chair to another, and when Mrs. Jennings +talked of Edward's affection, it cost her only a spasm in her throat. +Such advances towards heroism in her sister, made Elinor feel equal to +any thing herself. + +The next morning brought a farther trial of it, in a visit from their +brother, who came with a most serious aspect to talk over the dreadful +affair, and bring them news of his wife. + +"You have heard, I suppose," said he with great solemnity, as soon as +he was seated, "of the very shocking discovery that took place under +our roof yesterday." + +They all looked their assent; it seemed too awful a moment for speech. + +[Illustration: "_You have heard, I suppose._"] + +"Your sister," he continued, "has suffered dreadfully. Mrs. Ferrars +too--in short it has been a scene of such complicated distress--but +I will hope that the storm may be weathered without our being any of +us quite overcome. Poor Fanny! she was in hysterics all yesterday. But +I would not alarm you too much. Donavan says there is nothing +materially to be apprehended; her constitution is a good one, and her +resolution equal to any thing. She has borne it all, with the +fortitude of an angel! She says she never shall think well of anybody +again; and one cannot wonder at it, after being so deceived!--meeting +with such ingratitude, where so much kindness had been shown, so much +confidence had been placed! It was quite out of the benevolence of her +heart, that she had asked these young women to her house; merely +because she thought they deserved some attention, were harmless, +well-behaved girls, and would be pleasant companions; for otherwise we +both wished very much to have invited you and Marianne to be with us, +while your kind friend there, was attending her daughter. And now to +be so rewarded! 'I wish, with all my heart,' says poor Fanny in her +affectionate way, 'that we had asked your sisters instead of them.'" + +Here he stopped to be thanked; which being done, he went on. + +"What poor Mrs. Ferrars suffered, when first Fanny broke it to her, is +not to be described. While she with the truest affection had been +planning a most eligible connection for him, was it to be supposed +that he could be all the time secretly engaged to another +person!--such a suspicion could never have entered her head! If she +suspected _any_ prepossession elsewhere, it could not be in _that_ +quarter. '_There_ to be sure,' said she, 'I might have thought myself +safe.' She was quite in an agony. We consulted together, however, as +to what should be done, and at last she determined to send for Edward. +He came. But I am sorry to relate what ensued. All that Mrs. Ferrars +could say to make him put an end to the engagement, assisted too as +you may well suppose by my arguments, and Fanny's entreaties, was of +no avail. Duty, affection, every thing was disregarded. I never +thought Edward so stubborn, so unfeeling before. His mother explained +to him her liberal designs, in case of his marrying Miss Morton; told +him she would settle on him the Norfolk estate, which, clear of +land-tax, brings in a good thousand a-year; offered even, when matters +grew desperate, to make it twelve hundred; and in opposition to this, +if he still persisted in this low connection, represented to him the +certain penury that must attend the match. His own two thousand pounds +she protested should be his all; she would never see him again; and so +far would she be from affording him the smallest assistance, that if +he were to enter into any profession with a view of better support, +she would do all in her power to prevent him advancing in it." + +Here Marianne, in an ecstasy of indignation, clapped her hands +together, and cried, "Gracious God! can this be possible!" + +"Well may you wonder, Marianne," replied her brother, "at the +obstinacy which could resist such arguments as these. Your exclamation +is very natural." + +Marianne was going to retort, but she remembered her promises, and +forbore. + +"All this, however," he continued, "was urged in vain. Edward said +very little; but what he did say, was in the most determined manner. +Nothing should prevail on him to give up his engagement. He would +stand to it, cost him what it might." + +"Then," cried Mrs. Jennings with blunt sincerity, no longer able to be +silent, "he has acted like an honest man! I beg your pardon, Mr. +Dashwood, but if he had done otherwise, I should have thought him a +rascal. I have some little concern in the business, as well as +yourself, for Lucy Steele is my cousin, and I believe there is not a +better kind of girl in the world, nor one who more deserves a good +husband." + +John Dashwood was greatly astonished; but his nature was calm, not +open to provocation, and he never wished to offend anybody, especially +anybody of good fortune. He therefore replied, without any +resentment-- + +"I would by no means speak disrespectfully of any relation of yours, +madam. Miss Lucy Steele is, I dare say, a very deserving young woman, +but in the present case you know, the connection must be impossible. +And to have entered into a secret engagement with a young man under +her uncle's care, the son of a woman especially of such very large +fortune as Mrs. Ferrars, is perhaps, altogether a little +extraordinary. In short, I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour +of any person whom you have a regard for, Mrs. Jennings. We all wish +her extremely happy; and Mrs. Ferrars's conduct throughout the whole, +has been such as every conscientious, good mother, in like +circumstances, would adopt. It has been dignified and liberal. Edward +has drawn his own lot, and I fear it will be a bad one." + +Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension; and Elinor's heart wrung +for the feelings of Edward, while braving his mother's threats, for a +woman who could not reward him. + +"Well, sir," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did it end?" + +"I am sorry to say, ma'am, in a most unhappy rupture:--Edward is +dismissed for ever from his mother's notice. He left her house +yesterday, but where he is gone, or whether he is still in town, I do +not know; for _we_ of course can make no inquiry." + +"Poor young man!--and what is to become of him?" + +"What, indeed, ma'am! It is a melancholy consideration. Born to the +prospect of such affluence! I cannot conceive a situation more +deplorable. The interest of two thousand pounds--how can a man live on +it?--and when to that is added the recollection, that he might, but +for his own folly, within three months have been in the receipt of two +thousand, five hundred a-year (for Miss Morton has thirty thousand +pounds,) I cannot picture to myself a more wretched condition. We must +all feel for him; and the more so, because it is totally out of our +power to assist him." + +"Poor young man!" cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure he should be very +welcome to bed and board at my house; and so I would tell him if I +could see him. It is not fit that he should be living about at his own +charge now, at lodgings and taverns." + +Elinor's heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward, though +she could not forbear smiling at the form of it. + +"If he would only have done as well by himself," said John Dashwood, +"as all his friends were disposed to do by him, he might now have been +in his proper situation, and would have wanted for nothing. But as it +is, it must be out of anybody's power to assist him. And there is one +thing more preparing against him, which must be worse than all--his +mother has determined, with a very natural kind of spirit, to settle +_that_ estate upon Robert immediately, which might have been Edward's, +on proper conditions. I left her this morning with her lawyer, +talking over the business." + +[Illustration: _Talking over the business._] + +"Well!" said Mrs. Jennings, "that is _her_ revenge. Everybody has a +way of their own. But I don't think mine would be, to make one son +independent, because another had plagued me." + +Marianne got up and walked about the room. + +"Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a man," continued John, +"than to see his younger brother in possession of an estate which +might have been his own? Poor Edward! I feel for him sincerely." + +A few minutes more spent in the same kind of effusion, concluded his +visit; and with repeated assurances to his sisters that he really +believed there was no material danger in Fanny's indisposition, and +that they need not therefore be very uneasy about it, he went away; +leaving the three ladies unanimous in their sentiments on the present +occasion, as far at least as it regarded Mrs. Ferrars's conduct, the +Dashwoods', and Edward's. + +Marianne's indignation burst forth as soon as he quitted the room; and +as her vehemence made reserve impossible in Elinor, and unnecessary in +Mrs. Jennings, they all joined in a very spirited critique upon the +party. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + + +Mrs. Jennings was very warm in her praise of Edward's conduct, but +only Elinor and Marianne understood its true merit. _They_ only knew +how little he had had to tempt him to be disobedient, and how small +was the consolation, beyond the consciousness of doing right, that +could remain to him in the loss of friends and fortune. Elinor gloried +in his integrity; and Marianne forgave all his offences in compassion +for his punishment. But though confidence between them was, by this +public discovery, restored to its proper state, it was not a subject +on which either of them were fond of dwelling when alone. Elinor +avoided it upon principle, as tending to fix still more upon her +thoughts, by the too warm, too positive assurances of Marianne, that +belief of Edward's continued affection for herself which she rather +wished to do away; and Marianne's courage soon failed her, in trying +to converse upon a topic which always left her more dissatisfied with +herself than ever, by the comparison it necessarily produced between +Elinor's conduct and her own. + +She felt all the force of that comparison; but not as her sister had +hoped, to urge her to exertion now; she felt it with all the pain of +continual self-reproach, regretted most bitterly that she had never +exerted herself before; but it brought only the torture of penitence, +without the hope of amendment. Her mind was so much weakened that she +still fancied present exertion impossible, and therefore it only +dispirited her more. + +Nothing new was heard by them, for a day or two afterwards, of affairs +in Harley Street, or Bartlett's Buildings. But though so much of the +matter was known to them already, that Mrs. Jennings might have had +enough to do in spreading that knowledge farther, without seeking +after more, she had resolved from the first to pay a visit of comfort +and inquiry to her cousins as soon as she could; and nothing but the +hindrance of more visitors than usual, had prevented her going to them +within that time. + +The third day succeeding their knowledge of the particulars, was so +fine, so beautiful a Sunday as to draw many to Kensington Gardens, +though it was only the second week in March. Mrs. Jennings and Elinor +were of the number; but Marianne, who knew that the Willoughbys were +again in town, and had a constant dread of meeting them, chose rather +to stay at home, than venture into so public a place. + +An intimate acquaintance of Mrs. Jennings joined them soon after they +entered the Gardens, and Elinor was not sorry that by her continuing +with them, and engaging all Mrs. Jennings's conversation, she was +herself left to quiet reflection. She saw nothing of the Willoughbys, +nothing of Edward, and for some time nothing of anybody who could by +any chance whether grave or gay, be interesting to her. But at last +she found herself with some surprise, accosted by Miss Steele, who, +though looking rather shy, expressed great satisfaction in meeting +them, and on receiving encouragement from the particular kindness of +Mrs. Jennings, left her own party for a short time, to join their's. +Mrs. Jennings immediately whispered to Elinor-- + +"Get it all out of her, my dear. She will tell you any thing if you +ask. You see I cannot leave Mrs. Clarke." + +It was lucky, however, for Mrs. Jennings's curiosity and Elinor's too, +that she would tell any thing _without_ being asked; for nothing would +otherwise have been learnt. + +"I am so glad to meet you;" said Miss Steele, taking her familiarly by +the arm--"for I wanted to see you of all things in the world." And +then lowering her voice, "I suppose Mrs. Jennings has heard all about +it. Is she angry?" + +"Not at all, I believe, with you." + +"That is a good thing. And Lady Middleton, is _she_ angry?" + +"I cannot suppose it possible that she should." + +"I am monstrous glad of it. Good gracious! I have had such a time of +it! I never saw Lucy in such a rage in my life. She vowed at first she +would never trim me up a new bonnet, nor do any thing else for me +again, so long as she lived; but now she is quite come to, and we are +as good friends as ever. Look, she made me this bow to my hat, and put +in the feather last night. There now, _you_ are going to laugh at me +too. But why should not I wear pink ribbons? I do not care if it _is_ +the Doctor's favourite colour. I am sure, for my part, I should never +have known he _did_ like it better than any other colour, if he had +not happened to say so. My cousins have been so plaguing me! I declare +sometimes I do not know which way to look before them." + +She had wandered away to a subject on which Elinor had nothing to say, +and therefore soon judged it expedient to find her way back again to +the first. + +"Well, but Miss Dashwood," speaking triumphantly, "people may say what +they choose about Mr. Ferrars's declaring he would not have Lucy, for +it is no such thing I can tell you; and it is quite a shame for such +ill-natured reports to be spread abroad. Whatever Lucy might think +about it herself, you know, it was no business of other people to set +it down for certain." + +"I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at before, I assure you," +said Elinor. + +[Illustration: "_She put in the feather last night._"] + +"Oh, did not you? But it _was_ said, I know, very well, and by more +than one; for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks, that nobody in their senses +could expect Mr. Ferrars to give up a woman like Miss Morton, with +thirty thousand pounds to her fortune, for Lucy Steele that had +nothing at all; and I had it from Miss Sparks myself. And besides +that, my cousin Richard said himself, that when it came to the point +he was afraid Mr. Ferrars would be off; and when Edward did not come +near us for three days, I could not tell what to think myself; and I +believe in my heart Lucy gave it up all for lost; for we came away +from your brother's Wednesday, and we saw nothing of him not all +Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and did not know what was become of +him. Once Lucy thought to write to him, but then her spirits rose +against that. However this morning he came just as we came home from +church; and then it all came out, how he had been sent for Wednesday +to Harley Street, and been talked to by his mother and all of them, +and how he had declared before them all that he loved nobody but Lucy, +and nobody but Lucy would he have. And how he had been so worried by +what passed, that as soon as he had went away from his mother's house, +he had got upon his horse, and rid into the country, some where or +other; and how he had stayed about at an inn all Thursday and Friday, +on purpose to get the better of it. And after thinking it all over and +over again, he said, it seemed to him as if, now he had no fortune, +and no nothing at all, it would be quite unkind to keep her on to the +engagement, because it must be for her loss, for he had nothing but +two thousand pounds, and no hope of any thing else; and if he was to +go into orders, as he had some thoughts, he could get nothing but a +curacy, and how was they to live upon that?--He could not bear to +think of her doing no better, and so he begged, if she had the least +mind for it, to put an end to the matter directly, and leave him shift +for himself. I heard him say all this as plain as could possibly be. +And it was entirely for _her_ sake, and upon _her_ account, that he +said a word about being off, and not upon his own. I will take my oath +he never dropt a syllable of being tired of her, or of wishing to +marry Miss Morton, or any thing like it. But, to be sure, Lucy would +not give ear to such kind of talking; so she told him directly (with a +great deal about sweet and love, you know, and all that--Oh, la! one +can't repeat such kind of things you know)--she told him directly, she +had not the least mind in the world to be off, for she could live with +him upon a trifle, and how little so ever he might have, she should be +very glad to have it all, you know, or something of the kind. So then +he was monstrous happy, and talked on some time about what they should +do, and they agreed he should take orders directly, and they must wait +to be married till he got a living. And just then I could not hear any +more, for my cousin called from below to tell me Mrs. Richardson was +come in her coach, and would take one of us to Kensington Gardens; so +I was forced to go into the room and interrupt them, to ask Lucy if +she would like to go, but she did not care to leave Edward; so I just +run up stairs and put on a pair of silk stockings and came off with +the Richardsons." + +"I do not understand what you mean by interrupting them," said Elinor; +"you were all in the same room together, were not you?" + +"No, indeed, not us. La! Miss Dashwood, do you think people make love +when any body else is by? Oh, for shame!--To be sure you must know +better than that. (Laughing affectedly.)--No, no; they were shut up in +the drawing-room together, and all I heard was only by listening at +the door." + +"How!" cried Elinor; "have you been repeating to me what you only +learnt yourself by listening at the door? I am sorry I did not know it +before; for I certainly would not have suffered you to give me +particulars of a conversation which you ought not to have known +yourself. How could you behave so unfairly by your sister?" + +"Oh, la! there is nothing in _that._ I only stood at the door, and +heard what I could. And I am sure Lucy would have done just the same +by me; for a year or two back, when Martha Sharpe and I had so many +secrets together, she never made any bones of hiding in a closet, or +behind a chimney-board, on purpose to hear what we said." + +Elinor tried to talk of something else; but Miss Steele could not be +kept beyond a couple of minutes, from what was uppermost in her mind. + +[Illustration: _Listening at the door._] + +"Edward talks of going to Oxford soon," said she; "but now he is +lodging at No. --, Pall Mall. What an ill-natured woman his mother is, +an't she? And your brother and sister were not very kind! However, I +shan't say anything against them to _you_; and to be sure they did +send us home in their own chariot, which was more than I looked for. +And for my part, I was all in a fright for fear your sister should ask +us for the huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; but, however, +nothing was said about them, and I took care to keep mine out of +sight. Edward have got some business at Oxford, he says; so he must go +there for a time; and after _that_, as soon as he can light upon a +Bishop, he will be ordained. I wonder what curacy he will get! Good +gracious! (giggling as she spoke) I'd lay my life I know what my +cousins will say, when they hear of it. They will tell me I should +write to the Doctor, to get Edward the curacy of his new living. I +know they will; but I am sure I would not do such a thing for all the +world. 'La!' I shall say directly, 'I wonder how you could think of +such a thing? I write to the Doctor, indeed!'" + +"Well," said Elinor, "it is a comfort to be prepared against the +worst. You have got your answer ready." + +Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subject, but the approach +of her own party made another more necessary. + +"Oh, la! here come the Richardsons. I had a vast deal more to say to +you, but I must not stay away from them not any longer. I assure you +they are very genteel people. He makes a monstrous deal of money, and +they keep their own coach. I have not time to speak to Mrs. Jennings +about it myself, but pray tell her I am quite happy to hear she is not +in anger against us, and Lady Middleton the same; and if anything +should happen to take you and your sister away, and Mrs. Jennings +should want company, I am sure we should be very glad to come and stay +with her for as long a time as she likes. I suppose Lady Middleton +won't ask us any more this bout. Good-bye; I am sorry Miss Marianne was +not here. Remember me kindly to her. La! if you have not got your +spotted muslin on!--I wonder you was not afraid of its being torn." + +Such was her parting concern; for after this, she had time only to pay +her farewell compliments to Mrs. Jennings, before her company was +claimed by Mrs. Richardson; and Elinor was left in possession of +knowledge which might feed her powers of reflection some time, though +she had learnt very little more than what had been already foreseen +and foreplanned in her own mind. Edward's marriage with Lucy was as +firmly determined on, and the time of its taking place remained as +absolutely uncertain, as she had concluded it would be;--every thing +depended, exactly after her expectation, on his getting that +preferment, of which, at present, there seemed not the smallest +chance. + +As soon as they returned to the carriage, Mrs. Jennings was eager for +information; but as Elinor wished to spread as little as possible +intelligence that had in the first place been so unfairly obtained, +she confined herself to the brief repetition of such simple +particulars, as she felt assured that Lucy, for the sake of her own +consequence, would choose to have known. The continuance of their +engagement, and the means that were able to be taken for promoting its +end, was all her communication; and this produced from Mrs. Jennings +the following natural remark:-- + +"Wait for his having a living!--ay, we all know how _that_ will +end:--they will wait a twelvemonth, and finding no good comes of it, +will set down upon a curacy of fifty pounds a-year, with the interest +of his two thousand pounds, and what little matter Mr. Steele and Mr. +Pratt can give her. Then they will have a child every year! and Lord +help 'em! how poor they will be!--I must see what I can give them +towards furnishing their house. Two maids and two men, indeed!--as I +talked of t'other day. No, no, they must get a stout girl of all +works. Betty's sister would never do for them _now._" + +The next morning brought Elinor a letter by the two-penny post from +Lucy herself. It was as follows: + +"Bartlett's Building, March. + + "I hope my dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the liberty I take + of writing to her; but I know your friendship for me will + make you pleased to hear such a good account of myself and + my dear Edward, after all the troubles we have went through + lately, therefore will make no more apologies, but proceed + to say that, thank God! though we have suffered dreadfully, + we are both quite well now, and as happy as we must always + be in one another's love. We have had great trials, and + great persecutions, but however, at the same time, + gratefully acknowledge many friends, yourself not the least + among them, whose great kindness I shall always thankfully + remember, as will Edward too, who I have told of it. I am + sure you will be glad to hear, as likewise dear Mrs. + Jennings, I spent two happy hours with him yesterday + afternoon, he would not hear of our parting, though + earnestly did I, as I thought my duty required, urge him to + it for prudence sake, and would have parted for ever on the + spot, would he consent to it; but he said it should never + be, he did not regard his mother's anger, while he could + have my affections; our prospects are not very bright, to be + sure, but we must wait, and hope for the best; he will be + ordained shortly; and should it ever be in your power to + recommend him to any body that has a living to bestow, am + very sure you will not forget us, and dear Mrs. Jennings + too, trust she will speak a good word for us to Sir John, or + Mr. Palmer, or any friend that may be able to assist us. + Poor Anne was much to blame for what she did, but she did it + for the best, so I say nothing; hope Mrs. Jennings won't + think it too much trouble to give us a call, should she come + this way any morning, 'twould be a great kindness, and my + cousins would be proud to know her. My paper reminds me to + conclude; and begging to be most gratefully and respectfully + remembered to her, and to Sir John, and Lady Middleton, and + the dear children, when you chance to see them, and love to + Miss Marianne, + +"I am, etc., etc." + +As soon as Elinor had finished it, she performed what she concluded to +be its writer's real design, by placing it in the hands of Mrs. +Jennings, who read it aloud with many comments of satisfaction and +praise. + +"Very well indeed!--how prettily she writes!--aye, that was quite +proper to let him be off if he would. That was just like Lucy. Poor +soul! I wish I _could_ get him a living, with all my heart. She calls +me dear Mrs. Jennings, you see. She is a good-hearted girl as ever +lived. Very well upon my word. That sentence is very prettily turned. +Yes, yes, I will go and see her, sure enough. How attentive she is, to +think of every body!--Thank you, my dear, for showing it me. It is as +pretty a letter as ever I saw, and does Lucy's head and heart great +credit." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + + +The Miss Dashwoods had now been rather more than two months in town, +and Marianne's impatience to be gone increased every day. She sighed +for the air, the liberty, the quiet of the country; and fancied that +if any place could give her ease, Barton must do it. Elinor was hardly +less anxious than herself for their removal, and only so much less +bent on its being effected immediately, as that she was conscious of +the difficulties of so long a journey, which Marianne could not be +brought to acknowledge. She began, however, seriously to turn her +thoughts towards its accomplishment, and had already mentioned their +wishes to their kind hostess, who resisted them with all the eloquence +of her good-will, when a plan was suggested, which, though detaining +them from home yet a few weeks longer, appeared to Elinor altogether +much more eligible than any other. The Palmers were to remove to +Cleveland about the end of March, for the Easter holidays; and Mrs. +Jennings, with both her friends, received a very warm invitation from +Charlotte to go with them. This would not, in itself, have been +sufficient for the delicacy of Miss Dashwood;--but it was enforced +with so much real politeness by Mr. Palmer himself, as, joined to the +very great amendment of his manners towards them since her sister had +been known to be unhappy, induced her to accept it with pleasure. + +When she told Marianne what she had done, however, her first reply was +not very auspicious. + +"Cleveland!"--she cried, with great agitation. "No, I cannot go to +Cleveland."-- + +"You forget," said Elinor gently, "that its situation is not--that it +is not in the neighbourhood of--" + +"But it is in Somersetshire. I cannot go into Somersetshire. There, +where I looked forward to going;--no, Elinor, you cannot expect me to +go there." + +Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming such +feelings;--she only endeavoured to counteract them by working on +others;--represented it, therefore, as a measure which would fix the +time of her returning to that dear mother, whom she so much wished to +see, in a more eligible, more comfortable manner, than any other plan +could do, and perhaps without any greater delay. From Cleveland, which +was within a few miles of Bristol, the distance to Barton was not +beyond one day, though a long day's journey; and their mother's +servant might easily come there to attend them down; and as there +could be no occasion of their staying above a week at Cleveland, they +might now be at home in little more than three weeks' time. As +Marianne's affection for her mother was sincere, it must triumph with +little difficulty, over the imaginary evils she had started. + +Mrs. Jennings was so far from being weary of her guest, that she +pressed them very earnestly to return with her again from Cleveland. +Elinor was grateful for the attention, but it could not alter her +design; and their mother's concurrence being readily gained, every +thing relative to their return was arranged as far as it could +be;--and Marianne found some relief in drawing up a statement of the +hours that were yet to divide her from Barton. + +"Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall do without the Miss +Dashwoods;"--was Mrs. Jennings's address to him when he first called +on her, after their leaving her was settled--"for they are quite +resolved upon going home from the Palmers;--and how forlorn we shall +be, when I come back!--Lord! we shall sit and gape at one another as +dull as two cats." + +Perhaps Mrs. Jennings was in hopes, by this vigorous sketch of their +future ennui, to provoke him to make that offer, which might give +himself an escape from it; and if so, she had soon afterwards good +reason to think her object gained; for, on Elinor's moving to the +window to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print, which she +was going to copy for her friend, he followed her to it with a look of +particular meaning, and conversed with her there for several minutes. +The effect of his discourse on the lady too, could not escape her +observation, for though she was too honorable to listen, and had even +changed her seat, on purpose that she might _not_ hear, to one close +by the piano forte on which Marianne was playing, she could not keep +herself from seeing that Elinor changed colour, attended with +agitation, and was too intent on what he said to pursue her +employment. Still farther in confirmation of her hopes, in the +interval of Marianne's turning from one lesson to another, some words +of the Colonel's inevitably reached her ear, in which he seemed to be +apologising for the badness of his house. This set the matter beyond a +doubt. She wondered, indeed, at his thinking it necessary to do so; +but supposed it to be the proper etiquette. What Elinor said in reply +she could not distinguish, but judged from the motion of her lips, +that she did not think _that_ any material objection;--and Mrs. +Jennings commended her in her heart for being so honest. They then +talked on for a few minutes longer without her catching a syllable, +when another lucky stop in Marianne's performance brought her these +words in the Colonel's calm voice,-- + +"I am afraid it cannot take place very soon." + +Astonished and shocked at so unlover-like a speech, she was almost +ready to cry out, "Lord! what should hinder it?"--but checking her +desire, confined herself to this silent ejaculation. + +"This is very strange!--sure he need not wait to be older." + +This delay on the Colonel's side, however, did not seem to offend or +mortify his fair companion in the least, for on their breaking up the +conference soon afterwards, and moving different ways, Mrs. Jennings +very plainly heard Elinor say, and with a voice which showed her to +feel what she said-- + +"I shall always think myself very much obliged to you." + +Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her gratitude, and only wondered that +after hearing such a sentence, the Colonel should be able to take +leave of them, as he immediately did, with the utmost sang-froid, and +go away without making her any reply!--She had not thought her old +friend could have made so indifferent a suitor. + +What had really passed between them was to this effect. + +"I have heard," said he, with great compassion, "of the injustice your +friend Mr. Ferrars has suffered from his family; for if I understand +the matter right, he has been entirely cast off by them for +persevering in his engagement with a very deserving young woman. Have +I been rightly informed?--Is it so?--" + +Elinor told him that it was. + +"The cruelty, the impolitic cruelty,"--he replied, with great +feeling,--"of dividing, or attempting to divide, two young people +long attached to each other, is terrible. Mrs. Ferrars does not know +what she may be doing--what she may drive her son to. I have seen Mr. +Ferrars two or three times in Harley Street, and am much pleased with +him. He is not a young man with whom one can be intimately acquainted +in a short time, but I have seen enough of him to wish him well for +his own sake, and as a friend of yours, I wish it still more. I +understand that he intends to take orders. Will you be so good as to +tell him that the living of Delaford, now just vacant, as I am +informed by this day's post, is his, if he think it worth his +acceptance--but _that_, perhaps, so unfortunately circumstanced as he +is now, it may be nonsense to appear to doubt; I only wish it were +more valuable. It is a rectory, but a small one; the late incumbent, I +believe, did not make more than 200 L per annum, and though it is +certainly capable of improvement, I fear, not to such an amount as to +afford him a very comfortable income. Such as it is, however, my +pleasure in presenting him to it, will be very great. Pray assure him +of it." + +Elinor's astonishment at this commission could hardly have been +greater, had the Colonel been really making her an offer of his hand. +The preferment, which only two days before she had considered as +hopeless for Edward, was already provided to enable him to marry;--and +_she_, of all people in the world, was fixed on to bestow it!--Her +emotion was such as Mrs. Jennings had attributed to a very different +cause;--but whatever minor feelings less pure, less pleasing, might +have a share in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevolence, +and her gratitude for the particular friendship, which together +prompted Colonel Brandon to this act, were strongly felt, and warmly +expressed. She thanked him for it with all her heart, spoke of +Edward's principles and disposition with that praise which she knew +them to deserve; and promised to undertake the commission with +pleasure, if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an office +to another. But at the same time, she could not help thinking that no +one could so well perform it as himself. It was an office in short, +from which, unwilling to give Edward the pain of receiving an +obligation from _her_, she would have been very glad to be spared +herself; but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equal delicacy, declining +it likewise, still seemed so desirous of its being given through her +means, that she would not on any account make farther opposition. +Edward, she believed, was still in town, and fortunately she had heard +his address from Miss Steele. She could undertake therefore to inform +him of it, in the course of the day. After this had been settled, +Colonel Brandon began to talk of his own advantage in securing so +respectable and agreeable a neighbour, and _then_ it was that he +mentioned with regret, that the house was small and indifferent; an +evil which Elinor, as Mrs. Jennings had supposed her to do, made very +light of, at least as far as regarded its size. + +"The smallness of the house," said she, "I cannot imagine any +inconvenience to them, for it will be in proportion to their family +and income." + +By which the Colonel was surprised to find that _she_ was considering +Mr. Ferrars's marriage as the certain consequence of the presentation; +for he did not suppose it possible that Delaford living could supply +such an income, as anybody in his style of life would venture to +settle on, and he said so. + +"This little rectory _can_ do no more than make Mr. Ferrars +comfortable as a bachelor; it cannot enable him to marry. I am sorry +to say that my patronage ends with this; and my interest is hardly +more extensive. If, however, by an unforeseen chance it should be in +my power to serve him farther, I must think very differently of him +from what I now do, if I am not as ready to be useful to him then as I +sincerely wish I could be at present. What I am now doing indeed, +seems nothing at all, since it can advance him so little towards what +must be his principal, his only object of happiness. His marriage must +still be a distant good;--at least, I am afraid it cannot take place +very soon." + +Such was the sentence which, when misunderstood, so justly offended +the delicate feelings of Mrs. Jennings; but after this narration of +what really passed between Colonel Brandon and Elinor, while they +stood at the window, the gratitude expressed by the latter on their +parting, may perhaps appear in general, not less reasonably excited, +nor less properly worded than if it had arisen from an offer of +marriage. + + + + +CHAPTER XL + + +"Well, Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Jennings, sagaciously smiling, as +soon as the gentleman had withdrawn, "I do not ask you what the +Colonel has been saying to you; for though, upon my honour, I _tried_ +to keep out of hearing, I could not help catching enough to understand +his business. And I assure you I never was better pleased in my life, +and I wish you joy of it with all my heart." + +"Thank you, ma'am," said Elinor. "It is a matter of great joy to me; +and I feel the goodness of Colonel Brandon most sensibly. There are +not many men who would act as he has done. Few people who have so +compassionate a heart! I never was more astonished in my life." + +"Lord! my dear, you are very modest. I an't the least astonished at it +in the world, for I have often thought of late, there was nothing more +likely to happen." + +"You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's general benevolence; +but at least you could not foresee that the opportunity would so very +soon occur." + +"Opportunity!" repeated Mrs. Jennings--"Oh! as to that, when a man has +once made up his mind to such a thing, somehow or other he will soon +find an opportunity. Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and +again; and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think I +shall soon know where to look for them." + +"You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose," said Elinor, with a +faint smile. + +"Aye, my dear, that I do, indeed. And as to the house being a bad one, +I do not know what the Colonel would be at, for it is as good a one as +ever I saw." + +"He spoke of its being out of repair." + +"Well, and whose fault is that? why don't he repair it? who should do +it but himself?" + +They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to announce the +carriage being at the door; and Mrs. Jennings immediately preparing to +go, said-- + +"Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half my talk out. +But, however, we may have it all over in the evening; for we shall be +quite alone. I do not ask you to go with me, for I dare say your mind +is too full of the matter to care for company; and besides, you must +long to tell your sister all about it." + +Marianne had left the room before the conversation began. + +"Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it; but I shall not +mention it at present to any body else." + +"Oh! very well," said Mrs. Jennings rather disappointed. "Then you +would not have me tell it to Lucy, for I think of going as far as +Holborn to-day." + +"No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please. One day's delay will not be +very material; and till I have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it +ought not to be mentioned to any body else. I shall do _that_ +directly. It is of importance that no time should be lost with him, +for he will of course have much to do relative to his ordination." + +This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly. Why Mr. +Ferrars was to have been written to about it in such a hurry, she +could not immediately comprehend. A few moments' reflection, however, +produced a very happy idea, and she exclaimed-- + +"Oh, ho! I understand you. Mr. Ferrars is to be the man. Well, so much +the better for him. Ay, to be sure, he must be ordained in readiness; +and I am very glad to find things are so forward between you. But, my +dear, is not this rather out of character? Should not the Colonel +write himself? Sure, he is the proper person." + +Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of Mrs. Jennings's +speech, neither did she think it worth inquiring into; and therefore +only replied to its conclusion. + +"Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather wished any one +to announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars than himself." + +"And so _you_ are forced to do it. Well _that_ is an odd kind of +delicacy! However, I will not disturb you (seeing her preparing to +write.) You know your own concerns best. So good-bye, my dear. I have +not heard of any thing to please me so well since Charlotte was +brought to bed." + +And away she went; but returning again in a moment-- + +"I have just been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear. I should be +very glad to get her so good a mistress. But whether she would do for +a lady's maid, I am sure I can't tell. She is an excellent housemaid, +and works very well at her needle. However, you will think of all that +at your leisure." + +"Certainly, ma'am," replied Elinor, not hearing much of what she said, +and more anxious to be alone, than to be mistress of the subject. + +How she should begin--how she should express herself in her note to +Edward, was now all her concern. The particular circumstances between +them made a difficulty of that which to any other person would have +been the easiest thing in the world; but she equally feared to say too +much or too little, and sat deliberating over her paper, with the pen +in her hand, till broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself. + +He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door in her way to the carriage, as he +came to leave his farewell card; and she, after apologising for not +returning herself, had obliged him to enter, by saying that Miss +Dashwood was above, and wanted to speak with him on very particular +business. + +Elinor had just been congratulating herself, in the midst of her +perplexity, that however difficult it might be to express herself +properly by letter, it was at least preferable to giving the +information by word of mouth, when her visitor entered, to force her +upon this greatest exertion of all. Her astonishment and confusion +were very great on his so sudden appearance. She had not seen him +before since his engagement became public, and therefore not since his +knowing her to be acquainted with it; which, with the consciousness of +what she had been thinking of, and what she had to tell him, made her +feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes. He too was much +distressed; and they sat down together in a most promising state of +embarrassment. Whether he had asked her pardon for his intrusion on +first coming into the room, he could not recollect; but determining to +be on the safe side, he made his apology in form as soon as he could +say any thing, after taking a chair. + +"Mrs. Jennings told me," said he, "that you wished to speak with me, +at least I understood her so--or I certainly should not have intruded +on you in such a manner; though at the same time, I should have been +extremely sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister; +especially as it will most likely be some time--it is not probable +that I should soon have the pleasure of meeting you again. I go to +Oxford tomorrow." + +"You would not have gone, however," said Elinor, recovering herself, +and determined to get over what she so much dreaded as soon as +possible, "without receiving our good wishes, even if we had not been +able to give them in person. Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she +said. I have something of consequence to inform you of, which I was on +the point of communicating by paper. I am charged with a most +agreeable office (breathing rather faster than usual as she spoke.) +Colonel Brandon, who was here only ten minutes ago, has desired me to +say, that understanding you mean to take orders, he has great pleasure +in offering you the living of Delaford now just vacant, and only +wishes it were more valuable. Allow me to congratulate you on having +so respectable and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that +the living--it is about two hundred a-year--were much more +considerable, and such as might better enable you to--as might be more +than a temporary accommodation to yourself--such, in short, as might +establish all your views of happiness." + +What Edward felt, as he could not say it himself, it cannot be +expected that any one else should say for him. He _looked_ all the +astonishment which such unexpected, such unthought-of information +could not fail of exciting; but he said only these two words-- + +"Colonel Brandon!" + +"Yes," continued Elinor, gathering more resolution, as some of the +worst was over, "Colonel Brandon means it as a testimony of his +concern for what has lately passed--for the cruel situation in which +the unjustifiable conduct of your family has placed you--a concern +which I am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends, must share; +and likewise as a proof of his high esteem for your general character, +and his particular approbation of your behaviour on the present +occasion." + +"Colonel Brandon give _me_ a living!--Can it be possible?" + +"The unkindness of your own relations has made you astonished to find +friendship any where." + +"No," replied be, with sudden consciousness, "not to find it in _you_; +for I cannot be ignorant that to you, to your goodness, I owe it all. +I feel it--I would express it if I could--but, as you well know, I am +no orator." + +"You are very much mistaken. I do assure you that you owe it entirely, +at least almost entirely, to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's +discernment of it. I have had no hand in it. I did not even know, till +I understood his design, that the living was vacant; nor had it ever +occurred to me that he might have had such a living in his gift. As a +friend of mine, of my family, he may, perhaps--indeed I know he _has_, +still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word, you owe +nothing to my solicitation." + +Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share in the action, but +she was at the same time so unwilling to appear as the benefactress of +Edward, that she acknowledged it with hesitation; which probably +contributed to fix that suspicion in his mind which had recently +entered it. For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Elinor had +ceased to speak;--at last, and as if it were rather an effort, he +said-- + +"Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth and respectability. I have +always heard him spoken of as such, and your brother I know esteems +him highly. He is undoubtedly a sensible man, and in his manners +perfectly the gentleman." + +"Indeed," replied Elinor, "I believe that you will find him, on +farther acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be, and as you +will be such very near neighbours (for I understand the parsonage is +almost close to the mansion-house,) it is particularly important that +he _should_ be all this." + +Edward made no answer; but when she had turned away her head, gave her +a look so serious, so earnest, so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that +he might hereafter wish the distance between the parsonage and the +mansion-house much greater. + +"Colonel Brandon, I think, lodges in St. James Street," said he, soon +afterwards, rising from his chair. + +Elinor told him the number of the house. + +"I must hurry away then, to give him those thanks which you will not +allow me to give _you_; to assure him that he has made me a very--an +exceedingly happy man." + +Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted, with a very +earnest assurance on _her_ side of her unceasing good wishes for his +happiness in every change of situation that might befall him; on +_his_, with rather an attempt to return the same good will, than the +power of expressing it. + +"When I see him again," said Elinor to herself, as the door shut him +out, "I shall see him the husband of Lucy." + +And with this pleasing anticipation, she sat down to reconsider the +past, recall the words and endeavour to comprehend all the feelings of +Edward; and, of course, to reflect on her own with discontent. + +When Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned from seeing people +whom she had never seen before, and of whom therefore she must have a +great deal to say, her mind was so much more occupied by the important +secret in her possession, than by anything else, that she reverted to +it again as soon as Elinor appeared. + +"Well, my dear," she cried, "I sent you up the young man. Did not I do +right?--And I suppose you had no great difficulty--You did not find +him very unwilling to accept your proposal?" + +"No, ma'am; _that_ was not very likely." + +"Well, and how soon will he be ready?--For it seems all to depend upon +that." + +"Really," said Elinor, "I know so little of these kind of forms, that +I can hardly even conjecture as to the time, or the preparation +necessary; but I suppose two or three months will complete his +ordination." + +"Two or three months!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "Lord! my dear, how calmly +you talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two or three months! Lord +bless me!--I am sure it would put _me_ quite out of patience!--And +though one would be very glad to do a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I +do think it is not worth while to wait two or three months for him. +Sure somebody else might be found that would do as well; somebody that +is in orders already." + +"My dear ma'am," said Elinor, "what can you be thinking of? Why, +Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Ferrars." + +"Lord bless you, my dear! Sure you do not mean to persuade me that the +Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving ten guineas to Mr. +Ferrars!" + +[Illustration: _Both gained considerable amusement_] + +The deception could not continue after this; and an explanation +immediately took place, by which both gained considerable amusement +for the moment, without any material loss of happiness to either, for +Mrs. Jennings only exchanged one form of delight for another, and +still without forfeiting her expectation of the first. + +"Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a small one," said she, after the +first ebullition of surprise and satisfaction was over, "and very +likely _may_ be out of repair; but to hear a man apologising, as I +thought, for a house that to my knowledge has five sitting rooms on +the ground-floor, and I think the housekeeper told me could make up +fifteen beds! and to you too, that had been used to live in Barton +cottage! It seems quite ridiculous. But, my dear, we must touch up the +Colonel to do some thing to the parsonage, and make it comfortable for +them, before Lucy goes to it." + +"But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea of the living's +being enough to allow them to marry." + +"The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; because he has two thousand a-year +himself, he thinks that nobody else can marry on less. Take my word +for it, that, if I am alive, I shall be paying a visit at Delaford +Parsonage before Michaelmas; and I am sure I shan't go if Lucy an't +there." + +Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the probability of their not +waiting for any thing more. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI + + +Edward, having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon, proceeded with +his happiness to Lucy; and such was the excess of it by the time he +reached Bartlett's Buildings, that she was able to assure Mrs. +Jennings, who called on her again the next day with her +congratulations, that she had never seen him in such spirits before in +her life. + +Her own happiness, and her own spirits, were at least very certain; +and she joined Mrs. Jennings most heartily in her expectation of their +being all comfortably together in Delaford Parsonage before +Michaelmas. So far was she, at the same time, from any backwardness to +give Elinor that credit which Edward _would_ give her, that she spoke +of her friendship for them both with the most grateful warmth, was +ready to own all their obligation to her, and openly declared that no +exertion for their good on Miss Dashwood's part, either present or +future, would ever surprise her, for she believed her capable of doing +any thing in the world for those she really valued. As for Colonel +Brandon, she was not only ready to worship him as a saint, but was +moreover truly anxious that he should be treated as one in all worldly +concerns; anxious that his tithes should be raised to the utmost; and +scarcely resolved to avail herself, at Delaford, as far as she +possibly could, of his servants, his carriage, his cows, and his +poultry. + +It was now above a week since John Dashwood had called in Berkeley +Street, and as since that time no notice had been taken by them of his +wife's indisposition, beyond one verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feel +it necessary to pay her a visit. This was an obligation, however, +which not only opposed her own inclination, but which had not the +assistance of any encouragement from her companions. Marianne, not +contented with absolutely refusing to go herself, was very urgent to +prevent her sister's going at all; and Mrs. Jennings, though her +carriage was always at Elinor's service, so very much disliked Mrs. +John Dashwood, that not even her curiosity to see how she looked after +the late discovery, nor her strong desire to affront her by taking +Edward's part, could overcome her unwillingness to be in her company +again. The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself to pay a +visit, for which no one could really have less inclination, and to run +the risk of a tete-a-tete with a woman, whom neither of the others had +so much reason to dislike. + +Mrs. Dashwood was denied; but before the carriage could turn from the +house, her husband accidentally came out. He expressed great pleasure +in meeting Elinor, told her that he had been just going to call in +Berkeley Street, and, assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to +see her, invited her to come in. + +They walked up stairs in to the drawing-room. Nobody was there. + +"Fanny is in her own room, I suppose," said he:--"I will go to her +presently, for I am sure she will not have the least objection in the +world to seeing _you._ Very far from it, indeed. _Now_ especially +there cannot be--but however, you and Marianne were always great +favourites. Why would not Marianne come?"-- + +Elinor made what excuse she could for her. + +"I am not sorry to see you alone," he replied, "for I have a good deal +to say to you. This living of Colonel Brandon's--can it be true?--has +he really given it to Edward?--I heard it yesterday by chance, and was +coming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it." + +"It is perfectly true. Colonel Brandon has given the living of +Delaford to Edward." + +"Really!--Well, this is very astonishing!--no relationship!--no +connection between them!--and now that livings fetch such a +price!--what was the value of this?" + +"About two hundred a year." + +"Very well--and for the next presentation to a living of that +value--supposing the late incumbent to have been old and sickly, and +likely to vacate it soon--he might have got I dare say--fourteen +hundred pounds. And how came he not to have settled that matter before +this person's death? _Now_ indeed it would be too late to sell it, but +a man of Colonel Brandon's sense!--I wonder he should be so +improvident in a point of such common, such natural, concern!--Well, I +am convinced that there is a vast deal of inconsistency in almost +every human character. I suppose, however--on recollection--that the +case may probably be _this._ Edward is only to hold the living till +the person to whom the Colonel has really sold the presentation, is +old enough to take it. Aye, aye, that is the fact, depend upon it." + +Elinor contradicted it, however, very positively; and by relating that +she had herself been employed in conveying the offer from Colonel +Brandon to Edward, and, therefore, must understand the terms on which +it was given, obliged him to submit to her authority. + +"It is truly astonishing!"--he cried, after hearing what she +said--"what could be the Colonel's motive?" + +"A very simple one--to be of use to Mr. Ferrars." + +"Well, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be, Edward is a very lucky +man. You will not mention the matter to Fanny, however, for though I +have broke it to her, and she bears it vastly well,--she will not like +to hear it much talked of." + +Elinor had some difficulty here to refrain from observing, that she +thought Fanny might have borne with composure, an acquisition of +wealth to her brother, by which neither she nor her child could be +possibly impoverished. + +"Mrs. Ferrars," added he, lowering his voice to the tone becoming so +important a subject, "knows nothing about it at present, and I believe +it will be best to keep it entirely concealed from her as long as may +be. When the marriage takes place, I fear she must hear of it all." + +"But why should such precaution be used? Though it is not to be +supposed that Mrs. Ferrars can have the smallest satisfaction in +knowing that her son has money enough to live upon,--for _that_ must +be quite out of the question; yet why, upon her late behaviour, is she +supposed to feel at all? She has done with her son, she cast him off +for ever, and has made all those over whom she had any influence, cast +him off likewise. Surely, after doing so, she cannot be imagined +liable to any impression of sorrow or of joy on his account--she +cannot be interested in any thing that befalls him. She would not be +so weak as to throw away the comfort of a child, and yet retain the +anxiety of a parent!" + +"Ah! Elinor," said John, "your reasoning is very good, but it is +founded on ignorance of human nature. When Edward's unhappy match +takes place, depend upon it his mother will feel as much as if she had +never discarded him; and, therefore every circumstance that may +accelerate that dreadful event, must be concealed from her as much as +possible. Mrs. Ferrars can never forget that Edward is her son." + +"You surprise me; I should think it must nearly have escaped her +memory by _this_ time." + +"You wrong her exceedingly. Mrs. Ferrars is one of the most +affectionate mothers in the world." + +Elinor was silent. + +"We think _now_,"--said Mr. Dashwood, after a short pause, "of +_Robert's_ marrying Miss Morton." + +Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance of her brother's +tone, calmly replied-- + +"The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair." + +"Choice!--how do you mean?" + +"I only mean that I suppose, from your manner of speaking, it must be +the same to Miss Morton whether she marry Edward or Robert." + +"Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert will now to all +intents and purposes be considered as the eldest son;--and as to any +thing else, they are both very agreeable young men: I do not know that +one is superior to the other." + +Elinor said no more, and John was also for a short time silent. His +reflections ended thus. + +"Of _one_ thing, my dear sister," kindly taking her hand, and speaking +in an awful whisper,--"I may assure you; and I _will_ do it, because I +know it must gratify you. I have good reason to think--indeed I have +it from the best authority, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise +it would be very wrong to say any thing about it,--but I have it from +the very best authority,--not that I ever precisely heard Mrs. Ferrars +say it herself--but her daughter _did_, and I have it from her,--that +in short, whatever objections there might be against a certain--a +certain connection, you understand me,--it would have been far +preferable to her, it would not have given her half the vexation that +_this_ does. I was exceedingly pleased to hear that Mrs. Ferrars +considered it in that light; a very gratifying circumstance you know +to us all. 'It would have been beyond comparison,' she said, 'the +least evil of the two, and she would be glad to compound _now_ for +nothing worse.' But however, all that is quite out of the +question,--not to be thought of or mentioned. As to any attachment you +know, it never could be; all that is gone by. But I thought I would +just tell you of this, because I knew how much it must please you. Not +that you have any reason to regret, my dear Elinor. There is no doubt +of your doing exceedingly well,--quite as well, or better, perhaps, +all things considered. Has Colonel Brandon been with you lately?" + +Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity, and raise her +self-importance, to agitate her nerves and fill her mind;--and she was +therefore glad to be spared from the necessity of saying much in reply +herself, and from the danger of hearing any thing more from her +brother, by the entrance of Mr. Robert Ferrars. After a few moments' +chat, John Dashwood, recollecting that Fanny was yet uninformed of her +sister's being there, quitted the room in quest of her; and Elinor was +left to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, by the gay +unconcern, the happy self-complacency of his manner while enjoying so +unfair a division of his mother's love and liberality, to the +prejudice of his banished brother, earned only by his own dissipated +course of life, and that brother's integrity, was confirming her most +unfavourable opinion of his head and heart. + +[Illustration: "_Of one thing I may assure you._"] + +They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves, before he began to +speak of Edward; for he, too, had heard of the living, and was very +inquisitive on the subject. Elinor repeated the particulars of it, as +she had given them to John; and their effect on Robert, though very +different, was not less striking than it had been on _him._ He laughed +most immoderately. The idea of Edward's being a clergyman, and living +in a small parsonage-house, diverted him beyond measure;--and when to +that was added the fanciful imagery of Edward reading prayers in a +white surplice, and publishing the banns of marriage between John +Smith and Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous. + +Elinor, while she waited in silence and immovable gravity, the +conclusion of such folly, could not restrain her eyes from being fixed +on him with a look that spoke all the contempt it excited. It was a +look, however, very well bestowed, for it relieved her own feelings, +and gave no intelligence to him. He was recalled from wit to wisdom, +not by any reproof of her's, but by his own sensibility. + +"We may treat it as a joke," said he, at last, recovering from the +affected laugh which had considerably lengthened out the genuine +gaiety of the moment; "but, upon my soul, it is a most serious +business. Poor Edward! he is ruined for ever. I am extremely sorry for +it; for I know him to be a very good-hearted creature,--as +well-meaning a fellow perhaps, as any in the world. You must not judge +of him, Miss Dashwood, from _your_ slight acquaintance. Poor Edward! +His manners are certainly not the happiest in nature. But we are not +all born, you know, with the same powers,--the same address. Poor +fellow! to see him in a circle of strangers! to be sure it was +pitiable enough; but upon my soul, I believe he has as good a heart as +any in the kingdom; and I declare and protest to you I never was so +shocked in my life, as when it all burst forth. I could not believe +it. My mother was the first person who told me of it; and I, feeling +myself called on to act with resolution, immediately said to her,--'My +dear madam, I do not know what you may intend to do on the occasion, +but as for myself, I must say, that if Edward does marry this young +woman, I never will see him again.' That was what I said immediately. +I was most uncommonly shocked, indeed! Poor Edward! he has done for +himself completely,--shut himself out for ever from all decent +society! but, as I directly said to my mother, I am not in the least +surprised at it; from his style of education, it was always to be +expected. My poor mother was half frantic." + +"Have you ever seen the lady?" + +"Yes; once, while she was staying in this house, I happened to drop in +for ten minutes; and I saw quite enough of her. The merest awkward +country girl, without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty. I +remember her perfectly. Just the kind of girl I should suppose likely +to captivate poor Edward. I offered immediately, as soon as my mother +related the affair to me, to talk to him myself, and dissuade him from +the match; but it was too late _then_, I found, to do any thing, for +unluckily, I was not in the way at first, and knew nothing of it till +after the breach had taken place, when it was not for me, you know, to +interfere. But had I been informed of it a few hours earlier, I think +it is most probable that something might have been hit on. I certainly +should have represented it to Edward in a very strong light. 'My dear +fellow,' I should have said, 'consider what you are doing. You are +making a most disgraceful connection, and such a one as your family +are unanimous in disapproving.' I cannot help thinking, in short, that +means might have been found. But now it is all too late. He must be +starved, you know, that is certain; absolutely starved." + +He had just settled this point with great composure, when the entrance +of Mrs. John Dashwood put an end to the subject. But though _she_ +never spoke of it out of her own family, Elinor could see its +influence on her mind, in the something like confusion of countenance +with which she entered, and an attempt at cordiality in her behaviour +to herself. She even proceeded so far as to be concerned to find that +Elinor and her sister were so soon to leave town, as she had hoped to +see more of them;--an exertion in which her husband, who attended her +into the room, and hung enamoured over her accents, seemed to +distinguish every thing that was most affectionate and graceful. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII + + +One other short call in Harley Street, in which Elinor received her +brother's congratulations on their travelling so far towards Barton +without any expense, and on Colonel Brandon's being to follow them to +Cleveland in a day or two, completed the intercourse of the brother +and sisters in town;--and a faint invitation from Fanny, to come to +Norland whenever it should happen to be in their way, which of all +things was the most unlikely to occur, with a more warm, though less +public, assurance, from John to Elinor, of the promptitude with which +he should come to see her at Delaford, was all that foretold any +meeting in the country. + +It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed determined to +send her to Delaford;--a place, in which, of all others, she would now +least choose to visit, or wish to reside; for not only was it +considered as her future home by her brother and Mrs. Jennings, but +even Lucy, when they parted, gave her a pressing invitation to visit +her there. + +Very early in April, and tolerably early in the day, the two parties +from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set out from their respective +homes, to meet, by appointment, on the road. For the convenience of +Charlotte and her child, they were to be more than two days on their +journey, and Mr. Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel +Brandon, was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arrival. + +Marianne, few as had been her hours of comfort in London, and eager as +she had long been to quit it, could not, when it came to the point, +bid adieu to the house in which she had for the last time enjoyed +those hopes, and that confidence, in Willoughby, which were now +extinguished for ever, without great pain. Nor could she leave the +place in which Willoughby remained, busy in new engagements, and new +schemes, in which _she_ could have no share, without shedding many +tears. + +Elinor's satisfaction, at the moment of removal, was more positive. +She had no such object for her lingering thoughts to fix on, she left +no creature behind, from whom it would give her a moment's regret to +be divided for ever, she was pleased to be free herself from the +persecution of Lucy's friendship, she was grateful for bringing her +sister away unseen by Willoughby since his marriage, and she looked +forward with hope to what a few months of tranquility at Barton might +do towards restoring Marianne's peace of mind, and confirming her own. + +Their journey was safely performed. The second day brought them into +the cherished, or the prohibited, county of Somerset, for as such was +it dwelt on by turns in Marianne's imagination; and in the forenoon of +the third they drove up to Cleveland. + +Cleveland was a spacious, modern-built house, situated on a sloping +lawn. It had no park, but the pleasure-grounds were tolerably +extensive; and like every other place of the same degree of +importance, it had its open shrubbery, and closer wood walk, a road of +smooth gravel winding round a plantation, led to the front, the lawn +was dotted over with timber, the house itself was under the +guardianship of the fir, the mountain-ash, and the acacia, and a thick +screen of them altogether, interspersed with tall Lombardy poplars, +shut out the offices. + +Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling with emotion from the +consciousness of being only eighty miles from Barton, and not thirty +from Combe Magna; and before she had been five minutes within its +walls, while the others were busily helping Charlotte to show her +child to the housekeeper, she quitted it again, stealing away through +the winding shrubberies, now just beginning to be in beauty, to gain a +distant eminence; where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering +over a wide tract of country to the south-east, could fondly rest on +the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon, and fancy that from their +summits Combe Magna might be seen. + +In such moments of precious, invaluable misery, she rejoiced in tears +of agony to be at Cleveland; and as she returned by a different +circuit to the house, feeling all the happy privilege of country +liberty, of wandering from place to place in free and luxurious +solitude, she resolved to spend almost every hour of every day while +she remained with the Palmers, in the indulgence of such solitary +rambles. + +[Illustration: _Showing her child to the housekeeper._] + +She returned just in time to join the others as they quitted the +house, on an excursion through its more immediate premises; and the +rest of the morning was easily whiled away, in lounging round the +kitchen garden, examining the bloom upon its walls, and listening to +the gardener's lamentations upon blights, in dawdling through the +green-house, where the loss of her favourite plants, unwarily exposed, +and nipped by the lingering frost, raised the laughter of +Charlotte,--and in visiting her poultry-yard, where, in the +disappointed hopes of her dairy-maid, by hens forsaking their nests, +or being stolen by a fox, or in the rapid decrease of a promising +young brood, she found fresh sources of merriment. + +The morning was fine and dry, and Marianne, in her plan of employment +abroad, had not calculated for any change of weather during their stay +at Cleveland. With great surprise therefore, did she find herself +prevented by a settled rain from going out again after dinner. She had +depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian temple, and perhaps all +over the grounds, and an evening merely cold or damp would not have +deterred her from it; but a heavy and settled rain even _she_ could +not fancy dry or pleasant weather for walking. + +Their party was small, and the hours passed quietly away. Mrs. Palmer +had her child, and Mrs. Jennings her carpet-work; they talked of the +friends they had left behind, arranged Lady Middleton's engagements, +and wondered whether Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get farther +than Reading that night. Elinor, however little concerned in it, +joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had the knack of finding +her way in every house to the library, however it might be avoided by +the family in general, soon procured herself a book. + +Nothing was wanting on Mrs. Palmer's side that constant and friendly +good humour could do, to make them feel themselves welcome. The +openness and heartiness of her manner more than atoned for that want +of recollection and elegance which made her often deficient in the +forms of politeness; her kindness, recommended by so pretty a face, +was engaging; her folly, though evident was not disgusting, because it +was not conceited; and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her +laugh. + +[Illustration: _The gardener's lamentations._] + +The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very late dinner, +affording a pleasant enlargement of the party, and a very welcome +variety to their conversation, which a long morning of the same +continued rain had reduced very low. + +Elinor had seen so little of Mr. Palmer, and in that little had seen +so much variety in his address to her sister and herself, that she +knew not what to expect to find him in his own family. She found him, +however, perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors, +and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother; she found him +very capable of being a pleasant companion, and only prevented from +being so always, by too great an aptitude to fancy himself as much +superior to people in general, as he must feel himself to be to Mrs. +Jennings and Charlotte. For the rest of his character and habits, they +were marked, as far as Elinor could perceive, with no traits at all +unusual in his sex and time of life. He was nice in his eating, +uncertain in his hours; fond of his child, though affecting to slight +it; and idled away the mornings at billiards, which ought to have been +devoted to business. She liked him, however, upon the whole, much +better than she had expected, and in her heart was not sorry that she +could like him no more; not sorry to be driven by the observation of +his epicurism, his selfishness, and his conceit, to rest with +complacency on the remembrance of Edward's generous temper, simple +taste, and diffident feelings. + +Of Edward, or at least of some of his concerns, she now received +intelligence from Colonel Brandon, who had been into Dorsetshire +lately; and who, treating her at once as the disinterested friend of +Mr. Ferrars, and the kind of confidant of himself, talked to her a +great deal of the parsonage at Delaford, described its deficiencies, +and told her what he meant to do himself towards removing them. His +behaviour to her in this, as well as in every other particular, his +open pleasure in meeting her after an absence of only ten days, his +readiness to converse with her, and his deference for her opinion, +might very well justify Mrs. Jennings's persuasion of his attachment, +and would have been enough, perhaps, had not Elinor still, as from the +first, believed Marianne his real favourite, to make her suspect it +herself. But as it was, such a notion had scarcely ever entered her +head, except by Mrs. Jennings's suggestion; and she could not help +believing herself the nicest observer of the two: she watched his +eyes, while Mrs. Jennings thought only of his behaviour; and while his +looks of anxious solicitude on Marianne's feeling, in her head and +throat, the beginning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed by words, +entirely escaped the latter lady's observation,--_she_ could discover +in them the quick feelings, and needless alarm of a lover. + +Two delightful twilight walks on the third and fourth evenings of her +being there, not merely on the dry gravel of the shrubbery, but all +over the grounds, and especially in the most distant parts of them, +where there was something more of wildness than in the rest, where the +trees were the oldest, and the grass was the longest and wettest, +had--assisted by the still greater imprudence of sitting in her wet +shoes and stockings--given Marianne a cold so violent as, though for a +day or two trifled with or denied, would force itself by increasing +ailments on the concern of every body, and the notice of herself. +Prescriptions poured in from all quarters, and as usual, were all +declined. Though heavy and feverish, with a pain in her limbs, and a +cough, and a sore throat, a good night's rest was to cure her +entirely; and it was with difficulty that Elinor prevailed on her, +when she went to bed, to try one or two of the simplest of the +remedies. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + + +Marianne got up the next morning at her usual time; to every inquiry +replied that she was better, and tried to prove herself so, by +engaging in her accustomary employments. But a day spent in sitting +shivering over the fire with a book in her hand, which she was unable +to read, or in lying, weary and languid, on a sofa, did not speak much +in favour of her amendment; and when, at last, she went early to bed, +more and more indisposed, Colonel Brandon was only astonished at her +sister's composure, who, though attending and nursing her the whole +day, against Marianne's inclination, and forcing proper medicines on +her at night, trusted, like Marianne, to the certainty and efficacy of +sleep, and felt no real alarm. + +A very restless and feverish night, however, disappointed the +expectation of both; and when Marianne, after persisting in rising, +confessed herself unable to sit up, and returned voluntarily to her +bed, Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs. Jennings's advice, of sending +for the Palmers' apothecary. + +He came, examined his patient, and though encouraging Miss Dashwood to +expect that a very few days would restore her sister to health, yet, +by pronouncing her disorder to have a putrid tendency, and allowing +the word "infection" to pass his lips, gave instant alarm to Mrs. +Palmer, on her baby's account. Mrs. Jennings, who had been inclined +from the first to think Marianne's complaint more serious than Elinor, +now looked very grave on Mr. Harris's report, and confirming +Charlotte's fears and caution, urged the necessity of her immediate +removal with her infant; and Mr. Palmer, though treating their +apprehensions as idle, found the anxiety and importunity of his wife +too great to be withstood. Her departure, therefore, was fixed on; and +within an hour after Mr. Harris's arrival, she set off, with her +little boy and his nurse, for the house of a near relation of Mr. +Palmer's, who lived a few miles on the other side of Bath; whither her +husband promised, at her earnest entreaty, to join her in a day or +two; and whither she was almost equally urgent with her mother to +accompany her. Mrs. Jennings, however, with a kindness of heart which +made Elinor really love her, declared her resolution of not stirring +from Cleveland as long as Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring, +by her own attentive care, to supply to her the place of the mother +she had taken her from; and Elinor found her on every occasion a most +willing and active helpmate, desirous to share in all her fatigues, +and often by her better experience in nursing, of material use. + +Poor Marianne, languid and low from the nature of her malady, and +feeling herself universally ill, could no longer hope that tomorrow +would find her recovered; and the idea of what tomorrow would have +produced, but for this unlucky illness, made every ailment severe; for +on that day they were to have begun their journey home; and, attended +the whole way by a servant of Mrs. Jennings, were to have taken their +mother by surprise on the following forenoon. The little she said was +all in lamentation of this inevitable delay; though Elinor tried to +raise her spirits, and make her believe, as she _then_ really believed +herself, that it would be a very short one. + +The next day produced little or no alteration in the state of the +patient; she certainly was not better, and, except that there was no +amendment, did not appear worse. Their party was now farther reduced; +for Mr. Palmer, though very unwilling to go as well from real humanity +and good-nature, as from a dislike of appearing to be frightened away +by his wife, was persuaded at last by Colonel Brandon to perform his +promise of following her; and while he was preparing to go, Colonel +Brandon himself, with a much greater exertion, began to talk of going +likewise. Here, however, the kindness of Mrs. Jennings interposed most +acceptably; for to send the Colonel away while his love was in so much +uneasiness on her sister's account, would be to deprive them both, she +thought, of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once that his +stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself, that she should want him +to play at piquet of an evening, while Miss Dashwood was above with +her sister, &c. she urged him so strongly to remain, that he, who was +gratifying the first wish of his own heart by a compliance, could not +long even affect to demur; especially as Mrs. Jennings's entreaty was +warmly seconded by Mr. Palmer, who seemed to feel a relief to himself, +in leaving behind him a person so well able to assist or advise Miss +Dashwood in any emergence. + +Marianne was, of course, kept in ignorance of all these arrangements. +She knew not that she had been the means of sending the owners of +Cleveland away, in about seven days from the time of their arrival. It +gave her no surprise that she saw nothing of Mrs. Palmer; and as it +gave her likewise no concern, she never mentioned her name. + +Two days passed away from the time of Mr. Palmer's departure, and her +situation continued, with little variation, the same. Mr. Harris, who +attended her every day, still talked boldly of a speedy recovery, and +Miss Dashwood was equally sanguine; but the expectation of the others +was by no means so cheerful. Mrs. Jennings had determined very early +in the seizure that Marianne would never get over it, and Colonel +Brandon, who was chiefly of use in listening to Mrs. Jennings's +forebodings, was not in a state of mind to resist their influence. He +tried to reason himself out of fears, which the different judgment of +the apothecary seemed to render absurd; but the many hours of each day +in which he was left entirely alone, were but too favourable for the +admission of every melancholy idea, and he could not expel from his +mind the persuasion that he should see Marianne no more. + +On the morning of the third day however, the gloomy anticipations of +both were almost done away; for when Mr. Harris arrived, he declared +his patient materially better. Her pulse was much stronger, and every +symptom more favourable than on the preceding visit. Elinor, confirmed +in every pleasant hope, was all cheerfulness; rejoicing that in her +letters to her mother, she had pursued her own judgment rather than +her friend's, in making very light of the indisposition which delayed +them at Cleveland; and almost fixing on the time when Marianne would +be able to travel. + +But the day did not close so auspiciously as it began. Towards the +evening Marianne became ill again, growing more heavy, restless, and +uncomfortable than before. Her sister, however, still sanguine, was +willing to attribute the change to nothing more than the fatigue of +having sat up to have her bed made; and carefully administering the +cordials prescribed, saw her, with satisfaction, sink at last into a +slumber, from which she expected the most beneficial effects. Her +sleep, though not so quiet as Elinor wished to see it, lasted a +considerable time; and anxious to observe the result of it herself, +she resolved to sit with her during the whole of it. Mrs. Jennings, +knowing nothing of any change in the patient, went unusually early to +bed; her maid, who was one of the principal nurses, was recreating +herself in the housekeeper's room, and Elinor remained alone with +Marianne. + +The repose of the latter became more and more disturbed; and her +sister, who watched, with unremitting attention her continual change +of posture, and heard the frequent but inarticulate sounds of +complaint which passed her lips, was almost wishing to rouse her from +so painful a slumber, when Marianne, suddenly awakened by some +accidental noise in the house, started hastily up, and, with feverish +wildness, cried out,-- + +"Is mama coming?--" + +"Not yet," cried the other, concealing her terror, and assisting +Marianne to lie down again, "but she will be here, I hope, before it +is long. It is a great way, you know, from hence to Barton." + +"But she must not go round by London," cried Marianne, in the same +hurried manner. "I shall never see her, if she goes by London." + +Elinor perceived with alarm that she was not quite herself, and, while +attempting to soothe her, eagerly felt her pulse. It was lower and +quicker than ever! and Marianne, still talking wildly of mama, her +alarm increased so rapidly, as to determine her on sending instantly +for Mr. Harris, and despatching a messenger to Barton for her mother. +To consult with Colonel Brandon on the best means of effecting the +latter, was a thought which immediately followed the resolution of its +performance; and as soon she had rung up the maid to take her place by +her sister, she hastened down to the drawing-room, where she knew he +was generally to be found at a much later hour than the present. + +It was no time for hesitation. Her fears and her difficulties were +immediately before him. Her fears, he had no courage, no confidence to +attempt the removal of; he listened to them in silent despondence; but +her difficulties were instantly obviated, for with a readiness that +seemed to speak the occasion, and the service pre-arranged in his +mind, he offered himself as the messenger who should fetch Mrs. +Dashwood. Elinor made no resistance that was not easily overcome. She +thanked him with brief, though fervent gratitude, and while he went to +hurry off his servant with a message to Mr. Harris, and an order for +post-horses directly, she wrote a few lines to her mother. + +The comfort of such a friend at that moment as Colonel Brandon--or +such a companion for her mother,--how gratefully was it felt!--a +companion whose judgment would guide, whose attendance must relieve, +and whose friendship might soothe her!--as far as the shock of such a +summons _could_ be lessened to her, his presence, his manners, his +assistance, would lessen it. + +_He_, meanwhile, whatever he might feel, acted with all the firmness +of a collected mind, made every necessary arrangement with the utmost +despatch, and calculated with exactness the time in which she might +look for his return. Not a moment was lost in delay of any kind. The +horses arrived, even before they were expected, and Colonel Brandon +only pressing her hand with a look of solemnity, and a few words +spoken too low to reach her ear, hurried into the carriage. It was +then about twelve o'clock, and she returned to her sister's apartment +to wait for the arrival of the apothecary, and to watch by her the +rest of the night. It was a night of almost equal suffering to both. +Hour after hour passed away in sleepless pain and delirium on +Marianne's side, and in the most cruel anxiety on Elinor's, before Mr. +Harris appeared. Her apprehensions once raised, paid by their excess +for all her former security; and the servant who sat up with her, for +she would not allow Mrs. Jennings to be called, only tortured her +more, by hints of what her mistress had always thought. + +Marianne's ideas were still, at intervals, fixed incoherently on her +mother, and whenever she mentioned her name, it gave a pang to the +heart of poor Elinor, who, reproaching herself for having trifled with +so many days of illness, and wretched for some immediate relief, +fancied that all relief might soon be in vain, that every thing had +been delayed too long, and pictured to herself her suffering mother +arriving too late to see this darling child, or to see her rational. + +She was on the point of sending again for Mr. Harris, or if _he_ could +not come, for some other advice, when the former--but not till after +five o'clock--arrived. His opinion, however, made some little amends +for his delay, for though acknowledging a very unexpected and +unpleasant alteration in his patient, he would not allow the danger to +be material, and talked of the relief which a fresh mode of treatment +must procure, with a confidence which, in a lesser degree, was +communicated to Elinor. He promised to call again in the course of +three or four hours, and left both the patient and her anxious +attendant more composed than he had found them. + +With strong concern, and with many reproaches for not being called to +their aid, did Mrs. Jennings hear in the morning of what had passed. +Her former apprehensions, now with greater reason restored, left her +no doubt of the event; and though trying to speak comfort to Elinor, +her conviction of her sister's danger would not allow her to offer the +comfort of hope. Her heart was really grieved. The rapid decay, the +early death of a girl so young, so lovely as Marianne, must have +struck a less interested person with concern. On Mrs. Jennings's +compassion she had other claims. She had been for three months her +companion, was still under her care, and she was known to have been +greatly injured, and long unhappy. The distress of her sister too, +particularly a favourite, was before her;--and as for their mother, +when Mrs. Jennings considered that Marianne might probably be to _her_ +what Charlotte was to herself, her sympathy in _her_ sufferings was +very sincere. + +Mr. Harris was punctual in his second visit; but he came to be +disappointed in his hopes of what the last would produce. His +medicines had failed; the fever was unabated; and Marianne only more +quiet--not more herself--remained in a heavy stupor. Elinor, catching +all, and more than all, his fears in a moment, proposed to call in +further advice. But he judged it unnecessary: he had still something +more to try, some more fresh application, of whose success he was as +confident as the last, and his visit concluded with encouraging +assurances which reached the ear, but could not enter the heart of +Miss Dashwood. She was calm, except when she thought of her mother; +but she was almost hopeless; and in this state she continued till +noon, scarcely stirring from her sister's bed, her thoughts wandering +from one image of grief, one suffering friend to another, and her +spirits oppressed to the utmost by the conversation of Mrs. Jennings, +who scrupled not to attribute the severity and danger of this attack +to the many weeks of previous indisposition which Marianne's +disappointment had brought on. Elinor felt all the reasonableness of +the idea, and it gave fresh misery to her reflections. + +About noon, however, she began--but with a caution--a dread of +disappointment which for some time kept her silent, even to her +friend--to fancy, to hope she could perceive a slight amendment in her +sister's pulse; she waited, watched, and examined it again and again; +and at last, with an agitation more difficult to bury under exterior +calmness, than all her foregoing distress, ventured to communicate her +hopes. Mrs. Jennings, though forced, on examination, to acknowledge a +temporary revival, tried to keep her young friend from indulging a +thought of its continuance; and Elinor, conning over every injunction +of distrust, told herself likewise not to hope. But it was too late. +Hope had already entered; and feeling all its anxious flutter, she +bent over her sister to watch--she hardly knew for what. Half an hour +passed away, and the favourable symptom yet blessed her. Others even +arose to confirm it. Her breath, her skin, her lips, all flattered +Elinor with signs of amendment; and Marianne fixed her eyes on her +with a rational, though languid, gaze. Anxiety and hope now oppressed +her in equal degrees, and left her no moment of tranquillity till the +arrival of Mr. Harris at four o'clock; when his assurances, his +felicitations on a recovery in her sister even surpassing his +expectation, gave her confidence, comfort, and tears of joy. + +Marianne was in every respect materially better, and he declared her +entirely out of danger. Mrs. Jennings, perhaps satisfied with the +partial justification of her forebodings which had been found in their +late alarm, allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted, +with unfeigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness, the +probability of an entire recovery. + +Elinor could not be cheerful. Her joy was of a different kind, and led +to any thing rather than to gaiety. Marianne restored to life, health, +friends, and to her doting mother, was an idea to fill her heart with +sensations of exquisite comfort, and expand it in fervent +gratitude;--but it lead to no outward demonstrations of joy, no words, +no smiles. All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction, silent and +strong. + +She continued by the side of her sister, with little intermission the +whole afternoon, calming every fear, satisfying every inquiry of her +enfeebled spirits, supplying every succour, and watching almost every +look and every breath. The possibility of a relapse would of course, +in some moments, occur to remind her of what anxiety was; but when she +saw, on her frequent and minute examination, that every symptom of +recovery continued, and saw Marianne at six o'clock sink into a quiet, +steady, and to all appearance comfortable, sleep, she silenced every +doubt. + +The time was now drawing on, when Colonel Brandon might be expected +back. At ten o'clock, she trusted, or at least not much later her +mother would be relieved from the dreadful suspense in which she must +now be travelling towards them. The Colonel, too!--perhaps scarcely +less an object of pity! Oh! how slow was the progress of time which +yet kept them in ignorance! + +At seven o'clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep, she joined +Mrs. Jennings in the drawing-room to tea. Of breakfast she had been +kept by her fears, and of dinner by their sudden reverse, from eating +much; and the present refreshment, therefore, with such feelings of +content as she brought to it, was particularly welcome. Mrs. Jennings +would have persuaded her, at its conclusion, to take some rest before +her mother's arrival, and allow _her_ to take her place by Marianne; +but Elinor had no sense of fatigue, no capability of sleep at that +moment about her, and she was not to be kept away from her sister an +unnecessary instant. Mrs. Jennings therefore attending her up stairs +into the sick chamber, to satisfy herself that all continued right, +left her there again to her charge and her thoughts, and retired to +her own room to write letters and sleep. + +The night was cold and stormy. The wind roared round the house, and +the rain beat against the windows; but Elinor, all happiness within, +regarded it not. Marianne slept through every blast; and the +travellers, they had a rich reward in store, for every present +inconvenience. + +The clock struck eight. Had it been ten, Elinor would have been +convinced that at that moment she heard a carriage driving up to the +house; and so strong was the persuasion that she _did_, in spite of +the _almost_ impossibility of their being already come, that she moved +into the adjoining dressing-closet and opened a window shutter, to be +satisfied of the truth. She instantly saw that her ears had not +deceived her. The flaring lamps of a carriage were immediately in +view. By their uncertain light she thought she could discern it to be +drawn by four horses; and this, while it told the excess of her poor +mother's alarm, gave some explanation to such unexpected rapidity. + +Never in her life had Elinor found it so difficult to be calm, as at +that moment. The knowledge of what her mother must be feeling as the +carriage stopped the door,--of her doubt--her dread,--perhaps her +despair!--and of what _she_ had to tell! with such knowledge it was +impossible to be calm. All that remained to be done was to be speedy; +and, therefore staying only till she could leave Mrs. Jennings's maid +with her sister, she hurried down stairs. + +The bustle in the vestibule, as she passed along an inner lobby, +assured her that they were already in the house. She rushed to the +drawing-room,--she entered it,--and saw only Willoughby. + +[Illustration: _Opened a window-shutter._] + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + + +Elinor, starting back with a look of horror at the sight of him, +obeyed the first impulse of her heart in turning instantly to quit the +room, and her hand was already on the lock, when its action was +suspended by his hastily advancing, and saying, in a voice rather of +command than supplication-- + +"Miss Dashwood, for half an hour--for ten minutes--I entreat you to +stay." + +"No, sir," she replied with firmness, "I shall _not_ stay. Your +business cannot be with _me._ The servants, I suppose, forgot to tell +you that Mr. Palmer was not in the house." + +"Had they told me," he cried with vehemence, "that Mr. Palmer and all +his relations were at the devil, it would not have turned me from the +door. My business is with you, and only you." + +"With me!"--in the utmost amazement;--"well, sir--be quick--and if you +can--less violent." + +"Sit down, and I will be both." + +She hesitated; she knew not what to do. The possibility of Colonel +Brandon's arriving and finding her there, came across her. But she had +promised to hear him, and her curiosity no less than her honor was +engaged. After a moment's recollection, therefore, concluding that +prudence required dispatch, and that her acquiescence would best +promote it, she walked silently towards the table, and sat down. He +took the opposite chair, and for half a minute not a word was said by +either. + +"Pray be quick, sir," said Elinor, impatiently; "I have no time to +spare." + +He was sitting in an attitude of deep meditation, and seemed not to +hear her. + +"Your sister," said he, with abruptness, a moment afterwards--"is out +of danger. I heard it from the servant. God be praised!--But is it +true? is it really true?" + +Elinor would not speak. He repeated the inquiry with yet greater +eagerness. + +"For God's sake tell me, is she out of danger, or is she not?" + +[Illustration: "_I entreat you to stay._"] + +"We hope she is." + +He rose up, and walked across the room. + +"Had I known as much half an hour ago--But since I _am_ +here,"--speaking with a forced vivacity as he returned to his +seat,--"what does it signify?--For once, Miss Dashwood--it will be the +last time, perhaps--let us be cheerful together. I am in a fine mood +for gaiety. Tell me honestly,"--a deeper glow overspreading his +cheeks, "do you think me most a knave or a fool?" + +Elinor looked at him with greater astonishment than ever. She began to +think that he must be in liquor;--the strangeness of such a visit, and +of such manners, seemed no otherwise intelligible; and with this +impression she immediately rose, saying-- + +"Mr. Willoughby, I advise you at present to return to Combe--I am not +at leisure to remain with you longer. Whatever your business may be +with me, will it be better recollected and explained to-morrow." + +"I understand you," he replied, with an expressive smile, and a voice +perfectly calm; "yes, I am very drunk. A pint of porter with my cold +beef at Marlborough was enough to over-set me." + +"At Marlborough!"--cried Elinor, more and more at a loss to understand +what he would be at. + +"Yes,--I left London this morning at eight o'clock, and the only ten +minutes I have spent out of my chaise since that time procured me a +nuncheon at Marlborough." + +The steadiness of his manner, and the intelligence of his eye as he +spoke, convincing Elinor, that whatever other unpardonable folly might +bring him to Cleveland, he was not brought there by intoxication, she +said, after a moment's recollection-- + +"Mr. Willoughby, you _ought_ to feel, and I certainly _do_, that after +what has passed--your coming here in this manner, and forcing yourself +upon my notice, requires a very particular excuse. What is it, that +you mean by it?"-- + +"I mean,"--said he, with serious energy--"if I can, to make you hate +me one degree less than you do _now._ I mean to offer some kind of +explanation, some kind of apology, for the past; to open my whole +heart to you, and by convincing you, that though I have been always a +blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to obtain something like +forgiveness from Ma----, from your sister." + +"Is this the real reason of your coming?" + +"Upon my soul it is," was his answer, with a warmth which brought all +the former Willoughby to her remembrance, and in spite of herself made +her think him sincere. + +"If that is all, you may be satisfied already; for Marianne _does_, +she has _long_ forgiven you." + +"Has she?" he cried, in the same eager tone. "Then she has forgiven me +before she ought to have done it. But she shall forgive me again, and +on more reasonable grounds. _Now_ will you listen to me?" + +Elinor bowed her assent. + +"I do not know," said he, after a pause of expectation on her side, +and thoughtfulness on his own, "how _you_ may have accounted for my +behaviour to your sister, or what diabolical motive you may have +imputed to me. Perhaps you will hardly think the better of me,--it is +worth the trial however, and you shall hear every thing. When I first +became intimate in your family, I had no other intention, no other +view in the acquaintance than to pass my time pleasantly while I was +obliged to remain in Devonshire, more pleasantly than I had ever done +before. Your sister's lovely person and interesting manners could not +but please me; and her behaviour to me almost from the first, was of a +kind--It is astonishing, when I reflect on what it was, and what _she_ +was, that my heart should have been so insensible! But at first I must +confess, my vanity only was elevated by it. Careless of her happiness, +thinking only of my own amusement, giving way to feelings which I had +always been too much in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured, by +every means in my power, to make myself pleasing to her, without any +design of returning her affection." + +Miss Dashwood, at this point, turning her eyes on him with the most +angry contempt, stopped him, by saying-- + +"It is hardly worth while, Mr. Willoughby, for you to relate, or for +me to listen any longer. Such a beginning as this cannot be followed +by any thing. Do not let me be pained by hearing any thing more on the +subject." + +"I insist on you hearing the whole of it," he replied, "My fortune was +never large, and I had always been expensive, always in the habit of +associating with people of better income than myself. Every year +since my coming of age, or even before, I believe, had added to my +debts; and though the death of my old cousin, Mrs. Smith, was to set +me free; yet that event being uncertain, and possibly far distant, it +had been for some time my intention to re-establish my circumstances +by marrying a woman of fortune. To attach myself to your sister, +therefore, was not a thing to be thought of; and with a meanness, +selfishness, cruelty, which no indignant, no contemptuous look, even +of yours, Miss Dashwood, can ever reprobate too much,--I was acting in +this manner, trying to engage her regard, without a thought of +returning it. But one thing may be said for me: even in that horrid +state of selfish vanity, I did not know the extent of the injury I +meditated, because I did not _then_ know what it was to love. But have +I ever known it? Well may it be doubted; for, had I really loved, +could I have sacrificed my feelings to vanity, to avarice? or, what is +more, could I have sacrificed hers? But I have done it. To avoid a +comparative poverty, which her affection and her society would have +deprived of all its horrors, I have, by raising myself to affluence, +lost every thing that could make it a blessing." + +"You did then," said Elinor, a little softened, "believe yourself at +one time attached to her?" + +"To have resisted such attractions, to have withstood such tenderness! +Is there a man on earth who could have done it? Yes, I found myself, +by insensible degrees, sincerely fond of her; and the happiest hours +of my life were what I spent with her when I felt my intentions were +strictly honourable, and my feelings blameless. Even _then_, however, +when fully determined on paying my addresses to her, I allowed myself +most improperly to put off, from day to day, the moment of doing it, +from an unwillingness to enter into an engagement while my +circumstances were so greatly embarrassed. I will not reason here--nor +will I stop for _you_ to expatiate on the absurdity, and the worse +than absurdity, of scrupling to engage my faith where my honour was +already bound. The event has proved, that I was a cunning fool, +providing with great circumspection for a possible opportunity of +making myself contemptible and wretched for ever. At last, however, my +resolution was taken, and I had determined, as soon as I could engage +her alone, to justify the attentions I had so invariably paid her, and +openly assure her of an affection which I had already taken such pains +to display. But in the interim--in the interim of the very few hours +that were to pass, before I could have an opportunity of speaking with +her in private--a circumstance occurred--an unlucky circumstance--to +ruin all my resolution, and with it all my comfort. A discovery took +place,"--here he hesitated and looked down. "Mrs. Smith had somehow or +other been informed, I imagine by some distant relation, whose +interest it was to deprive me of her favour, of an affair, a +connection--but I need not explain myself farther," he added, looking +at her with an heightened colour and an enquiring eye,--"your +particular intimacy--you have probably heard the whole story long +ago." + +"I have," returned Elinor, colouring likewise, and hardening her heart +anew against any compassion for him, "I have heard it all. And how you +will explain away any part of your guilt in that dreadful business, I +confess is beyond my comprehension." + +"Remember," cried Willoughby, "from whom you received the account. +Could it be an impartial one? I acknowledge that her situation and her +character ought to have been respected by me. I do not mean to justify +myself, but at the same time cannot leave you to suppose that I have +nothing to urge--that because she was injured she was irreproachable, +and because _I_ was a libertine, _she_ must be a saint. If the +violence of her passions, the weakness of her understanding--I do not +mean, however, to defend myself. Her affection for me deserved better +treatment, and I often, with great self-reproach, recall the +tenderness which, for a very short time, had the power of creating any +return. I wish--I heartily wish it had never been. But I have injured +more than herself; and I have injured one, whose affection for +me--(may I say it?) was scarcely less warm than hers; and whose +mind--Oh! how infinitely superior!" + +"Your indifference, however, towards that unfortunate girl--I must say +it, unpleasant to me as the discussion of such a subject may well +be--your indifference is no apology for your cruel neglect of her. Do +not think yourself excused by any weakness, any natural defect of +understanding on her side, in the wanton cruelty so evident on yours. +You must have known, that while you were enjoying yourself in +Devonshire pursuing fresh schemes, always gay, always happy, she was +reduced to the extremest indigence." + +"But, upon my soul, I did _not_ know it," he warmly replied; "I did +not recollect that I had omitted to give her my direction; and common +sense might have told her how to find it out." + +"Well, sir, and what said Mrs. Smith?" + +"She taxed me with the offence at once, and my confusion may be +guessed. The purity of her life, the formality of her notions, her +ignorance of the world,--every thing was against me. The matter itself +I could not deny, and vain was every endeavour to soften it. She was +previously disposed, I believe, to doubt the morality of my conduct in +general, and was moreover discontented with the very little attention, +the very little portion of my time that I had bestowed on her, in my +present visit. In short, it ended in a total breach. By one measure I +might have saved myself. In the height of her morality, good woman! +she offered to forgive the past, if I would marry Eliza. That could +not be; and I was formally dismissed from her favour and her house. +The night following this affair--I was to go the next morning--was +spent by me in deliberating on what my future conduct should be. The +struggle was great, but it ended too soon. My affection for Marianne, +my thorough conviction of her attachment to me--it was all +insufficient to outweigh that dread of poverty, or get the better of +those false ideas of the necessity of riches, which I was naturally +inclined to feel, and expensive society had increased. I had reason to +believe myself secure of my present wife, if I chose to address her, +and I persuaded myself to think that nothing else in common prudence +remained for me to do. A heavy scene however awaited me, before I +could leave Devonshire: I was engaged to dine with you on that very +day; some apology was therefore necessary for my breaking this +engagement. But whether I should write this apology, or deliver it in +person, was a point of long debate. To see Marianne, I felt, would be +dreadful, and I even doubted whether I could see her again, and keep +to my resolution. In that point, however, I undervalued my own +magnanimity, as the event declared; for I went, I saw her, and saw her +miserable, and left her miserable;--and left her hoping never to see +her again." + +"Why did you call, Mr. Willoughby?" said Elinor, reproachfully; "a +note would have answered every purpose. Why was it necessary to +call?" + +[Illustration: "_I was formally dismissed._"] + +"It was necessary to my own pride. I could not bear to leave the +country in a manner that might lead you, or the rest of the +neighbourhood, to suspect any part of what had really passed between +Mrs. Smith and myself, and I resolved therefore on calling at the +cottage, in my way to Honiton. The sight of your dear sister, however, +was really dreadful; and, to heighten the matter, I found her alone. +You were all gone I do not know where. I had left her only the evening +before, so fully, so firmly resolved within my self on doing right! A +few hours were to have engaged her to me for ever; and I remember how +happy, how gay were my spirits, as I walked from the cottage to +Allenham, satisfied with myself, delighted with every body! But in +this, our last interview of friendship, I approached her with a sense +of guilt that almost took from me the power of dissembling. Her +sorrow, her disappointment, her deep regret, when I told her that I +was obliged to leave Devonshire so immediately--I never shall forget +it--united too with such reliance, such confidence in me! Oh, God! +what a hard-hearted rascal I was!" + +They were both silent for a few moments. Elinor first spoke. + +"Did you tell her that you should soon return?" + +"I do not know what I told her," he replied, impatiently; "less than +was due to the past, beyond a doubt, and in all likelihood much more +than was justified by the future. I cannot think of it. It won't do. +Then came your dear mother to torture me farther, with all her +kindness and confidence. Thank Heaven! it _did_ torture me. I was +miserable. Miss Dashwood, you cannot have an idea of the comfort it +gives me to look back on my own misery. I owe such a grudge to myself +for the stupid, rascally folly of my own heart, that all my past +sufferings under it are only triumph and exultation to me now. Well, I +went, left all that I loved, and went to those to whom, at best, I was +only indifferent. My journey to town--travelling with my own horses, +and therefore so tediously--no creature to speak to--my own +reflections so cheerful--when I looked forward every thing so +inviting!--when I looked back at Barton, the picture so soothing!--oh, +it was a blessed journey!" + +He stopped. + +"Well, sir," said Elinor, who, though pitying him, grew impatient for +his departure, "and this is all?" + +"Ah!--no,--have you forgot what passed in town? That infamous letter? +Did she show it you?" + +"Yes, I saw every note that passed." + +"When the first of hers reached me (as it immediately did, for I was +in town the whole time,) what I felt is, in the common phrase, not to +be expressed; in a more simple one--perhaps too simple to raise any +emotion, my feelings were very, very painful. Every line, every word +was--in the hackneyed metaphor which their dear writer, were she here, +would forbid--a dagger to my heart. To know that Marianne was in town +was, in the same language, a thunderbolt. Thunderbolts and daggers! +what a reproof would she have given me! her taste, her opinions--I +believe they are better known to me than my own, and I am sure they +are dearer." + +Elinor's heart, which had undergone many changes in the course of this +extraordinary conversation, was now softened again;--yet she felt it +her duty to check such ideas in her companion as the last. + +"This is not right, Mr. Willoughby. Remember that you are married. +Relate only what in your conscience you think necessary for me to +hear." + +"Marianne's note, by assuring me that I was still as dear to her as in +former days, that in spite of the many, many weeks we had been +separated, she was as constant in her own feelings, and as full of +faith in the constancy of mine as ever, awakened all my remorse. I say +awakened, because time and London, business and dissipation, had in +some measure quieted it, and I had been growing a fine hardened +villain, fancying myself indifferent to her, and choosing to fancy +that she too must have become indifferent to me; talking to myself of +our past attachment as a mere idle, trifling business, shrugging up my +shoulders in proof of its being so, and silencing every reproach, +overcoming every scruple, by secretly saying now and then, 'I shall be +heartily glad to hear she is well married.' But this note made me know +myself better. I felt that she was infinitely dearer to me than any +other woman in the world, and that I was using her infamously. But +every thing was then just settled between Miss Grey and me. To retreat +was impossible. All that I had to do, was to avoid you both. I sent no +answer to Marianne, intending by that to preserve myself from her +farther notice; and for some time I was even determined not to call +in Berkeley Street; but at last, judging it wiser to affect the air of +a cool, common acquaintance than anything else, I watched you all +safely out of the house one morning, and left my name." + +"Watched us out of the house!" + +"Even so. You would be surprised to hear how often I watched you, how +often I was on the point of falling in with you. I have entered many a +shop to avoid your sight, as the carriage drove by. Lodging as I did +in Bond Street, there was hardly a day in which I did not catch a +glimpse of one or other of you; and nothing but the most constant +watchfulness on my side, a most invariably prevailing desire to keep +out of your sight, could have separated us so long. I avoided the +Middletons as much as possible, as well as everybody else who was +likely to prove an acquaintance in common. Not aware of their being in +town, however, I blundered on Sir John, I believe, the first day of +his coming, and the day after I had called at Mrs. Jennings's. He +asked me to a party, a dance at his house in the evening. Had he _not_ +told me as an inducement that you and your sister were to be there, I +should have felt it too certain a thing, to trust myself near him. The +next morning brought another short note from Marianne--still +affectionate, open, artless, confiding--everything that could make +_my_ conduct most hateful. I could not answer it. I tried--but could +not frame a sentence. But I thought of her, I believe, every moment of +the day. If you _can_ pity me, Miss Dashwood, pity my situation as it +was _then._ With my head and heart full of your sister, I was forced +to play the happy lover to another woman! Those three or four weeks +were worse than all. Well, at last, as I need not tell you, you were +forced on me; and what a sweet figure I cut! what an evening of agony +it was! Marianne, beautiful as an angel on one side, calling me +Willoughby in such a tone! Oh, God! holding out her hand to me, asking +me for an explanation, with those bewitching eyes fixed in such +speaking solicitude on my face! and Sophia, jealous as the devil on +the other hand, looking all that was--Well, it does not signify; it is +over now. Such an evening! I ran away from you all as soon as I could; +but not before I had seen Marianne's sweet face as white as death. +_That_ was the last, last look I ever had of her; the last manner in +which she appeared to me. It was a horrid sight! yet when I thought +of her to-day as really dying, it was a kind of comfort to me to +imagine that I knew exactly how she would appear to those, who saw her +last in this world. She was before me, constantly before me, as I +travelled, in the same look and hue." + +[Illustration: "_I have entered many a shop to avoid your sight._"] + +A short pause of mutual thoughtfulness succeeded. Willoughby first +rousing himself, broke it thus: + +"Well, let me make haste and be gone. Your sister is certainly better, +certainly out of danger?" + +"We are assured of it." + +"Your poor mother, too!--doting on Marianne." + +"But the letter, Mr. Willoughby, your own letter; have you any thing +to say about that?" + +"Yes, yes, _that_ in particular. Your sister wrote to me again, you +know, the very next morning. You saw what she said. I was breakfasting +at the Ellisons,--and her letter, with some others, was brought to me +there from my lodgings. It happened to catch Sophia's eye before it +caught mine;--and its size, the elegance of the paper, the hand-writing +altogether, immediately gave her a suspicion. Some vague report had +reached her before of my attachment to some young lady in Devonshire, +and what had passed within her observation the preceding evening had +marked who the young lady was, and made her more jealous than ever. +Affecting that air of playfulness, therefore, which is delightful in a +woman one loves, she opened the letter directly, and read its contents. +She was well paid for her impudence. She read what made her wretched. +Her wretchedness I could have borne, but her passion--her malice--at all +events it must be appeased. And, in short, what do you think of my +wife's style of letter-writing?--delicate--tender--truly feminine--was +it not?" + +"Your wife! The letter was in your own hand-writing." + +"Yes, but I had only the credit of servilely copying such sentences as +I was ashamed to put my name to. The original was all her own--her own +happy thoughts and gentle diction. But what could I do! we were +engaged, every thing in preparation, the day almost fixed--but I am +talking like a fool. Preparation! Day! In honest words, her money was +necessary to me, and in a situation like mine, any thing was to be +done to prevent a rupture. And after all, what did it signify to my +character in the opinion of Marianne and her friends, in what +language my answer was couched? It must have been only to one end. My +business was to declare myself a scoundrel, and whether I did it with +a bow or a bluster was of little importance. 'I am ruined for ever in +their opinion,' said I to myself; 'I am shut out for ever from their +society, they already think me an unprincipled fellow, this letter +will only make them think me a blackguard one.' Such were my +reasonings, as, in a sort of desperate carelessness, I copied my +wife's words, and parted with the last relics of Marianne. Her three +notes--unluckily they were all in my pocket-book, or I should have +denied their existence, and hoarded them for ever--I was forced to put +them up, and could not even kiss them. And the lock of hair--that too +I had always carried about me in the same pocket-book, which was now +searched by Madam with the most ingratiating virulence,--the dear +lock--all, every memento was torn from me." + +"You are very wrong, Mr. Willoughby, very blamable," said Elinor, +while her voice, in spite of herself, betrayed her compassionate +emotion; "you ought not to speak in this way, either of Mrs. +Willoughby or my sister. You had made your own choice. It was not +forced on you. Your wife has a claim to your politeness, to your +respect, at least. She must be attached to you, or she would not have +married you. To treat her with unkindness, to speak of her slightingly +is no atonement to Marianne--nor can I suppose it a relief to your own +conscience." + +"Do not talk to me of my wife," said he with a heavy sigh. "She does +not deserve your compassion. She knew I had no regard for her when we +married. Well, married we were, and came down to Combe Magna to be +happy, and afterwards returned to town to be gay. And now do you pity +me, Miss Dashwood? or have I said all this to no purpose? Am I,--be +it only one degree,--am I less guilty in your opinion than I was +before? My intentions were not always wrong. Have I explained away any +part of my guilt?" + +"Yes, you have certainly removed something--a little. You have proved +yourself, on the whole, less faulty than I had believed you. You have +proved your heart less wicked, much less wicked. But I hardly +know--the misery that you have inflicted--I hardly know what could +have made it worse." + +"Will you repeat to your sister when she is recovered, what I have +been telling you?--Let me be a little lightened too in her opinion as +well as in yours. You tell me that she has forgiven me already. Let me +be able to fancy that a better knowledge of my heart, and of my +present feelings, will draw from her a more spontaneous, more natural, +more gentle, less dignified, forgiveness. Tell her of my misery and my +penitence--tell her that my heart was never inconstant to her, and if +you will, that at this moment she is dearer to me than ever." + +"I will tell her all that is necessary to what may comparatively be +called, your justification. But you have not explained to me the +particular reason of your coming now, nor how you heard of her +illness." + +"Last night, in Drury Lane lobby, I ran against Sir John Middleton, +and when he saw who I was, for the first time these two months--he +spoke to me. That he had cut me ever since my marriage, I had seen +without surprise or resentment. Now, however, his good-natured, +honest, stupid soul, full of indignation against me, and concern for +your sister, could not resist the temptation of telling me what he +knew ought to, though probably he did not think it _would_, vex me +horridly. As bluntly as he could speak it, therefore, he told me that +Marianne Dashwood was dying of a putrid fever at Cleveland--a letter +that morning received from Mrs. Jennings declared her danger most +imminent--the Palmers are all gone off in a fright, &c. I was too much +shocked to be able to pass myself off as insensible even to the +undiscerning Sir John. His heart was softened in seeing mine suffer; +and so much of his ill-will was done away, that when we parted, he +almost shook me by the hand while he reminded me of an old promise +about a pointer puppy. What I felt on hearing that your sister was +dying, and dying too, believing me the greatest villain upon earth, +scorning, hating me in her latest moments--for how could I tell what +horrid projects might not have been imputed? _One_ person I was sure +would represent me as capable of any thing. What I felt was dreadful! +My resolution was soon made, and at eight o'clock this morning I was +in my carriage. Now you know all." + +Elinor made no answer. Her thoughts were silently fixed on the +irreparable injury which too early an independence and its consequent +habits of idleness, dissipation, and luxury, had made in the mind, the +character, the happiness, of a man who, to every advantage of person +and talents, united a disposition naturally open and honest, and a +feeling, affectionate temper. The world had made him extravagant and +vain--Extravagance and vanity had made him cold-hearted and selfish. +Vanity, while seeking its own guilty triumph at the expense of +another, had involved him in a real attachment, which extravagance, or +at least its offspring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed. Each +faulty propensity in leading him to evil, had led him likewise to +punishment. The attachment, from which against honour, against +feeling, against every better interest he had outwardly torn himself, +now, when no longer allowable, governed every thought; and the +connection, for the sake of which he had, with little scruple, left +her sister to misery, was likely to prove a source of unhappiness to +himself of a far more incurable nature. From a reverie of this kind +she was recalled at the end of some minutes by Willoughby, who, +rousing himself from a reverie at least equally painful, started up in +preparation for going, and said-- + +"There is no use in staying here; I must be off." + +"Are you going back to town?" + +"No--to Combe Magna. I have business there; from thence to town in a +day or two. Good bye." + +He held out his hand. She could not refuse to give him hers;--he +pressed it with affection. + +"And you _do_ think something better of me than you did?"--said he, +letting it fall, and leaning against the mantelpiece as if forgetting +he was to go. + +Elinor assured him that she did;--that she forgave, pitied, wished him +well--was even interested in his happiness--and added some gentle +counsel as to the behaviour most likely to promote it. His answer was +not very encouraging. + +"As to that," said he, "I must rub through the world as well as I can. +Domestic happiness is out of the question. If, however, I am allowed +to think that you and yours feel an interest in my fate and actions, +it may be the means--it may put me on my guard--at least, it may be +something to live for. Marianne to be sure is lost to me for ever. +Were I even by any blessed chance at liberty again--" + +Elinor stopped him with a reproof. + +"Well,"--he replied--"once more good bye. I shall now go away and live +in dread of one event." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Your sister's marriage." + +"You are very wrong. She can never be more lost to you than she is +now." + +"But she will be gained by some one else. And if that some one should +be the very he whom, of all others, I could least bear--but I will not +stay to rob myself of all your compassionate good-will, by showing that +where I have most injured I can least forgive. Good bye,--God bless +you!" + +And with these words, he almost ran out of the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV + + +Elinor, for some time after he left her, for some time even after the +sound of his carriage had died away, remained too much oppressed by a +crowd of ideas, widely differing in themselves, but of which sadness +was the general result, to think even of her sister. + +Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had abhorred as the +most worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite of all his faults, excited +a degree of commiseration for the sufferings produced by them, which +made her think of him as now separated for ever from her family, with +a tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she soon acknowledged +within herself--to his wishes than to his merits. She felt that his +influence over her mind was heightened by circumstances which ought +not in reason to have weight; by that person of uncommon attraction, +that open, affectionate, and lively manner which it was no merit to +possess; and by that still ardent love for Marianne, which it was not +even innocent to indulge. But she felt that it was so, long, long +before she could feel his influence less. + +When at last she returned to the unconscious Marianne, she found her +just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet a sleep to the extent of +her hopes. Elinor's heart was full. The past, the present, the future, +Willoughby's visit, Marianne's safety, and her mother's expected +arrival, threw her altogether into an agitation of spirits which kept +off every indication of fatigue, and made her only fearful of +betraying herself to her sister. Short was the time, however, in which +that fear could affect her, for within half an hour after Willoughby's +leaving the house, she was again called down stairs by the sound of +another carriage. Eager to save her mother from every unnecessary +moment's horrible suspense, she ran immediately into the hall, and +reached the outward door just in time to receive and support her as +she entered it. + +Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the house had produced +almost the conviction of Marianne's being no more, had no voice to +inquire after her, no voice even for Elinor; but _she_, waiting +neither for salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyful relief; +and her mother, catching it with all her usual warmth, was in a moment +as much overcome by her happiness, as she had been before by her +fears. She was supported into the drawing-room between her daughter +and her friend; and there, shedding tears of joy, though still unable +to speak, embraced Elinor again and again, turning from her at +intervals to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look which spoke at +once her gratitude, and her conviction of his sharing with herself in +the bliss of the moment. He shared it, however, in a silence even +greater than her own. + +As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself, to see Marianne was +her first desire; and in two minutes she was with her beloved child, +rendered dearer to her than ever by absence, unhappiness, and danger. +Elinor's delight, as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only +checked by an apprehension of its robbing Marianne of farther +sleep;--but Mrs. Dashwood could be calm, could be even prudent, when +the life of a child was at stake, and Marianne, satisfied in knowing +her mother was near her, and conscious of being too weak for +conversation, submitted readily to the silence and quiet prescribed by +every nurse around her. Mrs. Dashwood _would_ sit up with her all +night; and Elinor, in compliance with her mother's entreaty, went to +bed. But the rest, which one night entirely sleepless, and many hours +of the most wearing anxiety seemed to make requisite, was kept off by +irritation of spirits. Willoughby, "poor Willoughby," as she now +allowed herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she would +not but have heard his vindication for the world, and now blamed, now +acquitted herself for having judged him so harshly before. But her +promise of relating it to her sister was invariably painful. She +dreaded the performance of it, dreaded what its effect on Marianne +might be; doubted whether after such an explanation she could ever be +happy with another; and for a moment wished Willoughby a widower. +Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself, felt that to +_his_ sufferings and _his_ constancy far more than to his rival's, the +reward of her sister was due, and wished any thing rather than Mrs. +Willoughby's death. + +The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been much softened +to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm; for so great was her +uneasiness about Marianne, that she had already determined to set out +for Cleveland on that very day, without waiting for any further +intelligence, and had so far settled her journey before his arrival, +that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch Margaret +away, as her mother was unwilling to take her where there might be +infection. + +Marianne continued to mend every day, and the brilliant cheerfulness +of Mrs. Dashwood's looks and spirits proved her to be, as she +repeatedly declared herself, one of the happiest women in the world. +Elinor could not hear the declaration, nor witness its proofs without +sometimes wondering whether her mother ever recollected Edward. But +Mrs. Dashwood, trusting to the temperate account of her own +disappointment which Elinor had sent her, was led away by the +exuberance of her joy to think only of what would increase it. +Marianne was restored to her from a danger in which, as she now began +to feel, her own mistaken judgment in encouraging the unfortunate +attachment to Willoughby, had contributed to place her; and in her +recovery she had yet another source of joy unthought of by Elinor. It +was thus imparted to her, as soon as any opportunity of private +conference between them occurred. + +"At last we are alone. My Elinor, you do not yet know all my +happiness. Colonel Brandon loves Marianne. He has told me so himself." + +Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained, surprised and +not surprised, was all silent attention. + +"You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should wonder at your +composure now. Had I sat down to wish for any possible good to my +family, I should have fixed on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you +as the object most desirable. And I believe Marianne will be the most +happy with him of the two." + +Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so, because +satisfied that none founded on an impartial consideration of their +age, characters, or feelings, could be given;--but her mother must +always be carried away by her imagination on any interesting subject, +and therefore instead of an inquiry, she passed it off with a smile. + +"He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled. It came +out quite unawares, quite undesignedly. I, you may well believe, could +talk of nothing but my child;--he could not conceal his distress; I +saw that it equalled my own, and he perhaps, thinking that mere +friendship, as the world now goes, would not justify so warm a +sympathy--or rather, not thinking at all, I suppose--giving way to +irresistible feelings, made me acquainted with his earnest, tender, +constant, affection for Marianne. He has loved her, my Elinor, ever +since the first moment of seeing her." + +Here, however, Elinor perceived,--not the language, not the +professions of Colonel Brandon, but the natural embellishments of her +mother's active fancy, which fashioned every thing delightful to her +as it chose. + +"His regard for her, infinitely surpassing anything that Willoughby +ever felt or feigned, as much more warm, as more sincere or constant, +which ever we are to call it, has subsisted through all the knowledge +of dear Marianne's unhappy prepossession for that worthless young man! +and without selfishness, without encouraging a hope! could he have +seen her happy with another. Such a noble mind! such openness, such +sincerity! No one can be deceived in _him._" + +"Colonel Brandon's character," said Elinor, "as an excellent man, is +well established." + +"I know it is," replied her mother seriously, "or after such a +warning, I should be the last to encourage such affection, or even to +be pleased by it. But his coming for me as he did, with such active, +such ready friendship, is enough to prove him one of the worthiest of +men." + +"His character, however," answered Elinor, "does not rest on _one_ act +of kindness, to which his affection for Marianne, were humanity out of +the case, would have prompted him. To Mrs. Jennings, to the +Middletons, he has been long and intimately known; they equally love +and respect him; and even my own knowledge of him, though lately +acquired, is very considerable; and so highly do I value and esteem +him, that if Marianne can be happy with him, I shall be as ready as +yourself to think our connection the greatest blessing to us in the +world. What answer did you give him? Did you allow him to hope?" + +"Oh! my love, I could not then talk of hope to him or to myself. +Marianne might at that moment be dying. But he did not ask for hope or +encouragement. His was an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible +effusion to a soothing friend, not an application to a parent. Yet +after a time I _did_ say, for at first I was quite overcome, that if +she lived, as I trusted she might, my greatest happiness would lie in +promoting their marriage; and since our arrival, since our delightful +security, I have repeated it to him more fully, have given him every +encouragement in my power. Time, a very little time, I tell him, will +do everything; Marianne's heart is not to be wasted for ever on such a +man as Willoughby. His own merits must soon secure it." + +"To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however, you have not yet made +him equally sanguine." + +"No. He thinks Marianne's affection too deeply rooted for any change +in it under a great length of time, and even supposing her heart again +free, is too diffident of himself to believe, that with such a +difference of age and disposition he could ever attach her. There, +however, he is quite mistaken. His age is only so much beyond hers as +to be an advantage, as to make his character and principles +fixed;--and his disposition, I am well convinced, is exactly the very +one to make your sister happy. And his person, his manners too, are +all in his favour. My partiality does not blind me; he certainly is +not so handsome as Willoughby--but at the same time, there is +something much more pleasing in his countenance. There was always a +something,--if you remember,--in Willoughby's eyes at times, which I +did not like." + +Elinor could _not_ remember it;--but her mother, without waiting for +her assent, continued-- + +"And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only more pleasing to +me than Willoughby's ever were, but they are of a kind I well know to +be more solidly attaching to Marianne. Their gentleness, their +genuine attention to other people, and their manly unstudied +simplicity is much more accordant with her real disposition, than the +liveliness--often artificial, and often ill-timed of the other. I am +very sure myself, that had Willoughby turned out as really amiable, as +he has proved himself the contrary, Marianne would yet never have been +so happy with _him_ as she will be with Colonel Brandon." + +She paused. Her daughter could not quite agree with her, but her +dissent was not heard, and therefore gave no offence. + +"At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me," added Mrs. +Dashwood, "even if I remain at Barton; and in all probability,--for I +hear it is a large village,--indeed there certainly _must_ be some +small house or cottage close by, that would suit us quite as well as +our present situation." + +Poor Elinor!--here was a new scheme for getting her to Delaford!--but +her spirit was stubborn. + +"His fortune too!--for at my time of life you know, everybody cares +about _that_;--and though I neither know nor desire to know, what it +really is, I am sure it must be a good one." + +Here they were interrupted by the entrance of a third person, and +Elinor withdrew to think it all over in private, to wish success to +her friend, and yet in wishing it, to feel a pang for Willoughby. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + + +Marianne's illness, though weakening in its kind, had not been long +enough to make her recovery slow; and with youth, natural strength, +and her mother's presence in aid, it proceeded so smoothly as to +enable her to remove, within four days after the arrival of the +latter, into Mrs. Palmer's dressing-room. When there, at her own +particular request, for she was impatient to pour forth her thanks to +him for fetching her mother, Colonel Brandon was invited to visit her. + +His emotion on entering the room, in seeing her altered looks, and in +receiving the pale hand which she immediately held out to him, was +such, as, in Elinor's conjecture, must arise from something more than +his affection for Marianne, or the consciousness of its being known to +others; and she soon discovered in his melancholy eye and varying +complexion as he looked at her sister, the probable recurrence of many +past scenes of misery to his mind, brought back by that resemblance +between Marianne and Eliza already acknowledged, and now strengthened +by the hollow eye, the sickly skin, the posture of reclining weakness, +and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligation. + +Mrs. Dashwood, not less watchful of what passed than her daughter, but +with a mind very differently influenced, and therefore watching to +very different effect, saw nothing in the Colonel's behaviour but what +arose from the most simple and self-evident sensations, while in the +actions and words of Marianne she persuaded herself to think that +something more than gratitude already dawned. + +At the end of another day or two, Marianne growing visibly stronger +every twelve hours, Mrs. Dashwood, urged equally by her own and her +daughter's wishes, began to talk of removing to Barton. On _her_ +measures depended those of her two friends; Mrs. Jennings could not +quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods' stay; and Colonel Brandon was +soon brought, by their united request, to consider his own abode there +as equally determinate, if not equally indispensable. At his and Mrs. +Jennings's united request in return, Mrs. Dashwood was prevailed on to +accept the use of his carriage on her journey back, for the better +accommodation of her sick child; and the Colonel, at the joint +invitation of Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Jennings, whose active +good-nature made her friendly and hospitable for other people as well +as herself, engaged with pleasure to redeem it by a visit at the +cottage, in the course of a few weeks. + +The day of separation and departure arrived; and Marianne, after +taking so particular and lengthened a leave of Mrs. Jennings, one so +earnestly grateful, so full of respect and kind wishes as seemed due +to her own heart from a secret acknowledgment of past inattention, and +bidding Colonel Brandon farewell with a cordiality of a friend, was +carefully assisted by him into the carriage, of which he seemed +anxious that she should engross at least half. Mrs. Dashwood and +Elinor then followed, and the others were left by themselves, to talk +of the travellers, and feel their own dullness, till Mrs. Jennings +was summoned to her chaise to take comfort in the gossip of her maid +for the loss of her two young companions; and Colonel Brandon +immediately afterwards took his solitary way to Delaford. + +The Dashwoods were two days on the road, and Marianne bore her journey +on both, without essential fatigue. Every thing that the most zealous +affection, the most solicitous care could do to render her +comfortable, was the office of each watchful companion, and each found +their reward in her bodily ease, and her calmness of spirits. To +Elinor, the observation of the latter was particularly grateful. She, +who had seen her week after week so constantly suffering, oppressed by +anguish of heart which she had neither courage to speak of, nor +fortitude to conceal, now saw with a joy, which no other could equally +share, an apparent composure of mind, which, in being the result as +she trusted of serious reflection, must eventually lead her to +contentment and cheerfulness. + +As they approached Barton, indeed, and entered on scenes of which +every field and every tree brought some peculiar, some painful +recollection, she grew silent and thoughtful, and turning away her +face from their notice, sat earnestly gazing through the window. But +here, Elinor could neither wonder nor blame; and when she saw, as she +assisted Marianne from the carriage, that she had been crying, she saw +only an emotion too natural in itself to raise any thing less tender +than pity, and in its unobtrusiveness entitled to praise. In the whole +of her subsequent manner, she traced the direction of a mind awakened +to reasonable exertion; for no sooner had they entered their common +sitting-room, than Marianne turned her eyes around it with a look of +resolute firmness, as if determined at once to accustom herself to the +sight of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby could +be connected. She said little, but every sentence aimed at +cheerfulness, and though a sigh sometimes escaped her, it never passed +away without the atonement of a smile. After dinner she would try her +piano-forte. She went to it; but the music on which her eye first +rested was an opera, procured for her by Willoughby, containing some +of their favourite duets, and bearing on its outward leaf her own name +in his hand-writing. That would not do. She shook her head, put the +music aside, and after running over the keys for a minute, complained +of feebleness in her fingers, and closed the instrument again; +declaring however with firmness as she did so, that she should in +future practice much. + +The next morning produced no abatement in these happy symptoms. On the +contrary, with a mind and body alike strengthened by rest, she looked +and spoke with more genuine spirit, anticipating the pleasure of +Margaret's return, and talking of the dear family party which would +then be restored, of their mutual pursuits and cheerful society, as +the only happiness worth a wish. + +"When the weather is settled, and I have recovered my strength," said +she, "we will take long walks together every day. We will walk to the +farm at the edge of the down, and see how the children go on; we will +walk to Sir John's new plantations at Barton Cross, and the Abbeyland; +and we will often go the old ruins of the Priory, and try to trace its +foundations as far as we are told they once reached. I know we shall +be happy. I know the summer will pass happily away. I mean never to be +later in rising than six, and from that time till dinner I shall +divide every moment between music and reading. I have formed my plan, +and am determined to enter on a course of serious study. Our own +library is too well known to me, to be resorted to for any thing +beyond mere amusement. But there are many works well worth reading at +the Park; and there are others of more modern production which I know +I can borrow of Colonel Brandon. By reading only six hours a-day, I +shall gain in the course of a twelvemonth a great deal of instruction +which I now feel myself to want." + +Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated so nobly as this; +though smiling to see the same eager fancy which had been leading her +to the extreme of languid indolence and selfish repining, now at work +in introducing excess into a scheme of such rational employment and +virtuous self-control. Her smile however changed to a sigh when she +remembered that promise to Willoughby was yet unfulfilled, and feared +she had that to communicate which might again unsettle the mind of +Marianne, and ruin at least for a time this fair prospect of busy +tranquillity. Willing therefore to delay the evil hour, she resolved +to wait till her sister's health were more secure, before she +appointed it. But the resolution was made only to be broken. + +[Illustration: "_And see how the children go on._"] + +Marianne had been two or three days at home, before the weather was +fine enough for an invalid like herself to venture out. But at last a +soft, genial morning appeared; such as might tempt the daughter's +wishes and the mother's confidence; and Marianne, leaning on Elinor's +arm, was authorised to walk as long as she could without fatigue, in +the lane before the house. + +The sisters set out at a pace, slow as the feebleness of Marianne in +an exercise hitherto untried since her illness required;--and they had +advanced only so far beyond the house as to admit a full view of the +hill, the important hill behind, when pausing with her eyes turned +towards it, Marianne calmly said-- + +"There, exactly there,"--pointing with one hand, "on that projecting +mound,--there I fell; and there I first saw Willoughby." + +Her voice sunk with the word, but presently reviving she added, + +"I am thankful to find that I can look with so little pain on the +spot! shall we ever talk on that subject, Elinor?" hesitatingly it was +said. "Or will it be wrong? I can talk of it now, I hope, as I ought +to do." + +Elinor tenderly invited her to be open. + +"As for regret," said Marianne, "I have done with that, as far as _he_ +is concerned. I do not mean to talk to you of what my feelings have +been for him, but what they are _now._ At present, if I could be +satisfied on one point, if I could be allowed to think that he was not +_always_ acting a part, not _always_ deceiving me; but above all, if I +could be assured that he never was so _very_ wicked as my fears have +sometimes fancied him, since the story of that unfortunate girl--" + +She stopped. Elinor joyfully treasured her words as she answered-- + +"If you could be assured of that, you think you should be easy." + +"Yes. My peace of mind is doubly involved in it; for not only is it +horrible to suspect a person, who has been what _he_ has been to _me_, +of such designs, but what must it make me appear to myself? What in a +situation like mine, but a most shamefully unguarded affection could +expose me to--" + +"How then," asked her sister, "would you account for his behaviour?" + +"I would suppose him--Oh, how gladly would I suppose him!--only +fickle, very, very fickle." + +Elinor said no more. She was debating within herself on the +eligibility of beginning her story directly, or postponing it till +Marianne were in stronger health; and they crept on for a few minutes +in silence. + +"I am not wishing him too much good," said Marianne at last with a +sigh, "when I wish his secret reflections may be no more unpleasant +than my own. He will suffer enough in them." + +"Do you compare your conduct with his?" + +"No. I compare it with what it ought to have been; I compare it with +yours." + +"Our situations have borne little resemblance." + +"They have borne more than our conduct. Do not, my dearest Elinor, let +your kindness defend what I know your judgment must censure. My illness +has made me think. It has given me leisure and calmness for serious +recollection. Long before I was enough recovered to talk, I was +perfectly able to reflect. I considered the past: I saw in my own +behaviour, since the beginning of our acquaintance with him last autumn, +nothing but a series of imprudence towards myself, and want of kindness +to others. I saw that my own feelings had prepared my sufferings, and +that my want of fortitude under them had almost led me to the grave. My +illness, I well knew, had been entirely brought on by myself by such +negligence of my own health, as I had felt even at the time to be wrong. +Had I died, it would have been self-destruction. I did not know my +danger till the danger was removed; but with such feelings as these +reflections gave me, I wonder at my recovery,--wonder that the very +eagerness of my desire to live, to have time for atonement to my God, +and to you all, did not kill me at once. Had I died, in what peculiar +misery should I have left you, my nurse, my friend, my sister! You, who +had seen all the fretful selfishness of my latter days; who had known +all the murmurings of my heart! How should I have lived in _your_ +remembrance! My mother too! How could you have consoled her! I cannot +express my own abhorrence of myself. Whenever I looked towards the past, +I saw some duty neglected, or some failing indulged. Every body seemed +injured by me. The kindness, the unceasing kindness of Mrs. Jennings, I +had repaid with ungrateful contempt. To the Middletons, to the Palmers, +the Steeles, to every common acquaintance even, I had been insolent and +unjust; with a heart hardened against their merits, and a temper +irritated by their very attention. To John, to Fanny, yes, even to them, +little as they deserve, I had given less than their due. But you, you +above all, above my mother, had been wronged by me. I, and only I, knew +your heart and its sorrows; yet to what did it influence me?--not to any +compassion that could benefit you or myself. Your example was before me; +but to what avail? Was I more considerate of you and your comfort? Did I +imitate your forbearance, or lessen your restraints, by taking any part +in those offices of general complaisance or particular gratitude which +you had hitherto been left to discharge alone? No; not less when I knew +you to be unhappy, than when I had believed you at ease, did I turn away +from every exertion of duty or friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow to +exist but with me, regretting only _that_ heart which had deserted and +wronged me, and leaving you, for I professed an unbounded affection, to +be miserable for my sake." + +Here ceased the rapid flow of her self-reproving spirit; and Elinor, +impatient to soothe, though too honest to flatter, gave her instantly +that praise and support which her frankness and her contrition so well +deserved. Marianne pressed her hand and replied-- + +"You are very good. The future must be my proof. I have laid down my +plan, and if I am capable of adhering to it--my feelings shall be +governed and my temper improved. They shall no longer worry others, +nor torture myself. I shall now live solely for my family. You, my +mother, and Margaret, must henceforth be all the world to me; you will +share my affections entirely between you. From you, from my home, I +shall never again have the smallest incitement to move; and if I do +mix in other society, it will be only to show that my spirit is +humbled, my heart amended, and that I can practise the civilities, the +lesser duties of life, with gentleness and forbearance. As for +Willoughby--to say that I shall soon or that I shall ever forget him, +would be idle. His remembrance can be overcome by no change of +circumstances or opinions. But it shall be regulated, it shall be +checked by religion, by reason, by constant employment." + +She paused--and added in a low voice, "If I could but know _his_ +heart, everything would become easy." + +Elinor, who had now been for some time reflecting on the propriety or +impropriety of speedily hazarding her narration, without feeling at +all nearer decision than at first, heard this; and perceiving that as +reflection did nothing, resolution must do all, soon found herself +leading to the fact. + +She managed the recital, as she hoped, with address; prepared her +anxious listener with caution; related simply and honestly the chief +points on which Willoughby grounded his apology; did justice to his +repentance, and softened only his protestations of present regard. +Marianne said not a word. She trembled, her eyes were fixed on the +ground, and her lips became whiter than even sickness had left them. A +thousand inquiries sprung up from her heart, but she dared not urge +one. She caught every syllable with panting eagerness; her hand, +unknowingly to herself, closely pressed her sister's, and tears +covered her cheeks. + +Elinor, dreading her being tired, led her towards home; and till they +reached the door of the cottage, easily conjecturing what her +curiosity must be though no question was suffered to speak it, talked +of nothing but Willoughby, and their conversation together; and was +carefully minute in every particular of speech and look, where +minuteness could be safely indulged. As soon as they entered the +house, Marianne with a kiss of gratitude and these two words just +articulate through her tears, "Tell mama," withdrew from her sister +and walked slowly up stairs. Elinor would not attempt to disturb a +solitude so reasonable as what she now sought; and with a mind +anxiously pre-arranging its result, and a resolution of reviving the +subject again, should Marianne fail to do it, she turned into the +parlour to fulfill her parting injunction. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + + +Mrs. Dashwood did not hear unmoved the vindication of her former +favourite. She rejoiced in his being cleared from some part of his +imputed guilt;--she was sorry for him;--she wished him happy. But the +feelings of the past could not be recalled. Nothing could restore him +with a faith unbroken--a character unblemished, to Marianne. Nothing +could do away the knowledge of what the latter had suffered through +his means, nor remove the guilt of his conduct towards Eliza. Nothing +could replace him, therefore, in her former esteem, nor injure the +interests of Colonel Brandon. + +Had Mrs. Dashwood, like her daughter, heard Willoughby's story from +himself,--had she witnessed his distress, and been under the influence +of his countenance and his manner, it is probable that her compassion +would have been greater. But it was neither in Elinor's power, nor in +her wish, to rouse such feelings in another, by her retailed +explanation, as had at first been called forth in herself. Reflection +had given calmness to her judgment, and sobered her own opinion of +Willoughby's deserts; she wished, therefore, to declare only the +simple truth, and lay open such facts as were really due to his +character, without any embellishment of tenderness to lead the fancy +astray. + +In the evening, when they were all three together, Marianne began +voluntarily to speak of him again; but that it was not without an +effort, the restless, unquiet thoughtfulness in which she had been for +some time previously sitting, her rising colour, as she spoke, and her +unsteady voice, plainly showed. + +"I wish to assure you both," said she, "that I see every thing--as you +can desire me to do." + +Mrs. Dashwood would have interrupted her instantly with soothing +tenderness, had not Elinor, who really wished to hear her sister's +unbiased opinion, by an eager sign, engaged her silence. Marianne +slowly continued-- + +"It is a great relief to me--what Elinor told me this morning--I have +now heard exactly what I wished to hear."--For some moments her voice +was lost; but recovering herself, she added, and with greater calmness +than before--"I am now perfectly satisfied, I wish for no change. I +never could have been happy with him, after knowing, as sooner or +later I must have known, all this. I should have had no confidence, no +esteem. Nothing could have done it away to my feelings." + +"I know it--I know it," cried her mother. "Happy with a man of +libertine practices!--With one who so injured the peace of the dearest +of our friends, and the best of men!--No--my Marianne has not a heart +to be made happy with such a man!--Her conscience, her sensitive +conscience, would have felt all that the conscience of her husband +ought to have felt." + +Marianne sighed, and repeated, "I wish for no change." + +"You consider the matter," said Elinor, "exactly as a good mind and a +sound understanding must consider it; and I dare say you perceive, as +well as myself, not only in this, but in many other circumstances, +reason enough to be convinced that your marriage must have involved +you in many certain troubles and disappointments, in which you would +have been poorly supported by an affection, on his side, much less +certain. Had you married, you must have been always poor. His +expensiveness is acknowledged even by himself, and his whole conduct +declares that self-denial is a word hardly understood by him. His +demands and your inexperience together, on a small, very small income, +must have brought on distresses which would not be the _less_ grievous +to you, from having been entirely unknown and unthought of before. +_Your_ sense of honour and honesty would have led you, I know, when +aware of your situation, to attempt all the economy that would appear +to you possible: and, perhaps, as long as your frugality retrenched +only on your own comfort, you might have been suffered to practice it, +but beyond that--and how little could the utmost of your single +management do to stop the ruin which had begun before your marriage? +beyond _that_, had you endeavoured, however reasonably, to abridge +_his_ enjoyments, is it not to be feared, that instead of prevailing +on feelings so selfish to consent to it, you would have lessened your +own influence on his heart, and made him regret the connection which +had involved him in such difficulties?" + +Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word "Selfish?" in a +tone that implied, "do you really think him selfish?" + +"The whole of his behaviour," replied Elinor, "from the beginning to +the end of the affair, has been grounded on selfishness. It was +selfishness which first made him sport with your affections; which +afterwards, when his own were engaged, made him delay the confession +of it, and which finally carried him from Barton. His own enjoyment, +or his own ease, was, in every particular, his ruling principle." + +"It is very true. _My_ happiness never was his object." + +"At present," continued Elinor, "he regrets what he has done. And why +does he regret it?--Because he finds it has not answered towards +himself. It has not made him happy. His circumstances are now +unembarrassed--he suffers from no evil of that kind; and he thinks +only that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper than +yourself. But does it follow that had he married you, he would have +been happy?--The inconveniences would have been different. He would +then have suffered under the pecuniary distresses which, because they +are removed, he now reckons as nothing. He would have had a wife of +whose temper he could make no complaint, but he would have been always +necessitous--always poor; and probably would soon have learned to rank +the innumerable comforts of a clear estate and good income as of far +more importance, even to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a +wife." + +"I have not a doubt of it," said Marianne; "and I have nothing to +regret--nothing but my own folly." + +"Rather say your mother's imprudence, my child," said Mrs. Dashwood; +"_she_ must be answerable." + +Marianne would not let her proceed;--and Elinor, satisfied that each +felt their own error, wished to avoid any survey of the past that +might weaken her sister's spirits; she, therefore, pursuing the first +subject, immediately continued-- + +"One observation may, I think, be fairly drawn from the whole of the +story--that all Willoughby's difficulties have arisen from the first +offence against virtue, in his behaviour to Eliza Williams. That crime +has been the origin of every lesser one, and of all his present +discontents." + +Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark; and her mother was led +by it to an enumeration of Colonel Brandon's injuries and merits, warm +as friendship and design could unitedly dictate. Her daughter did not +look, however, as if much of it were heard by her. + +Elinor, according to her expectation, saw on the two or three +following days, that Marianne did not continue to gain strength as she +had done; but while her resolution was unsubdued, and she still tried +to appear cheerful and easy, her sister could safely trust to the +effect of time upon her health. + +Margaret returned, and the family were again all restored to each +other, again quietly settled at the cottage; and if not pursuing their +usual studies with quite so much vigour as when they first came to +Barton, at least planning a vigorous prosecution of them in future. + +Elinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edward. She had heard +nothing of him since her leaving London, nothing new of his plans, +nothing certain even of his present abode. Some letters had passed +between her and her brother, in consequence of Marianne's illness; and +in the first of John's, there had been this sentence:--"We know +nothing of our unfortunate Edward, and can make no enquiries on so +prohibited a subject, but conclude him to be still at Oxford"; which +was all the intelligence of Edward afforded her by the correspondence, +for his name was not even mentioned in any of the succeeding letters. +She was not doomed, however, to be long in ignorance of his measures. + +Their man-servant had been sent one morning to Exeter on business; and +when, as he waited at table, he had satisfied the inquiries of his +mistress as to the event of his errand, this was his voluntary +communication-- + +"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is married." + +Marianne gave a violent start, fixed her eyes upon Elinor, saw her +turning pale, and fell back in her chair in hysterics. Mrs. Dashwood, +whose eyes, as she answered the servant's inquiry, had intuitively +taken the same direction, was shocked to perceive by Elinor's +countenance how much she really suffered, and a moment afterwards, +alike distressed by Marianne's situation, knew not on which child to +bestow her principal attention. + +The servant, who saw only that Miss Marianne was taken ill, had sense +enough to call one of the maids, who, with Mrs. Dashwood's assistance, +supported her into the other room. By that time, Marianne was rather +better, and her mother leaving her to the care of Margaret and the +maid, returned to Elinor, who, though still much disordered, had so +far recovered the use of her reason and voice as to be just +beginning an inquiry of Thomas, as to the source of his intelligence. +Mrs. Dashwood immediately took all that trouble on herself; and Elinor +had the benefit of the information without the exertion of seeking it. + +[Illustration: "_I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is +married._"] + +"Who told you that Mr. Ferrars was married, Thomas?" + +"I see Mr. Ferrars myself, ma'am, this morning in Exeter, and his lady +too, Miss Steele as was. They was stopping in a chaise at the door of +the New London Inn, as I went there with a message from Sally at the +Park to her brother, who is one of the post-boys. I happened to look +up as I went by the chaise, and so I see directly it was the youngest +Miss Steele; so I took off my hat, and she knew me and called to me, +and inquired after you, ma'am, and the young ladies, especially Miss +Marianne, and bid me I should give her compliments and Mr. Ferrars's, +their best compliments and service, and how sorry they was they had +not time to come on and see you, but they was in a great hurry to go +forwards, for they was going further down for a little while, but +however, when they come back, they'd make sure to come and see you." + +"But did she tell you she was married, Thomas?" + +"Yes, ma'am. She smiled, and said how she had changed her name since +she was in these parts. She was always a very affable and free-spoken +young lady, and very civil behaved. So, I made free to wish her joy." + +"Was Mr. Ferrars in the carriage with her?" + +"Yes, ma'am, I just see him leaning back in it, but he did not look +up;--he never was a gentleman much for talking." + +Elinor's heart could easily account for his not putting himself +forward; and Mrs. Dashwood probably found the same explanation. + +"Was there no one else in the carriage?" + +"No, ma'am, only they two." + +"Do you know where they came from?" + +"They come straight from town, as Miss Lucy--Mrs. Ferrars told me." + +"And are they going farther westward?" + +"Yes, ma'am--but not to bide long. They will soon be back again, and +then they'd be sure and call here." + +Mrs. Dashwood now looked at her daughter; but Elinor knew better than +to expect them. She recognised the whole of Lucy in the message, and +was very confident that Edward would never come near them. She +observed in a low voice, to her mother, that they were probably going +down to Mr. Pratt's, near Plymouth. + +Thomas's intelligence seemed over. Elinor looked as if she wished to +hear more. + +"Did you see them off, before you came away?" + +"No, ma'am--the horses were just coming out, but I could not bide any +longer; I was afraid of being late." + +"Did Mrs. Ferrars look well?" + +"Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well; and to my mind she was +always a very handsome young lady--and she seemed vastly contented." + +Mrs. Dashwood could think of no other question, and Thomas and the +tablecloth, now alike needless, were soon afterwards dismissed. +Marianne had already sent to say, that she should eat nothing more. +Mrs. Dashwood's and Elinor's appetites were equally lost, and Margaret +might think herself very well off, that with so much uneasiness as +both her sisters had lately experienced, so much reason as they had +often had to be careless of their meals, she had never been obliged to +go without her dinner before. + +When the dessert and the wine were arranged, and Mrs. Dashwood and +Elinor were left by themselves, they remained long together in a +similarity of thoughtfulness and silence. Mrs. Dashwood feared to +hazard any remark, and ventured not to offer consolation. She now +found that she had erred in relying on Elinor's representation of +herself; and justly concluded that every thing had been expressly +softened at the time, to spare her from an increase of unhappiness, +suffering as she then had suffered for Marianne. She found that she +had been misled by the careful, the considerate attention of her +daughter, to think the attachment, which once she had so well +understood, much slighter in reality, than she had been wont to +believe, or than it was now proved to be. She feared that under this +persuasion she had been unjust, inattentive, nay, almost unkind, to +her Elinor; that Marianne's affliction, because more acknowledged, +more immediately before her, had too much engrossed her tenderness, +and led her away to forget that in Elinor she might have a daughter +suffering almost as much, certainly with less self-provocation, and +greater fortitude. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + + +Elinor now found the difference between the expectation of an +unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told to consider it, +and certainty itself. She now found, that in spite of herself, she had +always admitted a hope, while Edward remained single, that something +would occur to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of his +own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible opportunity of +establishment for the lady, would arise to assist the happiness of +all. But he was now married; and she condemned her heart for the +lurking flattery, which so much heightened the pain of the +intelligence. + +That he should be married soon, before (as she imagined) he could be +in orders, and consequently before he could be in possession of the +living, surprised her a little at first. But she soon saw how likely +it was that Lucy, in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure +him, should overlook every thing but the risk of delay. They were +married, married in town, and now hastening down to her uncle's. What +had Edward felt on being within four miles from Barton, on seeing her +mother's servant, on hearing Lucy's message! + +They would soon, she supposed, be settled at +Delaford;--Delaford,--that place in which so much conspired to give +her an interest; which she wished to be acquainted with, and yet +desired to avoid. She saw them in an instant in their parsonage-house; +saw in Lucy, the active, contriving manager, uniting at once a desire +of smart appearance with the utmost frugality, and ashamed to be +suspected of half her economical practices; pursuing her own interest +in every thought, courting the favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. +Jennings, and of every wealthy friend. In Edward, she knew not what +she saw, nor what she wished to see. Happy or unhappy, nothing pleased +her; she turned away her head from every sketch of him. + +Elinor flattered herself that some one of their connections in London +would write to them to announce the event, and give farther +particulars,--but day after day passed off, and brought no letter, no +tidings. Though uncertain that any one were to blame, she found fault +with every absent friend. They were all thoughtless or indolent. + +"When do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?" was an inquiry which +sprung from the impatience of her mind to have something going on. + +"I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather expect to see, than to +hear from him again. I earnestly pressed his coming to us, and should +not be surprised to see him walk in today or tomorrow, or any day." + +This was gaining something, something to look forward to. Colonel +Brandon must have some information to give. + +Scarcely had she so determined it, when the figure of a man on +horseback drew her eyes to the window. He stopped at their gate. It +was a gentleman, it was Colonel Brandon himself. Now she could hear +more; and she trembled in expectation of it. But--it was _not_ Colonel +Brandon--neither his air--nor his height. Were it possible, she must +say it must be Edward. She looked again. He had just dismounted;--she +could not be mistaken,--it _was_ Edward. She moved away and sat down. +"He comes from Mr. Pratt's purposely to see us. I _will_ be calm, I +_will_ be mistress of myself." + +In a moment she perceived that the others were likewise aware of the +mistake. She saw her mother and Marianne change colour; saw them look +at herself, and whisper a few sentences to each other. She would have +given the world to be able to speak--and to make them understand that +she hoped no coolness, no slight, would appear in their behaviour to +him;--but she had no utterance, and was obliged to leave all to their +own discretion. + +Not a syllable passed aloud. They all waited in silence for the +appearance of their visitor. His footsteps were heard along the gravel +path; in a moment he was in the passage, and in another he was before +them. + +His countenance, as he entered the room, was not too happy, even for +Elinor. His complexion was white with agitation, and he looked as if +fearful of his reception, and conscious that he merited no kind one. +Mrs. Dashwood, however, conforming, as she trusted, to the wishes of +that daughter, by whom she then meant in the warmth of her heart to be +guided in every thing, met with a look of forced complacency, gave him +her hand, and wished him joy. + +[Illustration: _It was Edward._] + +He coloured, and stammered out an unintelligible reply. Elinor's lips +had moved with her mother's, and, when the moment of action was over, +she wished that she had shaken hands with him too. But it was then too +late, and with a countenance meaning to be open, she sat down again +and talked of the weather. + +Marianne had retreated as much as possible out of sight, to conceal +her distress; and Margaret, understanding some part, but not the whole +of the case, thought it incumbent on her to be dignified, and +therefore took a seat as far from him as she could, and maintained a +strict silence. + +When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season, a very +awful pause took place. It was put an end to by Mrs. Dashwood, who +felt obliged to hope that he had left Mrs. Ferrars very well. In a +hurried manner, he replied in the affirmative. + +Another pause. + +Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fearing the sound of her own +voice, now said-- + +"Is Mrs. Ferrars at Longstaple?" + +"At Longstaple!" he replied, with an air of surprise. "No, my mother +is in town." + +"I meant," said Elinor, taking up some work from the table, "to +inquire for Mrs. _Edward_ Ferrars." + +She dared not look up;--but her mother and Marianne both turned their +eyes on him. He coloured, seemed perplexed, looked doubtingly, and, +after some hesitation, said,-- + +"Perhaps you mean--my brother--you mean Mrs.--Mrs. _Robert_ Ferrars." + +"Mrs. Robert Ferrars!"--was repeated by Marianne and her mother in an +accent of the utmost amazement;--and though Elinor could not speak, +even _her_ eyes were fixed on him with the same impatient wonder. He +rose from his seat, and walked to the window, apparently from not +knowing what to do; took up a pair of scissors that lay there, and +while spoiling both them and their sheath by cutting the latter to +pieces as he spoke, said, in a hurried voice-- + +"Perhaps you do not know--you may not have heard that my brother is +lately married to--to the youngest--to Miss Lucy Steele." + +His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment by all but +Elinor, who sat with her head leaning over her work, in a state of +such agitation as made her hardly know where she was. + +"Yes," said he, "they were married last week, and are now at Dawlish." + +Elinor could sit it no longer. She almost ran out of the room, and as +soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of joy, which at first +she thought would never cease. Edward, who had till then looked any +where, rather than at her, saw her hurry away, and perhaps saw, or +even heard, her emotion; for immediately afterwards he fell into a +reverie, which no remarks, no inquiries, no affectionate address of +Mrs. Dashwood could penetrate, and at last, without saying a word, +quitted the room, and walked out towards the village, leaving the +others in the greatest astonishment and perplexity on a change in his +situation, so wonderful and so sudden,--a perplexity which they had no +means of lessening but by their own conjectures. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX + + +Unaccountable, however, as the circumstances of his release might +appear to the whole family, it was certain that Edward was free; and +to what purpose that freedom would be employed was easily +pre-determined by all;--for after experiencing the blessings of _one_ +imprudent engagement, contracted without his mother's consent, as he +had already done for more than four years, nothing less could be +expected of him in the failure of _that_, than the immediate +contraction of another. + +His errand at Barton, in fact, was a simple one. It was only to ask +Elinor to marry him;--and considering that he was not altogether +inexperienced in such a question, it might be strange that he should +feel so uncomfortable in the present case as he really did, so much in +need of encouragement and fresh air. + +How soon he had walked himself into the proper resolution, however, +how soon an opportunity of exercising it occurred, in what manner he +expressed himself, and how he was received, need not be particularly +told. This only need be said;--that when they all sat down to table at +four o'clock, about three hours after his arrival, he had secured his +lady, engaged her mother's consent, and was not only in the rapturous +profession of the lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth, one +of the happiest of men. His situation indeed was more than commonly +joyful. He had more than the ordinary triumph of accepted love to +swell his heart, and raise his spirits. He was released without any +reproach to himself, from an entanglement which had long formed his +misery, from a woman whom he had long ceased to love; and elevated at +once to that security with another, which he must have thought of +almost with despair, as soon as he had learnt to consider it with +desire. He was brought, not from doubt or suspense, but from misery to +happiness; and the change was openly spoken in such a genuine, +flowing, grateful cheerfulness, as his friends had never witnessed in +him before. + +His heart was now open to Elinor, all its weaknesses, all its errors +confessed, and his first boyish attachment to Lucy treated with all +the philosophic dignity of twenty-four. + +"It was a foolish, idle inclination on my side," said he, "the +consequence of ignorance of the world and want of employment. Had my +brother given me some active profession when I was removed at eighteen +from the care of Mr. Pratt, I think, nay, I am sure, it would never +have happened; for though I left Longstaple with what I thought, at +the time, a most unconquerable preference for his niece, yet had I +then had any pursuit, any object to engage my time and keep me at a +distance from her for a few months, I should very soon have outgrown +the fancied attachment, especially by mixing more with the world, as +in such case I must have done. But instead of having any thing to do, +instead of having any profession chosen for me, or being allowed to +choose any myself, I returned home to be completely idle; and for the +first twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal employment, +which belonging to the university would have given me; for I was not +entered at Oxford till I was nineteen. I had therefore nothing in the +world to do, but to fancy myself in love; and as my mother did not +make my home in every respect comfortable, as I had no friend, no +companion in my brother, and disliked new acquaintance, it was not +unnatural for me to be very often at Longstaple, where I always felt +myself at home, and was always sure of a welcome; and accordingly I +spent the greatest part of my time there from eighteen to nineteen: +Lucy appeared everything that was amiable and obliging. She was pretty +too--at least I thought so _then_; and I had seen so little of other +women, that I could make no comparisons, and see no defects. +Considering everything, therefore, I hope, foolish as our engagement +was, foolish as it has since in every way been proved, it was not at +the time an unnatural or an inexcusable piece of folly." + +The change which a few hours had wrought in the minds and the +happiness of the Dashwoods, was such--so great--as promised them all, +the satisfaction of a sleepless night. Mrs. Dashwood, too happy to be +comfortable, knew not how to love Edward, nor praise Elinor enough, +how to be enough thankful for his release without wounding his +delicacy, nor how at once to give them leisure for unrestrained +conversation together, and yet enjoy, as she wished, the sight and +society of both. + +Marianne could speak _her_ happiness only by tears. Comparisons would +occur--regrets would arise;--and her joy, though sincere as her love +for her sister, was of a kind to give her neither spirits nor +language. + +But Elinor--how are _her_ feelings to be described? From the moment of +learning that Lucy was married to another, that Edward was free, to +the moment of his justifying the hopes which had so instantly +followed, she was every thing by turns but tranquil. But when the +second moment had passed, when she found every doubt, every solicitude +removed, compared her situation with what so lately it had been,--saw +him honourably released from his former engagement,--saw him instantly +profiting by the release, to address herself and declare an affection +as tender, as constant as she had ever supposed it to be,--she was +oppressed, she was overcome by her own felicity; and happily disposed +as is the human mind to be easily familiarized with any change for the +better, it required several hours to give sedateness to her spirits, +or any degree of tranquillity to her heart. + +Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least for a week;--for whatever +other claims might be made on him, it was impossible that less than a +week should be given up to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or +suffice to say half that was to be said of the past, the present, and +the future;--for though a very few hours spent in the hard labor of +incessant talking will despatch more subjects than can really be in +common between any two rational creatures, yet with lovers it is +different. Between _them_ no subject is finished, no communication is +even made, till it has been made at least twenty times over. + +Lucy's marriage, the unceasing and reasonable wonder among them all, +formed of course one of the earliest discussions of the lovers;--and +Elinor's particular knowledge of each party made it appear to her in +every view, as one of the most extraordinary and unaccountable +circumstances she had ever heard. How they could be thrown together, +and by what attraction Robert could be drawn on to marry a girl, of +whose beauty she had herself heard him speak without any +admiration,--a girl too already engaged to his brother, and on whose +account that brother had been thrown off by his family--it was beyond +her comprehension to make out. To her own heart it was a delightful +affair, to her imagination it was even a ridiculous one, but to her +reason, her judgment, it was completely a puzzle. + +Edward could only attempt an explanation by supposing, that, perhaps, +at first accidentally meeting, the vanity of the one had been so +worked on by the flattery of the other, as to lead by degrees to all +the rest. Elinor remembered what Robert had told her in Harley Street, +of his opinion of what his own mediation in his brother's affairs +might have done, if applied to in time. She repeated it to Edward. + +"_That_ was exactly like Robert," was his immediate observation. "And +_that_," he presently added, "might perhaps be in _his_ head when the +acquaintance between them first began. And Lucy perhaps at first might +think only of procuring his good offices in my favour. Other designs +might afterward arise." + +How long it had been carrying on between them, however, he was equally +at a loss with herself to make out; for at Oxford, where he had +remained for choice ever since his quitting London, he had had no +means of hearing of her but from herself, and her letters to the very +last were neither less frequent, nor less affectionate than usual. Not +the smallest suspicion, therefore, had ever occurred to prepare him +for what followed;--and when at last it burst on him in a letter from +Lucy herself, he had been for some time, he believed, half stupified +between the wonder, the horror, and the joy of such a deliverance. He +put the letter into Elinor's hands. + +"DEAR SIR, + + "Being very sure I have long lost your affections, I have + thought myself at liberty to bestow my own on another, and + have no doubt of being as happy with him as I once used to + think I might be with you; but I scorn to accept a hand + while the heart was another's. Sincerely wish you happy in + your choice, and it shall not be my fault if we are not + always good friends, as our near relationship now makes + proper. I can safely say I owe you no ill-will, and am sure + you will be too generous to do us any ill offices. Your + brother has gained my affections entirely, and as we could + not live without one another, we are just returned from the + altar, and are now on our way to Dawlish for a few weeks, + which place your dear brother has great curiosity to see, + but thought I would first trouble you with these few lines, + and shall always remain-- + + "Your sincere well-wisher, friend, and sister, + + "LUCY FERRARS." + + "I have burnt all your letters, and will return your picture + the first opportunity. Please to destroy my scrawls--but the + ring with my hair you are very welcome to keep." + +Elinor read and returned it without any comment. + +"I will not ask your opinion of it as a composition," said Edward. +"For worlds would not I have had a letter of hers seen by _you_ in +former days. In a sister it is bad enough, but in a wife! how I have +blushed over the pages of her writing! and I believe I may say that +since the first half year of our foolish business this is the only +letter I ever received from her, of which the substance made me any +amends for the defect of the style." + +"However it may have come about," said Elinor, after a pause,--"they +are certainly married. And your mother has brought on herself a most +appropriate punishment. The independence she settled on Robert, +through resentment against you, has put it in his power to make his +own choice; and she has actually been bribing one son with a thousand +a-year, to do the very deed which she disinherited the other for +intending to do. She will hardly be less hurt, I suppose, by Robert's +marrying Lucy, than she would have been by your marrying her." + +"She will be more hurt by it, for Robert always was her favourite. She +will be more hurt by it, and on the same principle will forgive him +much sooner." + +In what state the affair stood at present between them, Edward knew +not, for no communication with any of his family had yet been +attempted by him. He had quitted Oxford within four and twenty hours +after Lucy's letter arrived, and with only one object before him, the +nearest road to Barton, had had no leisure to form any scheme of +conduct, with which that road did not hold the most intimate +connection. He could do nothing till he were assured of his fate with +Miss Dashwood; and by his rapidity in seeking _that_ fate, it is to be +supposed, in spite of the jealousy with which he had once thought of +Colonel Brandon, in spite of the modesty with which he rated his own +deserts, and the politeness with which he talked of his doubts, he did +not, upon the whole, expect a very cruel reception. It was his +business, however, to say that he _did_, and he said it very prettily. +What he might say on the subject a twelvemonth after, must be referred +to the imagination of husbands and wives. + +That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go off with a flourish of +malice against him in her message by Thomas, was perfectly clear to +Elinor; and Edward himself, now thoroughly enlightened on her +character, had no scruple in believing her capable of the utmost +meanness of wanton ill-nature. Though his eyes had been long opened, +even before his acquaintance with Elinor began, to her ignorance and a +want of liberality in some of her opinions, they had been equally +imputed, by him, to her want of education; and till her last letter +reached him, he had always believed her to be a well-disposed, +good-hearted girl, and thoroughly attached to himself. Nothing but +such a persuasion could have prevented his putting an end to an +engagement, which, long before the discovery of it laid him open to +his mother's anger, had been a continual source of disquiet and regret +to him. + +"I thought it my duty," said he, "independent of my feelings, to give +her the option of continuing the engagement or not, when I was +renounced by my mother, and stood to all appearance without a friend +in the world to assist me. In such a situation as that, where there +seemed nothing to tempt the avarice or the vanity of any living +creature, how could I suppose, when she so earnestly, so warmly +insisted on sharing my fate, whatever it might be, that any thing but +the most disinterested affection was her inducement? And even now, I +cannot comprehend on what motive she acted, or what fancied advantage +it could be to her, to be fettered to a man for whom she had not the +smallest regard, and who had only two thousand pounds in the world. +She could not foresee that Colonel Brandon would give me a living." + +"No; but she might suppose that something would occur in your favour; +that your own family might in time relent. And at any rate, she lost +nothing by continuing the engagement, for she has proved that it +fettered neither her inclination nor her actions. The connection was +certainly a respectable one, and probably gained her consideration +among her friends; and, if nothing more advantageous occurred, it +would be better for her to marry _you_ than be single." + +Edward was, of course, immediately convinced that nothing could have +been more natural than Lucy's conduct, nor more self-evident than the +motive of it. + +Elinor scolded him, harshly as ladies always scold the imprudence +which compliments themselves, for having spent so much time with them +at Norland, when he must have felt his own inconstancy. + +"Your behaviour was certainly very wrong," said she; "because--to say +nothing of my own conviction, our relations were all led away by it to +fancy and expect _what_, as you were _then_ situated, could never be." + +He could only plead an ignorance of his own heart, and a mistaken +confidence in the force of his engagement. + +"I was simple enough to think, that because my _faith_ was plighted to +another, there could be no danger in my being with you; and that the +consciousness of my engagement was to keep my heart as safe and sacred +as my honour. I felt that I admired you, but I told myself it was only +friendship; and till I began to make comparisons between yourself and +Lucy, I did not know how far I was got. After that, I suppose, I _was_ +wrong in remaining so much in Sussex, and the arguments with which I +reconciled myself to the expediency of it, were no better than +these:--The danger is my own; I am doing no injury to anybody but +myself." + +Elinor smiled, and shook her head. + +Edward heard with pleasure of Colonel Brandon's being expected at the +Cottage, as he really wished not only to be better acquainted with +him, but to have an opportunity of convincing him that he no longer +resented his giving him the living of Delaford--"Which, at present," +said he, "after thanks so ungraciously delivered as mine were on the +occasion, he must think I have never forgiven him for offering." + +_Now_ he felt astonished himself that he had never yet been to the +place. But so little interest had he taken in the matter, that he owed +all his knowledge of the house, garden, and glebe, extent of the +parish, condition of the land, and rate of the tithes, to Elinor +herself, who had heard so much of it from Colonel Brandon, and heard +it with so much attention, as to be entirely mistress of the subject. + +One question after this only remained undecided, between them, one +difficulty only was to be overcome. They were brought together by +mutual affection, with the warmest approbation of their real friends; +their intimate knowledge of each other seemed to make their happiness +certain--and they only wanted something to live upon. Edward had two +thousand pounds, and Elinor one, which, with Delaford living, was all +that they could call their own; for it was impossible that Mrs. +Dashwood should advance anything; and they were neither of them quite +enough in love to think that three hundred and fifty pounds a-year +would supply them with the comforts of life. + +Edward was not entirely without hopes of some favourable change in his +mother towards him; and on _that_ he rested for the residue of their +income. But Elinor had no such dependence; for since Edward would +still be unable to marry Miss Morton, and his choosing herself had +been spoken of in Mrs. Ferrars's flattering language as only a lesser +evil than his choosing Lucy Steele, she feared that Robert's offence +would serve no other purpose than to enrich Fanny. + +About four days after Edward's arrival Colonel Brandon appeared, to +complete Mrs. Dashwood's satisfaction, and to give her the dignity of +having, for the first time since her living at Barton, more company +with her than her house would hold. Edward was allowed to retain the +privilege of first comer, and Colonel Brandon therefore walked every +night to his old quarters at the Park; from whence he usually returned +in the morning, early enough to interrupt the lovers' first +tete-a-tete before breakfast. + +A three weeks' residence at Delaford, where, in his evening hours at +least, he had little to do but to calculate the disproportion between +thirty-six and seventeen, brought him to Barton in a temper of mind +which needed all the improvement in Marianne's looks, all the kindness +of her welcome, and all the encouragement of her mother's language, to +make it cheerful. Among such friends, however, and such flattery, he +did revive. No rumour of Lucy's marriage had yet reached him:--he knew +nothing of what had passed; and the first hours of his visit were +consequently spent in hearing and in wondering. Every thing was +explained to him by Mrs. Dashwood, and he found fresh reason to +rejoice in what he had done for Mr. Ferrars, since eventually it +promoted the interest of Elinor. + +It would be needless to say, that the gentlemen advanced in the good +opinion of each other, as they advanced in each other's acquaintance, +for it could not be otherwise. Their resemblance in good principles +and good sense, in disposition and manner of thinking, would probably +have been sufficient to unite them in friendship, without any other +attraction; but their being in love with two sisters, and two sisters +fond of each other, made that mutual regard inevitable and immediate, +which might otherwise have waited the effect of time and judgment. + +The letters from town, which a few days before would have made every +nerve in Elinor's body thrill with transport, now arrived to be read +with less emotion that mirth. Mrs. Jennings wrote to tell the +wonderful tale, to vent her honest indignation against the jilting +girl, and pour forth her compassion towards poor Mr. Edward, who, she +was sure, had quite doted upon the worthless hussy, and was now, by +all accounts, almost broken-hearted, at Oxford. "I do think," she +continued, "nothing was ever carried on so sly; for it was but two +days before Lucy called and sat a couple of hours with me. Not a soul +suspected anything of the matter, not even Nancy, who, poor soul! came +crying to me the day after, in a great fright for fear of Mrs. +Ferrars, as well as not knowing how to get to Plymouth; for Lucy it +seems borrowed all her money before she went off to be married, on +purpose we suppose to make a show with, and poor Nancy had not seven +shillings in the world;--so I was very glad to give her five guineas +to take her down to Exeter, where she thinks of staying three or four +weeks with Mrs. Burgess, in hopes, as I tell her, to fall in with the +Doctor again. And I must say that Lucy's crossness not to take them +along with them in the chaise is worse than all. Poor Mr. Edward! I +cannot get him out of my head, but you must send for him to Barton, +and Miss Marianne must try to comfort him." + +Mr. Dashwood's strains were more solemn. Mrs. Ferrars was the most +unfortunate of women--poor Fanny had suffered agonies of +sensibility--and he considered the existence of each, under such a +blow, with grateful wonder. Robert's offence was unpardonable, but +Lucy's was infinitely worse. Neither of them were ever again to be +mentioned to Mrs. Ferrars; and even, if she might hereafter be induced +to forgive her son, his wife should never be acknowledged as her +daughter, nor be permitted to appear in her presence. The secrecy with +which everything had been carried on between them, was rationally +treated as enormously heightening the crime, because, had any +suspicion of it occurred to the others, proper measures would have +been taken to prevent the marriage; and he called on Elinor to join +with him in regretting that Lucy's engagement with Edward had not +rather been fulfilled, than that she should thus be the means of +spreading misery farther in the family. He thus continued:-- + +"Mrs. Ferrars has never yet mentioned Edward's name, which does not +surprise us; but, to our great astonishment, not a line has been +received from him on the occasion. Perhaps, however, he is kept silent +by his fear of offending, and I shall, therefore, give him a hint, by +a line to Oxford, that his sister and I both think a letter of proper +submission from him, addressed perhaps to Fanny, and by her shown to +her mother, might not be taken amiss; for we all know the tenderness +of Mrs. Ferrars's heart, and that she wishes for nothing so much as to +be on good terms with her children." + +This paragraph was of some importance to the prospects and conduct of +Edward. It determined him to attempt a reconciliation, though not +exactly in the manner pointed out by their brother and sister. + +"A letter of proper submission!" repeated he; "would they have me beg +my mother's pardon for Robert's ingratitude to _her_, and breach of +honour to _me_? I can make no submission. I am grown neither humble +nor penitent by what has passed. I am grown very happy; but that would +not interest. I know of no submission that _is_ proper for me to +make." + +"You may certainly ask to be forgiven," said Elinor, "because you have +offended;--and I should think you might _now_ venture so far as to +profess some concern for having ever formed the engagement which drew +on you your mother's anger." + +He agreed that he might. + +"And when she has forgiven you, perhaps a little humility may be +convenient while acknowledging a second engagement, almost as +imprudent in _her_ eyes as the first." + +He had nothing to urge against it, but still resisted the idea of a +letter of proper submission; and therefore, to make it easier to him, +as he declared a much greater willingness to make mean concessions by +word of mouth than on paper, it was resolved that, instead of writing +to Fanny, he should go to London, and personally entreat her good +offices in his favour. "And if they really _do_ interest themselves," +said Marianne, in her new character of candour, "in bringing about a +reconciliation, I shall think that even John and Fanny are not +entirely without merit." + +After a visit on Colonel Brandon's side of only three or four days, +the two gentlemen quitted Barton together. They were to go immediately +to Delaford, that Edward might have some personal knowledge of his +future home, and assist his patron and friend in deciding on what +improvements were needed to it; and from thence, after staying there a +couple of nights, he was to proceed on his journey to town. + + + + +CHAPTER L + + +After a proper resistance on the part of Mrs. Ferrars, just so violent +and so steady as to preserve her from that reproach which she always +seemed fearful of incurring, the reproach of being too amiable, Edward +was admitted to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son. + +Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating. For many years of +her life she had had two sons; but the crime and annihilation of +Edward a few weeks ago, had robbed her of one; the similar +annihilation of Robert had left her for a fortnight without any; and +now, by the resuscitation of Edward, she had one again. + +In spite of his being allowed once more to live, however, he did not +feel the continuance of his existence secure, till he had revealed his +present engagement; for the publication of that circumstance, he +feared, might give a sudden turn to his constitution, and carry him +off as rapidly as before. With apprehensive caution therefore it was +revealed, and he was listened to with unexpected calmness. Mrs. +Ferrars at first reasonably endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying +Miss Dashwood, by every argument in her power; told him, that in Miss +Morton he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fortune; and +enforced the assertion, by observing that Miss Morton was the daughter +of a nobleman with thirty thousand pounds, while Miss Dashwood was +only the daughter of a private gentleman with no more than _three_; +but when she found that, though perfectly admitting the truth of her +representation, he was by no means inclined to be guided by it, she +judged it wisest, from the experience of the past, to submit; and +therefore, after such an ungracious delay as she owed to her own +dignity, and as served to prevent every suspicion of good-will, she +issued her decree of consent to the marriage of Edward and Elinor. + +What she would engage to do towards augmenting their income was next +to be considered; and here it plainly appeared, that though Edward was +now her only son, he was by no means her eldest; for while Robert was +inevitably endowed with a thousand pounds a-year, not the smallest +objection was made against Edward's taking orders for the sake of two +hundred and fifty at the utmost; nor was anything promised either for +the present or in future, beyond the ten thousand pounds, which had +been given with Fanny. + +It was as much, however, as was desired, and more than was expected, +by Edward and Elinor; and Mrs. Ferrars herself, by her shuffling +excuses, seemed the only person surprised at her not giving more. + +With an income quite sufficient to their wants thus secured to them, +they had nothing to wait for after Edward was in possession of the +living, but the readiness of the house, to which Colonel Brandon, with +an eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor, was making +considerable improvements; and after waiting some time for their +completion, after experiencing, as usual, a thousand disappointments +and delays from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor, +as usual, broke through the first positive resolution of not marrying +till every thing was ready, and the ceremony took place in Barton +church early in the autumn. + +The first month after their marriage was spent with their friend at +the Mansion-house; from whence they could superintend the progress of +the Parsonage, and direct every thing as they liked on the +spot;--could choose papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sweep. +Mrs. Jennings's prophecies, though rather jumbled together, were +chiefly fulfilled; for she was able to visit Edward and his wife in +their Parsonage by Michaelmas, and she found in Elinor and her +husband, as she really believed, one of the happiest couples in the +world. They had in fact nothing to wish for, but the marriage of +Colonel Brandon and Marianne, and rather better pasturage for their +cows. + +They were visited on their first settling by almost all their +relations and friends. Mrs. Ferrars came to inspect the happiness +which she was almost ashamed of having authorised; and even the +Dashwoods were at the expense of a journey from Sussex to do them +honour. + +"I will not say that I am disappointed, my dear sister," said John, as +they were walking together one morning before the gates of Delaford +House, "_that_ would be saying too much, for certainly you have been +one of the most fortunate young women in the world, as it is. But, I +confess, it would give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon +brother. His property here, his place, his house,--every thing is in +such respectable and excellent condition! And his woods,--I have not +seen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as there is now standing in +Delaford Hanger! And though, perhaps, Marianne may not seem exactly +the person to attract him, yet I think it would altogether be +advisable for you to have them now frequently staying with you, for as +Colonel Brandon seems a great deal at home, nobody can tell what may +happen; for, when people are much thrown together, and see little of +anybody else,--and it will always be in your power to set her off to +advantage, and so forth. In short, you may as well give her a chance; +You understand me." + +But though Mrs. Ferrars _did_ come to see them, and always treated +them with the make-believe of decent affection, they were never +insulted by her real favour and preference. _That_ was due to the +folly of Robert, and the cunning of his wife; and it was earned by +them before many months had passed away. The selfish sagacity of the +latter, which had at first drawn Robert into the scrape, was the +principal instrument of his deliverance from it; for her respectful +humility, assiduous attentions, and endless flatteries, as soon as the +smallest opening was given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars +to his choice, and re-established him completely in her favour. + +[Illustration: _Everything in such respectable condition_] + +The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity which +crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging +instance of what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, +however its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing +every advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time +and conscience. When Robert first sought her acquaintance, and +privately visited her in Bartlett's Buildings, it was only with the +view imputed to him by his brother. He merely meant to persuade her to +give up the engagement; and as there could be nothing to overcome but +the affection of both, he naturally expected that one or two +interviews would settle the matter. In that point, however, and that +only, he erred; for though Lucy soon gave him hopes that his eloquence +would convince her in _time_, another visit, another conversation, was +always wanted to produce this conviction. Some doubts always lingered +in her mind when they parted, which could only be removed by another +half hour's discourse with himself. His attendance was by this means +secured, and the rest followed in course. Instead of talking of +Edward, they came gradually to talk only of Robert,--a subject on +which he had always more to say than on any other, and in which she +soon betrayed an interest even equal to his own; and in short, it +became speedily evident to both, that he had entirely supplanted his +brother. He was proud of his conquest, proud of tricking Edward, and +very proud of marrying privately without his mother's consent. What +immediately followed is known. They passed some months in great +happiness at Dawlish; for she had many relations and old acquaintances +to cut--and he drew several plans for magnificent cottages; and from +thence returning to town, procured the forgiveness of Mrs. Ferrars, by +the simple expedient of asking it, which, at Lucy's instigation, was +adopted. The forgiveness, at first, indeed, as was reasonable, +comprehended only Robert; and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty +and therefore could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks +longer unpardoned. But perseverance in humility of conduct and +messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence, and gratitude for +the unkindness she was treated with, procured her in time the haughty +notice which overcame her by its graciousness, and led soon +afterwards, by rapid degrees, to the highest state of affection and +influence. Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert +or Fanny; and while Edward was never cordially forgiven for having +once intended to marry her, and Elinor, though superior to her in +fortune and birth, was spoken of as an intruder, _she_ was in every +thing considered, and always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite +child. They settled in town, received very liberal assistance from +Mrs. Ferrars, were on the best terms imaginable with the Dashwoods; +and setting aside the jealousies and ill-will continually subsisting +between Fanny and Lucy, in which their husbands of course took a part, +as well as the frequent domestic disagreements between Robert and Lucy +themselves, nothing could exceed the harmony in which they all lived +together. + +What Edward had done to forfeit the right of eldest son, might have +puzzled many people to find out; and what Robert had done to succeed +to it, might have puzzled them still more. It was an arrangement, +however, justified in its effects, if not in its cause; for nothing +ever appeared in Robert's style of living or of talking to give a +suspicion of his regretting the extent of his income, as either +leaving his brother too little, or bringing himself too much;--and if +Edward might be judged from the ready discharge of his duties in every +particular, from an increasing attachment to his wife and his home, +and from the regular cheerfulness of his spirits, he might be supposed +no less contented with his lot, no less free from every wish of an +exchange. + +Elinor's marriage divided her as little from her family as could well +be contrived, without rendering the cottage at Barton entirely +useless, for her mother and sisters spent much more than half their +time with her. Mrs. Dashwood was acting on motives of policy as well +as pleasure in the frequency of her visits at Delaford; for her wish +of bringing Marianne and Colonel Brandon together was hardly less +earnest, though rather more liberal than what John had expressed. It +was now her darling object. Precious as was the company of her +daughter to her, she desired nothing so much as to give up its +constant enjoyment to her valued friend; and to see Marianne settled +at the mansion-house was equally the wish of Edward and Elinor. They +each felt his sorrows, and their own obligations, and Marianne, by +general consent, was to be the reward of all. + +With such a confederacy against her--with a knowledge so intimate of +his goodness--with a conviction of his fond attachment to herself, +which at last, though long after it was observable to everybody +else--burst on her--what could she do? + +Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate. She was born to +discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her +conduct, her most favourite maxims. She was born to overcome an +affection formed so late in life as at seventeen, and with no +sentiment superior to strong esteem and lively friendship, voluntarily +to give her hand to another!--and _that_ other, a man who had suffered +no less than herself under the event of a former attachment, whom, two +years before, she had considered too old to be married,--and who still +sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat! + +But so it was. Instead of falling a sacrifice to an irresistible +passion, as once she had fondly flattered herself with expecting, +instead of remaining even for ever with her mother, and finding her +only pleasures in retirement and study, as afterwards in her more calm +and sober judgment she had determined on,--she found herself at +nineteen, submitting to new attachments, entering on new duties, +placed in a new home, a wife, the mistress of a family, and the +patroness of a village. + +Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who best loved him, +believed he deserved to be;--in Marianne he was consoled for every +past affliction;--her regard and her society restored his mind to +animation, and his spirits to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found +her own happiness in forming his, was equally the persuasion and +delight of each observing friend. Marianne could never love by halves; +and her whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband, +as it had once been to Willoughby. + +Willoughby could not hear of her marriage without a pang; and his +punishment was soon afterwards complete in the voluntary forgiveness +of Mrs. Smith, who, by stating his marriage with a woman of character, +as the source of her clemency, gave him reason for believing that had +he behaved with honour towards Marianne, he might at once have been +happy and rich. That his repentance of misconduct, which thus brought +its own punishment, was sincere, need not be doubted;--nor that he +long thought of Colonel Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with +regret. But that he was for ever inconsolable, that he fled from +society, or contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a +broken heart, must not be depended on--for he did neither. He lived to +exert, and frequently to enjoy himself. His wife was not always out of +humour, nor his home always uncomfortable; and in his breed of horses +and dogs, and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable +degree of domestic felicity. + +For Marianne, however, in spite of his incivility in surviving her +loss, he always retained that decided regard which interested him in +every thing that befell her, and made her his secret standard of +perfection in woman; and many a rising beauty would be slighted by him +in after-days as bearing no comparison with Mrs. Brandon. + +Mrs. Dashwood was prudent enough to remain at the cottage, without +attempting a removal to Delaford; and fortunately for Sir John and +Mrs. Jennings, when Marianne was taken from them, Margaret had +reached an age highly suitable for dancing, and not very ineligible +for being supposed to have a lover. + +Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant communication +which strong family affection would naturally dictate;--and among the +merits and the happiness of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked +as the least considerable, that though sisters, and living almost +within sight of each other, they could live without disagreement +between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands. + +THE END diff --git a/data/tiny_austen_tokens.txt b/data/tiny_austen_tokens.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..72ec7a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/data/tiny_austen_tokens.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ + + !"&'()*,-.0123456789:;?ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[]_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/data/tiny_shakespeare.txt b/data/tiny_shakespeare.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7dcb3a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/data/tiny_shakespeare.txt @@ -0,0 +1,40000 @@ +First Citizen: +Before we proceed any further, hear me speak. + +All: +Speak, speak. + +First Citizen: +You are all resolved rather to die than to famish? + +All: +Resolved. resolved. + +First Citizen: +First, you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people. + +All: +We know't, we know't. + +First Citizen: +Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. +Is't a verdict? + +All: +No more talking on't; let it be done: away, away! + +Second Citizen: +One word, good citizens. + +First Citizen: +We are accounted poor citizens, the patricians good. +What authority surfeits on would relieve us: if they +would yield us but the superfluity, while it were +wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely; +but they think we are too dear: the leanness that +afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an +inventory to particularise their abundance; our +sufferance is a gain to them Let us revenge this with +our pikes, ere we become rakes: for the gods know I +speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. + +Second Citizen: +Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius? + +All: +Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty. + +Second Citizen: +Consider you what services he has done for his country? + +First Citizen: +Very well; and could be content to give him good +report fort, but that he pays himself with being proud. + +Second Citizen: +Nay, but speak not maliciously. + +First Citizen: +I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did +it to that end: though soft-conscienced men can be +content to say it was for his country he did it to +please his mother and to be partly proud; which he +is, even till the altitude of his virtue. + +Second Citizen: +What he cannot help in his nature, you account a +vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous. + +First Citizen: +If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; +he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. +What shouts are these? The other side o' the city +is risen: why stay we prating here? to the Capitol! + +All: +Come, come. + +First Citizen: +Soft! who comes here? + +Second Citizen: +Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved +the people. + +First Citizen: +He's one honest enough: would all the rest were so! + +MENENIUS: +What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you +With bats and clubs? The matter? speak, I pray you. + +First Citizen: +Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have +had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, +which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say poor +suitors have strong breaths: they shall know we +have strong arms too. + +MENENIUS: +Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours, +Will you undo yourselves? + +First Citizen: +We cannot, sir, we are undone already. + +MENENIUS: +I tell you, friends, most charitable care +Have the patricians of you. For your wants, +Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well +Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them +Against the Roman state, whose course will on +The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs +Of more strong link asunder than can ever +Appear in your impediment. For the dearth, +The gods, not the patricians, make it, and +Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack, +You are transported by calamity +Thither where more attends you, and you slander +The helms o' the state, who care for you like fathers, +When you curse them as enemies. + +First Citizen: +Care for us! True, indeed! They ne'er cared for us +yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses +crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to +support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act +established against the rich, and provide more +piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain +the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and +there's all the love they bear us. + +MENENIUS: +Either you must +Confess yourselves wondrous malicious, +Or be accused of folly. I shall tell you +A pretty tale: it may be you have heard it; +But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture +To stale 't a little more. + +First Citizen: +Well, I'll hear it, sir: yet you must not think to +fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an 't please +you, deliver. + +MENENIUS: +There was a time when all the body's members +Rebell'd against the belly, thus accused it: +That only like a gulf it did remain +I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive, +Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing +Like labour with the rest, where the other instruments +Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, +And, mutually participate, did minister +Unto the appetite and affection common +Of the whole body. The belly answer'd-- + +First Citizen: +Well, sir, what answer made the belly? + +MENENIUS: +Sir, I shall tell you. With a kind of smile, +Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus-- +For, look you, I may make the belly smile +As well as speak--it tauntingly replied +To the discontented members, the mutinous parts +That envied his receipt; even so most fitly +As you malign our senators for that +They are not such as you. + +First Citizen: +Your belly's answer? What! +The kingly-crowned head, the vigilant eye, +The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier, +Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter. +With other muniments and petty helps +In this our fabric, if that they-- + +MENENIUS: +What then? +'Fore me, this fellow speaks! What then? what then? + +First Citizen: +Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, +Who is the sink o' the body,-- + +MENENIUS: +Well, what then? + +First Citizen: +The former agents, if they did complain, +What could the belly answer? + +MENENIUS: +I will tell you +If you'll bestow a small--of what you have little-- +Patience awhile, you'll hear the belly's answer. + +First Citizen: +Ye're long about it. + +MENENIUS: +Note me this, good friend; +Your most grave belly was deliberate, +Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd: +'True is it, my incorporate friends,' quoth he, +'That I receive the general food at first, +Which you do live upon; and fit it is, +Because I am the store-house and the shop +Of the whole body: but, if you do remember, +I send it through the rivers of your blood, +Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o' the brain; +And, through the cranks and offices of man, +The strongest nerves and small inferior veins +From me receive that natural competency +Whereby they live: and though that all at once, +You, my good friends,'--this says the belly, mark me,-- + +First Citizen: +Ay, sir; well, well. + +MENENIUS: +'Though all at once cannot +See what I do deliver out to each, +Yet I can make my audit up, that all +From me do back receive the flour of all, +And leave me but the bran.' What say you to't? + +First Citizen: +It was an answer: how apply you this? + +MENENIUS: +The senators of Rome are this good belly, +And you the mutinous members; for examine +Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly +Touching the weal o' the common, you shall find +No public benefit which you receive +But it proceeds or comes from them to you +And no way from yourselves. What do you think, +You, the great toe of this assembly? + +First Citizen: +I the great toe! why the great toe? + +MENENIUS: +For that, being one o' the lowest, basest, poorest, +Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost: +Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run, +Lead'st first to win some vantage. +But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs: +Rome and her rats are at the point of battle; +The one side must have bale. +Hail, noble Marcius! + +MARCIUS: +Thanks. What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, +That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, +Make yourselves scabs? + +First Citizen: +We have ever your good word. + +MARCIUS: +He that will give good words to thee will flatter +Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs, +That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights you, +The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you, +Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; +Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no, +Than is the coal of fire upon the ice, +Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is +To make him worthy whose offence subdues him +And curse that justice did it. +Who deserves greatness +Deserves your hate; and your affections are +A sick man's appetite, who desires most that +Which would increase his evil. He that depends +Upon your favours swims with fins of lead +And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust Ye? +With every minute you do change a mind, +And call him noble that was now your hate, +Him vile that was your garland. What's the matter, +That in these several places of the city +You cry against the noble senate, who, +Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else +Would feed on one another? What's their seeking? + +MENENIUS: +For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say, +The city is well stored. + +MARCIUS: +Hang 'em! They say! +They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know +What's done i' the Capitol; who's like to rise, +Who thrives and who declines; side factions +and give out +Conjectural marriages; making parties strong +And feebling such as stand not in their liking +Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's +grain enough! +Would the nobility lay aside their ruth, +And let me use my sword, I'll make a quarry +With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high +As I could pick my lance. + +MENENIUS: +Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; +For though abundantly they lack discretion, +Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you, +What says the other troop? + +MARCIUS: +They are dissolved: hang 'em! +They said they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs, +That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat, +That meat was made for mouths, that the gods sent not +Corn for the rich men only: with these shreds +They vented their complainings; which being answer'd, +And a petition granted them, a strange one-- +To break the heart of generosity, +And make bold power look pale--they threw their caps +As they would hang them on the horns o' the moon, +Shouting their emulation. + +MENENIUS: +What is granted them? + +MARCIUS: +Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms, +Of their own choice: one's Junius Brutus, +Sicinius Velutus, and I know not--'Sdeath! +The rabble should have first unroof'd the city, +Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time +Win upon power and throw forth greater themes +For insurrection's arguing. + +MENENIUS: +This is strange. + +MARCIUS: +Go, get you home, you fragments! + +Messenger: +Where's Caius Marcius? + +MARCIUS: +Here: what's the matter? + +Messenger: +The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms. + +MARCIUS: +I am glad on 't: then we shall ha' means to vent +Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders. + +First Senator: +Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us; +The Volsces are in arms. + +MARCIUS: +They have a leader, +Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to 't. +I sin in envying his nobility, +And were I any thing but what I am, +I would wish me only he. + +COMINIUS: +You have fought together. + +MARCIUS: +Were half to half the world by the ears and he. +Upon my party, I'ld revolt to make +Only my wars with him: he is a lion +That I am proud to hunt. + +First Senator: +Then, worthy Marcius, +Attend upon Cominius to these wars. + +COMINIUS: +It is your former promise. + +MARCIUS: +Sir, it is; +And I am constant. Titus Lartius, thou +Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face. +What, art thou stiff? stand'st out? + +TITUS: +No, Caius Marcius; +I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other, +Ere stay behind this business. + +MENENIUS: +O, true-bred! + +First Senator: +Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, +Our greatest friends attend us. + +TITUS: + +COMINIUS: +Noble Marcius! + +First Senator: + +MARCIUS: +Nay, let them follow: +The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither +To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutiners, +Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow. + +SICINIUS: +Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? + +BRUTUS: +He has no equal. + +SICINIUS: +When we were chosen tribunes for the people,-- + +BRUTUS: +Mark'd you his lip and eyes? + +SICINIUS: +Nay. but his taunts. + +BRUTUS: +Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods. + +SICINIUS: +Be-mock the modest moon. + +BRUTUS: +The present wars devour him: he is grown +Too proud to be so valiant. + +SICINIUS: +Such a nature, +Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow +Which he treads on at noon: but I do wonder +His insolence can brook to be commanded +Under Cominius. + +BRUTUS: +Fame, at the which he aims, +In whom already he's well graced, can not +Better be held nor more attain'd than by +A place below the first: for what miscarries +Shall be the general's fault, though he perform +To the utmost of a man, and giddy censure +Will then cry out of Marcius 'O if he +Had borne the business!' + +SICINIUS: +Besides, if things go well, +Opinion that so sticks on Marcius shall +Of his demerits rob Cominius. + +BRUTUS: +Come: +Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius. +Though Marcius earned them not, and all his faults +To Marcius shall be honours, though indeed +In aught he merit not. + +SICINIUS: +Let's hence, and hear +How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion, +More than his singularity, he goes +Upon this present action. + +BRUTUS: +Lets along. + +First Senator: +So, your opinion is, Aufidius, +That they of Rome are entered in our counsels +And know how we proceed. + +AUFIDIUS: +Is it not yours? +What ever have been thought on in this state, +That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome +Had circumvention? 'Tis not four days gone +Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think +I have the letter here; yes, here it is. +'They have press'd a power, but it is not known +Whether for east or west: the dearth is great; +The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd, +Cominius, Marcius your old enemy, +Who is of Rome worse hated than of you, +And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, +These three lead on this preparation +Whither 'tis bent: most likely 'tis for you: +Consider of it.' + +First Senator: +Our army's in the field +We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready +To answer us. + +AUFIDIUS: +Nor did you think it folly +To keep your great pretences veil'd till when +They needs must show themselves; which +in the hatching, +It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery. +We shall be shorten'd in our aim, which was +To take in many towns ere almost Rome +Should know we were afoot. + +Second Senator: +Noble Aufidius, +Take your commission; hie you to your bands: +Let us alone to guard Corioli: +If they set down before 's, for the remove +Bring your army; but, I think, you'll find +They've not prepared for us. + +AUFIDIUS: +O, doubt not that; +I speak from certainties. Nay, more, +Some parcels of their power are forth already, +And only hitherward. I leave your honours. +If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, +'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike +Till one can do no more. + +All: +The gods assist you! + +AUFIDIUS: +And keep your honours safe! + +First Senator: +Farewell. + +Second Senator: +Farewell. + +All: +Farewell. + +VOLUMNIA: +I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a +more comfortable sort: if my son were my husband, I +should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he +won honour than in the embracements of his bed where +he would show most love. When yet he was but +tender-bodied and the only son of my womb, when +youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when +for a day of kings' entreaties a mother should not +sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considering +how honour would become such a person. that it was +no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if +renown made it not stir, was pleased to let him seek +danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel +war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows +bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not +more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child +than now in first seeing he had proved himself a +man. + +VIRGILIA: +But had he died in the business, madam; how then? + +VOLUMNIA: +Then his good report should have been my son; I +therein would have found issue. Hear me profess +sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love +alike and none less dear than thine and my good +Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their +country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. + +Gentlewoman: +Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you. + +VIRGILIA: +Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. + +VOLUMNIA: +Indeed, you shall not. +Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum, +See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair, +As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him: +Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus: +'Come on, you cowards! you were got in fear, +Though you were born in Rome:' his bloody brow +With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes, +Like to a harvest-man that's task'd to mow +Or all or lose his hire. + +VIRGILIA: +His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood! + +VOLUMNIA: +Away, you fool! it more becomes a man +Than gilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecuba, +When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier +Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood +At Grecian sword, contemning. Tell Valeria, +We are fit to bid her welcome. + +VIRGILIA: +Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius! + +VOLUMNIA: +He'll beat Aufidius 'head below his knee +And tread upon his neck. + +VALERIA: +My ladies both, good day to you. + +VOLUMNIA: +Sweet madam. + +VIRGILIA: +I am glad to see your ladyship. + +VALERIA: +How do you both? you are manifest house-keepers. +What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good +faith. How does your little son? + +VIRGILIA: +I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. + +VOLUMNIA: +He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than +look upon his school-master. + +VALERIA: +O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear,'tis a +very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o' +Wednesday half an hour together: has such a +confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded +butterfly: and when he caught it, he let it go +again; and after it again; and over and over he +comes, and again; catched it again; or whether his +fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his +teeth and tear it; O, I warrant it, how he mammocked +it! + +VOLUMNIA: +One on 's father's moods. + +VALERIA: +Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child. + +VIRGILIA: +A crack, madam. + +VALERIA: +Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play +the idle husewife with me this afternoon. + +VIRGILIA: +No, good madam; I will not out of doors. + +VALERIA: +Not out of doors! + +VOLUMNIA: +She shall, she shall. + +VIRGILIA: +Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the +threshold till my lord return from the wars. + +VALERIA: +Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably: come, +you must go visit the good lady that lies in. + +VIRGILIA: +I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with +my prayers; but I cannot go thither. + +VOLUMNIA: +Why, I pray you? + +VIRGILIA: +'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love. + +VALERIA: +You would be another Penelope: yet, they say, all +the yarn she spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill +Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would your cambric +were sensible as your finger, that you might leave +pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us. + +VIRGILIA: +No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth. + +VALERIA: +In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you +excellent news of your husband. + +VIRGILIA: +O, good madam, there can be none yet. + +VALERIA: +Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from +him last night. + +VIRGILIA: +Indeed, madam? + +VALERIA: +In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. +Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth; against +whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of +our Roman power: your lord and Titus Lartius are set +down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt +prevailing and to make it brief wars. This is true, +on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us. + +VIRGILIA: +Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every +thing hereafter. + +VOLUMNIA: +Let her alone, lady: as she is now, she will but +disease our better mirth. + +VALERIA: +In troth, I think she would. Fare you well, then. +Come, good sweet lady. Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy +solemness out o' door. and go along with us. + +VIRGILIA: +No, at a word, madam; indeed, I must not. I wish +you much mirth. + +VALERIA: +Well, then, farewell. + +MARCIUS: +Yonder comes news. A wager they have met. + +LARTIUS: +My horse to yours, no. + +MARCIUS: +'Tis done. + +LARTIUS: +Agreed. + +MARCIUS: +Say, has our general met the enemy? + +Messenger: +They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet. + +LARTIUS: +So, the good horse is mine. + +MARCIUS: +I'll buy him of you. + +LARTIUS: +No, I'll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will +For half a hundred years. Summon the town. + +MARCIUS: +How far off lie these armies? + +Messenger: +Within this mile and half. + +MARCIUS: +Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours. +Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work, +That we with smoking swords may march from hence, +To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast. +Tutus Aufidius, is he within your walls? + +First Senator: +No, nor a man that fears you less than he, +That's lesser than a little. +Hark! our drums +Are bringing forth our youth. We'll break our walls, +Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates, +Which yet seem shut, we, have but pinn'd with rushes; +They'll open of themselves. +Hark you. far off! +There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes +Amongst your cloven army. + +MARCIUS: +O, they are at it! + +LARTIUS: +Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho! + +MARCIUS: +They fear us not, but issue forth their city. +Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight +With hearts more proof than shields. Advance, +brave Titus: +They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, +Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows: +He that retires I'll take him for a Volsce, +And he shall feel mine edge. + +MARCIUS: +All the contagion of the south light on you, +You shames of Rome! you herd of--Boils and plagues +Plaster you o'er, that you may be abhorr'd +Further than seen and one infect another +Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese, +That bear the shapes of men, how have you run +From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell! +All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale +With flight and agued fear! Mend and charge home, +Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe +And make my wars on you: look to't: come on; +If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives, +As they us to our trenches followed. +So, now the gates are ope: now prove good seconds: +'Tis for the followers fortune widens them, +Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like. + +First Soldier: +Fool-hardiness; not I. + +Second Soldier: +Nor I. + +First Soldier: +See, they have shut him in. + +All: +To the pot, I warrant him. + +LARTIUS: +What is become of Marcius? + +All: +Slain, sir, doubtless. + +First Soldier: +Following the fliers at the very heels, +With them he enters; who, upon the sudden, +Clapp'd to their gates: he is himself alone, +To answer all the city. + +LARTIUS: +O noble fellow! +Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword, +And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Marcius: +A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, +Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier +Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible +Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks and +The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds, +Thou madst thine enemies shake, as if the world +Were feverous and did tremble. + +First Soldier: +Look, sir. + +LARTIUS: +O,'tis Marcius! +Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. + +First Roman: +This will I carry to Rome. + +Second Roman: +And I this. + +Third Roman: +A murrain on't! I took this for silver. + +MARCIUS: +See here these movers that do prize their hours +At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons, +Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would +Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves, +Ere yet the fight be done, pack up: down with them! +And hark, what noise the general makes! To him! +There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius, +Piercing our Romans: then, valiant Titus, take +Convenient numbers to make good the city; +Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste +To help Cominius. + +LARTIUS: +Worthy sir, thou bleed'st; +Thy exercise hath been too violent for +A second course of fight. + +MARCIUS: +Sir, praise me not; +My work hath yet not warm'd me: fare you well: +The blood I drop is rather physical +Than dangerous to me: to Aufidius thus +I will appear, and fight. + +LARTIUS: +Now the fair goddess, Fortune, +Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms +Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman, +Prosperity be thy page! + +MARCIUS: +Thy friend no less +Than those she placeth highest! So, farewell. + +LARTIUS: +Thou worthiest Marcius! +Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place; +Call thither all the officers o' the town, +Where they shall know our mind: away! + +COMINIUS: +Breathe you, my friends: well fought; +we are come off +Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, +Nor cowardly in retire: believe me, sirs, +We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck, +By interims and conveying gusts we have heard +The charges of our friends. Ye Roman gods! +Lead their successes as we wish our own, +That both our powers, with smiling +fronts encountering, +May give you thankful sacrifice. +Thy news? + +Messenger: +The citizens of Corioli have issued, +And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle: +I saw our party to their trenches driven, +And then I came away. + +COMINIUS: +Though thou speak'st truth, +Methinks thou speak'st not well. +How long is't since? + +Messenger: +Above an hour, my lord. + +COMINIUS: +'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums: +How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour, +And bring thy news so late? + +Messenger: +Spies of the Volsces +Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel +Three or four miles about, else had I, sir, +Half an hour since brought my report. + +COMINIUS: +Who's yonder, +That does appear as he were flay'd? O gods +He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have +Before-time seen him thus. + +MARCIUS: + +COMINIUS: +The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabour +More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue +From every meaner man. + +MARCIUS: +Come I too late? + +COMINIUS: +Ay, if you come not in the blood of others, +But mantled in your own. + +MARCIUS: +O, let me clip ye +In arms as sound as when I woo'd, in heart +As merry as when our nuptial day was done, +And tapers burn'd to bedward! + +COMINIUS: +Flower of warriors, +How is it with Titus Lartius? + +MARCIUS: +As with a man busied about decrees: +Condemning some to death, and some to exile; +Ransoming him, or pitying, threatening the other; +Holding Corioli in the name of Rome, +Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, +To let him slip at will. + +COMINIUS: +Where is that slave +Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? +Where is he? call him hither. + +MARCIUS: +Let him alone; +He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen, +The common file--a plague! tribunes for them!-- +The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat as they did budge +From rascals worse than they. + +COMINIUS: +But how prevail'd you? + +MARCIUS: +Will the time serve to tell? I do not think. +Where is the enemy? are you lords o' the field? +If not, why cease you till you are so? + +COMINIUS: +Marcius, +We have at disadvantage fought and did +Retire to win our purpose. + +MARCIUS: +How lies their battle? know you on which side +They have placed their men of trust? + +COMINIUS: +As I guess, Marcius, +Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates, +Of their best trust; o'er them Aufidius, +Their very heart of hope. + +MARCIUS: +I do beseech you, +By all the battles wherein we have fought, +By the blood we have shed together, by the vows +We have made to endure friends, that you directly +Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates; +And that you not delay the present, but, +Filling the air with swords advanced and darts, +We prove this very hour. + +COMINIUS: +Though I could wish +You were conducted to a gentle bath +And balms applied to, you, yet dare I never +Deny your asking: take your choice of those +That best can aid your action. + +MARCIUS: +Those are they +That most are willing. If any such be here-- +As it were sin to doubt--that love this painting +Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear +Lesser his person than an ill report; +If any think brave death outweighs bad life +And that his country's dearer than himself; +Let him alone, or so many so minded, +Wave thus, to express his disposition, +And follow Marcius. +O, me alone! make you a sword of me? +If these shows be not outward, which of you +But is four Volsces? none of you but is +Able to bear against the great Aufidius +A shield as hard as his. A certain number, +Though thanks to all, must I select +from all: the rest +Shall bear the business in some other fight, +As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march; +And four shall quickly draw out my command, +Which men are best inclined. + +COMINIUS: +March on, my fellows: +Make good this ostentation, and you shall +Divide in all with us. + +LARTIUS: +So, let the ports be guarded: keep your duties, +As I have set them down. If I do send, dispatch +Those centuries to our aid: the rest will serve +For a short holding: if we lose the field, +We cannot keep the town. + +Lieutenant: +Fear not our care, sir. + +LARTIUS: +Hence, and shut your gates upon's. +Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us. + +MARCIUS: +I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee +Worse than a promise-breaker. + +AUFIDIUS: +We hate alike: +Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor +More than thy fame and envy. Fix thy foot. + +MARCIUS: +Let the first budger die the other's slave, +And the gods doom him after! + +AUFIDIUS: +If I fly, Marcius, +Holloa me like a hare. + +MARCIUS: +Within these three hours, Tullus, +Alone I fought in your Corioli walls, +And made what work I pleased: 'tis not my blood +Wherein thou seest me mask'd; for thy revenge +Wrench up thy power to the highest. + +AUFIDIUS: +Wert thou the Hector +That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, +Thou shouldst not scape me here. +Officious, and not valiant, you have shamed me +In your condemned seconds. + +COMINIUS: +If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, +Thou'ldst not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it +Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles, +Where great patricians shall attend and shrug, +I' the end admire, where ladies shall be frighted, +And, gladly quaked, hear more; where the +dull tribunes, +That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine honours, +Shall say against their hearts 'We thank the gods +Our Rome hath such a soldier.' +Yet camest thou to a morsel of this feast, +Having fully dined before. + +LARTIUS: +O general, +Here is the steed, we the caparison: +Hadst thou beheld-- + +MARCIUS: +Pray now, no more: my mother, +Who has a charter to extol her blood, +When she does praise me grieves me. I have done +As you have done; that's what I can; induced +As you have been; that's for my country: +He that has but effected his good will +Hath overta'en mine act. + +COMINIUS: +You shall not be +The grave of your deserving; Rome must know +The value of her own: 'twere a concealment +Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement, +To hide your doings; and to silence that, +Which, to the spire and top of praises vouch'd, +Would seem but modest: therefore, I beseech you +In sign of what you are, not to reward +What you have done--before our army hear me. + +MARCIUS: +I have some wounds upon me, and they smart +To hear themselves remember'd. + +COMINIUS: +Should they not, +Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, +And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses, +Whereof we have ta'en good and good store, of all +The treasure in this field achieved and city, +We render you the tenth, to be ta'en forth, +Before the common distribution, at +Your only choice. + +MARCIUS: +I thank you, general; +But cannot make my heart consent to take +A bribe to pay my sword: I do refuse it; +And stand upon my common part with those +That have beheld the doing. + +MARCIUS: +May these same instruments, which you profane, +Never sound more! when drums and trumpets shall +I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be +Made all of false-faced soothing! +When steel grows soft as the parasite's silk, +Let him be made a coverture for the wars! +No more, I say! For that I have not wash'd +My nose that bled, or foil'd some debile wretch.-- +Which, without note, here's many else have done,-- +You shout me forth +In acclamations hyperbolical; +As if I loved my little should be dieted +In praises sauced with lies. + +COMINIUS: +Too modest are you; +More cruel to your good report than grateful +To us that give you truly: by your patience, +If 'gainst yourself you be incensed, we'll put you, +Like one that means his proper harm, in manacles, +Then reason safely with you. Therefore, be it known, +As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius +Wears this war's garland: in token of the which, +My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him, +With all his trim belonging; and from this time, +For what he did before Corioli, call him, +With all the applause and clamour of the host, +CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS! Bear +The addition nobly ever! + +All: +Caius Marcius Coriolanus! + +CORIOLANUS: +I will go wash; +And when my face is fair, you shall perceive +Whether I blush or no: howbeit, I thank you. +I mean to stride your steed, and at all times +To undercrest your good addition +To the fairness of my power. + +COMINIUS: +So, to our tent; +Where, ere we do repose us, we will write +To Rome of our success. You, Titus Lartius, +Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome +The best, with whom we may articulate, +For their own good and ours. + +LARTIUS: +I shall, my lord. + +CORIOLANUS: +The gods begin to mock me. I, that now +Refused most princely gifts, am bound to beg +Of my lord general. + +COMINIUS: +Take't; 'tis yours. What is't? + +CORIOLANUS: +I sometime lay here in Corioli +At a poor man's house; he used me kindly: +He cried to me; I saw him prisoner; +But then Aufidius was within my view, +And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you +To give my poor host freedom. + +COMINIUS: +O, well begg'd! +Were he the butcher of my son, he should +Be free as is the wind. Deliver him, Titus. + +LARTIUS: +Marcius, his name? + +CORIOLANUS: +By Jupiter! forgot. +I am weary; yea, my memory is tired. +Have we no wine here? + +COMINIUS: +Go we to our tent: +The blood upon your visage dries; 'tis time +It should be look'd to: come. + +AUFIDIUS: +The town is ta'en! + +First Soldier: +'Twill be deliver'd back on good condition. + +AUFIDIUS: +Condition! +I would I were a Roman; for I cannot, +Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition! +What good condition can a treaty find +I' the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius, +I have fought with thee: so often hast thou beat me, +And wouldst do so, I think, should we encounter +As often as we eat. By the elements, +If e'er again I meet him beard to beard, +He's mine, or I am his: mine emulation +Hath not that honour in't it had; for where +I thought to crush him in an equal force, +True sword to sword, I'll potch at him some way +Or wrath or craft may get him. + +First Soldier: +He's the devil. + +AUFIDIUS: +Bolder, though not so subtle. My valour's poison'd +With only suffering stain by him; for him +Shall fly out of itself: nor sleep nor sanctuary, +Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol, +The prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice, +Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up +Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst +My hate to Marcius: where I find him, were it +At home, upon my brother's guard, even there, +Against the hospitable canon, would I +Wash my fierce hand in's heart. Go you to the city; +Learn how 'tis held; and what they are that must +Be hostages for Rome. + +First Soldier: +Will not you go? + +AUFIDIUS: +I am attended at the cypress grove: I pray you-- +'Tis south the city mills--bring me word thither +How the world goes, that to the pace of it +I may spur on my journey. + +First Soldier: +I shall, sir. + +MENENIUS: +The augurer tells me we shall have news to-night. + +BRUTUS: +Good or bad? + +MENENIUS: +Not according to the prayer of the people, for they +love not Marcius. + +SICINIUS: +Nature teaches beasts to know their friends. + +MENENIUS: +Pray you, who does the wolf love? + +SICINIUS: +The lamb. + +MENENIUS: +Ay, to devour him; as the hungry plebeians would the +noble Marcius. + +BRUTUS: +He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear. + +MENENIUS: +He's a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two +are old men: tell me one thing that I shall ask you. + +Both: +Well, sir. + +MENENIUS: +In what enormity is Marcius poor in, that you two +have not in abundance? + +BRUTUS: +He's poor in no one fault, but stored with all. + +SICINIUS: +Especially in pride. + +BRUTUS: +And topping all others in boasting. + +MENENIUS: +This is strange now: do you two know how you are +censured here in the city, I mean of us o' the +right-hand file? do you? + +Both: +Why, how are we censured? + +MENENIUS: +Because you talk of pride now,--will you not be angry? + +Both: +Well, well, sir, well. + +MENENIUS: +Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of +occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience: +give your dispositions the reins, and be angry at +your pleasures; at the least if you take it as a +pleasure to you in being so. You blame Marcius for +being proud? + +BRUTUS: +We do it not alone, sir. + +MENENIUS: +I know you can do very little alone; for your helps +are many, or else your actions would grow wondrous +single: your abilities are too infant-like for +doing much alone. You talk of pride: O that you +could turn your eyes toward the napes of your necks, +and make but an interior survey of your good selves! +O that you could! + +BRUTUS: +What then, sir? + +MENENIUS: +Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, +proud, violent, testy magistrates, alias fools, as +any in Rome. + +SICINIUS: +Menenius, you are known well enough too. + +MENENIUS: +I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that +loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying +Tiber in't; said to be something imperfect in +favouring the first complaint; hasty and tinder-like +upon too trivial motion; one that converses more +with the buttock of the night than with the forehead +of the morning: what I think I utter, and spend my +malice in my breath. Meeting two such wealsmen as +you are--I cannot call you Lycurguses--if the drink +you give me touch my palate adversely, I make a +crooked face at it. I can't say your worships have +delivered the matter well, when I find the ass in +compound with the major part of your syllables: and +though I must be content to bear with those that say +you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that +tell you you have good faces. If you see this in +the map of my microcosm, follows it that I am known +well enough too? what barm can your bisson +conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be +known well enough too? + +BRUTUS: +Come, sir, come, we know you well enough. + +MENENIUS: +You know neither me, yourselves nor any thing. You +are ambitious for poor knaves' caps and legs: you +wear out a good wholesome forenoon in hearing a +cause between an orange wife and a fosset-seller; +and then rejourn the controversy of three pence to a +second day of audience. When you are hearing a +matter between party and party, if you chance to be +pinched with the colic, you make faces like +mummers; set up the bloody flag against all +patience; and, in roaring for a chamber-pot, +dismiss the controversy bleeding the more entangled +by your hearing: all the peace you make in their +cause is, calling both the parties knaves. You are +a pair of strange ones. + +BRUTUS: +Come, come, you are well understood to be a +perfecter giber for the table than a necessary +bencher in the Capitol. + +MENENIUS: +Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall +encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When +you speak best unto the purpose, it is not worth the +wagging of your beards; and your beards deserve not +so honourable a grave as to stuff a botcher's +cushion, or to be entombed in an ass's pack- +saddle. Yet you must be saying, Marcius is proud; +who in a cheap estimation, is worth predecessors +since Deucalion, though peradventure some of the +best of 'em were hereditary hangmen. God-den to +your worships: more of your conversation would +infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly +plebeians: I will be bold to take my leave of you. +How now, my as fair as noble ladies,--and the moon, +were she earthly, no nobler,--whither do you follow +your eyes so fast? + +VOLUMNIA: +Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for +the love of Juno, let's go. + +MENENIUS: +Ha! Marcius coming home! + +VOLUMNIA: +Ay, worthy Menenius; and with most prosperous +approbation. + +MENENIUS: +Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee. Hoo! +Marcius coming home! + +VOLUMNIA: +Nay,'tis true. + +VOLUMNIA: +Look, here's a letter from him: the state hath +another, his wife another; and, I think, there's one +at home for you. + +MENENIUS: +I will make my very house reel tonight: a letter for +me! + +VIRGILIA: +Yes, certain, there's a letter for you; I saw't. + +MENENIUS: +A letter for me! it gives me an estate of seven +years' health; in which time I will make a lip at +the physician: the most sovereign prescription in +Galen is but empiricutic, and, to this preservative, +of no better report than a horse-drench. Is he +not wounded? he was wont to come home wounded. + +VIRGILIA: +O, no, no, no. + +VOLUMNIA: +O, he is wounded; I thank the gods for't. + +MENENIUS: +So do I too, if it be not too much: brings a' +victory in his pocket? the wounds become him. + +VOLUMNIA: +On's brows: Menenius, he comes the third time home +with the oaken garland. + +MENENIUS: +Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly? + +VOLUMNIA: +Titus Lartius writes, they fought together, but +Aufidius got off. + +MENENIUS: +And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that: +an he had stayed by him, I would not have been so +fidiused for all the chests in Corioli, and the gold +that's in them. Is the senate possessed of this? + +VOLUMNIA: +Good ladies, let's go. Yes, yes, yes; the senate +has letters from the general, wherein he gives my +son the whole name of the war: he hath in this +action outdone his former deeds doubly + +VALERIA: +In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him. + +MENENIUS: +Wondrous! ay, I warrant you, and not without his +true purchasing. + +VIRGILIA: +The gods grant them true! + +VOLUMNIA: +True! pow, wow. + +MENENIUS: +True! I'll be sworn they are true. +Where is he wounded? +God save your good worships! Marcius is coming +home: he has more cause to be proud. Where is he wounded? + +VOLUMNIA: +I' the shoulder and i' the left arm there will be +large cicatrices to show the people, when he shall +stand for his place. He received in the repulse of +Tarquin seven hurts i' the body. + +MENENIUS: +One i' the neck, and two i' the thigh,--there's +nine that I know. + +VOLUMNIA: +He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five +wounds upon him. + +MENENIUS: +Now it's twenty-seven: every gash was an enemy's grave. +Hark! the trumpets. + +VOLUMNIA: +These are the ushers of Marcius: before him he +carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears: +Death, that dark spirit, in 's nervy arm doth lie; +Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die. + +Herald: +Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight +Within Corioli gates: where he hath won, +With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these +In honour follows Coriolanus. +Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus! + +All: +Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus! + +CORIOLANUS: +No more of this; it does offend my heart: +Pray now, no more. + +COMINIUS: +Look, sir, your mother! + +CORIOLANUS: +O, +You have, I know, petition'd all the gods +For my prosperity! + +VOLUMNIA: +Nay, my good soldier, up; +My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and +By deed-achieving honour newly named,-- +What is it?--Coriolanus must I call thee?-- +But O, thy wife! + +CORIOLANUS: +My gracious silence, hail! +Wouldst thou have laugh'd had I come coffin'd home, +That weep'st to see me triumph? Ay, my dear, +Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear, +And mothers that lack sons. + +MENENIUS: +Now, the gods crown thee! + +CORIOLANUS: +And live you yet? +O my sweet lady, pardon. + +VOLUMNIA: +I know not where to turn: O, welcome home: +And welcome, general: and ye're welcome all. + +MENENIUS: +A hundred thousand welcomes. I could weep +And I could laugh, I am light and heavy. Welcome. +A curse begin at very root on's heart, +That is not glad to see thee! You are three +That Rome should dote on: yet, by the faith of men, +We have some old crab-trees here +at home that will not +Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors: +We call a nettle but a nettle and +The faults of fools but folly. + +COMINIUS: +Ever right. + +CORIOLANUS: +Menenius ever, ever. + +Herald: +Give way there, and go on! + +CORIOLANUS: + +VOLUMNIA: +I have lived +To see inherited my very wishes +And the buildings of my fancy: only +There's one thing wanting, which I doubt not but +Our Rome will cast upon thee. + +CORIOLANUS: +Know, good mother, +I had rather be their servant in my way, +Than sway with them in theirs. + +COMINIUS: +On, to the Capitol! + +BRUTUS: +All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sights +Are spectacled to see him: your prattling nurse +Into a rapture lets her baby cry +While she chats him: the kitchen malkin pins +Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck, +Clambering the walls to eye him: stalls, bulks, windows, +Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges horsed +With variable complexions, all agreeing +In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens +Do press among the popular throngs and puff +To win a vulgar station: or veil'd dames +Commit the war of white and damask in +Their nicely-gawded cheeks to the wanton spoil +Of Phoebus' burning kisses: such a pother +As if that whatsoever god who leads him +Were slily crept into his human powers +And gave him graceful posture. + +SICINIUS: +On the sudden, +I warrant him consul. + +BRUTUS: +Then our office may, +During his power, go sleep. + +SICINIUS: +He cannot temperately transport his honours +From where he should begin and end, but will +Lose those he hath won. + +BRUTUS: +In that there's comfort. + +SICINIUS: +Doubt not +The commoners, for whom we stand, but they +Upon their ancient malice will forget +With the least cause these his new honours, which +That he will give them make I as little question +As he is proud to do't. + +BRUTUS: +I heard him swear, +Were he to stand for consul, never would he +Appear i' the market-place nor on him put +The napless vesture of humility; +Nor showing, as the manner is, his wounds +To the people, beg their stinking breaths. + +SICINIUS: +'Tis right. + +BRUTUS: +It was his word: O, he would miss it rather +Than carry it but by the suit of the gentry to him, +And the desire of the nobles. + +SICINIUS: +I wish no better +Than have him hold that purpose and to put it +In execution. + +BRUTUS: +'Tis most like he will. + +SICINIUS: +It shall be to him then as our good wills, +A sure destruction. + +BRUTUS: +So it must fall out +To him or our authorities. For an end, +We must suggest the people in what hatred +He still hath held them; that to's power he would +Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders and +Dispropertied their freedoms, holding them, +In human action and capacity, +Of no more soul nor fitness for the world +Than camels in the war, who have their provand +Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows +For sinking under them. + +SICINIUS: +This, as you say, suggested +At some time when his soaring insolence +Shall touch the people--which time shall not want, +If he be put upon 't; and that's as easy +As to set dogs on sheep--will be his fire +To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze +Shall darken him for ever. + +BRUTUS: +What's the matter? + +Messenger: +You are sent for to the Capitol. 'Tis thought +That Marcius shall be consul: +I have seen the dumb men throng to see him and +The blind to bear him speak: matrons flung gloves, +Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchers, +Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended, +As to Jove's statue, and the commons made +A shower and thunder with their caps and shouts: +I never saw the like. + +BRUTUS: +Let's to the Capitol; +And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, +But hearts for the event. + +SICINIUS: +Have with you. + +First Officer: +Come, come, they are almost here. How many stand +for consulships? + +Second Officer: +Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every one +Coriolanus will carry it. + +First Officer: +That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud, and +loves not the common people. + +Second Officer: +Faith, there had been many great men that have +flattered the people, who ne'er loved them; and there +be many that they have loved, they know not +wherefore: so that, if they love they know not why, +they hate upon no better a ground: therefore, for +Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate +him manifests the true knowledge he has in their +disposition; and out of his noble carelessness lets +them plainly see't. + +First Officer: +If he did not care whether he had their love or no, +he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither +good nor harm: but he seeks their hate with greater +devotion than can render it him; and leaves +nothing undone that may fully discover him their +opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and +displeasure of the people is as bad as that which he +dislikes, to flatter them for their love. + +Second Officer: +He hath deserved worthily of his country: and his +ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who, +having been supple and courteous to the people, +bonneted, without any further deed to have them at +an into their estimation and report: but he hath so +planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions +in their hearts, that for their tongues to be +silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of +ingrateful injury; to report otherwise, were a +malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck +reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it. + +First Officer: +No more of him; he is a worthy man: make way, they +are coming. + +MENENIUS: +Having determined of the Volsces and +To send for Titus Lartius, it remains, +As the main point of this our after-meeting, +To gratify his noble service that +Hath thus stood for his country: therefore, +please you, +Most reverend and grave elders, to desire +The present consul, and last general +In our well-found successes, to report +A little of that worthy work perform'd +By Caius Marcius Coriolanus, whom +We met here both to thank and to remember +With honours like himself. + +First Senator: +Speak, good Cominius: +Leave nothing out for length, and make us think +Rather our state's defective for requital +Than we to stretch it out. +Masters o' the people, +We do request your kindest ears, and after, +Your loving motion toward the common body, +To yield what passes here. + +SICINIUS: +We are convented +Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts +Inclinable to honour and advance +The theme of our assembly. + +BRUTUS: +Which the rather +We shall be blest to do, if he remember +A kinder value of the people than +He hath hereto prized them at. + +MENENIUS: +That's off, that's off; +I would you rather had been silent. Please you +To hear Cominius speak? + +BRUTUS: +Most willingly; +But yet my caution was more pertinent +Than the rebuke you give it. + +MENENIUS: +He loves your people +But tie him not to be their bedfellow. +Worthy Cominius, speak. +Nay, keep your place. + +First Senator: +Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear +What you have nobly done. + +CORIOLANUS: +Your horror's pardon: +I had rather have my wounds to heal again +Than hear say how I got them. + +BRUTUS: +Sir, I hope +My words disbench'd you not. + +CORIOLANUS: +No, sir: yet oft, +When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. +You soothed not, therefore hurt not: but +your people, +I love them as they weigh. + +MENENIUS: +Pray now, sit down. + +CORIOLANUS: +I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun +When the alarum were struck than idly sit +To hear my nothings monster'd. + +MENENIUS: +Masters of the people, +Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter-- +That's thousand to one good one--when you now see +He had rather venture all his limbs for honour +Than one on's ears to hear it? Proceed, Cominius. + +COMINIUS: +I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus +Should not be utter'd feebly. It is held +That valour is the chiefest virtue, and +Most dignifies the haver: if it be, +The man I speak of cannot in the world +Be singly counterpoised. At sixteen years, +When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought +Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator, +Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight, +When with his Amazonian chin he drove +The bristled lips before him: be bestrid +An o'er-press'd Roman and i' the consul's view +Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met, +And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats, +When he might act the woman in the scene, +He proved best man i' the field, and for his meed +Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age +Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea, +And in the brunt of seventeen battles since +He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last, +Before and in Corioli, let me say, +I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers; +And by his rare example made the coward +Turn terror into sport: as weeds before +A vessel under sail, so men obey'd +And fell below his stem: his sword, death's stamp, +Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot +He was a thing of blood, whose every motion +Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd +The mortal gate of the city, which he painted +With shunless destiny; aidless came off, +And with a sudden reinforcement struck +Corioli like a planet: now all's his: +When, by and by, the din of war gan pierce +His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit +Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate, +And to the battle came he; where he did +Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if +'Twere a perpetual spoil: and till we call'd +Both field and city ours, he never stood +To ease his breast with panting. + +MENENIUS: +Worthy man! + +First Senator: +He cannot but with measure fit the honours +Which we devise him. + +COMINIUS: +Our spoils he kick'd at, +And look'd upon things precious as they were +The common muck of the world: he covets less +Than misery itself would give; rewards +His deeds with doing them, and is content +To spend the time to end it. + +MENENIUS: +He's right noble: +Let him be call'd for. + +First Senator: +Call Coriolanus. + +Officer: +He doth appear. + +MENENIUS: +The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased +To make thee consul. + +CORIOLANUS: +I do owe them still +My life and services. + +MENENIUS: +It then remains +That you do speak to the people. + +CORIOLANUS: +I do beseech you, +Let me o'erleap that custom, for I cannot +Put on the gown, stand naked and entreat them, +For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please you +That I may pass this doing. + +SICINIUS: +Sir, the people +Must have their voices; neither will they bate +One jot of ceremony. + +MENENIUS: +Put them not to't: +Pray you, go fit you to the custom and +Take to you, as your predecessors have, +Your honour with your form. + +CORIOLANUS: +It is apart +That I shall blush in acting, and might well +Be taken from the people. + +BRUTUS: +Mark you that? + +CORIOLANUS: +To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus; +Show them the unaching scars which I should hide, +As if I had received them for the hire +Of their breath only! + +MENENIUS: +Do not stand upon't. +We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, +Our purpose to them: and to our noble consul +Wish we all joy and honour. + +Senators: +To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! + +BRUTUS: +You see how he intends to use the people. + +SICINIUS: +May they perceive's intent! He will require them, +As if he did contemn what he requested +Should be in them to give. + +BRUTUS: +Come, we'll inform them +Of our proceedings here: on the marketplace, +I know, they do attend us. + +First Citizen: +Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him. + +Second Citizen: +We may, sir, if we will. + +Third Citizen: +We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a +power that we have no power to do; for if he show us +his wounds and tell us his deeds, we are to put our +tongues into those wounds and speak for them; so, if +he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him +our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is +monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful, +were to make a monster of the multitude: of the +which we being members, should bring ourselves to be +monstrous members. + +First Citizen: +And to make us no better thought of, a little help +will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he +himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude. + +Third Citizen: +We have been called so of many; not that our heads +are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, +but that our wits are so diversely coloured: and +truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of +one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south, +and their consent of one direct way should be at +once to all the points o' the compass. + +Second Citizen: +Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would +fly? + +Third Citizen: +Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's +will;'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head, but +if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, southward. + +Second Citizen: +Why that way? + +Third Citizen: +To lose itself in a fog, where being three parts +melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return +for conscience sake, to help to get thee a wife. + +Second Citizen: +You are never without your tricks: you may, you may. + +Third Citizen: +Are you all resolved to give your voices? But +that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I +say, if he would incline to the people, there was +never a worthier man. +Here he comes, and in the gown of humility: mark his +behavior. We are not to stay all together, but to +come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and +by threes. He's to make his requests by +particulars; wherein every one of us has a single +honour, in giving him our own voices with our own +tongues: therefore follow me, and I direct you how +you shall go by him. + +All: +Content, content. + +MENENIUS: +O sir, you are not right: have you not known +The worthiest men have done't? + +CORIOLANUS: +What must I say? +'I Pray, sir'--Plague upon't! I cannot bring +My tongue to such a pace:--'Look, sir, my wounds! +I got them in my country's service, when +Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran +From the noise of our own drums.' + +MENENIUS: +O me, the gods! +You must not speak of that: you must desire them +To think upon you. + +CORIOLANUS: +Think upon me! hang 'em! +I would they would forget me, like the virtues +Which our divines lose by 'em. + +MENENIUS: +You'll mar all: +I'll leave you: pray you, speak to 'em, I pray you, +In wholesome manner. + +CORIOLANUS: +Bid them wash their faces +And keep their teeth clean. +So, here comes a brace. +You know the cause, air, of my standing here. + +Third Citizen: +We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't. + +CORIOLANUS: +Mine own desert. + +Second Citizen: +Your own desert! + +CORIOLANUS: +Ay, but not mine own desire. + +Third Citizen: +How not your own desire? + +CORIOLANUS: +No, sir,'twas never my desire yet to trouble the +poor with begging. + +Third Citizen: +You must think, if we give you any thing, we hope to +gain by you. + +CORIOLANUS: +Well then, I pray, your price o' the consulship? + +First Citizen: +The price is to ask it kindly. + +CORIOLANUS: +Kindly! Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to +show you, which shall be yours in private. Your +good voice, sir; what say you? + +Second Citizen: +You shall ha' it, worthy sir. + +CORIOLANUS: +A match, sir. There's in all two worthy voices +begged. I have your alms: adieu. + +Third Citizen: +But this is something odd. + +Second Citizen: +An 'twere to give again,--but 'tis no matter. + +CORIOLANUS: +Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your +voices that I may be consul, I have here the +customary gown. + +Fourth Citizen: +You have deserved nobly of your country, and you +have not deserved nobly. + +CORIOLANUS: +Your enigma? + +Fourth Citizen: +You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have +been a rod to her friends; you have not indeed loved +the common people. + +CORIOLANUS: +You should account me the more virtuous that I have +not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my +sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer +estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account +gentle: and since the wisdom of their choice is +rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise +the insinuating nod and be off to them most +counterfeitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the +bewitchment of some popular man and give it +bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, +I may be consul. + +Fifth Citizen: +We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give +you our voices heartily. + +Fourth Citizen: +You have received many wounds for your country. + +CORIOLANUS: +I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I +will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further. + +Both Citizens: +The gods give you joy, sir, heartily! + +CORIOLANUS: +Most sweet voices! +Better it is to die, better to starve, +Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. +Why in this woolvish toge should I stand here, +To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear, +Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to't: +What custom wills, in all things should we do't, +The dust on antique time would lie unswept, +And mountainous error be too highly heapt +For truth to o'er-peer. Rather than fool it so, +Let the high office and the honour go +To one that would do thus. I am half through; +The one part suffer'd, the other will I do. +Here come more voices. +Your voices: for your voices I have fought; +Watch'd for your voices; for Your voices bear +Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six +I have seen and heard of; for your voices have +Done many things, some less, some more your voices: +Indeed I would be consul. + +Sixth Citizen: +He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest +man's voice. + +Seventh Citizen: +Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him joy, +and make him good friend to the people! + +All Citizens: +Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul! + +CORIOLANUS: +Worthy voices! + +MENENIUS: +You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes +Endue you with the people's voice: remains +That, in the official marks invested, you +Anon do meet the senate. + +CORIOLANUS: +Is this done? + +SICINIUS: +The custom of request you have discharged: +The people do admit you, and are summon'd +To meet anon, upon your approbation. + +CORIOLANUS: +Where? at the senate-house? + +SICINIUS: +There, Coriolanus. + +CORIOLANUS: +May I change these garments? + +SICINIUS: +You may, sir. + +CORIOLANUS: +That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself again, +Repair to the senate-house. + +MENENIUS: +I'll keep you company. Will you along? + +BRUTUS: +We stay here for the people. + +SICINIUS: +Fare you well. +He has it now, and by his looks methink +'Tis warm at 's heart. + +BRUTUS: +With a proud heart he wore his humble weeds. +will you dismiss the people? + +SICINIUS: +How now, my masters! have you chose this man? + +First Citizen: +He has our voices, sir. + +BRUTUS: +We pray the gods he may deserve your loves. + +Second Citizen: +Amen, sir: to my poor unworthy notice, +He mock'd us when he begg'd our voices. + +Third Citizen: +Certainly +He flouted us downright. + +First Citizen: +No,'tis his kind of speech: he did not mock us. + +Second Citizen: +Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says +He used us scornfully: he should have show'd us +His marks of merit, wounds received for's country. + +SICINIUS: +Why, so he did, I am sure. + +Citizens: +No, no; no man saw 'em. + +Third Citizen: +He said he had wounds, which he could show +in private; +And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, +'I would be consul,' says he: 'aged custom, +But by your voices, will not so permit me; +Your voices therefore.' When we granted that, +Here was 'I thank you for your voices: thank you: +Your most sweet voices: now you have left +your voices, +I have no further with you.' Was not this mockery? + +SICINIUS: +Why either were you ignorant to see't, +Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness +To yield your voices? + +BRUTUS: +Could you not have told him +As you were lesson'd, when he had no power, +But was a petty servant to the state, +He was your enemy, ever spake against +Your liberties and the charters that you bear +I' the body of the weal; and now, arriving +A place of potency and sway o' the state, +If he should still malignantly remain +Fast foe to the plebeii, your voices might +Be curses to yourselves? You should have said +That as his worthy deeds did claim no less +Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature +Would think upon you for your voices and +Translate his malice towards you into love, +Standing your friendly lord. + +SICINIUS: +Thus to have said, +As you were fore-advised, had touch'd his spirit +And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd +Either his gracious promise, which you might, +As cause had call'd you up, have held him to +Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature, +Which easily endures not article +Tying him to aught; so putting him to rage, +You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler +And pass'd him unelected. + +BRUTUS: +Did you perceive +He did solicit you in free contempt +When he did need your loves, and do you think +That his contempt shall not be bruising to you, +When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies +No heart among you? or had you tongues to cry +Against the rectorship of judgment? + +SICINIUS: +Have you +Ere now denied the asker? and now again +Of him that did not ask, but mock, bestow +Your sued-for tongues? + +Third Citizen: +He's not confirm'd; we may deny him yet. + +Second Citizen: +And will deny him: +I'll have five hundred voices of that sound. + +First Citizen: +I twice five hundred and their friends to piece 'em. + +BRUTUS: +Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends, +They have chose a consul that will from them take +Their liberties; make them of no more voice +Than dogs that are as often beat for barking +As therefore kept to do so. + +SICINIUS: +Let them assemble, +And on a safer judgment all revoke +Your ignorant election; enforce his pride, +And his old hate unto you; besides, forget not +With what contempt he wore the humble weed, +How in his suit he scorn'd you; but your loves, +Thinking upon his services, took from you +The apprehension of his present portance, +Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion +After the inveterate hate he bears you. + +BRUTUS: +Lay +A fault on us, your tribunes; that we laboured, +No impediment between, but that you must +Cast your election on him. + +SICINIUS: +Say, you chose him +More after our commandment than as guided +By your own true affections, and that your minds, +Preoccupied with what you rather must do +Than what you should, made you against the grain +To voice him consul: lay the fault on us. + +BRUTUS: +Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you. +How youngly he began to serve his country, +How long continued, and what stock he springs of, +The noble house o' the Marcians, from whence came +That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son, +Who, after great Hostilius, here was king; +Of the same house Publius and Quintus were, +That our beat water brought by conduits hither; +And +Twice being +Was his great ancestor. + +SICINIUS: +One thus descended, +That hath beside well in his person wrought +To be set high in place, we did commend +To your remembrances: but you have found, +Scaling his present bearing with his past, +That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke +Your sudden approbation. + +BRUTUS: +Say, you ne'er had done't-- +Harp on that still--but by our putting on; +And presently, when you have drawn your number, +Repair to the Capitol. + +All: +We will so: almost all +Repent in their election. + +BRUTUS: +Let them go on; +This mutiny were better put in hazard, +Than stay, past doubt, for greater: +If, as his nature is, he fall in rage +With their refusal, both observe and answer +The vantage of his anger. + +SICINIUS: +To the Capitol, come: +We will be there before the stream o' the people; +And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own, +Which we have goaded onward. + +CORIOLANUS: +Tullus Aufidius then had made new head? + +LARTIUS: +He had, my lord; and that it was which caused +Our swifter composition. + +CORIOLANUS: +So then the Volsces stand but as at first, +Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road. +Upon's again. + +COMINIUS: +They are worn, lord consul, so, +That we shall hardly in our ages see +Their banners wave again. + +CORIOLANUS: +Saw you Aufidius? + +LARTIUS: +On safe-guard he came to me; and did curse +Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely +Yielded the town: he is retired to Antium. + +CORIOLANUS: +Spoke he of me? + +LARTIUS: +He did, my lord. + +CORIOLANUS: +How? what? + +LARTIUS: +How often he had met you, sword to sword; +That of all things upon the earth he hated +Your person most, that he would pawn his fortunes +To hopeless restitution, so he might +Be call'd your vanquisher. + +CORIOLANUS: +At Antium lives he? + +LARTIUS: +At Antium. + +CORIOLANUS: +I wish I had a cause to seek him there, +To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home. +Behold, these are the tribunes of the people, +The tongues o' the common mouth: I do despise them; +For they do prank them in authority, +Against all noble sufferance. + +SICINIUS: +Pass no further. + +CORIOLANUS: +Ha! what is that? + +BRUTUS: +It will be dangerous to go on: no further. + +CORIOLANUS: +What makes this change? + +MENENIUS: +The matter? + +COMINIUS: +Hath he not pass'd the noble and the common? + +BRUTUS: +Cominius, no. + +CORIOLANUS: +Have I had children's voices? + +First Senator: +Tribunes, give way; he shall to the market-place. + +BRUTUS: +The people are incensed against him. + +SICINIUS: +Stop, +Or all will fall in broil. + +CORIOLANUS: +Are these your herd? +Must these have voices, that can yield them now +And straight disclaim their tongues? What are +your offices? +You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth? +Have you not set them on? + +MENENIUS: +Be calm, be calm. + +CORIOLANUS: +It is a purposed thing, and grows by plot, +To curb the will of the nobility: +Suffer't, and live with such as cannot rule +Nor ever will be ruled. + +BRUTUS: +Call't not a plot: +The people cry you mock'd them, and of late, +When corn was given them gratis, you repined; +Scandal'd the suppliants for the people, call'd them +Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. + +CORIOLANUS: +Why, this was known before. + +BRUTUS: +Not to them all. + +CORIOLANUS: +Have you inform'd them sithence? + +BRUTUS: +How! I inform them! + +CORIOLANUS: +You are like to do such business. + +BRUTUS: +Not unlike, +Each way, to better yours. + +CORIOLANUS: +Why then should I be consul? By yond clouds, +Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me +Your fellow tribune. + +SICINIUS: +You show too much of that +For which the people stir: if you will pass +To where you are bound, you must inquire your way, +Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit, +Or never be so noble as a consul, +Nor yoke with him for tribune. + +MENENIUS: +Let's be calm. + +COMINIUS: +The people are abused; set on. This paltering +Becomes not Rome, nor has Coriolanus +Deserved this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely +I' the plain way of his merit. + +CORIOLANUS: +Tell me of corn! +This was my speech, and I will speak't again-- + +MENENIUS: +Not now, not now. + +First Senator: +Not in this heat, sir, now. + +CORIOLANUS: +Now, as I live, I will. My nobler friends, +I crave their pardons: +For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them +Regard me as I do not flatter, and +Therein behold themselves: I say again, +In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate +The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition, +Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd, +and scatter'd, +By mingling them with us, the honour'd number, +Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that +Which they have given to beggars. + +MENENIUS: +Well, no more. + +First Senator: +No more words, we beseech you. + +CORIOLANUS: +How! no more! +As for my country I have shed my blood, +Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs +Coin words till their decay against those measles, +Which we disdain should tatter us, yet sought +The very way to catch them. + +BRUTUS: +You speak o' the people, +As if you were a god to punish, not +A man of their infirmity. + +SICINIUS: +'Twere well +We let the people know't. + +MENENIUS: +What, what? his choler? + +CORIOLANUS: +Choler! +Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, +By Jove, 'twould be my mind! + +SICINIUS: +It is a mind +That shall remain a poison where it is, +Not poison any further. + +CORIOLANUS: +Shall remain! +Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark you +His absolute 'shall'? + +COMINIUS: +'Twas from the canon. + +CORIOLANUS: +'Shall'! +O good but most unwise patricians! why, +You grave but reckless senators, have you thus +Given Hydra here to choose an officer, +That with his peremptory 'shall,' being but +The horn and noise o' the monster's, wants not spirit +To say he'll turn your current in a ditch, +And make your channel his? If he have power +Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake +Your dangerous lenity. If you are learn'd, +Be not as common fools; if you are not, +Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians, +If they be senators: and they are no less, +When, both your voices blended, the great'st taste +Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate, +And such a one as he, who puts his 'shall,' +His popular 'shall' against a graver bench +Than ever frown in Greece. By Jove himself! +It makes the consuls base: and my soul aches +To know, when two authorities are up, +Neither supreme, how soon confusion +May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take +The one by the other. + +COMINIUS: +Well, on to the market-place. + +CORIOLANUS: +Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth +The corn o' the storehouse gratis, as 'twas used +Sometime in Greece,-- + +MENENIUS: +Well, well, no more of that. + +CORIOLANUS: +Though there the people had more absolute power, +I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed +The ruin of the state. + +BRUTUS: +Why, shall the people give +One that speaks thus their voice? + +CORIOLANUS: +I'll give my reasons, +More worthier than their voices. They know the corn +Was not our recompense, resting well assured +That ne'er did service for't: being press'd to the war, +Even when the navel of the state was touch'd, +They would not thread the gates. This kind of service +Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i' the war +Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd +Most valour, spoke not for them: the accusation +Which they have often made against the senate, +All cause unborn, could never be the motive +Of our so frank donation. Well, what then? +How shall this bisson multitude digest +The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express +What's like to be their words: 'we did request it; +We are the greater poll, and in true fear +They gave us our demands.' Thus we debase +The nature of our seats and make the rabble +Call our cares fears; which will in time +Break ope the locks o' the senate and bring in +The crows to peck the eagles. + +MENENIUS: +Come, enough. + +BRUTUS: +Enough, with over-measure. + +CORIOLANUS: +No, take more: +What may be sworn by, both divine and human, +Seal what I end withal! This double worship, +Where one part does disdain with cause, the other +Insult without all reason, where gentry, title, wisdom, +Cannot conclude but by the yea and no +Of general ignorance,--it must omit +Real necessities, and give way the while +To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, +it follows, +Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech you,-- +You that will be less fearful than discreet, +That love the fundamental part of state +More than you doubt the change on't, that prefer +A noble life before a long, and wish +To jump a body with a dangerous physic +That's sure of death without it, at once pluck out +The multitudinous tongue; let them not lick +The sweet which is their poison: your dishonour +Mangles true judgment and bereaves the state +Of that integrity which should become't, +Not having the power to do the good it would, +For the in which doth control't. + +BRUTUS: +Has said enough. + +SICINIUS: +Has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer +As traitors do. + +CORIOLANUS: +Thou wretch, despite o'erwhelm thee! +What should the people do with these bald tribunes? +On whom depending, their obedience fails +To the greater bench: in a rebellion, +When what's not meet, but what must be, was law, +Then were they chosen: in a better hour, +Let what is meet be said it must be meet, +And throw their power i' the dust. + +BRUTUS: +Manifest treason! + +SICINIUS: +This a consul? no. + +BRUTUS: +The aediles, ho! +Let him be apprehended. + +SICINIUS: +Go, call the people: +in whose name myself +Attach thee as a traitorous innovator, +A foe to the public weal: obey, I charge thee, +And follow to thine answer. + +CORIOLANUS: +Hence, old goat! + +Senators, &C: +We'll surety him. + +COMINIUS: +Aged sir, hands off. + +CORIOLANUS: +Hence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bones +Out of thy garments. + +SICINIUS: +Help, ye citizens! + +MENENIUS: +On both sides more respect. + +SICINIUS: +Here's he that would take from you all your power. + +BRUTUS: +Seize him, AEdiles! + +Citizens: +Down with him! down with him! + +Senators, &C: +Weapons, weapons, weapons! +'Tribunes!' 'Patricians!' 'Citizens!' 'What, ho!' +'Sicinius!' 'Brutus!' 'Coriolanus!' 'Citizens!' +'Peace, peace, peace!' 'Stay, hold, peace!' + +MENENIUS: +What is about to be? I am out of breath; +Confusion's near; I cannot speak. You, tribunes +To the people! Coriolanus, patience! +Speak, good Sicinius. + +SICINIUS: +Hear me, people; peace! + +Citizens: +Let's hear our tribune: peace Speak, speak, speak. + +SICINIUS: +You are at point to lose your liberties: +Marcius would have all from you; Marcius, +Whom late you have named for consul. + +MENENIUS: +Fie, fie, fie! +This is the way to kindle, not to quench. + +First Senator: +To unbuild the city and to lay all flat. + +SICINIUS: +What is the city but the people? + +Citizens: +True, +The people are the city. + +BRUTUS: +By the consent of all, we were establish'd +The people's magistrates. + +Citizens: +You so remain. + +MENENIUS: +And so are like to do. + +COMINIUS: +That is the way to lay the city flat; +To bring the roof to the foundation, +And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges, +In heaps and piles of ruin. + +SICINIUS: +This deserves death. + +BRUTUS: +Or let us stand to our authority, +Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce, +Upon the part o' the people, in whose power +We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy +Of present death. + +SICINIUS: +Therefore lay hold of him; +Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence +Into destruction cast him. + +BRUTUS: +AEdiles, seize him! + +Citizens: +Yield, Marcius, yield! + +MENENIUS: +Hear me one word; +Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. + +AEdile: +Peace, peace! + +MENENIUS: + +BRUTUS: +Sir, those cold ways, +That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous +Where the disease is violent. Lay hands upon him, +And bear him to the rock. + +CORIOLANUS: +No, I'll die here. +There's some among you have beheld me fighting: +Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me. + +MENENIUS: +Down with that sword! Tribunes, withdraw awhile. + +BRUTUS: +Lay hands upon him. + +COMINIUS: +Help Marcius, help, +You that be noble; help him, young and old! + +Citizens: +Down with him, down with him! + +MENENIUS: +Go, get you to your house; be gone, away! +All will be naught else. + +Second Senator: +Get you gone. + +COMINIUS: +Stand fast; +We have as many friends as enemies. + +MENENIUS: +Sham it be put to that? + +First Senator: +The gods forbid! +I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house; +Leave us to cure this cause. + +MENENIUS: +For 'tis a sore upon us, +You cannot tent yourself: be gone, beseech you. + +COMINIUS: +Come, sir, along with us. + +CORIOLANUS: +I would they were barbarians--as they are, +Though in Rome litter'd--not Romans--as they are not, +Though calved i' the porch o' the Capitol-- + +MENENIUS: +Be gone; +Put not your worthy rage into your tongue; +One time will owe another. + +CORIOLANUS: +On fair ground +I could beat forty of them. + +COMINIUS: +I could myself +Take up a brace o' the best of them; yea, the +two tribunes: +But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic; +And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands +Against a falling fabric. Will you hence, +Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend +Like interrupted waters and o'erbear +What they are used to bear. + +MENENIUS: +Pray you, be gone: +I'll try whether my old wit be in request +With those that have but little: this must be patch'd +With cloth of any colour. + +COMINIUS: +Nay, come away. + +A Patrician: +This man has marr'd his fortune. + +MENENIUS: +His nature is too noble for the world: +He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, +Or Jove for's power to thunder. His heart's his mouth: +What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent; +And, being angry, does forget that ever +He heard the name of death. +Here's goodly work! + +Second Patrician: +I would they were abed! + +MENENIUS: +I would they were in Tiber! What the vengeance! +Could he not speak 'em fair? + +SICINIUS: +Where is this viper +That would depopulate the city and +Be every man himself? + +MENENIUS: +You worthy tribunes,-- + +SICINIUS: +He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock +With rigorous hands: he hath resisted law, +And therefore law shall scorn him further trial +Than the severity of the public power +Which he so sets at nought. + +First Citizen: +He shall well know +The noble tribunes are the people's mouths, +And we their hands. + +Citizens: +He shall, sure on't. + +MENENIUS: +Sir, sir,-- + +SICINIUS: +Peace! + +MENENIUS: +Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt +With modest warrant. + +SICINIUS: +Sir, how comes't that you +Have holp to make this rescue? + +MENENIUS: +Hear me speak: +As I do know the consul's worthiness, +So can I name his faults,-- + +SICINIUS: +Consul! what consul? + +MENENIUS: +The consul Coriolanus. + +BRUTUS: +He consul! + +Citizens: +No, no, no, no, no. + +MENENIUS: +If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people, +I may be heard, I would crave a word or two; +The which shall turn you to no further harm +Than so much loss of time. + +SICINIUS: +Speak briefly then; +For we are peremptory to dispatch +This viperous traitor: to eject him hence +Were but one danger, and to keep him here +Our certain death: therefore it is decreed +He dies to-night. + +MENENIUS: +Now the good gods forbid +That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude +Towards her deserved children is enroll'd +In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam +Should now eat up her own! + +SICINIUS: +He's a disease that must be cut away. + +MENENIUS: +O, he's a limb that has but a disease; +Mortal, to cut it off; to cure it, easy. +What has he done to Rome that's worthy death? +Killing our enemies, the blood he hath lost-- +Which, I dare vouch, is more than that he hath, +By many an ounce--he dropp'd it for his country; +And what is left, to lose it by his country, +Were to us all, that do't and suffer it, +A brand to the end o' the world. + +SICINIUS: +This is clean kam. + +BRUTUS: +Merely awry: when he did love his country, +It honour'd him. + +MENENIUS: +The service of the foot +Being once gangrened, is not then respected +For what before it was. + +BRUTUS: +We'll hear no more. +Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence: +Lest his infection, being of catching nature, +Spread further. + +MENENIUS: +One word more, one word. +This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find +The harm of unscann'd swiftness, will too late +Tie leaden pounds to's heels. Proceed by process; +Lest parties, as he is beloved, break out, +And sack great Rome with Romans. + +BRUTUS: +If it were so,-- + +SICINIUS: +What do ye talk? +Have we not had a taste of his obedience? +Our aediles smote? ourselves resisted? Come. + +MENENIUS: +Consider this: he has been bred i' the wars +Since he could draw a sword, and is ill school'd +In bolted language; meal and bran together +He throws without distinction. Give me leave, +I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him +Where he shall answer, by a lawful form, +In peace, to his utmost peril. + +First Senator: +Noble tribunes, +It is the humane way: the other course +Will prove too bloody, and the end of it +Unknown to the beginning. + +SICINIUS: +Noble Menenius, +Be you then as the people's officer. +Masters, lay down your weapons. + +BRUTUS: +Go not home. + +SICINIUS: +Meet on the market-place. We'll attend you there: +Where, if you bring not Marcius, we'll proceed +In our first way. + +MENENIUS: +I'll bring him to you. +Let me desire your company: he must come, +Or what is worst will follow. + +First Senator: +Pray you, let's to him. + +CORIOLANUS: +Let them puff all about mine ears, present me +Death on the wheel or at wild horses' heels, +Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock, +That the precipitation might down stretch +Below the beam of sight, yet will I still +Be thus to them. + +A Patrician: +You do the nobler. + +CORIOLANUS: +I muse my mother +Does not approve me further, who was wont +To call them woollen vassals, things created +To buy and sell with groats, to show bare heads +In congregations, to yawn, be still and wonder, +When one but of my ordinance stood up +To speak of peace or war. +I talk of you: +Why did you wish me milder? would you have me +False to my nature? Rather say I play +The man I am. + +VOLUMNIA: +O, sir, sir, sir, +I would have had you put your power well on, +Before you had worn it out. + +CORIOLANUS: +Let go. + +VOLUMNIA: +You might have been enough the man you are, +With striving less to be so; lesser had been +The thwartings of your dispositions, if +You had not show'd them how ye were disposed +Ere they lack'd power to cross you. + +CORIOLANUS: +Let them hang. + +A Patrician: +Ay, and burn too. + +MENENIUS: +Come, come, you have been too rough, something +too rough; +You must return and mend it. + +First Senator: +There's no remedy; +Unless, by not so doing, our good city +Cleave in the midst, and perish. + +VOLUMNIA: +Pray, be counsell'd: +I have a heart as little apt as yours, +But yet a brain that leads my use of anger +To better vantage. + +MENENIUS: +Well said, noble woman? +Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that +The violent fit o' the time craves it as physic +For the whole state, I would put mine armour on, +Which I can scarcely bear. + +CORIOLANUS: +What must I do? + +MENENIUS: +Return to the tribunes. + +CORIOLANUS: +Well, what then? what then? + +MENENIUS: +Repent what you have spoke. + +CORIOLANUS: +For them! I cannot do it to the gods; +Must I then do't to them? + +VOLUMNIA: +You are too absolute; +Though therein you can never be too noble, +But when extremities speak. I have heard you say, +Honour and policy, like unsever'd friends, +I' the war do grow together: grant that, and tell me, +In peace what each of them by the other lose, +That they combine not there. + +CORIOLANUS: +Tush, tush! + +MENENIUS: +A good demand. + +VOLUMNIA: +If it be honour in your wars to seem +The same you are not, which, for your best ends, +You adopt your policy, how is it less or worse, +That it shall hold companionship in peace +With honour, as in war, since that to both +It stands in like request? + +CORIOLANUS: +Why force you this? + +VOLUMNIA: +Because that now it lies you on to speak +To the people; not by your own instruction, +Nor by the matter which your heart prompts you, +But with such words that are but rooted in +Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables +Of no allowance to your bosom's truth. +Now, this no more dishonours you at all +Than to take in a town with gentle words, +Which else would put you to your fortune and +The hazard of much blood. +I would dissemble with my nature where +My fortunes and my friends at stake required +I should do so in honour: I am in this, +Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles; +And you will rather show our general louts +How you can frown than spend a fawn upon 'em, +For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard +Of what that want might ruin. + +MENENIUS: +Noble lady! +Come, go with us; speak fair: you may salve so, +Not what is dangerous present, but the loss +Of what is past. + +VOLUMNIA: +I prithee now, my son, +Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand; +And thus far having stretch'd it--here be with them-- +Thy knee bussing the stones--for in such business +Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant +More learned than the ears--waving thy head, +Which often, thus, correcting thy stout heart, +Now humble as the ripest mulberry +That will not hold the handling: or say to them, +Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils +Hast not the soft way which, thou dost confess, +Were fit for thee to use as they to claim, +In asking their good loves, but thou wilt frame +Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far +As thou hast power and person. + +MENENIUS: +This but done, +Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours; +For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free +As words to little purpose. + +VOLUMNIA: +Prithee now, +Go, and be ruled: although I know thou hadst rather +Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf +Than flatter him in a bower. Here is Cominius. + +COMINIUS: +I have been i' the market-place; and, sir,'tis fit +You make strong party, or defend yourself +By calmness or by absence: all's in anger. + +MENENIUS: +Only fair speech. + +COMINIUS: +I think 'twill serve, if he +Can thereto frame his spirit. + +VOLUMNIA: +He must, and will +Prithee now, say you will, and go about it. + +CORIOLANUS: +Must I go show them my unbarbed sconce? +Must I with base tongue give my noble heart +A lie that it must bear? Well, I will do't: +Yet, were there but this single plot to lose, +This mould of Marcius, they to dust should grind it +And throw't against the wind. To the market-place! +You have put me now to such a part which never +I shall discharge to the life. + +COMINIUS: +Come, come, we'll prompt you. + +VOLUMNIA: +I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said +My praises made thee first a soldier, so, +To have my praise for this, perform a part +Thou hast not done before. + +CORIOLANUS: +Well, I must do't: +Away, my disposition, and possess me +Some harlot's spirit! my throat of war be turn'd, +Which quired with my drum, into a pipe +Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice +That babies lulls asleep! the smiles of knaves +Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys' tears take up +The glasses of my sight! a beggar's tongue +Make motion through my lips, and my arm'd knees, +Who bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his +That hath received an alms! I will not do't, +Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth +And by my body's action teach my mind +A most inherent baseness. + +VOLUMNIA: +At thy choice, then: +To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour +Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let +Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear +Thy dangerous stoutness, for I mock at death +With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list +Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me, +But owe thy pride thyself. + +CORIOLANUS: +Pray, be content: +Mother, I am going to the market-place; +Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves, +Cog their hearts from them, and come home beloved +Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going: +Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul; +Or never trust to what my tongue can do +I' the way of flattery further. + +VOLUMNIA: +Do your will. + +COMINIUS: +Away! the tribunes do attend you: arm yourself +To answer mildly; for they are prepared +With accusations, as I hear, more strong +Than are upon you yet. + +CORIOLANUS: +The word is 'mildly.' Pray you, let us go: +Let them accuse me by invention, I +Will answer in mine honour. + +MENENIUS: +Ay, but mildly. + +CORIOLANUS: +Well, mildly be it then. Mildly! + +BRUTUS: +In this point charge him home, that he affects +Tyrannical power: if he evade us there, +Enforce him with his envy to the people, +And that the spoil got on the Antiates +Was ne'er distributed. +What, will he come? + +AEdile: +He's coming. + +BRUTUS: +How accompanied? + +AEdile: +With old Menenius, and those senators +That always favour'd him. + +SICINIUS: +Have you a catalogue +Of all the voices that we have procured +Set down by the poll? + +AEdile: +I have; 'tis ready. + +SICINIUS: +Have you collected them by tribes? + +AEdile: +I have. + +SICINIUS: +Assemble presently the people hither; +And when they bear me say 'It shall be so +I' the right and strength o' the commons,' be it either +For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them +If I say fine, cry 'Fine;' if death, cry 'Death.' +Insisting on the old prerogative +And power i' the truth o' the cause. + +AEdile: +I shall inform them. + +BRUTUS: +And when such time they have begun to cry, +Let them not cease, but with a din confused +Enforce the present execution +Of what we chance to sentence. + +AEdile: +Very well. + +SICINIUS: +Make them be strong and ready for this hint, +When we shall hap to give 't them. + +BRUTUS: +Go about it. +Put him to choler straight: he hath been used +Ever to conquer, and to have his worth +Of contradiction: being once chafed, he cannot +Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks +What's in his heart; and that is there which looks +With us to break his neck. + +SICINIUS: +Well, here he comes. + +MENENIUS: +Calmly, I do beseech you. + +CORIOLANUS: +Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece +Will bear the knave by the volume. The honour'd gods +Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice +Supplied with worthy men! plant love among 's! +Throng our large temples with the shows of peace, +And not our streets with war! + +First Senator: +Amen, amen. + +MENENIUS: +A noble wish. + +SICINIUS: +Draw near, ye people. + +AEdile: +List to your tribunes. Audience: peace, I say! + +CORIOLANUS: +First, hear me speak. + +Both Tribunes: +Well, say. Peace, ho! + +CORIOLANUS: +Shall I be charged no further than this present? +Must all determine here? + +SICINIUS: +I do demand, +If you submit you to the people's voices, +Allow their officers and are content +To suffer lawful censure for such faults +As shall be proved upon you? + +CORIOLANUS: +I am content. + +MENENIUS: +Lo, citizens, he says he is content: +The warlike service he has done, consider; think +Upon the wounds his body bears, which show +Like graves i' the holy churchyard. + +CORIOLANUS: +Scratches with briers, +Scars to move laughter only. + +MENENIUS: +Consider further, +That when he speaks not like a citizen, +You find him like a soldier: do not take +His rougher accents for malicious sounds, +But, as I say, such as become a soldier, +Rather than envy you. + +COMINIUS: +Well, well, no more. + +CORIOLANUS: +What is the matter +That being pass'd for consul with full voice, +I am so dishonour'd that the very hour +You take it off again? + +SICINIUS: +Answer to us. + +CORIOLANUS: +Say, then: 'tis true, I ought so. + +SICINIUS: +We charge you, that you have contrived to take +From Rome all season'd office and to wind +Yourself into a power tyrannical; +For which you are a traitor to the people. + +CORIOLANUS: +How! traitor! + +MENENIUS: +Nay, temperately; your promise. + +CORIOLANUS: +The fires i' the lowest hell fold-in the people! +Call me their traitor! Thou injurious tribune! +Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, +In thy hand clutch'd as many millions, in +Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say +'Thou liest' unto thee with a voice as free +As I do pray the gods. + +SICINIUS: +Mark you this, people? + +Citizens: +To the rock, to the rock with him! + +SICINIUS: +Peace! +We need not put new matter to his charge: +What you have seen him do and heard him speak, +Beating your officers, cursing yourselves, +Opposing laws with strokes and here defying +Those whose great power must try him; even this, +So criminal and in such capital kind, +Deserves the extremest death. + +BRUTUS: +But since he hath +Served well for Rome,-- + +CORIOLANUS: +What do you prate of service? + +BRUTUS: +I talk of that, that know it. + +CORIOLANUS: +You? + +MENENIUS: +Is this the promise that you made your mother? + +COMINIUS: +Know, I pray you,-- + +CORIOLANUS: +I know no further: +Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death, +Vagabond exile, raying, pent to linger +But with a grain a day, I would not buy +Their mercy at the price of one fair word; +Nor cheque my courage for what they can give, +To have't with saying 'Good morrow.' + +SICINIUS: +For that he has, +As much as in him lies, from time to time +Envied against the people, seeking means +To pluck away their power, as now at last +Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence +Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers +That do distribute it; in the name o' the people +And in the power of us the tribunes, we, +Even from this instant, banish him our city, +In peril of precipitation +From off the rock Tarpeian never more +To enter our Rome gates: i' the people's name, +I say it shall be so. + +Citizens: +It shall be so, it shall be so; let him away: +He's banish'd, and it shall be so. + +COMINIUS: +Hear me, my masters, and my common friends,-- + +SICINIUS: +He's sentenced; no more hearing. + +COMINIUS: +Let me speak: +I have been consul, and can show for Rome +Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love +My country's good with a respect more tender, +More holy and profound, than mine own life, +My dear wife's estimate, her womb's increase, +And treasure of my loins; then if I would +Speak that,-- + +SICINIUS: +We know your drift: speak what? + +BRUTUS: +There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd, +As enemy to the people and his country: +It shall be so. + +Citizens: +It shall be so, it shall be so. + +CORIOLANUS: +You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate +As reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize +As the dead carcasses of unburied men +That do corrupt my air, I banish you; +And here remain with your uncertainty! +Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts! +Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, +Fan you into despair! Have the power still +To banish your defenders; till at length +Your ignorance, which finds not till it feels, +Making not reservation of yourselves, +Still your own foes, deliver you as most +Abated captives to some nation +That won you without blows! Despising, +For you, the city, thus I turn my back: +There is a world elsewhere. + +AEdile: +The people's enemy is gone, is gone! + +Citizens: +Our enemy is banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo! + +SICINIUS: +Go, see him out at gates, and follow him, +As he hath followed you, with all despite; +Give him deserved vexation. Let a guard +Attend us through the city. + +Citizens: +Come, come; let's see him out at gates; come. +The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come. + +CORIOLANUS: +Come, leave your tears: a brief farewell: the beast +With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother, +Where is your ancient courage? you were used +To say extremity was the trier of spirits; +That common chances common men could bear; +That when the sea was calm all boats alike +Show'd mastership in floating; fortune's blows, +When most struck home, being gentle wounded, craves +A noble cunning: you were used to load me +With precepts that would make invincible +The heart that conn'd them. + +VIRGILIA: +O heavens! O heavens! + +CORIOLANUS: +Nay! prithee, woman,-- + +VOLUMNIA: +Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome, +And occupations perish! + +CORIOLANUS: +What, what, what! +I shall be loved when I am lack'd. Nay, mother. +Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say, +If you had been the wife of Hercules, +Six of his labours you'ld have done, and saved +Your husband so much sweat. Cominius, +Droop not; adieu. Farewell, my wife, my mother: +I'll do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius, +Thy tears are salter than a younger man's, +And venomous to thine eyes. My sometime general, +I have seen thee stem, and thou hast oft beheld +Heart-hardening spectacles; tell these sad women +'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes, +As 'tis to laugh at 'em. My mother, you wot well +My hazards still have been your solace: and +Believe't not lightly--though I go alone, +Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen +Makes fear'd and talk'd of more than seen--your son +Will or exceed the common or be caught +With cautelous baits and practise. + +VOLUMNIA: +My first son. +Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius +With thee awhile: determine on some course, +More than a wild exposture to each chance +That starts i' the way before thee. + +CORIOLANUS: +O the gods! + +COMINIUS: +I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee +Where thou shalt rest, that thou mayst hear of us +And we of thee: so if the time thrust forth +A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send +O'er the vast world to seek a single man, +And lose advantage, which doth ever cool +I' the absence of the needer. + +CORIOLANUS: +Fare ye well: +Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full +Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one +That's yet unbruised: bring me but out at gate. +Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and +My friends of noble touch, when I am forth, +Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come. +While I remain above the ground, you shall +Hear from me still, and never of me aught +But what is like me formerly. + +MENENIUS: +That's worthily +As any ear can hear. Come, let's not weep. +If I could shake off but one seven years +From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, +I'ld with thee every foot. + +CORIOLANUS: +Give me thy hand: Come. + +SICINIUS: +Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further. +The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided +In his behalf. + +BRUTUS: +Now we have shown our power, +Let us seem humbler after it is done +Than when it was a-doing. + +SICINIUS: +Bid them home: +Say their great enemy is gone, and they +Stand in their ancient strength. + +BRUTUS: +Dismiss them home. +Here comes his mother. + +SICINIUS: +Let's not meet her. + +BRUTUS: +Why? + +SICINIUS: +They say she's mad. + +BRUTUS: +They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way. + +VOLUMNIA: +O, ye're well met: the hoarded plague o' the gods +Requite your love! + +MENENIUS: +Peace, peace; be not so loud. + +VOLUMNIA: +If that I could for weeping, you should hear,-- +Nay, and you shall hear some. +Will you be gone? + +VIRGILIA: + +SICINIUS: +Are you mankind? + +VOLUMNIA: +Ay, fool; is that a shame? Note but this fool. +Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship +To banish him that struck more blows for Rome +Than thou hast spoken words? + +SICINIUS: +O blessed heavens! + +VOLUMNIA: +More noble blows than ever thou wise words; +And for Rome's good. I'll tell thee what; yet go: +Nay, but thou shalt stay too: I would my son +Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him, +His good sword in his hand. + +SICINIUS: +What then? + +VIRGILIA: +What then! +He'ld make an end of thy posterity. + +VOLUMNIA: +Bastards and all. +Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! + +MENENIUS: +Come, come, peace. + +SICINIUS: +I would he had continued to his country +As he began, and not unknit himself +The noble knot he made. + +BRUTUS: +I would he had. + +VOLUMNIA: +'I would he had'! 'Twas you incensed the rabble: +Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth +As I can of those mysteries which heaven +Will not have earth to know. + +BRUTUS: +Pray, let us go. + +VOLUMNIA: +Now, pray, sir, get you gone: +You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:-- +As far as doth the Capitol exceed +The meanest house in Rome, so far my son-- +This lady's husband here, this, do you see-- +Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all. + +BRUTUS: +Well, well, we'll leave you. + +SICINIUS: +Why stay we to be baited +With one that wants her wits? + +VOLUMNIA: +Take my prayers with you. +I would the gods had nothing else to do +But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em +But once a-day, it would unclog my heart +Of what lies heavy to't. + +MENENIUS: +You have told them home; +And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me? + +VOLUMNIA: +Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself, +And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let's go: +Leave this faint puling and lament as I do, +In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come. + +MENENIUS: +Fie, fie, fie! + +Roman: +I know you well, sir, and you know +me: your name, I think, is Adrian. + +Volsce: +It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you. + +Roman: +I am a Roman; and my services are, +as you are, against 'em: know you me yet? + +Volsce: +Nicanor? no. + +Roman: +The same, sir. + +Volsce: +You had more beard when I last saw you; but your +favour is well approved by your tongue. What's the +news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian state, +to find you out there: you have well saved me a +day's journey. + +Roman: +There hath been in Rome strange insurrections; the +people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. + +Volsce: +Hath been! is it ended, then? Our state thinks not +so: they are in a most warlike preparation, and +hope to come upon them in the heat of their division. + +Roman: +The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing +would make it flame again: for the nobles receive +so to heart the banishment of that worthy +Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness to take +all power from the people and to pluck from them +their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can +tell you, and is almost mature for the violent +breaking out. + +Volsce: +Coriolanus banished! + +Roman: +Banished, sir. + +Volsce: +You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor. + +Roman: +The day serves well for them now. I have heard it +said, the fittest time to corrupt a man's wife is +when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble +Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his +great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request +of his country. + +Volsce: +He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus +accidentally to encounter you: you have ended my +business, and I will merrily accompany you home. + +Roman: +I shall, between this and supper, tell you most +strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of +their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you? + +Volsce: +A most royal one; the centurions and their charges, +distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment, +and to be on foot at an hour's warning. + +Roman: +I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the +man, I think, that shall set them in present action. +So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company. + +Volsce: +You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause +to be glad of yours. + +Roman: +Well, let us go together. + +CORIOLANUS: +A goodly city is this Antium. City, +'Tis I that made thy widows: many an heir +Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars +Have I heard groan and drop: then know me not, +Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones +In puny battle slay me. +Save you, sir. + +Citizen: +And you. + +CORIOLANUS: +Direct me, if it be your will, +Where great Aufidius lies: is he in Antium? + +Citizen: +He is, and feasts the nobles of the state +At his house this night. + +CORIOLANUS: +Which is his house, beseech you? + +Citizen: +This, here before you. + +CORIOLANUS: +Thank you, sir: farewell. +O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, +Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, +Whose house, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise, +Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love +Unseparable, shall within this hour, +On a dissension of a doit, break out +To bitterest enmity: so, fellest foes, +Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep, +To take the one the other, by some chance, +Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends +And interjoin their issues. So with me: +My birth-place hate I, and my love's upon +This enemy town. I'll enter: if he slay me, +He does fair justice; if he give me way, +I'll do his country service. + +First Servingman: +Wine, wine, wine! What service +is here! I think our fellows are asleep. + +Second Servingman: +Where's Cotus? my master calls +for him. Cotus! + +CORIOLANUS: +A goodly house: the feast smells well; but I +Appear not like a guest. + +First Servingman: +What would you have, friend? whence are you? +Here's no place for you: pray, go to the door. + +CORIOLANUS: +I have deserved no better entertainment, +In being Coriolanus. + +Second Servingman: +Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his +head; that he gives entrance to such companions? +Pray, get you out. + +CORIOLANUS: +Away! + +Second Servingman: +Away! get you away. + +CORIOLANUS: +Now thou'rt troublesome. + +Second Servingman: +Are you so brave? I'll have you talked with anon. + +Third Servingman: +What fellow's this? + +First Servingman: +A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him +out of the house: prithee, call my master to him. + +Third Servingman: +What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid +the house. + +CORIOLANUS: +Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth. + +Third Servingman: +What are you? + +CORIOLANUS: +A gentleman. + +Third Servingman: +A marvellous poor one. + +CORIOLANUS: +True, so I am. + +Third Servingman: +Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other +station; here's no place for you; pray you, avoid: come. + +CORIOLANUS: +Follow your function, go, and batten on cold bits. + +Third Servingman: +What, you will not? Prithee, tell my master what a +strange guest he has here. + +Second Servingman: +And I shall. + +Third Servingman: +Where dwellest thou? + +CORIOLANUS: +Under the canopy. + +Third Servingman: +Under the canopy! + +CORIOLANUS: +Ay. + +Third Servingman: +Where's that? + +CORIOLANUS: +I' the city of kites and crows. + +Third Servingman: +I' the city of kites and crows! What an ass it is! +Then thou dwellest with daws too? + +CORIOLANUS: +No, I serve not thy master. + +Third Servingman: +How, sir! do you meddle with my master? + +CORIOLANUS: +Ay; 'tis an honester service than to meddle with thy +mistress. Thou pratest, and pratest; serve with thy +trencher, hence! + +AUFIDIUS: +Where is this fellow? + +Second Servingman: +Here, sir: I'ld have beaten him like a dog, but for +disturbing the lords within. + +AUFIDIUS: +Whence comest thou? what wouldst thou? thy name? +Why speak'st not? speak, man: what's thy name? + +CORIOLANUS: +If, Tullus, +Not yet thou knowest me, and, seeing me, dost not +Think me for the man I am, necessity +Commands me name myself. + +AUFIDIUS: +What is thy name? + +CORIOLANUS: +A name unmusical to the Volscians' ears, +And harsh in sound to thine. + +AUFIDIUS: +Say, what's thy name? +Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face +Bears a command in't; though thy tackle's torn. +Thou show'st a noble vessel: what's thy name? + +CORIOLANUS: +Prepare thy brow to frown: know'st +thou me yet? + +AUFIDIUS: +I know thee not: thy name? + +CORIOLANUS: +My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done +To thee particularly and to all the Volsces +Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may +My surname, Coriolanus: the painful service, +The extreme dangers and the drops of blood +Shed for my thankless country are requited +But with that surname; a good memory, +And witness of the malice and displeasure +Which thou shouldst bear me: only that name remains; +The cruelty and envy of the people, +Permitted by our dastard nobles, who +Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest; +And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be +Whoop'd out of Rome. Now this extremity +Hath brought me to thy hearth; not out of hope-- +Mistake me not--to save my life, for if +I had fear'd death, of all the men i' the world +I would have 'voided thee, but in mere spite, +To be full quit of those my banishers, +Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast +A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge +Thine own particular wrongs and stop those maims +Of shame seen through thy country, speed +thee straight, +And make my misery serve thy turn: so use it +That my revengeful services may prove +As benefits to thee, for I will fight +Against my canker'd country with the spleen +Of all the under fiends. But if so be +Thou darest not this and that to prove more fortunes +Thou'rt tired, then, in a word, I also am +Longer to live most weary, and present +My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice; +Which not to cut would show thee but a fool, +Since I have ever follow'd thee with hate, +Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breast, +And cannot live but to thy shame, unless +It be to do thee service. + +AUFIDIUS: +O Marcius, Marcius! +Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart +A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter +Should from yond cloud speak divine things, +And say 'Tis true,' I'ld not believe them more +Than thee, all noble Marcius. Let me twine +Mine arms about that body, where against +My grained ash an hundred times hath broke +And scarr'd the moon with splinters: here I clip +The anvil of my sword, and do contest +As hotly and as nobly with thy love +As ever in ambitious strength I did +Contend against thy valour. Know thou first, +I loved the maid I married; never man +Sigh'd truer breath; but that I see thee here, +Thou noble thing! more dances my rapt heart +Than when I first my wedded mistress saw +Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell thee, +We have a power on foot; and I had purpose +Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn, +Or lose mine arm fort: thou hast beat me out +Twelve several times, and I have nightly since +Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thyself and me; +We have been down together in my sleep, +Unbuckling helms, fisting each other's throat, +And waked half dead with nothing. Worthy Marcius, +Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that +Thou art thence banish'd, we would muster all +From twelve to seventy, and pouring war +Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome, +Like a bold flood o'er-bear. O, come, go in, +And take our friendly senators by the hands; +Who now are here, taking their leaves of me, +Who am prepared against your territories, +Though not for Rome itself. + +CORIOLANUS: +You bless me, gods! + +AUFIDIUS: +Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have +The leading of thine own revenges, take +The one half of my commission; and set down-- +As best thou art experienced, since thou know'st +Thy country's strength and weakness,--thine own ways; +Whether to knock against the gates of Rome, +Or rudely visit them in parts remote, +To fright them, ere destroy. But come in: +Let me commend thee first to those that shall +Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes! +And more a friend than e'er an enemy; +Yet, Marcius, that was much. Your hand: most welcome! + +First Servingman: +Here's a strange alteration! + +Second Servingman: +By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with +a cudgel; and yet my mind gave me his clothes made a +false report of him. + +First Servingman: +What an arm he has! he turned me about with his +finger and his thumb, as one would set up a top. + +Second Servingman: +Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in +him: he had, sir, a kind of face, methought,--I +cannot tell how to term it. + +First Servingman: +He had so; looking as it were--would I were hanged, +but I thought there was more in him than I could think. + +Second Servingman: +So did I, I'll be sworn: he is simply the rarest +man i' the world. + +First Servingman: +I think he is: but a greater soldier than he you wot on. + +Second Servingman: +Who, my master? + +First Servingman: +Nay, it's no matter for that. + +Second Servingman: +Worth six on him. + +First Servingman: +Nay, not so neither: but I take him to be the +greater soldier. + +Second Servingman: +Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that: +for the defence of a town, our general is excellent. + +First Servingman: +Ay, and for an assault too. + +Third Servingman: +O slaves, I can tell you news,-- news, you rascals! + +First Servingman: +What, what, what? let's partake. + +Third Servingman: +I would not be a Roman, of all nations; I had as +lieve be a condemned man. + +First Servingman: +Wherefore? wherefore? + +Third Servingman: +Why, here's he that was wont to thwack our general, +Caius Marcius. + +First Servingman: +Why do you say 'thwack our general '? + +Third Servingman: +I do not say 'thwack our general;' but he was always +good enough for him. + +Second Servingman: +Come, we are fellows and friends: he was ever too +hard for him; I have heard him say so himself. + +First Servingman: +He was too hard for him directly, to say the troth +on't: before Corioli he scotched him and notched +him like a carbon ado. + +Second Servingman: +An he had been cannibally given, he might have +broiled and eaten him too. + +First Servingman: +But, more of thy news? + +Third Servingman: +Why, he is so made on here within, as if he were son +and heir to Mars; set at upper end o' the table; no +question asked him by any of the senators, but they +stand bald before him: our general himself makes a +mistress of him: sanctifies himself with's hand and +turns up the white o' the eye to his discourse. But +the bottom of the news is that our general is cut i' +the middle and but one half of what he was +yesterday; for the other has half, by the entreaty +and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, +and sowl the porter of Rome gates by the ears: he +will mow all down before him, and leave his passage polled. + +Second Servingman: +And he's as like to do't as any man I can imagine. + +Third Servingman: +Do't! he will do't; for, look you, sir, he has as +many friends as enemies; which friends, sir, as it +were, durst not, look you, sir, show themselves, as +we term it, his friends whilst he's in directitude. + +First Servingman: +Directitude! what's that? + +Third Servingman: +But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, +and the man in blood, they will out of their +burrows, like conies after rain, and revel all with +him. + +First Servingman: +But when goes this forward? + +Third Servingman: +To-morrow; to-day; presently; you shall have the +drum struck up this afternoon: 'tis, as it were, a +parcel of their feast, and to be executed ere they +wipe their lips. + +Second Servingman: +Why, then we shall have a stirring world again. +This peace is nothing, but to rust iron, increase +tailors, and breed ballad-makers. + +First Servingman: +Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace as far as +day does night; it's spritely, waking, audible, and +full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; +mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more +bastard children than war's a destroyer of men. + +Second Servingman: +'Tis so: and as war, in some sort, may be said to +be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied but peace is a +great maker of cuckolds. + +First Servingman: +Ay, and it makes men hate one another. + +Third Servingman: +Reason; because they then less need one another. +The wars for my money. I hope to see Romans as cheap +as Volscians. They are rising, they are rising. + +All: +In, in, in, in! + +SICINIUS: +We hear not of him, neither need we fear him; +His remedies are tame i' the present peace +And quietness of the people, which before +Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends +Blush that the world goes well, who rather had, +Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold +Dissentious numbers pestering streets than see +Our tradesmen with in their shops and going +About their functions friendly. + +BRUTUS: +We stood to't in good time. +Is this Menenius? + +SICINIUS: +'Tis he,'tis he: O, he is grown most kind of late. + +Both Tribunes: +Hail sir! + +MENENIUS: +Hail to you both! + +SICINIUS: +Your Coriolanus +Is not much miss'd, but with his friends: +The commonwealth doth stand, and so would do, +Were he more angry at it. + +MENENIUS: +All's well; and might have been much better, if +He could have temporized. + +SICINIUS: +Where is he, hear you? + +MENENIUS: +Nay, I hear nothing: his mother and his wife +Hear nothing from him. + +Citizens: +The gods preserve you both! + +SICINIUS: +God-den, our neighbours. + +BRUTUS: +God-den to you all, god-den to you all. + +First Citizen: +Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees, +Are bound to pray for you both. + +SICINIUS: +Live, and thrive! + +BRUTUS: +Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd Coriolanus +Had loved you as we did. + +Citizens: +Now the gods keep you! + +Both Tribunes: +Farewell, farewell. + +SICINIUS: +This is a happier and more comely time +Than when these fellows ran about the streets, +Crying confusion. + +BRUTUS: +Caius Marcius was +A worthy officer i' the war; but insolent, +O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking, +Self-loving,-- + +SICINIUS: +And affecting one sole throne, +Without assistance. + +MENENIUS: +I think not so. + +SICINIUS: +We should by this, to all our lamentation, +If he had gone forth consul, found it so. + +BRUTUS: +The gods have well prevented it, and Rome +Sits safe and still without him. + +AEdile: +Worthy tribunes, +There is a slave, whom we have put in prison, +Reports, the Volsces with two several powers +Are enter'd in the Roman territories, +And with the deepest malice of the war +Destroy what lies before 'em. + +MENENIUS: +'Tis Aufidius, +Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment, +Thrusts forth his horns again into the world; +Which were inshell'd when Marcius stood for Rome, +And durst not once peep out. + +SICINIUS: +Come, what talk you +Of Marcius? + +BRUTUS: +Go see this rumourer whipp'd. It cannot be +The Volsces dare break with us. + +MENENIUS: +Cannot be! +We have record that very well it can, +And three examples of the like have been +Within my age. But reason with the fellow, +Before you punish him, where he heard this, +Lest you shall chance to whip your information +And beat the messenger who bids beware +Of what is to be dreaded. + +SICINIUS: +Tell not me: +I know this cannot be. + +BRUTUS: +Not possible. + +Messenger: +The nobles in great earnestness are going +All to the senate-house: some news is come +That turns their countenances. + +SICINIUS: +'Tis this slave;-- +Go whip him, 'fore the people's eyes:--his raising; +Nothing but his report. + +Messenger: +Yes, worthy sir, +The slave's report is seconded; and more, +More fearful, is deliver'd. + +SICINIUS: +What more fearful? + +Messenger: +It is spoke freely out of many mouths-- +How probable I do not know--that Marcius, +Join'd with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome, +And vows revenge as spacious as between +The young'st and oldest thing. + +SICINIUS: +This is most likely! + +BRUTUS: +Raised only, that the weaker sort may wish +Good Marcius home again. + +SICINIUS: +The very trick on't. + +MENENIUS: +This is unlikely: +He and Aufidius can no more atone +Than violentest contrariety. + +Second Messenger: +You are sent for to the senate: +A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius +Associated with Aufidius, rages +Upon our territories; and have already +O'erborne their way, consumed with fire, and took +What lay before them. + +COMINIUS: +O, you have made good work! + +MENENIUS: +What news? what news? + +COMINIUS: +You have holp to ravish your own daughters and +To melt the city leads upon your pates, +To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses,-- + +MENENIUS: +What's the news? what's the news? + +COMINIUS: +Your temples burned in their cement, and +Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined +Into an auger's bore. + +MENENIUS: +Pray now, your news? +You have made fair work, I fear me.--Pray, your news?-- +If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians,-- + +COMINIUS: +If! +He is their god: he leads them like a thing +Made by some other deity than nature, +That shapes man better; and they follow him, +Against us brats, with no less confidence +Than boys pursuing summer butterflies, +Or butchers killing flies. + +MENENIUS: +You have made good work, +You and your apron-men; you that stood so up much +on the voice of occupation and +The breath of garlic-eaters! + +COMINIUS: +He will shake +Your Rome about your ears. + +MENENIUS: +As Hercules +Did shake down mellow fruit. +You have made fair work! + +BRUTUS: +But is this true, sir? + +COMINIUS: +Ay; and you'll look pale +Before you find it other. All the regions +Do smilingly revolt; and who resist +Are mock'd for valiant ignorance, +And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him? +Your enemies and his find something in him. + +MENENIUS: +We are all undone, unless +The noble man have mercy. + +COMINIUS: +Who shall ask it? +The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people +Deserve such pity of him as the wolf +Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they +Should say 'Be good to Rome,' they charged him even +As those should do that had deserved his hate, +And therein show'd like enemies. + +MENENIUS: +'Tis true: +If he were putting to my house the brand +That should consume it, I have not the face +To say 'Beseech you, cease.' You have made fair hands, +You and your crafts! you have crafted fair! + +COMINIUS: +You have brought +A trembling upon Rome, such as was never +So incapable of help. + +Both Tribunes: +Say not we brought it. + +MENENIUS: +How! Was it we? we loved him but, like beasts +And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters, +Who did hoot him out o' the city. + +COMINIUS: +But I fear +They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius, +The second name of men, obeys his points +As if he were his officer: desperation +Is all the policy, strength and defence, +That Rome can make against them. + +MENENIUS: +Here come the clusters. +And is Aufidius with him? You are they +That made the air unwholesome, when you cast +Your stinking greasy caps in hooting at +Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming; +And not a hair upon a soldier's head +Which will not prove a whip: as many coxcombs +As you threw caps up will he tumble down, +And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter; +if he could burn us all into one coal, +We have deserved it. + +Citizens: +Faith, we hear fearful news. + +First Citizen: +For mine own part, +When I said, banish him, I said 'twas pity. + +Second Citizen: +And so did I. + +Third Citizen: +And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did very +many of us: that we did, we did for the best; and +though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet +it was against our will. + +COMINIUS: +Ye re goodly things, you voices! + +MENENIUS: +You have made +Good work, you and your cry! Shall's to the Capitol? + +COMINIUS: +O, ay, what else? + +SICINIUS: +Go, masters, get you home; be not dismay'd: +These are a side that would be glad to have +This true which they so seem to fear. Go home, +And show no sign of fear. + +First Citizen: +The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let's home. +I ever said we were i' the wrong when we banished +him. + +Second Citizen: +So did we all. But, come, let's home. + +BRUTUS: +I do not like this news. + +SICINIUS: +Nor I. + +BRUTUS: +Let's to the Capitol. Would half my wealth +Would buy this for a lie! + +SICINIUS: +Pray, let us go. + +AUFIDIUS: +Do they still fly to the Roman? + +Lieutenant: +I do not know what witchcraft's in him, but +Your soldiers use him as the grace 'fore meat, +Their talk at table, and their thanks at end; +And you are darken'd in this action, sir, +Even by your own. + +AUFIDIUS: +I cannot help it now, +Unless, by using means, I lame the foot +Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier, +Even to my person, than I thought he would +When first I did embrace him: yet his nature +In that's no changeling; and I must excuse +What cannot be amended. + +Lieutenant: +Yet I wish, sir,-- +I mean for your particular,--you had not +Join'd in commission with him; but either +Had borne the action of yourself, or else +To him had left it solely. + +AUFIDIUS: +I understand thee well; and be thou sure, +when he shall come to his account, he knows not +What I can urge against him. Although it seems, +And so he thinks, and is no less apparent +To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly. +And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state, +Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon +As draw his sword; yet he hath left undone +That which shall break his neck or hazard mine, +Whene'er we come to our account. + +Lieutenant: +Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome? + +AUFIDIUS: +All places yield to him ere he sits down; +And the nobility of Rome are his: +The senators and patricians love him too: +The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people +Will be as rash in the repeal, as hasty +To expel him thence. I think he'll be to Rome +As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it +By sovereignty of nature. First he was +A noble servant to them; but he could not +Carry his honours even: whether 'twas pride, +Which out of daily fortune ever taints +The happy man; whether defect of judgment, +To fail in the disposing of those chances +Which he was lord of; or whether nature, +Not to be other than one thing, not moving +From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace +Even with the same austerity and garb +As he controll'd the war; but one of these-- +As he hath spices of them all, not all, +For I dare so far free him--made him fear'd, +So hated, and so banish'd: but he has a merit, +To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues +Lie in the interpretation of the time: +And power, unto itself most commendable, +Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair +To extol what it hath done. +One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; +Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do fail. +Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine, +Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine. + +MENENIUS: +No, I'll not go: you hear what he hath said +Which was sometime his general; who loved him +In a most dear particular. He call'd me father: +But what o' that? Go, you that banish'd him; +A mile before his tent fall down, and knee +The way into his mercy: nay, if he coy'd +To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home. + +COMINIUS: +He would not seem to know me. + +MENENIUS: +Do you hear? + +COMINIUS: +Yet one time he did call me by my name: +I urged our old acquaintance, and the drops +That we have bled together. Coriolanus +He would not answer to: forbad all names; +He was a kind of nothing, titleless, +Till he had forged himself a name o' the fire +Of burning Rome. + +MENENIUS: +Why, so: you have made good work! +A pair of tribunes that have rack'd for Rome, +To make coals cheap,--a noble memory! + +COMINIUS: +I minded him how royal 'twas to pardon +When it was less expected: he replied, +It was a bare petition of a state +To one whom they had punish'd. + +MENENIUS: +Very well: +Could he say less? + +COMINIUS: +I offer'd to awaken his regard +For's private friends: his answer to me was, +He could not stay to pick them in a pile +Of noisome musty chaff: he said 'twas folly, +For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt, +And still to nose the offence. + +MENENIUS: +For one poor grain or two! +I am one of those; his mother, wife, his child, +And this brave fellow too, we are the grains: +You are the musty chaff; and you are smelt +Above the moon: we must be burnt for you. + +SICINIUS: +Nay, pray, be patient: if you refuse your aid +In this so never-needed help, yet do not +Upbraid's with our distress. But, sure, if you +Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue, +More than the instant army we can make, +Might stop our countryman. + +MENENIUS: +No, I'll not meddle. + +SICINIUS: +Pray you, go to him. + +MENENIUS: +What should I do? + +BRUTUS: +Only make trial what your love can do +For Rome, towards Marcius. + +MENENIUS: +Well, and say that Marcius +Return me, as Cominius is return'd, +Unheard; what then? +But as a discontented friend, grief-shot +With his unkindness? say't be so? + +SICINIUS: +Yet your good will +must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure +As you intended well. + +MENENIUS: +I'll undertake 't: +I think he'll hear me. Yet, to bite his lip +And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me. +He was not taken well; he had not dined: +The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then +We pout upon the morning, are unapt +To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd +These and these conveyances of our blood +With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls +Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch him +Till he be dieted to my request, +And then I'll set upon him. + +BRUTUS: +You know the very road into his kindness, +And cannot lose your way. + +MENENIUS: +Good faith, I'll prove him, +Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge +Of my success. + +COMINIUS: +He'll never hear him. + +SICINIUS: +Not? + +COMINIUS: +I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye +Red as 'twould burn Rome; and his injury +The gaoler to his pity. I kneel'd before him; +'Twas very faintly he said 'Rise;' dismiss'd me +Thus, with his speechless hand: what he would do, +He sent in writing after me; what he would not, +Bound with an oath to yield to his conditions: +So that all hope is vain. +Unless his noble mother, and his wife; +Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him +For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence, +And with our fair entreaties haste them on. + +First Senator: +Stay: whence are you? + +Second Senator: +Stand, and go back. + +MENENIUS: +You guard like men; 'tis well: but, by your leave, +I am an officer of state, and come +To speak with Coriolanus. + +First Senator: +From whence? + +MENENIUS: +From Rome. + +First Senator: +You may not pass, you must return: our general +Will no more hear from thence. + +Second Senator: +You'll see your Rome embraced with fire before +You'll speak with Coriolanus. + +MENENIUS: +Good my friends, +If you have heard your general talk of Rome, +And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks, +My name hath touch'd your ears it is Menenius. + +First Senator: +Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name +Is not here passable. + +MENENIUS: +I tell thee, fellow, +The general is my lover: I have been +The book of his good acts, whence men have read +His name unparallel'd, haply amplified; +For I have ever verified my friends, +Of whom he's chief, with all the size that verity +Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes, +Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground, +I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise +Have almost stamp'd the leasing: therefore, fellow, +I must have leave to pass. + +First Senator: +Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies in his +behalf as you have uttered words in your own, you +should not pass here; no, though it were as virtuous +to lie as to live chastely. Therefore, go back. + +MENENIUS: +Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, +always factionary on the party of your general. + +Second Senator: +Howsoever you have been his liar, as you say you +have, I am one that, telling true under him, must +say, you cannot pass. Therefore, go back. + +MENENIUS: +Has he dined, canst thou tell? for I would not +speak with him till after dinner. + +First Senator: +You are a Roman, are you? + +MENENIUS: +I am, as thy general is. + +First Senator: +Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, +when you have pushed out your gates the very +defender of them, and, in a violent popular +ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to +front his revenges with the easy groans of old +women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with +the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant as +you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the +intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with +such weak breath as this? No, you are deceived; +therefore, back to Rome, and prepare for your +execution: you are condemned, our general has sworn +you out of reprieve and pardon. + +MENENIUS: +Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would +use me with estimation. + +Second Senator: +Come, my captain knows you not. + +MENENIUS: +I mean, thy general. + +First Senator: +My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go; lest +I let forth your half-pint of blood; back,--that's +the utmost of your having: back. + +MENENIUS: +Nay, but, fellow, fellow,-- + +CORIOLANUS: +What's the matter? + +MENENIUS: +Now, you companion, I'll say an errand for you: +You shall know now that I am in estimation; you shall +perceive that a Jack guardant cannot office me from +my son Coriolanus: guess, but by my entertainment +with him, if thou standest not i' the state of +hanging, or of some death more long in +spectatorship, and crueller in suffering; behold now +presently, and swoon for what's to come upon thee. +The glorious gods sit in hourly synod about thy +particular prosperity, and love thee no worse than +thy old father Menenius does! O my son, my son! +thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's +water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come to +thee; but being assured none but myself could move +thee, I have been blown out of your gates with +sighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy +petitionary countrymen. The good gods assuage thy +wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet +here,--this, who, like a block, hath denied my +access to thee. + +CORIOLANUS: +Away! + +MENENIUS: +How! away! + +CORIOLANUS: +Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs +Are servanted to others: though I owe +My revenge properly, my remission lies +In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar, +Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather +Than pity note how much. Therefore, be gone. +Mine ears against your suits are stronger than +Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee, +Take this along; I writ it for thy sake +And would have rent it. Another word, Menenius, +I will not hear thee speak. This man, Aufidius, +Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'st! + +AUFIDIUS: +You keep a constant temper. + +First Senator: +Now, sir, is your name Menenius? + +Second Senator: +'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: you know the +way home again. + +First Senator: +Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your +greatness back? + +Second Senator: +What cause, do you think, I have to swoon? + +MENENIUS: +I neither care for the world nor your general: for +such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, +ye're so slight. He that hath a will to die by +himself fears it not from another: let your general +do his worst. For you, be that you are, long; and +your misery increase with your age! I say to you, +as I was said to, Away! + +First Senator: +A noble fellow, I warrant him. + +Second Senator: +The worthy fellow is our general: he's the rock, the +oak not to be wind-shaken. + +CORIOLANUS: +We will before the walls of Rome tomorrow +Set down our host. My partner in this action, +You must report to the Volscian lords, how plainly +I have borne this business. + +AUFIDIUS: +Only their ends +You have respected; stopp'd your ears against +The general suit of Rome; never admitted +A private whisper, no, not with such friends +That thought them sure of you. + +CORIOLANUS: +This last old man, +Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome, +Loved me above the measure of a father; +Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge +Was to send him; for whose old love I have, +Though I show'd sourly to him, once more offer'd +The first conditions, which they did refuse +And cannot now accept; to grace him only +That thought he could do more, a very little +I have yielded to: fresh embassies and suits, +Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter +Will I lend ear to. Ha! what shout is this? +Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow +In the same time 'tis made? I will not. +My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould +Wherein this trunk was framed, and in her hand +The grandchild to her blood. But, out, affection! +All bond and privilege of nature, break! +Let it be virtuous to be obstinate. +What is that curt'sy worth? or those doves' eyes, +Which can make gods forsworn? I melt, and am not +Of stronger earth than others. My mother bows; +As if Olympus to a molehill should +In supplication nod: and my young boy +Hath an aspect of intercession, which +Great nature cries 'Deny not.' let the Volsces +Plough Rome and harrow Italy: I'll never +Be such a gosling to obey instinct, but stand, +As if a man were author of himself +And knew no other kin. + +VIRGILIA: +My lord and husband! + +CORIOLANUS: +These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome. + +VIRGILIA: +The sorrow that delivers us thus changed +Makes you think so. + +CORIOLANUS: +Like a dull actor now, +I have forgot my part, and I am out, +Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh, +Forgive my tyranny; but do not say +For that 'Forgive our Romans.' O, a kiss +Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge! +Now, by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss +I carried from thee, dear; and my true lip +Hath virgin'd it e'er since. You gods! I prate, +And the most noble mother of the world +Leave unsaluted: sink, my knee, i' the earth; +Of thy deep duty more impression show +Than that of common sons. + +VOLUMNIA: +O, stand up blest! +Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint, +I kneel before thee; and unproperly +Show duty, as mistaken all this while +Between the child and parent. + +CORIOLANUS: +What is this? +Your knees to me? to your corrected son? +Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach +Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds +Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun; +Murdering impossibility, to make +What cannot be, slight work. + +VOLUMNIA: +Thou art my warrior; +I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady? + +CORIOLANUS: +The noble sister of Publicola, +The moon of Rome, chaste as the icicle +That's curdied by the frost from purest snow +And hangs on Dian's temple: dear Valeria! + +VOLUMNIA: +This is a poor epitome of yours, +Which by the interpretation of full time +May show like all yourself. + +CORIOLANUS: +The god of soldiers, +With the consent of supreme Jove, inform +Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou mayst prove +To shame unvulnerable, and stick i' the wars +Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw, +And saving those that eye thee! + +VOLUMNIA: +Your knee, sirrah. + +CORIOLANUS: +That's my brave boy! + +VOLUMNIA: +Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself, +Are suitors to you. + +CORIOLANUS: +I beseech you, peace: +Or, if you'ld ask, remember this before: +The thing I have forsworn to grant may never +Be held by you denials. Do not bid me +Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate +Again with Rome's mechanics: tell me not +Wherein I seem unnatural: desire not +To ally my rages and revenges with +Your colder reasons. + +VOLUMNIA: +O, no more, no more! +You have said you will not grant us any thing; +For we have nothing else to ask, but that +Which you deny already: yet we will ask; +That, if you fail in our request, the blame +May hang upon your hardness: therefore hear us. + +CORIOLANUS: +Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark; for we'll +Hear nought from Rome in private. Your request? + +VOLUMNIA: +Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment +And state of bodies would bewray what life +We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself +How more unfortunate than all living women +Are we come hither: since that thy sight, +which should +Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance +with comforts, +Constrains them weep and shake with fear and sorrow; +Making the mother, wife and child to see +The son, the husband and the father tearing +His country's bowels out. And to poor we +Thine enmity's most capital: thou barr'st us +Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort +That all but we enjoy; for how can we, +Alas, how can we for our country pray. +Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory, +Whereto we are bound? alack, or we must lose +The country, our dear nurse, or else thy person, +Our comfort in the country. We must find +An evident calamity, though we had +Our wish, which side should win: for either thou +Must, as a foreign recreant, be led +With manacles thorough our streets, or else +triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin, +And bear the palm for having bravely shed +Thy wife and children's blood. For myself, son, +I purpose not to wait on fortune till +These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee +Rather to show a noble grace to both parts +Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner +March to assault thy country than to tread-- +Trust to't, thou shalt not--on thy mother's womb, +That brought thee to this world. + +VIRGILIA: +Ay, and mine, +That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name +Living to time. + +Young MARCIUS: +A' shall not tread on me; +I'll run away till I am bigger, but then I'll fight. + +CORIOLANUS: +Not of a woman's tenderness to be, +Requires nor child nor woman's face to see. +I have sat too long. + +VOLUMNIA: +Nay, go not from us thus. +If it were so that our request did tend +To save the Romans, thereby to destroy +The Volsces whom you serve, you might condemn us, +As poisonous of your honour: no; our suit +Is that you reconcile them: while the Volsces +May say 'This mercy we have show'd;' the Romans, +'This we received;' and each in either side +Give the all-hail to thee and cry 'Be blest +For making up this peace!' Thou know'st, great son, +The end of war's uncertain, but this certain, +That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit +Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name, +Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses; +Whose chronicle thus writ: 'The man was noble, +But with his last attempt he wiped it out; +Destroy'd his country, and his name remains +To the ensuing age abhorr'd.' Speak to me, son: +Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour, +To imitate the graces of the gods; +To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air, +And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt +That should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak? +Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man +Still to remember wrongs? Daughter, speak you: +He cares not for your weeping. Speak thou, boy: +Perhaps thy childishness will move him more +Than can our reasons. There's no man in the world +More bound to 's mother; yet here he lets me prate +Like one i' the stocks. Thou hast never in thy life +Show'd thy dear mother any courtesy, +When she, poor hen, fond of no second brood, +Has cluck'd thee to the wars and safely home, +Loaden with honour. Say my request's unjust, +And spurn me back: but if it be not so, +Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee, +That thou restrain'st from me the duty which +To a mother's part belongs. He turns away: +Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees. +To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride +Than pity to our prayers. Down: an end; +This is the last: so we will home to Rome, +And die among our neighbours. Nay, behold 's: +This boy, that cannot tell what he would have +But kneels and holds up bands for fellowship, +Does reason our petition with more strength +Than thou hast to deny 't. Come, let us go: +This fellow had a Volscian to his mother; +His wife is in Corioli and his child +Like him by chance. Yet give us our dispatch: +I am hush'd until our city be a-fire, +And then I'll speak a little. + +CORIOLANUS: +O mother, mother! +What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope, +The gods look down, and this unnatural scene +They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O! +You have won a happy victory to Rome; +But, for your son,--believe it, O, believe it, +Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd, +If not most mortal to him. But, let it come. +Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars, +I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius, +Were you in my stead, would you have heard +A mother less? or granted less, Aufidius? + +AUFIDIUS: +I was moved withal. + +CORIOLANUS: +I dare be sworn you were: +And, sir, it is no little thing to make +Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir, +What peace you'll make, advise me: for my part, +I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray you, +Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife! + +AUFIDIUS: + +CORIOLANUS: +Ay, by and by; +But we will drink together; and you shall bear +A better witness back than words, which we, +On like conditions, will have counter-seal'd. +Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve +To have a temple built you: all the swords +In Italy, and her confederate arms, +Could not have made this peace. + +MENENIUS: +See you yond coign o' the Capitol, yond +corner-stone? + +SICINIUS: +Why, what of that? + +MENENIUS: +If it be possible for you to displace it with your +little finger, there is some hope the ladies of +Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. +But I say there is no hope in't: our throats are +sentenced and stay upon execution. + +SICINIUS: +Is't possible that so short a time can alter the +condition of a man! + +MENENIUS: +There is differency between a grub and a butterfly; +yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown +from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a +creeping thing. + +SICINIUS: +He loved his mother dearly. + +MENENIUS: +So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother +now than an eight-year-old horse. The tartness +of his face sours ripe grapes: when he walks, he +moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before +his treading: he is able to pierce a corslet with +his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum is a +battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for +Alexander. What he bids be done is finished with +his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity +and a heaven to throne in. + +SICINIUS: +Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. + +MENENIUS: +I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his +mother shall bring from him: there is no more mercy +in him than there is milk in a male tiger; that +shall our poor city find: and all this is long of +you. + +SICINIUS: +The gods be good unto us! + +MENENIUS: +No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto +us. When we banished him, we respected not them; +and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us. + +Messenger: +Sir, if you'ld save your life, fly to your house: +The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune +And hale him up and down, all swearing, if +The Roman ladies bring not comfort home, +They'll give him death by inches. + +SICINIUS: +What's the news? + +Second Messenger: +Good news, good news; the ladies have prevail'd, +The Volscians are dislodged, and Marcius gone: +A merrier day did never yet greet Rome, +No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins. + +SICINIUS: +Friend, +Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain? + +Second Messenger: +As certain as I know the sun is fire: +Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it? +Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide, +As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you! +The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries and fifes, +Tabours and cymbals and the shouting Romans, +Make the sun dance. Hark you! + +MENENIUS: +This is good news: +I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia +Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians, +A city full; of tribunes, such as you, +A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day: +This morning for ten thousand of your throats +I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy! + +SICINIUS: +First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next, +Accept my thankfulness. + +Second Messenger: +Sir, we have all +Great cause to give great thanks. + +SICINIUS: +They are near the city? + +Second Messenger: +Almost at point to enter. + +SICINIUS: +We will meet them, +And help the joy. + +First Senator: +Behold our patroness, the life of Rome! +Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, +And make triumphant fires; strew flowers before them: +Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius, +Repeal him with the welcome of his mother; +Cry 'Welcome, ladies, welcome!' + +All: +Welcome, ladies, Welcome! + +AUFIDIUS: +Go tell the lords o' the city I am here: +Deliver them this paper: having read it, +Bid them repair to the market place; where I, +Even in theirs and in the commons' ears, +Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse +The city ports by this hath enter'd and +Intends to appear before the people, hoping +To purge herself with words: dispatch. +Most welcome! + +First Conspirator: +How is it with our general? + +AUFIDIUS: +Even so +As with a man by his own alms empoison'd, +And with his charity slain. + +Second Conspirator: +Most noble sir, +If you do hold the same intent wherein +You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you +Of your great danger. + +AUFIDIUS: +Sir, I cannot tell: +We must proceed as we do find the people. + +Third Conspirator: +The people will remain uncertain whilst +'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either +Makes the survivor heir of all. + +AUFIDIUS: +I know it; +And my pretext to strike at him admits +A good construction. I raised him, and I pawn'd +Mine honour for his truth: who being so heighten'd, +He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery, +Seducing so my friends; and, to this end, +He bow'd his nature, never known before +But to be rough, unswayable and free. + +Third Conspirator: +Sir, his stoutness +When he did stand for consul, which he lost +By lack of stooping,-- + +AUFIDIUS: +That I would have spoke of: +Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth; +Presented to my knife his throat: I took him; +Made him joint-servant with me; gave him way +In all his own desires; nay, let him choose +Out of my files, his projects to accomplish, +My best and freshest men; served his designments +In mine own person; holp to reap the fame +Which he did end all his; and took some pride +To do myself this wrong: till, at the last, +I seem'd his follower, not partner, and +He waged me with his countenance, as if +I had been mercenary. + +First Conspirator: +So he did, my lord: +The army marvell'd at it, and, in the last, +When he had carried Rome and that we look'd +For no less spoil than glory,-- + +AUFIDIUS: +There was it: +For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him. +At a few drops of women's rheum, which are +As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour +Of our great action: therefore shall he die, +And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark! + +First Conspirator: +Your native town you enter'd like a post, +And had no welcomes home: but he returns, +Splitting the air with noise. + +Second Conspirator: +And patient fools, +Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear +With giving him glory. + +Third Conspirator: +Therefore, at your vantage, +Ere he express himself, or move the people +With what he would say, let him feel your sword, +Which we will second. When he lies along, +After your way his tale pronounced shall bury +His reasons with his body. + +AUFIDIUS: +Say no more: +Here come the lords. + +All The Lords: +You are most welcome home. + +AUFIDIUS: +I have not deserved it. +But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused +What I have written to you? + +Lords: +We have. + +First Lord: +And grieve to hear't. +What faults he made before the last, I think +Might have found easy fines: but there to end +Where he was to begin and give away +The benefit of our levies, answering us +With our own charge, making a treaty where +There was a yielding,--this admits no excuse. + +AUFIDIUS: +He approaches: you shall hear him. + +CORIOLANUS: +Hail, lords! I am return'd your soldier, +No more infected with my country's love +Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting +Under your great command. You are to know +That prosperously I have attempted and +With bloody passage led your wars even to +The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home +Do more than counterpoise a full third part +The charges of the action. We have made peace +With no less honour to the Antiates +Than shame to the Romans: and we here deliver, +Subscribed by the consuls and patricians, +Together with the seal o' the senate, what +We have compounded on. + +AUFIDIUS: +Read it not, noble lords; +But tell the traitor, in the high'st degree +He hath abused your powers. + +CORIOLANUS: +Traitor! how now! + +AUFIDIUS: +Ay, traitor, Marcius! + +CORIOLANUS: +Marcius! + +AUFIDIUS: +Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius: dost thou think +I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name +Coriolanus in Corioli? +You lords and heads o' the state, perfidiously +He has betray'd your business, and given up, +For certain drops of salt, your city Rome, +I say 'your city,' to his wife and mother; +Breaking his oath and resolution like +A twist of rotten silk, never admitting +Counsel o' the war, but at his nurse's tears +He whined and roar'd away your victory, +That pages blush'd at him and men of heart +Look'd wondering each at other. + +CORIOLANUS: +Hear'st thou, Mars? + +AUFIDIUS: +Name not the god, thou boy of tears! + +CORIOLANUS: +Ha! + +AUFIDIUS: +No more. + +CORIOLANUS: +Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart +Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave! +Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever +I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, +Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion-- +Who wears my stripes impress'd upon him; that +Must bear my beating to his grave--shall join +To thrust the lie unto him. + +First Lord: +Peace, both, and hear me speak. + +CORIOLANUS: +Cut me to pieces, Volsces; men and lads, +Stain all your edges on me. Boy! false hound! +If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there, +That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I +Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli: +Alone I did it. Boy! + +AUFIDIUS: +Why, noble lords, +Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, +Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, +'Fore your own eyes and ears? + +All Conspirators: +Let him die for't. + +All The People: +'Tear him to pieces.' 'Do it presently.' 'He kill'd +my son.' 'My daughter.' 'He killed my cousin +Marcus.' 'He killed my father.' + +Second Lord: +Peace, ho! no outrage: peace! +The man is noble and his fame folds-in +This orb o' the earth. His last offences to us +Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius, +And trouble not the peace. + +CORIOLANUS: +O that I had him, +With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, +To use my lawful sword! + +AUFIDIUS: +Insolent villain! + +All Conspirators: +Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him! + +Lords: +Hold, hold, hold, hold! + +AUFIDIUS: +My noble masters, hear me speak. + +First Lord: +O Tullus,-- + +Second Lord: +Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep. + +Third Lord: +Tread not upon him. Masters all, be quiet; +Put up your swords. + +AUFIDIUS: +My lords, when you shall know--as in this rage, +Provoked by him, you cannot--the great danger +Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice +That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours +To call me to your senate, I'll deliver +Myself your loyal servant, or endure +Your heaviest censure. + +First Lord: +Bear from hence his body; +And mourn you for him: let him be regarded +As the most noble corse that ever herald +Did follow to his urn. + +Second Lord: +His own impatience +Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame. +Let's make the best of it. + +AUFIDIUS: +My rage is gone; +And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up. +Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one. +Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully: +Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he +Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one, +Which to this hour bewail the injury, +Yet he shall have a noble memory. Assist. + +GLOUCESTER: +Now is the winter of our discontent +Made glorious summer by this sun of York; +And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house +In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. +Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; +Our bruised arms hung up for monuments; +Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, +Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. +Grim-visaged war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front; +And now, instead of mounting barded steeds +To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, +He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber +To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. +But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks, +Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass; +I, that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty +To strut before a wanton ambling nymph; +I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion, +Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, +Deformed, unfinish'd, sent before my time +Into this breathing world, scarce half made up, +And that so lamely and unfashionable +That dogs bark at me as I halt by them; +Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace, +Have no delight to pass away the time, +Unless to spy my shadow in the sun +And descant on mine own deformity: +And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover, +To entertain these fair well-spoken days, +I am determined to prove a villain +And hate the idle pleasures of these days. +Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous, +By drunken prophecies, libels and dreams, +To set my brother Clarence and the king +In deadly hate the one against the other: +And if King Edward be as true and just +As I am subtle, false and treacherous, +This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up, +About a prophecy, which says that 'G' +Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be. +Dive, thoughts, down to my soul: here +Clarence comes. +Brother, good day; what means this armed guard +That waits upon your grace? + +CLARENCE: +His majesty +Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed +This conduct to convey me to the Tower. + +GLOUCESTER: +Upon what cause? + +CLARENCE: +Because my name is George. + +GLOUCESTER: +Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours; +He should, for that, commit your godfathers: +O, belike his majesty hath some intent +That you shall be new-christen'd in the Tower. +But what's the matter, Clarence? may I know? + +CLARENCE: +Yea, Richard, when I know; for I protest +As yet I do not: but, as I can learn, +He hearkens after prophecies and dreams; +And from the cross-row plucks the letter G. +And says a wizard told him that by G +His issue disinherited should be; +And, for my name of George begins with G, +It follows in his thought that I am he. +These, as I learn, and such like toys as these +Have moved his highness to commit me now. + +GLOUCESTER: +Why, this it is, when men are ruled by women: +'Tis not the king that sends you to the Tower: +My Lady Grey his wife, Clarence, 'tis she +That tempers him to this extremity. +Was it not she and that good man of worship, +Anthony Woodville, her brother there, +That made him send Lord Hastings to the Tower, +From whence this present day he is deliver'd? +We are not safe, Clarence; we are not safe. + +CLARENCE: +By heaven, I think there's no man is secure +But the queen's kindred and night-walking heralds +That trudge betwixt the king and Mistress Shore. +Heard ye not what an humble suppliant +Lord hastings was to her for his delivery? + +GLOUCESTER: +Humbly complaining to her deity +Got my lord chamberlain his liberty. +I'll tell you what; I think it is our way, +If we will keep in favour with the king, +To be her men and wear her livery: +The jealous o'erworn widow and herself, +Since that our brother dubb'd them gentlewomen. +Are mighty gossips in this monarchy. + +BRAKENBURY: +I beseech your graces both to pardon me; +His majesty hath straitly given in charge +That no man shall have private conference, +Of what degree soever, with his brother. + +GLOUCESTER: +Even so; an't please your worship, Brakenbury, +You may partake of any thing we say: +We speak no treason, man: we say the king +Is wise and virtuous, and his noble queen +Well struck in years, fair, and not jealous; +We say that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot, +A cherry lip, a bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue; +And that the queen's kindred are made gentle-folks: +How say you sir? Can you deny all this? + +BRAKENBURY: +With this, my lord, myself have nought to do. + +GLOUCESTER: +Naught to do with mistress Shore! I tell thee, fellow, +He that doth naught with her, excepting one, +Were best he do it secretly, alone. + +BRAKENBURY: +What one, my lord? + +GLOUCESTER: +Her husband, knave: wouldst thou betray me? + +BRAKENBURY: +I beseech your grace to pardon me, and withal +Forbear your conference with the noble duke. + +CLARENCE: +We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey. + +GLOUCESTER: +We are the queen's abjects, and must obey. +Brother, farewell: I will unto the king; +And whatsoever you will employ me in, +Were it to call King Edward's widow sister, +I will perform it to enfranchise you. +Meantime, this deep disgrace in brotherhood +Touches me deeper than you can imagine. + +CLARENCE: +I know it pleaseth neither of us well. + +GLOUCESTER: +Well, your imprisonment shall not be long; +Meantime, have patience. + +CLARENCE: +I must perforce. Farewell. + +GLOUCESTER: +Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return. +Simple, plain Clarence! I do love thee so, +That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, +If heaven will take the present at our hands. +But who comes here? the new-deliver'd Hastings? + +HASTINGS: +Good time of day unto my gracious lord! + +GLOUCESTER: +As much unto my good lord chamberlain! +Well are you welcome to the open air. +How hath your lordship brook'd imprisonment? + +HASTINGS: +With patience, noble lord, as prisoners must: +But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks +That were the cause of my imprisonment. + +GLOUCESTER: +No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence too; +For they that were your enemies are his, +And have prevail'd as much on him as you. + +HASTINGS: +More pity that the eagle should be mew'd, +While kites and buzzards prey at liberty. + +GLOUCESTER: +What news abroad? + +HASTINGS: +No news so bad abroad as this at home; +The King is sickly, weak and melancholy, +And his physicians fear him mightily. + +GLOUCESTER: +Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad indeed. +O, he hath kept an evil diet long, +And overmuch consumed his royal person: +'Tis very grievous to be thought upon. +What, is he in his bed? + +HASTINGS: +He is. + +GLOUCESTER: +Go you before, and I will follow you. +He cannot live, I hope; and must not die +Till George be pack'd with post-horse up to heaven. +I'll in, to urge his hatred more to Clarence, +With lies well steel'd with weighty arguments; +And, if I fall not in my deep intent, +Clarence hath not another day to live: +Which done, God take King Edward to his mercy, +And leave the world for me to bustle in! +For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter. +What though I kill'd her husband and her father? +The readiest way to make the wench amends +Is to become her husband and her father: +The which will I; not all so much for love +As for another secret close intent, +By marrying her which I must reach unto. +But yet I run before my horse to market: +Clarence still breathes; Edward still lives and reigns: +When they are gone, then must I count my gains. + +LADY ANNE: +Set down, set down your honourable load, +If honour may be shrouded in a hearse, +Whilst I awhile obsequiously lament +The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster. +Poor key-cold figure of a holy king! +Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster! +Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood! +Be it lawful that I invocate thy ghost, +To hear the lamentations of Poor Anne, +Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughter'd son, +Stabb'd by the selfsame hand that made these wounds! +Lo, in these windows that let forth thy life, +I pour the helpless balm of my poor eyes. +Cursed be the hand that made these fatal holes! +Cursed be the heart that had the heart to do it! +Cursed the blood that let this blood from hence! +More direful hap betide that hated wretch, +That makes us wretched by the death of thee, +Than I can wish to adders, spiders, toads, +Or any creeping venom'd thing that lives! +If ever he have child, abortive be it, +Prodigious, and untimely brought to light, +Whose ugly and unnatural aspect +May fright the hopeful mother at the view; +And that be heir to his unhappiness! +If ever he have wife, let her he made +A miserable by the death of him +As I am made by my poor lord and thee! +Come, now towards Chertsey with your holy load, +Taken from Paul's to be interred there; +And still, as you are weary of the weight, +Rest you, whiles I lament King Henry's corse. + +GLOUCESTER: +Stay, you that bear the corse, and set it down. + +LADY ANNE: +What black magician conjures up this fiend, +To stop devoted charitable deeds? + +GLOUCESTER: +Villains, set down the corse; or, by Saint Paul, +I'll make a corse of him that disobeys. + +Gentleman: +My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass. + +GLOUCESTER: +Unmanner'd dog! stand thou, when I command: +Advance thy halbert higher than my breast, +Or, by Saint Paul, I'll strike thee to my foot, +And spurn upon thee, beggar, for thy boldness. + +LADY ANNE: +What, do you tremble? are you all afraid? +Alas, I blame you not; for you are mortal, +And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil. +Avaunt, thou dreadful minister of hell! +Thou hadst but power over his mortal body, +His soul thou canst not have; therefore be gone. + +GLOUCESTER: +Sweet saint, for charity, be not so curst. + +LADY ANNE: +Foul devil, for God's sake, hence, and trouble us not; +For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell, +Fill'd it with cursing cries and deep exclaims. +If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds, +Behold this pattern of thy butcheries. +O, gentlemen, see, see! dead Henry's wounds +Open their congeal'd mouths and bleed afresh! +Blush, Blush, thou lump of foul deformity; +For 'tis thy presence that exhales this blood +From cold and empty veins, where no blood dwells; +Thy deed, inhuman and unnatural, +Provokes this deluge most unnatural. +O God, which this blood madest, revenge his death! +O earth, which this blood drink'st revenge his death! +Either heaven with lightning strike the +murderer dead, +Or earth, gape open wide and eat him quick, +As thou dost swallow up this good king's blood +Which his hell-govern'd arm hath butchered! + +GLOUCESTER: +Lady, you know no rules of charity, +Which renders good for bad, blessings for curses. + +LADY ANNE: +Villain, thou know'st no law of God nor man: +No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity. + +GLOUCESTER: +But I know none, and therefore am no beast. + +LADY ANNE: +O wonderful, when devils tell the truth! + +GLOUCESTER: +More wonderful, when angels are so angry. +Vouchsafe, divine perfection of a woman, +Of these supposed-evils, to give me leave, +By circumstance, but to acquit myself. + +LADY ANNE: +Vouchsafe, defused infection of a man, +For these known evils, but to give me leave, +By circumstance, to curse thy cursed self. + +GLOUCESTER: +Fairer than tongue can name thee, let me have +Some patient leisure to excuse myself. + +LADY ANNE: +Fouler than heart can think thee, thou canst make +No excuse current, but to hang thyself. + +GLOUCESTER: +By such despair, I should accuse myself. + +LADY ANNE: +And, by despairing, shouldst thou stand excused; +For doing worthy vengeance on thyself, +Which didst unworthy slaughter upon others. + +GLOUCESTER: +Say that I slew them not? + +LADY ANNE: +Why, then they are not dead: +But dead they are, and devilish slave, by thee. + +GLOUCESTER: +I did not kill your husband. + +LADY ANNE: +Why, then he is alive. + +GLOUCESTER: +Nay, he is dead; and slain by Edward's hand. + +LADY ANNE: +In thy foul throat thou liest: Queen Margaret saw +Thy murderous falchion smoking in his blood; +The which thou once didst bend against her breast, +But that thy brothers beat aside the point. + +GLOUCESTER: +I was provoked by her slanderous tongue, +which laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders. + +LADY ANNE: +Thou wast provoked by thy bloody mind. +Which never dreamt on aught but butcheries: +Didst thou not kill this king? + +GLOUCESTER: +I grant ye. + +LADY ANNE: +Dost grant me, hedgehog? then, God grant me too +Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed! +O, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous! + +GLOUCESTER: +The fitter for the King of heaven, that hath him. + +LADY ANNE: +He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come. + +GLOUCESTER: +Let him thank me, that holp to send him thither; +For he was fitter for that place than earth. + +LADY ANNE: +And thou unfit for any place but hell. + +GLOUCESTER: +Yes, one place else, if you will hear me name it. + +LADY ANNE: +Some dungeon. + +GLOUCESTER: +Your bed-chamber. + +LADY ANNE: +I'll rest betide the chamber where thou liest! + +GLOUCESTER: +So will it, madam till I lie with you. + +LADY ANNE: +I hope so. + +GLOUCESTER: +I know so. But, gentle Lady Anne, +To leave this keen encounter of our wits, +And fall somewhat into a slower method, +Is not the causer of the timeless deaths +Of these Plantagenets, Henry and Edward, +As blameful as the executioner? + +LADY ANNE: +Thou art the cause, and most accursed effect. + +GLOUCESTER: +Your beauty was the cause of that effect; +Your beauty: which did haunt me in my sleep +To undertake the death of all the world, +So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom. + +LADY ANNE: +If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide, +These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks. + +GLOUCESTER: +These eyes could never endure sweet beauty's wreck; +You should not blemish it, if I stood by: +As all the world is cheered by the sun, +So I by that; it is my day, my life. + +LADY ANNE: +Black night o'ershade thy day, and death thy life! + +GLOUCESTER: +Curse not thyself, fair creature thou art both. + +LADY ANNE: +I would I were, to be revenged on thee. + +GLOUCESTER: +It is a quarrel most unnatural, +To be revenged on him that loveth you. + +LADY ANNE: +It is a quarrel just and reasonable, +To be revenged on him that slew my husband. + +GLOUCESTER: +He that bereft thee, lady, of thy husband, +Did it to help thee to a better husband. + +LADY ANNE: +His better doth not breathe upon the earth. + +GLOUCESTER: +He lives that loves thee better than he could. + +LADY ANNE: +Name him. + +GLOUCESTER: +Plantagenet. + +LADY ANNE: +Why, that was he. + +GLOUCESTER: +The selfsame name, but one of better nature. + +LADY ANNE: +Where is he? + +GLOUCESTER: +Here. +Why dost thou spit at me? + +LADY ANNE: +Would it were mortal poison, for thy sake! + +GLOUCESTER: +Never came poison from so sweet a place. + +LADY ANNE: +Never hung poison on a fouler toad. +Out of my sight! thou dost infect my eyes. + +GLOUCESTER: +Thine eyes, sweet lady, have infected mine. + +LADY ANNE: +Would they were basilisks, to strike thee dead! + +GLOUCESTER: +I would they were, that I might die at once; +For now they kill me with a living death. +Those eyes of thine from mine have drawn salt tears, +Shamed their aspect with store of childish drops: +These eyes that never shed remorseful tear, +No, when my father York and Edward wept, +To hear the piteous moan that Rutland made +When black-faced Clifford shook his sword at him; +Nor when thy warlike father, like a child, +Told the sad story of my father's death, +And twenty times made pause to sob and weep, +That all the standers-by had wet their cheeks +Like trees bedash'd with rain: in that sad time +My manly eyes did scorn an humble tear; +And what these sorrows could not thence exhale, +Thy beauty hath, and made them blind with weeping. +I never sued to friend nor enemy; +My tongue could never learn sweet smoothing word; +But now thy beauty is proposed my fee, +My proud heart sues, and prompts my tongue to speak. +Teach not thy lips such scorn, for they were made +For kissing, lady, not for such contempt. +If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive, +Lo, here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword; +Which if thou please to hide in this true bosom. +And let the soul forth that adoreth thee, +I lay it naked to the deadly stroke, +And humbly beg the death upon my knee. +Nay, do not pause; for I did kill King Henry, +But 'twas thy beauty that provoked me. +Nay, now dispatch; 'twas I that stabb'd young Edward, +But 'twas thy heavenly face that set me on. +Take up the sword again, or take up me. + +LADY ANNE: +Arise, dissembler: though I wish thy death, +I will not be the executioner. + +GLOUCESTER: +Then bid me kill myself, and I will do it. + +LADY ANNE: +I have already. + +GLOUCESTER: +Tush, that was in thy rage: +Speak it again, and, even with the word, +That hand, which, for thy love, did kill thy love, +Shall, for thy love, kill a far truer love; +To both their deaths thou shalt be accessary. + +LADY ANNE: +I would I knew thy heart. + +GLOUCESTER: +'Tis figured in my tongue. + +LADY ANNE: +I fear me both are false. + +GLOUCESTER: +Then never man was true. + +LADY ANNE: +Well, well, put up your sword. + +GLOUCESTER: +Say, then, my peace is made. + +LADY ANNE: +That shall you know hereafter. + +GLOUCESTER: +But shall I live in hope? + +LADY ANNE: +All men, I hope, live so. + +GLOUCESTER: +Vouchsafe to wear this ring. + +LADY ANNE: +To take is not to give. + +GLOUCESTER: +Look, how this ring encompasseth finger. +Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart; +Wear both of them, for both of them are thine. +And if thy poor devoted suppliant may +But beg one favour at thy gracious hand, +Thou dost confirm his happiness for ever. + +LADY ANNE: +What is it? + +GLOUCESTER: +That it would please thee leave these sad designs +To him that hath more cause to be a mourner, +And presently repair to Crosby Place; +Where, after I have solemnly interr'd +At Chertsey monastery this noble king, +And wet his grave with my repentant tears, +I will with all expedient duty see you: +For divers unknown reasons. I beseech you, +Grant me this boon. + +LADY ANNE: +With all my heart; and much it joys me too, +To see you are become so penitent. +Tressel and Berkeley, go along with me. + +GLOUCESTER: +Bid me farewell. + +LADY ANNE: +'Tis more than you deserve; +But since you teach me how to flatter you, +Imagine I have said farewell already. + +GLOUCESTER: +Sirs, take up the corse. + +GENTLEMEN: +Towards Chertsey, noble lord? + +GLOUCESTER: +No, to White-Friars; there attend my coining. +Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? +Was ever woman in this humour won? +I'll have her; but I will not keep her long. +What! I, that kill'd her husband and his father, +To take her in her heart's extremest hate, +With curses in her mouth, tears in her eyes, +The bleeding witness of her hatred by; +Having God, her conscience, and these bars +against me, +And I nothing to back my suit at all, +But the plain devil and dissembling looks, +And yet to win her, all the world to nothing! +Ha! +Hath she forgot already that brave prince, +Edward, her lord, whom I, some three months since, +Stabb'd in my angry mood at Tewksbury? +A sweeter and a lovelier gentleman, +Framed in the prodigality of nature, +Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal, +The spacious world cannot again afford +And will she yet debase her eyes on me, +That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince, +And made her widow to a woful bed? +On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety? +On me, that halt and am unshapen thus? +My dukedom to a beggarly denier, +I do mistake my person all this while: +Upon my life, she finds, although I cannot, +Myself to be a marvellous proper man. +I'll be at charges for a looking-glass, +And entertain some score or two of tailors, +To study fashions to adorn my body: +Since I am crept in favour with myself, +Will maintain it with some little cost. +But first I'll turn yon fellow in his grave; +And then return lamenting to my love. +Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass, +That I may see my shadow as I pass. + +RIVERS: +Have patience, madam: there's no doubt his majesty +Will soon recover his accustom'd health. + +GREY: +In that you brook it in, it makes him worse: +Therefore, for God's sake, entertain good comfort, +And cheer his grace with quick and merry words. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +If he were dead, what would betide of me? + +RIVERS: +No other harm but loss of such a lord. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +The loss of such a lord includes all harm. + +GREY: +The heavens have bless'd you with a goodly son, +To be your comforter when he is gone. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Oh, he is young and his minority +Is put unto the trust of Richard Gloucester, +A man that loves not me, nor none of you. + +RIVERS: +Is it concluded that he shall be protector? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +It is determined, not concluded yet: +But so it must be, if the king miscarry. + +GREY: +Here come the lords of Buckingham and Derby. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Good time of day unto your royal grace! + +DERBY: +God make your majesty joyful as you have been! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +The Countess Richmond, good my Lord of Derby. +To your good prayers will scarcely say amen. +Yet, Derby, notwithstanding she's your wife, +And loves not me, be you, good lord, assured +I hate not you for her proud arrogance. + +DERBY: +I do beseech you, either not believe +The envious slanders of her false accusers; +Or, if she be accused in true report, +Bear with her weakness, which, I think proceeds +From wayward sickness, and no grounded malice. + +RIVERS: +Saw you the king to-day, my Lord of Derby? + +DERBY: +But now the Duke of Buckingham and I +Are come from visiting his majesty. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +What likelihood of his amendment, lords? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Madam, good hope; his grace speaks cheerfully. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +God grant him health! Did you confer with him? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Madam, we did: he desires to make atonement +Betwixt the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers, +And betwixt them and my lord chamberlain; +And sent to warn them to his royal presence. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Would all were well! but that will never be +I fear our happiness is at the highest. + +GLOUCESTER: +They do me wrong, and I will not endure it: +Who are they that complain unto the king, +That I, forsooth, am stern, and love them not? +By holy Paul, they love his grace but lightly +That fill his ears with such dissentious rumours. +Because I cannot flatter and speak fair, +Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog, +Duck with French nods and apish courtesy, +I must be held a rancorous enemy. +Cannot a plain man live and think no harm, +But thus his simple truth must be abused +By silken, sly, insinuating Jacks? + +RIVERS: +To whom in all this presence speaks your grace? + +GLOUCESTER: +To thee, that hast nor honesty nor grace. +When have I injured thee? when done thee wrong? +Or thee? or thee? or any of your faction? +A plague upon you all! His royal person,-- +Whom God preserve better than you would wish!-- +Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing-while, +But you must trouble him with lewd complaints. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Brother of Gloucester, you mistake the matter. +The king, of his own royal disposition, +And not provoked by any suitor else; +Aiming, belike, at your interior hatred, +Which in your outward actions shows itself +Against my kindred, brothers, and myself, +Makes him to send; that thereby he may gather +The ground of your ill-will, and so remove it. + +GLOUCESTER: +I cannot tell: the world is grown so bad, +That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch: +Since every Jack became a gentleman +There's many a gentle person made a Jack. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Come, come, we know your meaning, brother +Gloucester; +You envy my advancement and my friends': +God grant we never may have need of you! + +GLOUCESTER: +Meantime, God grants that we have need of you: +Your brother is imprison'd by your means, +Myself disgraced, and the nobility +Held in contempt; whilst many fair promotions +Are daily given to ennoble those +That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +By Him that raised me to this careful height +From that contented hap which I enjoy'd, +I never did incense his majesty +Against the Duke of Clarence, but have been +An earnest advocate to plead for him. +My lord, you do me shameful injury, +Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects. + +GLOUCESTER: +You may deny that you were not the cause +Of my Lord Hastings' late imprisonment. + +RIVERS: +She may, my lord, for-- + +GLOUCESTER: +She may, Lord Rivers! why, who knows not so? +She may do more, sir, than denying that: +She may help you to many fair preferments, +And then deny her aiding hand therein, +And lay those honours on your high deserts. +What may she not? She may, yea, marry, may she-- + +RIVERS: +What, marry, may she? + +GLOUCESTER: +What, marry, may she! marry with a king, +A bachelor, a handsome stripling too: +I wis your grandam had a worser match. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +My Lord of Gloucester, I have too long borne +Your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs: +By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty +With those gross taunts I often have endured. +I had rather be a country servant-maid +Than a great queen, with this condition, +To be thus taunted, scorn'd, and baited at: +Small joy have I in being England's queen. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +And lessen'd be that small, God, I beseech thee! +Thy honour, state and seat is due to me. + +GLOUCESTER: +What! threat you me with telling of the king? +Tell him, and spare not: look, what I have said +I will avouch in presence of the king: +I dare adventure to be sent to the Tower. +'Tis time to speak; my pains are quite forgot. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Out, devil! I remember them too well: +Thou slewest my husband Henry in the Tower, +And Edward, my poor son, at Tewksbury. + +GLOUCESTER: +Ere you were queen, yea, or your husband king, +I was a pack-horse in his great affairs; +A weeder-out of his proud adversaries, +A liberal rewarder of his friends: +To royalize his blood I spilt mine own. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Yea, and much better blood than his or thine. + +GLOUCESTER: +In all which time you and your husband Grey +Were factious for the house of Lancaster; +And, Rivers, so were you. Was not your husband +In Margaret's battle at Saint Alban's slain? +Let me put in your minds, if you forget, +What you have been ere now, and what you are; +Withal, what I have been, and what I am. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +A murderous villain, and so still thou art. + +GLOUCESTER: +Poor Clarence did forsake his father, Warwick; +Yea, and forswore himself,--which Jesu pardon!-- + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Which God revenge! + +GLOUCESTER: +To fight on Edward's party for the crown; +And for his meed, poor lord, he is mew'd up. +I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's; +Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine +I am too childish-foolish for this world. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Hie thee to hell for shame, and leave the world, +Thou cacodemon! there thy kingdom is. + +RIVERS: +My Lord of Gloucester, in those busy days +Which here you urge to prove us enemies, +We follow'd then our lord, our lawful king: +So should we you, if you should be our king. + +GLOUCESTER: +If I should be! I had rather be a pedlar: +Far be it from my heart, the thought of it! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +As little joy, my lord, as you suppose +You should enjoy, were you this country's king, +As little joy may you suppose in me. +That I enjoy, being the queen thereof. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +A little joy enjoys the queen thereof; +For I am she, and altogether joyless. +I can no longer hold me patient. +Hear me, you wrangling pirates, that fall out +In sharing that which you have pill'd from me! +Which of you trembles not that looks on me? +If not, that, I being queen, you bow like subjects, +Yet that, by you deposed, you quake like rebels? +O gentle villain, do not turn away! + +GLOUCESTER: +Foul wrinkled witch, what makest thou in my sight? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +But repetition of what thou hast marr'd; +That will I make before I let thee go. + +GLOUCESTER: +Wert thou not banished on pain of death? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +I was; but I do find more pain in banishment +Than death can yield me here by my abode. +A husband and a son thou owest to me; +And thou a kingdom; all of you allegiance: +The sorrow that I have, by right is yours, +And all the pleasures you usurp are mine. + +GLOUCESTER: +The curse my noble father laid on thee, +When thou didst crown his warlike brows with paper +And with thy scorns drew'st rivers from his eyes, +And then, to dry them, gavest the duke a clout +Steep'd in the faultless blood of pretty Rutland-- +His curses, then from bitterness of soul +Denounced against thee, are all fall'n upon thee; +And God, not we, hath plagued thy bloody deed. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +So just is God, to right the innocent. + +HASTINGS: +O, 'twas the foulest deed to slay that babe, +And the most merciless that e'er was heard of! + +RIVERS: +Tyrants themselves wept when it was reported. + +DORSET: +No man but prophesied revenge for it. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Northumberland, then present, wept to see it. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +What were you snarling all before I came, +Ready to catch each other by the throat, +And turn you all your hatred now on me? +Did York's dread curse prevail so much with heaven? +That Henry's death, my lovely Edward's death, +Their kingdom's loss, my woful banishment, +Could all but answer for that peevish brat? +Can curses pierce the clouds and enter heaven? +Why, then, give way, dull clouds, to my quick curses! +If not by war, by surfeit die your king, +As ours by murder, to make him a king! +Edward thy son, which now is Prince of Wales, +For Edward my son, which was Prince of Wales, +Die in his youth by like untimely violence! +Thyself a queen, for me that was a queen, +Outlive thy glory, like my wretched self! +Long mayst thou live to wail thy children's loss; +And see another, as I see thee now, +Deck'd in thy rights, as thou art stall'd in mine! +Long die thy happy days before thy death; +And, after many lengthen'd hours of grief, +Die neither mother, wife, nor England's queen! +Rivers and Dorset, you were standers by, +And so wast thou, Lord Hastings, when my son +Was stabb'd with bloody daggers: God, I pray him, +That none of you may live your natural age, +But by some unlook'd accident cut off! + +GLOUCESTER: +Have done thy charm, thou hateful wither'd hag! + +QUEEN MARGARET: +And leave out thee? stay, dog, for thou shalt hear me. +If heaven have any grievous plague in store +Exceeding those that I can wish upon thee, +O, let them keep it till thy sins be ripe, +And then hurl down their indignation +On thee, the troubler of the poor world's peace! +The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul! +Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou livest, +And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends! +No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine, +Unless it be whilst some tormenting dream +Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils! +Thou elvish-mark'd, abortive, rooting hog! +Thou that wast seal'd in thy nativity +The slave of nature and the son of hell! +Thou slander of thy mother's heavy womb! +Thou loathed issue of thy father's loins! +Thou rag of honour! thou detested-- + +GLOUCESTER: +Margaret. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Richard! + +GLOUCESTER: +Ha! + +QUEEN MARGARET: +I call thee not. + +GLOUCESTER: +I cry thee mercy then, for I had thought +That thou hadst call'd me all these bitter names. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Why, so I did; but look'd for no reply. +O, let me make the period to my curse! + +GLOUCESTER: +'Tis done by me, and ends in 'Margaret.' + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Thus have you breathed your curse against yourself. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Poor painted queen, vain flourish of my fortune! +Why strew'st thou sugar on that bottled spider, +Whose deadly web ensnareth thee about? +Fool, fool! thou whet'st a knife to kill thyself. +The time will come when thou shalt wish for me +To help thee curse that poisonous bunchback'd toad. + +HASTINGS: +False-boding woman, end thy frantic curse, +Lest to thy harm thou move our patience. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Foul shame upon you! you have all moved mine. + +RIVERS: +Were you well served, you would be taught your duty. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +To serve me well, you all should do me duty, +Teach me to be your queen, and you my subjects: +O, serve me well, and teach yourselves that duty! + +DORSET: +Dispute not with her; she is lunatic. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Peace, master marquess, you are malapert: +Your fire-new stamp of honour is scarce current. +O, that your young nobility could judge +What 'twere to lose it, and be miserable! +They that stand high have many blasts to shake them; +And if they fall, they dash themselves to pieces. + +GLOUCESTER: +Good counsel, marry: learn it, learn it, marquess. + +DORSET: +It toucheth you, my lord, as much as me. + +GLOUCESTER: +Yea, and much more: but I was born so high, +Our aery buildeth in the cedar's top, +And dallies with the wind and scorns the sun. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +And turns the sun to shade; alas! alas! +Witness my son, now in the shade of death; +Whose bright out-shining beams thy cloudy wrath +Hath in eternal darkness folded up. +Your aery buildeth in our aery's nest. +O God, that seest it, do not suffer it! +As it was won with blood, lost be it so! + +BUCKINGHAM: +Have done! for shame, if not for charity. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Urge neither charity nor shame to me: +Uncharitably with me have you dealt, +And shamefully by you my hopes are butcher'd. +My charity is outrage, life my shame +And in that shame still live my sorrow's rage. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Have done, have done. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +O princely Buckingham I'll kiss thy hand, +In sign of league and amity with thee: +Now fair befal thee and thy noble house! +Thy garments are not spotted with our blood, +Nor thou within the compass of my curse. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Nor no one here; for curses never pass +The lips of those that breathe them in the air. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +I'll not believe but they ascend the sky, +And there awake God's gentle-sleeping peace. +O Buckingham, take heed of yonder dog! +Look, when he fawns, he bites; and when he bites, +His venom tooth will rankle to the death: +Have not to do with him, beware of him; +Sin, death, and hell have set their marks on him, +And all their ministers attend on him. + +GLOUCESTER: +What doth she say, my Lord of Buckingham? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Nothing that I respect, my gracious lord. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +What, dost thou scorn me for my gentle counsel? +And soothe the devil that I warn thee from? +O, but remember this another day, +When he shall split thy very heart with sorrow, +And say poor Margaret was a prophetess! +Live each of you the subjects to his hate, +And he to yours, and all of you to God's! + +HASTINGS: +My hair doth stand on end to hear her curses. + +RIVERS: +And so doth mine: I muse why she's at liberty. + +GLOUCESTER: +I cannot blame her: by God's holy mother, +She hath had too much wrong; and I repent +My part thereof that I have done to her. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +I never did her any, to my knowledge. + +GLOUCESTER: +But you have all the vantage of her wrong. +I was too hot to do somebody good, +That is too cold in thinking of it now. +Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid, +He is frank'd up to fatting for his pains +God pardon them that are the cause of it! + +RIVERS: +A virtuous and a Christian-like conclusion, +To pray for them that have done scathe to us. + +GLOUCESTER: +So do I ever: +being well-advised. +For had I cursed now, I had cursed myself. + +CATESBY: +Madam, his majesty doth call for you, +And for your grace; and you, my noble lords. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Catesby, we come. Lords, will you go with us? + +RIVERS: +Madam, we will attend your grace. + +GLOUCESTER: +I do the wrong, and first begin to brawl. +The secret mischiefs that I set abroach +I lay unto the grievous charge of others. +Clarence, whom I, indeed, have laid in darkness, +I do beweep to many simple gulls +Namely, to Hastings, Derby, Buckingham; +And say it is the queen and her allies +That stir the king against the duke my brother. +Now, they believe it; and withal whet me +To be revenged on Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: +But then I sigh; and, with a piece of scripture, +Tell them that God bids us do good for evil: +And thus I clothe my naked villany +With old odd ends stolen out of holy writ; +And seem a saint, when most I play the devil. +But, soft! here come my executioners. +How now, my hardy, stout resolved mates! +Are you now going to dispatch this deed? + +First Murderer: +We are, my lord; and come to have the warrant +That we may be admitted where he is. + +GLOUCESTER: +Well thought upon; I have it here about me. +When you have done, repair to Crosby Place. +But, sirs, be sudden in the execution, +Withal obdurate, do not hear him plead; +For Clarence is well-spoken, and perhaps +May move your hearts to pity if you mark him. + +First Murderer: +Tush! +Fear not, my lord, we will not stand to prate; +Talkers are no good doers: be assured +We come to use our hands and not our tongues. + +GLOUCESTER: +Your eyes drop millstones, when fools' eyes drop tears: +I like you, lads; about your business straight; +Go, go, dispatch. + +First Murderer: +We will, my noble lord. + +BRAKENBURY: +Why looks your grace so heavily today? + +CLARENCE: +O, I have pass'd a miserable night, +So full of ugly sights, of ghastly dreams, +That, as I am a Christian faithful man, +I would not spend another such a night, +Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days, +So full of dismal terror was the time! + +BRAKENBURY: +What was your dream? I long to hear you tell it. + +CLARENCE: +Methoughts that I had broken from the Tower, +And was embark'd to cross to Burgundy; +And, in my company, my brother Gloucester; +Who from my cabin tempted me to walk +Upon the hatches: thence we looked toward England, +And cited up a thousand fearful times, +During the wars of York and Lancaster +That had befall'n us. As we paced along +Upon the giddy footing of the hatches, +Methought that Gloucester stumbled; and, in falling, +Struck me, that thought to stay him, overboard, +Into the tumbling billows of the main. +Lord, Lord! methought, what pain it was to drown! +What dreadful noise of waters in mine ears! +What ugly sights of death within mine eyes! +Methought I saw a thousand fearful wrecks; +Ten thousand men that fishes gnaw'd upon; +Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl, +Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels, +All scatter'd in the bottom of the sea: +Some lay in dead men's skulls; and, in those holes +Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept, +As 'twere in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems, +Which woo'd the slimy bottom of the deep, +And mock'd the dead bones that lay scatter'd by. + +BRAKENBURY: +Had you such leisure in the time of death +To gaze upon the secrets of the deep? + +CLARENCE: +Methought I had; and often did I strive +To yield the ghost: but still the envious flood +Kept in my soul, and would not let it forth +To seek the empty, vast and wandering air; +But smother'd it within my panting bulk, +Which almost burst to belch it in the sea. + +BRAKENBURY: +Awaked you not with this sore agony? + +CLARENCE: +O, no, my dream was lengthen'd after life; +O, then began the tempest to my soul, +Who pass'd, methought, the melancholy flood, +With that grim ferryman which poets write of, +Unto the kingdom of perpetual night. +The first that there did greet my stranger soul, +Was my great father-in-law, renowned Warwick; +Who cried aloud, 'What scourge for perjury +Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?' +And so he vanish'd: then came wandering by +A shadow like an angel, with bright hair +Dabbled in blood; and he squeak'd out aloud, +'Clarence is come; false, fleeting, perjured Clarence, +That stabb'd me in the field by Tewksbury; +Seize on him, Furies, take him to your torments!' +With that, methoughts, a legion of foul fiends +Environ'd me about, and howled in mine ears +Such hideous cries, that with the very noise +I trembling waked, and for a season after +Could not believe but that I was in hell, +Such terrible impression made the dream. + +BRAKENBURY: +No marvel, my lord, though it affrighted you; +I promise, I am afraid to hear you tell it. + +CLARENCE: +O Brakenbury, I have done those things, +Which now bear evidence against my soul, +For Edward's sake; and see how he requites me! +O God! if my deep prayers cannot appease thee, +But thou wilt be avenged on my misdeeds, +Yet execute thy wrath in me alone, +O, spare my guiltless wife and my poor children! +I pray thee, gentle keeper, stay by me; +My soul is heavy, and I fain would sleep. + +BRAKENBURY: +I will, my lord: God give your grace good rest! +Sorrow breaks seasons and reposing hours, +Makes the night morning, and the noon-tide night. +Princes have but their tides for their glories, +An outward honour for an inward toil; +And, for unfelt imagination, +They often feel a world of restless cares: +So that, betwixt their tides and low names, +There's nothing differs but the outward fame. + +First Murderer: +Ho! who's here? + +BRAKENBURY: +In God's name what are you, and how came you hither? + +First Murderer: +I would speak with Clarence, and I came hither on my legs. + +BRAKENBURY: +Yea, are you so brief? + +Second Murderer: +O sir, it is better to be brief than tedious. Show +him our commission; talk no more. + +BRAKENBURY: +I am, in this, commanded to deliver +The noble Duke of Clarence to your hands: +I will not reason what is meant hereby, +Because I will be guiltless of the meaning. +Here are the keys, there sits the duke asleep: +I'll to the king; and signify to him +That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. + +First Murderer: +Do so, it is a point of wisdom: fare you well. + +Second Murderer: +What, shall we stab him as he sleeps? + +First Murderer: +No; then he will say 'twas done cowardly, when he wakes. + +Second Murderer: +When he wakes! why, fool, he shall never wake till +the judgment-day. + +First Murderer: +Why, then he will say we stabbed him sleeping. + +Second Murderer: +The urging of that word 'judgment' hath bred a kind +of remorse in me. + +First Murderer: +What, art thou afraid? + +Second Murderer: +Not to kill him, having a warrant for it; but to be +damned for killing him, from which no warrant can defend us. + +First Murderer: +I thought thou hadst been resolute. + +Second Murderer: +So I am, to let him live. + +First Murderer: +Back to the Duke of Gloucester, tell him so. + +Second Murderer: +I pray thee, stay a while: I hope my holy humour +will change; 'twas wont to hold me but while one +would tell twenty. + +First Murderer: +How dost thou feel thyself now? + +Second Murderer: +'Faith, some certain dregs of conscience are yet +within me. + +First Murderer: +Remember our reward, when the deed is done. + +Second Murderer: +'Zounds, he dies: I had forgot the reward. + +First Murderer: +Where is thy conscience now? + +Second Murderer: +In the Duke of Gloucester's purse. + +First Murderer: +So when he opens his purse to give us our reward, +thy conscience flies out. + +Second Murderer: +Let it go; there's few or none will entertain it. + +First Murderer: +How if it come to thee again? + +Second Murderer: +I'll not meddle with it: it is a dangerous thing: it +makes a man a coward: a man cannot steal, but it +accuseth him; he cannot swear, but it cheques him; +he cannot lie with his neighbour's wife, but it +detects him: 'tis a blushing shamefast spirit that +mutinies in a man's bosom; it fills one full of +obstacles: it made me once restore a purse of gold +that I found; it beggars any man that keeps it: it +is turned out of all towns and cities for a +dangerous thing; and every man that means to live +well endeavours to trust to himself and to live +without it. + +First Murderer: +'Zounds, it is even now at my elbow, persuading me +not to kill the duke. + +Second Murderer: +Take the devil in thy mind, and relieve him not: he +would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh. + +First Murderer: +Tut, I am strong-framed, he cannot prevail with me, +I warrant thee. + +Second Murderer: +Spoke like a tail fellow that respects his +reputation. Come, shall we to this gear? + +First Murderer: +Take him over the costard with the hilts of thy +sword, and then we will chop him in the malmsey-butt +in the next room. + +Second Murderer: +O excellent devise! make a sop of him. + +First Murderer: +Hark! he stirs: shall I strike? + +Second Murderer: +No, first let's reason with him. + +CLARENCE: +Where art thou, keeper? give me a cup of wine. + +Second murderer: +You shall have wine enough, my lord, anon. + +CLARENCE: +In God's name, what art thou? + +Second Murderer: +A man, as you are. + +CLARENCE: +But not, as I am, royal. + +Second Murderer: +Nor you, as we are, loyal. + +CLARENCE: +Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble. + +Second Murderer: +My voice is now the king's, my looks mine own. + +CLARENCE: +How darkly and how deadly dost thou speak! +Your eyes do menace me: why look you pale? +Who sent you hither? Wherefore do you come? + +Both: +To, to, to-- + +CLARENCE: +To murder me? + +Both: +Ay, ay. + +CLARENCE: +You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so, +And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it. +Wherein, my friends, have I offended you? + +First Murderer: +Offended us you have not, but the king. + +CLARENCE: +I shall be reconciled to him again. + +Second Murderer: +Never, my lord; therefore prepare to die. + +CLARENCE: +Are you call'd forth from out a world of men +To slay the innocent? What is my offence? +Where are the evidence that do accuse me? +What lawful quest have given their verdict up +Unto the frowning judge? or who pronounced +The bitter sentence of poor Clarence' death? +Before I be convict by course of law, +To threaten me with death is most unlawful. +I charge you, as you hope to have redemption +By Christ's dear blood shed for our grievous sins, +That you depart and lay no hands on me +The deed you undertake is damnable. + +First Murderer: +What we will do, we do upon command. + +Second Murderer: +And he that hath commanded is the king. + +CLARENCE: +Erroneous vassal! the great King of kings +Hath in the tables of his law commanded +That thou shalt do no murder: and wilt thou, then, +Spurn at his edict and fulfil a man's? +Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hands, +To hurl upon their heads that break his law. + +Second Murderer: +And that same vengeance doth he hurl on thee, +For false forswearing and for murder too: +Thou didst receive the holy sacrament, +To fight in quarrel of the house of Lancaster. + +First Murderer: +And, like a traitor to the name of God, +Didst break that vow; and with thy treacherous blade +Unrip'dst the bowels of thy sovereign's son. + +Second Murderer: +Whom thou wert sworn to cherish and defend. + +First Murderer: +How canst thou urge God's dreadful law to us, +When thou hast broke it in so dear degree? + +CLARENCE: +Alas! for whose sake did I that ill deed? +For Edward, for my brother, for his sake: Why, sirs, +He sends ye not to murder me for this +For in this sin he is as deep as I. +If God will be revenged for this deed. +O, know you yet, he doth it publicly, +Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm; +He needs no indirect nor lawless course +To cut off those that have offended him. + +First Murderer: +Who made thee, then, a bloody minister, +When gallant-springing brave Plantagenet, +That princely novice, was struck dead by thee? + +CLARENCE: +My brother's love, the devil, and my rage. + +First Murderer: +Thy brother's love, our duty, and thy fault, +Provoke us hither now to slaughter thee. + +CLARENCE: +Oh, if you love my brother, hate not me; +I am his brother, and I love him well. +If you be hired for meed, go back again, +And I will send you to my brother Gloucester, +Who shall reward you better for my life +Than Edward will for tidings of my death. + +Second Murderer: +You are deceived, your brother Gloucester hates you. + +CLARENCE: +O, no, he loves me, and he holds me dear: +Go you to him from me. + +Both: +Ay, so we will. + +CLARENCE: +Tell him, when that our princely father York +Bless'd his three sons with his victorious arm, +And charged us from his soul to love each other, +He little thought of this divided friendship: +Bid Gloucester think of this, and he will weep. + +First Murderer: +Ay, millstones; as be lesson'd us to weep. + +CLARENCE: +O, do not slander him, for he is kind. + +First Murderer: +Right, +As snow in harvest. Thou deceivest thyself: +'Tis he that sent us hither now to slaughter thee. + +CLARENCE: +It cannot be; for when I parted with him, +He hugg'd me in his arms, and swore, with sobs, +That he would labour my delivery. + +Second Murderer: +Why, so he doth, now he delivers thee +From this world's thraldom to the joys of heaven. + +First Murderer: +Make peace with God, for you must die, my lord. + +CLARENCE: +Hast thou that holy feeling in thy soul, +To counsel me to make my peace with God, +And art thou yet to thy own soul so blind, +That thou wilt war with God by murdering me? +Ah, sirs, consider, he that set you on +To do this deed will hate you for the deed. + +Second Murderer: +What shall we do? + +CLARENCE: +Relent, and save your souls. + +First Murderer: +Relent! 'tis cowardly and womanish. + +CLARENCE: +Not to relent is beastly, savage, devilish. +Which of you, if you were a prince's son, +Being pent from liberty, as I am now, +if two such murderers as yourselves came to you, +Would not entreat for life? +My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks: +O, if thine eye be not a flatterer, +Come thou on my side, and entreat for me, +As you would beg, were you in my distress +A begging prince what beggar pities not? + +Second Murderer: +Look behind you, my lord. + +First Murderer: +Take that, and that: if all this will not do, +I'll drown you in the malmsey-butt within. + +Second Murderer: +A bloody deed, and desperately dispatch'd! +How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands +Of this most grievous guilty murder done! + +First Murderer: +How now! what mean'st thou, that thou help'st me not? +By heavens, the duke shall know how slack thou art! + +Second Murderer: +I would he knew that I had saved his brother! +Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say; +For I repent me that the duke is slain. + +First Murderer: +So do not I: go, coward as thou art. +Now must I hide his body in some hole, +Until the duke take order for his burial: +And when I have my meed, I must away; +For this will out, and here I must not stay. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Why, so: now have I done a good day's work: +You peers, continue this united league: +I every day expect an embassage +From my Redeemer to redeem me hence; +And now in peace my soul shall part to heaven, +Since I have set my friends at peace on earth. +Rivers and Hastings, take each other's hand; +Dissemble not your hatred, swear your love. + +RIVERS: +By heaven, my heart is purged from grudging hate: +And with my hand I seal my true heart's love. + +HASTINGS: +So thrive I, as I truly swear the like! + +KING EDWARD IV: +Take heed you dally not before your king; +Lest he that is the supreme King of kings +Confound your hidden falsehood, and award +Either of you to be the other's end. + +HASTINGS: +So prosper I, as I swear perfect love! + +RIVERS: +And I, as I love Hastings with my heart! + +KING EDWARD IV: +Madam, yourself are not exempt in this, +Nor your son Dorset, Buckingham, nor you; +You have been factious one against the other, +Wife, love Lord Hastings, let him kiss your hand; +And what you do, do it unfeignedly. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Here, Hastings; I will never more remember +Our former hatred, so thrive I and mine! + +KING EDWARD IV: +Dorset, embrace him; Hastings, love lord marquess. + +DORSET: +This interchange of love, I here protest, +Upon my part shall be unviolable. + +HASTINGS: +And so swear I, my lord + +KING EDWARD IV: +Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league +With thy embracements to my wife's allies, +And make me happy in your unity. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate +On you or yours, +but with all duteous love +Doth cherish you and yours, God punish me +With hate in those where I expect most love! +When I have most need to employ a friend, +And most assured that he is a friend +Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile, +Be he unto me! this do I beg of God, +When I am cold in zeal to yours. + +KING EDWARD IV: +A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham, +is this thy vow unto my sickly heart. +There wanteth now our brother Gloucester here, +To make the perfect period of this peace. + +BUCKINGHAM: +And, in good time, here comes the noble duke. + +GLOUCESTER: +Good morrow to my sovereign king and queen: +And, princely peers, a happy time of day! + +KING EDWARD IV: +Happy, indeed, as we have spent the day. +Brother, we done deeds of charity; +Made peace enmity, fair love of hate, +Between these swelling wrong-incensed peers. + +GLOUCESTER: +A blessed labour, my most sovereign liege: +Amongst this princely heap, if any here, +By false intelligence, or wrong surmise, +Hold me a foe; +If I unwittingly, or in my rage, +Have aught committed that is hardly borne +By any in this presence, I desire +To reconcile me to his friendly peace: +'Tis death to me to be at enmity; +I hate it, and desire all good men's love. +First, madam, I entreat true peace of you, +Which I will purchase with my duteous service; +Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham, +If ever any grudge were lodged between us; +Of you, Lord Rivers, and, Lord Grey, of you; +That without desert have frown'd on me; +Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen; indeed, of all. +I do not know that Englishman alive +With whom my soul is any jot at odds +More than the infant that is born to-night +I thank my God for my humility. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +A holy day shall this be kept hereafter: +I would to God all strifes were well compounded. +My sovereign liege, I do beseech your majesty +To take our brother Clarence to your grace. + +GLOUCESTER: +Why, madam, have I offer'd love for this +To be so bouted in this royal presence? +Who knows not that the noble duke is dead? +You do him injury to scorn his corse. + +RIVERS: +Who knows not he is dead! who knows he is? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +All seeing heaven, what a world is this! + +BUCKINGHAM: +Look I so pale, Lord Dorset, as the rest? + +DORSET: +Ay, my good lord; and no one in this presence +But his red colour hath forsook his cheeks. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Is Clarence dead? the order was reversed. + +GLOUCESTER: +But he, poor soul, by your first order died, +And that a winged Mercury did bear: +Some tardy cripple bore the countermand, +That came too lag to see him buried. +God grant that some, less noble and less loyal, +Nearer in bloody thoughts, but not in blood, +Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did, +And yet go current from suspicion! + +DORSET: +A boon, my sovereign, for my service done! + +KING EDWARD IV: +I pray thee, peace: my soul is full of sorrow. + +DORSET: +I will not rise, unless your highness grant. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Then speak at once what is it thou demand'st. + +DORSET: +The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant's life; +Who slew to-day a righteous gentleman +Lately attendant on the Duke of Norfolk. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Have a tongue to doom my brother's death, +And shall the same give pardon to a slave? +My brother slew no man; his fault was thought, +And yet his punishment was cruel death. +Who sued to me for him? who, in my rage, +Kneel'd at my feet, and bade me be advised +Who spake of brotherhood? who spake of love? +Who told me how the poor soul did forsake +The mighty Warwick, and did fight for me? +Who told me, in the field by Tewksbury +When Oxford had me down, he rescued me, +And said, 'Dear brother, live, and be a king'? +Who told me, when we both lay in the field +Frozen almost to death, how he did lap me +Even in his own garments, and gave himself, +All thin and naked, to the numb cold night? +All this from my remembrance brutish wrath +Sinfully pluck'd, and not a man of you +Had so much grace to put it in my mind. +But when your carters or your waiting-vassals +Have done a drunken slaughter, and defaced +The precious image of our dear Redeemer, +You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon; +And I unjustly too, must grant it you +But for my brother not a man would speak, +Nor I, ungracious, speak unto myself +For him, poor soul. The proudest of you all +Have been beholding to him in his life; +Yet none of you would once plead for his life. +O God, I fear thy justice will take hold +On me, and you, and mine, and yours for this! +Come, Hastings, help me to my closet. +Oh, poor Clarence! + +GLOUCESTER: +This is the fruit of rashness! Mark'd you not +How that the guilty kindred of the queen +Look'd pale when they did hear of Clarence' death? +O, they did urge it still unto the king! +God will revenge it. But come, let us in, +To comfort Edward with our company. + +BUCKINGHAM: +We wait upon your grace. + +Boy: +Tell me, good grandam, is our father dead? + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +No, boy. + +Boy: +Why do you wring your hands, and beat your breast, +And cry 'O Clarence, my unhappy son!' + +Girl: +Why do you look on us, and shake your head, +And call us wretches, orphans, castaways +If that our noble father be alive? + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +My pretty cousins, you mistake me much; +I do lament the sickness of the king. +As loath to lose him, not your father's death; +It were lost sorrow to wail one that's lost. + +Boy: +Then, grandam, you conclude that he is dead. +The king my uncle is to blame for this: +God will revenge it; whom I will importune +With daily prayers all to that effect. + +Girl: +And so will I. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Peace, children, peace! the king doth love you well: +Incapable and shallow innocents, +You cannot guess who caused your father's death. + +Boy: +Grandam, we can; for my good uncle Gloucester +Told me, the king, provoked by the queen, +Devised impeachments to imprison him : +And when my uncle told me so, he wept, +And hugg'd me in his arm, and kindly kiss'd my cheek; +Bade me rely on him as on my father, +And he would love me dearly as his child. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Oh, that deceit should steal such gentle shapes, +And with a virtuous vizard hide foul guile! +He is my son; yea, and therein my shame; +Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit. + +Boy: +Think you my uncle did dissemble, grandam? + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Ay, boy. + +Boy: +I cannot think it. Hark! what noise is this? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Oh, who shall hinder me to wail and weep, +To chide my fortune, and torment myself? +I'll join with black despair against my soul, +And to myself become an enemy. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +What means this scene of rude impatience? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +To make an act of tragic violence: +Edward, my lord, your son, our king, is dead. +Why grow the branches now the root is wither'd? +Why wither not the leaves the sap being gone? +If you will live, lament; if die, be brief, +That our swift-winged souls may catch the king's; +Or, like obedient subjects, follow him +To his new kingdom of perpetual rest. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Ah, so much interest have I in thy sorrow +As I had title in thy noble husband! +I have bewept a worthy husband's death, +And lived by looking on his images: +But now two mirrors of his princely semblance +Are crack'd in pieces by malignant death, +And I for comfort have but one false glass, +Which grieves me when I see my shame in him. +Thou art a widow; yet thou art a mother, +And hast the comfort of thy children left thee: +But death hath snatch'd my husband from mine arms, +And pluck'd two crutches from my feeble limbs, +Edward and Clarence. O, what cause have I, +Thine being but a moiety of my grief, +To overgo thy plaints and drown thy cries! + +Boy: +Good aunt, you wept not for our father's death; +How can we aid you with our kindred tears? + +Girl: +Our fatherless distress was left unmoan'd; +Your widow-dolour likewise be unwept! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Give me no help in lamentation; +I am not barren to bring forth complaints +All springs reduce their currents to mine eyes, +That I, being govern'd by the watery moon, +May send forth plenteous tears to drown the world! +Oh for my husband, for my dear lord Edward! + +Children: +Oh for our father, for our dear lord Clarence! + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Alas for both, both mine, Edward and Clarence! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +What stay had I but Edward? and he's gone. + +Children: +What stay had we but Clarence? and he's gone. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +What stays had I but they? and they are gone. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Was never widow had so dear a loss! + +Children: +Were never orphans had so dear a loss! + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Was never mother had so dear a loss! +Alas, I am the mother of these moans! +Their woes are parcell'd, mine are general. +She for an Edward weeps, and so do I; +I for a Clarence weep, so doth not she: +These babes for Clarence weep and so do I; +I for an Edward weep, so do not they: +Alas, you three, on me, threefold distress'd, +Pour all your tears! I am your sorrow's nurse, +And I will pamper it with lamentations. + +DORSET: +Comfort, dear mother: God is much displeased +That you take with unthankfulness, his doing: +In common worldly things, 'tis call'd ungrateful, +With dull unwilligness to repay a debt +Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent; +Much more to be thus opposite with heaven, +For it requires the royal debt it lent you. + +RIVERS: +Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother, +Of the young prince your son: send straight for him +Let him be crown'd; in him your comfort lives: +Drown desperate sorrow in dead Edward's grave, +And plant your joys in living Edward's throne. + +GLOUCESTER: +Madam, have comfort: all of us have cause +To wail the dimming of our shining star; +But none can cure their harms by wailing them. +Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy; +I did not see your grace: humbly on my knee +I crave your blessing. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +God bless thee; and put meekness in thy mind, +Love, charity, obedience, and true duty! + +GLOUCESTER: + +BUCKINGHAM: +You cloudy princes and heart-sorrowing peers, +That bear this mutual heavy load of moan, +Now cheer each other in each other's love +Though we have spent our harvest of this king, +We are to reap the harvest of his son. +The broken rancour of your high-swoln hearts, +But lately splinter'd, knit, and join'd together, +Must gently be preserved, cherish'd, and kept: +Me seemeth good, that, with some little train, +Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be fetch'd +Hither to London, to be crown'd our king. + +RIVERS: +Why with some little train, my Lord of Buckingham? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Marry, my lord, lest, by a multitude, +The new-heal'd wound of malice should break out, +Which would be so much the more dangerous +By how much the estate is green and yet ungovern'd: +Where every horse bears his commanding rein, +And may direct his course as please himself, +As well the fear of harm, as harm apparent, +In my opinion, ought to be prevented. + +GLOUCESTER: +I hope the king made peace with all of us +And the compact is firm and true in me. + +RIVERS: +And so in me; and so, I think, in all: +Yet, since it is but green, it should be put +To no apparent likelihood of breach, +Which haply by much company might be urged: +Therefore I say with noble Buckingham, +That it is meet so few should fetch the prince. + +HASTINGS: +And so say I. + +GLOUCESTER: +Then be it so; and go we to determine +Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow. +Madam, and you, my mother, will you go +To give your censures in this weighty business? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +With all our harts. + +BUCKINGHAM: +My lord, whoever journeys to the Prince, +For God's sake, let not us two be behind; +For, by the way, I'll sort occasion, +As index to the story we late talk'd of, +To part the queen's proud kindred from the king. + +GLOUCESTER: +My other self, my counsel's consistory, +My oracle, my prophet! My dear cousin, +I, like a child, will go by thy direction. +Towards Ludlow then, for we'll not stay behind. + +First Citizen: +Neighbour, well met: whither away so fast? + +Second Citizen: +I promise you, I scarcely know myself: +Hear you the news abroad? + +First Citizen: +Ay, that the king is dead. + +Second Citizen: +Bad news, by'r lady; seldom comes the better: +I fear, I fear 'twill prove a troublous world. + +Third Citizen: +Neighbours, God speed! + +First Citizen: +Give you good morrow, sir. + +Third Citizen: +Doth this news hold of good King Edward's death? + +Second Citizen: +Ay, sir, it is too true; God help the while! + +Third Citizen: +Then, masters, look to see a troublous world. + +First Citizen: +No, no; by God's good grace his son shall reign. + +Third Citizen: +Woe to the land that's govern'd by a child! + +Second Citizen: +In him there is a hope of government, +That in his nonage council under him, +And in his full and ripen'd years himself, +No doubt, shall then and till then govern well. + +First Citizen: +So stood the state when Henry the Sixth +Was crown'd in Paris but at nine months old. + +Third Citizen: +Stood the state so? No, no, good friends, God wot; +For then this land was famously enrich'd +With politic grave counsel; then the king +Had virtuous uncles to protect his grace. + +First Citizen: +Why, so hath this, both by the father and mother. + +Third Citizen: +Better it were they all came by the father, +Or by the father there were none at all; +For emulation now, who shall be nearest, +Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not. +O, full of danger is the Duke of Gloucester! +And the queen's sons and brothers haught and proud: +And were they to be ruled, and not to rule, +This sickly land might solace as before. + +First Citizen: +Come, come, we fear the worst; all shall be well. + +Third Citizen: +When clouds appear, wise men put on their cloaks; +When great leaves fall, the winter is at hand; +When the sun sets, who doth not look for night? +Untimely storms make men expect a dearth. +All may be well; but, if God sort it so, +'Tis more than we deserve, or I expect. + +Second Citizen: +Truly, the souls of men are full of dread: +Ye cannot reason almost with a man +That looks not heavily and full of fear. + +Third Citizen: +Before the times of change, still is it so: +By a divine instinct men's minds mistrust +Ensuing dangers; as by proof, we see +The waters swell before a boisterous storm. +But leave it all to God. whither away? + +Second Citizen: +Marry, we were sent for to the justices. + +Third Citizen: +And so was I: I'll bear you company. + +ARCHBISHOP OF YORK: +Last night, I hear, they lay at Northampton; +At Stony-Stratford will they be to-night: +To-morrow, or next day, they will be here. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +I long with all my heart to see the prince: +I hope he is much grown since last I saw him. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +But I hear, no; they say my son of York +Hath almost overta'en him in his growth. + +YORK: +Ay, mother; but I would not have it so. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Why, my young cousin, it is good to grow. + +YORK: +Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper, +My uncle Rivers talk'd how I did grow +More than my brother: 'Ay,' quoth my uncle +Gloucester, +'Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace:' +And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast, +Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold +In him that did object the same to thee; +He was the wretched'st thing when he was young, +So long a-growing and so leisurely, +That, if this rule were true, he should be gracious. + +ARCHBISHOP OF YORK: +Why, madam, so, no doubt, he is. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +I hope he is; but yet let mothers doubt. + +YORK: +Now, by my troth, if I had been remember'd, +I could have given my uncle's grace a flout, +To touch his growth nearer than he touch'd mine. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +How, my pretty York? I pray thee, let me hear it. + +YORK: +Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast +That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old +'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth. +Grandam, this would have been a biting jest. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +I pray thee, pretty York, who told thee this? + +YORK: +Grandam, his nurse. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +His nurse! why, she was dead ere thou wert born. + +YORK: +If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +A parlous boy: go to, you are too shrewd. + +ARCHBISHOP OF YORK: +Good madam, be not angry with the child. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Pitchers have ears. + +ARCHBISHOP OF YORK: +Here comes a messenger. What news? + +Messenger: +Such news, my lord, as grieves me to unfold. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +How fares the prince? + +Messenger: +Well, madam, and in health. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +What is thy news then? + +Messenger: +Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret, +With them Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Who hath committed them? + +Messenger: +The mighty dukes +Gloucester and Buckingham. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +For what offence? + +Messenger: +The sum of all I can, I have disclosed; +Why or for what these nobles were committed +Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Ay me, I see the downfall of our house! +The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind; +Insulting tyranny begins to jet +Upon the innocent and aweless throne: +Welcome, destruction, death, and massacre! +I see, as in a map, the end of all. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Accursed and unquiet wrangling days, +How many of you have mine eyes beheld! +My husband lost his life to get the crown; +And often up and down my sons were toss'd, +For me to joy and weep their gain and loss: +And being seated, and domestic broils +Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors. +Make war upon themselves; blood against blood, +Self against self: O, preposterous +And frantic outrage, end thy damned spleen; +Or let me die, to look on death no more! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Come, come, my boy; we will to sanctuary. +Madam, farewell. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +I'll go along with you. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +You have no cause. + +ARCHBISHOP OF YORK: +My gracious lady, go; +And thither bear your treasure and your goods. +For my part, I'll resign unto your grace +The seal I keep: and so betide to me +As well I tender you and all of yours! +Come, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to your chamber. + +GLOUCESTER: +Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' sovereign +The weary way hath made you melancholy. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +No, uncle; but our crosses on the way +Have made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy +I want more uncles here to welcome me. + +GLOUCESTER: +Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years +Hath not yet dived into the world's deceit +Nor more can you distinguish of a man +Than of his outward show; which, God he knows, +Seldom or never jumpeth with the heart. +Those uncles which you want were dangerous; +Your grace attended to their sugar'd words, +But look'd not on the poison of their hearts : +God keep you from them, and from such false friends! + +PRINCE EDWARD: +God keep me from false friends! but they were none. + +GLOUCESTER: +My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet you. + +Lord Mayor: +God bless your grace with health and happy days! + +PRINCE EDWARD: +I thank you, good my lord; and thank you all. +I thought my mother, and my brother York, +Would long ere this have met us on the way +Fie, what a slug is Hastings, that he comes not +To tell us whether they will come or no! + +BUCKINGHAM: +And, in good time, here comes the sweating lord. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Welcome, my lord: what, will our mother come? + +HASTINGS: +On what occasion, God he knows, not I, +The queen your mother, and your brother York, +Have taken sanctuary: the tender prince +Would fain have come with me to meet your grace, +But by his mother was perforce withheld. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Fie, what an indirect and peevish course +Is this of hers! Lord cardinal, will your grace +Persuade the queen to send the Duke of York +Unto his princely brother presently? +If she deny, Lord Hastings, go with him, +And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce. + +CARDINAL: +My Lord of Buckingham, if my weak oratory +Can from his mother win the Duke of York, +Anon expect him here; but if she be obdurate +To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid +We should infringe the holy privilege +Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land +Would I be guilty of so deep a sin. + +BUCKINGHAM: +You are too senseless--obstinate, my lord, +Too ceremonious and traditional +Weigh it but with the grossness of this age, +You break not sanctuary in seizing him. +The benefit thereof is always granted +To those whose dealings have deserved the place, +And those who have the wit to claim the place: +This prince hath neither claim'd it nor deserved it; +And therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it: +Then, taking him from thence that is not there, +You break no privilege nor charter there. +Oft have I heard of sanctuary men; +But sanctuary children ne'er till now. + +CARDINAL: +My lord, you shall o'er-rule my mind for once. +Come on, Lord Hastings, will you go with me? + +HASTINGS: +I go, my lord. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Good lords, make all the speedy haste you may. +Say, uncle Gloucester, if our brother come, +Where shall we sojourn till our coronation? + +GLOUCESTER: +Where it seems best unto your royal self. +If I may counsel you, some day or two +Your highness shall repose you at the Tower: +Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit +For your best health and recreation. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +I do not like the Tower, of any place. +Did Julius Caesar build that place, my lord? + +BUCKINGHAM: +He did, my gracious lord, begin that place; +Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Is it upon record, or else reported +Successively from age to age, he built it? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Upon record, my gracious lord. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +But say, my lord, it were not register'd, +Methinks the truth should live from age to age, +As 'twere retail'd to all posterity, +Even to the general all-ending day. + +GLOUCESTER: + +PRINCE EDWARD: +What say you, uncle? + +GLOUCESTER: +I say, without characters, fame lives long. +Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity, +I moralize two meanings in one word. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +That Julius Caesar was a famous man; +With what his valour did enrich his wit, +His wit set down to make his valour live +Death makes no conquest of this conqueror; +For now he lives in fame, though not in life. +I'll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham,-- + +BUCKINGHAM: +What, my gracious lord? + +PRINCE EDWARD: +An if I live until I be a man, +I'll win our ancient right in France again, +Or die a soldier, as I lived a king. + +GLOUCESTER: + +BUCKINGHAM: +Now, in good time, here comes the Duke of York. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Richard of York! how fares our loving brother? + +YORK: +Well, my dread lord; so must I call you now. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Ay, brother, to our grief, as it is yours: +Too late he died that might have kept that title, +Which by his death hath lost much majesty. + +GLOUCESTER: +How fares our cousin, noble Lord of York? + +YORK: +I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord, +You said that idle weeds are fast in growth +The prince my brother hath outgrown me far. + +GLOUCESTER: +He hath, my lord. + +YORK: +And therefore is he idle? + +GLOUCESTER: +O, my fair cousin, I must not say so. + +YORK: +Then is he more beholding to you than I. + +GLOUCESTER: +He may command me as my sovereign; +But you have power in me as in a kinsman. + +YORK: +I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger. + +GLOUCESTER: +My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +A beggar, brother? + +YORK: +Of my kind uncle, that I know will give; +And being but a toy, which is no grief to give. + +GLOUCESTER: +A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin. + +YORK: +A greater gift! O, that's the sword to it. + +GLOUCESTER: +A gentle cousin, were it light enough. + +YORK: +O, then, I see, you will part but with light gifts; +In weightier things you'll say a beggar nay. + +GLOUCESTER: +It is too heavy for your grace to wear. + +YORK: +I weigh it lightly, were it heavier. + +GLOUCESTER: +What, would you have my weapon, little lord? + +YORK: +I would, that I might thank you as you call me. + +GLOUCESTER: +How? + +YORK: +Little. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +My Lord of York will still be cross in talk: +Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him. + +YORK: +You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me: +Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me; +Because that I am little, like an ape, +He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders. + +BUCKINGHAM: +With what a sharp-provided wit he reasons! +To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle, +He prettily and aptly taunts himself: +So cunning and so young is wonderful. + +GLOUCESTER: +My lord, will't please you pass along? +Myself and my good cousin Buckingham +Will to your mother, to entreat of her +To meet you at the Tower and welcome you. + +YORK: +What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord? + +PRINCE EDWARD: +My lord protector needs will have it so. + +YORK: +I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower. + +GLOUCESTER: +Why, what should you fear? + +YORK: +Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost: +My grandam told me he was murdered there. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +I fear no uncles dead. + +GLOUCESTER: +Nor none that live, I hope. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +An if they live, I hope I need not fear. +But come, my lord; and with a heavy heart, +Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Think you, my lord, this little prating York +Was not incensed by his subtle mother +To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously? + +GLOUCESTER: +No doubt, no doubt; O, 'tis a parlous boy; +Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable +He is all the mother's, from the top to toe. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Well, let them rest. Come hither, Catesby. +Thou art sworn as deeply to effect what we intend +As closely to conceal what we impart: +Thou know'st our reasons urged upon the way; +What think'st thou? is it not an easy matter +To make William Lord Hastings of our mind, +For the instalment of this noble duke +In the seat royal of this famous isle? + +CATESBY: +He for his father's sake so loves the prince, +That he will not be won to aught against him. + +BUCKINGHAM: +What think'st thou, then, of Stanley? what will he? + +CATESBY: +He will do all in all as Hastings doth. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Well, then, no more but this: go, gentle Catesby, +And, as it were far off sound thou Lord Hastings, +How doth he stand affected to our purpose; +And summon him to-morrow to the Tower, +To sit about the coronation. +If thou dost find him tractable to us, +Encourage him, and show him all our reasons: +If he be leaden, icy-cold, unwilling, +Be thou so too; and so break off your talk, +And give us notice of his inclination: +For we to-morrow hold divided councils, +Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ'd. + +GLOUCESTER: +Commend me to Lord William: tell him, Catesby, +His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries +To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-castle; +And bid my friend, for joy of this good news, +Give mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly. + +CATESBY: +My good lords both, with all the heed I may. + +GLOUCESTER: +Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep? + +CATESBY: +You shall, my lord. + +GLOUCESTER: +At Crosby Place, there shall you find us both. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we perceive +Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots? + +GLOUCESTER: +Chop off his head, man; somewhat we will do: +And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me +The earldom of Hereford, and the moveables +Whereof the king my brother stood possess'd. + +BUCKINGHAM: +I'll claim that promise at your grace's hands. + +GLOUCESTER: +And look to have it yielded with all willingness. +Come, let us sup betimes, that afterwards +We may digest our complots in some form. + +Messenger: +What, ho! my lord! + +HASTINGS: + +Messenger: +A messenger from the Lord Stanley. + +HASTINGS: +What is't o'clock? + +Messenger: +Upon the stroke of four. + +HASTINGS: +Cannot thy master sleep these tedious nights? + +Messenger: +So it should seem by that I have to say. +First, he commends him to your noble lordship. + +HASTINGS: +And then? + +Messenger: +And then he sends you word +He dreamt to-night the boar had razed his helm: +Besides, he says there are two councils held; +And that may be determined at the one +which may make you and him to rue at the other. +Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure, +If presently you will take horse with him, +And with all speed post with him toward the north, +To shun the danger that his soul divines. + +HASTINGS: +Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; +Bid him not fear the separated councils +His honour and myself are at the one, +And at the other is my servant Catesby +Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us +Whereof I shall not have intelligence. +Tell him his fears are shallow, wanting instance: +And for his dreams, I wonder he is so fond +To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers +To fly the boar before the boar pursues, +Were to incense the boar to follow us +And make pursuit where he did mean no chase. +Go, bid thy master rise and come to me +And we will both together to the Tower, +Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly. + +Messenger: +My gracious lord, I'll tell him what you say. + +CATESBY: +Many good morrows to my noble lord! + +HASTINGS: +Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring +What news, what news, in this our tottering state? + +CATESBY: +It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord; +And I believe twill never stand upright +Tim Richard wear the garland of the realm. + +HASTINGS: +How! wear the garland! dost thou mean the crown? + +CATESBY: +Ay, my good lord. + +HASTINGS: +I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders +Ere I will see the crown so foul misplaced. +But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it? + +CATESBY: +Ay, on my life; and hopes to find forward +Upon his party for the gain thereof: +And thereupon he sends you this good news, +That this same very day your enemies, +The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret. + +HASTINGS: +Indeed, I am no mourner for that news, +Because they have been still mine enemies: +But, that I'll give my voice on Richard's side, +To bar my master's heirs in true descent, +God knows I will not do it, to the death. + +CATESBY: +God keep your lordship in that gracious mind! + +HASTINGS: +But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence, +That they who brought me in my master's hate +I live to look upon their tragedy. +I tell thee, Catesby-- + +CATESBY: +What, my lord? + +HASTINGS: +Ere a fortnight make me elder, +I'll send some packing that yet think not on it. + +CATESBY: +'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, +When men are unprepared and look not for it. + +HASTINGS: +O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out +With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do +With some men else, who think themselves as safe +As thou and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear +To princely Richard and to Buckingham. + +CATESBY: +The princes both make high account of you; +For they account his head upon the bridge. + +HASTINGS: +I know they do; and I have well deserved it. +Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man? +Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided? + +STANLEY: +My lord, good morrow; good morrow, Catesby: +You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, +I do not like these several councils, I. + +HASTINGS: +My lord, +I hold my life as dear as you do yours; +And never in my life, I do protest, +Was it more precious to me than 'tis now: +Think you, but that I know our state secure, +I would be so triumphant as I am? + +STANLEY: +The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London, +Were jocund, and supposed their state was sure, +And they indeed had no cause to mistrust; +But yet, you see how soon the day o'ercast. +This sudden stag of rancour I misdoubt: +Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward! +What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent. + +HASTINGS: +Come, come, have with you. Wot you what, my lord? +To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded. + +LORD STANLEY: +They, for their truth, might better wear their heads +Than some that have accused them wear their hats. +But come, my lord, let us away. + +HASTINGS: +Go on before; I'll talk with this good fellow. +How now, sirrah! how goes the world with thee? + +Pursuivant: +The better that your lordship please to ask. + +HASTINGS: +I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now +Than when I met thee last where now we meet: +Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, +By the suggestion of the queen's allies; +But now, I tell thee--keep it to thyself-- +This day those enemies are put to death, +And I in better state than e'er I was. + +Pursuivant: +God hold it, to your honour's good content! + +HASTINGS: +Gramercy, fellow: there, drink that for me. + +Pursuivant: +God save your lordship! + +Priest: +Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour. + +HASTINGS: +I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart. +I am in your debt for your last exercise; +Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you. + +BUCKINGHAM: +What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain? +Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest; +Your honour hath no shriving work in hand. + +HASTINGS: +Good faith, and when I met this holy man, +Those men you talk of came into my mind. +What, go you toward the Tower? + +BUCKINGHAM: +I do, my lord; but long I shall not stay +I shall return before your lordship thence. + +HASTINGS: +'Tis like enough, for I stay dinner there. + +BUCKINGHAM: + +HASTINGS: +I'll wait upon your lordship. + +RATCLIFF: +Come, bring forth the prisoners. + +RIVERS: +Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this: +To-day shalt thou behold a subject die +For truth, for duty, and for loyalty. + +GREY: +God keep the prince from all the pack of you! +A knot you are of damned blood-suckers! + +VAUGHAN: +You live that shall cry woe for this after. + +RATCLIFF: +Dispatch; the limit of your lives is out. + +RIVERS: +O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, +Fatal and ominous to noble peers! +Within the guilty closure of thy walls +Richard the second here was hack'd to death; +And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, +We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink. + +GREY: +Now Margaret's curse is fall'n upon our heads, +For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son. + +RIVERS: +Then cursed she Hastings, then cursed she Buckingham, +Then cursed she Richard. O, remember, God +To hear her prayers for them, as now for us +And for my sister and her princely sons, +Be satisfied, dear God, with our true blood, +Which, as thou know'st, unjustly must be spilt. + +RATCLIFF: +Make haste; the hour of death is expiate. + +RIVERS: +Come, Grey, come, Vaughan, let us all embrace: +And take our leave, until we meet in heaven. + +HASTINGS: +My lords, at once: the cause why we are met +Is, to determine of the coronation. +In God's name, speak: when is the royal day? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Are all things fitting for that royal time? + +DERBY: +It is, and wants but nomination. + +BISHOP OF ELY: +To-morrow, then, I judge a happy day. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Who knows the lord protector's mind herein? +Who is most inward with the royal duke? + +BISHOP OF ELY: +Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Who, I, my lord I we know each other's faces, +But for our hearts, he knows no more of mine, +Than I of yours; +Nor I no more of his, than you of mine. +Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love. + +HASTINGS: +I thank his grace, I know he loves me well; +But, for his purpose in the coronation. +I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd +His gracious pleasure any way therein: +But you, my noble lords, may name the time; +And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice, +Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part. + +BISHOP OF ELY: +Now in good time, here comes the duke himself. + +GLOUCESTER: +My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow. +I have been long a sleeper; but, I hope, +My absence doth neglect no great designs, +Which by my presence might have been concluded. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Had not you come upon your cue, my lord +William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part,-- +I mean, your voice,--for crowning of the king. + +GLOUCESTER: +Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder; +His lordship knows me well, and loves me well. + +HASTINGS: +I thank your grace. + +GLOUCESTER: +My lord of Ely! + +BISHOP OF ELY: +My lord? + +GLOUCESTER: +When I was last in Holborn, +I saw good strawberries in your garden there +I do beseech you send for some of them. + +BISHOP OF ELY: +Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. + +GLOUCESTER: +Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you. +Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business, +And finds the testy gentleman so hot, +As he will lose his head ere give consent +His master's son, as worshipful as he terms it, +Shall lose the royalty of England's throne. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Withdraw you hence, my lord, I'll follow you. + +DERBY: +We have not yet set down this day of triumph. +To-morrow, in mine opinion, is too sudden; +For I myself am not so well provided +As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. + +BISHOP OF ELY: +Where is my lord protector? I have sent for these +strawberries. + +HASTINGS: +His grace looks cheerfully and smooth to-day; +There's some conceit or other likes him well, +When he doth bid good morrow with such a spirit. +I think there's never a man in Christendom +That can less hide his love or hate than he; +For by his face straight shall you know his heart. + +DERBY: +What of his heart perceive you in his face +By any likelihood he show'd to-day? + +HASTINGS: +Marry, that with no man here he is offended; +For, were he, he had shown it in his looks. + +DERBY: +I pray God he be not, I say. + +GLOUCESTER: +I pray you all, tell me what they deserve +That do conspire my death with devilish plots +Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevail'd +Upon my body with their hellish charms? + +HASTINGS: +The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, +Makes me most forward in this noble presence +To doom the offenders, whatsoever they be +I say, my lord, they have deserved death. + +GLOUCESTER: +Then be your eyes the witness of this ill: +See how I am bewitch'd; behold mine arm +Is, like a blasted sapling, wither'd up: +And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, +Consorted with that harlot strumpet Shore, +That by their witchcraft thus have marked me. + +HASTINGS: +If they have done this thing, my gracious lord-- + +GLOUCESTER: +If I thou protector of this damned strumpet-- +Tellest thou me of 'ifs'? Thou art a traitor: +Off with his head! Now, by Saint Paul I swear, +I will not dine until I see the same. +Lovel and Ratcliff, look that it be done: +The rest, that love me, rise and follow me. + +HASTINGS: +Woe, woe for England! not a whit for me; +For I, too fond, might have prevented this. +Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm; +But I disdain'd it, and did scorn to fly: +Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, +And startled, when he look'd upon the Tower, +As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house. +O, now I want the priest that spake to me: +I now repent I told the pursuivant +As 'twere triumphing at mine enemies, +How they at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd, +And I myself secure in grace and favour. +O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse +Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head! + +RATCLIFF: +Dispatch, my lord; the duke would be at dinner: +Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head. + +HASTINGS: +O momentary grace of mortal men, +Which we more hunt for than the grace of God! +Who builds his hopes in air of your good looks, +Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast, +Ready, with every nod, to tumble down +Into the fatal bowels of the deep. + +LOVEL: +Come, come, dispatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. + +HASTINGS: +O bloody Richard! miserable England! +I prophesy the fearful'st time to thee +That ever wretched age hath look'd upon. +Come, lead me to the block; bear him my head. +They smile at me that shortly shall be dead. + +GLOUCESTER: +Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour, +Murder thy breath in the middle of a word, +And then begin again, and stop again, +As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian; +Speak and look back, and pry on every side, +Tremble and start at wagging of a straw, +Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks +Are at my service, like enforced smiles; +And both are ready in their offices, +At any time, to grace my stratagems. +But what, is Catesby gone? + +GLOUCESTER: +He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Lord mayor,-- + +GLOUCESTER: +Look to the drawbridge there! + +BUCKINGHAM: +Hark! a drum. + +GLOUCESTER: +Catesby, o'erlook the walls. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Lord mayor, the reason we have sent-- + +GLOUCESTER: +Look back, defend thee, here are enemies. + +BUCKINGHAM: +God and our innocency defend and guard us! + +GLOUCESTER: +Be patient, they are friends, Ratcliff and Lovel. + +LOVEL: +Here is the head of that ignoble traitor, +The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings. + +GLOUCESTER: +So dear I loved the man, that I must weep. +I took him for the plainest harmless creature +That breathed upon this earth a Christian; +Made him my book wherein my soul recorded +The history of all her secret thoughts: +So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue, +That, his apparent open guilt omitted, +I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife, +He lived from all attainder of suspect. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor +That ever lived. +Would you imagine, or almost believe, +Were't not that, by great preservation, +We live to tell it you, the subtle traitor +This day had plotted, in the council-house +To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester? + +Lord Mayor: +What, had he so? + +GLOUCESTER: +What, think You we are Turks or infidels? +Or that we would, against the form of law, +Proceed thus rashly to the villain's death, +But that the extreme peril of the case, +The peace of England and our persons' safety, +Enforced us to this execution? + +Lord Mayor: +Now, fair befall you! he deserved his death; +And you my good lords, both have well proceeded, +To warn false traitors from the like attempts. +I never look'd for better at his hands, +After he once fell in with Mistress Shore. + +GLOUCESTER: +Yet had not we determined he should die, +Until your lordship came to see his death; +Which now the loving haste of these our friends, +Somewhat against our meaning, have prevented: +Because, my lord, we would have had you heard +The traitor speak, and timorously confess +The manner and the purpose of his treason; +That you might well have signified the same +Unto the citizens, who haply may +Misconstrue us in him and wail his death. + +Lord Mayor: +But, my good lord, your grace's word shall serve, +As well as I had seen and heard him speak +And doubt you not, right noble princes both, +But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens +With all your just proceedings in this cause. + +GLOUCESTER: +And to that end we wish'd your lord-ship here, +To avoid the carping censures of the world. + +BUCKINGHAM: +But since you come too late of our intents, +Yet witness what you hear we did intend: +And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell. + +GLOUCESTER: +Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham. +The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post: +There, at your meet'st advantage of the time, +Infer the bastardy of Edward's children: +Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen, +Only for saying he would make his son +Heir to the crown; meaning indeed his house, +Which, by the sign thereof was termed so. +Moreover, urge his hateful luxury +And bestial appetite in change of lust; +Which stretched to their servants, daughters, wives, +Even where his lustful eye or savage heart, +Without control, listed to make his prey. +Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person: +Tell them, when that my mother went with child +Of that unsatiate Edward, noble York +My princely father then had wars in France +And, by just computation of the time, +Found that the issue was not his begot; +Which well appeared in his lineaments, +Being nothing like the noble duke my father: +But touch this sparingly, as 'twere far off, +Because you know, my lord, my mother lives. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Fear not, my lord, I'll play the orator +As if the golden fee for which I plead +Were for myself: and so, my lord, adieu. + +GLOUCESTER: +If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's Castle; +Where you shall find me well accompanied +With reverend fathers and well-learned bishops. + +BUCKINGHAM: +I go: and towards three or four o'clock +Look for the news that the Guildhall affords. + +GLOUCESTER: +Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw; +Go thou to Friar Penker; bid them both +Meet me within this hour at Baynard's Castle. +Now will I in, to take some privy order, +To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight; +And to give notice, that no manner of person +At any time have recourse unto the princes. + +Scrivener: +This is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings; +Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd, +That it may be this day read over in Paul's. +And mark how well the sequel hangs together: +Eleven hours I spent to write it over, +For yesternight by Catesby was it brought me; +The precedent was full as long a-doing: +And yet within these five hours lived Lord Hastings, +Untainted, unexamined, free, at liberty +Here's a good world the while! Why who's so gross, +That seeth not this palpable device? +Yet who's so blind, but says he sees it not? +Bad is the world; and all will come to nought, +When such bad dealings must be seen in thought. + +GLOUCESTER: +How now, my lord, what say the citizens? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Now, by the holy mother of our Lord, +The citizens are mum and speak not a word. + +GLOUCESTER: +Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's children? + +BUCKINGHAM: +I did; with his contract with Lady Lucy, +And his contract by deputy in France; +The insatiate greediness of his desires, +And his enforcement of the city wives; +His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy, +As being got, your father then in France, +His resemblance, being not like the duke; +Withal I did infer your lineaments, +Being the right idea of your father, +Both in your form and nobleness of mind; +Laid open all your victories in Scotland, +Your dicipline in war, wisdom in peace, +Your bounty, virtue, fair humility: +Indeed, left nothing fitting for the purpose +Untouch'd, or slightly handled, in discourse +And when mine oratory grew to an end +I bid them that did love their country's good +Cry 'God save Richard, England's royal king!' + +GLOUCESTER: +Ah! and did they so? + +BUCKINGHAM: +No, so God help me, they spake not a word; +But, like dumb statues or breathing stones, +Gazed each on other, and look'd deadly pale. +Which when I saw, I reprehended them; +And ask'd the mayor what meant this wilful silence: +His answer was, the people were not wont +To be spoke to but by the recorder. +Then he was urged to tell my tale again, +'Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr'd;' +But nothing spake in warrant from himself. +When he had done, some followers of mine own, +At the lower end of the hall, hurl'd up their caps, +And some ten voices cried 'God save King Richard!' +And thus I took the vantage of those few, +'Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,' quoth I; +'This general applause and loving shout +Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard:' +And even here brake off, and came away. + +GLOUCESTER: +What tongueless blocks were they! would not they speak? + +BUCKINGHAM: +No, by my troth, my lord. + +GLOUCESTER: +Will not the mayor then and his brethren come? + +BUCKINGHAM: +The mayor is here at hand: intend some fear; +Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit: +And look you get a prayer-book in your hand, +And stand betwixt two churchmen, good my lord; +For on that ground I'll build a holy descant: +And be not easily won to our request: +Play the maid's part, still answer nay, and take it. + +GLOUCESTER: +I go; and if you plead as well for them +As I can say nay to thee for myself, +No doubt well bring it to a happy issue. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor knocks. +Welcome my lord; I dance attendance here; +I think the duke will not be spoke withal. +Here comes his servant: how now, Catesby, +What says he? + +CATESBY: +My lord: he doth entreat your grace; +To visit him to-morrow or next day: +He is within, with two right reverend fathers, +Divinely bent to meditation; +And no worldly suit would he be moved, +To draw him from his holy exercise. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Return, good Catesby, to thy lord again; +Tell him, myself, the mayor and citizens, +In deep designs and matters of great moment, +No less importing than our general good, +Are come to have some conference with his grace. + +CATESBY: +I'll tell him what you say, my lord. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward! +He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed, +But on his knees at meditation; +Not dallying with a brace of courtezans, +But meditating with two deep divines; +Not sleeping, to engross his idle body, +But praying, to enrich his watchful soul: +Happy were England, would this gracious prince +Take on himself the sovereignty thereof: +But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it. + +Lord Mayor: +Marry, God forbid his grace should say us nay! + +BUCKINGHAM: +I fear he will. +How now, Catesby, what says your lord? + +CATESBY: +My lord, +He wonders to what end you have assembled +Such troops of citizens to speak with him, +His grace not being warn'd thereof before: +My lord, he fears you mean no good to him. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Sorry I am my noble cousin should +Suspect me, that I mean no good to him: +By heaven, I come in perfect love to him; +And so once more return and tell his grace. +When holy and devout religious men +Are at their beads, 'tis hard to draw them thence, +So sweet is zealous contemplation. + +Lord Mayor: +See, where he stands between two clergymen! + +BUCKINGHAM: +Two props of virtue for a Christian prince, +To stay him from the fall of vanity: +And, see, a book of prayer in his hand, +True ornaments to know a holy man. +Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince, +Lend favourable ears to our request; +And pardon us the interruption +Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal. + +GLOUCESTER: +My lord, there needs no such apology: +I rather do beseech you pardon me, +Who, earnest in the service of my God, +Neglect the visitation of my friends. +But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above, +And all good men of this ungovern'd isle. + +GLOUCESTER: +I do suspect I have done some offence +That seems disgracious in the city's eyes, +And that you come to reprehend my ignorance. + +BUCKINGHAM: +You have, my lord: would it might please your grace, +At our entreaties, to amend that fault! + +GLOUCESTER: +Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Then know, it is your fault that you resign +The supreme seat, the throne majestical, +The scepter'd office of your ancestors, +Your state of fortune and your due of birth, +The lineal glory of your royal house, +To the corruption of a blemished stock: +Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts, +Which here we waken to our country's good, +This noble isle doth want her proper limbs; +Her face defaced with scars of infamy, +Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants, +And almost shoulder'd in the swallowing gulf +Of blind forgetfulness and dark oblivion. +Which to recure, we heartily solicit +Your gracious self to take on you the charge +And kingly government of this your land, +Not as protector, steward, substitute, +Or lowly factor for another's gain; +But as successively from blood to blood, +Your right of birth, your empery, your own. +For this, consorted with the citizens, +Your very worshipful and loving friends, +And by their vehement instigation, +In this just suit come I to move your grace. + +GLOUCESTER: +I know not whether to depart in silence, +Or bitterly to speak in your reproof. +Best fitteth my degree or your condition +If not to answer, you might haply think +Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded +To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty, +Which fondly you would here impose on me; +If to reprove you for this suit of yours, +So season'd with your faithful love to me. +Then, on the other side, I cheque'd my friends. +Therefore, to speak, and to avoid the first, +And then, in speaking, not to incur the last, +Definitively thus I answer you. +Your love deserves my thanks; but my desert +Unmeritable shuns your high request. +First if all obstacles were cut away, +And that my path were even to the crown, +As my ripe revenue and due by birth +Yet so much is my poverty of spirit, +So mighty and so many my defects, +As I had rather hide me from my greatness, +Being a bark to brook no mighty sea, +Than in my greatness covet to be hid, +And in the vapour of my glory smother'd. +But, God be thank'd, there's no need of me, +And much I need to help you, if need were; +The royal tree hath left us royal fruit, +Which, mellow'd by the stealing hours of time, +Will well become the seat of majesty, +And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign. +On him I lay what you would lay on me, +The right and fortune of his happy stars; +Which God defend that I should wring from him! + +BUCKINGHAM: +My lord, this argues conscience in your grace; +But the respects thereof are nice and trivial, +All circumstances well considered. +You say that Edward is your brother's son: +So say we too, but not by Edward's wife; +For first he was contract to Lady Lucy-- +Your mother lives a witness to that vow-- +And afterward by substitute betroth'd +To Bona, sister to the King of France. +These both put by a poor petitioner, +A care-crazed mother of a many children, +A beauty-waning and distressed widow, +Even in the afternoon of her best days, +Made prize and purchase of his lustful eye, +Seduced the pitch and height of all his thoughts +To base declension and loathed bigamy +By her, in his unlawful bed, he got +This Edward, whom our manners term the prince. +More bitterly could I expostulate, +Save that, for reverence to some alive, +I give a sparing limit to my tongue. +Then, good my lord, take to your royal self +This proffer'd benefit of dignity; +If non to bless us and the land withal, +Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry +From the corruption of abusing times, +Unto a lineal true-derived course. + +Lord Mayor: +Do, good my lord, your citizens entreat you. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffer'd love. + +CATESBY: +O, make them joyful, grant their lawful suit! + +GLOUCESTER: +Alas, why would you heap these cares on me? +I am unfit for state and majesty; +I do beseech you, take it not amiss; +I cannot nor I will not yield to you. + +BUCKINGHAM: +If you refuse it,--as, in love and zeal, +Loath to depose the child, Your brother's son; +As well we know your tenderness of heart +And gentle, kind, effeminate remorse, +Which we have noted in you to your kin, +And egally indeed to all estates,-- +Yet whether you accept our suit or no, +Your brother's son shall never reign our king; +But we will plant some other in the throne, +To the disgrace and downfall of your house: +And in this resolution here we leave you.-- +Come, citizens: 'zounds! I'll entreat no more. + +GLOUCESTER: +O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingham. + +CATESBY: +Call them again, my lord, and accept their suit. + +ANOTHER: +Do, good my lord, lest all the land do rue it. + +GLOUCESTER: +Would you enforce me to a world of care? +Well, call them again. I am not made of stone, +But penetrable to your. kind entreats, +Albeit against my conscience and my soul. +Cousin of Buckingham, and you sage, grave men, +Since you will buckle fortune on my back, +To bear her burthen, whether I will or no, +I must have patience to endure the load: +But if black scandal or foul-faced reproach +Attend the sequel of your imposition, +Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me +From all the impure blots and stains thereof; +For God he knows, and you may partly see, +How far I am from the desire thereof. + +Lord Mayor: +God bless your grace! we see it, and will say it. + +GLOUCESTER: +In saying so, you shall but say the truth. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Then I salute you with this kingly title: +Long live Richard, England's royal king! + +Lord Mayor: +Amen. + +BUCKINGHAM: +To-morrow will it please you to be crown'd? + +GLOUCESTER: +Even when you please, since you will have it so. + +BUCKINGHAM: +To-morrow, then, we will attend your grace: +And so most joyfully we take our leave. + +GLOUCESTER: +Come, let us to our holy task again. +Farewell, good cousin; farewell, gentle friends. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Who meets us here? my niece Plantagenet +Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloucester? +Now, for my life, she's wandering to the Tower, +On pure heart's love to greet the tender princes. +Daughter, well met. + +LADY ANNE: +God give your graces both +A happy and a joyful time of day! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +As much to you, good sister! Whither away? + +LADY ANNE: +No farther than the Tower; and, as I guess, +Upon the like devotion as yourselves, +To gratulate the gentle princes there. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Kind sister, thanks: we'll enter all together. +And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes. +Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave, +How doth the prince, and my young son of York? + +BRAKENBURY: +Right well, dear madam. By your patience, +I may not suffer you to visit them; +The king hath straitly charged the contrary. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +The king! why, who's that? + +BRAKENBURY: +I cry you mercy: I mean the lord protector. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +The Lord protect him from that kingly title! +Hath he set bounds betwixt their love and me? +I am their mother; who should keep me from them? + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +I am their fathers mother; I will see them. + +LADY ANNE: +Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother: +Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame +And take thy office from thee, on my peril. + +BRAKENBURY: +No, madam, no; I may not leave it so: +I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. + +LORD STANLEY: +Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence, +And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, +And reverend looker on, of two fair queens. +Come, madam, you must straight to Westminster, +There to be crowned Richard's royal queen. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +O, cut my lace in sunder, that my pent heart +May have some scope to beat, or else I swoon +With this dead-killing news! + +LADY ANNE: +Despiteful tidings! O unpleasing news! + +DORSET: +Be of good cheer: mother, how fares your grace? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee hence! +Death and destruction dog thee at the heels; +Thy mother's name is ominous to children. +If thou wilt outstrip death, go cross the seas, +And live with Richmond, from the reach of hell +Go, hie thee, hie thee from this slaughter-house, +Lest thou increase the number of the dead; +And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse, +Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen. + +LORD STANLEY: +Full of wise care is this your counsel, madam. +Take all the swift advantage of the hours; +You shall have letters from me to my son +To meet you on the way, and welcome you. +Be not ta'en tardy by unwise delay. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +O ill-dispersing wind of misery! +O my accursed womb, the bed of death! +A cockatrice hast thou hatch'd to the world, +Whose unavoided eye is murderous. + +LORD STANLEY: +Come, madam, come; I in all haste was sent. + +LADY ANNE: +And I in all unwillingness will go. +I would to God that the inclusive verge +Of golden metal that must round my brow +Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain! +Anointed let me be with deadly venom, +And die, ere men can say, God save the queen! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Go, go, poor soul, I envy not thy glory +To feed my humour, wish thyself no harm. + +LADY ANNE: +No! why? When he that is my husband now +Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse, +When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his hands +Which issued from my other angel husband +And that dead saint which then I weeping follow'd; +O, when, I say, I look'd on Richard's face, +This was my wish: 'Be thou,' quoth I, ' accursed, +For making me, so young, so old a widow! +And, when thou wed'st, let sorrow haunt thy bed; +And be thy wife--if any be so mad-- +As miserable by the life of thee +As thou hast made me by my dear lord's death! +Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again, +Even in so short a space, my woman's heart +Grossly grew captive to his honey words +And proved the subject of my own soul's curse, +Which ever since hath kept my eyes from rest; +For never yet one hour in his bed +Have I enjoy'd the golden dew of sleep, +But have been waked by his timorous dreams. +Besides, he hates me for my father Warwick; +And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Poor heart, adieu! I pity thy complaining. + +LADY ANNE: +No more than from my soul I mourn for yours. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Farewell, thou woful welcomer of glory! + +LADY ANNE: +Adieu, poor soul, that takest thy leave of it! + +DUCHESS OF YORK: + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Stay, yet look back with me unto the Tower. +Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes +Whom envy hath immured within your walls! +Rough cradle for such little pretty ones! +Rude ragged nurse, old sullen playfellow +For tender princes, use my babies well! +So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell. + +KING RICHARD III: +Stand all apart Cousin of Buckingham! + +BUCKINGHAM: +My gracious sovereign? + +KING RICHARD III: +Give me thy hand. +Thus high, by thy advice +And thy assistance, is King Richard seated; +But shall we wear these honours for a day? +Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Still live they and for ever may they last! + +KING RICHARD III: +O Buckingham, now do I play the touch, +To try if thou be current gold indeed +Young Edward lives: think now what I would say. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Say on, my loving lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be king, + +BUCKINGHAM: +Why, so you are, my thrice renowned liege. + +KING RICHARD III: +Ha! am I king? 'tis so: but Edward lives. + +BUCKINGHAM: +True, noble prince. + +KING RICHARD III: +O bitter consequence, +That Edward still should live! 'True, noble prince!' +Cousin, thou wert not wont to be so dull: +Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead; +And I would have it suddenly perform'd. +What sayest thou? speak suddenly; be brief. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Your grace may do your pleasure. + +KING RICHARD III: +Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezeth: +Say, have I thy consent that they shall die? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Give me some breath, some little pause, my lord +Before I positively herein: +I will resolve your grace immediately. + +CATESBY: + +KING RICHARD III: +I will converse with iron-witted fools +And unrespective boys: none are for me +That look into me with considerate eyes: +High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect. +Boy! + +Page: +My lord? + +KING RICHARD III: +Know'st thou not any whom corrupting gold +Would tempt unto a close exploit of death? + +Page: +My lord, I know a discontented gentleman, +Whose humble means match not his haughty mind: +Gold were as good as twenty orators, +And will, no doubt, tempt him to any thing. + +KING RICHARD III: +What is his name? + +Page: +His name, my lord, is Tyrrel. + +KING RICHARD III: +I partly know the man: go, call him hither. +The deep-revolving witty Buckingham +No more shall be the neighbour to my counsel: +Hath he so long held out with me untired, +And stops he now for breath? +How now! what news with you? + +STANLEY: +My lord, I hear the Marquis Dorset's fled +To Richmond, in those parts beyond the sea +Where he abides. + +KING RICHARD III: +Catesby! + +CATESBY: +My lord? + +KING RICHARD III: +Rumour it abroad +That Anne, my wife, is sick and like to die: +I will take order for her keeping close. +Inquire me out some mean-born gentleman, +Whom I will marry straight to Clarence' daughter: +The boy is foolish, and I fear not him. +Look, how thou dream'st! I say again, give out +That Anne my wife is sick and like to die: +About it; for it stands me much upon, +To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me. +I must be married to my brother's daughter, +Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass. +Murder her brothers, and then marry her! +Uncertain way of gain! But I am in +So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin: +Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye. +Is thy name Tyrrel? + +TYRREL: +James Tyrrel, and your most obedient subject. + +KING RICHARD III: +Art thou, indeed? + +TYRREL: +Prove me, my gracious sovereign. + +KING RICHARD III: +Darest thou resolve to kill a friend of mine? + +TYRREL: +Ay, my lord; +But I had rather kill two enemies. + +KING RICHARD III: +Why, there thou hast it: two deep enemies, +Foes to my rest and my sweet sleep's disturbers +Are they that I would have thee deal upon: +Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower. + +TYRREL: +Let me have open means to come to them, +And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them. + +KING RICHARD III: +Thou sing'st sweet music. Hark, come hither, Tyrrel +Go, by this token: rise, and lend thine ear: +There is no more but so: say it is done, +And I will love thee, and prefer thee too. + +TYRREL: +'Tis done, my gracious lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +Shall we hear from thee, Tyrrel, ere we sleep? + +TYRREL: +Ye shall, my Lord. + +BUCKINGHAM: +My Lord, I have consider'd in my mind +The late demand that you did sound me in. + +KING RICHARD III: +Well, let that pass. Dorset is fled to Richmond. + +BUCKINGHAM: +I hear that news, my lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +Stanley, he is your wife's son well, look to it. + +BUCKINGHAM: +My lord, I claim your gift, my due by promise, +For which your honour and your faith is pawn'd; +The earldom of Hereford and the moveables +The which you promised I should possess. + +KING RICHARD III: +Stanley, look to your wife; if she convey +Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it. + +BUCKINGHAM: +What says your highness to my just demand? + +KING RICHARD III: +As I remember, Henry the Sixth +Did prophesy that Richmond should be king, +When Richmond was a little peevish boy. +A king, perhaps, perhaps,-- + +BUCKINGHAM: +My lord! + +KING RICHARD III: +How chance the prophet could not at that time +Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him? + +BUCKINGHAM: +My lord, your promise for the earldom,-- + +KING RICHARD III: +Richmond! When last I was at Exeter, +The mayor in courtesy show'd me the castle, +And call'd it Rougemont: at which name I started, +Because a bard of Ireland told me once +I should not live long after I saw Richmond. + +BUCKINGHAM: +My Lord! + +KING RICHARD III: +Ay, what's o'clock? + +BUCKINGHAM: +I am thus bold to put your grace in mind +Of what you promised me. + +KING RICHARD III: +Well, but what's o'clock? + +BUCKINGHAM: +Upon the stroke of ten. + +KING RICHARD III: +Well, let it strike. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Why let it strike? + +KING RICHARD III: +Because that, like a Jack, thou keep'st the stroke +Betwixt thy begging and my meditation. +I am not in the giving vein to-day. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Why, then resolve me whether you will or no. + +KING RICHARD III: +Tut, tut, +Thou troublest me; am not in the vein. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Is it even so? rewards he my true service +With such deep contempt made I him king for this? +O, let me think on Hastings, and be gone +To Brecknock, while my fearful head is on! + +TYRREL: +The tyrannous and bloody deed is done. +The most arch of piteous massacre +That ever yet this land was guilty of. +Dighton and Forrest, whom I did suborn +To do this ruthless piece of butchery, +Although they were flesh'd villains, bloody dogs, +Melting with tenderness and kind compassion +Wept like two children in their deaths' sad stories. +'Lo, thus' quoth Dighton, 'lay those tender babes:' +'Thus, thus,' quoth Forrest, 'girdling one another +Within their innocent alabaster arms: +Their lips were four red roses on a stalk, +Which in their summer beauty kiss'd each other. +A book of prayers on their pillow lay; +Which once,' quoth Forrest, 'almost changed my mind; +But O! the devil'--there the villain stopp'd +Whilst Dighton thus told on: 'We smothered +The most replenished sweet work of nature, +That from the prime creation e'er she framed.' +Thus both are gone with conscience and remorse; +They could not speak; and so I left them both, +To bring this tidings to the bloody king. +And here he comes. +All hail, my sovereign liege! + +KING RICHARD III: +Kind Tyrrel, am I happy in thy news? + +TYRREL: +If to have done the thing you gave in charge +Beget your happiness, be happy then, +For it is done, my lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +But didst thou see them dead? + +TYRREL: +I did, my lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +And buried, gentle Tyrrel? + +TYRREL: +The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them; +But how or in what place I do not know. + +KING RICHARD III: +Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after supper, +And thou shalt tell the process of their death. +Meantime, but think how I may do thee good, +And be inheritor of thy desire. +Farewell till soon. +The son of Clarence have I pent up close; +His daughter meanly have I match'd in marriage; +The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom, +And Anne my wife hath bid the world good night. +Now, for I know the Breton Richmond aims +At young Elizabeth, my brother's daughter, +And, by that knot, looks proudly o'er the crown, +To her I go, a jolly thriving wooer. + +CATESBY: +My lord! + +KING RICHARD III: +Good news or bad, that thou comest in so bluntly? + +CATESBY: +Bad news, my lord: Ely is fled to Richmond; +And Buckingham, back'd with the hardy Welshmen, +Is in the field, and still his power increaseth. + +KING RICHARD III: +Ely with Richmond troubles me more near +Than Buckingham and his rash-levied army. +Come, I have heard that fearful commenting +Is leaden servitor to dull delay; +Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary +Then fiery expedition be my wing, +Jove's Mercury, and herald for a king! +Come, muster men: my counsel is my shield; +We must be brief when traitors brave the field. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +So, now prosperity begins to mellow +And drop into the rotten mouth of death. +Here in these confines slily have I lurk'd, +To watch the waning of mine adversaries. +A dire induction am I witness to, +And will to France, hoping the consequence +Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical. +Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret: who comes here? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Ah, my young princes! ah, my tender babes! +My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets! +If yet your gentle souls fly in the air +And be not fix'd in doom perpetual, +Hover about me with your airy wings +And hear your mother's lamentation! + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Hover about her; say, that right for right +Hath dimm'd your infant morn to aged night. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +So many miseries have crazed my voice, +That my woe-wearied tongue is mute and dumb, +Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet. +Edward for Edward pays a dying debt. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Wilt thou, O God, fly from such gentle lambs, +And throw them in the entrails of the wolf? +When didst thou sleep when such a deed was done? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +When holy Harry died, and my sweet son. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Blind sight, dead life, poor mortal living ghost, +Woe's scene, world's shame, grave's due by life usurp'd, +Brief abstract and record of tedious days, +Rest thy unrest on England's lawful earth, +Unlawfully made drunk with innocents' blood! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +O, that thou wouldst as well afford a grave +As thou canst yield a melancholy seat! +Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here. +O, who hath any cause to mourn but I? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +If ancient sorrow be most reverend, +Give mine the benefit of seniory, +And let my woes frown on the upper hand. +If sorrow can admit society, +Tell o'er your woes again by viewing mine: +I had an Edward, till a Richard kill'd him; +I had a Harry, till a Richard kill'd him: +Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard kill'd him; +Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard killed him; + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +I had a Richard too, and thou didst kill him; +I had a Rutland too, thou holp'st to kill him. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Richard kill'd him. +From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept +A hell-hound that doth hunt us all to death: +That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes, +To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood, +That foul defacer of God's handiwork, +That excellent grand tyrant of the earth, +That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls, +Thy womb let loose, to chase us to our graves. +O upright, just, and true-disposing God, +How do I thank thee, that this carnal cur +Preys on the issue of his mother's body, +And makes her pew-fellow with others' moan! + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +O Harry's wife, triumph not in my woes! +God witness with me, I have wept for thine. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Bear with me; I am hungry for revenge, +And now I cloy me with beholding it. +Thy Edward he is dead, that stabb'd my Edward: +Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward; +Young York he is but boot, because both they +Match not the high perfection of my loss: +Thy Clarence he is dead that kill'd my Edward; +And the beholders of this tragic play, +The adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey, +Untimely smother'd in their dusky graves. +Richard yet lives, hell's black intelligencer, +Only reserved their factor, to buy souls +And send them thither: but at hand, at hand, +Ensues his piteous and unpitied end: +Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray. +To have him suddenly convey'd away. +Cancel his bond of life, dear God, I prey, +That I may live to say, The dog is dead! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +O, thou didst prophesy the time would come +That I should wish for thee to help me curse +That bottled spider, that foul bunch-back'd toad! + +QUEEN MARGARET: +I call'd thee then vain flourish of my fortune; +I call'd thee then poor shadow, painted queen; +The presentation of but what I was; +The flattering index of a direful pageant; +One heaved a-high, to be hurl'd down below; +A mother only mock'd with two sweet babes; +A dream of what thou wert, a breath, a bubble, +A sign of dignity, a garish flag, +To be the aim of every dangerous shot, +A queen in jest, only to fill the scene. +Where is thy husband now? where be thy brothers? +Where are thy children? wherein dost thou, joy? +Who sues to thee and cries 'God save the queen'? +Where be the bending peers that flatter'd thee? +Where be the thronging troops that follow'd thee? +Decline all this, and see what now thou art: +For happy wife, a most distressed widow; +For joyful mother, one that wails the name; +For queen, a very caitiff crown'd with care; +For one being sued to, one that humbly sues; +For one that scorn'd at me, now scorn'd of me; +For one being fear'd of all, now fearing one; +For one commanding all, obey'd of none. +Thus hath the course of justice wheel'd about, +And left thee but a very prey to time; +Having no more but thought of what thou wert, +To torture thee the more, being what thou art. +Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not +Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow? +Now thy proud neck bears half my burthen'd yoke; +From which even here I slip my weary neck, +And leave the burthen of it all on thee. +Farewell, York's wife, and queen of sad mischance: +These English woes will make me smile in France. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +O thou well skill'd in curses, stay awhile, +And teach me how to curse mine enemies! + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Forbear to sleep the nights, and fast the days; +Compare dead happiness with living woe; +Think that thy babes were fairer than they were, +And he that slew them fouler than he is: +Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse: +Revolving this will teach thee how to curse. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +My words are dull; O, quicken them with thine! + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Thy woes will make them sharp, and pierce like mine. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Why should calamity be full of words? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Windy attorneys to their client woes, +Airy succeeders of intestate joys, +Poor breathing orators of miseries! +Let them have scope: though what they do impart +Help not all, yet do they ease the heart. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +If so, then be not tongue-tied: go with me. +And in the breath of bitter words let's smother +My damned son, which thy two sweet sons smother'd. +I hear his drum: be copious in exclaims. + +KING RICHARD III: +Who intercepts my expedition? + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +O, she that might have intercepted thee, +By strangling thee in her accursed womb +From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Hidest thou that forehead with a golden crown, +Where should be graven, if that right were right, +The slaughter of the prince that owed that crown, +And the dire death of my two sons and brothers? +Tell me, thou villain slave, where are my children? + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy brother Clarence? +And little Ned Plantagenet, his son? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Where is kind Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey? + +KING RICHARD III: +A flourish, trumpets! strike alarum, drums! +Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women +Rail on the Lord's enointed: strike, I say! +Either be patient, and entreat me fair, +Or with the clamorous report of war +Thus will I drown your exclamations. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Art thou my son? + +KING RICHARD III: +Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Then patiently hear my impatience. + +KING RICHARD III: +Madam, I have a touch of your condition, +Which cannot brook the accent of reproof. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +O, let me speak! + +KING RICHARD III: +Do then: but I'll not hear. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +I will be mild and gentle in my speech. + +KING RICHARD III: +And brief, good mother; for I am in haste. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Art thou so hasty? I have stay'd for thee, +God knows, in anguish, pain and agony. + +KING RICHARD III: +And came I not at last to comfort you? + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +No, by the holy rood, thou know'st it well, +Thou camest on earth to make the earth my hell. +A grievous burthen was thy birth to me; +Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy; +Thy school-days frightful, desperate, wild, and furious, +Thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous, +Thy age confirm'd, proud, subdued, bloody, +treacherous, +More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred: +What comfortable hour canst thou name, +That ever graced me in thy company? + +KING RICHARD III: +Faith, none, but Humphrey Hour, that call'd +your grace +To breakfast once forth of my company. +If I be so disgracious in your sight, +Let me march on, and not offend your grace. +Strike the drum. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +I prithee, hear me speak. + +KING RICHARD III: +You speak too bitterly. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Hear me a word; +For I shall never speak to thee again. + +KING RICHARD III: +So. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Either thou wilt die, by God's just ordinance, +Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror, +Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish +And never look upon thy face again. +Therefore take with thee my most heavy curse; +Which, in the day of battle, tire thee more +Than all the complete armour that thou wear'st! +My prayers on the adverse party fight; +And there the little souls of Edward's children +Whisper the spirits of thine enemies +And promise them success and victory. +Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end; +Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Though far more cause, yet much less spirit to curse +Abides in me; I say amen to all. + +KING RICHARD III: +Stay, madam; I must speak a word with you. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +I have no more sons of the royal blood +For thee to murder: for my daughters, Richard, +They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens; +And therefore level not to hit their lives. + +KING RICHARD III: +You have a daughter call'd Elizabeth, +Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +And must she die for this? O, let her live, +And I'll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty; +Slander myself as false to Edward's bed; +Throw over her the veil of infamy: +So she may live unscarr'd of bleeding slaughter, +I will confess she was not Edward's daughter. + +KING RICHARD III: +Wrong not her birth, she is of royal blood. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +To save her life, I'll say she is not so. + +KING RICHARD III: +Her life is only safest in her birth. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +And only in that safety died her brothers. + +KING RICHARD III: +Lo, at their births good stars were opposite. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +No, to their lives bad friends were contrary. + +KING RICHARD III: +All unavoided is the doom of destiny. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +True, when avoided grace makes destiny: +My babes were destined to a fairer death, +If grace had bless'd thee with a fairer life. + +KING RICHARD III: +You speak as if that I had slain my cousins. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Cousins, indeed; and by their uncle cozen'd +Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life. +Whose hand soever lanced their tender hearts, +Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction: +No doubt the murderous knife was dull and blunt +Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart, +To revel in the entrails of my lambs. +But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame, +My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys +Till that my nails were anchor'd in thine eyes; +And I, in such a desperate bay of death, +Like a poor bark, of sails and tackling reft, +Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom. + +KING RICHARD III: +Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise +And dangerous success of bloody wars, +As I intend more good to you and yours, +Than ever you or yours were by me wrong'd! + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +What good is cover'd with the face of heaven, +To be discover'd, that can do me good? + +KING RICHARD III: +The advancement of your children, gentle lady. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Up to some scaffold, there to lose their heads? + +KING RICHARD III: +No, to the dignity and height of honour +The high imperial type of this earth's glory. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Flatter my sorrows with report of it; +Tell me what state, what dignity, what honour, +Canst thou demise to any child of mine? + +KING RICHARD III: +Even all I have; yea, and myself and all, +Will I withal endow a child of thine; +So in the Lethe of thy angry soul +Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs +Which thou supposest I have done to thee. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Be brief, lest that be process of thy kindness +Last longer telling than thy kindness' date. + +KING RICHARD III: +Then know, that from my soul I love thy daughter. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +My daughter's mother thinks it with her soul. + +KING RICHARD III: +What do you think? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul: +So from thy soul's love didst thou love her brothers; +And from my heart's love I do thank thee for it. + +KING RICHARD III: +Be not so hasty to confound my meaning: +I mean, that with my soul I love thy daughter, +And mean to make her queen of England. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Say then, who dost thou mean shall be her king? + +KING RICHARD III: +Even he that makes her queen who should be else? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +What, thou? + +KING RICHARD III: +I, even I: what think you of it, madam? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +How canst thou woo her? + +KING RICHARD III: +That would I learn of you, +As one that are best acquainted with her humour. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +And wilt thou learn of me? + +KING RICHARD III: +Madam, with all my heart. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers, +A pair of bleeding-hearts; thereon engrave +Edward and York; then haply she will weep: +Therefore present to her--as sometime Margaret +Did to thy father, steep'd in Rutland's blood,-- +A handkerchief; which, say to her, did drain +The purple sap from her sweet brother's body +And bid her dry her weeping eyes therewith. +If this inducement force her not to love, +Send her a story of thy noble acts; +Tell her thou madest away her uncle Clarence, +Her uncle Rivers; yea, and, for her sake, +Madest quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne. + +KING RICHARD III: +Come, come, you mock me; this is not the way +To win our daughter. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +There is no other way +Unless thou couldst put on some other shape, +And not be Richard that hath done all this. + +KING RICHARD III: +Say that I did all this for love of her. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee, +Having bought love with such a bloody spoil. + +KING RICHARD III: +Look, what is done cannot be now amended: +Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes, +Which after hours give leisure to repent. +If I did take the kingdom from your sons, +To make amends, Ill give it to your daughter. +If I have kill'd the issue of your womb, +To quicken your increase, I will beget +Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter +A grandam's name is little less in love +Than is the doting title of a mother; +They are as children but one step below, +Even of your mettle, of your very blood; +Of an one pain, save for a night of groans +Endured of her, for whom you bid like sorrow. +Your children were vexation to your youth, +But mine shall be a comfort to your age. +The loss you have is but a son being king, +And by that loss your daughter is made queen. +I cannot make you what amends I would, +Therefore accept such kindness as I can. +Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul +Leads discontented steps in foreign soil, +This fair alliance quickly shall call home +To high promotions and great dignity: +The king, that calls your beauteous daughter wife. +Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother; +Again shall you be mother to a king, +And all the ruins of distressful times +Repair'd with double riches of content. +What! we have many goodly days to see: +The liquid drops of tears that you have shed +Shall come again, transform'd to orient pearl, +Advantaging their loan with interest +Of ten times double gain of happiness. +Go, then my mother, to thy daughter go +Make bold her bashful years with your experience; +Prepare her ears to hear a wooer's tale +Put in her tender heart the aspiring flame +Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the princess +With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys +And when this arm of mine hath chastised +The petty rebel, dull-brain'd Buckingham, +Bound with triumphant garlands will I come +And lead thy daughter to a conqueror's bed; +To whom I will retail my conquest won, +And she shall be sole victress, Caesar's Caesar. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +What were I best to say? her father's brother +Would be her lord? or shall I say, her uncle? +Or, he that slew her brothers and her uncles? +Under what title shall I woo for thee, +That God, the law, my honour and her love, +Can make seem pleasing to her tender years? + +KING RICHARD III: +Infer fair England's peace by this alliance. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Which she shall purchase with still lasting war. + +KING RICHARD III: +Say that the king, which may command, entreats. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +That at her hands which the king's King forbids. + +KING RICHARD III: +Say, she shall be a high and mighty queen. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +To wail the tide, as her mother doth. + +KING RICHARD III: +Say, I will love her everlastingly. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +But how long shall that title 'ever' last? + +KING RICHARD III: +Sweetly in force unto her fair life's end. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +But how long fairly shall her sweet lie last? + +KING RICHARD III: +So long as heaven and nature lengthens it. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +So long as hell and Richard likes of it. + +KING RICHARD III: +Say, I, her sovereign, am her subject love. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty. + +KING RICHARD III: +Be eloquent in my behalf to her. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +An honest tale speeds best being plainly told. + +KING RICHARD III: +Then in plain terms tell her my loving tale. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Plain and not honest is too harsh a style. + +KING RICHARD III: +Your reasons are too shallow and too quick. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +O no, my reasons are too deep and dead; +Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their grave. + +KING RICHARD III: +Harp not on that string, madam; that is past. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break. + +KING RICHARD III: +Now, by my George, my garter, and my crown,-- + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Profaned, dishonour'd, and the third usurp'd. + +KING RICHARD III: +I swear-- + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +By nothing; for this is no oath: +The George, profaned, hath lost his holy honour; +The garter, blemish'd, pawn'd his knightly virtue; +The crown, usurp'd, disgraced his kingly glory. +if something thou wilt swear to be believed, +Swear then by something that thou hast not wrong'd. + +KING RICHARD III: +Now, by the world-- + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +'Tis full of thy foul wrongs. + +KING RICHARD III: +My father's death-- + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Thy life hath that dishonour'd. + +KING RICHARD III: +Then, by myself-- + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Thyself thyself misusest. + +KING RICHARD III: +Why then, by God-- + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +God's wrong is most of all. +If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him, +The unity the king thy brother made +Had not been broken, nor my brother slain: +If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him, +The imperial metal, circling now thy brow, +Had graced the tender temples of my child, +And both the princes had been breathing here, +Which now, two tender playfellows to dust, +Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms. +What canst thou swear by now? + +KING RICHARD III: +The time to come. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +That thou hast wronged in the time o'erpast; +For I myself have many tears to wash +Hereafter time, for time past wrong'd by thee. +The children live, whose parents thou hast +slaughter'd, +Ungovern'd youth, to wail it in their age; +The parents live, whose children thou hast butcher'd, +Old wither'd plants, to wail it with their age. +Swear not by time to come; for that thou hast +Misused ere used, by time misused o'erpast. + +KING RICHARD III: +As I intend to prosper and repent, +So thrive I in my dangerous attempt +Of hostile arms! myself myself confound! +Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours! +Day, yield me not thy light; nor, night, thy rest! +Be opposite all planets of good luck +To my proceedings, if, with pure heart's love, +Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts, +I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter! +In her consists my happiness and thine; +Without her, follows to this land and me, +To thee, herself, and many a Christian soul, +Death, desolation, ruin and decay: +It cannot be avoided but by this; +It will not be avoided but by this. +Therefore, good mother,--I must can you so-- +Be the attorney of my love to her: +Plead what I will be, not what I have been; +Not my deserts, but what I will deserve: +Urge the necessity and state of times, +And be not peevish-fond in great designs. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Shall I be tempted of the devil thus? + +KING RICHARD III: +Ay, if the devil tempt thee to do good. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Shall I forget myself to be myself? + +KING RICHARD III: +Ay, if yourself's remembrance wrong yourself. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +But thou didst kill my children. + +KING RICHARD III: +But in your daughter's womb I bury them: +Where in that nest of spicery they shall breed +Selves of themselves, to your recomforture. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Shall I go win my daughter to thy will? + +KING RICHARD III: +And be a happy mother by the deed. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +I go. Write to me very shortly. +And you shall understand from me her mind. + +KING RICHARD III: +Bear her my true love's kiss; and so, farewell. +Relenting fool, and shallow, changing woman! +How now! what news? + +RATCLIFF: +My gracious sovereign, on the western coast +Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore +Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends, +Unarm'd, and unresolved to beat them back: +'Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral; +And there they hull, expecting but the aid +Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore. + +KING RICHARD III: +Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of Norfolk: +Ratcliff, thyself, or Catesby; where is he? + +CATESBY: +Here, my lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +Fly to the duke: +Post thou to Salisbury +When thou comest thither-- +Dull, unmindful villain, +Why stand'st thou still, and go'st not to the duke? + +CATESBY: +First, mighty sovereign, let me know your mind, +What from your grace I shall deliver to him. + +KING RICHARD III: +O, true, good Catesby: bid him levy straight +The greatest strength and power he can make, +And meet me presently at Salisbury. + +CATESBY: +I go. + +RATCLIFF: +What is't your highness' pleasure I shall do at +Salisbury? + +KING RICHARD III: +Why, what wouldst thou do there before I go? + +RATCLIFF: +Your highness told me I should post before. + +KING RICHARD III: +My mind is changed, sir, my mind is changed. +How now, what news with you? + +STANLEY: +None good, my lord, to please you with the hearing; +Nor none so bad, but it may well be told. + +KING RICHARD III: +Hoyday, a riddle! neither good nor bad! +Why dost thou run so many mile about, +When thou mayst tell thy tale a nearer way? +Once more, what news? + +STANLEY: +Richmond is on the seas. + +KING RICHARD III: +There let him sink, and be the seas on him! +White-liver'd runagate, what doth he there? + +STANLEY: +I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess. + +KING RICHARD III: +Well, sir, as you guess, as you guess? + +STANLEY: +Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Ely, +He makes for England, there to claim the crown. + +KING RICHARD III: +Is the chair empty? is the sword unsway'd? +Is the king dead? the empire unpossess'd? +What heir of York is there alive but we? +And who is England's king but great York's heir? +Then, tell me, what doth he upon the sea? + +STANLEY: +Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess. + +KING RICHARD III: +Unless for that he comes to be your liege, +You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes. +Thou wilt revolt, and fly to him, I fear. + +STANLEY: +No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me not. + +KING RICHARD III: +Where is thy power, then, to beat him back? +Where are thy tenants and thy followers? +Are they not now upon the western shore. +Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships! + +STANLEY: +No, my good lord, my friends are in the north. + +KING RICHARD III: +Cold friends to Richard: what do they in the north, +When they should serve their sovereign in the west? + +STANLEY: +They have not been commanded, mighty sovereign: +Please it your majesty to give me leave, +I'll muster up my friends, and meet your grace +Where and what time your majesty shall please. + +KING RICHARD III: +Ay, ay. thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond: +I will not trust you, sir. + +STANLEY: +Most mighty sovereign, +You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful: +I never was nor never will be false. + +KING RICHARD III: +Well, +Go muster men; but, hear you, leave behind +Your son, George Stanley: look your faith be firm. +Or else his head's assurance is but frail. + +STANLEY: +So deal with him as I prove true to you. + +Messenger: +My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire, +As I by friends am well advertised, +Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate +Bishop of Exeter, his brother there, +With many more confederates, are in arms. + +Second Messenger: +My liege, in Kent the Guildfords are in arms; +And every hour more competitors +Flock to their aid, and still their power increaseth. + +Third Messenger: +My lord, the army of the Duke of Buckingham-- + +KING RICHARD III: +Out on you, owls! nothing but songs of death? +Take that, until thou bring me better news. + +Third Messenger: +The news I have to tell your majesty +Is, that by sudden floods and fall of waters, +Buckingham's army is dispersed and scatter'd; +And he himself wander'd away alone, +No man knows whither. + +KING RICHARD III: +I cry thee mercy: +There is my purse to cure that blow of thine. +Hath any well-advised friend proclaim'd +Reward to him that brings the traitor in? + +Third Messenger: +Such proclamation hath been made, my liege. + +Fourth Messenger: +Sir Thomas Lovel and Lord Marquis Dorset, +'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms. +Yet this good comfort bring I to your grace, +The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest: +Richmond, in Yorkshire, sent out a boat +Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks +If they were his assistants, yea or no; +Who answer'd him, they came from Buckingham. +Upon his party: he, mistrusting them, +Hoisted sail and made away for Brittany. + +KING RICHARD III: +March on, march on, since we are up in arms; +If not to fight with foreign enemies, +Yet to beat down these rebels here at home. + +CATESBY: +My liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken; +That is the best news: that the Earl of Richmond +Is with a mighty power landed at Milford, +Is colder tidings, yet they must be told. + +KING RICHARD III: +Away towards Salisbury! while we reason here, +A royal battle might be won and lost +Some one take order Buckingham be brought +To Salisbury; the rest march on with me. + +DERBY: +Sir Christopher, tell Richmond this from me: +That in the sty of this most bloody boar +My son George Stanley is frank'd up in hold: +If I revolt, off goes young George's head; +The fear of that withholds my present aid. +But, tell me, where is princely Richmond now? + +CHRISTOPHER: +At Pembroke, or at Harford-west, in Wales. + +DERBY: +What men of name resort to him? + +CHRISTOPHER: +Sir Walter Herbert, a renowned soldier; +Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir William Stanley; +Oxford, redoubted Pembroke, Sir James Blunt, +And Rice ap Thomas with a valiant crew; +And many more of noble fame and worth: +And towards London they do bend their course, +If by the way they be not fought withal. + +DERBY: +Return unto thy lord; commend me to him: +Tell him the queen hath heartily consented +He shall espouse Elizabeth her daughter. +These letters will resolve him of my mind. Farewell. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Will not King Richard let me speak with him? + +Sheriff: +No, my good lord; therefore be patient. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Hastings, and Edward's children, Rivers, Grey, +Holy King Henry, and thy fair son Edward, +Vaughan, and all that have miscarried +By underhand corrupted foul injustice, +If that your moody discontented souls +Do through the clouds behold this present hour, +Even for revenge mock my destruction! +This is All-Souls' day, fellows, is it not? + +Sheriff: +It is, my lord. + +BUCKINGHAM: +Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday. +This is the day that, in King Edward's time, +I wish't might fall on me, when I was found +False to his children or his wife's allies +This is the day wherein I wish'd to fall +By the false faith of him I trusted most; +This, this All-Souls' day to my fearful soul +Is the determined respite of my wrongs: +That high All-Seer that I dallied with +Hath turn'd my feigned prayer on my head +And given in earnest what I begg'd in jest. +Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men +To turn their own points on their masters' bosoms: +Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon my head; +'When he,' quoth she, 'shall split thy heart with sorrow, +Remember Margaret was a prophetess.' +Come, sirs, convey me to the block of shame; +Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame. + +RICHMOND: +Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends, +Bruised underneath the yoke of tyranny, +Thus far into the bowels of the land +Have we march'd on without impediment; +And here receive we from our father Stanley +Lines of fair comfort and encouragement. +The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar, +That spoil'd your summer fields and fruitful vines, +Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his trough +In your embowell'd bosoms, this foul swine +Lies now even in the centre of this isle, +Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn +From Tamworth thither is but one day's march. +In God's name, cheerly on, courageous friends, +To reap the harvest of perpetual peace +By this one bloody trial of sharp war. + +OXFORD: +Every man's conscience is a thousand swords, +To fight against that bloody homicide. + +HERBERT: +I doubt not but his friends will fly to us. + +BLUNT: +He hath no friends but who are friends for fear. +Which in his greatest need will shrink from him. + +RICHMOND: +All for our vantage. Then, in God's name, march: +True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings: +Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings. + +KING RICHARD III: +Here pitch our tents, even here in Bosworth field. +My Lord of Surrey, why look you so sad? + +SURREY: +My heart is ten times lighter than my looks. + +KING RICHARD III: +My Lord of Norfolk,-- + +NORFOLK: +Here, most gracious liege. + +KING RICHARD III: +Norfolk, we must have knocks; ha! must we not? + +NORFOLK: +We must both give and take, my gracious lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +Up with my tent there! here will I lie tonight; +But where to-morrow? Well, all's one for that. +Who hath descried the number of the foe? + +NORFOLK: +Six or seven thousand is their utmost power. + +KING RICHARD III: +Why, our battalion trebles that account: +Besides, the king's name is a tower of strength, +Which they upon the adverse party want. +Up with my tent there! Valiant gentlemen, +Let us survey the vantage of the field +Call for some men of sound direction +Let's want no discipline, make no delay, +For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day. + +RICHMOND: +The weary sun hath made a golden set, +And by the bright track of his fiery car, +Gives signal, of a goodly day to-morrow. +Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard. +Give me some ink and paper in my tent +I'll draw the form and model of our battle, +Limit each leader to his several charge, +And part in just proportion our small strength. +My Lord of Oxford, you, Sir William Brandon, +And you, Sir Walter Herbert, stay with me. +The Earl of Pembroke keeps his regiment: +Good Captain Blunt, bear my good night to him +And by the second hour in the morning +Desire the earl to see me in my tent: +Yet one thing more, good Blunt, before thou go'st, +Where is Lord Stanley quarter'd, dost thou know? + +BLUNT: +Unless I have mista'en his colours much, +Which well I am assured I have not done, +His regiment lies half a mile at least +South from the mighty power of the king. + +RICHMOND: +If without peril it be possible, +Good Captain Blunt, bear my good-night to him, +And give him from me this most needful scroll. + +BLUNT: +Upon my life, my lord, I'll under-take it; +And so, God give you quiet rest to-night! + +RICHMOND: +Good night, good Captain Blunt. Come gentlemen, +Let us consult upon to-morrow's business +In to our tent; the air is raw and cold. + +KING RICHARD III: +What is't o'clock? + +CATESBY: +It's supper-time, my lord; +It's nine o'clock. + +KING RICHARD III: +I will not sup to-night. +Give me some ink and paper. +What, is my beaver easier than it was? +And all my armour laid into my tent? + +CATESBY: +If is, my liege; and all things are in readiness. + +KING RICHARD III: +Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge; +Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels. + +NORFOLK: +I go, my lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk. + +NORFOLK: +I warrant you, my lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +Catesby! + +CATESBY: +My lord? + +KING RICHARD III: +Send out a pursuivant at arms +To Stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power +Before sunrising, lest his son George fall +Into the blind cave of eternal night. +Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a watch. +Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow. +Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy. +Ratcliff! + +RATCLIFF: +My lord? + +KING RICHARD III: +Saw'st thou the melancholy Lord Northumberland? + +RATCLIFF: +Thomas the Earl of Surrey, and himself, +Much about cock-shut time, from troop to troop +Went through the army, cheering up the soldiers. + +KING RICHARD III: +So, I am satisfied. Give me a bowl of wine: +I have not that alacrity of spirit, +Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have. +Set it down. Is ink and paper ready? + +RATCLIFF: +It is, my lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +Bid my guard watch; leave me. +Ratcliff, about the mid of night come to my tent +And help to arm me. Leave me, I say. + +DERBY: +Fortune and victory sit on thy helm! + +RICHMOND: +All comfort that the dark night can afford +Be to thy person, noble father-in-law! +Tell me, how fares our loving mother? + +DERBY: +I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother +Who prays continually for Richmond's good: +So much for that. The silent hours steal on, +And flaky darkness breaks within the east. +In brief,--for so the season bids us be,-- +Prepare thy battle early in the morning, +And put thy fortune to the arbitrement +Of bloody strokes and mortal-staring war. +I, as I may--that which I would I cannot,-- +With best advantage will deceive the time, +And aid thee in this doubtful shock of arms: +But on thy side I may not be too forward +Lest, being seen, thy brother, tender George, +Be executed in his father's sight. +Farewell: the leisure and the fearful time +Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love +And ample interchange of sweet discourse, +Which so long sunder'd friends should dwell upon: +God give us leisure for these rites of love! +Once more, adieu: be valiant, and speed well! + +RICHMOND: +Good lords, conduct him to his regiment: +I'll strive, with troubled thoughts, to take a nap, +Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow, +When I should mount with wings of victory: +Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen. +O Thou, whose captain I account myself, +Look on my forces with a gracious eye; +Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath, +That they may crush down with a heavy fall +The usurping helmets of our adversaries! +Make us thy ministers of chastisement, +That we may praise thee in the victory! +To thee I do commend my watchful soul, +Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes: +Sleeping and waking, O, defend me still! + +Ghost of Prince Edward: + +Ghost of King Henry VI: + +Ghost of CLARENCE: + +Ghost of RIVERS: + +Ghost of GREY: + +Ghost of VAUGHAN: + +All: + +Ghost of HASTINGS: + +Ghosts of young Princes: + +Ghost of LADY ANNE: + +Ghost of BUCKINGHAM: + +KING RICHARD III: +Give me another horse: bind up my wounds. +Have mercy, Jesu!--Soft! I did but dream. +O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me! +The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight. +Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh. +What do I fear? myself? there's none else by: +Richard loves Richard; that is, I am I. +Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am: +Then fly. What, from myself? Great reason why: +Lest I revenge. What, myself upon myself? +Alack. I love myself. Wherefore? for any good +That I myself have done unto myself? +O, no! alas, I rather hate myself +For hateful deeds committed by myself! +I am a villain: yet I lie. I am not. +Fool, of thyself speak well: fool, do not flatter. +My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, +And every tongue brings in a several tale, +And every tale condemns me for a villain. +Perjury, perjury, in the high'st degree +Murder, stem murder, in the direst degree; +All several sins, all used in each degree, +Throng to the bar, crying all, Guilty! guilty! +I shall despair. There is no creature loves me; +And if I die, no soul shall pity me: +Nay, wherefore should they, since that I myself +Find in myself no pity to myself? +Methought the souls of all that I had murder'd +Came to my tent; and every one did threat +To-morrow's vengeance on the head of Richard. + +RATCLIFF: +My lord! + +KING RICHARD III: +'Zounds! who is there? + +RATCLIFF: +Ratcliff, my lord; 'tis I. The early village-cock +Hath twice done salutation to the morn; +Your friends are up, and buckle on their armour. + +KING RICHARD III: +O Ratcliff, I have dream'd a fearful dream! +What thinkest thou, will our friends prove all true? + +RATCLIFF: +No doubt, my lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +O Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,-- + +RATCLIFF: +Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows. + +KING RICHARD III: +By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night +Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard +Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers +Armed in proof, and led by shallow Richmond. +It is not yet near day. Come, go with me; +Under our tents I'll play the eaves-dropper, +To see if any mean to shrink from me. + +LORDS: +Good morrow, Richmond! + +RICHMOND: +Cry mercy, lords and watchful gentlemen, +That you have ta'en a tardy sluggard here. + +LORDS: +How have you slept, my lord? + +RICHMOND: +The sweetest sleep, and fairest-boding dreams +That ever enter'd in a drowsy head, +Have I since your departure had, my lords. +Methought their souls, whose bodies Richard murder'd, +Came to my tent, and cried on victory: +I promise you, my soul is very jocund +In the remembrance of so fair a dream. +How far into the morning is it, lords? + +LORDS: +Upon the stroke of four. + +RICHMOND: +Why, then 'tis time to arm and give direction. +More than I have said, loving countrymen, +The leisure and enforcement of the time +Forbids to dwell upon: yet remember this, +God and our good cause fight upon our side; +The prayers of holy saints and wronged souls, +Like high-rear'd bulwarks, stand before our faces; +Richard except, those whom we fight against +Had rather have us win than him they follow: +For what is he they follow? truly, gentlemen, +A bloody tyrant and a homicide; +One raised in blood, and one in blood establish'd; +One that made means to come by what he hath, +And slaughter'd those that were the means to help him; +Abase foul stone, made precious by the foil +Of England's chair, where he is falsely set; +One that hath ever been God's enemy: +Then, if you fight against God's enemy, +God will in justice ward you as his soldiers; +If you do sweat to put a tyrant down, +You sleep in peace, the tyrant being slain; +If you do fight against your country's foes, +Your country's fat shall pay your pains the hire; +If you do fight in safeguard of your wives, +Your wives shall welcome home the conquerors; +If you do free your children from the sword, +Your children's children quit it in your age. +Then, in the name of God and all these rights, +Advance your standards, draw your willing swords. +For me, the ransom of my bold attempt +Shall be this cold corpse on the earth's cold face; +But if I thrive, the gain of my attempt +The least of you shall share his part thereof. +Sound drums and trumpets boldly and cheerfully; +God and Saint George! Richmond and victory! + +KING RICHARD III: +What said Northumberland as touching Richmond? + +RATCLIFF: +That he was never trained up in arms. + +KING RICHARD III: +He said the truth: and what said Surrey then? + +RATCLIFF: +He smiled and said 'The better for our purpose.' + +KING RICHARD III: +He was in the right; and so indeed it is. +Ten the clock there. Give me a calendar. +Who saw the sun to-day? + +RATCLIFF: +Not I, my lord. + +KING RICHARD III: +Then he disdains to shine; for by the book +He should have braved the east an hour ago +A black day will it be to somebody. Ratcliff! + +RATCLIFF: +My lord? + +KING RICHARD III: +The sun will not be seen to-day; +The sky doth frown and lour upon our army. +I would these dewy tears were from the ground. +Not shine to-day! Why, what is that to me +More than to Richmond? for the selfsame heaven +That frowns on me looks sadly upon him. + +NORFOLK: +Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts in the field. + +KING RICHARD III: +Come, bustle, bustle; caparison my horse. +Call up Lord Stanley, bid him bring his power: +I will lead forth my soldiers to the plain, +And thus my battle shall be ordered: +My foreward shall be drawn out all in length, +Consisting equally of horse and foot; +Our archers shall be placed in the midst +John Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Earl of Surrey, +Shall have the leading of this foot and horse. +They thus directed, we will follow +In the main battle, whose puissance on either side +Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse. +This, and Saint George to boot! What think'st thou, Norfolk? + +NORFOLK: +A good direction, warlike sovereign. +This found I on my tent this morning. + +KING RICHARD III: + +Messenger: +My lord, he doth deny to come. + +KING RICHARD III: +Off with his son George's head! + +NORFOLK: +My lord, the enemy is past the marsh +After the battle let George Stanley die. + +KING RICHARD III: +A thousand hearts are great within my bosom: +Advance our standards, set upon our foes +Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George, +Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons! +Upon them! victory sits on our helms. + +CATESBY: +Rescue, my Lord of Norfolk, rescue, rescue! +The king enacts more wonders than a man, +Daring an opposite to every danger: +His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights, +Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death. +Rescue, fair lord, or else the day is lost! + +KING RICHARD III: +A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse! + +CATESBY: +Withdraw, my lord; I'll help you to a horse. + +KING RICHARD III: +Slave, I have set my life upon a cast, +And I will stand the hazard of the die: +I think there be six Richmonds in the field; +Five have I slain to-day instead of him. +A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse! + +RICHMOND: +God and your arms be praised, victorious friends, +The day is ours, the bloody dog is dead. + +DERBY: +Courageous Richmond, well hast thou acquit thee. +Lo, here, this long-usurped royalty +From the dead temples of this bloody wretch +Have I pluck'd off, to grace thy brows withal: +Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it. + +RICHMOND: +Great God of heaven, say Amen to all! +But, tell me, is young George Stanley living? + +DERBY: +He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town; +Whither, if it please you, we may now withdraw us. + +RICHMOND: +What men of name are slain on either side? + +DERBY: +John Duke of Norfolk, Walter Lord Ferrers, +Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William Brandon. + +RICHMOND: +Inter their bodies as becomes their births: +Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled +That in submission will return to us: +And then, as we have ta'en the sacrament, +We will unite the white rose and the red: +Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction, +That long have frown'd upon their enmity! +What traitor hears me, and says not amen? +England hath long been mad, and scarr'd herself; +The brother blindly shed the brother's blood, +The father rashly slaughter'd his own son, +The son, compell'd, been butcher to the sire: +All this divided York and Lancaster, +Divided in their dire division, +O, now, let Richmond and Elizabeth, +The true succeeders of each royal house, +By God's fair ordinance conjoin together! +And let their heirs, God, if thy will be so. +Enrich the time to come with smooth-faced peace, +With smiling plenty and fair prosperous days! +Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord, +That would reduce these bloody days again, +And make poor England weep in streams of blood! +Let them not live to taste this land's increase +That would with treason wound this fair land's peace! +Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again: +That she may long live here, God say amen! + +KING RICHARD II: +Old John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancaster, +Hast thou, according to thy oath and band, +Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold son, +Here to make good the boisterous late appeal, +Which then our leisure would not let us hear, +Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +I have, my liege. + +KING RICHARD II: +Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him, +If he appeal the duke on ancient malice; +Or worthily, as a good subject should, +On some known ground of treachery in him? + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +As near as I could sift him on that argument, +On some apparent danger seen in him +Aim'd at your highness, no inveterate malice. + +KING RICHARD II: +Then call them to our presence; face to face, +And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear +The accuser and the accused freely speak: +High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire, +In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Many years of happy days befal +My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege! + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +Each day still better other's happiness; +Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap, +Add an immortal title to your crown! + +KING RICHARD II: +We thank you both: yet one but flatters us, +As well appeareth by the cause you come; +Namely to appeal each other of high treason. +Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object +Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +First, heaven be the record to my speech! +In the devotion of a subject's love, +Tendering the precious safety of my prince, +And free from other misbegotten hate, +Come I appellant to this princely presence. +Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee, +And mark my greeting well; for what I speak +My body shall make good upon this earth, +Or my divine soul answer it in heaven. +Thou art a traitor and a miscreant, +Too good to be so and too bad to live, +Since the more fair and crystal is the sky, +The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly. +Once more, the more to aggravate the note, +With a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat; +And wish, so please my sovereign, ere I move, +What my tongue speaks my right drawn sword may prove. + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal: +'Tis not the trial of a woman's war, +The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, +Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain; +The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this: +Yet can I not of such tame patience boast +As to be hush'd and nought at all to say: +First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me +From giving reins and spurs to my free speech; +Which else would post until it had return'd +These terms of treason doubled down his throat. +Setting aside his high blood's royalty, +And let him be no kinsman to my liege, +I do defy him, and I spit at him; +Call him a slanderous coward and a villain: +Which to maintain I would allow him odds, +And meet him, were I tied to run afoot +Even to the frozen ridges of the Alps, +Or any other ground inhabitable, +Where ever Englishman durst set his foot. +Mean time let this defend my loyalty, +By all my hopes, most falsely doth he lie. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage, +Disclaiming here the kindred of the king, +And lay aside my high blood's royalty, +Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except. +If guilty dread have left thee so much strength +As to take up mine honour's pawn, then stoop: +By that and all the rites of knighthood else, +Will I make good against thee, arm to arm, +What I have spoke, or thou canst worse devise. + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +I take it up; and by that sword I swear +Which gently laid my knighthood on my shoulder, +I'll answer thee in any fair degree, +Or chivalrous design of knightly trial: +And when I mount, alive may I not light, +If I be traitor or unjustly fight! + +KING RICHARD II: +What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray's charge? +It must be great that can inherit us +So much as of a thought of ill in him. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Look, what I speak, my life shall prove it true; +That Mowbray hath received eight thousand nobles +In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers, +The which he hath detain'd for lewd employments, +Like a false traitor and injurious villain. +Besides I say and will in battle prove, +Or here or elsewhere to the furthest verge +That ever was survey'd by English eye, +That all the treasons for these eighteen years +Complotted and contrived in this land +Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and spring. +Further I say and further will maintain +Upon his bad life to make all this good, +That he did plot the Duke of Gloucester's death, +Suggest his soon-believing adversaries, +And consequently, like a traitor coward, +Sluiced out his innocent soul through streams of blood: +Which blood, like sacrificing Abel's, cries, +Even from the tongueless caverns of the earth, +To me for justice and rough chastisement; +And, by the glorious worth of my descent, +This arm shall do it, or this life be spent. + +KING RICHARD II: +How high a pitch his resolution soars! +Thomas of Norfolk, what say'st thou to this? + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +O, let my sovereign turn away his face +And bid his ears a little while be deaf, +Till I have told this slander of his blood, +How God and good men hate so foul a liar. + +KING RICHARD II: +Mowbray, impartial are our eyes and ears: +Were he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir, +As he is but my father's brother's son, +Now, by my sceptre's awe, I make a vow, +Such neighbour nearness to our sacred blood +Should nothing privilege him, nor partialize +The unstooping firmness of my upright soul: +He is our subject, Mowbray; so art thou: +Free speech and fearless I to thee allow. + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart, +Through the false passage of thy throat, thou liest. +Three parts of that receipt I had for Calais +Disbursed I duly to his highness' soldiers; +The other part reserved I by consent, +For that my sovereign liege was in my debt +Upon remainder of a dear account, +Since last I went to France to fetch his queen: +Now swallow down that lie. For Gloucester's death, +I slew him not; but to my own disgrace +Neglected my sworn duty in that case. +For you, my noble Lord of Lancaster, +The honourable father to my foe +Once did I lay an ambush for your life, +A trespass that doth vex my grieved soul +But ere I last received the sacrament +I did confess it, and exactly begg'd +Your grace's pardon, and I hope I had it. +This is my fault: as for the rest appeall'd, +It issues from the rancour of a villain, +A recreant and most degenerate traitor +Which in myself I boldly will defend; +And interchangeably hurl down my gage +Upon this overweening traitor's foot, +To prove myself a loyal gentleman +Even in the best blood chamber'd in his bosom. +In haste whereof, most heartily I pray +Your highness to assign our trial day. + +KING RICHARD II: +Wrath-kindled gentlemen, be ruled by me; +Let's purge this choler without letting blood: +This we prescribe, though no physician; +Deep malice makes too deep incision; +Forget, forgive; conclude and be agreed; +Our doctors say this is no month to bleed. +Good uncle, let this end where it begun; +We'll calm the Duke of Norfolk, you your son. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +To be a make-peace shall become my age: +Throw down, my son, the Duke of Norfolk's gage. + +KING RICHARD II: +And, Norfolk, throw down his. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +When, Harry, when? +Obedience bids I should not bid again. + +KING RICHARD II: +Norfolk, throw down, we bid; there is no boot. + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +Myself I throw, dread sovereign, at thy foot. +My life thou shalt command, but not my shame: +The one my duty owes; but my fair name, +Despite of death that lives upon my grave, +To dark dishonour's use thou shalt not have. +I am disgraced, impeach'd and baffled here, +Pierced to the soul with slander's venom'd spear, +The which no balm can cure but his heart-blood +Which breathed this poison. + +KING RICHARD II: +Rage must be withstood: +Give me his gage: lions make leopards tame. + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +Yea, but not change his spots: take but my shame. +And I resign my gage. My dear dear lord, +The purest treasure mortal times afford +Is spotless reputation: that away, +Men are but gilded loam or painted clay. +A jewel in a ten-times-barr'd-up chest +Is a bold spirit in a loyal breast. +Mine honour is my life; both grow in one: +Take honour from me, and my life is done: +Then, dear my liege, mine honour let me try; +In that I live and for that will I die. + +KING RICHARD II: +Cousin, throw up your gage; do you begin. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +O, God defend my soul from such deep sin! +Shall I seem crest-fall'n in my father's sight? +Or with pale beggar-fear impeach my height +Before this out-dared dastard? Ere my tongue +Shall wound my honour with such feeble wrong, +Or sound so base a parle, my teeth shall tear +The slavish motive of recanting fear, +And spit it bleeding in his high disgrace, +Where shame doth harbour, even in Mowbray's face. + +KING RICHARD II: +We were not born to sue, but to command; +Which since we cannot do to make you friends, +Be ready, as your lives shall answer it, +At Coventry, upon Saint Lambert's day: +There shall your swords and lances arbitrate +The swelling difference of your settled hate: +Since we can not atone you, we shall see +Justice design the victor's chivalry. +Lord marshal, command our officers at arms +Be ready to direct these home alarms. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +Alas, the part I had in Woodstock's blood +Doth more solicit me than your exclaims, +To stir against the butchers of his life! +But since correction lieth in those hands +Which made the fault that we cannot correct, +Put we our quarrel to the will of heaven; +Who, when they see the hours ripe on earth, +Will rain hot vengeance on offenders' heads. + +DUCHESS: +Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur? +Hath love in thy old blood no living fire? +Edward's seven sons, whereof thyself art one, +Were as seven vials of his sacred blood, +Or seven fair branches springing from one root: +Some of those seven are dried by nature's course, +Some of those branches by the Destinies cut; +But Thomas, my dear lord, my life, my Gloucester, +One vial full of Edward's sacred blood, +One flourishing branch of his most royal root, +Is crack'd, and all the precious liquor spilt, +Is hack'd down, and his summer leaves all faded, +By envy's hand and murder's bloody axe. +Ah, Gaunt, his blood was thine! that bed, that womb, +That metal, that self-mould, that fashion'd thee +Made him a man; and though thou livest and breathest, +Yet art thou slain in him: thou dost consent +In some large measure to thy father's death, +In that thou seest thy wretched brother die, +Who was the model of thy father's life. +Call it not patience, Gaunt; it is despair: +In suffering thus thy brother to be slaughter'd, +Thou showest the naked pathway to thy life, +Teaching stern murder how to butcher thee: +That which in mean men we intitle patience +Is pale cold cowardice in noble breasts. +What shall I say? to safeguard thine own life, +The best way is to venge my Gloucester's death. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +God's is the quarrel; for God's substitute, +His deputy anointed in His sight, +Hath caused his death: the which if wrongfully, +Let heaven revenge; for I may never lift +An angry arm against His minister. + +DUCHESS: +Where then, alas, may I complain myself? + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +To God, the widow's champion and defence. + +DUCHESS: +Why, then, I will. Farewell, old Gaunt. +Thou goest to Coventry, there to behold +Our cousin Hereford and fell Mowbray fight: +O, sit my husband's wrongs on Hereford's spear, +That it may enter butcher Mowbray's breast! +Or, if misfortune miss the first career, +Be Mowbray's sins so heavy in his bosom, +They may break his foaming courser's back, +And throw the rider headlong in the lists, +A caitiff recreant to my cousin Hereford! +Farewell, old Gaunt: thy sometimes brother's wife +With her companion grief must end her life. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +Sister, farewell; I must to Coventry: +As much good stay with thee as go with me! + +DUCHESS: +Yet one word more: grief boundeth where it falls, +Not with the empty hollowness, but weight: +I take my leave before I have begun, +For sorrow ends not when it seemeth done. +Commend me to thy brother, Edmund York. +Lo, this is all:--nay, yet depart not so; +Though this be all, do not so quickly go; +I shall remember more. Bid him--ah, what?-- +With all good speed at Plashy visit me. +Alack, and what shall good old York there see +But empty lodgings and unfurnish'd walls, +Unpeopled offices, untrodden stones? +And what hear there for welcome but my groans? +Therefore commend me; let him not come there, +To seek out sorrow that dwells every where. +Desolate, desolate, will I hence and die: +The last leave of thee takes my weeping eye. + +Lord Marshal: +My Lord Aumerle, is Harry Hereford arm'd? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Yea, at all points; and longs to enter in. + +Lord Marshal: +The Duke of Norfolk, sprightfully and bold, +Stays but the summons of the appellant's trumpet. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Why, then, the champions are prepared, and stay +For nothing but his majesty's approach. + +KING RICHARD II: +Marshal, demand of yonder champion +The cause of his arrival here in arms: +Ask him his name and orderly proceed +To swear him in the justice of his cause. + +Lord Marshal: +In God's name and the king's, say who thou art +And why thou comest thus knightly clad in arms, +Against what man thou comest, and what thy quarrel: +Speak truly, on thy knighthood and thy oath; +As so defend thee heaven and thy valour! + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +My name is Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk; +Who hither come engaged by my oath-- +Which God defend a knight should violate!-- +Both to defend my loyalty and truth +To God, my king and my succeeding issue, +Against the Duke of Hereford that appeals me +And, by the grace of God and this mine arm, +To prove him, in defending of myself, +A traitor to my God, my king, and me: +And as I truly fight, defend me heaven! + +KING RICHARD II: +Marshal, ask yonder knight in arms, +Both who he is and why he cometh hither +Thus plated in habiliments of war, +And formally, according to our law, +Depose him in the justice of his cause. + +Lord Marshal: +What is thy name? and wherefore comest thou hither, +Before King Richard in his royal lists? +Against whom comest thou? and what's thy quarrel? +Speak like a true knight, so defend thee heaven! + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby +Am I; who ready here do stand in arms, +To prove, by God's grace and my body's valour, +In lists, on Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, +That he is a traitor, foul and dangerous, +To God of heaven, King Richard and to me; +And as I truly fight, defend me heaven! + +Lord Marshal: +On pain of death, no person be so bold +Or daring-hardy as to touch the lists, +Except the marshal and such officers +Appointed to direct these fair designs. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Lord marshal, let me kiss my sovereign's hand, +And bow my knee before his majesty: +For Mowbray and myself are like two men +That vow a long and weary pilgrimage; +Then let us take a ceremonious leave +And loving farewell of our several friends. + +Lord Marshal: +The appellant in all duty greets your highness, +And craves to kiss your hand and take his leave. + +KING RICHARD II: +We will descend and fold him in our arms. +Cousin of Hereford, as thy cause is right, +So be thy fortune in this royal fight! +Farewell, my blood; which if to-day thou shed, +Lament we may, but not revenge thee dead. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +O let no noble eye profane a tear +For me, if I be gored with Mowbray's spear: +As confident as is the falcon's flight +Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. +My loving lord, I take my leave of you; +Of you, my noble cousin, Lord Aumerle; +Not sick, although I have to do with death, +But lusty, young, and cheerly drawing breath. +Lo, as at English feasts, so I regreet +The daintiest last, to make the end most sweet: +O thou, the earthly author of my blood, +Whose youthful spirit, in me regenerate, +Doth with a twofold vigour lift me up +To reach at victory above my head, +Add proof unto mine armour with thy prayers; +And with thy blessings steel my lance's point, +That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat, +And furbish new the name of John a Gaunt, +Even in the lusty havior of his son. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +God in thy good cause make thee prosperous! +Be swift like lightning in the execution; +And let thy blows, doubly redoubled, +Fall like amazing thunder on the casque +Of thy adverse pernicious enemy: +Rouse up thy youthful blood, be valiant and live. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Mine innocency and Saint George to thrive! + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +However God or fortune cast my lot, +There lives or dies, true to King Richard's throne, +A loyal, just and upright gentleman: +Never did captive with a freer heart +Cast off his chains of bondage and embrace +His golden uncontroll'd enfranchisement, +More than my dancing soul doth celebrate +This feast of battle with mine adversary. +Most mighty liege, and my companion peers, +Take from my mouth the wish of happy years: +As gentle and as jocund as to jest +Go I to fight: truth hath a quiet breast. + +KING RICHARD II: +Farewell, my lord: securely I espy +Virtue with valour couched in thine eye. +Order the trial, marshal, and begin. + +Lord Marshal: +Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby, +Receive thy lance; and God defend the right! + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Strong as a tower in hope, I cry amen. + +Lord Marshal: +Go bear this lance to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk. + +First Herald: +Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby, +Stands here for God, his sovereign and himself, +On pain to be found false and recreant, +To prove the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray, +A traitor to his God, his king and him; +And dares him to set forward to the fight. + +Second Herald: +Here standeth Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, +On pain to be found false and recreant, +Both to defend himself and to approve +Henry of Hereford, Lancaster, and Derby, +To God, his sovereign and to him disloyal; +Courageously and with a free desire +Attending but the signal to begin. + +Lord Marshal: +Sound, trumpets; and set forward, combatants. +Stay, the king hath thrown his warder down. + +KING RICHARD II: +Let them lay by their helmets and their spears, +And both return back to their chairs again: +Withdraw with us: and let the trumpets sound +While we return these dukes what we decree. +Draw near, +And list what with our council we have done. +For that our kingdom's earth should not be soil'd +With that dear blood which it hath fostered; +And for our eyes do hate the dire aspect +Of civil wounds plough'd up with neighbours' sword; +And for we think the eagle-winged pride +Of sky-aspiring and ambitious thoughts, +With rival-hating envy, set on you +To wake our peace, which in our country's cradle +Draws the sweet infant breath of gentle sleep; +Which so roused up with boisterous untuned drums, +With harsh resounding trumpets' dreadful bray, +And grating shock of wrathful iron arms, +Might from our quiet confines fright fair peace +And make us wade even in our kindred's blood, +Therefore, we banish you our territories: +You, cousin Hereford, upon pain of life, +Till twice five summers have enrich'd our fields +Shall not regreet our fair dominions, +But tread the stranger paths of banishment. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Your will be done: this must my comfort be, +Sun that warms you here shall shine on me; +And those his golden beams to you here lent +Shall point on me and gild my banishment. + +KING RICHARD II: +Norfolk, for thee remains a heavier doom, +Which I with some unwillingness pronounce: +The sly slow hours shall not determinate +The dateless limit of thy dear exile; +The hopeless word of 'never to return' +Breathe I against thee, upon pain of life. + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +A heavy sentence, my most sovereign liege, +And all unlook'd for from your highness' mouth: +A dearer merit, not so deep a maim +As to be cast forth in the common air, +Have I deserved at your highness' hands. +The language I have learn'd these forty years, +My native English, now I must forego: +And now my tongue's use is to me no more +Than an unstringed viol or a harp, +Or like a cunning instrument cased up, +Or, being open, put into his hands +That knows no touch to tune the harmony: +Within my mouth you have engaol'd my tongue, +Doubly portcullis'd with my teeth and lips; +And dull unfeeling barren ignorance +Is made my gaoler to attend on me. +I am too old to fawn upon a nurse, +Too far in years to be a pupil now: +What is thy sentence then but speechless death, +Which robs my tongue from breathing native breath? + +KING RICHARD II: +It boots thee not to be compassionate: +After our sentence plaining comes too late. + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +Then thus I turn me from my country's light, +To dwell in solemn shades of endless night. + +KING RICHARD II: +Return again, and take an oath with thee. +Lay on our royal sword your banish'd hands; +Swear by the duty that you owe to God-- +Our part therein we banish with yourselves-- +To keep the oath that we administer: +You never shall, so help you truth and God! +Embrace each other's love in banishment; +Nor never look upon each other's face; +Nor never write, regreet, nor reconcile +This louring tempest of your home-bred hate; +Nor never by advised purpose meet +To plot, contrive, or complot any ill +'Gainst us, our state, our subjects, or our land. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +I swear. + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +And I, to keep all this. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Norfolk, so far as to mine enemy:-- +By this time, had the king permitted us, +One of our souls had wander'd in the air. +Banish'd this frail sepulchre of our flesh, +As now our flesh is banish'd from this land: +Confess thy treasons ere thou fly the realm; +Since thou hast far to go, bear not along +The clogging burthen of a guilty soul. + +THOMAS MOWBRAY: +No, Bolingbroke: if ever I were traitor, +My name be blotted from the book of life, +And I from heaven banish'd as from hence! +But what thou art, God, thou, and I do know; +And all too soon, I fear, the king shall rue. +Farewell, my liege. Now no way can I stray; +Save back to England, all the world's my way. + +KING RICHARD II: +Uncle, even in the glasses of thine eyes +I see thy grieved heart: thy sad aspect +Hath from the number of his banish'd years +Pluck'd four away. +Six frozen winter spent, +Return with welcome home from banishment. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +How long a time lies in one little word! +Four lagging winters and four wanton springs +End in a word: such is the breath of kings. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +I thank my liege, that in regard of me +He shortens four years of my son's exile: +But little vantage shall I reap thereby; +For, ere the six years that he hath to spend +Can change their moons and bring their times about +My oil-dried lamp and time-bewasted light +Shall be extinct with age and endless night; +My inch of taper will be burnt and done, +And blindfold death not let me see my son. + +KING RICHARD II: +Why uncle, thou hast many years to live. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +But not a minute, king, that thou canst give: +Shorten my days thou canst with sullen sorrow, +And pluck nights from me, but not lend a morrow; +Thou canst help time to furrow me with age, +But stop no wrinkle in his pilgrimage; +Thy word is current with him for my death, +But dead, thy kingdom cannot buy my breath. + +KING RICHARD II: +Thy son is banish'd upon good advice, +Whereto thy tongue a party-verdict gave: +Why at our justice seem'st thou then to lour? + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +Things sweet to taste prove in digestion sour. +You urged me as a judge; but I had rather +You would have bid me argue like a father. +O, had it been a stranger, not my child, +To smooth his fault I should have been more mild: +A partial slander sought I to avoid, +And in the sentence my own life destroy'd. +Alas, I look'd when some of you should say, +I was too strict to make mine own away; +But you gave leave to my unwilling tongue +Against my will to do myself this wrong. + +KING RICHARD II: +Cousin, farewell; and, uncle, bid him so: +Six years we banish him, and he shall go. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Cousin, farewell: what presence must not know, +From where you do remain let paper show. + +Lord Marshal: +My lord, no leave take I; for I will ride, +As far as land will let me, by your side. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +O, to what purpose dost thou hoard thy words, +That thou return'st no greeting to thy friends? + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +I have too few to take my leave of you, +When the tongue's office should be prodigal +To breathe the abundant dolour of the heart. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +Thy grief is but thy absence for a time. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Joy absent, grief is present for that time. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +What is six winters? they are quickly gone. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +To men in joy; but grief makes one hour ten. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +Call it a travel that thou takest for pleasure. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +My heart will sigh when I miscall it so, +Which finds it an inforced pilgrimage. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +The sullen passage of thy weary steps +Esteem as foil wherein thou art to set +The precious jewel of thy home return. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Nay, rather, every tedious stride I make +Will but remember me what a deal of world +I wander from the jewels that I love. +Must I not serve a long apprenticehood +To foreign passages, and in the end, +Having my freedom, boast of nothing else +But that I was a journeyman to grief? + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +All places that the eye of heaven visits +Are to a wise man ports and happy havens. +Teach thy necessity to reason thus; +There is no virtue like necessity. +Think not the king did banish thee, +But thou the king. Woe doth the heavier sit, +Where it perceives it is but faintly borne. +Go, say I sent thee forth to purchase honour +And not the king exiled thee; or suppose +Devouring pestilence hangs in our air +And thou art flying to a fresher clime: +Look, what thy soul holds dear, imagine it +To lie that way thou go'st, not whence thou comest: +Suppose the singing birds musicians, +The grass whereon thou tread'st the presence strew'd, +The flowers fair ladies, and thy steps no more +Than a delightful measure or a dance; +For gnarling sorrow hath less power to bite +The man that mocks at it and sets it light. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +O, who can hold a fire in his hand +By thinking on the frosty Caucasus? +Or cloy the hungry edge of appetite +By bare imagination of a feast? +Or wallow naked in December snow +By thinking on fantastic summer's heat? +O, no! the apprehension of the good +Gives but the greater feeling to the worse: +Fell sorrow's tooth doth never rankle more +Than when he bites, but lanceth not the sore. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +Come, come, my son, I'll bring thee on thy way: +Had I thy youth and cause, I would not stay. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Then, England's ground, farewell; sweet soil, adieu; +My mother, and my nurse, that bears me yet! +Where'er I wander, boast of this I can, +Though banish'd, yet a trueborn Englishman. + +KING RICHARD II: +We did observe. Cousin Aumerle, +How far brought you high Hereford on his way? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +I brought high Hereford, if you call him so, +But to the next highway, and there I left him. + +KING RICHARD II: +And say, what store of parting tears were shed? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Faith, none for me; except the north-east wind, +Which then blew bitterly against our faces, +Awaked the sleeping rheum, and so by chance +Did grace our hollow parting with a tear. + +KING RICHARD II: +What said our cousin when you parted with him? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +'Farewell:' +And, for my heart disdained that my tongue +Should so profane the word, that taught me craft +To counterfeit oppression of such grief +That words seem'd buried in my sorrow's grave. +Marry, would the word 'farewell' have lengthen'd hours +And added years to his short banishment, +He should have had a volume of farewells; +But since it would not, he had none of me. + +KING RICHARD II: +He is our cousin, cousin; but 'tis doubt, +When time shall call him home from banishment, +Whether our kinsman come to see his friends. +Ourself and Bushy, Bagot here and Green +Observed his courtship to the common people; +How he did seem to dive into their hearts +With humble and familiar courtesy, +What reverence he did throw away on slaves, +Wooing poor craftsmen with the craft of smiles +And patient underbearing of his fortune, +As 'twere to banish their affects with him. +Off goes his bonnet to an oyster-wench; +A brace of draymen bid God speed him well +And had the tribute of his supple knee, +With 'Thanks, my countrymen, my loving friends;' +As were our England in reversion his, +And he our subjects' next degree in hope. + +GREEN: +Well, he is gone; and with him go these thoughts. +Now for the rebels which stand out in Ireland, +Expedient manage must be made, my liege, +Ere further leisure yield them further means +For their advantage and your highness' loss. + +KING RICHARD II: +We will ourself in person to this war: +And, for our coffers, with too great a court +And liberal largess, are grown somewhat light, +We are inforced to farm our royal realm; +The revenue whereof shall furnish us +For our affairs in hand: if that come short, +Our substitutes at home shall have blank charters; +Whereto, when they shall know what men are rich, +They shall subscribe them for large sums of gold +And send them after to supply our wants; +For we will make for Ireland presently. +Bushy, what news? + +BUSHY: +Old John of Gaunt is grievous sick, my lord, +Suddenly taken; and hath sent post haste +To entreat your majesty to visit him. + +KING RICHARD II: +Where lies he? + +BUSHY: +At Ely House. + +KING RICHARD II: +Now put it, God, in the physician's mind +To help him to his grave immediately! +The lining of his coffers shall make coats +To deck our soldiers for these Irish wars. +Come, gentlemen, let's all go visit him: +Pray God we may make haste, and come too late! + +All: +Amen. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +Will the king come, that I may breathe my last +In wholesome counsel to his unstaid youth? + +DUKE OF YORK: +Vex not yourself, nor strive not with your breath; +For all in vain comes counsel to his ear. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +O, but they say the tongues of dying men +Enforce attention like deep harmony: +Where words are scarce, they are seldom spent in vain, +For they breathe truth that breathe their words in pain. +He that no more must say is listen'd more +Than they whom youth and ease have taught to glose; +More are men's ends mark'd than their lives before: +The setting sun, and music at the close, +As the last taste of sweets, is sweetest last, +Writ in remembrance more than things long past: +Though Richard my life's counsel would not hear, +My death's sad tale may yet undeaf his ear. + +DUKE OF YORK: +No; it is stopp'd with other flattering sounds, +As praises, of whose taste the wise are fond, +Lascivious metres, to whose venom sound +The open ear of youth doth always listen; +Report of fashions in proud Italy, +Whose manners still our tardy apish nation +Limps after in base imitation. +Where doth the world thrust forth a vanity-- +So it be new, there's no respect how vile-- +That is not quickly buzzed into his ears? +Then all too late comes counsel to be heard, +Where will doth mutiny with wit's regard. +Direct not him whose way himself will choose: +'Tis breath thou lack'st, and that breath wilt thou lose. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +Methinks I am a prophet new inspired +And thus expiring do foretell of him: +His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last, +For violent fires soon burn out themselves; +Small showers last long, but sudden storms are short; +He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes; +With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder: +Light vanity, insatiate cormorant, +Consuming means, soon preys upon itself. +This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle, +This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, +This other Eden, demi-paradise, +This fortress built by Nature for herself +Against infection and the hand of war, +This happy breed of men, this little world, +This precious stone set in the silver sea, +Which serves it in the office of a wall, +Or as a moat defensive to a house, +Against the envy of less happier lands, +This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England, +This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings, +Fear'd by their breed and famous by their birth, +Renowned for their deeds as far from home, +For Christian service and true chivalry, +As is the sepulchre in stubborn Jewry, +Of the world's ransom, blessed Mary's Son, +This land of such dear souls, this dear dear land, +Dear for her reputation through the world, +Is now leased out, I die pronouncing it, +Like to a tenement or pelting farm: +England, bound in with the triumphant sea +Whose rocky shore beats back the envious siege +Of watery Neptune, is now bound in with shame, +With inky blots and rotten parchment bonds: +That England, that was wont to conquer others, +Hath made a shameful conquest of itself. +Ah, would the scandal vanish with my life, +How happy then were my ensuing death! + +DUKE OF YORK: +The king is come: deal mildly with his youth; +For young hot colts being raged do rage the more. + +QUEEN: +How fares our noble uncle, Lancaster? + +KING RICHARD II: +What comfort, man? how is't with aged Gaunt? + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +O how that name befits my composition! +Old Gaunt indeed, and gaunt in being old: +Within me grief hath kept a tedious fast; +And who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? +For sleeping England long time have I watch'd; +Watching breeds leanness, leanness is all gaunt: +The pleasure that some fathers feed upon, +Is my strict fast; I mean, my children's looks; +And therein fasting, hast thou made me gaunt: +Gaunt am I for the grave, gaunt as a grave, +Whose hollow womb inherits nought but bones. + +KING RICHARD II: +Can sick men play so nicely with their names? + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +No, misery makes sport to mock itself: +Since thou dost seek to kill my name in me, +I mock my name, great king, to flatter thee. + +KING RICHARD II: +Should dying men flatter with those that live? + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +No, no, men living flatter those that die. + +KING RICHARD II: +Thou, now a-dying, say'st thou flatterest me. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +O, no! thou diest, though I the sicker be. + +KING RICHARD II: +I am in health, I breathe, and see thee ill. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +Now He that made me knows I see thee ill; +Ill in myself to see, and in thee seeing ill. +Thy death-bed is no lesser than thy land +Wherein thou liest in reputation sick; +And thou, too careless patient as thou art, +Commit'st thy anointed body to the cure +Of those physicians that first wounded thee: +A thousand flatterers sit within thy crown, +Whose compass is no bigger than thy head; +And yet, incaged in so small a verge, +The waste is no whit lesser than thy land. +O, had thy grandsire with a prophet's eye +Seen how his son's son should destroy his sons, +From forth thy reach he would have laid thy shame, +Deposing thee before thou wert possess'd, +Which art possess'd now to depose thyself. +Why, cousin, wert thou regent of the world, +It were a shame to let this land by lease; +But for thy world enjoying but this land, +Is it not more than shame to shame it so? +Landlord of England art thou now, not king: +Thy state of law is bondslave to the law; And thou-- + +KING RICHARD II: +A lunatic lean-witted fool, +Presuming on an ague's privilege, +Darest with thy frozen admonition +Make pale our cheek, chasing the royal blood +With fury from his native residence. +Now, by my seat's right royal majesty, +Wert thou not brother to great Edward's son, +This tongue that runs so roundly in thy head +Should run thy head from thy unreverent shoulders. + +JOHN OF GAUNT: +O, spare me not, my brother Edward's son, +For that I was his father Edward's son; +That blood already, like the pelican, +Hast thou tapp'd out and drunkenly caroused: +My brother Gloucester, plain well-meaning soul, +Whom fair befal in heaven 'mongst happy souls! +May be a precedent and witness good +That thou respect'st not spilling Edward's blood: +Join with the present sickness that I have; +And thy unkindness be like crooked age, +To crop at once a too long wither'd flower. +Live in thy shame, but die not shame with thee! +These words hereafter thy tormentors be! +Convey me to my bed, then to my grave: +Love they to live that love and honour have. + +KING RICHARD II: +And let them die that age and sullens have; +For both hast thou, and both become the grave. + +DUKE OF YORK: +I do beseech your majesty, impute his words +To wayward sickliness and age in him: +He loves you, on my life, and holds you dear +As Harry Duke of Hereford, were he here. + +KING RICHARD II: +Right, you say true: as Hereford's love, so his; +As theirs, so mine; and all be as it is. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +My liege, old Gaunt commends him to your majesty. + +KING RICHARD II: +What says he? + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Nay, nothing; all is said +His tongue is now a stringless instrument; +Words, life and all, old Lancaster hath spent. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Be York the next that must be bankrupt so! +Though death be poor, it ends a mortal woe. + +KING RICHARD II: +The ripest fruit first falls, and so doth he; +His time is spent, our pilgrimage must be. +So much for that. Now for our Irish wars: +We must supplant those rough rug-headed kerns, +Which live like venom where no venom else +But only they have privilege to live. +And for these great affairs do ask some charge, +Towards our assistance we do seize to us +The plate, corn, revenues and moveables, +Whereof our uncle Gaunt did stand possess'd. + +DUKE OF YORK: +How long shall I be patient? ah, how long +Shall tender duty make me suffer wrong? +Not Gloucester's death, nor Hereford's banishment +Not Gaunt's rebukes, nor England's private wrongs, +Nor the prevention of poor Bolingbroke +About his marriage, nor my own disgrace, +Have ever made me sour my patient cheek, +Or bend one wrinkle on my sovereign's face. +I am the last of noble Edward's sons, +Of whom thy father, Prince of Wales, was first: +In war was never lion raged more fierce, +In peace was never gentle lamb more mild, +Than was that young and princely gentleman. +His face thou hast, for even so look'd he, +Accomplish'd with the number of thy hours; +But when he frown'd, it was against the French +And not against his friends; his noble hand +Did will what he did spend and spent not that +Which his triumphant father's hand had won; +His hands were guilty of no kindred blood, +But bloody with the enemies of his kin. +O Richard! York is too far gone with grief, +Or else he never would compare between. + +KING RICHARD II: +Why, uncle, what's the matter? + +DUKE OF YORK: +O my liege, +Pardon me, if you please; if not, I, pleased +Not to be pardon'd, am content withal. +Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands +The royalties and rights of banish'd Hereford? +Is not Gaunt dead, and doth not Hereford live? +Was not Gaunt just, and is not Harry true? +Did not the one deserve to have an heir? +Is not his heir a well-deserving son? +Take Hereford's rights away, and take from Time +His charters and his customary rights; +Let not to-morrow then ensue to-day; +Be not thyself; for how art thou a king +But by fair sequence and succession? +Now, afore God--God forbid I say true!-- +If you do wrongfully seize Hereford's rights, +Call in the letters patent that he hath +By his attorneys-general to sue +His livery, and deny his offer'd homage, +You pluck a thousand dangers on your head, +You lose a thousand well-disposed hearts +And prick my tender patience, to those thoughts +Which honour and allegiance cannot think. + +KING RICHARD II: +Think what you will, we seize into our hands +His plate, his goods, his money and his lands. + +DUKE OF YORK: +I'll not be by the while: my liege, farewell: +What will ensue hereof, there's none can tell; +But by bad courses may be understood +That their events can never fall out good. + +KING RICHARD II: +Go, Bushy, to the Earl of Wiltshire straight: +Bid him repair to us to Ely House +To see this business. To-morrow next +We will for Ireland; and 'tis time, I trow: +And we create, in absence of ourself, +Our uncle York lord governor of England; +For he is just and always loved us well. +Come on, our queen: to-morrow must we part; +Be merry, for our time of stay is short + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Well, lords, the Duke of Lancaster is dead. + +LORD ROSS: +And living too; for now his son is duke. + +LORD WILLOUGHBY: +Barely in title, not in revenue. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Richly in both, if justice had her right. + +LORD ROSS: +My heart is great; but it must break with silence, +Ere't be disburden'd with a liberal tongue. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Nay, speak thy mind; and let him ne'er speak more +That speaks thy words again to do thee harm! + +LORD WILLOUGHBY: +Tends that thou wouldst speak to the Duke of Hereford? +If it be so, out with it boldly, man; +Quick is mine ear to hear of good towards him. + +LORD ROSS: +No good at all that I can do for him; +Unless you call it good to pity him, +Bereft and gelded of his patrimony. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Now, afore God, 'tis shame such wrongs are borne +In him, a royal prince, and many moe +Of noble blood in this declining land. +The king is not himself, but basely led +By flatterers; and what they will inform, +Merely in hate, 'gainst any of us all, +That will the king severely prosecute +'Gainst us, our lives, our children, and our heirs. + +LORD ROSS: +The commons hath he pill'd with grievous taxes, +And quite lost their hearts: the nobles hath he fined +For ancient quarrels, and quite lost their hearts. + +LORD WILLOUGHBY: +And daily new exactions are devised, +As blanks, benevolences, and I wot not what: +But what, o' God's name, doth become of this? + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Wars have not wasted it, for warr'd he hath not, +But basely yielded upon compromise +That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows: +More hath he spent in peace than they in wars. + +LORD ROSS: +The Earl of Wiltshire hath the realm in farm. + +LORD WILLOUGHBY: +The king's grown bankrupt, like a broken man. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Reproach and dissolution hangeth over him. + +LORD ROSS: +He hath not money for these Irish wars, +His burthenous taxations notwithstanding, +But by the robbing of the banish'd duke. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +His noble kinsman: most degenerate king! +But, lords, we hear this fearful tempest sing, +Yet see no shelter to avoid the storm; +We see the wind sit sore upon our sails, +And yet we strike not, but securely perish. + +LORD ROSS: +We see the very wreck that we must suffer; +And unavoided is the danger now, +For suffering so the causes of our wreck. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Not so; even through the hollow eyes of death +I spy life peering; but I dare not say +How near the tidings of our comfort is. + +LORD WILLOUGHBY: +Nay, let us share thy thoughts, as thou dost ours. + +LORD ROSS: +Be confident to speak, Northumberland: +We three are but thyself; and, speaking so, +Thy words are but as thoughts; therefore, be bold. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Then thus: I have from Port le Blanc, a bay +In Brittany, received intelligence +That Harry Duke of Hereford, Rainold Lord Cobham, +That late broke from the Duke of Exeter, +His brother, Archbishop late of Canterbury, +Sir Thomas Erpingham, Sir John Ramston, +Sir John Norbery, Sir Robert Waterton and Francis Quoint, +All these well furnish'd by the Duke of Bretagne +With eight tall ships, three thousand men of war, +Are making hither with all due expedience +And shortly mean to touch our northern shore: +Perhaps they had ere this, but that they stay +The first departing of the king for Ireland. +If then we shall shake off our slavish yoke, +Imp out our drooping country's broken wing, +Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown, +Wipe off the dust that hides our sceptre's gilt +And make high majesty look like itself, +Away with me in post to Ravenspurgh; +But if you faint, as fearing to do so, +Stay and be secret, and myself will go. + +LORD ROSS: +To horse, to horse! urge doubts to them that fear. + +LORD WILLOUGHBY: +Hold out my horse, and I will first be there. + +BUSHY: +Madam, your majesty is too much sad: +You promised, when you parted with the king, +To lay aside life-harming heaviness +And entertain a cheerful disposition. + +QUEEN: +To please the king I did; to please myself +I cannot do it; yet I know no cause +Why I should welcome such a guest as grief, +Save bidding farewell to so sweet a guest +As my sweet Richard: yet again, methinks, +Some unborn sorrow, ripe in fortune's womb, +Is coming towards me, and my inward soul +With nothing trembles: at some thing it grieves, +More than with parting from my lord the king. + +BUSHY: +Each substance of a grief hath twenty shadows, +Which shows like grief itself, but is not so; +For sorrow's eye, glazed with blinding tears, +Divides one thing entire to many objects; +Like perspectives, which rightly gazed upon +Show nothing but confusion, eyed awry +Distinguish form: so your sweet majesty, +Looking awry upon your lord's departure, +Find shapes of grief, more than himself, to wail; +Which, look'd on as it is, is nought but shadows +Of what it is not. Then, thrice-gracious queen, +More than your lord's departure weep not: more's not seen; +Or if it be, 'tis with false sorrow's eye, +Which for things true weeps things imaginary. + +QUEEN: +It may be so; but yet my inward soul +Persuades me it is otherwise: howe'er it be, +I cannot but be sad; so heavy sad +As, though on thinking on no thought I think, +Makes me with heavy nothing faint and shrink. + +BUSHY: +'Tis nothing but conceit, my gracious lady. + +QUEEN: +'Tis nothing less: conceit is still derived +From some forefather grief; mine is not so, +For nothing had begot my something grief; +Or something hath the nothing that I grieve: +'Tis in reversion that I do possess; +But what it is, that is not yet known; what +I cannot name; 'tis nameless woe, I wot. + +GREEN: +God save your majesty! and well met, gentlemen: +I hope the king is not yet shipp'd for Ireland. + +QUEEN: +Why hopest thou so? 'tis better hope he is; +For his designs crave haste, his haste good hope: +Then wherefore dost thou hope he is not shipp'd? + +GREEN: +That he, our hope, might have retired his power, +And driven into despair an enemy's hope, +Who strongly hath set footing in this land: +The banish'd Bolingbroke repeals himself, +And with uplifted arms is safe arrived +At Ravenspurgh. + +QUEEN: +Now God in heaven forbid! + +GREEN: +Ah, madam, 'tis too true: and that is worse, +The Lord Northumberland, his son young Henry Percy, +The Lords of Ross, Beaumond, and Willoughby, +With all their powerful friends, are fled to him. + +BUSHY: +Why have you not proclaim'd Northumberland +And all the rest revolted faction traitors? + +GREEN: +We have: whereupon the Earl of Worcester +Hath broke his staff, resign'd his stewardship, +And all the household servants fled with him +To Bolingbroke. + +QUEEN: +So, Green, thou art the midwife to my woe, +And Bolingbroke my sorrow's dismal heir: +Now hath my soul brought forth her prodigy, +And I, a gasping new-deliver'd mother, +Have woe to woe, sorrow to sorrow join'd. + +BUSHY: +Despair not, madam. + +QUEEN: +Who shall hinder me? +I will despair, and be at enmity +With cozening hope: he is a flatterer, +A parasite, a keeper back of death, +Who gently would dissolve the bands of life, +Which false hope lingers in extremity. + +GREEN: +Here comes the Duke of York. + +QUEEN: +With signs of war about his aged neck: +O, full of careful business are his looks! +Uncle, for God's sake, speak comfortable words. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Should I do so, I should belie my thoughts: +Comfort's in heaven; and we are on the earth, +Where nothing lives but crosses, cares and grief. +Your husband, he is gone to save far off, +Whilst others come to make him lose at home: +Here am I left to underprop his land, +Who, weak with age, cannot support myself: +Now comes the sick hour that his surfeit made; +Now shall he try his friends that flatter'd him. + +Servant: +My lord, your son was gone before I came. + +DUKE OF YORK: +He was? Why, so! go all which way it will! +The nobles they are fled, the commons they are cold, +And will, I fear, revolt on Hereford's side. +Sirrah, get thee to Plashy, to my sister Gloucester; +Bid her send me presently a thousand pound: +Hold, take my ring. + +Servant: +My lord, I had forgot to tell your lordship, +To-day, as I came by, I called there; +But I shall grieve you to report the rest. + +DUKE OF YORK: +What is't, knave? + +Servant: +An hour before I came, the duchess died. + +DUKE OF YORK: +God for his mercy! what a tide of woes +Comes rushing on this woeful land at once! +I know not what to do: I would to God, +So my untruth had not provoked him to it, +The king had cut off my head with my brother's. +What, are there no posts dispatch'd for Ireland? +How shall we do for money for these wars? +Come, sister,--cousin, I would say--pray, pardon me. +Go, fellow, get thee home, provide some carts +And bring away the armour that is there. +Gentlemen, will you go muster men? +If I know how or which way to order these affairs +Thus thrust disorderly into my hands, +Never believe me. Both are my kinsmen: +The one is my sovereign, whom both my oath +And duty bids defend; the other again +Is my kinsman, whom the king hath wrong'd, +Whom conscience and my kindred bids to right. +Well, somewhat we must do. Come, cousin, I'll +Dispose of you. +Gentlemen, go, muster up your men, +And meet me presently at Berkeley. +I should to Plashy too; +But time will not permit: all is uneven, +And every thing is left at six and seven. + +BUSHY: +The wind sits fair for news to go to Ireland, +But none returns. For us to levy power +Proportionable to the enemy +Is all unpossible. + +GREEN: +Besides, our nearness to the king in love +Is near the hate of those love not the king. + +BAGOT: +And that's the wavering commons: for their love +Lies in their purses, and whoso empties them +By so much fills their hearts with deadly hate. + +BUSHY: +Wherein the king stands generally condemn'd. + +BAGOT: +If judgement lie in them, then so do we, +Because we ever have been near the king. + +GREEN: +Well, I will for refuge straight to Bristol castle: +The Earl of Wiltshire is already there. + +BUSHY: +Thither will I with you; for little office +The hateful commons will perform for us, +Except like curs to tear us all to pieces. +Will you go along with us? + +BAGOT: +No; I will to Ireland to his majesty. +Farewell: if heart's presages be not vain, +We three here art that ne'er shall meet again. + +BUSHY: +That's as York thrives to beat back Bolingbroke. + +GREEN: +Alas, poor duke! the task he undertakes +Is numbering sands and drinking oceans dry: +Where one on his side fights, thousands will fly. +Farewell at once, for once, for all, and ever. + +BUSHY: +Well, we may meet again. + +BAGOT: +I fear me, never. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +How far is it, my lord, to Berkeley now? + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Believe me, noble lord, +I am a stranger here in Gloucestershire: +These high wild hills and rough uneven ways +Draws out our miles, and makes them wearisome, +And yet your fair discourse hath been as sugar, +Making the hard way sweet and delectable. +But I bethink me what a weary way +From Ravenspurgh to Cotswold will be found +In Ross and Willoughby, wanting your company, +Which, I protest, hath very much beguiled +The tediousness and process of my travel: +But theirs is sweetened with the hope to have +The present benefit which I possess; +And hope to joy is little less in joy +Than hope enjoy'd: by this the weary lords +Shall make their way seem short, as mine hath done +By sight of what I have, your noble company. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Of much less value is my company +Than your good words. But who comes here? + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +It is my son, young Harry Percy, +Sent from my brother Worcester, whencesoever. +Harry, how fares your uncle? + +HENRY PERCY: +I had thought, my lord, to have learn'd his health of you. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Why, is he not with the queen? + +HENRY PERCY: +No, my good Lord; he hath forsook the court, +Broken his staff of office and dispersed +The household of the king. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +What was his reason? +He was not so resolved when last we spake together. + +HENRY PERCY: +Because your lordship was proclaimed traitor. +But he, my lord, is gone to Ravenspurgh, +To offer service to the Duke of Hereford, +And sent me over by Berkeley, to discover +What power the Duke of York had levied there; +Then with directions to repair to Ravenspurgh. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Have you forgot the Duke of Hereford, boy? + +HENRY PERCY: +No, my good lord, for that is not forgot +Which ne'er I did remember: to my knowledge, +I never in my life did look on him. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Then learn to know him now; this is the duke. + +HENRY PERCY: +My gracious lord, I tender you my service, +Such as it is, being tender, raw and young: +Which elder days shall ripen and confirm +To more approved service and desert. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +I thank thee, gentle Percy; and be sure +I count myself in nothing else so happy +As in a soul remembering my good friends; +And, as my fortune ripens with thy love, +It shall be still thy true love's recompense: +My heart this covenant makes, my hand thus seals it. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +How far is it to Berkeley? and what stir +Keeps good old York there with his men of war? + +HENRY PERCY: +There stands the castle, by yon tuft of trees, +Mann'd with three hundred men, as I have heard; +And in it are the Lords of York, Berkeley, and Seymour; +None else of name and noble estimate. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Here come the Lords of Ross and Willoughby, +Bloody with spurring, fiery-red with haste. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Welcome, my lords. I wot your love pursues +A banish'd traitor: all my treasury +Is yet but unfelt thanks, which more enrich'd +Shall be your love and labour's recompense. + +LORD ROSS: +Your presence makes us rich, most noble lord. + +LORD WILLOUGHBY: +And far surmounts our labour to attain it. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Evermore thanks, the exchequer of the poor; +Which, till my infant fortune comes to years, +Stands for my bounty. But who comes here? + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +It is my Lord of Berkeley, as I guess. + +LORD BERKELEY: +My Lord of Hereford, my message is to you. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +My lord, my answer is--to Lancaster; +And I am come to seek that name in England; +And I must find that title in your tongue, +Before I make reply to aught you say. + +LORD BERKELEY: +Mistake me not, my lord; 'tis not my meaning +To raze one title of your honour out: +To you, my lord, I come, what lord you will, +From the most gracious regent of this land, +The Duke of York, to know what pricks you on +To take advantage of the absent time +And fright our native peace with self-born arms. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +I shall not need transport my words by you; +Here comes his grace in person. My noble uncle! + +DUKE OF YORK: +Show me thy humble heart, and not thy knee, +Whose duty is deceiveable and false. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +My gracious uncle-- + +DUKE OF YORK: +Tut, tut! +Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle: +I am no traitor's uncle; and that word 'grace.' +In an ungracious mouth is but profane. +Why have those banish'd and forbidden legs +Dared once to touch a dust of England's ground? +But then more 'why?' why have they dared to march +So many miles upon her peaceful bosom, +Frighting her pale-faced villages with war +And ostentation of despised arms? +Comest thou because the anointed king is hence? +Why, foolish boy, the king is left behind, +And in my loyal bosom lies his power. +Were I but now the lord of such hot youth +As when brave Gaunt, thy father, and myself +Rescued the Black Prince, that young Mars of men, +From forth the ranks of many thousand French, +O, then how quickly should this arm of mine. +Now prisoner to the palsy, chastise thee +And minister correction to thy fault! + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +My gracious uncle, let me know my fault: +On what condition stands it and wherein? + +DUKE OF YORK: +Even in condition of the worst degree, +In gross rebellion and detested treason: +Thou art a banish'd man, and here art come +Before the expiration of thy time, +In braving arms against thy sovereign. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +As I was banish'd, I was banish'd Hereford; +But as I come, I come for Lancaster. +And, noble uncle, I beseech your grace +Look on my wrongs with an indifferent eye: +You are my father, for methinks in you +I see old Gaunt alive; O, then, my father, +Will you permit that I shall stand condemn'd +A wandering vagabond; my rights and royalties +Pluck'd from my arms perforce and given away +To upstart unthrifts? Wherefore was I born? +If that my cousin king be King of England, +It must be granted I am Duke of Lancaster. +You have a son, Aumerle, my noble cousin; +Had you first died, and he been thus trod down, +He should have found his uncle Gaunt a father, +To rouse his wrongs and chase them to the bay. +I am denied to sue my livery here, +And yet my letters-patents give me leave: +My father's goods are all distrain'd and sold, +And these and all are all amiss employ'd. +What would you have me do? I am a subject, +And I challenge law: attorneys are denied me; +And therefore, personally I lay my claim +To my inheritance of free descent. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +The noble duke hath been too much abused. + +LORD ROSS: +It stands your grace upon to do him right. + +LORD WILLOUGHBY: +Base men by his endowments are made great. + +DUKE OF YORK: +My lords of England, let me tell you this: +I have had feeling of my cousin's wrongs +And laboured all I could to do him right; +But in this kind to come, in braving arms, +Be his own carver and cut out his way, +To find out right with wrong, it may not be; +And you that do abet him in this kind +Cherish rebellion and are rebels all. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +The noble duke hath sworn his coming is +But for his own; and for the right of that +We all have strongly sworn to give him aid; +And let him ne'er see joy that breaks that oath! + +DUKE OF YORK: +Well, well, I see the issue of these arms: +I cannot mend it, I must needs confess, +Because my power is weak and all ill left: +But if I could, by Him that gave me life, +I would attach you all and make you stoop +Unto the sovereign mercy of the king; +But since I cannot, be it known to you +I do remain as neuter. So, fare you well; +Unless you please to enter in the castle +And there repose you for this night. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +An offer, uncle, that we will accept: +But we must win your grace to go with us +To Bristol castle, which they say is held +By Bushy, Bagot and their complices, +The caterpillars of the commonwealth, +Which I have sworn to weed and pluck away. + +DUKE OF YORK: +It may be I will go with you: but yet I'll pause; +For I am loath to break our country's laws. +Nor friends nor foes, to me welcome you are: +Things past redress are now with me past care. + +Captain: +My lord of Salisbury, we have stay'd ten days, +And hardly kept our countrymen together, +And yet we hear no tidings from the king; +Therefore we will disperse ourselves: farewell. + +EARL OF SALISBURY: +Stay yet another day, thou trusty Welshman: +The king reposeth all his confidence in thee. + +Captain: +'Tis thought the king is dead; we will not stay. +The bay-trees in our country are all wither'd +And meteors fright the fixed stars of heaven; +The pale-faced moon looks bloody on the earth +And lean-look'd prophets whisper fearful change; +Rich men look sad and ruffians dance and leap, +The one in fear to lose what they enjoy, +The other to enjoy by rage and war: +These signs forerun the death or fall of kings. +Farewell: our countrymen are gone and fled, +As well assured Richard their king is dead. + +EARL OF SALISBURY: +Ah, Richard, with the eyes of heavy mind +I see thy glory like a shooting star +Fall to the base earth from the firmament. +Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west, +Witnessing storms to come, woe and unrest: +Thy friends are fled to wait upon thy foes, +And crossly to thy good all fortune goes. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Bring forth these men. +Bushy and Green, I will not vex your souls-- +Since presently your souls must part your bodies-- +With too much urging your pernicious lives, +For 'twere no charity; yet, to wash your blood +From off my hands, here in the view of men +I will unfold some causes of your deaths. +You have misled a prince, a royal king, +A happy gentleman in blood and lineaments, +By you unhappied and disfigured clean: +You have in manner with your sinful hours +Made a divorce betwixt his queen and him, +Broke the possession of a royal bed +And stain'd the beauty of a fair queen's cheeks +With tears drawn from her eyes by your foul wrongs. +Myself, a prince by fortune of my birth, +Near to the king in blood, and near in love +Till you did make him misinterpret me, +Have stoop'd my neck under your injuries, +And sigh'd my English breath in foreign clouds, +Eating the bitter bread of banishment; +Whilst you have fed upon my signories, +Dispark'd my parks and fell'd my forest woods, +From my own windows torn my household coat, +Razed out my imprese, leaving me no sign, +Save men's opinions and my living blood, +To show the world I am a gentleman. +This and much more, much more than twice all this, +Condemns you to the death. See them deliver'd over +To execution and the hand of death. + +BUSHY: +More welcome is the stroke of death to me +Than Bolingbroke to England. Lords, farewell. + +GREEN: +My comfort is that heaven will take our souls +And plague injustice with the pains of hell. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +My Lord Northumberland, see them dispatch'd. +Uncle, you say the queen is at your house; +For God's sake, fairly let her be entreated: +Tell her I send to her my kind commends; +Take special care my greetings be deliver'd. + +DUKE OF YORK: +A gentleman of mine I have dispatch'd +With letters of your love to her at large. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Thank, gentle uncle. Come, lords, away. +To fight with Glendower and his complices: +Awhile to work, and after holiday. + +KING RICHARD II: +Barkloughly castle call they this at hand? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Yea, my lord. How brooks your grace the air, +After your late tossing on the breaking seas? + +KING RICHARD II: +Needs must I like it well: I weep for joy +To stand upon my kingdom once again. +Dear earth, I do salute thee with my hand, +Though rebels wound thee with their horses' hoofs: +As a long-parted mother with her child +Plays fondly with her tears and smiles in meeting, +So, weeping, smiling, greet I thee, my earth, +And do thee favours with my royal hands. +Feed not thy sovereign's foe, my gentle earth, +Nor with thy sweets comfort his ravenous sense; +But let thy spiders, that suck up thy venom, +And heavy-gaited toads lie in their way, +Doing annoyance to the treacherous feet +Which with usurping steps do trample thee: +Yield stinging nettles to mine enemies; +And when they from thy bosom pluck a flower, +Guard it, I pray thee, with a lurking adder +Whose double tongue may with a mortal touch +Throw death upon thy sovereign's enemies. +Mock not my senseless conjuration, lords: +This earth shall have a feeling and these stones +Prove armed soldiers, ere her native king +Shall falter under foul rebellion's arms. + +BISHOP OF CARLISLE: +Fear not, my lord: that Power that made you king +Hath power to keep you king in spite of all. +The means that heaven yields must be embraced, +And not neglected; else, if heaven would, +And we will not, heaven's offer we refuse, +The proffer'd means of succor and redress. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +He means, my lord, that we are too remiss; +Whilst Bolingbroke, through our security, +Grows strong and great in substance and in power. + +KING RICHARD II: +Discomfortable cousin! know'st thou not +That when the searching eye of heaven is hid, +Behind the globe, that lights the lower world, +Then thieves and robbers range abroad unseen +In murders and in outrage, boldly here; +But when from under this terrestrial ball +He fires the proud tops of the eastern pines +And darts his light through every guilty hole, +Then murders, treasons and detested sins, +The cloak of night being pluck'd from off their backs, +Stand bare and naked, trembling at themselves? +So when this thief, this traitor, Bolingbroke, +Who all this while hath revell'd in the night +Whilst we were wandering with the antipodes, +Shall see us rising in our throne, the east, +His treasons will sit blushing in his face, +Not able to endure the sight of day, +But self-affrighted tremble at his sin. +Not all the water in the rough rude sea +Can wash the balm off from an anointed king; +The breath of worldly men cannot depose +The deputy elected by the Lord: +For every man that Bolingbroke hath press'd +To lift shrewd steel against our golden crown, +God for his Richard hath in heavenly pay +A glorious angel: then, if angels fight, +Weak men must fall, for heaven still guards the right. +Welcome, my lord how far off lies your power? + +EARL OF SALISBURY: +Nor near nor farther off, my gracious lord, +Than this weak arm: discomfort guides my tongue +And bids me speak of nothing but despair. +One day too late, I fear me, noble lord, +Hath clouded all thy happy days on earth: +O, call back yesterday, bid time return, +And thou shalt have twelve thousand fighting men! +To-day, to-day, unhappy day, too late, +O'erthrows thy joys, friends, fortune and thy state: +For all the Welshmen, hearing thou wert dead. +Are gone to Bolingbroke, dispersed and fled. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Comfort, my liege; why looks your grace so pale? + +KING RICHARD II: +But now the blood of twenty thousand men +Did triumph in my face, and they are fled; +And, till so much blood thither come again, +Have I not reason to look pale and dead? +All souls that will be safe fly from my side, +For time hath set a blot upon my pride. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Comfort, my liege; remember who you are. + +KING RICHARD II: +I had forgot myself; am I not king? +Awake, thou coward majesty! thou sleepest. +Is not the king's name twenty thousand names? +Arm, arm, my name! a puny subject strikes +At thy great glory. Look not to the ground, +Ye favourites of a king: are we not high? +High be our thoughts: I know my uncle York +Hath power enough to serve our turn. But who comes here? + +SIR STEPHEN SCROOP: +More health and happiness betide my liege +Than can my care-tuned tongue deliver him! + +KING RICHARD II: +Mine ear is open and my heart prepared; +The worst is worldly loss thou canst unfold. +Say, is my kingdom lost? why, 'twas my care +And what loss is it to be rid of care? +Strives Bolingbroke to be as great as we? +Greater he shall not be; if he serve God, +We'll serve Him too and be his fellow so: +Revolt our subjects? that we cannot mend; +They break their faith to God as well as us: +Cry woe, destruction, ruin and decay: +The worst is death, and death will have his day. + +SIR STEPHEN SCROOP: +Glad am I that your highness is so arm'd +To bear the tidings of calamity. +Like an unseasonable stormy day, +Which makes the silver rivers drown their shores, +As if the world were all dissolved to tears, +So high above his limits swells the rage +Of Bolingbroke, covering your fearful land +With hard bright steel and hearts harder than steel. +White-beards have arm'd their thin and hairless scalps +Against thy majesty; boys, with women's voices, +Strive to speak big and clap their female joints +In stiff unwieldy arms against thy crown: +The very beadsmen learn to bend their bows +Of double-fatal yew against thy state; +Yea, distaff-women manage rusty bills +Against thy seat: both young and old rebel, +And all goes worse than I have power to tell. + +KING RICHARD II: +Too well, too well thou tell'st a tale so ill. +Where is the Earl of Wiltshire? where is Bagot? +What is become of Bushy? where is Green? +That they have let the dangerous enemy +Measure our confines with such peaceful steps? +If we prevail, their heads shall pay for it: +I warrant they have made peace with Bolingbroke. + +SIR STEPHEN SCROOP: +Peace have they made with him indeed, my lord. + +KING RICHARD II: +O villains, vipers, damn'd without redemption! +Dogs, easily won to fawn on any man! +Snakes, in my heart-blood warm'd, that sting my heart! +Three Judases, each one thrice worse than Judas! +Would they make peace? terrible hell make war +Upon their spotted souls for this offence! + +SIR STEPHEN SCROOP: +Sweet love, I see, changing his property, +Turns to the sourest and most deadly hate: +Again uncurse their souls; their peace is made +With heads, and not with hands; those whom you curse +Have felt the worst of death's destroying wound +And lie full low, graved in the hollow ground. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Is Bushy, Green, and the Earl of Wiltshire dead? + +SIR STEPHEN SCROOP: +Ay, all of them at Bristol lost their heads. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Where is the duke my father with his power? + +KING RICHARD II: +No matter where; of comfort no man speak: +Let's talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs; +Make dust our paper and with rainy eyes +Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth, +Let's choose executors and talk of wills: +And yet not so, for what can we bequeath +Save our deposed bodies to the ground? +Our lands, our lives and all are Bolingbroke's, +And nothing can we call our own but death +And that small model of the barren earth +Which serves as paste and cover to our bones. +For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground +And tell sad stories of the death of kings; +How some have been deposed; some slain in war, +Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed; +Some poison'd by their wives: some sleeping kill'd; +All murder'd: for within the hollow crown +That rounds the mortal temples of a king +Keeps Death his court and there the antic sits, +Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp, +Allowing him a breath, a little scene, +To monarchize, be fear'd and kill with looks, +Infusing him with self and vain conceit, +As if this flesh which walls about our life, +Were brass impregnable, and humour'd thus +Comes at the last and with a little pin +Bores through his castle wall, and farewell king! +Cover your heads and mock not flesh and blood +With solemn reverence: throw away respect, +Tradition, form and ceremonious duty, +For you have but mistook me all this while: +I live with bread like you, feel want, +Taste grief, need friends: subjected thus, +How can you say to me, I am a king? + +BISHOP OF CARLISLE: +My lord, wise men ne'er sit and wail their woes, +But presently prevent the ways to wail. +To fear the foe, since fear oppresseth strength, +Gives in your weakness strength unto your foe, +And so your follies fight against yourself. +Fear and be slain; no worse can come to fight: +And fight and die is death destroying death; +Where fearing dying pays death servile breath. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +My father hath a power; inquire of him +And learn to make a body of a limb. + +KING RICHARD II: +Thou chidest me well: proud Bolingbroke, I come +To change blows with thee for our day of doom. +This ague fit of fear is over-blown; +An easy task it is to win our own. +Say, Scroop, where lies our uncle with his power? +Speak sweetly, man, although thy looks be sour. + +SIR STEPHEN SCROOP: +Men judge by the complexion of the sky +The state and inclination of the day: +So may you by my dull and heavy eye, +My tongue hath but a heavier tale to say. +I play the torturer, by small and small +To lengthen out the worst that must be spoken: +Your uncle York is join'd with Bolingbroke, +And all your northern castles yielded up, +And all your southern gentlemen in arms +Upon his party. + +KING RICHARD II: +Thou hast said enough. +Beshrew thee, cousin, which didst lead me forth +Of that sweet way I was in to despair! +What say you now? what comfort have we now? +By heaven, I'll hate him everlastingly +That bids me be of comfort any more. +Go to Flint castle: there I'll pine away; +A king, woe's slave, shall kingly woe obey. +That power I have, discharge; and let them go +To ear the land that hath some hope to grow, +For I have none: let no man speak again +To alter this, for counsel is but vain. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +My liege, one word. + +KING RICHARD II: +He does me double wrong +That wounds me with the flatteries of his tongue. +Discharge my followers: let them hence away, +From Richard's night to Bolingbroke's fair day. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +So that by this intelligence we learn +The Welshmen are dispersed, and Salisbury +Is gone to meet the king, who lately landed +With some few private friends upon this coast. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +The news is very fair and good, my lord: +Richard not far from hence hath hid his head. + +DUKE OF YORK: +It would beseem the Lord Northumberland +To say 'King Richard:' alack the heavy day +When such a sacred king should hide his head. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Your grace mistakes; only to be brief +Left I his title out. + +DUKE OF YORK: +The time hath been, +Would you have been so brief with him, he would +Have been so brief with you, to shorten you, +For taking so the head, your whole head's length. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Mistake not, uncle, further than you should. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Take not, good cousin, further than you should. +Lest you mistake the heavens are o'er our heads. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +I know it, uncle, and oppose not myself +Against their will. But who comes here? +Welcome, Harry: what, will not this castle yield? + +HENRY PERCY: +The castle royally is mann'd, my lord, +Against thy entrance. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Royally! +Why, it contains no king? + +HENRY PERCY: +Yes, my good lord, +It doth contain a king; King Richard lies +Within the limits of yon lime and stone: +And with him are the Lord Aumerle, Lord Salisbury, +Sir Stephen Scroop, besides a clergyman +Of holy reverence; who, I cannot learn. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +O, belike it is the Bishop of Carlisle. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Noble lords, +Go to the rude ribs of that ancient castle; +Through brazen trumpet send the breath of parley +Into his ruin'd ears, and thus deliver: +Henry Bolingbroke +On both his knees doth kiss King Richard's hand +And sends allegiance and true faith of heart +To his most royal person, hither come +Even at his feet to lay my arms and power, +Provided that my banishment repeal'd +And lands restored again be freely granted: +If not, I'll use the advantage of my power +And lay the summer's dust with showers of blood +Rain'd from the wounds of slaughter'd Englishmen: +The which, how far off from the mind of Bolingbroke +It is, such crimson tempest should bedrench +The fresh green lap of fair King Richard's land, +My stooping duty tenderly shall show. +Go, signify as much, while here we march +Upon the grassy carpet of this plain. +Let's march without the noise of threatening drum, +That from this castle's tatter'd battlements +Our fair appointments may be well perused. +Methinks King Richard and myself should meet +With no less terror than the elements +Of fire and water, when their thundering shock +At meeting tears the cloudy cheeks of heaven. +Be he the fire, I'll be the yielding water: +The rage be his, whilst on the earth I rain +My waters; on the earth, and not on him. +March on, and mark King Richard how he looks. +See, see, King Richard doth himself appear, +As doth the blushing discontented sun +From out the fiery portal of the east, +When he perceives the envious clouds are bent +To dim his glory and to stain the track +Of his bright passage to the occident. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Yet looks he like a king: behold, his eye, +As bright as is the eagle's, lightens forth +Controlling majesty: alack, alack, for woe, +That any harm should stain so fair a show! + +KING RICHARD II: +We are amazed; and thus long have we stood +To watch the fearful bending of thy knee, +Because we thought ourself thy lawful king: +And if we be, how dare thy joints forget +To pay their awful duty to our presence? +If we be not, show us the hand of God +That hath dismissed us from our stewardship; +For well we know, no hand of blood and bone +Can gripe the sacred handle of our sceptre, +Unless he do profane, steal, or usurp. +And though you think that all, as you have done, +Have torn their souls by turning them from us, +And we are barren and bereft of friends; +Yet know, my master, God omnipotent, +Is mustering in his clouds on our behalf +Armies of pestilence; and they shall strike +Your children yet unborn and unbegot, +That lift your vassal hands against my head +And threat the glory of my precious crown. +Tell Bolingbroke--for yond methinks he stands-- +That every stride he makes upon my land +Is dangerous treason: he is come to open +The purple testament of bleeding war; +But ere the crown he looks for live in peace, +Ten thousand bloody crowns of mothers' sons +Shall ill become the flower of England's face, +Change the complexion of her maid-pale peace +To scarlet indignation and bedew +Her pastures' grass with faithful English blood. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +The king of heaven forbid our lord the king +Should so with civil and uncivil arms +Be rush'd upon! Thy thrice noble cousin +Harry Bolingbroke doth humbly kiss thy hand; +And by the honourable tomb he swears, +That stands upon your royal grandsire's bones, +And by the royalties of both your bloods, +Currents that spring from one most gracious head, +And by the buried hand of warlike Gaunt, +And by the worth and honour of himself, +Comprising all that may be sworn or said, +His coming hither hath no further scope +Than for his lineal royalties and to beg +Enfranchisement immediate on his knees: +Which on thy royal party granted once, +His glittering arms he will commend to rust, +His barbed steeds to stables, and his heart +To faithful service of your majesty. +This swears he, as he is a prince, is just; +And, as I am a gentleman, I credit him. + +KING RICHARD II: +Northumberland, say thus the king returns: +His noble cousin is right welcome hither; +And all the number of his fair demands +Shall be accomplish'd without contradiction: +With all the gracious utterance thou hast +Speak to his gentle hearing kind commends. +We do debase ourselves, cousin, do we not, +To look so poorly and to speak so fair? +Shall we call back Northumberland, and send +Defiance to the traitor, and so die? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +No, good my lord; let's fight with gentle words +Till time lend friends and friends their helpful swords. + +KING RICHARD II: +O God, O God! that e'er this tongue of mine, +That laid the sentence of dread banishment +On yon proud man, should take it off again +With words of sooth! O that I were as great +As is my grief, or lesser than my name! +Or that I could forget what I have been, +Or not remember what I must be now! +Swell'st thou, proud heart? I'll give thee scope to beat, +Since foes have scope to beat both thee and me. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Northumberland comes back from Bolingbroke. + +KING RICHARD II: +What must the king do now? must he submit? +The king shall do it: must he be deposed? +The king shall be contented: must he lose +The name of king? o' God's name, let it go: +I'll give my jewels for a set of beads, +My gorgeous palace for a hermitage, +My gay apparel for an almsman's gown, +My figured goblets for a dish of wood, +My sceptre for a palmer's walking staff, +My subjects for a pair of carved saints +And my large kingdom for a little grave, +A little little grave, an obscure grave; +Or I'll be buried in the king's highway, +Some way of common trade, where subjects' feet +May hourly trample on their sovereign's head; +For on my heart they tread now whilst I live; +And buried once, why not upon my head? +Aumerle, thou weep'st, my tender-hearted cousin! +We'll make foul weather with despised tears; +Our sighs and they shall lodge the summer corn, +And make a dearth in this revolting land. +Or shall we play the wantons with our woes, +And make some pretty match with shedding tears? +As thus, to drop them still upon one place, +Till they have fretted us a pair of graves +Within the earth; and, therein laid,--there lies +Two kinsmen digg'd their graves with weeping eyes. +Would not this ill do well? Well, well, I see +I talk but idly, and you laugh at me. +Most mighty prince, my Lord Northumberland, +What says King Bolingbroke? will his majesty +Give Richard leave to live till Richard die? +You make a leg, and Bolingbroke says ay. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +My lord, in the base court he doth attend +To speak with you; may it please you to come down. + +KING RICHARD II: +Down, down I come; like glistering Phaethon, +Wanting the manage of unruly jades. +In the base court? Base court, where kings grow base, +To come at traitors' calls and do them grace. +In the base court? Come down? Down, court! +down, king! +For night-owls shriek where mounting larks +should sing. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +What says his majesty? + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Sorrow and grief of heart +Makes him speak fondly, like a frantic man +Yet he is come. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Stand all apart, +And show fair duty to his majesty. +My gracious lord,-- + +KING RICHARD II: +Fair cousin, you debase your princely knee +To make the base earth proud with kissing it: +Me rather had my heart might feel your love +Than my unpleased eye see your courtesy. +Up, cousin, up; your heart is up, I know, +Thus high at least, although your knee be low. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +My gracious lord, I come but for mine own. + +KING RICHARD II: +Your own is yours, and I am yours, and all. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +So far be mine, my most redoubted lord, +As my true service shall deserve your love. + +KING RICHARD II: +Well you deserve: they well deserve to have, +That know the strong'st and surest way to get. +Uncle, give me your hands: nay, dry your eyes; +Tears show their love, but want their remedies. +Cousin, I am too young to be your father, +Though you are old enough to be my heir. +What you will have, I'll give, and willing too; +For do we must what force will have us do. +Set on towards London, cousin, is it so? + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Yea, my good lord. + +KING RICHARD II: +Then I must not say no. + +QUEEN: +What sport shall we devise here in this garden, +To drive away the heavy thought of care? + +Lady: +Madam, we'll play at bowls. + +QUEEN: +'Twill make me think the world is full of rubs, +And that my fortune rubs against the bias. + +Lady: +Madam, we'll dance. + +QUEEN: +My legs can keep no measure in delight, +When my poor heart no measure keeps in grief: +Therefore, no dancing, girl; some other sport. + +Lady: +Madam, we'll tell tales. + +QUEEN: +Of sorrow or of joy? + +Lady: +Of either, madam. + +QUEEN: +Of neither, girl: +For of joy, being altogether wanting, +It doth remember me the more of sorrow; +Or if of grief, being altogether had, +It adds more sorrow to my want of joy: +For what I have I need not to repeat; +And what I want it boots not to complain. + +Lady: +Madam, I'll sing. + +QUEEN: +'Tis well that thou hast cause +But thou shouldst please me better, wouldst thou weep. + +Lady: +I could weep, madam, would it do you good. + +QUEEN: +And I could sing, would weeping do me good, +And never borrow any tear of thee. +But stay, here come the gardeners: +Let's step into the shadow of these trees. +My wretchedness unto a row of pins, +They'll talk of state; for every one doth so +Against a change; woe is forerun with woe. + +Gardener: +Go, bind thou up yon dangling apricocks, +Which, like unruly children, make their sire +Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight: +Give some supportance to the bending twigs. +Go thou, and like an executioner, +Cut off the heads of too fast growing sprays, +That look too lofty in our commonwealth: +All must be even in our government. +You thus employ'd, I will go root away +The noisome weeds, which without profit suck +The soil's fertility from wholesome flowers. + +Servant: +Why should we in the compass of a pale +Keep law and form and due proportion, +Showing, as in a model, our firm estate, +When our sea-walled garden, the whole land, +Is full of weeds, her fairest flowers choked up, +Her fruit-trees all upturned, her hedges ruin'd, +Her knots disorder'd and her wholesome herbs +Swarming with caterpillars? + +Gardener: +Hold thy peace: +He that hath suffer'd this disorder'd spring +Hath now himself met with the fall of leaf: +The weeds which his broad-spreading leaves did shelter, +That seem'd in eating him to hold him up, +Are pluck'd up root and all by Bolingbroke, +I mean the Earl of Wiltshire, Bushy, Green. + +Servant: +What, are they dead? + +Gardener: +They are; and Bolingbroke +Hath seized the wasteful king. O, what pity is it +That he had not so trimm'd and dress'd his land +As we this garden! We at time of year +Do wound the bark, the skin of our fruit-trees, +Lest, being over-proud in sap and blood, +With too much riches it confound itself: +Had he done so to great and growing men, +They might have lived to bear and he to taste +Their fruits of duty: superfluous branches +We lop away, that bearing boughs may live: +Had he done so, himself had borne the crown, +Which waste of idle hours hath quite thrown down. + +Servant: +What, think you then the king shall be deposed? + +Gardener: +Depress'd he is already, and deposed +'Tis doubt he will be: letters came last night +To a dear friend of the good Duke of York's, +That tell black tidings. + +QUEEN: +O, I am press'd to death through want of speaking! +Thou, old Adam's likeness, set to dress this garden, +How dares thy harsh rude tongue sound this unpleasing news? +What Eve, what serpent, hath suggested thee +To make a second fall of cursed man? +Why dost thou say King Richard is deposed? +Darest thou, thou little better thing than earth, +Divine his downfall? Say, where, when, and how, +Camest thou by this ill tidings? speak, thou wretch. + +Gardener: +Pardon me, madam: little joy have I +To breathe this news; yet what I say is true. +King Richard, he is in the mighty hold +Of Bolingbroke: their fortunes both are weigh'd: +In your lord's scale is nothing but himself, +And some few vanities that make him light; +But in the balance of great Bolingbroke, +Besides himself, are all the English peers, +And with that odds he weighs King Richard down. +Post you to London, and you will find it so; +I speak no more than every one doth know. + +QUEEN: +Nimble mischance, that art so light of foot, +Doth not thy embassage belong to me, +And am I last that knows it? O, thou think'st +To serve me last, that I may longest keep +Thy sorrow in my breast. Come, ladies, go, +To meet at London London's king in woe. +What, was I born to this, that my sad look +Should grace the triumph of great Bolingbroke? +Gardener, for telling me these news of woe, +Pray God the plants thou graft'st may never grow. + +GARDENER: +Poor queen! so that thy state might be no worse, +I would my skill were subject to thy curse. +Here did she fall a tear; here in this place +I'll set a bank of rue, sour herb of grace: +Rue, even for ruth, here shortly shall be seen, +In the remembrance of a weeping queen. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Call forth Bagot. +Now, Bagot, freely speak thy mind; +What thou dost know of noble Gloucester's death, +Who wrought it with the king, and who perform'd +The bloody office of his timeless end. + +BAGOT: +Then set before my face the Lord Aumerle. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Cousin, stand forth, and look upon that man. + +BAGOT: +My Lord Aumerle, I know your daring tongue +Scorns to unsay what once it hath deliver'd. +In that dead time when Gloucester's death was plotted, +I heard you say, 'Is not my arm of length, +That reacheth from the restful English court +As far as Calais, to mine uncle's head?' +Amongst much other talk, that very time, +I heard you say that you had rather refuse +The offer of an hundred thousand crowns +Than Bolingbroke's return to England; +Adding withal how blest this land would be +In this your cousin's death. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Princes and noble lords, +What answer shall I make to this base man? +Shall I so much dishonour my fair stars, +On equal terms to give him chastisement? +Either I must, or have mine honour soil'd +With the attainder of his slanderous lips. +There is my gage, the manual seal of death, +That marks thee out for hell: I say, thou liest, +And will maintain what thou hast said is false +In thy heart-blood, though being all too base +To stain the temper of my knightly sword. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Bagot, forbear; thou shalt not take it up. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Excepting one, I would he were the best +In all this presence that hath moved me so. + +LORD FITZWATER: +If that thy valour stand on sympathy, +There is my gage, Aumerle, in gage to thine: +By that fair sun which shows me where thou stand'st, +I heard thee say, and vauntingly thou spakest it +That thou wert cause of noble Gloucester's death. +If thou deny'st it twenty times, thou liest; +And I will turn thy falsehood to thy heart, +Where it was forged, with my rapier's point. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Thou darest not, coward, live to see that day. + +LORD FITZWATER: +Now by my soul, I would it were this hour. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Fitzwater, thou art damn'd to hell for this. + +HENRY PERCY: +Aumerle, thou liest; his honour is as true +In this appeal as thou art all unjust; +And that thou art so, there I throw my gage, +To prove it on thee to the extremest point +Of mortal breathing: seize it, if thou darest. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +An if I do not, may my hands rot off +And never brandish more revengeful steel +Over the glittering helmet of my foe! + +Lord: +I task the earth to the like, forsworn Aumerle; +And spur thee on with full as many lies +As may be holloa'd in thy treacherous ear +From sun to sun: there is my honour's pawn; +Engage it to the trial, if thou darest. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Who sets me else? by heaven, I'll throw at all: +I have a thousand spirits in one breast, +To answer twenty thousand such as you. + +DUKE OF SURREY: +My Lord Fitzwater, I do remember well +The very time Aumerle and you did talk. + +LORD FITZWATER: +'Tis very true: you were in presence then; +And you can witness with me this is true. + +DUKE OF SURREY: +As false, by heaven, as heaven itself is true. + +LORD FITZWATER: +Surrey, thou liest. + +DUKE OF SURREY: +Dishonourable boy! +That lie shall lie so heavy on my sword, +That it shall render vengeance and revenge +Till thou the lie-giver and that lie do lie +In earth as quiet as thy father's skull: +In proof whereof, there is my honour's pawn; +Engage it to the trial, if thou darest. + +LORD FITZWATER: +How fondly dost thou spur a forward horse! +If I dare eat, or drink, or breathe, or live, +I dare meet Surrey in a wilderness, +And spit upon him, whilst I say he lies, +And lies, and lies: there is my bond of faith, +To tie thee to my strong correction. +As I intend to thrive in this new world, +Aumerle is guilty of my true appeal: +Besides, I heard the banish'd Norfolk say +That thou, Aumerle, didst send two of thy men +To execute the noble duke at Calais. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Some honest Christian trust me with a gage +That Norfolk lies: here do I throw down this, +If he may be repeal'd, to try his honour. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +These differences shall all rest under gage +Till Norfolk be repeal'd: repeal'd he shall be, +And, though mine enemy, restored again +To all his lands and signories: when he's return'd, +Against Aumerle we will enforce his trial. + +BISHOP OF CARLISLE: +That honourable day shall ne'er be seen. +Many a time hath banish'd Norfolk fought +For Jesu Christ in glorious Christian field, +Streaming the ensign of the Christian cross +Against black pagans, Turks, and Saracens: +And toil'd with works of war, retired himself +To Italy; and there at Venice gave +His body to that pleasant country's earth, +And his pure soul unto his captain Christ, +Under whose colours he had fought so long. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Why, bishop, is Norfolk dead? + +BISHOP OF CARLISLE: +As surely as I live, my lord. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Sweet peace conduct his sweet soul to the bosom +Of good old Abraham! Lords appellants, +Your differences shall all rest under gage +Till we assign you to your days of trial. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to thee +From plume-pluck'd Richard; who with willing soul +Adopts thee heir, and his high sceptre yields +To the possession of thy royal hand: +Ascend his throne, descending now from him; +And long live Henry, fourth of that name! + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +In God's name, I'll ascend the regal throne. + +BISHOP OF CARLISLE: +Marry. God forbid! +Worst in this royal presence may I speak, +Yet best beseeming me to speak the truth. +Would God that any in this noble presence +Were enough noble to be upright judge +Of noble Richard! then true noblesse would +Learn him forbearance from so foul a wrong. +What subject can give sentence on his king? +And who sits here that is not Richard's subject? +Thieves are not judged but they are by to hear, +Although apparent guilt be seen in them; +And shall the figure of God's majesty, +His captain, steward, deputy-elect, +Anointed, crowned, planted many years, +Be judged by subject and inferior breath, +And he himself not present? O, forfend it, God, +That in a Christian climate souls refined +Should show so heinous, black, obscene a deed! +I speak to subjects, and a subject speaks, +Stirr'd up by God, thus boldly for his king: +My Lord of Hereford here, whom you call king, +Is a foul traitor to proud Hereford's king: +And if you crown him, let me prophesy: +The blood of English shall manure the ground, +And future ages groan for this foul act; +Peace shall go sleep with Turks and infidels, +And in this seat of peace tumultuous wars +Shall kin with kin and kind with kind confound; +Disorder, horror, fear and mutiny +Shall here inhabit, and this land be call'd +The field of Golgotha and dead men's skulls. +O, if you raise this house against this house, +It will the woefullest division prove +That ever fell upon this cursed earth. +Prevent it, resist it, let it not be so, +Lest child, child's children, cry against you woe! + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Well have you argued, sir; and, for your pains, +Of capital treason we arrest you here. +My Lord of Westminster, be it your charge +To keep him safely till his day of trial. +May it please you, lords, to grant the commons' suit. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Fetch hither Richard, that in common view +He may surrender; so we shall proceed +Without suspicion. + +DUKE OF YORK: +I will be his conduct. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Lords, you that here are under our arrest, +Procure your sureties for your days of answer. +Little are we beholding to your love, +And little look'd for at your helping hands. + +KING RICHARD II: +Alack, why am I sent for to a king, +Before I have shook off the regal thoughts +Wherewith I reign'd? I hardly yet have learn'd +To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my limbs: +Give sorrow leave awhile to tutor me +To this submission. Yet I well remember +The favours of these men: were they not mine? +Did they not sometime cry, 'all hail!' to me? +So Judas did to Christ: but he, in twelve, +Found truth in all but one: I, in twelve thousand, none. +God save the king! Will no man say amen? +Am I both priest and clerk? well then, amen. +God save the king! although I be not he; +And yet, amen, if heaven do think him me. +To do what service am I sent for hither? + +DUKE OF YORK: +To do that office of thine own good will +Which tired majesty did make thee offer, +The resignation of thy state and crown +To Henry Bolingbroke. + +KING RICHARD II: +Give me the crown. Here, cousin, seize the crown; +Here cousin: +On this side my hand, and on that side yours. +Now is this golden crown like a deep well +That owes two buckets, filling one another, +The emptier ever dancing in the air, +The other down, unseen and full of water: +That bucket down and full of tears am I, +Drinking my griefs, whilst you mount up on high. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +I thought you had been willing to resign. + +KING RICHARD II: +My crown I am; but still my griefs are mine: +You may my glories and my state depose, +But not my griefs; still am I king of those. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Part of your cares you give me with your crown. + +KING RICHARD II: +Your cares set up do not pluck my cares down. +My care is loss of care, by old care done; +Your care is gain of care, by new care won: +The cares I give I have, though given away; +They tend the crown, yet still with me they stay. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Are you contented to resign the crown? + +KING RICHARD II: +Ay, no; no, ay; for I must nothing be; +Therefore no no, for I resign to thee. +Now mark me, how I will undo myself; +I give this heavy weight from off my head +And this unwieldy sceptre from my hand, +The pride of kingly sway from out my heart; +With mine own tears I wash away my balm, +With mine own hands I give away my crown, +With mine own tongue deny my sacred state, +With mine own breath release all duty's rites: +All pomp and majesty I do forswear; +My manors, rents, revenues I forego; +My acts, decrees, and statutes I deny: +God pardon all oaths that are broke to me! +God keep all vows unbroke that swear to thee! +Make me, that nothing have, with nothing grieved, +And thou with all pleased, that hast all achieved! +Long mayst thou live in Richard's seat to sit, +And soon lie Richard in an earthly pit! +God save King Harry, unking'd Richard says, +And send him many years of sunshine days! +What more remains? + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +No more, but that you read +These accusations and these grievous crimes +Committed by your person and your followers +Against the state and profit of this land; +That, by confessing them, the souls of men +May deem that you are worthily deposed. + +KING RICHARD II: +Must I do so? and must I ravel out +My weaved-up folly? Gentle Northumberland, +If thy offences were upon record, +Would it not shame thee in so fair a troop +To read a lecture of them? If thou wouldst, +There shouldst thou find one heinous article, +Containing the deposing of a king +And cracking the strong warrant of an oath, +Mark'd with a blot, damn'd in the book of heaven: +Nay, all of you that stand and look upon, +Whilst that my wretchedness doth bait myself, +Though some of you with Pilate wash your hands +Showing an outward pity; yet you Pilates +Have here deliver'd me to my sour cross, +And water cannot wash away your sin. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +My lord, dispatch; read o'er these articles. + +KING RICHARD II: +Mine eyes are full of tears, I cannot see: +And yet salt water blinds them not so much +But they can see a sort of traitors here. +Nay, if I turn mine eyes upon myself, +I find myself a traitor with the rest; +For I have given here my soul's consent +To undeck the pompous body of a king; +Made glory base and sovereignty a slave, +Proud majesty a subject, state a peasant. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +My lord,-- + +KING RICHARD II: +No lord of thine, thou haught insulting man, +Nor no man's lord; I have no name, no title, +No, not that name was given me at the font, +But 'tis usurp'd: alack the heavy day, +That I have worn so many winters out, +And know not now what name to call myself! +O that I were a mockery king of snow, +Standing before the sun of Bolingbroke, +To melt myself away in water-drops! +Good king, great king, and yet not greatly good, +An if my word be sterling yet in England, +Let it command a mirror hither straight, +That it may show me what a face I have, +Since it is bankrupt of his majesty. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Go some of you and fetch a looking-glass. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Read o'er this paper while the glass doth come. + +KING RICHARD II: +Fiend, thou torment'st me ere I come to hell! + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Urge it no more, my Lord Northumberland. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +The commons will not then be satisfied. + +KING RICHARD II: +They shall be satisfied: I'll read enough, +When I do see the very book indeed +Where all my sins are writ, and that's myself. +Give me the glass, and therein will I read. +No deeper wrinkles yet? hath sorrow struck +So many blows upon this face of mine, +And made no deeper wounds? O flattering glass, +Like to my followers in prosperity, +Thou dost beguile me! Was this face the face +That every day under his household roof +Did keep ten thousand men? was this the face +That, like the sun, did make beholders wink? +Was this the face that faced so many follies, +And was at last out-faced by Bolingbroke? +A brittle glory shineth in this face: +As brittle as the glory is the face; +For there it is, crack'd in a hundred shivers. +Mark, silent king, the moral of this sport, +How soon my sorrow hath destroy'd my face. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +The shadow of your sorrow hath destroy'd +The shadow or your face. + +KING RICHARD II: +Say that again. +The shadow of my sorrow! ha! let's see: +'Tis very true, my grief lies all within; +And these external manners of laments +Are merely shadows to the unseen grief +That swells with silence in the tortured soul; +There lies the substance: and I thank thee, king, +For thy great bounty, that not only givest +Me cause to wail but teachest me the way +How to lament the cause. I'll beg one boon, +And then be gone and trouble you no more. +Shall I obtain it? + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Name it, fair cousin. + +KING RICHARD II: +'Fair cousin'? I am greater than a king: +For when I was a king, my flatterers +Were then but subjects; being now a subject, +I have a king here to my flatterer. +Being so great, I have no need to beg. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Yet ask. + +KING RICHARD II: +And shall I have? + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +You shall. + +KING RICHARD II: +Then give me leave to go. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Whither? + +KING RICHARD II: +Whither you will, so I were from your sights. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Go, some of you convey him to the Tower. + +KING RICHARD II: +O, good! convey? conveyers are you all, +That rise thus nimbly by a true king's fall. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +On Wednesday next we solemnly set down +Our coronation: lords, prepare yourselves. + +Abbot: +A woeful pageant have we here beheld. + +BISHOP OF CARLISLE: +The woe's to come; the children yet unborn. +Shall feel this day as sharp to them as thorn. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +You holy clergymen, is there no plot +To rid the realm of this pernicious blot? + +Abbot: +My lord, +Before I freely speak my mind herein, +You shall not only take the sacrament +To bury mine intents, but also to effect +Whatever I shall happen to devise. +I see your brows are full of discontent, +Your hearts of sorrow and your eyes of tears: +Come home with me to supper; and I'll lay +A plot shall show us all a merry day. + +QUEEN: +This way the king will come; this is the way +To Julius Caesar's ill-erected tower, +To whose flint bosom my condemned lord +Is doom'd a prisoner by proud Bolingbroke: +Here let us rest, if this rebellious earth +Have any resting for her true king's queen. +But soft, but see, or rather do not see, +My fair rose wither: yet look up, behold, +That you in pity may dissolve to dew, +And wash him fresh again with true-love tears. +Ah, thou, the model where old Troy did stand, +Thou map of honour, thou King Richard's tomb, +And not King Richard; thou most beauteous inn, +Why should hard-favour'd grief be lodged in thee, +When triumph is become an alehouse guest? + +KING RICHARD II: +Join not with grief, fair woman, do not so, +To make my end too sudden: learn, good soul, +To think our former state a happy dream; +From which awaked, the truth of what we are +Shows us but this: I am sworn brother, sweet, +To grim Necessity, and he and I +Will keep a league till death. Hie thee to France +And cloister thee in some religious house: +Our holy lives must win a new world's crown, +Which our profane hours here have stricken down. + +QUEEN: +What, is my Richard both in shape and mind +Transform'd and weaken'd? hath Bolingbroke deposed +Thine intellect? hath he been in thy heart? +The lion dying thrusteth forth his paw, +And wounds the earth, if nothing else, with rage +To be o'erpower'd; and wilt thou, pupil-like, +Take thy correction mildly, kiss the rod, +And fawn on rage with base humility, +Which art a lion and a king of beasts? + +KING RICHARD II: +A king of beasts, indeed; if aught but beasts, +I had been still a happy king of men. +Good sometime queen, prepare thee hence for France: +Think I am dead and that even here thou takest, +As from my death-bed, thy last living leave. +In winter's tedious nights sit by the fire +With good old folks and let them tell thee tales +Of woeful ages long ago betid; +And ere thou bid good night, to quit their griefs, +Tell thou the lamentable tale of me +And send the hearers weeping to their beds: +For why, the senseless brands will sympathize +The heavy accent of thy moving tongue +And in compassion weep the fire out; +And some will mourn in ashes, some coal-black, +For the deposing of a rightful king. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +My lord, the mind of Bolingbroke is changed: +You must to Pomfret, not unto the Tower. +And, madam, there is order ta'en for you; +With all swift speed you must away to France. + +KING RICHARD II: +Northumberland, thou ladder wherewithal +The mounting Bolingbroke ascends my throne, +The time shall not be many hours of age +More than it is ere foul sin gathering head +Shalt break into corruption: thou shalt think, +Though he divide the realm and give thee half, +It is too little, helping him to all; +And he shall think that thou, which know'st the way +To plant unrightful kings, wilt know again, +Being ne'er so little urged, another way +To pluck him headlong from the usurped throne. +The love of wicked men converts to fear; +That fear to hate, and hate turns one or both +To worthy danger and deserved death. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +My guilt be on my head, and there an end. +Take leave and part; for you must part forthwith. + +KING RICHARD II: +Doubly divorced! Bad men, you violate +A twofold marriage, 'twixt my crown and me, +And then betwixt me and my married wife. +Let me unkiss the oath 'twixt thee and me; +And yet not so, for with a kiss 'twas made. +Part us, Northumberland; I toward the north, +Where shivering cold and sickness pines the clime; +My wife to France: from whence, set forth in pomp, +She came adorned hither like sweet May, +Sent back like Hallowmas or short'st of day. + +QUEEN: +And must we be divided? must we part? + +KING RICHARD II: +Ay, hand from hand, my love, and heart from heart. + +QUEEN: +Banish us both and send the king with me. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +That were some love but little policy. + +QUEEN: +Then whither he goes, thither let me go. + +KING RICHARD II: +So two, together weeping, make one woe. +Weep thou for me in France, I for thee here; +Better far off than near, be ne'er the near. +Go, count thy way with sighs; I mine with groans. + +QUEEN: +So longest way shall have the longest moans. + +KING RICHARD II: +Twice for one step I'll groan, the way being short, +And piece the way out with a heavy heart. +Come, come, in wooing sorrow let's be brief, +Since, wedding it, there is such length in grief; +One kiss shall stop our mouths, and dumbly part; +Thus give I mine, and thus take I thy heart. + +QUEEN: +Give me mine own again; 'twere no good part +To take on me to keep and kill thy heart. +So, now I have mine own again, be gone, +That I might strive to kill it with a groan. + +KING RICHARD II: +We make woe wanton with this fond delay: +Once more, adieu; the rest let sorrow say. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +My lord, you told me you would tell the rest, +When weeping made you break the story off, +of our two cousins coming into London. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Where did I leave? + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +At that sad stop, my lord, +Where rude misgovern'd hands from windows' tops +Threw dust and rubbish on King Richard's head. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Then, as I said, the duke, great Bolingbroke, +Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed +Which his aspiring rider seem'd to know, +With slow but stately pace kept on his course, +Whilst all tongues cried 'God save thee, +Bolingbroke!' +You would have thought the very windows spake, +So many greedy looks of young and old +Through casements darted their desiring eyes +Upon his visage, and that all the walls +With painted imagery had said at once +'Jesu preserve thee! welcome, Bolingbroke!' +Whilst he, from the one side to the other turning, +Bareheaded, lower than his proud steed's neck, +Bespake them thus: 'I thank you, countrymen:' +And thus still doing, thus he pass'd along. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Alack, poor Richard! where rode he the whilst? + +DUKE OF YORK: +As in a theatre, the eyes of men, +After a well-graced actor leaves the stage, +Are idly bent on him that enters next, +Thinking his prattle to be tedious; +Even so, or with much more contempt, men's eyes +Did scowl on gentle Richard; no man cried 'God save him!' +No joyful tongue gave him his welcome home: +But dust was thrown upon his sacred head: +Which with such gentle sorrow he shook off, +His face still combating with tears and smiles, +The badges of his grief and patience, +That had not God, for some strong purpose, steel'd +The hearts of men, they must perforce have melted +And barbarism itself have pitied him. +But heaven hath a hand in these events, +To whose high will we bound our calm contents. +To Bolingbroke are we sworn subjects now, +Whose state and honour I for aye allow. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Here comes my son Aumerle. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Aumerle that was; +But that is lost for being Richard's friend, +And, madam, you must call him Rutland now: +I am in parliament pledge for his truth +And lasting fealty to the new-made king. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Welcome, my son: who are the violets now +That strew the green lap of the new come spring? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Madam, I know not, nor I greatly care not: +God knows I had as lief be none as one. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Well, bear you well in this new spring of time, +Lest you be cropp'd before you come to prime. +What news from Oxford? hold those justs and triumphs? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +For aught I know, my lord, they do. + +DUKE OF YORK: +You will be there, I know. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +If God prevent not, I purpose so. + +DUKE OF YORK: +What seal is that, that hangs without thy bosom? +Yea, look'st thou pale? let me see the writing. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +My lord, 'tis nothing. + +DUKE OF YORK: +No matter, then, who see it; +I will be satisfied; let me see the writing. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +I do beseech your grace to pardon me: +It is a matter of small consequence, +Which for some reasons I would not have seen. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Which for some reasons, sir, I mean to see. +I fear, I fear,-- + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +What should you fear? +'Tis nothing but some bond, that he is enter'd into +For gay apparel 'gainst the triumph day. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Bound to himself! what doth he with a bond +That he is bound to? Wife, thou art a fool. +Boy, let me see the writing. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +I do beseech you, pardon me; I may not show it. + +DUKE OF YORK: +I will be satisfied; let me see it, I say. +Treason! foul treason! Villain! traitor! slave! + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +What is the matter, my lord? + +DUKE OF YORK: +Ho! who is within there? +Saddle my horse. +God for his mercy, what treachery is here! + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Why, what is it, my lord? + +DUKE OF YORK: +Give me my boots, I say; saddle my horse. +Now, by mine honour, by my life, by my troth, +I will appeach the villain. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +What is the matter? + +DUKE OF YORK: +Peace, foolish woman. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +I will not peace. What is the matter, Aumerle. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Good mother, be content; it is no more +Than my poor life must answer. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Thy life answer! + +DUKE OF YORK: +Bring me my boots: I will unto the king. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Strike him, Aumerle. Poor boy, thou art amazed. +Hence, villain! never more come in my sight. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Give me my boots, I say. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Why, York, what wilt thou do? +Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own? +Have we more sons? or are we like to have? +Is not my teeming date drunk up with time? +And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age, +And rob me of a happy mother's name? +Is he not like thee? is he not thine own? + +DUKE OF YORK: +Thou fond mad woman, +Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy? +A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament, +And interchangeably set down their hands, +To kill the king at Oxford. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +He shall be none; +We'll keep him here: then what is that to him? + +DUKE OF YORK: +Away, fond woman! were he twenty times my son, +I would appeach him. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Hadst thou groan'd for him +As I have done, thou wouldst be more pitiful. +But now I know thy mind; thou dost suspect +That I have been disloyal to thy bed, +And that he is a bastard, not thy son: +Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind: +He is as like thee as a man may be, +Not like to me, or any of my kin, +And yet I love him. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Make way, unruly woman! + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +After, Aumerle! mount thee upon his horse; +Spur post, and get before him to the king, +And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee. +I'll not be long behind; though I be old, +I doubt not but to ride as fast as York: +And never will I rise up from the ground +Till Bolingbroke have pardon'd thee. Away, be gone! + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Can no man tell me of my unthrifty son? +'Tis full three months since I did see him last; +If any plague hang over us, 'tis he. +I would to God, my lords, he might be found: +Inquire at London, 'mongst the taverns there, +For there, they say, he daily doth frequent, +With unrestrained loose companions, +Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes, +And beat our watch, and rob our passengers; +Which he, young wanton and effeminate boy, +Takes on the point of honour to support +So dissolute a crew. + +HENRY PERCY: +My lord, some two days since I saw the prince, +And told him of those triumphs held at Oxford. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +And what said the gallant? + +HENRY PERCY: +His answer was, he would unto the stews, +And from the common'st creature pluck a glove, +And wear it as a favour; and with that +He would unhorse the lustiest challenger. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +As dissolute as desperate; yet through both +I see some sparks of better hope, which elder years +May happily bring forth. But who comes here? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Where is the king? + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +What means our cousin, that he stares and looks +So wildly? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +God save your grace! I do beseech your majesty, +To have some conference with your grace alone. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone. +What is the matter with our cousin now? + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +For ever may my knees grow to the earth, +My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth +Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Intended or committed was this fault? +If on the first, how heinous e'er it be, +To win thy after-love I pardon thee. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Then give me leave that I may turn the key, +That no man enter till my tale be done. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Have thy desire. + +DUKE OF YORK: + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Villain, I'll make thee safe. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Stay thy revengeful hand; thou hast no cause to fear. + +DUKE OF YORK: + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +What is the matter, uncle? speak; +Recover breath; tell us how near is danger, +That we may arm us to encounter it. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Peruse this writing here, and thou shalt know +The treason that my haste forbids me show. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Remember, as thou read'st, thy promise pass'd: +I do repent me; read not my name there +My heart is not confederate with my hand. + +DUKE OF YORK: +It was, villain, ere thy hand did set it down. +I tore it from the traitor's bosom, king; +Fear, and not love, begets his penitence: +Forget to pity him, lest thy pity prove +A serpent that will sting thee to the heart. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +O heinous, strong and bold conspiracy! +O loyal father of a treacherous son! +Thou sheer, immaculate and silver fountain, +From when this stream through muddy passages +Hath held his current and defiled himself! +Thy overflow of good converts to bad, +And thy abundant goodness shall excuse +This deadly blot in thy digressing son. + +DUKE OF YORK: +So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd; +And he shall spend mine honour with his shame, +As thriftless sons their scraping fathers' gold. +Mine honour lives when his dishonour dies, +Or my shamed life in his dishonour lies: +Thou kill'st me in his life; giving him breath, +The traitor lives, the true man's put to death. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +What shrill-voiced suppliant makes this eager cry? + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +A woman, and thy aunt, great king; 'tis I. +Speak with me, pity me, open the door. +A beggar begs that never begg'd before. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Our scene is alter'd from a serious thing, +And now changed to 'The Beggar and the King.' +My dangerous cousin, let your mother in: +I know she is come to pray for your foul sin. + +DUKE OF YORK: +If thou do pardon, whosoever pray, +More sins for this forgiveness prosper may. +This fester'd joint cut off, the rest rest sound; +This let alone will all the rest confound. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +O king, believe not this hard-hearted man! +Love loving not itself none other can. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Thou frantic woman, what dost thou make here? +Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear? + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Sweet York, be patient. Hear me, gentle liege. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Rise up, good aunt. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Not yet, I thee beseech: +For ever will I walk upon my knees, +And never see day that the happy sees, +Till thou give joy; until thou bid me joy, +By pardoning Rutland, my transgressing boy. + +DUKE OF AUMERLE: +Unto my mother's prayers I bend my knee. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Against them both my true joints bended be. +Ill mayst thou thrive, if thou grant any grace! + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Pleads he in earnest? look upon his face; +His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are in jest; +His words come from his mouth, ours from our breast: +He prays but faintly and would be denied; +We pray with heart and soul and all beside: +His weary joints would gladly rise, I know; +Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow: +His prayers are full of false hypocrisy; +Ours of true zeal and deep integrity. +Our prayers do out-pray his; then let them have +That mercy which true prayer ought to have. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Good aunt, stand up. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Nay, do not say, 'stand up;' +Say, 'pardon' first, and afterwards 'stand up.' +And if I were thy nurse, thy tongue to teach, +'Pardon' should be the first word of thy speech. +I never long'd to hear a word till now; +Say 'pardon,' king; let pity teach thee how: +The word is short, but not so short as sweet; +No word like 'pardon' for kings' mouths so meet. + +DUKE OF YORK: +Speak it in French, king; say, 'pardonne moi.' + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy? +Ah, my sour husband, my hard-hearted lord, +That set'st the word itself against the word! +Speak 'pardon' as 'tis current in our land; +The chopping French we do not understand. +Thine eye begins to speak; set thy tongue there; +Or in thy piteous heart plant thou thine ear; +That hearing how our plaints and prayers do pierce, +Pity may move thee 'pardon' to rehearse. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Good aunt, stand up. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +I do not sue to stand; +Pardon is all the suit I have in hand. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +I pardon him, as God shall pardon me. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +O happy vantage of a kneeling knee! +Yet am I sick for fear: speak it again; +Twice saying 'pardon' doth not pardon twain, +But makes one pardon strong. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +With all my heart +I pardon him. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +A god on earth thou art. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +But for our trusty brother-in-law and the abbot, +With all the rest of that consorted crew, +Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels. +Good uncle, help to order several powers +To Oxford, or where'er these traitors are: +They shall not live within this world, I swear, +But I will have them, if I once know where. +Uncle, farewell: and, cousin too, adieu: +Your mother well hath pray'd, and prove you true. + +DUCHESS OF YORK: +Come, my old son: I pray God make thee new. + +EXTON: +Didst thou not mark the king, what words he spake, +'Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear?' +Was it not so? + +Servant: +These were his very words. + +EXTON: +'Have I no friend?' quoth he: he spake it twice, +And urged it twice together, did he not? + +Servant: +He did. + +EXTON: +And speaking it, he wistly look'd on me, +And who should say, 'I would thou wert the man' +That would divorce this terror from my heart;' +Meaning the king at Pomfret. Come, let's go: +I am the king's friend, and will rid his foe. + +KING RICHARD II: +I have been studying how I may compare +This prison where I live unto the world: +And for because the world is populous +And here is not a creature but myself, +I cannot do it; yet I'll hammer it out. +My brain I'll prove the female to my soul, +My soul the father; and these two beget +A generation of still-breeding thoughts, +And these same thoughts people this little world, +In humours like the people of this world, +For no thought is contented. The better sort, +As thoughts of things divine, are intermix'd +With scruples and do set the word itself +Against the word: +As thus, 'Come, little ones,' and then again, +'It is as hard to come as for a camel +To thread the postern of a small needle's eye.' +Thoughts tending to ambition, they do plot +Unlikely wonders; how these vain weak nails +May tear a passage through the flinty ribs +Of this hard world, my ragged prison walls, +And, for they cannot, die in their own pride. +Thoughts tending to content flatter themselves +That they are not the first of fortune's slaves, +Nor shall not be the last; like silly beggars +Who sitting in the stocks refuge their shame, +That many have and others must sit there; +And in this thought they find a kind of ease, +Bearing their own misfortunes on the back +Of such as have before endured the like. +Thus play I in one person many people, +And none contented: sometimes am I king; +Then treasons make me wish myself a beggar, +And so I am: then crushing penury +Persuades me I was better when a king; +Then am I king'd again: and by and by +Think that I am unking'd by Bolingbroke, +And straight am nothing: but whate'er I be, +Nor I nor any man that but man is +With nothing shall be pleased, till he be eased +With being nothing. Music do I hear? +Ha, ha! keep time: how sour sweet music is, +When time is broke and no proportion kept! +So is it in the music of men's lives. +And here have I the daintiness of ear +To cheque time broke in a disorder'd string; +But for the concord of my state and time +Had not an ear to hear my true time broke. +I wasted time, and now doth time waste me; +For now hath time made me his numbering clock: +My thoughts are minutes; and with sighs they jar +Their watches on unto mine eyes, the outward watch, +Whereto my finger, like a dial's point, +Is pointing still, in cleansing them from tears. +Now sir, the sound that tells what hour it is +Are clamorous groans, which strike upon my heart, +Which is the bell: so sighs and tears and groans +Show minutes, times, and hours: but my time +Runs posting on in Bolingbroke's proud joy, +While I stand fooling here, his Jack o' the clock. +This music mads me; let it sound no more; +For though it have holp madmen to their wits, +In me it seems it will make wise men mad. +Yet blessing on his heart that gives it me! +For 'tis a sign of love; and love to Richard +Is a strange brooch in this all-hating world. + +Groom: +Hail, royal prince! + +KING RICHARD II: +Thanks, noble peer; +The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear. +What art thou? and how comest thou hither, +Where no man never comes but that sad dog +That brings me food to make misfortune live? + +Groom: +I was a poor groom of thy stable, king, +When thou wert king; who, travelling towards York, +With much ado at length have gotten leave +To look upon my sometimes royal master's face. +O, how it yearn'd my heart when I beheld +In London streets, that coronation-day, +When Bolingbroke rode on roan Barbary, +That horse that thou so often hast bestrid, +That horse that I so carefully have dress'd! + +KING RICHARD II: +Rode he on Barbary? Tell me, gentle friend, +How went he under him? + +Groom: +So proudly as if he disdain'd the ground. + +KING RICHARD II: +So proud that Bolingbroke was on his back! +That jade hath eat bread from my royal hand; +This hand hath made him proud with clapping him. +Would he not stumble? would he not fall down, +Since pride must have a fall, and break the neck +Of that proud man that did usurp his back? +Forgiveness, horse! why do I rail on thee, +Since thou, created to be awed by man, +Wast born to bear? I was not made a horse; +And yet I bear a burthen like an ass, +Spurr'd, gall'd and tired by jouncing Bolingbroke. + +Keeper: +Fellow, give place; here is no longer stay. + +KING RICHARD II: +If thou love me, 'tis time thou wert away. + +Groom: +What my tongue dares not, that my heart shall say. + +Keeper: +My lord, will't please you to fall to? + +KING RICHARD II: +Taste of it first, as thou art wont to do. + +Keeper: +My lord, I dare not: Sir Pierce of Exton, who +lately came from the king, commands the contrary. + +KING RICHARD II: +The devil take Henry of Lancaster and thee! +Patience is stale, and I am weary of it. + +Keeper: +Help, help, help! + +KING RICHARD II: +How now! what means death in this rude assault? +Villain, thy own hand yields thy death's instrument. +Go thou, and fill another room in hell. +That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire +That staggers thus my person. Exton, thy fierce hand +Hath with the king's blood stain'd the king's own land. +Mount, mount, my soul! thy seat is up on high; +Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die. + +EXTON: +As full of valour as of royal blood: +Both have I spill'd; O would the deed were good! +For now the devil, that told me I did well, +Says that this deed is chronicled in hell. +This dead king to the living king I'll bear +Take hence the rest, and give them burial here. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Kind uncle York, the latest news we hear +Is that the rebels have consumed with fire +Our town of Cicester in Gloucestershire; +But whether they be ta'en or slain we hear not. +Welcome, my lord what is the news? + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +First, to thy sacred state wish I all happiness. +The next news is, I have to London sent +The heads of Oxford, Salisbury, Blunt, and Kent: +The manner of their taking may appear +At large discoursed in this paper here. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +We thank thee, gentle Percy, for thy pains; +And to thy worth will add right worthy gains. + +LORD FITZWATER: +My lord, I have from Oxford sent to London +The heads of Brocas and Sir Bennet Seely, +Two of the dangerous consorted traitors +That sought at Oxford thy dire overthrow. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Thy pains, Fitzwater, shall not be forgot; +Right noble is thy merit, well I wot. + +HENRY PERCY: +The grand conspirator, Abbot of Westminster, +With clog of conscience and sour melancholy +Hath yielded up his body to the grave; +But here is Carlisle living, to abide +Thy kingly doom and sentence of his pride. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Carlisle, this is your doom: +Choose out some secret place, some reverend room, +More than thou hast, and with it joy thy life; +So as thou livest in peace, die free from strife: +For though mine enemy thou hast ever been, +High sparks of honour in thee have I seen. + +EXTON: +Great king, within this coffin I present +Thy buried fear: herein all breathless lies +The mightiest of thy greatest enemies, +Richard of Bordeaux, by me hither brought. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +Exton, I thank thee not; for thou hast wrought +A deed of slander with thy fatal hand +Upon my head and all this famous land. + +EXTON: +From your own mouth, my lord, did I this deed. + +HENRY BOLINGBROKE: +They love not poison that do poison need, +Nor do I thee: though I did wish him dead, +I hate the murderer, love him murdered. +The guilt of conscience take thou for thy labour, +But neither my good word nor princely favour: +With Cain go wander through shades of night, +And never show thy head by day nor light. +Lords, I protest, my soul is full of woe, +That blood should sprinkle me to make me grow: +Come, mourn with me for that I do lament, +And put on sullen black incontinent: +I'll make a voyage to the Holy Land, +To wash this blood off from my guilty hand: +March sadly after; grace my mournings here; +In weeping after this untimely bier. + + +SAMPSON: +Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals. + +GREGORY: +No, for then we should be colliers. + +SAMPSON: +I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw. + +GREGORY: +Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar. + +SAMPSON: +I strike quickly, being moved. + +GREGORY: +But thou art not quickly moved to strike. + +SAMPSON: +A dog of the house of Montague moves me. + +GREGORY: +To move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand: +therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away. + +SAMPSON: +A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I will +take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's. + +GREGORY: +That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes +to the wall. + +SAMPSON: +True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, +are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push +Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids +to the wall. + +GREGORY: +The quarrel is between our masters and us their men. + +SAMPSON: +'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I +have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the +maids, and cut off their heads. + +GREGORY: +The heads of the maids? + +SAMPSON: +Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; +take it in what sense thou wilt. + +GREGORY: +They must take it in sense that feel it. + +SAMPSON: +Me they shall feel while I am able to stand: and +'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh. + +GREGORY: +'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou +hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool! here comes +two of the house of the Montagues. + +SAMPSON: +My naked weapon is out: quarrel, I will back thee. + +GREGORY: +How! turn thy back and run? + +SAMPSON: +Fear me not. + +GREGORY: +No, marry; I fear thee! + +SAMPSON: +Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin. + +GREGORY: +I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as +they list. + +SAMPSON: +Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; +which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. + +ABRAHAM: +Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? + +SAMPSON: +I do bite my thumb, sir. + +ABRAHAM: +Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? + +SAMPSON: + +GREGORY: +No. + +SAMPSON: +No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I +bite my thumb, sir. + +GREGORY: +Do you quarrel, sir? + +ABRAHAM: +Quarrel sir! no, sir. + +SAMPSON: +If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you. + +ABRAHAM: +No better. + +SAMPSON: +Well, sir. + +GREGORY: +Say 'better:' here comes one of my master's kinsmen. + +SAMPSON: +Yes, better, sir. + +ABRAHAM: +You lie. + +SAMPSON: +Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. + +BENVOLIO: +Part, fools! +Put up your swords; you know not what you do. + +TYBALT: +What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? +Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. + +BENVOLIO: +I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword, +Or manage it to part these men with me. + +TYBALT: +What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, +As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: +Have at thee, coward! + +First Citizen: +Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them down! +Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues! + +CAPULET: +What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho! + +LADY CAPULET: +A crutch, a crutch! why call you for a sword? + +CAPULET: +My sword, I say! Old Montague is come, +And flourishes his blade in spite of me. + +MONTAGUE: +Thou villain Capulet,--Hold me not, let me go. + +LADY MONTAGUE: +Thou shalt not stir a foot to seek a foe. + +PRINCE: +Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, +Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,-- +Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts, +That quench the fire of your pernicious rage +With purple fountains issuing from your veins, +On pain of torture, from those bloody hands +Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground, +And hear the sentence of your moved prince. +Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, +By thee, old Capulet, and Montague, +Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets, +And made Verona's ancient citizens +Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments, +To wield old partisans, in hands as old, +Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate: +If ever you disturb our streets again, +Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. +For this time, all the rest depart away: +You Capulet; shall go along with me: +And, Montague, come you this afternoon, +To know our further pleasure in this case, +To old Free-town, our common judgment-place. +Once more, on pain of death, all men depart. + +MONTAGUE: +Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach? +Speak, nephew, were you by when it began? + +BENVOLIO: +Here were the servants of your adversary, +And yours, close fighting ere I did approach: +I drew to part them: in the instant came +The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared, +Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears, +He swung about his head and cut the winds, +Who nothing hurt withal hiss'd him in scorn: +While we were interchanging thrusts and blows, +Came more and more and fought on part and part, +Till the prince came, who parted either part. + +LADY MONTAGUE: +O, where is Romeo? saw you him to-day? +Right glad I am he was not at this fray. + +BENVOLIO: +Madam, an hour before the worshipp'd sun +Peer'd forth the golden window of the east, +A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad; +Where, underneath the grove of sycamore +That westward rooteth from the city's side, +So early walking did I see your son: +Towards him I made, but he was ware of me +And stole into the covert of the wood: +I, measuring his affections by my own, +That most are busied when they're most alone, +Pursued my humour not pursuing his, +And gladly shunn'd who gladly fled from me. + +MONTAGUE: +Many a morning hath he there been seen, +With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew. +Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs; +But all so soon as the all-cheering sun +Should in the furthest east begin to draw +The shady curtains from Aurora's bed, +Away from the light steals home my heavy son, +And private in his chamber pens himself, +Shuts up his windows, locks far daylight out +And makes himself an artificial night: +Black and portentous must this humour prove, +Unless good counsel may the cause remove. + +BENVOLIO: +My noble uncle, do you know the cause? + +MONTAGUE: +I neither know it nor can learn of him. + +BENVOLIO: +Have you importuned him by any means? + +MONTAGUE: +Both by myself and many other friends: +But he, his own affections' counsellor, +Is to himself--I will not say how true-- +But to himself so secret and so close, +So far from sounding and discovery, +As is the bud bit with an envious worm, +Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air, +Or dedicate his beauty to the sun. +Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow. +We would as willingly give cure as know. + +BENVOLIO: +See, where he comes: so please you, step aside; +I'll know his grievance, or be much denied. + +MONTAGUE: +I would thou wert so happy by thy stay, +To hear true shrift. Come, madam, let's away. + +BENVOLIO: +Good-morrow, cousin. + +ROMEO: +Is the day so young? + +BENVOLIO: +But new struck nine. + +ROMEO: +Ay me! sad hours seem long. +Was that my father that went hence so fast? + +BENVOLIO: +It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours? + +ROMEO: +Not having that, which, having, makes them short. + +BENVOLIO: +In love? + +ROMEO: +Out-- + +BENVOLIO: +Of love? + +ROMEO: +Out of her favour, where I am in love. + +BENVOLIO: +Alas, that love, so gentle in his view, +Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof! + +ROMEO: +Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, +Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will! +Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here? +Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. +Here's much to do with hate, but more with love. +Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate! +O any thing, of nothing first create! +O heavy lightness! serious vanity! +Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms! +Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, +sick health! +Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! +This love feel I, that feel no love in this. +Dost thou not laugh? + +BENVOLIO: +No, coz, I rather weep. + +ROMEO: +Good heart, at what? + +BENVOLIO: +At thy good heart's oppression. + +ROMEO: +Why, such is love's transgression. +Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast, +Which thou wilt propagate, to have it prest +With more of thine: this love that thou hast shown +Doth add more grief to too much of mine own. +Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; +Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; +Being vex'd a sea nourish'd with lovers' tears: +What is it else? a madness most discreet, +A choking gall and a preserving sweet. +Farewell, my coz. + +BENVOLIO: +Soft! I will go along; +An if you leave me so, you do me wrong. + +ROMEO: +Tut, I have lost myself; I am not here; +This is not Romeo, he's some other where. + +BENVOLIO: +Tell me in sadness, who is that you love. + +ROMEO: +What, shall I groan and tell thee? + +BENVOLIO: +Groan! why, no. +But sadly tell me who. + +ROMEO: +Bid a sick man in sadness make his will: +Ah, word ill urged to one that is so ill! +In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman. + +BENVOLIO: +I aim'd so near, when I supposed you loved. + +ROMEO: +A right good mark-man! And she's fair I love. + +BENVOLIO: +A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit. + +ROMEO: +Well, in that hit you miss: she'll not be hit +With Cupid's arrow; she hath Dian's wit; +And, in strong proof of chastity well arm'd, +From love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'd. +She will not stay the siege of loving terms, +Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes, +Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold: +O, she is rich in beauty, only poor, +That when she dies with beauty dies her store. + +BENVOLIO: +Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste? + +ROMEO: +She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste, +For beauty starved with her severity +Cuts beauty off from all posterity. +She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair, +To merit bliss by making me despair: +She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow +Do I live dead that live to tell it now. + +BENVOLIO: +Be ruled by me, forget to think of her. + +ROMEO: +O, teach me how I should forget to think. + +BENVOLIO: +By giving liberty unto thine eyes; +Examine other beauties. + +ROMEO: +'Tis the way +To call hers exquisite, in question more: +These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' brows +Being black put us in mind they hide the fair; +He that is strucken blind cannot forget +The precious treasure of his eyesight lost: +Show me a mistress that is passing fair, +What doth her beauty serve, but as a note +Where I may read who pass'd that passing fair? +Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget. + +BENVOLIO: +I'll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt. + +CAPULET: +But Montague is bound as well as I, +In penalty alike; and 'tis not hard, I think, +For men so old as we to keep the peace. + +PARIS: +Of honourable reckoning are you both; +And pity 'tis you lived at odds so long. +But now, my lord, what say you to my suit? + +CAPULET: +But saying o'er what I have said before: +My child is yet a stranger in the world; +She hath not seen the change of fourteen years, +Let two more summers wither in their pride, +Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride. + +PARIS: +Younger than she are happy mothers made. + +CAPULET: +And too soon marr'd are those so early made. +The earth hath swallow'd all my hopes but she, +She is the hopeful lady of my earth: +But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart, +My will to her consent is but a part; +An she agree, within her scope of choice +Lies my consent and fair according voice. +This night I hold an old accustom'd feast, +Whereto I have invited many a guest, +Such as I love; and you, among the store, +One more, most welcome, makes my number more. +At my poor house look to behold this night +Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light: +Such comfort as do lusty young men feel +When well-apparell'd April on the heel +Of limping winter treads, even such delight +Among fresh female buds shall you this night +Inherit at my house; hear all, all see, +And like her most whose merit most shall be: +Which on more view, of many mine being one +May stand in number, though in reckoning none, +Come, go with me. +Go, sirrah, trudge about +Through fair Verona; find those persons out +Whose names are written there, and to them say, +My house and welcome on their pleasure stay. + +Servant: +Find them out whose names are written here! It is +written, that the shoemaker should meddle with his +yard, and the tailor with his last, the fisher with +his pencil, and the painter with his nets; but I am +sent to find those persons whose names are here +writ, and can never find what names the writing +person hath here writ. I must to the learned.--In good time. + +BENVOLIO: +Tut, man, one fire burns out another's burning, +One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish; +Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning; +One desperate grief cures with another's languish: +Take thou some new infection to thy eye, +And the rank poison of the old will die. + +ROMEO: +Your plaintain-leaf is excellent for that. + +BENVOLIO: +For what, I pray thee? + +ROMEO: +For your broken shin. + +BENVOLIO: +Why, Romeo, art thou mad? + +ROMEO: +Not mad, but bound more than a mad-man is; +Shut up in prison, kept without my food, +Whipp'd and tormented and--God-den, good fellow. + +Servant: +God gi' god-den. I pray, sir, can you read? + +ROMEO: +Ay, mine own fortune in my misery. + +Servant: +Perhaps you have learned it without book: but, I +pray, can you read any thing you see? + +ROMEO: +Ay, if I know the letters and the language. + +Servant: +Ye say honestly: rest you merry! + +ROMEO: +Stay, fellow; I can read. +'Signior Martino and his wife and daughters; +County Anselme and his beauteous sisters; the lady +widow of Vitravio; Signior Placentio and his lovely +nieces; Mercutio and his brother Valentine; mine +uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters; my fair niece +Rosaline; Livia; Signior Valentio and his cousin +Tybalt, Lucio and the lively Helena.' A fair +assembly: whither should they come? + +Servant: +Up. + +ROMEO: +Whither? + +Servant: +To supper; to our house. + +ROMEO: +Whose house? + +Servant: +My master's. + +ROMEO: +Indeed, I should have ask'd you that before. + +Servant: +Now I'll tell you without asking: my master is the +great rich Capulet; and if you be not of the house +of Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. +Rest you merry! + +BENVOLIO: +At this same ancient feast of Capulet's +Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest, +With all the admired beauties of Verona: +Go thither; and, with unattainted eye, +Compare her face with some that I shall show, +And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. + +ROMEO: +When the devout religion of mine eye +Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires; +And these, who often drown'd could never die, +Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars! +One fairer than my love! the all-seeing sun +Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun. + +BENVOLIO: +Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by, +Herself poised with herself in either eye: +But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'd +Your lady's love against some other maid +That I will show you shining at this feast, +And she shall scant show well that now shows best. + +ROMEO: +I'll go along, no such sight to be shown, +But to rejoice in splendor of mine own. + +LADY CAPULET: +Nurse, where's my daughter? call her forth to me. + +Nurse: +Now, by my maidenhead, at twelve year old, +I bade her come. What, lamb! what, ladybird! +God forbid! Where's this girl? What, Juliet! + +JULIET: +How now! who calls? + +Nurse: +Your mother. + +JULIET: +Madam, I am here. +What is your will? + +LADY CAPULET: +This is the matter:--Nurse, give leave awhile, +We must talk in secret:--nurse, come back again; +I have remember'd me, thou's hear our counsel. +Thou know'st my daughter's of a pretty age. + +Nurse: +Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour. + +LADY CAPULET: +She's not fourteen. + +Nurse: +I'll lay fourteen of my teeth,-- +And yet, to my teeth be it spoken, I have but four-- +She is not fourteen. How long is it now +To Lammas-tide? + +LADY CAPULET: +A fortnight and odd days. + +Nurse: +Even or odd, of all days in the year, +Come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen. +Susan and she--God rest all Christian souls!-- +Were of an age: well, Susan is with God; +She was too good for me: but, as I said, +On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen; +That shall she, marry; I remember it well. +'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years; +And she was wean'd,--I never shall forget it,-- +Of all the days of the year, upon that day: +For I had then laid wormwood to my dug, +Sitting in the sun under the dove-house wall; +My lord and you were then at Mantua:-- +Nay, I do bear a brain:--but, as I said, +When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple +Of my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool, +To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug! +Shake quoth the dove-house: 'twas no need, I trow, +To bid me trudge: +And since that time it is eleven years; +For then she could stand alone; nay, by the rood, +She could have run and waddled all about; +For even the day before, she broke her brow: +And then my husband--God be with his soul! +A' was a merry man--took up the child: +'Yea,' quoth he, 'dost thou fall upon thy face? +Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit; +Wilt thou not, Jule?' and, by my holidame, +The pretty wretch left crying and said 'Ay.' +To see, now, how a jest shall come about! +I warrant, an I should live a thousand years, +I never should forget it: 'Wilt thou not, Jule?' quoth he; +And, pretty fool, it stinted and said 'Ay.' + +LADY CAPULET: +Enough of this; I pray thee, hold thy peace. + +Nurse: +Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, +To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' +And yet, I warrant, it had upon its brow +A bump as big as a young cockerel's stone; +A parlous knock; and it cried bitterly: +'Yea,' quoth my husband,'fall'st upon thy face? +Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age; +Wilt thou not, Jule?' it stinted and said 'Ay.' + +JULIET: +And stint thou too, I pray thee, nurse, say I. + +Nurse: +Peace, I have done. God mark thee to his grace! +Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed: +An I might live to see thee married once, +I have my wish. + +LADY CAPULET: +Marry, that 'marry' is the very theme +I came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet, +How stands your disposition to be married? + +JULIET: +It is an honour that I dream not of. + +Nurse: +An honour! were not I thine only nurse, +I would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy teat. + +LADY CAPULET: +Well, think of marriage now; younger than you, +Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, +Are made already mothers: by my count, +I was your mother much upon these years +That you are now a maid. Thus then in brief: +The valiant Paris seeks you for his love. + +Nurse: +A man, young lady! lady, such a man +As all the world--why, he's a man of wax. + +LADY CAPULET: +Verona's summer hath not such a flower. + +Nurse: +Nay, he's a flower; in faith, a very flower. + +LADY CAPULET: +What say you? can you love the gentleman? +This night you shall behold him at our feast; +Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face, +And find delight writ there with beauty's pen; +Examine every married lineament, +And see how one another lends content +And what obscured in this fair volume lies +Find written in the margent of his eyes. +This precious book of love, this unbound lover, +To beautify him, only lacks a cover: +The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much pride +For fair without the fair within to hide: +That book in many's eyes doth share the glory, +That in gold clasps locks in the golden story; +So shall you share all that he doth possess, +By having him, making yourself no less. + +Nurse: +No less! nay, bigger; women grow by men. + +LADY CAPULET: +Speak briefly, can you like of Paris' love? + +JULIET: +I'll look to like, if looking liking move: +But no more deep will I endart mine eye +Than your consent gives strength to make it fly. + +Servant: +Madam, the guests are come, supper served up, you +called, my young lady asked for, the nurse cursed in +the pantry, and every thing in extremity. I must +hence to wait; I beseech you, follow straight. + +LADY CAPULET: +We follow thee. +Juliet, the county stays. + +Nurse: +Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days. + +ROMEO: +What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? +Or shall we on without a apology? + +BENVOLIO: +The date is out of such prolixity: +We'll have no Cupid hoodwink'd with a scarf, +Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath, +Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper; +Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spoke +After the prompter, for our entrance: +But let them measure us by what they will; +We'll measure them a measure, and be gone. + +ROMEO: +Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; +Being but heavy, I will bear the light. + +MERCUTIO: +Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. + +ROMEO: +Not I, believe me: you have dancing shoes +With nimble soles: I have a soul of lead +So stakes me to the ground I cannot move. + +MERCUTIO: +You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings, +And soar with them above a common bound. + +ROMEO: +I am too sore enpierced with his shaft +To soar with his light feathers, and so bound, +I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe: +Under love's heavy burden do I sink. + +MERCUTIO: +And, to sink in it, should you burden love; +Too great oppression for a tender thing. + +ROMEO: +Is love a tender thing? it is too rough, +Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn. + +MERCUTIO: +If love be rough with you, be rough with love; +Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. +Give me a case to put my visage in: +A visor for a visor! what care I +What curious eye doth quote deformities? +Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me. + +BENVOLIO: +Come, knock and enter; and no sooner in, +But every man betake him to his legs. + +ROMEO: +A torch for me: let wantons light of heart +Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels, +For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase; +I'll be a candle-holder, and look on. +The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done. + +MERCUTIO: +Tut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word: +If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire +Of this sir-reverence love, wherein thou stick'st +Up to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho! + +ROMEO: +Nay, that's not so. + +MERCUTIO: +I mean, sir, in delay +We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. +Take our good meaning, for our judgment sits +Five times in that ere once in our five wits. + +ROMEO: +And we mean well in going to this mask; +But 'tis no wit to go. + +MERCUTIO: +Why, may one ask? + +ROMEO: +I dream'd a dream to-night. + +MERCUTIO: +And so did I. + +ROMEO: +Well, what was yours? + +MERCUTIO: +That dreamers often lie. + +ROMEO: +In bed asleep, while they do dream things true. + +MERCUTIO: +O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. +She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes +In shape no bigger than an agate-stone +On the fore-finger of an alderman, +Drawn with a team of little atomies +Athwart men's noses as they lie asleep; +Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders' legs, +The cover of the wings of grasshoppers, +The traces of the smallest spider's web, +The collars of the moonshine's watery beams, +Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film, +Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat, +Not so big as a round little worm +Prick'd from the lazy finger of a maid; +Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut +Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub, +Time out o' mind the fairies' coachmakers. +And in this state she gallops night by night +Through lovers' brains, and then they dream of love; +O'er courtiers' knees, that dream on court'sies straight, +O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees, +O'er ladies ' lips, who straight on kisses dream, +Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues, +Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are: +Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose, +And then dreams he of smelling out a suit; +And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig's tail +Tickling a parson's nose as a' lies asleep, +Then dreams, he of another benefice: +Sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck, +And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats, +Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades, +Of healths five-fathom deep; and then anon +Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes, +And being thus frighted swears a prayer or two +And sleeps again. This is that very Mab +That plats the manes of horses in the night, +And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs, +Which once untangled, much misfortune bodes: +This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs, +That presses them and learns them first to bear, +Making them women of good carriage: +This is she-- + +ROMEO: +Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace! +Thou talk'st of nothing. + +MERCUTIO: +True, I talk of dreams, +Which are the children of an idle brain, +Begot of nothing but vain fantasy, +Which is as thin of substance as the air +And more inconstant than the wind, who wooes +Even now the frozen bosom of the north, +And, being anger'd, puffs away from thence, +Turning his face to the dew-dropping south. + +BENVOLIO: +This wind, you talk of, blows us from ourselves; +Supper is done, and we shall come too late. + +ROMEO: +I fear, too early: for my mind misgives +Some consequence yet hanging in the stars +Shall bitterly begin his fearful date +With this night's revels and expire the term +Of a despised life closed in my breast +By some vile forfeit of untimely death. +But He, that hath the steerage of my course, +Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen. + +BENVOLIO: +Strike, drum. + +First Servant: +Where's Potpan, that he helps not to take away? He +shift a trencher? he scrape a trencher! + +Second Servant: +When good manners shall lie all in one or two men's +hands and they unwashed too, 'tis a foul thing. + +First Servant: +Away with the joint-stools, remove the +court-cupboard, look to the plate. Good thou, save +me a piece of marchpane; and, as thou lovest me, let +the porter let in Susan Grindstone and Nell. +Antony, and Potpan! + +Second Servant: +Ay, boy, ready. + +First Servant: +You are looked for and called for, asked for and +sought for, in the great chamber. + +Second Servant: +We cannot be here and there too. Cheerly, boys; be +brisk awhile, and the longer liver take all. + +CAPULET: +Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes +Unplagued with corns will have a bout with you. +Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all +Will now deny to dance? she that makes dainty, +She, I'll swear, hath corns; am I come near ye now? +Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day +That I have worn a visor and could tell +A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear, +Such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone: +You are welcome, gentlemen! come, musicians, play. +A hall, a hall! give room! and foot it, girls. +More light, you knaves; and turn the tables up, +And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot. +Ah, sirrah, this unlook'd-for sport comes well. +Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet; +For you and I are past our dancing days: +How long is't now since last yourself and I +Were in a mask? + +Second Capulet: +By'r lady, thirty years. + +CAPULET: +What, man! 'tis not so much, 'tis not so much: +'Tis since the nuptials of Lucentio, +Come pentecost as quickly as it will, +Some five and twenty years; and then we mask'd. + +Second Capulet: +'Tis more, 'tis more, his son is elder, sir; +His son is thirty. + +CAPULET: +Will you tell me that? +His son was but a ward two years ago. + +ROMEO: + +Servant: +I know not, sir. + +ROMEO: +O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! +It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night +Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; +Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! +So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, +As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. +The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, +And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. +Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! +For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. + +TYBALT: +This, by his voice, should be a Montague. +Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave +Come hither, cover'd with an antic face, +To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? +Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, +To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin. + +CAPULET: +Why, how now, kinsman! wherefore storm you so? + +TYBALT: +Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, +A villain that is hither come in spite, +To scorn at our solemnity this night. + +CAPULET: +Young Romeo is it? + +TYBALT: +'Tis he, that villain Romeo. + +CAPULET: +Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone; +He bears him like a portly gentleman; +And, to say truth, Verona brags of him +To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth: +I would not for the wealth of all the town +Here in my house do him disparagement: +Therefore be patient, take no note of him: +It is my will, the which if thou respect, +Show a fair presence and put off these frowns, +And ill-beseeming semblance for a feast. + +TYBALT: +It fits, when such a villain is a guest: +I'll not endure him. + +CAPULET: +He shall be endured: +What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to; +Am I the master here, or you? go to. +You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul! +You'll make a mutiny among my guests! +You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man! + +TYBALT: +Why, uncle, 'tis a shame. + +CAPULET: +Go to, go to; +You are a saucy boy: is't so, indeed? +This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what: +You must contrary me! marry, 'tis time. +Well said, my hearts! You are a princox; go: +Be quiet, or--More light, more light! For shame! +I'll make you quiet. What, cheerly, my hearts! + +TYBALT: +Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting +Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. +I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall +Now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall. + +ROMEO: + +JULIET: +Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, +Which mannerly devotion shows in this; +For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, +And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss. + +ROMEO: +Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? + +JULIET: +Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. + +ROMEO: +O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; +They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. + +JULIET: +Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake. + +ROMEO: +Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. +Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged. + +JULIET: +Then have my lips the sin that they have took. + +ROMEO: +Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! +Give me my sin again. + +JULIET: +You kiss by the book. + +Nurse: +Madam, your mother craves a word with you. + +ROMEO: +What is her mother? + +Nurse: +Marry, bachelor, +Her mother is the lady of the house, +And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous +I nursed her daughter, that you talk'd withal; +I tell you, he that can lay hold of her +Shall have the chinks. + +ROMEO: +Is she a Capulet? +O dear account! my life is my foe's debt. + +BENVOLIO: +Away, begone; the sport is at the best. + +ROMEO: +Ay, so I fear; the more is my unrest. + +CAPULET: +Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone; +We have a trifling foolish banquet towards. +Is it e'en so? why, then, I thank you all +I thank you, honest gentlemen; good night. +More torches here! Come on then, let's to bed. +Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late: +I'll to my rest. + +JULIET: +Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman? + +Nurse: +The son and heir of old Tiberio. + +JULIET: +What's he that now is going out of door? + +Nurse: +Marry, that, I think, be young Petrucio. + +JULIET: +What's he that follows there, that would not dance? + +Nurse: +I know not. + +JULIET: +Go ask his name: if he be married. +My grave is like to be my wedding bed. + +Nurse: +His name is Romeo, and a Montague; +The only son of your great enemy. + +JULIET: +My only love sprung from my only hate! +Too early seen unknown, and known too late! +Prodigious birth of love it is to me, +That I must love a loathed enemy. + +Nurse: +What's this? what's this? + +JULIET: +A rhyme I learn'd even now +Of one I danced withal. + +Nurse: +Anon, anon! +Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone. + +Chorus: +Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie, +And young affection gapes to be his heir; +That fair for which love groan'd for and would die, +With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair. +Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, +Alike betwitched by the charm of looks, +But to his foe supposed he must complain, +And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks: +Being held a foe, he may not have access +To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; +And she as much in love, her means much less +To meet her new-beloved any where: +But passion lends them power, time means, to meet +Tempering extremities with extreme sweet. + +ROMEO: +Can I go forward when my heart is here? +Turn back, dull earth, and find thy centre out. + +BENVOLIO: +Romeo! my cousin Romeo! + +MERCUTIO: +He is wise; +And, on my lie, hath stol'n him home to bed. + +BENVOLIO: +He ran this way, and leap'd this orchard wall: +Call, good Mercutio. + +MERCUTIO: +Nay, I'll conjure too. +Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover! +Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh: +Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied; +Cry but 'Ay me!' pronounce but 'love' and 'dove;' +Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word, +One nick-name for her purblind son and heir, +Young Adam Cupid, he that shot so trim, +When King Cophetua loved the beggar-maid! +He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not; +The ape is dead, and I must conjure him. +I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes, +By her high forehead and her scarlet lip, +By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh +And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, +That in thy likeness thou appear to us! + +BENVOLIO: +And if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him. + +MERCUTIO: +This cannot anger him: 'twould anger him +To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle +Of some strange nature, letting it there stand +Till she had laid it and conjured it down; +That were some spite: my invocation +Is fair and honest, and in his mistress' name +I conjure only but to raise up him. + +BENVOLIO: +Come, he hath hid himself among these trees, +To be consorted with the humorous night: +Blind is his love and best befits the dark. + +MERCUTIO: +If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark. +Now will he sit under a medlar tree, +And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit +As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone. +Romeo, that she were, O, that she were +An open et caetera, thou a poperin pear! +Romeo, good night: I'll to my truckle-bed; +This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep: +Come, shall we go? + +BENVOLIO: +Go, then; for 'tis in vain +To seek him here that means not to be found. + +ROMEO: +He jests at scars that never felt a wound. +But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? +It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. +Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, +Who is already sick and pale with grief, +That thou her maid art far more fair than she: +Be not her maid, since she is envious; +Her vestal livery is but sick and green +And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. +It is my lady, O, it is my love! +O, that she knew she were! +She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? +Her eye discourses; I will answer it. +I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: +Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, +Having some business, do entreat her eyes +To twinkle in their spheres till they return. +What if her eyes were there, they in her head? +The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, +As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven +Would through the airy region stream so bright +That birds would sing and think it were not night. +See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! +O, that I were a glove upon that hand, +That I might touch that cheek! + +JULIET: +Ay me! + +ROMEO: +She speaks: +O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art +As glorious to this night, being o'er my head +As is a winged messenger of heaven +Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes +Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him +When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds +And sails upon the bosom of the air. + +JULIET: +O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? +Deny thy father and refuse thy name; +Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, +And I'll no longer be a Capulet. + +ROMEO: + +JULIET: +'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; +Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. +What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, +Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part +Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! +What's in a name? that which we call a rose +By any other name would smell as sweet; +So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, +Retain that dear perfection which he owes +Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, +And for that name which is no part of thee +Take all myself. + +ROMEO: +I take thee at thy word: +Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; +Henceforth I never will be Romeo. + +JULIET: +What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night +So stumblest on my counsel? + +ROMEO: +By a name +I know not how to tell thee who I am: +My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, +Because it is an enemy to thee; +Had I it written, I would tear the word. + +JULIET: +My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words +Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound: +Art thou not Romeo and a Montague? + +ROMEO: +Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike. + +JULIET: +How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? +The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, +And the place death, considering who thou art, +If any of my kinsmen find thee here. + +ROMEO: +With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls; +For stony limits cannot hold love out, +And what love can do that dares love attempt; +Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me. + +JULIET: +If they do see thee, they will murder thee. + +ROMEO: +Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye +Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet, +And I am proof against their enmity. + +JULIET: +I would not for the world they saw thee here. + +ROMEO: +I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight; +And but thou love me, let them find me here: +My life were better ended by their hate, +Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love. + +JULIET: +By whose direction found'st thou out this place? + +ROMEO: +By love, who first did prompt me to inquire; +He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes. +I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far +As that vast shore wash'd with the farthest sea, +I would adventure for such merchandise. + +JULIET: +Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face, +Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek +For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night +Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny +What I have spoke: but farewell compliment! +Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,' +And I will take thy word: yet if thou swear'st, +Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries +Then say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo, +If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully: +Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won, +I'll frown and be perverse an say thee nay, +So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world. +In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, +And therefore thou mayst think my 'havior light: +But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true +Than those that have more cunning to be strange. +I should have been more strange, I must confess, +But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware, +My true love's passion: therefore pardon me, +And not impute this yielding to light love, +Which the dark night hath so discovered. + +ROMEO: +Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear +That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops-- + +JULIET: +O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, +That monthly changes in her circled orb, +Lest that thy love prove likewise variable. + +ROMEO: +What shall I swear by? + +JULIET: +Do not swear at all; +Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, +Which is the god of my idolatry, +And I'll believe thee. + +ROMEO: +If my heart's dear love-- + +JULIET: +Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee, +I have no joy of this contract to-night: +It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; +Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be +Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night! +This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath, +May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. +Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest +Come to thy heart as that within my breast! + +ROMEO: +O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? + +JULIET: +What satisfaction canst thou have to-night? + +ROMEO: +The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine. + +JULIET: +I gave thee mine before thou didst request it: +And yet I would it were to give again. + +ROMEO: +Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love? + +JULIET: +But to be frank, and give it thee again. +And yet I wish but for the thing I have: +My bounty is as boundless as the sea, +My love as deep; the more I give to thee, +The more I have, for both are infinite. +I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu! +Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true. +Stay but a little, I will come again. + +ROMEO: +O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard. +Being in night, all this is but a dream, +Too flattering-sweet to be substantial. + +JULIET: +Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. +If that thy bent of love be honourable, +Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow, +By one that I'll procure to come to thee, +Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite; +And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay +And follow thee my lord throughout the world. + +Nurse: + +JULIET: +I come, anon.--But if thou mean'st not well, +I do beseech thee-- + +Nurse: + +JULIET: +By and by, I come:-- +To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief: +To-morrow will I send. + +ROMEO: +So thrive my soul-- + +JULIET: +A thousand times good night! + +ROMEO: +A thousand times the worse, to want thy light. +Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from +their books, +But love from love, toward school with heavy looks. + +JULIET: +Hist! Romeo, hist! O, for a falconer's voice, +To lure this tassel-gentle back again! +Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud; +Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies, +And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine, +With repetition of my Romeo's name. + +ROMEO: +It is my soul that calls upon my name: +How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night, +Like softest music to attending ears! + +JULIET: +Romeo! + +ROMEO: +My dear? + +JULIET: +At what o'clock to-morrow +Shall I send to thee? + +ROMEO: +At the hour of nine. + +JULIET: +I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then. +I have forgot why I did call thee back. + +ROMEO: +Let me stand here till thou remember it. + +JULIET: +I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, +Remembering how I love thy company. + +ROMEO: +And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, +Forgetting any other home but this. + +JULIET: +'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone: +And yet no further than a wanton's bird; +Who lets it hop a little from her hand, +Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, +And with a silk thread plucks it back again, +So loving-jealous of his liberty. + +ROMEO: +I would I were thy bird. + +JULIET: +Sweet, so would I: +Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. +Good night, good night! parting is such +sweet sorrow, +That I shall say good night till it be morrow. + +ROMEO: +Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! +Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! +Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell, +His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night, +Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light, +And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels +From forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels: +Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, +The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry, +I must up-fill this osier cage of ours +With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers. +The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb; +What is her burying grave that is her womb, +And from her womb children of divers kind +We sucking on her natural bosom find, +Many for many virtues excellent, +None but for some and yet all different. +O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies +In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities: +For nought so vile that on the earth doth live +But to the earth some special good doth give, +Nor aught so good but strain'd from that fair use +Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse: +Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied; +And vice sometimes by action dignified. +Within the infant rind of this small flower +Poison hath residence and medicine power: +For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; +Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart. +Two such opposed kings encamp them still +In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will; +And where the worser is predominant, +Full soon the canker death eats up that plant. + +ROMEO: +Good morrow, father. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Benedicite! +What early tongue so sweet saluteth me? +Young son, it argues a distemper'd head +So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed: +Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye, +And where care lodges, sleep will never lie; +But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain +Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign: +Therefore thy earliness doth me assure +Thou art up-roused by some distemperature; +Or if not so, then here I hit it right, +Our Romeo hath not been in bed to-night. + +ROMEO: +That last is true; the sweeter rest was mine. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +God pardon sin! wast thou with Rosaline? + +ROMEO: +With Rosaline, my ghostly father? no; +I have forgot that name, and that name's woe. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +That's my good son: but where hast thou been, then? + +ROMEO: +I'll tell thee, ere thou ask it me again. +I have been feasting with mine enemy, +Where on a sudden one hath wounded me, +That's by me wounded: both our remedies +Within thy help and holy physic lies: +I bear no hatred, blessed man, for, lo, +My intercession likewise steads my foe. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift; +Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift. + +ROMEO: +Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set +On the fair daughter of rich Capulet: +As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine; +And all combined, save what thou must combine +By holy marriage: when and where and how +We met, we woo'd and made exchange of vow, +I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray, +That thou consent to marry us to-day. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here! +Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear, +So soon forsaken? young men's love then lies +Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes. +Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine +Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline! +How much salt water thrown away in waste, +To season love, that of it doth not taste! +The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears, +Thy old groans ring yet in my ancient ears; +Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit +Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet: +If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine, +Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline: +And art thou changed? pronounce this sentence then, +Women may fall, when there's no strength in men. + +ROMEO: +Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +For doting, not for loving, pupil mine. + +ROMEO: +And bad'st me bury love. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Not in a grave, +To lay one in, another out to have. + +ROMEO: +I pray thee, chide not; she whom I love now +Doth grace for grace and love for love allow; +The other did not so. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +O, she knew well +Thy love did read by rote and could not spell. +But come, young waverer, come, go with me, +In one respect I'll thy assistant be; +For this alliance may so happy prove, +To turn your households' rancour to pure love. + +ROMEO: +O, let us hence; I stand on sudden haste. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast. + +MERCUTIO: +Where the devil should this Romeo be? +Came he not home to-night? + +BENVOLIO: +Not to his father's; I spoke with his man. + +MERCUTIO: +Ah, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline. +Torments him so, that he will sure run mad. + +BENVOLIO: +Tybalt, the kinsman of old Capulet, +Hath sent a letter to his father's house. + +MERCUTIO: +A challenge, on my life. + +BENVOLIO: +Romeo will answer it. + +MERCUTIO: +Any man that can write may answer a letter. + +BENVOLIO: +Nay, he will answer the letter's master, how he +dares, being dared. + +MERCUTIO: +Alas poor Romeo! he is already dead; stabbed with a +white wench's black eye; shot through the ear with a +love-song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the +blind bow-boy's butt-shaft: and is he a man to +encounter Tybalt? + +BENVOLIO: +Why, what is Tybalt? + +MERCUTIO: +More than prince of cats, I can tell you. O, he is +the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as +you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance, and +proportion; rests me his minim rest, one, two, and +the third in your bosom: the very butcher of a silk +button, a duellist, a duellist; a gentleman of the +very first house, of the first and second cause: +ah, the immortal passado! the punto reverso! the +hai! + +BENVOLIO: +The what? + +MERCUTIO: +The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting +fantasticoes; these new tuners of accents! 'By Jesu, +a very good blade! a very tall man! a very good +whore!' Why, is not this a lamentable thing, +grandsire, that we should be thus afflicted with +these strange flies, these fashion-mongers, these +perdona-mi's, who stand so much on the new form, +that they cannot at ease on the old bench? O, their +bones, their bones! + +BENVOLIO: +Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo. + +MERCUTIO: +Without his roe, like a dried herring: flesh, flesh, +how art thou fishified! Now is he for the numbers +that Petrarch flowed in: Laura to his lady was but a +kitchen-wench; marry, she had a better love to +be-rhyme her; Dido a dowdy; Cleopatra a gipsy; +Helen and Hero hildings and harlots; Thisbe a grey +eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signior +Romeo, bon jour! there's a French salutation +to your French slop. You gave us the counterfeit +fairly last night. + +ROMEO: +Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit did I give you? + +MERCUTIO: +The ship, sir, the slip; can you not conceive? + +ROMEO: +Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great; and in +such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy. + +MERCUTIO: +That's as much as to say, such a case as yours +constrains a man to bow in the hams. + +ROMEO: +Meaning, to court'sy. + +MERCUTIO: +Thou hast most kindly hit it. + +ROMEO: +A most courteous exposition. + +MERCUTIO: +Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy. + +ROMEO: +Pink for flower. + +MERCUTIO: +Right. + +ROMEO: +Why, then is my pump well flowered. + +MERCUTIO: +Well said: follow me this jest now till thou hast +worn out thy pump, that when the single sole of it +is worn, the jest may remain after the wearing sole singular. + +ROMEO: +O single-soled jest, solely singular for the +singleness. + +MERCUTIO: +Come between us, good Benvolio; my wits faint. + +ROMEO: +Switch and spurs, switch and spurs; or I'll cry a match. + +MERCUTIO: +Nay, if thy wits run the wild-goose chase, I have +done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of +thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five: +was I with you there for the goose? + +ROMEO: +Thou wast never with me for any thing when thou wast +not there for the goose. + +MERCUTIO: +I will bite thee by the ear for that jest. + +ROMEO: +Nay, good goose, bite not. + +MERCUTIO: +Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting; it is a most +sharp sauce. + +ROMEO: +And is it not well served in to a sweet goose? + +MERCUTIO: +O here's a wit of cheveril, that stretches from an +inch narrow to an ell broad! + +ROMEO: +I stretch it out for that word 'broad;' which added +to the goose, proves thee far and wide a broad goose. + +MERCUTIO: +Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? +now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art +thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature: +for this drivelling love is like a great natural, +that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole. + +BENVOLIO: +Stop there, stop there. + +MERCUTIO: +Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against the hair. + +BENVOLIO: +Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large. + +MERCUTIO: +O, thou art deceived; I would have made it short: +for I was come to the whole depth of my tale; and +meant, indeed, to occupy the argument no longer. + +ROMEO: +Here's goodly gear! + +MERCUTIO: +A sail, a sail! + +BENVOLIO: +Two, two; a shirt and a smock. + +Nurse: +Peter! + +PETER: +Anon! + +Nurse: +My fan, Peter. + +MERCUTIO: +Good Peter, to hide her face; for her fan's the +fairer face. + +Nurse: +God ye good morrow, gentlemen. + +MERCUTIO: +God ye good den, fair gentlewoman. + +Nurse: +Is it good den? + +MERCUTIO: +'Tis no less, I tell you, for the bawdy hand of the +dial is now upon the prick of noon. + +Nurse: +Out upon you! what a man are you! + +ROMEO: +One, gentlewoman, that God hath made for himself to +mar. + +Nurse: +By my troth, it is well said; 'for himself to mar,' +quoth a'? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where I +may find the young Romeo? + +ROMEO: +I can tell you; but young Romeo will be older when +you have found him than he was when you sought him: +I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse. + +Nurse: +You say well. + +MERCUTIO: +Yea, is the worst well? very well took, i' faith; +wisely, wisely. + +Nurse: +if you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with +you. + +BENVOLIO: +She will indite him to some supper. + +MERCUTIO: +A bawd, a bawd, a bawd! so ho! + +ROMEO: +What hast thou found? + +MERCUTIO: +No hare, sir; unless a hare, sir, in a lenten pie, +that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent. +An old hare hoar, +And an old hare hoar, +Is very good meat in lent +But a hare that is hoar +Is too much for a score, +When it hoars ere it be spent. +Romeo, will you come to your father's? we'll +to dinner, thither. + +ROMEO: +I will follow you. + +MERCUTIO: +Farewell, ancient lady; farewell, +'lady, lady, lady.' + +Nurse: +Marry, farewell! I pray you, sir, what saucy +merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery? + +ROMEO: +A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk, +and will speak more in a minute than he will stand +to in a month. + +Nurse: +An a' speak any thing against me, I'll take him +down, an a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such +Jacks; and if I cannot, I'll find those that shall. +Scurvy knave! I am none of his flirt-gills; I am +none of his skains-mates. And thou must stand by +too, and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure? + +PETER: +I saw no man use you a pleasure; if I had, my weapon +should quickly have been out, I warrant you: I dare +draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a +good quarrel, and the law on my side. + +Nurse: +Now, afore God, I am so vexed, that every part about +me quivers. Scurvy knave! Pray you, sir, a word: +and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you +out; what she bade me say, I will keep to myself: +but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into +a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross +kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman +is young; and, therefore, if you should deal double +with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered +to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing. + +ROMEO: +Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I +protest unto thee-- + +Nurse: +Good heart, and, i' faith, I will tell her as much: +Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman. + +ROMEO: +What wilt thou tell her, nurse? thou dost not mark me. + +Nurse: +I will tell her, sir, that you do protest; which, as +I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer. + +ROMEO: +Bid her devise +Some means to come to shrift this afternoon; +And there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell +Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains. + +Nurse: +No truly sir; not a penny. + +ROMEO: +Go to; I say you shall. + +Nurse: +This afternoon, sir? well, she shall be there. + +ROMEO: +And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall: +Within this hour my man shall be with thee +And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair; +Which to the high top-gallant of my joy +Must be my convoy in the secret night. +Farewell; be trusty, and I'll quit thy pains: +Farewell; commend me to thy mistress. + +Nurse: +Now God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir. + +ROMEO: +What say'st thou, my dear nurse? + +Nurse: +Is your man secret? Did you ne'er hear say, +Two may keep counsel, putting one away? + +ROMEO: +I warrant thee, my man's as true as steel. + +NURSE: +Well, sir; my mistress is the sweetest lady--Lord, +Lord! when 'twas a little prating thing:--O, there +is a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain +lay knife aboard; but she, good soul, had as lief +see a toad, a very toad, as see him. I anger her +sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer +man; but, I'll warrant you, when I say so, she looks +as pale as any clout in the versal world. Doth not +rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter? + +ROMEO: +Ay, nurse; what of that? both with an R. + +Nurse: +Ah. mocker! that's the dog's name; R is for +the--No; I know it begins with some other +letter:--and she hath the prettiest sententious of +it, of you and rosemary, that it would do you good +to hear it. + +ROMEO: +Commend me to thy lady. + +Nurse: +Ay, a thousand times. +Peter! + +PETER: +Anon! + +Nurse: +Peter, take my fan, and go before and apace. + +JULIET: +The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse; +In half an hour she promised to return. +Perchance she cannot meet him: that's not so. +O, she is lame! love's heralds should be thoughts, +Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams, +Driving back shadows over louring hills: +Therefore do nimble-pinion'd doves draw love, +And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings. +Now is the sun upon the highmost hill +Of this day's journey, and from nine till twelve +Is three long hours, yet she is not come. +Had she affections and warm youthful blood, +She would be as swift in motion as a ball; +My words would bandy her to my sweet love, +And his to me: +But old folks, many feign as they were dead; +Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead. +O God, she comes! +O honey nurse, what news? +Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away. + +Nurse: +Peter, stay at the gate. + +JULIET: +Now, good sweet nurse,--O Lord, why look'st thou sad? +Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily; +If good, thou shamest the music of sweet news +By playing it to me with so sour a face. + +Nurse: +I am a-weary, give me leave awhile: +Fie, how my bones ache! what a jaunt have I had! + +JULIET: +I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news: +Nay, come, I pray thee, speak; good, good nurse, speak. + +Nurse: +Jesu, what haste? can you not stay awhile? +Do you not see that I am out of breath? + +JULIET: +How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath +To say to me that thou art out of breath? +The excuse that thou dost make in this delay +Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse. +Is thy news good, or bad? answer to that; +Say either, and I'll stay the circumstance: +Let me be satisfied, is't good or bad? + +Nurse: +Well, you have made a simple choice; you know not +how to choose a man: Romeo! no, not he; though his +face be better than any man's, yet his leg excels +all men's; and for a hand, and a foot, and a body, +though they be not to be talked on, yet they are +past compare: he is not the flower of courtesy, +but, I'll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb. Go thy +ways, wench; serve God. What, have you dined at home? + +JULIET: +No, no: but all this did I know before. +What says he of our marriage? what of that? + +Nurse: +Lord, how my head aches! what a head have I! +It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces. +My back o' t' other side,--O, my back, my back! +Beshrew your heart for sending me about, +To catch my death with jaunting up and down! + +JULIET: +I' faith, I am sorry that thou art not well. +Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my love? + +Nurse: +Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a +courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I +warrant, a virtuous,--Where is your mother? + +JULIET: +Where is my mother! why, she is within; +Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest! +'Your love says, like an honest gentleman, +Where is your mother?' + +Nurse: +O God's lady dear! +Are you so hot? marry, come up, I trow; +Is this the poultice for my aching bones? +Henceforward do your messages yourself. + +JULIET: +Here's such a coil! come, what says Romeo? + +Nurse: +Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day? + +JULIET: +I have. + +Nurse: +Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence' cell; +There stays a husband to make you a wife: +Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks, +They'll be in scarlet straight at any news. +Hie you to church; I must another way, +To fetch a ladder, by the which your love +Must climb a bird's nest soon when it is dark: +I am the drudge and toil in your delight, +But you shall bear the burden soon at night. +Go; I'll to dinner: hie you to the cell. + +JULIET: +Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +So smile the heavens upon this holy act, +That after hours with sorrow chide us not! + +ROMEO: +Amen, amen! but come what sorrow can, +It cannot countervail the exchange of joy +That one short minute gives me in her sight: +Do thou but close our hands with holy words, +Then love-devouring death do what he dare; +It is enough I may but call her mine. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +These violent delights have violent ends +And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, +Which as they kiss consume: the sweetest honey +Is loathsome in his own deliciousness +And in the taste confounds the appetite: +Therefore love moderately; long love doth so; +Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow. +Here comes the lady: O, so light a foot +Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint: +A lover may bestride the gossamer +That idles in the wanton summer air, +And yet not fall; so light is vanity. + +JULIET: +Good even to my ghostly confessor. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both. + +JULIET: +As much to him, else is his thanks too much. + +ROMEO: +Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy +Be heap'd like mine and that thy skill be more +To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath +This neighbour air, and let rich music's tongue +Unfold the imagined happiness that both +Receive in either by this dear encounter. + +JULIET: +Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, +Brags of his substance, not of ornament: +They are but beggars that can count their worth; +But my true love is grown to such excess +I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Come, come with me, and we will make short work; +For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone +Till holy church incorporate two in one. + +BENVOLIO: +I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire: +The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, +And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl; +For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. + +MERCUTIO: +Thou art like one of those fellows that when he +enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword +upon the table and says 'God send me no need of +thee!' and by the operation of the second cup draws +it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need. + +BENVOLIO: +Am I like such a fellow? + +MERCUTIO: +Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as +any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as +soon moody to be moved. + +BENVOLIO: +And what to? + +MERCUTIO: +Nay, an there were two such, we should have none +shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why, +thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, +or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast: thou +wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no +other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes: what +eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel? +Thy head is as fun of quarrels as an egg is full of +meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as +an egg for quarrelling: thou hast quarrelled with a +man for coughing in the street, because he hath +wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun: +didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing +his new doublet before Easter? with another, for +tying his new shoes with old riband? and yet thou +wilt tutor me from quarrelling! + +BENVOLIO: +An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man +should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter. + +MERCUTIO: +The fee-simple! O simple! + +BENVOLIO: +By my head, here come the Capulets. + +MERCUTIO: +By my heel, I care not. + +TYBALT: +Follow me close, for I will speak to them. +Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you. + +MERCUTIO: +And but one word with one of us? couple it with +something; make it a word and a blow. + +TYBALT: +You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you +will give me occasion. + +MERCUTIO: +Could you not take some occasion without giving? + +TYBALT: +Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo,-- + +MERCUTIO: +Consort! what, dost thou make us minstrels? an +thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but +discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall +make you dance. 'Zounds, consort! + +BENVOLIO: +We talk here in the public haunt of men: +Either withdraw unto some private place, +And reason coldly of your grievances, +Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us. + +MERCUTIO: +Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze; +I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I. + +TYBALT: +Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man. + +MERCUTIO: +But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery: +Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower; +Your worship in that sense may call him 'man.' + +TYBALT: +Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford +No better term than this,--thou art a villain. + +ROMEO: +Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee +Doth much excuse the appertaining rage +To such a greeting: villain am I none; +Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not. + +TYBALT: +Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries +That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw. + +ROMEO: +I do protest, I never injured thee, +But love thee better than thou canst devise, +Till thou shalt know the reason of my love: +And so, good Capulet,--which name I tender +As dearly as my own,--be satisfied. + +MERCUTIO: +O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! +Alla stoccata carries it away. +Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk? + +TYBALT: +What wouldst thou have with me? + +MERCUTIO: +Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine +lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you +shall use me hereafter, drybeat the rest of the +eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pitcher +by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your +ears ere it be out. + +TYBALT: +I am for you. + +ROMEO: +Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. + +MERCUTIO: +Come, sir, your passado. + +ROMEO: +Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons. +Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! +Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath +Forbidden bandying in Verona streets: +Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio! + +MERCUTIO: +I am hurt. +A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. +Is he gone, and hath nothing? + +BENVOLIO: +What, art thou hurt? + +MERCUTIO: +Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough. +Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon. + +ROMEO: +Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much. + +MERCUTIO: +No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a +church-door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve: ask for +me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I +am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o' +both your houses! 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a +cat, to scratch a man to death! a braggart, a +rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of +arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? I +was hurt under your arm. + +ROMEO: +I thought all for the best. + +MERCUTIO: +Help me into some house, Benvolio, +Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses! +They have made worms' meat of me: I have it, +And soundly too: your houses! + +ROMEO: +This gentleman, the prince's near ally, +My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt +In my behalf; my reputation stain'd +With Tybalt's slander,--Tybalt, that an hour +Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, +Thy beauty hath made me effeminate +And in my temper soften'd valour's steel! + +BENVOLIO: +O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead! +That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, +Which too untimely here did scorn the earth. + +ROMEO: +This day's black fate on more days doth depend; +This but begins the woe, others must end. + +BENVOLIO: +Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. + +ROMEO: +Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain! +Away to heaven, respective lenity, +And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now! +Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again, +That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul +Is but a little way above our heads, +Staying for thine to keep him company: +Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him. + +TYBALT: +Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, +Shalt with him hence. + +ROMEO: +This shall determine that. + +BENVOLIO: +Romeo, away, be gone! +The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. +Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death, +If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away! + +ROMEO: +O, I am fortune's fool! + +BENVOLIO: +Why dost thou stay? + +First Citizen: +Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio? +Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he? + +BENVOLIO: +There lies that Tybalt. + +First Citizen: +Up, sir, go with me; +I charge thee in the princes name, obey. + +PRINCE: +Where are the vile beginners of this fray? + +BENVOLIO: +O noble prince, I can discover all +The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: +There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, +That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio. + +LADY CAPULET: +Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child! +O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt +O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, +For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague. +O cousin, cousin! + +PRINCE: +Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? + +BENVOLIO: +Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay; +Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink +How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal +Your high displeasure: all this uttered +With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd, +Could not take truce with the unruly spleen +Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts +With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast, +Who all as hot, turns deadly point to point, +And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats +Cold death aside, and with the other sends +It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity, +Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud, +'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and, swifter than +his tongue, +His agile arm beats down their fatal points, +And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm +An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life +Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled; +But by and by comes back to Romeo, +Who had but newly entertain'd revenge, +And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere I +Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain. +And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. +This is the truth, or let Benvolio die. + +LADY CAPULET: +He is a kinsman to the Montague; +Affection makes him false; he speaks not true: +Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, +And all those twenty could but kill one life. +I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give; +Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live. + +PRINCE: +Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio; +Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe? + +MONTAGUE: +Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend; +His fault concludes but what the law should end, +The life of Tybalt. + +PRINCE: +And for that offence +Immediately we do exile him hence: +I have an interest in your hate's proceeding, +My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding; +But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine +That you shall all repent the loss of mine: +I will be deaf to pleading and excuses; +Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses: +Therefore use none: let Romeo hence in haste, +Else, when he's found, that hour is his last. +Bear hence this body and attend our will: +Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill. + +JULIET: +Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, +Towards Phoebus' lodging: such a wagoner +As Phaethon would whip you to the west, +And bring in cloudy night immediately. +Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, +That runaway's eyes may wink and Romeo +Leap to these arms, untalk'd of and unseen. +Lovers can see to do their amorous rites +By their own beauties; or, if love be blind, +It best agrees with night. Come, civil night, +Thou sober-suited matron, all in black, +And learn me how to lose a winning match, +Play'd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods: +Hood my unmann'd blood, bating in my cheeks, +With thy black mantle; till strange love, grown bold, +Think true love acted simple modesty. +Come, night; come, Romeo; come, thou day in night; +For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night +Whiter than new snow on a raven's back. +Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night, +Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, +Take him and cut him out in little stars, +And he will make the face of heaven so fine +That all the world will be in love with night +And pay no worship to the garish sun. +O, I have bought the mansion of a love, +But not possess'd it, and, though I am sold, +Not yet enjoy'd: so tedious is this day +As is the night before some festival +To an impatient child that hath new robes +And may not wear them. O, here comes my nurse, +And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks +But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence. +Now, nurse, what news? What hast thou there? the cords +That Romeo bid thee fetch? + +Nurse: +Ay, ay, the cords. + +JULIET: +Ay me! what news? why dost thou wring thy hands? + +Nurse: +Ah, well-a-day! he's dead, he's dead, he's dead! +We are undone, lady, we are undone! +Alack the day! he's gone, he's kill'd, he's dead! + +JULIET: +Can heaven be so envious? + +Nurse: +Romeo can, +Though heaven cannot: O Romeo, Romeo! +Who ever would have thought it? Romeo! + +JULIET: +What devil art thou, that dost torment me thus? +This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell. +Hath Romeo slain himself? say thou but 'I,' +And that bare vowel 'I' shall poison more +Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice: +I am not I, if there be such an I; +Or those eyes shut, that make thee answer 'I.' +If he be slain, say 'I'; or if not, no: +Brief sounds determine of my weal or woe. + +Nurse: +I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes,-- +God save the mark!--here on his manly breast: +A piteous corse, a bloody piteous corse; +Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaub'd in blood, +All in gore-blood; I swounded at the sight. + +JULIET: +O, break, my heart! poor bankrupt, break at once! +To prison, eyes, ne'er look on liberty! +Vile earth, to earth resign; end motion here; +And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier! + +Nurse: +O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had! +O courteous Tybalt! honest gentleman! +That ever I should live to see thee dead! + +JULIET: +What storm is this that blows so contrary? +Is Romeo slaughter'd, and is Tybalt dead? +My dear-loved cousin, and my dearer lord? +Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general doom! +For who is living, if those two are gone? + +Nurse: +Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished; +Romeo that kill'd him, he is banished. + +JULIET: +O God! did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood? + +Nurse: +It did, it did; alas the day, it did! + +JULIET: +O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! +Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? +Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical! +Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb! +Despised substance of divinest show! +Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st, +A damned saint, an honourable villain! +O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell, +When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend +In moral paradise of such sweet flesh? +Was ever book containing such vile matter +So fairly bound? O that deceit should dwell +In such a gorgeous palace! + +Nurse: +There's no trust, +No faith, no honesty in men; all perjured, +All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers. +Ah, where's my man? give me some aqua vitae: +These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old. +Shame come to Romeo! + +JULIET: +Blister'd be thy tongue +For such a wish! he was not born to shame: +Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit; +For 'tis a throne where honour may be crown'd +Sole monarch of the universal earth. +O, what a beast was I to chide at him! + +Nurse: +Will you speak well of him that kill'd your cousin? + +JULIET: +Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? +Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name, +When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it? +But, wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? +That villain cousin would have kill'd my husband: +Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring; +Your tributary drops belong to woe, +Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy. +My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; +And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband: +All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then? +Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death, +That murder'd me: I would forget it fain; +But, O, it presses to my memory, +Like damned guilty deeds to sinners' minds: +'Tybalt is dead, and Romeo--banished;' +That 'banished,' that one word 'banished,' +Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt's death +Was woe enough, if it had ended there: +Or, if sour woe delights in fellowship +And needly will be rank'd with other griefs, +Why follow'd not, when she said 'Tybalt's dead,' +Thy father, or thy mother, nay, or both, +Which modern lamentations might have moved? +But with a rear-ward following Tybalt's death, +'Romeo is banished,' to speak that word, +Is father, mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet, +All slain, all dead. 'Romeo is banished!' +There is no end, no limit, measure, bound, +In that word's death; no words can that woe sound. +Where is my father, and my mother, nurse? + +Nurse: +Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's corse: +Will you go to them? I will bring you thither. + +JULIET: +Wash they his wounds with tears: mine shall be spent, +When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment. +Take up those cords: poor ropes, you are beguiled, +Both you and I; for Romeo is exiled: +He made you for a highway to my bed; +But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed. +Come, cords, come, nurse; I'll to my wedding-bed; +And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead! + +Nurse: +Hie to your chamber: I'll find Romeo +To comfort you: I wot well where he is. +Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night: +I'll to him; he is hid at Laurence' cell. + +JULIET: +O, find him! give this ring to my true knight, +And bid him come to take his last farewell. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Romeo, come forth; come forth, thou fearful man: +Affliction is enamour'd of thy parts, +And thou art wedded to calamity. + +ROMEO: +Father, what news? what is the prince's doom? +What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand, +That I yet know not? + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Too familiar +Is my dear son with such sour company: +I bring thee tidings of the prince's doom. + +ROMEO: +What less than dooms-day is the prince's doom? + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +A gentler judgment vanish'd from his lips, +Not body's death, but body's banishment. + +ROMEO: +Ha, banishment! be merciful, say 'death;' +For exile hath more terror in his look, +Much more than death: do not say 'banishment.' + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Hence from Verona art thou banished: +Be patient, for the world is broad and wide. + +ROMEO: +There is no world without Verona walls, +But purgatory, torture, hell itself. +Hence-banished is banish'd from the world, +And world's exile is death: then banished, +Is death mis-term'd: calling death banishment, +Thou cutt'st my head off with a golden axe, +And smilest upon the stroke that murders me. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness! +Thy fault our law calls death; but the kind prince, +Taking thy part, hath rush'd aside the law, +And turn'd that black word death to banishment: +This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not. + +ROMEO: +'Tis torture, and not mercy: heaven is here, +Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog +And little mouse, every unworthy thing, +Live here in heaven and may look on her; +But Romeo may not: more validity, +More honourable state, more courtship lives +In carrion-flies than Romeo: they my seize +On the white wonder of dear Juliet's hand +And steal immortal blessing from her lips, +Who even in pure and vestal modesty, +Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin; +But Romeo may not; he is banished: +Flies may do this, but I from this must fly: +They are free men, but I am banished. +And say'st thou yet that exile is not death? +Hadst thou no poison mix'd, no sharp-ground knife, +No sudden mean of death, though ne'er so mean, +But 'banished' to kill me?--'banished'? +O friar, the damned use that word in hell; +Howlings attend it: how hast thou the heart, +Being a divine, a ghostly confessor, +A sin-absolver, and my friend profess'd, +To mangle me with that word 'banished'? + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Thou fond mad man, hear me but speak a word. + +ROMEO: +O, thou wilt speak again of banishment. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +I'll give thee armour to keep off that word: +Adversity's sweet milk, philosophy, +To comfort thee, though thou art banished. + +ROMEO: +Yet 'banished'? Hang up philosophy! +Unless philosophy can make a Juliet, +Displant a town, reverse a prince's doom, +It helps not, it prevails not: talk no more. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +O, then I see that madmen have no ears. + +ROMEO: +How should they, when that wise men have no eyes? + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Let me dispute with thee of thy estate. + +ROMEO: +Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel: +Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love, +An hour but married, Tybalt murdered, +Doting like me and like me banished, +Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair, +And fall upon the ground, as I do now, +Taking the measure of an unmade grave. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Arise; one knocks; good Romeo, hide thyself. + +ROMEO: +Not I; unless the breath of heartsick groans, +Mist-like, infold me from the search of eyes. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Hark, how they knock! Who's there? Romeo, arise; +Thou wilt be taken. Stay awhile! Stand up; +Run to my study. By and by! God's will, +What simpleness is this! I come, I come! +Who knocks so hard? whence come you? what's your will? + +Nurse: + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Welcome, then. + +Nurse: +O holy friar, O, tell me, holy friar, +Where is my lady's lord, where's Romeo? + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +There on the ground, with his own tears made drunk. + +Nurse: +O, he is even in my mistress' case, +Just in her case! O woful sympathy! +Piteous predicament! Even so lies she, +Blubbering and weeping, weeping and blubbering. +Stand up, stand up; stand, and you be a man: +For Juliet's sake, for her sake, rise and stand; +Why should you fall into so deep an O? + +ROMEO: +Nurse! + +Nurse: +Ah sir! ah sir! Well, death's the end of all. + +ROMEO: +Spakest thou of Juliet? how is it with her? +Doth she not think me an old murderer, +Now I have stain'd the childhood of our joy +With blood removed but little from her own? +Where is she? and how doth she? and what says +My conceal'd lady to our cancell'd love? + +Nurse: +O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps; +And now falls on her bed; and then starts up, +And Tybalt calls; and then on Romeo cries, +And then down falls again. + +ROMEO: +As if that name, +Shot from the deadly level of a gun, +Did murder her; as that name's cursed hand +Murder'd her kinsman. O, tell me, friar, tell me, +In what vile part of this anatomy +Doth my name lodge? tell me, that I may sack +The hateful mansion. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Hold thy desperate hand: +Art thou a man? thy form cries out thou art: +Thy tears are womanish; thy wild acts denote +The unreasonable fury of a beast: +Unseemly woman in a seeming man! +Or ill-beseeming beast in seeming both! +Thou hast amazed me: by my holy order, +I thought thy disposition better temper'd. +Hast thou slain Tybalt? wilt thou slay thyself? +And stay thy lady too that lives in thee, +By doing damned hate upon thyself? +Why rail'st thou on thy birth, the heaven, and earth? +Since birth, and heaven, and earth, all three do meet +In thee at once; which thou at once wouldst lose. +Fie, fie, thou shamest thy shape, thy love, thy wit; +Which, like a usurer, abound'st in all, +And usest none in that true use indeed +Which should bedeck thy shape, thy love, thy wit: +Thy noble shape is but a form of wax, +Digressing from the valour of a man; +Thy dear love sworn but hollow perjury, +Killing that love which thou hast vow'd to cherish; +Thy wit, that ornament to shape and love, +Misshapen in the conduct of them both, +Like powder in a skitless soldier's flask, +Is set afire by thine own ignorance, +And thou dismember'd with thine own defence. +What, rouse thee, man! thy Juliet is alive, +For whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead; +There art thou happy: Tybalt would kill thee, +But thou slew'st Tybalt; there are thou happy too: +The law that threaten'd death becomes thy friend +And turns it to exile; there art thou happy: +A pack of blessings lights up upon thy back; +Happiness courts thee in her best array; +But, like a misbehaved and sullen wench, +Thou pout'st upon thy fortune and thy love: +Take heed, take heed, for such die miserable. +Go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed, +Ascend her chamber, hence and comfort her: +But look thou stay not till the watch be set, +For then thou canst not pass to Mantua; +Where thou shalt live, till we can find a time +To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends, +Beg pardon of the prince, and call thee back +With twenty hundred thousand times more joy +Than thou went'st forth in lamentation. +Go before, nurse: commend me to thy lady; +And bid her hasten all the house to bed, +Which heavy sorrow makes them apt unto: +Romeo is coming. + +Nurse: +O Lord, I could have stay'd here all the night +To hear good counsel: O, what learning is! +My lord, I'll tell my lady you will come. + +ROMEO: +Do so, and bid my sweet prepare to chide. + +Nurse: +Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir: +Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late. + +ROMEO: +How well my comfort is revived by this! + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Go hence; good night; and here stands all your state: +Either be gone before the watch be set, +Or by the break of day disguised from hence: +Sojourn in Mantua; I'll find out your man, +And he shall signify from time to time +Every good hap to you that chances here: +Give me thy hand; 'tis late: farewell; good night. + +ROMEO: +But that a joy past joy calls out on me, +It were a grief, so brief to part with thee: Farewell. + +CAPULET: +Things have fall'n out, sir, so unluckily, +That we have had no time to move our daughter: +Look you, she loved her kinsman Tybalt dearly, +And so did I:--Well, we were born to die. +'Tis very late, she'll not come down to-night: +I promise you, but for your company, +I would have been a-bed an hour ago. + +PARIS: +These times of woe afford no time to woo. +Madam, good night: commend me to your daughter. + +LADY CAPULET: +I will, and know her mind early to-morrow; +To-night she is mew'd up to her heaviness. + +CAPULET: +Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender +Of my child's love: I think she will be ruled +In all respects by me; nay, more, I doubt it not. +Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed; +Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love; +And bid her, mark you me, on Wednesday next-- +But, soft! what day is this? + +PARIS: +Monday, my lord, + +CAPULET: +Monday! ha, ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon, +O' Thursday let it be: o' Thursday, tell her, +She shall be married to this noble earl. +Will you be ready? do you like this haste? +We'll keep no great ado,--a friend or two; +For, hark you, Tybalt being slain so late, +It may be thought we held him carelessly, +Being our kinsman, if we revel much: +Therefore we'll have some half a dozen friends, +And there an end. But what say you to Thursday? + +PARIS: +My lord, I would that Thursday were to-morrow. + +CAPULET: +Well get you gone: o' Thursday be it, then. +Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed, +Prepare her, wife, against this wedding-day. +Farewell, my lord. Light to my chamber, ho! +Afore me! it is so very very late, +That we may call it early by and by. +Good night. + +JULIET: +Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day: +It was the nightingale, and not the lark, +That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear; +Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree: +Believe me, love, it was the nightingale. + +ROMEO: +It was the lark, the herald of the morn, +No nightingale: look, love, what envious streaks +Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east: +Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day +Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. +I must be gone and live, or stay and die. + +JULIET: +Yon light is not day-light, I know it, I: +It is some meteor that the sun exhales, +To be to thee this night a torch-bearer, +And light thee on thy way to Mantua: +Therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone. + +ROMEO: +Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death; +I am content, so thou wilt have it so. +I'll say yon grey is not the morning's eye, +'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow; +Nor that is not the lark, whose notes do beat +The vaulty heaven so high above our heads: +I have more care to stay than will to go: +Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so. +How is't, my soul? let's talk; it is not day. + +JULIET: +It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away! +It is the lark that sings so out of tune, +Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps. +Some say the lark makes sweet division; +This doth not so, for she divideth us: +Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes, +O, now I would they had changed voices too! +Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray, +Hunting thee hence with hunt's-up to the day, +O, now be gone; more light and light it grows. + +ROMEO: +More light and light; more dark and dark our woes! + +Nurse: +Madam! + +JULIET: +Nurse? + +Nurse: +Your lady mother is coming to your chamber: +The day is broke; be wary, look about. + +JULIET: +Then, window, let day in, and let life out. + +ROMEO: +Farewell, farewell! one kiss, and I'll descend. + +JULIET: +Art thou gone so? love, lord, ay, husband, friend! +I must hear from thee every day in the hour, +For in a minute there are many days: +O, by this count I shall be much in years +Ere I again behold my Romeo! + +ROMEO: +Farewell! +I will omit no opportunity +That may convey my greetings, love, to thee. + +JULIET: +O think'st thou we shall ever meet again? + +ROMEO: +I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve +For sweet discourses in our time to come. + +JULIET: +O God, I have an ill-divining soul! +Methinks I see thee, now thou art below, +As one dead in the bottom of a tomb: +Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale. + +ROMEO: +And trust me, love, in my eye so do you: +Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu! + +JULIET: +O fortune, fortune! all men call thee fickle: +If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him. +That is renown'd for faith? Be fickle, fortune; +For then, I hope, thou wilt not keep him long, +But send him back. + +LADY CAPULET: + +JULIET: +Who is't that calls? is it my lady mother? +Is she not down so late, or up so early? +What unaccustom'd cause procures her hither? + +LADY CAPULET: +Why, how now, Juliet! + +JULIET: +Madam, I am not well. + +LADY CAPULET: +Evermore weeping for your cousin's death? +What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears? +An if thou couldst, thou couldst not make him live; +Therefore, have done: some grief shows much of love; +But much of grief shows still some want of wit. + +JULIET: +Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss. + +LADY CAPULET: +So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend +Which you weep for. + +JULIET: +Feeling so the loss, +Cannot choose but ever weep the friend. + +LADY CAPULET: +Well, girl, thou weep'st not so much for his death, +As that the villain lives which slaughter'd him. + +JULIET: +What villain madam? + +LADY CAPULET: +That same villain, Romeo. + +JULIET: + +LADY CAPULET: +That is, because the traitor murderer lives. + +JULIET: +Ay, madam, from the reach of these my hands: +Would none but I might venge my cousin's death! + +LADY CAPULET: +We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not: +Then weep no more. I'll send to one in Mantua, +Where that same banish'd runagate doth live, +Shall give him such an unaccustom'd dram, +That he shall soon keep Tybalt company: +And then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied. + +JULIET: +Indeed, I never shall be satisfied +With Romeo, till I behold him--dead-- +Is my poor heart for a kinsman vex'd. +Madam, if you could find out but a man +To bear a poison, I would temper it; +That Romeo should, upon receipt thereof, +Soon sleep in quiet. O, how my heart abhors +To hear him named, and cannot come to him. +To wreak the love I bore my cousin +Upon his body that slaughter'd him! + +LADY CAPULET: +Find thou the means, and I'll find such a man. +But now I'll tell thee joyful tidings, girl. + +JULIET: +And joy comes well in such a needy time: +What are they, I beseech your ladyship? + +LADY CAPULET: +Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child; +One who, to put thee from thy heaviness, +Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy, +That thou expect'st not nor I look'd not for. + +JULIET: +Madam, in happy time, what day is that? + +LADY CAPULET: +Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn, +The gallant, young and noble gentleman, +The County Paris, at Saint Peter's Church, +Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride. + +JULIET: +Now, by Saint Peter's Church and Peter too, +He shall not make me there a joyful bride. +I wonder at this haste; that I must wed +Ere he, that should be husband, comes to woo. +I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, +I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear, +It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, +Rather than Paris. These are news indeed! + +LADY CAPULET: +Here comes your father; tell him so yourself, +And see how he will take it at your hands. + +CAPULET: +When the sun sets, the air doth drizzle dew; +But for the sunset of my brother's son +It rains downright. +How now! a conduit, girl? what, still in tears? +Evermore showering? In one little body +Thou counterfeit'st a bark, a sea, a wind; +For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea, +Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is, +Sailing in this salt flood; the winds, thy sighs; +Who, raging with thy tears, and they with them, +Without a sudden calm, will overset +Thy tempest-tossed body. How now, wife! +Have you deliver'd to her our decree? + +LADY CAPULET: +Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks. +I would the fool were married to her grave! + +CAPULET: +Soft! take me with you, take me with you, wife. +How! will she none? doth she not give us thanks? +Is she not proud? doth she not count her blest, +Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought +So worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom? + +JULIET: +Not proud, you have; but thankful, that you have: +Proud can I never be of what I hate; +But thankful even for hate, that is meant love. + +CAPULET: +How now, how now, chop-logic! What is this? +'Proud,' and 'I thank you,' and 'I thank you not;' +And yet 'not proud,' mistress minion, you, +Thank me no thankings, nor, proud me no prouds, +But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next, +To go with Paris to Saint Peter's Church, +Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. +Out, you green-sickness carrion! out, you baggage! +You tallow-face! + +LADY CAPULET: +Fie, fie! what, are you mad? + +JULIET: +Good father, I beseech you on my knees, +Hear me with patience but to speak a word. + +CAPULET: +Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch! +I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, +Or never after look me in the face: +Speak not, reply not, do not answer me; +My fingers itch. Wife, we scarce thought us blest +That God had lent us but this only child; +But now I see this one is one too much, +And that we have a curse in having her: +Out on her, hilding! + +Nurse: +God in heaven bless her! +You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so. + +CAPULET: +And why, my lady wisdom? hold your tongue, +Good prudence; smatter with your gossips, go. + +Nurse: +I speak no treason. + +CAPULET: +O, God ye god-den. + +Nurse: +May not one speak? + +CAPULET: +Peace, you mumbling fool! +Utter your gravity o'er a gossip's bowl; +For here we need it not. + +LADY CAPULET: +You are too hot. + +CAPULET: +God's bread! it makes me mad: +Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play, +Alone, in company, still my care hath been +To have her match'd: and having now provided +A gentleman of noble parentage, +Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly train'd, +Stuff'd, as they say, with honourable parts, +Proportion'd as one's thought would wish a man; +And then to have a wretched puling fool, +A whining mammet, in her fortune's tender, +To answer 'I'll not wed; I cannot love, +I am too young; I pray you, pardon me.' +But, as you will not wed, I'll pardon you: +Graze where you will you shall not house with me: +Look to't, think on't, I do not use to jest. +Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise: +An you be mine, I'll give you to my friend; +And you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in +the streets, +For, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee, +Nor what is mine shall never do thee good: +Trust to't, bethink you; I'll not be forsworn. + +JULIET: +Is there no pity sitting in the clouds, +That sees into the bottom of my grief? +O, sweet my mother, cast me not away! +Delay this marriage for a month, a week; +Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed +In that dim monument where Tybalt lies. + +LADY CAPULET: +Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word: +Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee. + +JULIET: +O God!--O nurse, how shall this be prevented? +My husband is on earth, my faith in heaven; +How shall that faith return again to earth, +Unless that husband send it me from heaven +By leaving earth? comfort me, counsel me. +Alack, alack, that heaven should practise stratagems +Upon so soft a subject as myself! +What say'st thou? hast thou not a word of joy? +Some comfort, nurse. + +Nurse: +Faith, here it is. +Romeo is banish'd; and all the world to nothing, +That he dares ne'er come back to challenge you; +Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth. +Then, since the case so stands as now it doth, +I think it best you married with the county. +O, he's a lovely gentleman! +Romeo's a dishclout to him: an eagle, madam, +Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye +As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart, +I think you are happy in this second match, +For it excels your first: or if it did not, +Your first is dead; or 'twere as good he were, +As living here and you no use of him. + +JULIET: +Speakest thou from thy heart? + +Nurse: +And from my soul too; +Or else beshrew them both. + +JULIET: +Amen! + +Nurse: +What? + +JULIET: +Well, thou hast comforted me marvellous much. +Go in: and tell my lady I am gone, +Having displeased my father, to Laurence' cell, +To make confession and to be absolved. + +Nurse: +Marry, I will; and this is wisely done. + +JULIET: +Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend! +Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn, +Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue +Which she hath praised him with above compare +So many thousand times? Go, counsellor; +Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. +I'll to the friar, to know his remedy: +If all else fail, myself have power to die. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +On Thursday, sir? the time is very short. + +PARIS: +My father Capulet will have it so; +And I am nothing slow to slack his haste. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +You say you do not know the lady's mind: +Uneven is the course, I like it not. + +PARIS: +Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death, +And therefore have I little talk'd of love; +For Venus smiles not in a house of tears. +Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous +That she doth give her sorrow so much sway, +And in his wisdom hastes our marriage, +To stop the inundation of her tears; +Which, too much minded by herself alone, +May be put from her by society: +Now do you know the reason of this haste. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: + +PARIS: +Happily met, my lady and my wife! + +JULIET: +That may be, sir, when I may be a wife. + +PARIS: +That may be must be, love, on Thursday next. + +JULIET: +What must be shall be. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +That's a certain text. + +PARIS: +Come you to make confession to this father? + +JULIET: +To answer that, I should confess to you. + +PARIS: +Do not deny to him that you love me. + +JULIET: +I will confess to you that I love him. + +PARIS: +So will ye, I am sure, that you love me. + +JULIET: +If I do so, it will be of more price, +Being spoke behind your back, than to your face. + +PARIS: +Poor soul, thy face is much abused with tears. + +JULIET: +The tears have got small victory by that; +For it was bad enough before their spite. + +PARIS: +Thou wrong'st it, more than tears, with that report. + +JULIET: +That is no slander, sir, which is a truth; +And what I spake, I spake it to my face. + +PARIS: +Thy face is mine, and thou hast slander'd it. + +JULIET: +It may be so, for it is not mine own. +Are you at leisure, holy father, now; +Or shall I come to you at evening mass? + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now. +My lord, we must entreat the time alone. + +PARIS: +God shield I should disturb devotion! +Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye: +Till then, adieu; and keep this holy kiss. + +JULIET: +O shut the door! and when thou hast done so, +Come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help! + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief; +It strains me past the compass of my wits: +I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, +On Thursday next be married to this county. + +JULIET: +Tell me not, friar, that thou hear'st of this, +Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it: +If, in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help, +Do thou but call my resolution wise, +And with this knife I'll help it presently. +God join'd my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands; +And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo seal'd, +Shall be the label to another deed, +Or my true heart with treacherous revolt +Turn to another, this shall slay them both: +Therefore, out of thy long-experienced time, +Give me some present counsel, or, behold, +'Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife +Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that +Which the commission of thy years and art +Could to no issue of true honour bring. +Be not so long to speak; I long to die, +If what thou speak'st speak not of remedy. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Hold, daughter: I do spy a kind of hope, +Which craves as desperate an execution. +As that is desperate which we would prevent. +If, rather than to marry County Paris, +Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, +Then is it likely thou wilt undertake +A thing like death to chide away this shame, +That copest with death himself to scape from it: +And, if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy. + +JULIET: +O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, +From off the battlements of yonder tower; +Or walk in thievish ways; or bid me lurk +Where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears; +Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house, +O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones, +With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls; +Or bid me go into a new-made grave +And hide me with a dead man in his shroud; +Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble; +And I will do it without fear or doubt, +To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent +To marry Paris: Wednesday is to-morrow: +To-morrow night look that thou lie alone; +Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber: +Take thou this vial, being then in bed, +And this distilled liquor drink thou off; +When presently through all thy veins shall run +A cold and drowsy humour, for no pulse +Shall keep his native progress, but surcease: +No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest; +The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade +To paly ashes, thy eyes' windows fall, +Like death, when he shuts up the day of life; +Each part, deprived of supple government, +Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death: +And in this borrow'd likeness of shrunk death +Thou shalt continue two and forty hours, +And then awake as from a pleasant sleep. +Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes +To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead: +Then, as the manner of our country is, +In thy best robes uncover'd on the bier +Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault +Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie. +In the mean time, against thou shalt awake, +Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift, +And hither shall he come: and he and I +Will watch thy waking, and that very night +Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua. +And this shall free thee from this present shame; +If no inconstant toy, nor womanish fear, +Abate thy valour in the acting it. + +JULIET: +Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear! + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Hold; get you gone, be strong and prosperous +In this resolve: I'll send a friar with speed +To Mantua, with my letters to thy lord. + +JULIET: +Love give me strength! and strength shall help afford. +Farewell, dear father! + +CAPULET: +So many guests invite as here are writ. +Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks. + +Second Servant: +You shall have none ill, sir; for I'll try if they +can lick their fingers. + +CAPULET: +How canst thou try them so? + +Second Servant: +Marry, sir, 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick his +own fingers: therefore he that cannot lick his +fingers goes not with me. + +CAPULET: +Go, be gone. +We shall be much unfurnished for this time. +What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence? + +Nurse: +Ay, forsooth. + +CAPULET: +Well, he may chance to do some good on her: +A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is. + +Nurse: +See where she comes from shrift with merry look. + +CAPULET: +How now, my headstrong! where have you been gadding? + +JULIET: +Where I have learn'd me to repent the sin +Of disobedient opposition +To you and your behests, and am enjoin'd +By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here, +And beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you! +Henceforward I am ever ruled by you. + +CAPULET: +Send for the county; go tell him of this: +I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning. + +JULIET: +I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell; +And gave him what becomed love I might, +Not step o'er the bounds of modesty. + +CAPULET: +Why, I am glad on't; this is well: stand up: +This is as't should be. Let me see the county; +Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither. +Now, afore God! this reverend holy friar, +Our whole city is much bound to him. + +JULIET: +Nurse, will you go with me into my closet, +To help me sort such needful ornaments +As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow? + +LADY CAPULET: +No, not till Thursday; there is time enough. + +CAPULET: +Go, nurse, go with her: we'll to church to-morrow. + +LADY CAPULET: +We shall be short in our provision: +'Tis now near night. + +CAPULET: +Tush, I will stir about, +And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife: +Go thou to Juliet, help to deck up her; +I'll not to bed to-night; let me alone; +I'll play the housewife for this once. What, ho! +They are all forth. Well, I will walk myself +To County Paris, to prepare him up +Against to-morrow: my heart is wondrous light, +Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd. + +JULIET: +Ay, those attires are best: but, gentle nurse, +I pray thee, leave me to myself to-night, +For I have need of many orisons +To move the heavens to smile upon my state, +Which, well thou know'st, is cross, and full of sin. + +LADY CAPULET: +What, are you busy, ho? need you my help? + +JULIET: +No, madam; we have cull'd such necessaries +As are behoveful for our state to-morrow: +So please you, let me now be left alone, +And let the nurse this night sit up with you; +For, I am sure, you have your hands full all, +In this so sudden business. + +LADY CAPULET: +Good night: +Get thee to bed, and rest; for thou hast need. + +JULIET: +Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again. +I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, +That almost freezes up the heat of life: +I'll call them back again to comfort me: +Nurse! What should she do here? +My dismal scene I needs must act alone. +Come, vial. +What if this mixture do not work at all? +Shall I be married then to-morrow morning? +No, no: this shall forbid it: lie thou there. +What if it be a poison, which the friar +Subtly hath minister'd to have me dead, +Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd, +Because he married me before to Romeo? +I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should not, +For he hath still been tried a holy man. +How if, when I am laid into the tomb, +I wake before the time that Romeo +Come to redeem me? there's a fearful point! +Shall I not, then, be stifled in the vault, +To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in, +And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes? +Or, if I live, is it not very like, +The horrible conceit of death and night, +Together with the terror of the place,-- +As in a vault, an ancient receptacle, +Where, for these many hundred years, the bones +Of all my buried ancestors are packed: +Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth, +Lies festering in his shroud; where, as they say, +At some hours in the night spirits resort;-- +Alack, alack, is it not like that I, +So early waking, what with loathsome smells, +And shrieks like mandrakes' torn out of the earth, +That living mortals, hearing them, run mad:-- +O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught, +Environed with all these hideous fears? +And madly play with my forefather's joints? +And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud? +And, in this rage, with some great kinsman's bone, +As with a club, dash out my desperate brains? +O, look! methinks I see my cousin's ghost +Seeking out Romeo, that did spit his body +Upon a rapier's point: stay, Tybalt, stay! +Romeo, I come! this do I drink to thee. + +LADY CAPULET: +Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, nurse. + +Nurse: +They call for dates and quinces in the pastry. + +CAPULET: +Come, stir, stir, stir! the second cock hath crow'd, +The curfew-bell hath rung, 'tis three o'clock: +Look to the baked meats, good Angelica: +Spare not for the cost. + +Nurse: +Go, you cot-quean, go, +Get you to bed; faith, You'll be sick to-morrow +For this night's watching. + +CAPULET: +No, not a whit: what! I have watch'd ere now +All night for lesser cause, and ne'er been sick. + +LADY CAPULET: +Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time; +But I will watch you from such watching now. + +CAPULET: +A jealous hood, a jealous hood! +Now, fellow, +What's there? + +First Servant: +Things for the cook, sir; but I know not what. + +CAPULET: +Make haste, make haste. +Sirrah, fetch drier logs: +Call Peter, he will show thee where they are. + +Second Servant: +I have a head, sir, that will find out logs, +And never trouble Peter for the matter. + +CAPULET: +Mass, and well said; a merry whoreson, ha! +Thou shalt be logger-head. Good faith, 'tis day: +The county will be here with music straight, +For so he said he would: I hear him near. +Nurse! Wife! What, ho! What, nurse, I say! +Go waken Juliet, go and trim her up; +I'll go and chat with Paris: hie, make haste, +Make haste; the bridegroom he is come already: +Make haste, I say. + +Nurse: +Mistress! what, mistress! Juliet! fast, I warrant her, she: +Why, lamb! why, lady! fie, you slug-a-bed! +Why, love, I say! madam! sweet-heart! why, bride! +What, not a word? you take your pennyworths now; +Sleep for a week; for the next night, I warrant, +The County Paris hath set up his rest, +That you shall rest but little. God forgive me, +Marry, and amen, how sound is she asleep! +I must needs wake her. Madam, madam, madam! +Ay, let the county take you in your bed; +He'll fright you up, i' faith. Will it not be? +What, dress'd! and in your clothes! and down again! +I must needs wake you; Lady! lady! lady! +Alas, alas! Help, help! my lady's dead! +O, well-a-day, that ever I was born! +Some aqua vitae, ho! My lord! my lady! + +LADY CAPULET: +What noise is here? + +Nurse: +O lamentable day! + +LADY CAPULET: +What is the matter? + +Nurse: +Look, look! O heavy day! + +LADY CAPULET: +O me, O me! My child, my only life, +Revive, look up, or I will die with thee! +Help, help! Call help. + +CAPULET: +For shame, bring Juliet forth; her lord is come. + +Nurse: +She's dead, deceased, she's dead; alack the day! + +LADY CAPULET: +Alack the day, she's dead, she's dead, she's dead! + +CAPULET: +Ha! let me see her: out, alas! she's cold: +Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff; +Life and these lips have long been separated: +Death lies on her like an untimely frost +Upon the sweetest flower of all the field. + +Nurse: +O lamentable day! + +LADY CAPULET: +O woful time! + +CAPULET: +Death, that hath ta'en her hence to make me wail, +Ties up my tongue, and will not let me speak. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Come, is the bride ready to go to church? + +CAPULET: +Ready to go, but never to return. +O son! the night before thy wedding-day +Hath Death lain with thy wife. There she lies, +Flower as she was, deflowered by him. +Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir; +My daughter he hath wedded: I will die, +And leave him all; life, living, all is Death's. + +PARIS: +Have I thought long to see this morning's face, +And doth it give me such a sight as this? + +LADY CAPULET: +Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day! +Most miserable hour that e'er time saw +In lasting labour of his pilgrimage! +But one, poor one, one poor and loving child, +But one thing to rejoice and solace in, +And cruel death hath catch'd it from my sight! + +Nurse: +O woe! O woful, woful, woful day! +Most lamentable day, most woful day, +That ever, ever, I did yet behold! +O day! O day! O day! O hateful day! +Never was seen so black a day as this: +O woful day, O woful day! + +PARIS: +Beguiled, divorced, wronged, spited, slain! +Most detestable death, by thee beguil'd, +By cruel cruel thee quite overthrown! +O love! O life! not life, but love in death! + +CAPULET: +Despised, distressed, hated, martyr'd, kill'd! +Uncomfortable time, why camest thou now +To murder, murder our solemnity? +O child! O child! my soul, and not my child! +Dead art thou! Alack! my child is dead; +And with my child my joys are buried. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Peace, ho, for shame! confusion's cure lives not +In these confusions. Heaven and yourself +Had part in this fair maid; now heaven hath all, +And all the better is it for the maid: +Your part in her you could not keep from death, +But heaven keeps his part in eternal life. +The most you sought was her promotion; +For 'twas your heaven she should be advanced: +And weep ye now, seeing she is advanced +Above the clouds, as high as heaven itself? +O, in this love, you love your child so ill, +That you run mad, seeing that she is well: +She's not well married that lives married long; +But she's best married that dies married young. +Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary +On this fair corse; and, as the custom is, +In all her best array bear her to church: +For though fond nature bids us an lament, +Yet nature's tears are reason's merriment. + +CAPULET: +All things that we ordained festival, +Turn from their office to black funeral; +Our instruments to melancholy bells, +Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast, +Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change, +Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse, +And all things change them to the contrary. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Sir, go you in; and, madam, go with him; +And go, Sir Paris; every one prepare +To follow this fair corse unto her grave: +The heavens do lour upon you for some ill; +Move them no more by crossing their high will. + +First Musician: +Faith, we may put up our pipes, and be gone. + +Nurse: +Honest goodfellows, ah, put up, put up; +For, well you know, this is a pitiful case. + +First Musician: +Ay, by my troth, the case may be amended. + +PETER: +Musicians, O, musicians, 'Heart's ease, Heart's +ease:' O, an you will have me live, play 'Heart's ease.' + +First Musician: +Why 'Heart's ease?' + +PETER: +O, musicians, because my heart itself plays 'My +heart is full of woe:' O, play me some merry dump, +to comfort me. + +First Musician: +Not a dump we; 'tis no time to play now. + +PETER: +You will not, then? + +First Musician: +No. + +PETER: +I will then give it you soundly. + +First Musician: +What will you give us? + +PETER: +No money, on my faith, but the gleek; +I will give you the minstrel. + +First Musician: +Then I will give you the serving-creature. + +PETER: +Then will I lay the serving-creature's dagger on +your pate. I will carry no crotchets: I'll re you, +I'll fa you; do you note me? + +First Musician: +An you re us and fa us, you note us. + +Second Musician: +Pray you, put up your dagger, and put out your wit. + +PETER: +Then have at you with my wit! I will dry-beat you +with an iron wit, and put up my iron dagger. Answer +me like men: +'When griping grief the heart doth wound, +And doleful dumps the mind oppress, +Then music with her silver sound'-- +why 'silver sound'? why 'music with her silver +sound'? What say you, Simon Catling? + +Musician: +Marry, sir, because silver hath a sweet sound. + +PETER: +Pretty! What say you, Hugh Rebeck? + +Second Musician: +I say 'silver sound,' because musicians sound for silver. + +PETER: +Pretty too! What say you, James Soundpost? + +Third Musician: +Faith, I know not what to say. + +PETER: +O, I cry you mercy; you are the singer: I will say +for you. It is 'music with her silver sound,' +because musicians have no gold for sounding: +'Then music with her silver sound +With speedy help doth lend redress.' + +First Musician: +What a pestilent knave is this same! + +Second Musician: +Hang him, Jack! Come, we'll in here; tarry for the +mourners, and stay dinner. + +ROMEO: +If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep, +My dreams presage some joyful news at hand: +My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne; +And all this day an unaccustom'd spirit +Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts. +I dreamt my lady came and found me dead-- +Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave +to think!-- +And breathed such life with kisses in my lips, +That I revived, and was an emperor. +Ah me! how sweet is love itself possess'd, +When but love's shadows are so rich in joy! +News from Verona!--How now, Balthasar! +Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar? +How doth my lady? Is my father well? +How fares my Juliet? that I ask again; +For nothing can be ill, if she be well. + +BALTHASAR: +Then she is well, and nothing can be ill: +Her body sleeps in Capel's monument, +And her immortal part with angels lives. +I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault, +And presently took post to tell it you: +O, pardon me for bringing these ill news, +Since you did leave it for my office, sir. + +ROMEO: +Is it even so? then I defy you, stars! +Thou know'st my lodging: get me ink and paper, +And hire post-horses; I will hence to-night. + +BALTHASAR: +I do beseech you, sir, have patience: +Your looks are pale and wild, and do import +Some misadventure. + +ROMEO: +Tush, thou art deceived: +Leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do. +Hast thou no letters to me from the friar? + +BALTHASAR: +No, my good lord. + +ROMEO: +No matter: get thee gone, +And hire those horses; I'll be with thee straight. +Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee to-night. +Let's see for means: O mischief, thou art swift +To enter in the thoughts of desperate men! +I do remember an apothecary,-- +And hereabouts he dwells,--which late I noted +In tatter'd weeds, with overwhelming brows, +Culling of simples; meagre were his looks, +Sharp misery had worn him to the bones: +And in his needy shop a tortoise hung, +An alligator stuff'd, and other skins +Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves +A beggarly account of empty boxes, +Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds, +Remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses, +Were thinly scatter'd, to make up a show. +Noting this penury, to myself I said +'An if a man did need a poison now, +Whose sale is present death in Mantua, +Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him.' +O, this same thought did but forerun my need; +And this same needy man must sell it me. +As I remember, this should be the house. +Being holiday, the beggar's shop is shut. +What, ho! apothecary! + +Apothecary: +Who calls so loud? + +ROMEO: +Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor: +Hold, there is forty ducats: let me have +A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear +As will disperse itself through all the veins +That the life-weary taker may fall dead +And that the trunk may be discharged of breath +As violently as hasty powder fired +Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb. + +Apothecary: +Such mortal drugs I have; but Mantua's law +Is death to any he that utters them. + +ROMEO: +Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness, +And fear'st to die? famine is in thy cheeks, +Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes, +Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back; +The world is not thy friend nor the world's law; +The world affords no law to make thee rich; +Then be not poor, but break it, and take this. + +Apothecary: +My poverty, but not my will, consents. + +ROMEO: +I pay thy poverty, and not thy will. + +Apothecary: +Put this in any liquid thing you will, +And drink it off; and, if you had the strength +Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight. + +ROMEO: +There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls, +Doing more murders in this loathsome world, +Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell. +I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none. +Farewell: buy food, and get thyself in flesh. +Come, cordial and not poison, go with me +To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee. + +FRIAR JOHN: +Holy Franciscan friar! brother, ho! + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +This same should be the voice of Friar John. +Welcome from Mantua: what says Romeo? +Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter. + +FRIAR JOHN: +Going to find a bare-foot brother out +One of our order, to associate me, +Here in this city visiting the sick, +And finding him, the searchers of the town, +Suspecting that we both were in a house +Where the infectious pestilence did reign, +Seal'd up the doors, and would not let us forth; +So that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo? + +FRIAR JOHN: +I could not send it,--here it is again,-- +Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, +So fearful were they of infection. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Unhappy fortune! by my brotherhood, +The letter was not nice but full of charge +Of dear import, and the neglecting it +May do much danger. Friar John, go hence; +Get me an iron crow, and bring it straight +Unto my cell. + +FRIAR JOHN: +Brother, I'll go and bring it thee. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Now must I to the monument alone; +Within three hours will fair Juliet wake: +She will beshrew me much that Romeo +Hath had no notice of these accidents; +But I will write again to Mantua, +And keep her at my cell till Romeo come; +Poor living corse, closed in a dead man's tomb! + +PARIS: +Give me thy torch, boy: hence, and stand aloof: +Yet put it out, for I would not be seen. +Under yond yew-trees lay thee all along, +Holding thine ear close to the hollow ground; +So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread, +Being loose, unfirm, with digging up of graves, +But thou shalt hear it: whistle then to me, +As signal that thou hear'st something approach. +Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee, go. + +PAGE: + +PARIS: +Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew,-- +O woe! thy canopy is dust and stones;-- +Which with sweet water nightly I will dew, +Or, wanting that, with tears distill'd by moans: +The obsequies that I for thee will keep +Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep. +The boy gives warning something doth approach. +What cursed foot wanders this way to-night, +To cross my obsequies and true love's rite? +What with a torch! muffle me, night, awhile. + +ROMEO: +Give me that mattock and the wrenching iron. +Hold, take this letter; early in the morning +See thou deliver it to my lord and father. +Give me the light: upon thy life, I charge thee, +Whate'er thou hear'st or seest, stand all aloof, +And do not interrupt me in my course. +Why I descend into this bed of death, +Is partly to behold my lady's face; +But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger +A precious ring, a ring that I must use +In dear employment: therefore hence, be gone: +But if thou, jealous, dost return to pry +In what I further shall intend to do, +By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint +And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs: +The time and my intents are savage-wild, +More fierce and more inexorable far +Than empty tigers or the roaring sea. + +BALTHASAR: +I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you. + +ROMEO: +So shalt thou show me friendship. Take thou that: +Live, and be prosperous: and farewell, good fellow. + +BALTHASAR: + +ROMEO: +Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death, +Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth, +Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open, +And, in despite, I'll cram thee with more food! + +PARIS: +This is that banish'd haughty Montague, +That murder'd my love's cousin, with which grief, +It is supposed, the fair creature died; +And here is come to do some villanous shame +To the dead bodies: I will apprehend him. +Stop thy unhallow'd toil, vile Montague! +Can vengeance be pursued further than death? +Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee: +Obey, and go with me; for thou must die. + +ROMEO: +I must indeed; and therefore came I hither. +Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man; +Fly hence, and leave me: think upon these gone; +Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth, +Put not another sin upon my head, +By urging me to fury: O, be gone! +By heaven, I love thee better than myself; +For I come hither arm'd against myself: +Stay not, be gone; live, and hereafter say, +A madman's mercy bade thee run away. + +PARIS: +I do defy thy conjurations, +And apprehend thee for a felon here. + +ROMEO: +Wilt thou provoke me? then have at thee, boy! + +PAGE: +O Lord, they fight! I will go call the watch. + +PARIS: +O, I am slain! +If thou be merciful, +Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet. + +ROMEO: +In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face. +Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris! +What said my man, when my betossed soul +Did not attend him as we rode? I think +He told me Paris should have married Juliet: +Said he not so? or did I dream it so? +Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet, +To think it was so? O, give me thy hand, +One writ with me in sour misfortune's book! +I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave; +A grave? O no! a lantern, slaughter'd youth, +For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes +This vault a feasting presence full of light. +Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd. +How oft when men are at the point of death +Have they been merry! which their keepers call +A lightning before death: O, how may I +Call this a lightning? O my love! my wife! +Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, +Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty: +Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet +Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, +And death's pale flag is not advanced there. +Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet? +O, what more favour can I do to thee, +Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain +To sunder his that was thine enemy? +Forgive me, cousin! Ah, dear Juliet, +Why art thou yet so fair? shall I believe +That unsubstantial death is amorous, +And that the lean abhorred monster keeps +Thee here in dark to be his paramour? +For fear of that, I still will stay with thee; +And never from this palace of dim night +Depart again: here, here will I remain +With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, here +Will I set up my everlasting rest, +And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars +From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last! +Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you +The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss +A dateless bargain to engrossing death! +Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide! +Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on +The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark! +Here's to my love! +O true apothecary! +Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Saint Francis be my speed! how oft to-night +Have my old feet stumbled at graves! Who's there? + +BALTHASAR: +Here's one, a friend, and one that knows you well. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Bliss be upon you! Tell me, good my friend, +What torch is yond, that vainly lends his light +To grubs and eyeless skulls? as I discern, +It burneth in the Capel's monument. + +BALTHASAR: +It doth so, holy sir; and there's my master, +One that you love. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Who is it? + +BALTHASAR: +Romeo. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +How long hath he been there? + +BALTHASAR: +Full half an hour. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Go with me to the vault. + +BALTHASAR: +I dare not, sir +My master knows not but I am gone hence; +And fearfully did menace me with death, +If I did stay to look on his intents. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Stay, then; I'll go alone. Fear comes upon me: +O, much I fear some ill unlucky thing. + +BALTHASAR: +As I did sleep under this yew-tree here, +I dreamt my master and another fought, +And that my master slew him. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +Romeo! +Alack, alack, what blood is this, which stains +The stony entrance of this sepulchre? +What mean these masterless and gory swords +To lie discolour'd by this place of peace? +Romeo! O, pale! Who else? what, Paris too? +And steep'd in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour +Is guilty of this lamentable chance! +The lady stirs. + +JULIET: +O comfortable friar! where is my lord? +I do remember well where I should be, +And there I am. Where is my Romeo? + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest +Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep: +A greater power than we can contradict +Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away. +Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead; +And Paris too. Come, I'll dispose of thee +Among a sisterhood of holy nuns: +Stay not to question, for the watch is coming; +Come, go, good Juliet, +I dare no longer stay. + +JULIET: +Go, get thee hence, for I will not away. +What's here? a cup, closed in my true love's hand? +Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end: +O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop +To help me after? I will kiss thy lips; +Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, +To make die with a restorative. +Thy lips are warm. + +First Watchman: + +JULIET: +Yea, noise? then I'll be brief. O happy dagger! +This is thy sheath; +there rust, and let me die. + +PAGE: +This is the place; there, where the torch doth burn. + +First Watchman: +The ground is bloody; search about the churchyard: +Go, some of you, whoe'er you find attach. +Pitiful sight! here lies the county slain, +And Juliet bleeding, warm, and newly dead, +Who here hath lain these two days buried. +Go, tell the prince: run to the Capulets: +Raise up the Montagues: some others search: +We see the ground whereon these woes do lie; +But the true ground of all these piteous woes +We cannot without circumstance descry. + +Second Watchman: +Here's Romeo's man; we found him in the churchyard. + +First Watchman: +Hold him in safety, till the prince come hither. + +Third Watchman: +Here is a friar, that trembles, sighs and weeps: +We took this mattock and this spade from him, +As he was coming from this churchyard side. + +First Watchman: +A great suspicion: stay the friar too. + +PRINCE: +What misadventure is so early up, +That calls our person from our morning's rest? + +CAPULET: +What should it be, that they so shriek abroad? + +LADY CAPULET: +The people in the street cry Romeo, +Some Juliet, and some Paris; and all run, +With open outcry toward our monument. + +PRINCE: +What fear is this which startles in our ears? + +First Watchman: +Sovereign, here lies the County Paris slain; +And Romeo dead; and Juliet, dead before, +Warm and new kill'd. + +PRINCE: +Search, seek, and know how this foul murder comes. + +First Watchman: +Here is a friar, and slaughter'd Romeo's man; +With instruments upon them, fit to open +These dead men's tombs. + +CAPULET: +O heavens! O wife, look how our daughter bleeds! +This dagger hath mista'en--for, lo, his house +Is empty on the back of Montague,-- +And it mis-sheathed in my daughter's bosom! + +LADY CAPULET: +O me! this sight of death is as a bell, +That warns my old age to a sepulchre. + +PRINCE: +Come, Montague; for thou art early up, +To see thy son and heir more early down. + +MONTAGUE: +Alas, my liege, my wife is dead to-night; +Grief of my son's exile hath stopp'd her breath: +What further woe conspires against mine age? + +PRINCE: +Look, and thou shalt see. + +MONTAGUE: +O thou untaught! what manners is in this? +To press before thy father to a grave? + +PRINCE: +Seal up the mouth of outrage for a while, +Till we can clear these ambiguities, +And know their spring, their head, their +true descent; +And then will I be general of your woes, +And lead you even to death: meantime forbear, +And let mischance be slave to patience. +Bring forth the parties of suspicion. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +I am the greatest, able to do least, +Yet most suspected, as the time and place +Doth make against me of this direful murder; +And here I stand, both to impeach and purge +Myself condemned and myself excused. + +PRINCE: +Then say at once what thou dost know in this. + +FRIAR LAURENCE: +I will be brief, for my short date of breath +Is not so long as is a tedious tale. +Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet; +And she, there dead, that Romeo's faithful wife: +I married them; and their stol'n marriage-day +Was Tybalt's dooms-day, whose untimely death +Banish'd the new-made bridegroom from the city, +For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet pined. +You, to remove that siege of grief from her, +Betroth'd and would have married her perforce +To County Paris: then comes she to me, +And, with wild looks, bid me devise some mean +To rid her from this second marriage, +Or in my cell there would she kill herself. +Then gave I her, so tutor'd by my art, +A sleeping potion; which so took effect +As I intended, for it wrought on her +The form of death: meantime I writ to Romeo, +That he should hither come as this dire night, +To help to take her from her borrow'd grave, +Being the time the potion's force should cease. +But he which bore my letter, Friar John, +Was stay'd by accident, and yesternight +Return'd my letter back. Then all alone +At the prefixed hour of her waking, +Came I to take her from her kindred's vault; +Meaning to keep her closely at my cell, +Till I conveniently could send to Romeo: +But when I came, some minute ere the time +Of her awaking, here untimely lay +The noble Paris and true Romeo dead. +She wakes; and I entreated her come forth, +And bear this work of heaven with patience: +But then a noise did scare me from the tomb; +And she, too desperate, would not go with me, +But, as it seems, did violence on herself. +All this I know; and to the marriage +Her nurse is privy: and, if aught in this +Miscarried by my fault, let my old life +Be sacrificed, some hour before his time, +Unto the rigour of severest law. + +PRINCE: +We still have known thee for a holy man. +Where's Romeo's man? what can he say in this? + +BALTHASAR: +I brought my master news of Juliet's death; +And then in post he came from Mantua +To this same place, to this same monument. +This letter he early bid me give his father, +And threatened me with death, going in the vault, +I departed not and left him there. + +PRINCE: +Give me the letter; I will look on it. +Where is the county's page, that raised the watch? +Sirrah, what made your master in this place? + +PAGE: +He came with flowers to strew his lady's grave; +And bid me stand aloof, and so I did: +Anon comes one with light to ope the tomb; +And by and by my master drew on him; +And then I ran away to call the watch. + +PRINCE: +This letter doth make good the friar's words, +Their course of love, the tidings of her death: +And here he writes that he did buy a poison +Of a poor 'pothecary, and therewithal +Came to this vault to die, and lie with Juliet. +Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montague! +See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate, +That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. +And I for winking at your discords too +Have lost a brace of kinsmen: all are punish'd. + +CAPULET: +O brother Montague, give me thy hand: +This is my daughter's jointure, for no more +Can I demand. + +MONTAGUE: +But I can give thee more: +For I will raise her statue in pure gold; +That while Verona by that name is known, +There shall no figure at such rate be set +As that of true and faithful Juliet. + +CAPULET: +As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie; +Poor sacrifices of our enmity! + +PRINCE: +A glooming peace this morning with it brings; +The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head: +Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; +Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished: +For never was a story of more woe +Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. + +WARWICK: +I wonder how the king escaped our hands. + +YORK: +While we pursued the horsemen of the north, +He slily stole away and left his men: +Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland, +Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, +Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself, +Lord Clifford and Lord Stafford, all abreast, +Charged our main battle's front, and breaking in +Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. + +EDWARD: +Lord Stafford's father, Duke of Buckingham, +Is either slain or wounded dangerously; +I cleft his beaver with a downright blow: +That this is true, father, behold his blood. + +MONTAGUE: +And, brother, here's the Earl of Wiltshire's blood, +Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. + +RICHARD: +Speak thou for me and tell them what I did. + +YORK: +Richard hath best deserved of all my sons. +But is your grace dead, my Lord of Somerset? + +NORFOLK: +Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt! + +RICHARD: +Thus do I hope to shake King Henry's head. + +WARWICK: +And so do I. Victorious Prince of York, +Before I see thee seated in that throne +Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, +I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close. +This is the palace of the fearful king, +And this the regal seat: possess it, York; +For this is thine and not King Henry's heirs' + +YORK: +Assist me, then, sweet Warwick, and I will; +For hither we have broken in by force. + +NORFOLK: +We'll all assist you; he that flies shall die. + +YORK: +Thanks, gentle Norfolk: stay by me, my lords; +And, soldiers, stay and lodge by me this night. + +WARWICK: +And when the king comes, offer no violence, +Unless he seek to thrust you out perforce. + +YORK: +The queen this day here holds her parliament, +But little thinks we shall be of her council: +By words or blows here let us win our right. + +RICHARD: +Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this house. + +WARWICK: +The bloody parliament shall this be call'd, +Unless Plantagenet, Duke of York, be king, +And bashful Henry deposed, whose cowardice +Hath made us by-words to our enemies. + +YORK: +Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute; +I mean to take possession of my right. + +WARWICK: +Neither the king, nor he that loves him best, +The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, +Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells. +I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares: +Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown. + +KING HENRY VI: +My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, +Even in the chair of state: belike he means, +Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer, +To aspire unto the crown and reign as king. +Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father. +And thine, Lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge +On him, his sons, his favourites and his friends. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +If I be not, heavens be revenged on me! + +CLIFFORD: +The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel. + +WESTMORELAND: +What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him down: +My heart for anger burns; I cannot brook it. + +KING HENRY VI: +Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmoreland. + +CLIFFORD: +Patience is for poltroons, such as he: +He durst not sit there, had your father lived. +My gracious lord, here in the parliament +Let us assail the family of York. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Well hast thou spoken, cousin: be it so. + +KING HENRY VI: +Ah, know you not the city favours them, +And they have troops of soldiers at their beck? + +EXETER: +But when the duke is slain, they'll quickly fly. + +KING HENRY VI: +Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart, +To make a shambles of the parliament-house! +Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words and threats +Shall be the war that Henry means to use. +Thou factious Duke of York, descend my throne, +and kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; +I am thy sovereign. + +YORK: +I am thine. + +EXETER: +For shame, come down: he made thee Duke of York. + +YORK: +'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. + +EXETER: +Thy father was a traitor to the crown. + +WARWICK: +Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown +In following this usurping Henry. + +CLIFFORD: +Whom should he follow but his natural king? + +WARWICK: +True, Clifford; and that's Richard Duke of York. + +KING HENRY VI: +And shall I stand, and thou sit in my throne? + +YORK: +It must and shall be so: content thyself. + +WARWICK: +Be Duke of Lancaster; let him be king. + +WESTMORELAND: +He is both king and Duke of Lancaster; +And that the Lord of Westmoreland shall maintain. + +WARWICK: +And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget +That we are those which chased you from the field +And slew your fathers, and with colours spread +March'd through the city to the palace gates. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; +And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. + +WESTMORELAND: +Plantagenet, of thee and these thy sons, +Thy kinsman and thy friends, I'll have more lives +Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. + +CLIFFORD: +Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words, +I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger +As shall revenge his death before I stir. + +WARWICK: +Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats! + +YORK: +Will you we show our title to the crown? +If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. + +KING HENRY VI: +What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? +Thy father was, as thou art, Duke of York; +Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March: +I am the son of Henry the Fifth, +Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop +And seized upon their towns and provinces. + +WARWICK: +Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all. + +KING HENRY VI: +The lord protector lost it, and not I: +When I was crown'd I was but nine months old. + +RICHARD: +You are old enough now, and yet, methinks, you lose. +Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. + +EDWARD: +Sweet father, do so; set it on your head. + +MONTAGUE: +Good brother, as thou lovest and honourest arms, +Let's fight it out and not stand cavilling thus. + +RICHARD: +Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly. + +YORK: +Sons, peace! + +KING HENRY VI: +Peace, thou! and give King Henry leave to speak. + +WARWICK: +Plantagenet shall speak first: hear him, lords; +And be you silent and attentive too, +For he that interrupts him shall not live. + +KING HENRY VI: +Think'st thou that I will leave my kingly throne, +Wherein my grandsire and my father sat? +No: first shall war unpeople this my realm; +Ay, and their colours, often borne in France, +And now in England to our heart's great sorrow, +Shall be my winding-sheet. Why faint you, lords? +My title's good, and better far than his. + +WARWICK: +Prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. + +KING HENRY VI: +Henry the Fourth by conquest got the crown. + +YORK: +'Twas by rebellion against his king. + +KING HENRY VI: + +YORK: +What then? + +KING HENRY VI: +An if he may, then am I lawful king; +For Richard, in the view of many lords, +Resign'd the crown to Henry the Fourth, +Whose heir my father was, and I am his. + +YORK: +He rose against him, being his sovereign, +And made him to resign his crown perforce. + +WARWICK: +Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, +Think you 'twere prejudicial to his crown? + +EXETER: +No; for he could not so resign his crown +But that the next heir should succeed and reign. + +KING HENRY VI: +Art thou against us, Duke of Exeter? + +EXETER: +His is the right, and therefore pardon me. + +YORK: +Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not? + +EXETER: +My conscience tells me he is lawful king. + +KING HENRY VI: + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st, +Think not that Henry shall be so deposed. + +WARWICK: +Deposed he shall be, in despite of all. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Thou art deceived: 'tis not thy southern power, +Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent, +Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud, +Can set the duke up in despite of me. + +CLIFFORD: +King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, +Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence: +May that ground gape and swallow me alive, +Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father! + +KING HENRY VI: +O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! + +YORK: +Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown. +What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? + +WARWICK: +Do right unto this princely Duke of York, +Or I will fill the house with armed men, +And over the chair of state, where now he sits, +Write up his title with usurping blood. + +KING HENRY VI: +My Lord of Warwick, hear me but one word: +Let me for this my life-time reign as king. + +YORK: +Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs, +And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou livest. + +KING HENRY VI: +I am content: Richard Plantagenet, +Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. + +CLIFFORD: +What wrong is this unto the prince your son! + +WARWICK: +What good is this to England and himself! + +WESTMORELAND: +Base, fearful and despairing Henry! + +CLIFFORD: +How hast thou injured both thyself and us! + +WESTMORELAND: +I cannot stay to hear these articles. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Nor I. + +CLIFFORD: +Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these news. + +WESTMORELAND: +Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate king, +In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Be thou a prey unto the house of York, +And die in bands for this unmanly deed! + +CLIFFORD: +In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome, +Or live in peace abandon'd and despised! + +WARWICK: +Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. + +EXETER: +They seek revenge and therefore will not yield. + +KING HENRY VI: +Ah, Exeter! + +WARWICK: +Why should you sigh, my lord? + +KING HENRY VI: +Not for myself, Lord Warwick, but my son, +Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. +But be it as it may: I here entail +The crown to thee and to thine heirs for ever; +Conditionally, that here thou take an oath +To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live, +To honour me as thy king and sovereign, +And neither by treason nor hostility +To seek to put me down and reign thyself. + +YORK: +This oath I willingly take and will perform. + +WARWICK: +Long live King Henry! Plantagenet embrace him. + +KING HENRY VI: +And long live thou and these thy forward sons! + +YORK: +Now York and Lancaster are reconciled. + +EXETER: +Accursed be he that seeks to make them foes! + +YORK: +Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my castle. + +WARWICK: +And I'll keep London with my soldiers. + +NORFOLK: +And I to Norfolk with my followers. + +MONTAGUE: +And I unto the sea from whence I came. + +KING HENRY VI: +And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court. + +EXETER: +Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger: +I'll steal away. + +KING HENRY VI: +Exeter, so will I. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Nay, go not from me; I will follow thee. + +KING HENRY VI: +Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Who can be patient in such extremes? +Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid +And never seen thee, never borne thee son, +Seeing thou hast proved so unnatural a father +Hath he deserved to lose his birthright thus? +Hadst thou but loved him half so well as I, +Or felt that pain which I did for him once, +Or nourish'd him as I did with my blood, +Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, +Rather than have that savage duke thine heir +And disinherited thine only son. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Father, you cannot disinherit me: +If you be king, why should not I succeed? + +KING HENRY VI: +Pardon me, Margaret; pardon me, sweet son: +The Earl of Warwick and the duke enforced me. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Enforced thee! art thou king, and wilt be forced? +I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! +Thou hast undone thyself, thy son and me; +And given unto the house of York such head +As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance. +To entail him and his heirs unto the crown, +What is it, but to make thy sepulchre +And creep into it far before thy time? +Warwick is chancellor and the lord of Calais; +Stern Falconbridge commands the narrow seas; +The duke is made protector of the realm; +And yet shalt thou be safe? such safety finds +The trembling lamb environed with wolves. +Had I been there, which am a silly woman, +The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes +Before I would have granted to that act. +But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour: +And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself +Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed, +Until that act of parliament be repeal'd +Whereby my son is disinherited. +The northern lords that have forsworn thy colours +Will follow mine, if once they see them spread; +And spread they shall be, to thy foul disgrace +And utter ruin of the house of York. +Thus do I leave thee. Come, son, let's away; +Our army is ready; come, we'll after them. + +KING HENRY VI: +Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Thou hast spoke too much already: get thee gone. + +KING HENRY VI: +Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +When I return with victory from the field +I'll see your grace: till then I'll follow her. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Come, son, away; we may not linger thus. + +KING HENRY VI: +Poor queen! how love to me and to her son +Hath made her break out into terms of rage! +Revenged may she be on that hateful duke, +Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire, +Will cost my crown, and like an empty eagle +Tire on the flesh of me and of my son! +The loss of those three lords torments my heart: +I'll write unto them and entreat them fair. +Come, cousin you shall be the messenger. + +EXETER: +And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all. +3 KING HENRY VI + +RICHARD: +Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. + +EDWARD: +No, I can better play the orator. + +MONTAGUE: +But I have reasons strong and forcible. + +YORK: +Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife? +What is your quarrel? how began it first? + +EDWARD: +No quarrel, but a slight contention. + +YORK: +About what? + +RICHARD: +About that which concerns your grace and us; +The crown of England, father, which is yours. + +YORK: +Mine boy? not till King Henry be dead. + +RICHARD: +Your right depends not on his life or death. + +EDWARD: +Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now: +By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, +It will outrun you, father, in the end. + +YORK: +I took an oath that he should quietly reign. + +EDWARD: +But for a kingdom any oath may be broken: +I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year. + +RICHARD: +No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn. + +YORK: +I shall be, if I claim by open war. + +RICHARD: +I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak. + +YORK: +Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. + +RICHARD: +An oath is of no moment, being not took +Before a true and lawful magistrate, +That hath authority over him that swears: +Henry had none, but did usurp the place; +Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose, +Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. +Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think +How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown; +Within whose circuit is Elysium +And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. +Why do we finger thus? I cannot rest +Until the white rose that I wear be dyed +Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart. + +YORK: +Richard, enough; I will be king, or die. +Brother, thou shalt to London presently, +And whet on Warwick to this enterprise. +Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk, +And tell him privily of our intent. +You Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, +With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise: +In them I trust; for they are soldiers, +Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit. +While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more, +But that I seek occasion how to rise, +And yet the king not privy to my drift, +Nor any of the house of Lancaster? +But, stay: what news? Why comest thou in such post? + +Messenger: +The queen with all the northern earls and lords +Intend here to besiege you in your castle: +She is hard by with twenty thousand men; +And therefore fortify your hold, my lord. + +YORK: +Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou that we fear them? +Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me; +My brother Montague shall post to London: +Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, +Whom we have left protectors of the king, +With powerful policy strengthen themselves, +And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths. + +MONTAGUE: +Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not: +And thus most humbly I do take my leave. +Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles, +You are come to Sandal in a happy hour; +The army of the queen mean to besiege us. + +JOHN MORTIMER: +She shall not need; we'll meet her in the field. + +YORK: +What, with five thousand men? + +RICHARD: +Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need: +A woman's general; what should we fear? + +EDWARD: +I hear their drums: let's set our men in order, +And issue forth and bid them battle straight. + +YORK: +Five men to twenty! though the odds be great, +I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. +Many a battle have I won in France, +When as the enemy hath been ten to one: +Why should I not now have the like success? +3 KING HENRY VI + +RUTLAND: +Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands? +Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clifford comes! + +CLIFFORD: +Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life. +As for the brat of this accursed duke, +Whose father slew my father, he shall die. + +Tutor: +And I, my lord, will bear him company. + +CLIFFORD: +Soldiers, away with him! + +Tutor: +Ah, Clifford, murder not this innocent child, +Lest thou be hated both of God and man! + +CLIFFORD: +How now! is he dead already? or is it fear +That makes him close his eyes? I'll open them. + +RUTLAND: +So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch +That trembles under his devouring paws; +And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey, +And so he comes, to rend his limbs asunder. +Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword, +And not with such a cruel threatening look. +Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die. +I am too mean a subject for thy wrath: +Be thou revenged on men, and let me live. + +CLIFFORD: +In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's blood +Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter. + +RUTLAND: +Then let my father's blood open it again: +He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him. + +CLIFFORD: +Had thy brethren here, their lives and thine +Were not revenge sufficient for me; +No, if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves +And hung their rotten coffins up in chains, +It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart. +The sight of any of the house of York +Is as a fury to torment my soul; +And till I root out their accursed line +And leave not one alive, I live in hell. +Therefore-- + +RUTLAND: +O, let me pray before I take my death! +To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me! + +CLIFFORD: +Such pity as my rapier's point affords. + +RUTLAND: +I never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me? + +CLIFFORD: +Thy father hath. + +RUTLAND: +But 'twas ere I was born. +Thou hast one son; for his sake pity me, +Lest in revenge thereof, sith God is just, +He be as miserably slain as I. +Ah, let me live in prison all my days; +And when I give occasion of offence, +Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause. + +CLIFFORD: +No cause! +Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. + +RUTLAND: +Di faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae! + +CLIFFORD: +Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet! +And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade +Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood, +Congeal'd with this, do make me wipe off both. +3 KING HENRY VI + +YORK: +The army of the queen hath got the field: +My uncles both are slain in rescuing me; +And all my followers to the eager foe +Turn back and fly, like ships before the wind +Or lambs pursued by hunger-starved wolves. +My sons, God knows what hath bechanced them: +But this I know, they have demean'd themselves +Like men born to renown by life or death. +Three times did Richard make a lane to me. +And thrice cried 'Courage, father! fight it out!' +And full as oft came Edward to my side, +With purple falchion, painted to the hilt +In blood of those that had encounter'd him: +And when the hardiest warriors did retire, +Richard cried 'Charge! and give no foot of ground!' +And cried 'A crown, or else a glorious tomb! +A sceptre, or an earthly sepulchre!' +With this, we charged again: but, out, alas! +We bodged again; as I have seen a swan +With bootless labour swim against the tide +And spend her strength with over-matching waves. +Ah, hark! the fatal followers do pursue; +And I am faint and cannot fly their fury: +And were I strong, I would not shun their fury: +The sands are number'd that make up my life; +Here must I stay, and here my life must end. +Come, bloody Clifford, rough Northumberland, +I dare your quenchless fury to more rage: +I am your butt, and I abide your shot. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Yield to our mercy, proud Plantagenet. + +CLIFFORD: +Ay, to such mercy as his ruthless arm, +With downright payment, show'd unto my father. +Now Phaethon hath tumbled from his car, +And made an evening at the noontide prick. + +YORK: +My ashes, as the phoenix, may bring forth +A bird that will revenge upon you all: +And in that hope I throw mine eyes to heaven, +Scorning whate'er you can afflict me with. +Why come you not? what! multitudes, and fear? + +CLIFFORD: +So cowards fight when they can fly no further; +So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons; +So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives, +Breathe out invectives 'gainst the officers. + +YORK: +O Clifford, but bethink thee once again, +And in thy thought o'er-run my former time; +And, if though canst for blushing, view this face, +And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with cowardice +Whose frown hath made thee faint and fly ere this! + +CLIFFORD: +I will not bandy with thee word for word, +But buckle with thee blows, twice two for one. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Hold, valiant Clifford! for a thousand causes +I would prolong awhile the traitor's life. +Wrath makes him deaf: speak thou, Northumberland. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Hold, Clifford! do not honour him so much +To prick thy finger, though to wound his heart: +What valour were it, when a cur doth grin, +For one to thrust his hand between his teeth, +When he might spurn him with his foot away? +It is war's prize to take all vantages; +And ten to one is no impeach of valour. + +CLIFFORD: +Ay, ay, so strives the woodcock with the gin. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +So doth the cony struggle in the net. + +YORK: +So triumph thieves upon their conquer'd booty; +So true men yield, with robbers so o'ermatch'd. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +What would your grace have done unto him now? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland, +Come, make him stand upon this molehill here, +That raught at mountains with outstretched arms, +Yet parted but the shadow with his hand. +What! was it you that would be England's king? +Was't you that revell'd in our parliament, +And made a preachment of your high descent? +Where are your mess of sons to back you now? +The wanton Edward, and the lusty George? +And where's that valiant crook-back prodigy, +Dicky your boy, that with his grumbling voice +Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinies? +Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland? +Look, York: I stain'd this napkin with the blood +That valiant Clifford, with his rapier's point, +Made issue from the bosom of the boy; +And if thine eyes can water for his death, +I give thee this to dry thy cheeks withal. +Alas poor York! but that I hate thee deadly, +I should lament thy miserable state. +I prithee, grieve, to make me merry, York. +What, hath thy fiery heart so parch'd thine entrails +That not a tear can fall for Rutland's death? +Why art thou patient, man? thou shouldst be mad; +And I, to make thee mad, do mock thee thus. +Stamp, rave, and fret, that I may sing and dance. +Thou wouldst be fee'd, I see, to make me sport: +York cannot speak, unless he wear a crown. +A crown for York! and, lords, bow low to him: +Hold you his hands, whilst I do set it on. +Ay, marry, sir, now looks he like a king! +Ay, this is he that took King Henry's chair, +And this is he was his adopted heir. +But how is it that great Plantagenet +Is crown'd so soon, and broke his solemn oath? +As I bethink me, you should not be king +Till our King Henry had shook hands with death. +And will you pale your head in Henry's glory, +And rob his temples of the diadem, +Now in his life, against your holy oath? +O, 'tis a fault too too unpardonable! +Off with the crown, and with the crown his head; +And, whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead. + +CLIFFORD: +That is my office, for my father's sake. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Nay, stay; lets hear the orisons he makes. + +YORK: +She-wolf of France, but worse than wolves of France, +Whose tongue more poisons than the adder's tooth! +How ill-beseeming is it in thy sex +To triumph, like an Amazonian trull, +Upon their woes whom fortune captivates! +But that thy face is, vizard-like, unchanging, +Made impudent with use of evil deeds, +I would assay, proud queen, to make thee blush. +To tell thee whence thou camest, of whom derived, +Were shame enough to shame thee, wert thou not shameless. +Thy father bears the type of King of Naples, +Of both the Sicils and Jerusalem, +Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman. +Hath that poor monarch taught thee to insult? +It needs not, nor it boots thee not, proud queen, +Unless the adage must be verified, +That beggars mounted run their horse to death. +'Tis beauty that doth oft make women proud; +But, God he knows, thy share thereof is small: +'Tis virtue that doth make them most admired; +The contrary doth make thee wonder'd at: +'Tis government that makes them seem divine; +The want thereof makes thee abominable: +Thou art as opposite to every good +As the Antipodes are unto us, +Or as the south to the septentrion. +O tiger's heart wrapt in a woman's hide! +How couldst thou drain the life-blood of the child, +To bid the father wipe his eyes withal, +And yet be seen to bear a woman's face? +Women are soft, mild, pitiful and flexible; +Thou stern, obdurate, flinty, rough, remorseless. +Bids't thou me rage? why, now thou hast thy wish: +Wouldst have me weep? why, now thou hast thy will: +For raging wind blows up incessant showers, +And when the rage allays, the rain begins. +These tears are my sweet Rutland's obsequies: +And every drop cries vengeance for his death, +'Gainst thee, fell Clifford, and thee, false +Frenchwoman. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Beshrew me, but his passion moves me so +That hardly can I cheque my eyes from tears. + +YORK: +That face of his the hungry cannibals +Would not have touch'd, would not have stain'd with blood: +But you are more inhuman, more inexorable, +O, ten times more, than tigers of Hyrcania. +See, ruthless queen, a hapless father's tears: +This cloth thou dip'dst in blood of my sweet boy, +And I with tears do wash the blood away. +Keep thou the napkin, and go boast of this: +And if thou tell'st the heavy story right, +Upon my soul, the hearers will shed tears; +Yea even my foes will shed fast-falling tears, +And say 'Alas, it was a piteous deed!' +There, take the crown, and, with the crown, my curse; +And in thy need such comfort come to thee +As now I reap at thy too cruel hand! +Hard-hearted Clifford, take me from the world: +My soul to heaven, my blood upon your heads! + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Had he been slaughter-man to all my kin, +I should not for my life but weep with him. +To see how inly sorrow gripes his soul. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +What, weeping-ripe, my Lord Northumberland? +Think but upon the wrong he did us all, +And that will quickly dry thy melting tears. + +CLIFFORD: +Here's for my oath, here's for my father's death. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +And here's to right our gentle-hearted king. + +YORK: +Open Thy gate of mercy, gracious God! +My soul flies through these wounds to seek out Thee. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Off with his head, and set it on York gates; +So York may overlook the town of York. +3 KING HENRY VI + +EDWARD: +I wonder how our princely father 'scaped, +Or whether he be 'scaped away or no +From Clifford's and Northumberland's pursuit: +Had he been ta'en, we should have heard the news; +Had he been slain, we should have heard the news; +Or had he 'scaped, methinks we should have heard +The happy tidings of his good escape. +How fares my brother? why is he so sad? + +RICHARD: +I cannot joy, until I be resolved +Where our right valiant father is become. +I saw him in the battle range about; +And watch'd him how he singled Clifford forth. +Methought he bore him in the thickest troop +As doth a lion in a herd of neat; +Or as a bear, encompass'd round with dogs, +Who having pinch'd a few and made them cry, +The rest stand all aloof, and bark at him. +So fared our father with his enemies; +So fled his enemies my warlike father: +Methinks, 'tis prize enough to be his son. +See how the morning opes her golden gates, +And takes her farewell of the glorious sun! +How well resembles it the prime of youth, +Trimm'd like a younker prancing to his love! + +EDWARD: +Dazzle mine eyes, or do I see three suns? + +RICHARD: +Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun; +Not separated with the racking clouds, +But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky. +See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss, +As if they vow'd some league inviolable: +Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun. +In this the heaven figures some event. + +EDWARD: +'Tis wondrous strange, the like yet never heard of. +I think it cites us, brother, to the field, +That we, the sons of brave Plantagenet, +Each one already blazing by our meeds, +Should notwithstanding join our lights together +And over-shine the earth as this the world. +Whate'er it bodes, henceforward will I bear +Upon my target three fair-shining suns. + +RICHARD: +Nay, bear three daughters: by your leave I speak it, +You love the breeder better than the male. +But what art thou, whose heavy looks foretell +Some dreadful story hanging on thy tongue? + +Messenger: +Ah, one that was a woful looker-on +When as the noble Duke of York was slain, +Your princely father and my loving lord! + +EDWARD: +O, speak no more, for I have heard too much. + +RICHARD: +Say how he died, for I will hear it all. + +Messenger: +Environed he was with many foes, +And stood against them, as the hope of Troy +Against the Greeks that would have enter'd Troy. +But Hercules himself must yield to odds; +And many strokes, though with a little axe, +Hew down and fell the hardest-timber'd oak. +By many hands your father was subdued; +But only slaughter'd by the ireful arm +Of unrelenting Clifford and the queen, +Who crown'd the gracious duke in high despite, +Laugh'd in his face; and when with grief he wept, +The ruthless queen gave him to dry his cheeks +A napkin steeped in the harmless blood +Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Clifford slain: +And after many scorns, many foul taunts, +They took his head, and on the gates of York +They set the same; and there it doth remain, +The saddest spectacle that e'er I view'd. + +EDWARD: +Sweet Duke of York, our prop to lean upon, +Now thou art gone, we have no staff, no stay. +O Clifford, boisterous Clifford! thou hast slain +The flower of Europe for his chivalry; +And treacherously hast thou vanquish'd him, +For hand to hand he would have vanquish'd thee. +Now my soul's palace is become a prison: +Ah, would she break from hence, that this my body +Might in the ground be closed up in rest! +For never henceforth shall I joy again, +Never, O never shall I see more joy! + +RICHARD: +I cannot weep; for all my body's moisture +Scarce serves to quench my furnace-burning heart: +Nor can my tongue unload my heart's great burthen; +For selfsame wind that I should speak withal +Is kindling coals that fires all my breast, +And burns me up with flames that tears would quench. +To weep is to make less the depth of grief: +Tears then for babes; blows and revenge for me +Richard, I bear thy name; I'll venge thy death, +Or die renowned by attempting it. + +EDWARD: +His name that valiant duke hath left with thee; +His dukedom and his chair with me is left. + +RICHARD: +Nay, if thou be that princely eagle's bird, +Show thy descent by gazing 'gainst the sun: +For chair and dukedom, throne and kingdom say; +Either that is thine, or else thou wert not his. + +WARWICK: +How now, fair lords! What fare? what news abroad? + +RICHARD: +Great Lord of Warwick, if we should recount +Our baleful news, and at each word's deliverance +Stab poniards in our flesh till all were told, +The words would add more anguish than the wounds. +O valiant lord, the Duke of York is slain! + +EDWARD: +O Warwick, Warwick! that Plantagenet, +Which held three dearly as his soul's redemption, +Is by the stern Lord Clifford done to death. + +WARWICK: +Ten days ago I drown'd these news in tears; +And now, to add more measure to your woes, +I come to tell you things sith then befall'n. +After the bloody fray at Wakefield fought, +Where your brave father breathed his latest gasp, +Tidings, as swiftly as the posts could run, +Were brought me of your loss and his depart. +I, then in London keeper of the king, +Muster'd my soldiers, gather'd flocks of friends, +And very well appointed, as I thought, +March'd toward Saint Alban's to intercept the queen, +Bearing the king in my behalf along; +For by my scouts I was advertised +That she was coming with a full intent +To dash our late decree in parliament +Touching King Henry's oath and your succession. +Short tale to make, we at Saint Alban's met +Our battles join'd, and both sides fiercely fought: +But whether 'twas the coldness of the king, +Who look'd full gently on his warlike queen, +That robb'd my soldiers of their heated spleen; +Or whether 'twas report of her success; +Or more than common fear of Clifford's rigour, +Who thunders to his captives blood and death, +I cannot judge: but to conclude with truth, +Their weapons like to lightning came and went; +Our soldiers', like the night-owl's lazy flight, +Or like an idle thresher with a flail, +Fell gently down, as if they struck their friends. +I cheer'd them up with justice of our cause, +With promise of high pay and great rewards: +But all in vain; they had no heart to fight, +And we in them no hope to win the day; +So that we fled; the king unto the queen; +Lord George your brother, Norfolk and myself, +In haste, post-haste, are come to join with you: +For in the marches here we heard you were, +Making another head to fight again. + +EDWARD: +Where is the Duke of Norfolk, gentle Warwick? +And when came George from Burgundy to England? + +WARWICK: +Some six miles off the duke is with the soldiers; +And for your brother, he was lately sent +From your kind aunt, Duchess of Burgundy, +With aid of soldiers to this needful war. + +RICHARD: +'Twas odds, belike, when valiant Warwick fled: +Oft have I heard his praises in pursuit, +But ne'er till now his scandal of retire. + +WARWICK: +Nor now my scandal, Richard, dost thou hear; +For thou shalt know this strong right hand of mine +Can pluck the diadem from faint Henry's head, +And wring the awful sceptre from his fist, +Were he as famous and as bold in war +As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer. + +RICHARD: +I know it well, Lord Warwick; blame me not: +'Tis love I bear thy glories makes me speak. +But in this troublous time what's to be done? +Shall we go throw away our coats of steel, +And wrap our bodies in black mourning gowns, +Numbering our Ave-Maries with our beads? +Or shall we on the helmets of our foes +Tell our devotion with revengeful arms? +If for the last, say ay, and to it, lords. + +WARWICK: +Why, therefore Warwick came to seek you out; +And therefore comes my brother Montague. +Attend me, lords. The proud insulting queen, +With Clifford and the haught Northumberland, +And of their feather many more proud birds, +Have wrought the easy-melting king like wax. +He swore consent to your succession, +His oath enrolled in the parliament; +And now to London all the crew are gone, +To frustrate both his oath and what beside +May make against the house of Lancaster. +Their power, I think, is thirty thousand strong: +Now, if the help of Norfolk and myself, +With all the friends that thou, brave Earl of March, +Amongst the loving Welshmen canst procure, +Will but amount to five and twenty thousand, +Why, Via! to London will we march amain, +And once again bestride our foaming steeds, +And once again cry 'Charge upon our foes!' +But never once again turn back and fly. + +RICHARD: +Ay, now methinks I hear great Warwick speak: +Ne'er may he live to see a sunshine day, +That cries 'Retire,' if Warwick bid him stay. + +EDWARD: +Lord Warwick, on thy shoulder will I lean; +And when thou fail'st--as God forbid the hour!-- +Must Edward fall, which peril heaven forfend! + +WARWICK: +No longer Earl of March, but Duke of York: +The next degree is England's royal throne; +For King of England shalt thou be proclaim'd +In every borough as we pass along; +And he that throws not up his cap for joy +Shall for the fault make forfeit of his head. +King Edward, valiant Richard, Montague, +Stay we no longer, dreaming of renown, +But sound the trumpets, and about our task. + +RICHARD: +Then, Clifford, were thy heart as hard as steel, +As thou hast shown it flinty by thy deeds, +I come to pierce it, or to give thee mine. + +EDWARD: +Then strike up drums: God and Saint George for us! + +WARWICK: +How now! what news? + +Messenger: +The Duke of Norfolk sends you word by me, +The queen is coming with a puissant host; +And craves your company for speedy counsel. + +WARWICK: +Why then it sorts, brave warriors, let's away. +3 KING HENRY VI + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Welcome, my lord, to this brave town of York. +Yonder's the head of that arch-enemy +That sought to be encompass'd with your crown: +Doth not the object cheer your heart, my lord? + +KING HENRY VI: +Ay, as the rocks cheer them that fear their wreck: +To see this sight, it irks my very soul. +Withhold revenge, dear God! 'tis not my fault, +Nor wittingly have I infringed my vow. + +CLIFFORD: +My gracious liege, this too much lenity +And harmful pity must be laid aside. +To whom do lions cast their gentle looks? +Not to the beast that would usurp their den. +Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick? +Not his that spoils her young before her face. +Who 'scapes the lurking serpent's mortal sting? +Not he that sets his foot upon her back. +The smallest worm will turn being trodden on, +And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood. +Ambitious York doth level at thy crown, +Thou smiling while he knit his angry brows: +He, but a duke, would have his son a king, +And raise his issue, like a loving sire; +Thou, being a king, blest with a goodly son, +Didst yield consent to disinherit him, +Which argued thee a most unloving father. +Unreasonable creatures feed their young; +And though man's face be fearful to their eyes, +Yet, in protection of their tender ones, +Who hath not seen them, even with those wings +Which sometime they have used with fearful flight, +Make war with him that climb'd unto their nest, +Offer their own lives in their young's defence? +For shame, my liege, make them your precedent! +Were it not pity that this goodly boy +Should lose his birthright by his father's fault, +And long hereafter say unto his child, +'What my great-grandfather and his grandsire got +My careless father fondly gave away'? +Ah, what a shame were this! Look on the boy; +And let his manly face, which promiseth +Successful fortune, steel thy melting heart +To hold thine own and leave thine own with him. + +KING HENRY VI: +Full well hath Clifford play'd the orator, +Inferring arguments of mighty force. +But, Clifford, tell me, didst thou never hear +That things ill-got had ever bad success? +And happy always was it for that son +Whose father for his hoarding went to hell? +I'll leave my son my virtuous deeds behind; +And would my father had left me no more! +For all the rest is held at such a rate +As brings a thousand-fold more care to keep +Than in possession and jot of pleasure. +Ah, cousin York! would thy best friends did know +How it doth grieve me that thy head is here! + +QUEEN MARGARET: +My lord, cheer up your spirits: our foes are nigh, +And this soft courage makes your followers faint. +You promised knighthood to our forward son: +Unsheathe your sword, and dub him presently. +Edward, kneel down. + +KING HENRY VI: +Edward Plantagenet, arise a knight; +And learn this lesson, draw thy sword in right. + +PRINCE: +My gracious father, by your kingly leave, +I'll draw it as apparent to the crown, +And in that quarrel use it to the death. + +CLIFFORD: +Why, that is spoken like a toward prince. + +Messenger: +Royal commanders, be in readiness: +For with a band of thirty thousand men +Comes Warwick, backing of the Duke of York; +And in the towns, as they do march along, +Proclaims him king, and many fly to him: +Darraign your battle, for they are at hand. + +CLIFFORD: +I would your highness would depart the field: +The queen hath best success when you are absent. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Ay, good my lord, and leave us to our fortune. + +KING HENRY VI: +Why, that's my fortune too; therefore I'll stay. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +Be it with resolution then to fight. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +My royal father, cheer these noble lords +And hearten those that fight in your defence: +Unsheathe your sword, good father; cry 'Saint George!' + +EDWARD: +Now, perjured Henry! wilt thou kneel for grace, +And set thy diadem upon my head; +Or bide the mortal fortune of the field? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Go, rate thy minions, proud insulting boy! +Becomes it thee to be thus bold in terms +Before thy sovereign and thy lawful king? + +EDWARD: +I am his king, and he should bow his knee; +I was adopted heir by his consent: +Since when, his oath is broke; for, as I hear, +You, that are king, though he do wear the crown, +Have caused him, by new act of parliament, +To blot out me, and put his own son in. + +CLIFFORD: +And reason too: +Who should succeed the father but the son? + +RICHARD: +Are you there, butcher? O, I cannot speak! + +CLIFFORD: +Ay, crook-back, here I stand to answer thee, +Or any he the proudest of thy sort. + +RICHARD: +'Twas you that kill'd young Rutland, was it not? + +CLIFFORD: +Ay, and old York, and yet not satisfied. + +RICHARD: +For God's sake, lords, give signal to the fight. + +WARWICK: +What say'st thou, Henry, wilt thou yield the crown? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Why, how now, long-tongued Warwick! dare you speak? +When you and I met at Saint Alban's last, +Your legs did better service than your hands. + +WARWICK: +Then 'twas my turn to fly, and now 'tis thine. + +CLIFFORD: +You said so much before, and yet you fled. + +WARWICK: +'Twas not your valour, Clifford, drove me thence. + +NORTHUMBERLAND: +No, nor your manhood that durst make you stay. + +RICHARD: +Northumberland, I hold thee reverently. +Break off the parley; for scarce I can refrain +The execution of my big-swoln heart +Upon that Clifford, that cruel child-killer. + +CLIFFORD: +I slew thy father, call'st thou him a child? + +RICHARD: +Ay, like a dastard and a treacherous coward, +As thou didst kill our tender brother Rutland; +But ere sunset I'll make thee curse the deed. + +KING HENRY VI: +Have done with words, my lords, and hear me speak. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Defy them then, or else hold close thy lips. + +KING HENRY VI: +I prithee, give no limits to my tongue: +I am a king, and privileged to speak. + +CLIFFORD: +My liege, the wound that bred this meeting here +Cannot be cured by words; therefore be still. + +RICHARD: +Then, executioner, unsheathe thy sword: +By him that made us all, I am resolved +that Clifford's manhood lies upon his tongue. + +EDWARD: +Say, Henry, shall I have my right, or no? +A thousand men have broke their fasts to-day, +That ne'er shall dine unless thou yield the crown. + +WARWICK: +If thou deny, their blood upon thy head; +For York in justice puts his armour on. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +If that be right which Warwick says is right, +There is no wrong, but every thing is right. + +RICHARD: +Whoever got thee, there thy mother stands; +For, well I wot, thou hast thy mother's tongue. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +But thou art neither like thy sire nor dam; +But like a foul mis-shapen stigmatic, +Mark'd by the destinies to be avoided, +As venom toads, or lizards' dreadful stings. + +RICHARD: +Iron of Naples hid with English gilt, +Whose father bears the title of a king,-- +As if a channel should be call'd the sea,-- +Shamest thou not, knowing whence thou art extraught, +To let thy tongue detect thy base-born heart? + +EDWARD: +A wisp of straw were worth a thousand crowns, +To make this shameless callet know herself. +Helen of Greece was fairer far than thou, +Although thy husband may be Menelaus; +And ne'er was Agamemnon's brother wrong'd +By that false woman, as this king by thee. +His father revell'd in the heart of France, +And tamed the king, and made the dauphin stoop; +And had he match'd according to his state, +He might have kept that glory to this day; +But when he took a beggar to his bed, +And graced thy poor sire with his bridal-day, +Even then that sunshine brew'd a shower for him, +That wash'd his father's fortunes forth of France, +And heap'd sedition on his crown at home. +For what hath broach'd this tumult but thy pride? +Hadst thou been meek, our title still had slept; +And we, in pity of the gentle king, +Had slipp'd our claim until another age. + +GEORGE: +But when we saw our sunshine made thy spring, +And that thy summer bred us no increase, +We set the axe to thy usurping root; +And though the edge hath something hit ourselves, +Yet, know thou, since we have begun to strike, +We'll never leave till we have hewn thee down, +Or bathed thy growing with our heated bloods. + +EDWARD: +And, in this resolution, I defy thee; +Not willing any longer conference, +Since thou deniest the gentle king to speak. +Sound trumpets! let our bloody colours wave! +And either victory, or else a grave. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Stay, Edward. + +EDWARD: +No, wrangling woman, we'll no longer stay: +These words will cost ten thousand lives this day. +3 KING HENRY VI + +WARWICK: +Forspent with toil, as runners with a race, +I lay me down a little while to breathe; +For strokes received, and many blows repaid, +Have robb'd my strong-knit sinews of their strength, +And spite of spite needs must I rest awhile. + +EDWARD: +Smile, gentle heaven! or strike, ungentle death! +For this world frowns, and Edward's sun is clouded. + +WARWICK: +How now, my lord! what hap? what hope of good? + +GEORGE: +Our hap is loss, our hope but sad despair; +Our ranks are broke, and ruin follows us: +What counsel give you? whither shall we fly? + +EDWARD: +Bootless is flight, they follow us with wings; +And weak we are and cannot shun pursuit. + +RICHARD: +Ah, Warwick, why hast thou withdrawn thyself? +Thy brother's blood the thirsty earth hath drunk, +Broach'd with the steely point of Clifford's lance; +And in the very pangs of death he cried, +Like to a dismal clangour heard from far, +'Warwick, revenge! brother, revenge my death!' +So, underneath the belly of their steeds, +That stain'd their fetlocks in his smoking blood, +The noble gentleman gave up the ghost. + +WARWICK: +Then let the earth be drunken with our blood: +I'll kill my horse, because I will not fly. +Why stand we like soft-hearted women here, +Wailing our losses, whiles the foe doth rage; +And look upon, as if the tragedy +Were play'd in jest by counterfeiting actors? +Here on my knee I vow to God above, +I'll never pause again, never stand still, +Till either death hath closed these eyes of mine +Or fortune given me measure of revenge. + +EDWARD: +O Warwick, I do bend my knee with thine; +And in this vow do chain my soul to thine! +And, ere my knee rise from the earth's cold face, +I throw my hands, mine eyes, my heart to thee, +Thou setter up and plucker down of kings, +Beseeching thee, if with they will it stands +That to my foes this body must be prey, +Yet that thy brazen gates of heaven may ope, +And give sweet passage to my sinful soul! +Now, lords, take leave until we meet again, +Where'er it be, in heaven or in earth. + +RICHARD: +Brother, give me thy hand; and, gentle Warwick, +Let me embrace thee in my weary arms: +I, that did never weep, now melt with woe +That winter should cut off our spring-time so. + +WARWICK: +Away, away! Once more, sweet lords farewell. + +GEORGE: +Yet let us all together to our troops, +And give them leave to fly that will not stay; +And call them pillars that will stand to us; +And, if we thrive, promise them such rewards +As victors wear at the Olympian games: +This may plant courage in their quailing breasts; +For yet is hope of life and victory. +Forslow no longer, make we hence amain. +3 KING HENRY VI + +RICHARD: +Now, Clifford, I have singled thee alone: +Suppose this arm is for the Duke of York, +And this for Rutland; both bound to revenge, +Wert thou environ'd with a brazen wall. + +CLIFFORD: +Now, Richard, I am with thee here alone: +This is the hand that stabb'd thy father York; +And this the hand that slew thy brother Rutland; +And here's the heart that triumphs in their death +And cheers these hands that slew thy sire and brother +To execute the like upon thyself; +And so, have at thee! + +RICHARD: +Nay Warwick, single out some other chase; +For I myself will hunt this wolf to death. +3 KING HENRY VI + +KING HENRY VI: +This battle fares like to the morning's war, +When dying clouds contend with growing light, +What time the shepherd, blowing of his nails, +Can neither call it perfect day nor night. +Now sways it this way, like a mighty sea +Forced by the tide to combat with the wind; +Now sways it that way, like the selfsame sea +Forced to retire by fury of the wind: +Sometime the flood prevails, and then the wind; +Now one the better, then another best; +Both tugging to be victors, breast to breast, +Yet neither conqueror nor conquered: +So is the equal of this fell war. +Here on this molehill will I sit me down. +To whom God will, there be the victory! +For Margaret my queen, and Clifford too, +Have chid me from the battle; swearing both +They prosper best of all when I am thence. +Would I were dead! if God's good will were so; +For what is in this world but grief and woe? +O God! methinks it were a happy life, +To be no better than a homely swain; +To sit upon a hill, as I do now, +To carve out dials quaintly, point by point, +Thereby to see the minutes how they run, +How many make the hour full complete; +How many hours bring about the day; +How many days will finish up the year; +How many years a mortal man may live. +When this is known, then to divide the times: +So many hours must I tend my flock; +So many hours must I take my rest; +So many hours must I contemplate; +So many hours must I sport myself; +So many days my ewes have been with young; +So many weeks ere the poor fools will ean: +So many years ere I shall shear the fleece: +So minutes, hours, days, months, and years, +Pass'd over to the end they were created, +Would bring white hairs unto a quiet grave. +Ah, what a life were this! how sweet! how lovely! +Gives not the hawthorn-bush a sweeter shade +To shepherds looking on their silly sheep, +Than doth a rich embroider'd canopy +To kings that fear their subjects' treachery? +O, yes, it doth; a thousand-fold it doth. +And to conclude, the shepherd's homely curds, +His cold thin drink out of his leather bottle. +His wonted sleep under a fresh tree's shade, +All which secure and sweetly he enjoys, +Is far beyond a prince's delicates, +His viands sparkling in a golden cup, +His body couched in a curious bed, +When care, mistrust, and treason waits on him. + +Son: +Ill blows the wind that profits nobody. +This man, whom hand to hand I slew in fight, +May be possessed with some store of crowns; +And I, that haply take them from him now, +May yet ere night yield both my life and them +To some man else, as this dead man doth me. +Who's this? O God! it is my father's face, +Whom in this conflict I unwares have kill'd. +O heavy times, begetting such events! +From London by the king was I press'd forth; +My father, being the Earl of Warwick's man, +Came on the part of York, press'd by his master; +And I, who at his hands received my life, him +Have by my hands of life bereaved him. +Pardon me, God, I knew not what I did! +And pardon, father, for I knew not thee! +My tears shall wipe away these bloody marks; +And no more words till they have flow'd their fill. + +KING HENRY VI: +O piteous spectacle! O bloody times! +Whiles lions war and battle for their dens, +Poor harmless lambs abide their enmity. +Weep, wretched man, I'll aid thee tear for tear; +And let our hearts and eyes, like civil war, +Be blind with tears, and break o'ercharged with grief. + +Father: +Thou that so stoutly hast resisted me, +Give me thy gold, if thou hast any gold: +For I have bought it with an hundred blows. +But let me see: is this our foeman's face? +Ah, no, no, no, it is mine only son! +Ah, boy, if any life be left in thee, +Throw up thine eye! see, see what showers arise, +Blown with the windy tempest of my heart, +Upon thy words, that kill mine eye and heart! +O, pity, God, this miserable age! +What stratagems, how fell, how butcherly, +Erroneous, mutinous and unnatural, +This deadly quarrel daily doth beget! +O boy, thy father gave thee life too soon, +And hath bereft thee of thy life too late! + +KING HENRY VI: +Woe above woe! grief more than common grief! +O that my death would stay these ruthful deeds! +O pity, pity, gentle heaven, pity! +The red rose and the white are on his face, +The fatal colours of our striving houses: +The one his purple blood right well resembles; +The other his pale cheeks, methinks, presenteth: +Wither one rose, and let the other flourish; +If you contend, a thousand lives must wither. + +Son: +How will my mother for a father's death +Take on with me and ne'er be satisfied! + +Father: +How will my wife for slaughter of my son +Shed seas of tears and ne'er be satisfied! + +KING HENRY VI: +How will the country for these woful chances +Misthink the king and not be satisfied! + +Son: +Was ever son so rued a father's death? + +Father: +Was ever father so bemoan'd his son? + +KING HENRY VI: +Was ever king so grieved for subjects' woe? +Much is your sorrow; mine ten times so much. + +Son: +I'll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill. + +Father: +These arms of mine shall be thy winding-sheet; +My heart, sweet boy, shall be thy sepulchre, +For from my heart thine image ne'er shall go; +My sighing breast shall be thy funeral bell; +And so obsequious will thy father be, +Even for the loss of thee, having no more, +As Priam was for all his valiant sons. +I'll bear thee hence; and let them fight that will, +For I have murdered where I should not kill. + +KING HENRY VI: +Sad-hearted men, much overgone with care, +Here sits a king more woful than you are. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Fly, father, fly! for all your friends are fled, +And Warwick rages like a chafed bull: +Away! for death doth hold us in pursuit. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Mount you, my lord; towards Berwick post amain: +Edward and Richard, like a brace of greyhounds +Having the fearful flying hare in sight, +With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath, +And bloody steel grasp'd in their ireful hands, +Are at our backs; and therefore hence amain. + +EXETER: +Away! for vengeance comes along with them: +Nay, stay not to expostulate, make speed; +Or else come after: I'll away before. + +KING HENRY VI: +Nay, take me with thee, good sweet Exeter: +Not that I fear to stay, but love to go +Whither the queen intends. Forward; away! +3 KING HENRY VI + +CLIFFORD: +Here burns my candle out; ay, here it dies, +Which, whiles it lasted, gave King Henry light. +O Lancaster, I fear thy overthrow +More than my body's parting with my soul! +My love and fear glued many friends to thee; +And, now I fall, thy tough commixture melts. +Impairing Henry, strengthening misproud York, +The common people swarm like summer flies; +And whither fly the gnats but to the sun? +And who shines now but Henry's enemies? +O Phoebus, hadst thou never given consent +That Phaethon should cheque thy fiery steeds, +Thy burning car never had scorch'd the earth! +And, Henry, hadst thou sway'd as kings should do, +Or as thy father and his father did, +Giving no ground unto the house of York, +They never then had sprung like summer flies; +I and ten thousand in this luckless realm +Had left no mourning widows for our death; +And thou this day hadst kept thy chair in peace. +For what doth cherish weeds but gentle air? +And what makes robbers bold but too much lenity? +Bootless are plaints, and cureless are my wounds; +No way to fly, nor strength to hold out flight: +The foe is merciless, and will not pity; +For at their hands I have deserved no pity. +The air hath got into my deadly wounds, +And much effuse of blood doth make me faint. +Come, York and Richard, Warwick and the rest; +I stabb'd your fathers' bosoms, split my breast. + +EDWARD: +Now breathe we, lords: good fortune bids us pause, +And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks. +Some troops pursue the bloody-minded queen, +That led calm Henry, though he were a king, +As doth a sail, fill'd with a fretting gust, +Command an argosy to stem the waves. +But think you, lords, that Clifford fled with them? + +WARWICK: +No, 'tis impossible he should escape, +For, though before his face I speak the words +Your brother Richard mark'd him for the grave: +And wheresoe'er he is, he's surely dead. + +EDWARD: +Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave? + +RICHARD: +A deadly groan, like life and death's departing. + +EDWARD: +See who it is: and, now the battle's ended, +If friend or foe, let him be gently used. + +RICHARD: +Revoke that doom of mercy, for 'tis Clifford; +Who not contented that he lopp'd the branch +In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth, +But set his murdering knife unto the root +From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring, +I mean our princely father, Duke of York. + +WARWICK: +From off the gates of York fetch down the head, +Your father's head, which Clifford placed there; +Instead whereof let this supply the room: +Measure for measure must be answered. + +EDWARD: +Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house, +That nothing sung but death to us and ours: +Now death shall stop his dismal threatening sound, +And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak. + +WARWICK: +I think his understanding is bereft. +Speak, Clifford, dost thou know who speaks to thee? +Dark cloudy death o'ershades his beams of life, +And he nor sees nor hears us what we say. + +RICHARD: +O, would he did! and so perhaps he doth: +'Tis but his policy to counterfeit, +Because he would avoid such bitter taunts +Which in the time of death he gave our father. + +GEORGE: +If so thou think'st, vex him with eager words. + +RICHARD: +Clifford, ask mercy and obtain no grace. + +EDWARD: +Clifford, repent in bootless penitence. + +WARWICK: +Clifford, devise excuses for thy faults. + +GEORGE: +While we devise fell tortures for thy faults. + +RICHARD: +Thou didst love York, and I am son to York. + +EDWARD: +Thou pitied'st Rutland; I will pity thee. + +GEORGE: +Where's Captain Margaret, to fence you now? + +WARWICK: +They mock thee, Clifford: swear as thou wast wont. + +RICHARD: +What, not an oath? nay, then the world goes hard +When Clifford cannot spare his friends an oath. +I know by that he's dead; and, by my soul, +If this right hand would buy two hour's life, +That I in all despite might rail at him, +This hand should chop it off, and with the +issuing blood +Stifle the villain whose unstanched thirst +York and young Rutland could not satisfy. + +WARWICK: +Ay, but he's dead: off with the traitor's head, +And rear it in the place your father's stands. +And now to London with triumphant march, +There to be crowned England's royal king: +From whence shall Warwick cut the sea to France, +And ask the Lady Bona for thy queen: +So shalt thou sinew both these lands together; +And, having France thy friend, thou shalt not dread +The scatter'd foe that hopes to rise again; +For though they cannot greatly sting to hurt, +Yet look to have them buzz to offend thine ears. +First will I see the coronation; +And then to Brittany I'll cross the sea, +To effect this marriage, so it please my lord. + +EDWARD: +Even as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it be; +For in thy shoulder do I build my seat, +And never will I undertake the thing +Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting. +Richard, I will create thee Duke of Gloucester, +And George, of Clarence: Warwick, as ourself, +Shall do and undo as him pleaseth best. + +RICHARD: +Let me be Duke of Clarence, George of Gloucester; +For Gloucester's dukedom is too ominous. + +WARWICK: +Tut, that's a foolish observation: +Richard, be Duke of Gloucester. Now to London, +To see these honours in possession. +3 KING HENRY VI + +First Keeper: +Under this thick-grown brake we'll shroud ourselves; +For through this laund anon the deer will come; +And in this covert will we make our stand, +Culling the principal of all the deer. + +Second Keeper: +I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot. + +First Keeper: +That cannot be; the noise of thy cross-bow +Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. +Here stand we both, and aim we at the best: +And, for the time shall not seem tedious, +I'll tell thee what befell me on a day +In this self-place where now we mean to stand. + +Second Keeper: +Here comes a man; let's stay till he be past. + +KING HENRY VI: +From Scotland am I stol'n, even of pure love, +To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. +No, Harry, Harry, 'tis no land of thine; +Thy place is fill'd, thy sceptre wrung from thee, +Thy balm wash'd off wherewith thou wast anointed: +No bending knee will call thee Caesar now, +No humble suitors press to speak for right, +No, not a man comes for redress of thee; +For how can I help them, and not myself? + +First Keeper: +Ay, here's a deer whose skin's a keeper's fee: +This is the quondam king; let's seize upon him. + +KING HENRY VI: +Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, +For wise men say it is the wisest course. + +Second Keeper: +Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him. + +First Keeper: +Forbear awhile; we'll hear a little more. + +KING HENRY VI: +My queen and son are gone to France for aid; +And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick +Is thither gone, to crave the French king's sister +To wife for Edward: if this news be true, +Poor queen and son, your labour is but lost; +For Warwick is a subtle orator, +And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. +By this account then Margaret may win him; +For she's a woman to be pitied much: +Her sighs will make a battery in his breast; +Her tears will pierce into a marble heart; +The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn; +And Nero will be tainted with remorse, +To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears. +Ay, but she's come to beg, Warwick to give; +She, on his left side, craving aid for Henry, +He, on his right, asking a wife for Edward. +She weeps, and says her Henry is deposed; +He smiles, and says his Edward is install'd; +That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more; +Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong, +Inferreth arguments of mighty strength, +And in conclusion wins the king from her, +With promise of his sister, and what else, +To strengthen and support King Edward's place. +O Margaret, thus 'twill be; and thou, poor soul, +Art then forsaken, as thou went'st forlorn! + +Second Keeper: +Say, what art thou that talk'st of kings and queens? + +KING HENRY VI: +More than I seem, and less than I was born to: +A man at least, for less I should not be; +And men may talk of kings, and why not I? + +Second Keeper: +Ay, but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king. + +KING HENRY VI: +Why, so I am, in mind; and that's enough. + +Second Keeper: +But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown? + +KING HENRY VI: +My crown is in my heart, not on my head; +Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, +Nor to be seen: my crown is called content: +A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy. + +Second Keeper: +Well, if you be a king crown'd with content, +Your crown content and you must be contented +To go along with us; for as we think, +You are the king King Edward hath deposed; +And we his subjects sworn in all allegiance +Will apprehend you as his enemy. + +KING HENRY VI: +But did you never swear, and break an oath? + +Second Keeper: +No, never such an oath; nor will not now. + +KING HENRY VI: +Where did you dwell when I was King of England? + +Second Keeper: +Here in this country, where we now remain. + +KING HENRY VI: +I was anointed king at nine months old; +My father and my grandfather were kings, +And you were sworn true subjects unto me: +And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths? + +First Keeper: +No; +For we were subjects but while you were king. + +KING HENRY VI: +Why, am I dead? do I not breathe a man? +Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear! +Look, as I blow this feather from my face, +And as the air blows it to me again, +Obeying with my wind when I do blow, +And yielding to another when it blows, +Commanded always by the greater gust; +Such is the lightness of you common men. +But do not break your oaths; for of that sin +My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty. +Go where you will, the king shall be commanded; +And be you kings, command, and I'll obey. + +First Keeper: +We are true subjects to the king, King Edward. + +KING HENRY VI: +So would you be again to Henry, +If he were seated as King Edward is. + +First Keeper: +We charge you, in God's name, and the king's, +To go with us unto the officers. + +KING HENRY VI: +In God's name, lead; your king's name be obey'd: +And what God will, that let your king perform; +And what he will, I humbly yield unto. +3 KING HENRY VI + +KING EDWARD IV: +Brother of Gloucester, at Saint Alban's field +This lady's husband, Sir Richard Grey, was slain, +His lands then seized on by the conqueror: +Her suit is now to repossess those lands; +Which we in justice cannot well deny, +Because in quarrel of the house of York +The worthy gentleman did lose his life. + +GLOUCESTER: +Your highness shall do well to grant her suit; +It were dishonour to deny it her. + +KING EDWARD IV: +It were no less; but yet I'll make a pause. + +GLOUCESTER: + +CLARENCE: + +GLOUCESTER: + +KING EDWARD IV: +Widow, we will consider of your suit; +And come some other time to know our mind. + +LADY GREY: +Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay: +May it please your highness to resolve me now; +And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me. + +GLOUCESTER: + +CLARENCE: + +GLOUCESTER: + +KING EDWARD IV: +How many children hast thou, widow? tell me. + +CLARENCE: + +GLOUCESTER: + +LADY GREY: +Three, my most gracious lord. + +GLOUCESTER: + +KING EDWARD IV: +'Twere pity they should lose their father's lands. + +LADY GREY: +Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Lords, give us leave: I'll try this widow's wit. + +GLOUCESTER: + +KING EDWARD IV: +Now tell me, madam, do you love your children? + +LADY GREY: +Ay, full as dearly as I love myself. + +KING EDWARD IV: +And would you not do much to do them good? + +LADY GREY: +To do them good, I would sustain some harm. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Then get your husband's lands, to do them good. + +LADY GREY: +Therefore I came unto your majesty. + +KING EDWARD IV: +I'll tell you how these lands are to be got. + +LADY GREY: +So shall you bind me to your highness' service. + +KING EDWARD IV: +What service wilt thou do me, if I give them? + +LADY GREY: +What you command, that rests in me to do. + +KING EDWARD IV: +But you will take exceptions to my boon. + +LADY GREY: +No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask. + +LADY GREY: +Why, then I will do what your grace commands. + +GLOUCESTER: + +CLARENCE: + +LADY GREY: +Why stops my lord, shall I not hear my task? + +KING EDWARD IV: +An easy task; 'tis but to love a king. + +LADY GREY: +That's soon perform'd, because I am a subject. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Why, then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee. + +LADY GREY: +I take my leave with many thousand thanks. + +GLOUCESTER: + +KING EDWARD IV: +But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I mean. + +LADY GREY: +The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. +What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get? + +LADY GREY: +My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers; +That love which virtue begs and virtue grants. + +KING EDWARD IV: +No, by my troth, I did not mean such love. + +LADY GREY: +Why, then you mean not as I thought you did. + +KING EDWARD IV: +But now you partly may perceive my mind. + +LADY GREY: +My mind will never grant what I perceive +Your highness aims at, if I aim aright. + +KING EDWARD IV: +To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee. + +LADY GREY: +To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands. + +LADY GREY: +Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower; +For by that loss I will not purchase them. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily. + +LADY GREY: +Herein your highness wrongs both them and me. +But, mighty lord, this merry inclination +Accords not with the sadness of my suit: +Please you dismiss me either with 'ay' or 'no.' + +KING EDWARD IV: +Ay, if thou wilt say 'ay' to my request; +No if thou dost say 'no' to my demand. + +LADY GREY: +Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end. + +GLOUCESTER: + +CLARENCE: + +KING EDWARD IV: + +LADY GREY: +'Tis better said than done, my gracious lord: +I am a subject fit to jest withal, +But far unfit to be a sovereign. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Sweet widow, by my state I swear to thee +I speak no more than what my soul intends; +And that is, to enjoy thee for my love. + +LADY GREY: +And that is more than I will yield unto: +I know I am too mean to be your queen, +And yet too good to be your concubine. + +KING EDWARD IV: +You cavil, widow: I did mean, my queen. + +LADY GREY: +'Twill grieve your grace my sons should call you father. + +KING EDWARD IV: +No more than when my daughters call thee mother. +Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children; +And, by God's mother, I, being but a bachelor, +Have other some: why, 'tis a happy thing +To be the father unto many sons. +Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen. + +GLOUCESTER: + +CLARENCE: + +KING EDWARD IV: +Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had. + +GLOUCESTER: +The widow likes it not, for she looks very sad. + +KING EDWARD IV: +You'll think it strange if I should marry her. + +CLARENCE: +To whom, my lord? + +KING EDWARD IV: +Why, Clarence, to myself. + +GLOUCESTER: +That would be ten days' wonder at the least. + +CLARENCE: +That's a day longer than a wonder lasts. + +GLOUCESTER: +By so much is the wonder in extremes. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you both +Her suit is granted for her husband's lands. + +Nobleman: +My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken, +And brought your prisoner to your palace gate. + +KING EDWARD IV: +See that he be convey'd unto the Tower: +And go we, brothers, to the man that took him, +To question of his apprehension. +Widow, go you along. Lords, use her honourably. + +GLOUCESTER: +Ay, Edward will use women honourably. +Would he were wasted, marrow, bones and all, +That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring, +To cross me from the golden time I look for! +And yet, between my soul's desire and me-- +The lustful Edward's title buried-- +Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, +And all the unlook'd for issue of their bodies, +To take their rooms, ere I can place myself: +A cold premeditation for my purpose! +Why, then, I do but dream on sovereignty; +Like one that stands upon a promontory, +And spies a far-off shore where he would tread, +Wishing his foot were equal with his eye, +And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, +Saying, he'll lade it dry to have his way: +So do I wish the crown, being so far off; +And so I chide the means that keeps me from it; +And so I say, I'll cut the causes off, +Flattering me with impossibilities. +My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much, +Unless my hand and strength could equal them. +Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard; +What other pleasure can the world afford? +I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap, +And deck my body in gay ornaments, +And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. +O miserable thought! and more unlikely +Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns! +Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb: +And, for I should not deal in her soft laws, +She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe, +To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub; +To make an envious mountain on my back, +Where sits deformity to mock my body; +To shape my legs of an unequal size; +To disproportion me in every part, +Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp +That carries no impression like the dam. +And am I then a man to be beloved? +O monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought! +Then, since this earth affords no joy to me, +But to command, to cheque, to o'erbear such +As are of better person than myself, +I'll make my heaven to dream upon the crown, +And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell, +Until my mis-shaped trunk that bears this head +Be round impaled with a glorious crown. +And yet I know not how to get the crown, +For many lives stand between me and home: +And I,--like one lost in a thorny wood, +That rends the thorns and is rent with the thorns, +Seeking a way and straying from the way; +Not knowing how to find the open air, +But toiling desperately to find it out,-- +Torment myself to catch the English crown: +And from that torment I will free myself, +Or hew my way out with a bloody axe. +Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile, +And cry 'Content' to that which grieves my heart, +And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, +And frame my face to all occasions. +I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall; +I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk; +I'll play the orator as well as Nestor, +Deceive more slily than Ulysses could, +And, like a Sinon, take another Troy. +I can add colours to the chameleon, +Change shapes with Proteus for advantages, +And set the murderous Machiavel to school. +Can I do this, and cannot get a crown? +Tut, were it farther off, I'll pluck it down. +3 KING HENRY VI + +KING LEWIS XI: +Fair Queen of England, worthy Margaret, +Sit down with us: it ill befits thy state +And birth, that thou shouldst stand while Lewis doth sit. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +No, mighty King of France: now Margaret +Must strike her sail and learn awhile to serve +Where kings command. I was, I must confess, +Great Albion's queen in former golden days: +But now mischance hath trod my title down, +And with dishonour laid me on the ground; +Where I must take like seat unto my fortune, +And to my humble seat conform myself. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears +And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself, +And sit thee by our side: +Yield not thy neck +To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind +Still ride in triumph over all mischance. +Be plain, Queen Margaret, and tell thy grief; +It shall be eased, if France can yield relief. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts +And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak. +Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis, +That Henry, sole possessor of my love, +Is of a king become a banish'd man, +And forced to live in Scotland a forlorn; +While proud ambitious Edward Duke of York +Usurps the regal title and the seat +Of England's true-anointed lawful king. +This is the cause that I, poor Margaret, +With this my son, Prince Edward, Henry's heir, +Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid; +And if thou fail us, all our hope is done: +Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help; +Our people and our peers are both misled, +Our treasures seized, our soldiers put to flight, +And, as thou seest, ourselves in heavy plight. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Renowned queen, with patience calm the storm, +While we bethink a means to break it off. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe. + +KING LEWIS XI: +The more I stay, the more I'll succor thee. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +O, but impatience waiteth on true sorrow. +And see where comes the breeder of my sorrow! + +KING LEWIS XI: +What's he approacheth boldly to our presence? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Our Earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Ay, now begins a second storm to rise; +For this is he that moves both wind and tide. + +WARWICK: +From worthy Edward, King of Albion, +My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend, +I come, in kindness and unfeigned love, +First, to do greetings to thy royal person; +And then to crave a league of amity; +And lastly, to confirm that amity +With a nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant +That virtuous Lady Bona, thy fair sister, +To England's king in lawful marriage. + +QUEEN MARGARET: + +WARWICK: + +QUEEN MARGARET: +King Lewis and Lady Bona, hear me speak, +Before you answer Warwick. His demand +Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest love, +But from deceit bred by necessity; +For how can tyrants safely govern home, +Unless abroad they purchase great alliance? +To prove him tyrant this reason may suffice, +That Henry liveth still: but were he dead, +Yet here Prince Edward stands, King Henry's son. +Look, therefore, Lewis, that by this league and marriage +Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour; +For though usurpers sway the rule awhile, +Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs. + +WARWICK: +Injurious Margaret! + +PRINCE EDWARD: +And why not queen? + +WARWICK: +Because thy father Henry did usurp; +And thou no more are prince than she is queen. + +OXFORD: +Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt, +Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain; +And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth, +Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest; +And, after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth, +Who by his prowess conquered all France: +From these our Henry lineally descends. + +WARWICK: +Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth discourse, +You told not how Henry the Sixth hath lost +All that which Henry Fifth had gotten? +Methinks these peers of France should smile at that. +But for the rest, you tell a pedigree +Of threescore and two years; a silly time +To make prescription for a kingdom's worth. + +OXFORD: +Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy liege, +Whom thou obeyed'st thirty and six years, +And not bewray thy treason with a blush? + +WARWICK: +Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right, +Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree? +For shame! leave Henry, and call Edward king. + +OXFORD: +Call him my king by whose injurious doom +My elder brother, the Lord Aubrey Vere, +Was done to death? and more than so, my father, +Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years, +When nature brought him to the door of death? +No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm, +This arm upholds the house of Lancaster. + +WARWICK: +And I the house of York. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, and Oxford, +Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside, +While I use further conference with Warwick. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Heavens grant that Warwick's words bewitch him not! + +KING LEWIS XI: +Now Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience, +Is Edward your true king? for I were loath +To link with him that were not lawful chosen. + +WARWICK: +Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour. + +KING LEWIS XI: +But is he gracious in the people's eye? + +WARWICK: +The more that Henry was unfortunate. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Then further, all dissembling set aside, +Tell me for truth the measure of his love +Unto our sister Bona. + +WARWICK: +Such it seems +As may beseem a monarch like himself. +Myself have often heard him say and swear +That this his love was an eternal plant, +Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground, +The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's sun, +Exempt from envy, but not from disdain, +Unless the Lady Bona quit his pain. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve. + +BONA: +Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine: +Yet I confess that often ere this day, +When I have heard your king's desert recounted, +Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Then, Warwick, thus: our sister shall be Edward's; +And now forthwith shall articles be drawn +Touching the jointure that your king must make, +Which with her dowry shall be counterpoised. +Draw near, Queen Margaret, and be a witness +That Bona shall be wife to the English king. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +To Edward, but not to the English king. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Deceitful Warwick! it was thy device +By this alliance to make void my suit: +Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend. + +KING LEWIS XI: +And still is friend to him and Margaret: +But if your title to the crown be weak, +As may appear by Edward's good success, +Then 'tis but reason that I be released +From giving aid which late I promised. +Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand +That your estate requires and mine can yield. + +WARWICK: +Henry now lives in Scotland at his ease, +Where having nothing, nothing can he lose. +And as for you yourself, our quondam queen, +You have a father able to maintain you; +And better 'twere you troubled him than France. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick, peace, +Proud setter up and puller down of kings! +I will not hence, till, with my talk and tears, +Both full of truth, I make King Lewis behold +Thy sly conveyance and thy lord's false love; +For both of you are birds of selfsame feather. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Warwick, this is some post to us or thee. + +Post: + +OXFORD: +I like it well that our fair queen and mistress +Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Nay, mark how Lewis stamps, as he were nettled: +I hope all's for the best. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Warwick, what are thy news? and yours, fair queen? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Mine, such as fill my heart with unhoped joys. + +WARWICK: +Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent. + +KING LEWIS XI: +What! has your king married the Lady Grey! +And now, to soothe your forgery and his, +Sends me a paper to persuade me patience? +Is this the alliance that he seeks with France? +Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +I told your majesty as much before: +This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty. + +WARWICK: +King Lewis, I here protest, in sight of heaven, +And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss, +That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's, +No more my king, for he dishonours me, +But most himself, if he could see his shame. +Did I forget that by the house of York +My father came untimely to his death? +Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece? +Did I impale him with the regal crown? +Did I put Henry from his native right? +And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame? +Shame on himself! for my desert is honour: +And to repair my honour lost for him, +I here renounce him and return to Henry. +My noble queen, let former grudges pass, +And henceforth I am thy true servitor: +I will revenge his wrong to Lady Bona, +And replant Henry in his former state. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Warwick, these words have turn'd my hate to love; +And I forgive and quite forget old faults, +And joy that thou becomest King Henry's friend. + +WARWICK: +So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned friend, +That, if King Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us +With some few bands of chosen soldiers, +I'll undertake to land them on our coast +And force the tyrant from his seat by war. +'Tis not his new-made bride shall succor him: +And as for Clarence, as my letters tell me, +He's very likely now to fall from him, +For matching more for wanton lust than honour, +Or than for strength and safety of our country. + +BONA: +Dear brother, how shall Bona be revenged +But by thy help to this distressed queen? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Renowned prince, how shall poor Henry live, +Unless thou rescue him from foul despair? + +BONA: +My quarrel and this English queen's are one. + +WARWICK: +And mine, fair lady Bona, joins with yours. + +KING LEWIS XI: +And mine with hers, and thine, and Margaret's. +Therefore at last I firmly am resolved +You shall have aid. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Let me give humble thanks for all at once. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Then, England's messenger, return in post, +And tell false Edward, thy supposed king, +That Lewis of France is sending over masquers +To revel it with him and his new bride: +Thou seest what's past, go fear thy king withal. + +BONA: +Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, +I'll wear the willow garland for his sake. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Tell him, my mourning weeds are laid aside, +And I am ready to put armour on. + +WARWICK: +Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong, +And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long. +There's thy reward: be gone. + +KING LEWIS XI: +But, Warwick, +Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men, +Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle; +And, as occasion serves, this noble queen +And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. +Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt, +What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty? + +WARWICK: +This shall assure my constant loyalty, +That if our queen and this young prince agree, +I'll join mine eldest daughter and my joy +To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion. +Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous, +Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick; +And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable, +That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Yes, I accept her, for she well deserves it; +And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand. + +KING LEWIS XI: +Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied, +And thou, Lord Bourbon, our high admiral, +Shalt waft them over with our royal fleet. +I long till Edward fall by war's mischance, +For mocking marriage with a dame of France. + +WARWICK: +I came from Edward as ambassador, +But I return his sworn and mortal foe: +Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me, +But dreadful war shall answer his demand. +Had he none else to make a stale but me? +Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow. +I was the chief that raised him to the crown, +And I'll be chief to bring him down again: +Not that I pity Henry's misery, +But seek revenge on Edward's mockery. +3 KING HENRY VI + +GLOUCESTER: +Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you +Of this new marriage with the Lady Grey? +Hath not our brother made a worthy choice? + +CLARENCE: +Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to France; +How could he stay till Warwick made return? + +SOMERSET: +My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the king. + +GLOUCESTER: +And his well-chosen bride. + +CLARENCE: +I mind to tell him plainly what I think. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our choice, +That you stand pensive, as half malcontent? + +CLARENCE: +As well as Lewis of France, or the Earl of Warwick, +Which are so weak of courage and in judgment +That they'll take no offence at our abuse. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Suppose they take offence without a cause, +They are but Lewis and Warwick: I am Edward, +Your king and Warwick's, and must have my will. + +GLOUCESTER: +And shall have your will, because our king: +Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too? + +GLOUCESTER: +Not I: +No, God forbid that I should wish them sever'd +Whom God hath join'd together; ay, and 'twere pity +To sunder them that yoke so well together. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Setting your scorns and your mislike aside, +Tell me some reason why the Lady Grey +Should not become my wife and England's queen. +And you too, Somerset and Montague, +Speak freely what you think. + +CLARENCE: +Then this is mine opinion: that King Lewis +Becomes your enemy, for mocking him +About the marriage of the Lady Bona. + +GLOUCESTER: +And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge, +Is now dishonoured by this new marriage. + +KING EDWARD IV: +What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeased +By such invention as I can devise? + +MONTAGUE: +Yet, to have join'd with France in such alliance +Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth +'Gainst foreign storms than any home-bred marriage. + +HASTINGS: +Why, knows not Montague that of itself +England is safe, if true within itself? + +MONTAGUE: +But the safer when 'tis back'd with France. + +HASTINGS: +'Tis better using France than trusting France: +Let us be back'd with God and with the seas +Which He hath given for fence impregnable, +And with their helps only defend ourselves; +In them and in ourselves our safety lies. + +CLARENCE: +For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves +To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Ay, what of that? it was my will and grant; +And for this once my will shall stand for law. + +GLOUCESTER: +And yet methinks your grace hath not done well, +To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales +Unto the brother of your loving bride; +She better would have fitted me or Clarence: +But in your bride you bury brotherhood. + +CLARENCE: +Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir +Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife's son, +And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife +That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee. + +CLARENCE: +In choosing for yourself, you show'd your judgment, +Which being shallow, you give me leave +To play the broker in mine own behalf; +And to that end I shortly mind to leave you. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be king, +And not be tied unto his brother's will. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +My lords, before it pleased his majesty +To raise my state to title of a queen, +Do me but right, and you must all confess +That I was not ignoble of descent; +And meaner than myself have had like fortune. +But as this title honours me and mine, +So your dislike, to whom I would be pleasing, +Doth cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow. + +KING EDWARD IV: +My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns: +What danger or what sorrow can befall thee, +So long as Edward is thy constant friend, +And their true sovereign, whom they must obey? +Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too, +Unless they seek for hatred at my hands; +Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe, +And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath. + +GLOUCESTER: + +KING EDWARD IV: +Now, messenger, what letters or what news +From France? + +Post: +My sovereign liege, no letters; and few words, +But such as I, without your special pardon, +Dare not relate. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Go to, we pardon thee: therefore, in brief, +Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them. +What answer makes King Lewis unto our letters? + +Post: +At my depart, these were his very words: +'Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king, +That Lewis of France is sending over masquers +To revel it with him and his new bride.' + +KING EDWARD IV: +Is Lewis so brave? belike he thinks me Henry. +But what said Lady Bona to my marriage? + +Post: +These were her words, utter'd with mad disdain: +'Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, +I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.' + +KING EDWARD IV: +I blame not her, she could say little less; +She had the wrong. But what said Henry's queen? +For I have heard that she was there in place. + +Post: +'Tell him,' quoth she, 'my mourning weeds are done, +And I am ready to put armour on.' + +KING EDWARD IV: +Belike she minds to play the Amazon. +But what said Warwick to these injuries? + +Post: +He, more incensed against your majesty +Than all the rest, discharged me with these words: +'Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong, +And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.' + +KING EDWARD IV: +Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words? +Well I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd: +They shall have wars and pay for their presumption. +But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret? + +Post: +Ay, gracious sovereign; they are so link'd in +friendship +That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter. + +CLARENCE: +Belike the elder; Clarence will have the younger. +Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast, +For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter; +That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage +I may not prove inferior to yourself. +You that love me and Warwick, follow me. + +GLOUCESTER: + +KING EDWARD IV: +Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick! +Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; +And haste is needful in this desperate case. +Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf +Go levy men, and make prepare for war; +They are already, or quickly will be landed: +Myself in person will straight follow you. +But, ere I go, Hastings and Montague, +Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest, +Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance: +Tell me if you love Warwick more than me? +If it be so, then both depart to him; +I rather wish you foes than hollow friends: +But if you mind to hold your true obedience, +Give me assurance with some friendly vow, +That I may never have you in suspect. + +MONTAGUE: +So God help Montague as he proves true! + +HASTINGS: +And Hastings as he favours Edward's cause! + +KING EDWARD IV: +Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us? + +GLOUCESTER: +Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Why, so! then am I sure of victory. +Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour, +Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power. +3 KING HENRY VI + +WARWICK: +Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; +The common people by numbers swarm to us. +But see where Somerset and Clarence come! +Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends? + +CLARENCE: +Fear not that, my lord. + +WARWICK: +Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick; +And welcome, Somerset: I hold it cowardice +To rest mistrustful where a noble heart +Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love; +Else might I think that Clarence, Edward's brother, +Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings: +But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be thine. +And now what rests but, in night's coverture, +Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd, +His soldiers lurking in the towns about, +And but attended by a simple guard, +We may surprise and take him at our pleasure? +Our scouts have found the adventure very easy: +That as Ulysses and stout Diomede +With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents, +And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds, +So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle, +At unawares may beat down Edward's guard +And seize himself; I say not, slaughter him, +For I intend but only to surprise him. +You that will follow me to this attempt, +Applaud the name of Henry with your leader. +Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort: +For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George! +3 KING HENRY VI + +First Watchman: +Come on, my masters, each man take his stand: +The king by this is set him down to sleep. + +Second Watchman: +What, will he not to bed? + +First Watchman: +Why, no; for he hath made a solemn vow +Never to lie and take his natural rest +Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd. + +Second Watchman: +To-morrow then belike shall be the day, +If Warwick be so near as men report. + +Third Watchman: +But say, I pray, what nobleman is that +That with the king here resteth in his tent? + +First Watchman: +'Tis the Lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend. + +Third Watchman: +O, is it so? But why commands the king +That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, +While he himself keeps in the cold field? + +Second Watchman: +'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous. + +Third Watchman: +Ay, but give me worship and quietness; +I like it better than a dangerous honour. +If Warwick knew in what estate he stands, +'Tis to be doubted he would waken him. + +First Watchman: +Unless our halberds did shut up his passage. + +Second Watchman: +Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent, +But to defend his person from night-foes? + +WARWICK: +This is his tent; and see where stand his guard. +Courage, my masters! honour now or never! +But follow me, and Edward shall be ours. + +First Watchman: +Who goes there? + +Second Watchman: +Stay, or thou diest! + +SOMERSET: +What are they that fly there? + +WARWICK: +Richard and Hastings: let them go; here is The duke. + +KING EDWARD IV: +The duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted, +Thou call'dst me king. + +WARWICK: +Ay, but the case is alter'd: +When you disgraced me in my embassade, +Then I degraded you from being king, +And come now to create you Duke of York. +Alas! how should you govern any kingdom, +That know not how to use ambassadors, +Nor how to be contented with one wife, +Nor how to use your brothers brotherly, +Nor how to study for the people's welfare, +Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies? + +KING EDWARD IV: +Yea, brother of Clarence, are thou here too? +Nay, then I see that Edward needs must down. +Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance, +Of thee thyself and all thy complices, +Edward will always bear himself as king: +Though fortune's malice overthrow my state, +My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel. + +WARWICK: +Then, for his mind, be Edward England's king: +But Henry now shall wear the English crown, +And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow. +My Lord of Somerset, at my request, +See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd +Unto my brother, Archbishop of York. +When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows, +I'll follow you, and tell what answer +Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him. +Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York. + +KING EDWARD IV: +What fates impose, that men must needs abide; +It boots not to resist both wind and tide. + +OXFORD: +What now remains, my lords, for us to do +But march to London with our soldiers? + +WARWICK: +Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do; +To free King Henry from imprisonment +And see him seated in the regal throne. +3 KING HENRY VI + +RIVERS: +Madam, what makes you in this sudden change? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Why brother Rivers, are you yet to learn +What late misfortune is befall'n King Edward? + +RIVERS: +What! loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +No, but the loss of his own royal person. + +RIVERS: +Then is my sovereign slain? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner, +Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard +Or by his foe surprised at unawares: +And, as I further have to understand, +Is new committed to the Bishop of York, +Fell Warwick's brother and by that our foe. + +RIVERS: +These news I must confess are full of grief; +Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may: +Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Till then fair hope must hinder life's decay. +And I the rather wean me from despair +For love of Edward's offspring in my womb: +This is it that makes me bridle passion +And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross; +Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear +And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs, +Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown +King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English crown. + +RIVERS: +But, madam, where is Warwick then become? + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +I am inform'd that he comes towards London, +To set the crown once more on Henry's head: +Guess thou the rest; King Edward's friends must down, +But, to prevent the tyrant's violence,-- +For trust not him that hath once broken faith,-- +I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary, +To save at least the heir of Edward's right: +There shall I rest secure from force and fraud. +Come, therefore, let us fly while we may fly: +If Warwick take us we are sure to die. +3 KING HENRY VI + +GLOUCESTER: +Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley, +Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither, +Into this chiefest thicket of the park. +Thus stands the case: you know our king, my brother, +Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands +He hath good usage and great liberty, +And, often but attended with weak guard, +Comes hunting this way to disport himself. +I have advertised him by secret means +That if about this hour he make his way +Under the colour of his usual game, +He shall here find his friends with horse and men +To set him free from his captivity. + +Huntsman: +This way, my lord; for this way lies the game. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Nay, this way, man: see where the huntsmen stand. +Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the rest, +Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer? + +GLOUCESTER: +Brother, the time and case requireth haste: +Your horse stands ready at the park-corner. + +KING EDWARD IV: +But whither shall we then? + +HASTINGS: +To Lynn, my lord, +And ship from thence to Flanders. + +GLOUCESTER: +Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness. + +GLOUCESTER: +But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go along? + +Huntsman: +Better do so than tarry and be hang'd. + +GLOUCESTER: +Come then, away; let's ha' no more ado. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick's frown; +And pray that I may repossess the crown. +3 KING HENRY VI + +KING HENRY VI: +Master lieutenant, now that God and friends +Have shaken Edward from the regal seat, +And turn'd my captive state to liberty, +My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys, +At our enlargement what are thy due fees? + +Lieutenant: +Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns; +But if an humble prayer may prevail, +I then crave pardon of your majesty. + +KING HENRY VI: +For what, lieutenant? for well using me? +Nay, be thou sure I'll well requite thy kindness, +For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure; +Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds +Conceive when after many moody thoughts +At last by notes of household harmony +They quite forget their loss of liberty. +But, Warwick, after God, thou set'st me free, +And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee; +He was the author, thou the instrument. +Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite +By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me, +And that the people of this blessed land +May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars, +Warwick, although my head still wear the crown, +I here resign my government to thee, +For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds. + +WARWICK: +Your grace hath still been famed for virtuous; +And now may seem as wise as virtuous, +By spying and avoiding fortune's malice, +For few men rightly temper with the stars: +Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace, +For choosing me when Clarence is in place. + +CLARENCE: +No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway, +To whom the heavens in thy nativity +Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown, +As likely to be blest in peace and war; +And therefore I yield thee my free consent. + +WARWICK: +And I choose Clarence only for protector. + +KING HENRY VI: +Warwick and Clarence give me both your hands: +Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts, +That no dissension hinder government: +I make you both protectors of this land, +While I myself will lead a private life +And in devotion spend my latter days, +To sin's rebuke and my Creator's praise. + +WARWICK: +What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will? + +CLARENCE: +That he consents, if Warwick yield consent; +For on thy fortune I repose myself. + +WARWICK: +Why, then, though loath, yet must I be content: +We'll yoke together, like a double shadow +To Henry's body, and supply his place; +I mean, in bearing weight of government, +While he enjoys the honour and his ease. +And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful +Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor, +And all his lands and goods be confiscate. + +CLARENCE: +What else? and that succession be determined. + +WARWICK: +Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part. + +KING HENRY VI: +But, with the first of all your chief affairs, +Let me entreat, for I command no more, +That Margaret your queen and my son Edward +Be sent for, to return from France with speed; +For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear +My joy of liberty is half eclipsed. + +CLARENCE: +It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed. + +KING HENRY VI: +My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that, +Of whom you seem to have so tender care? + +SOMERSET: +My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond. + +KING HENRY VI: +Come hither, England's hope. +If secret powers +Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts, +This pretty lad will prove our country's bliss. +His looks are full of peaceful majesty, +His head by nature framed to wear a crown, +His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself +Likely in time to bless a regal throne. +Make much of him, my lords, for this is he +Must help you more than you are hurt by me. + +WARWICK: +What news, my friend? + +Post: +That Edward is escaped from your brother, +And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. + +WARWICK: +Unsavoury news! but how made he escape? + +Post: +He was convey'd by Richard Duke of Gloucester +And the Lord Hastings, who attended him +In secret ambush on the forest side +And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him; +For hunting was his daily exercise. + +WARWICK: +My brother was too careless of his charge. +But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide +A salve for any sore that may betide. + +SOMERSET: +My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward's; +For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help, +And we shall have more wars before 't be long. +As Henry's late presaging prophecy +Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond, +So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts +What may befall him, to his harm and ours: +Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst, +Forthwith we'll send him hence to Brittany, +Till storms be past of civil enmity. + +OXFORD: +Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown, +'Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down. + +SOMERSET: +It shall be so; he shall to Brittany. +Come, therefore, let's about it speedily. +3 KING HENRY VI + +KING EDWARD IV: +Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest, +Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends, +And says that once more I shall interchange +My waned state for Henry's regal crown. +Well have we pass'd and now repass'd the seas +And brought desired help from Burgundy: +What then remains, we being thus arrived +From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York, +But that we enter, as into our dukedom? + +GLOUCESTER: +The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this; +For many men that stumble at the threshold +Are well foretold that danger lurks within. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Tush, man, abodements must not now affright us: +By fair or foul means we must enter in, +For hither will our friends repair to us. + +HASTINGS: +My liege, I'll knock once more to summon them. + +Mayor: +My lords, we were forewarned of your coming, +And shut the gates for safety of ourselves; +For now we owe allegiance unto Henry. + +KING EDWARD IV: +But, master mayor, if Henry be your king, +Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York. + +Mayor: +True, my good lord; I know you for no less. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom, +As being well content with that alone. + +GLOUCESTER: + +HASTINGS: +Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt? +Open the gates; we are King Henry's friends. + +Mayor: +Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be open'd. + +GLOUCESTER: +A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded! + +HASTINGS: +The good old man would fain that all were well, +So 'twere not 'long of him; but being enter'd, +I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade +Both him and all his brothers unto reason. + +KING EDWARD IV: +So, master mayor: these gates must not be shut +But in the night or in the time of war. +What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys; +For Edward will defend the town and thee, +And all those friends that deign to follow me. + +GLOUCESTER: +Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, +Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms? + +MONTAGUE: +To help King Edward in his time of storm, +As every loyal subject ought to do. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget +Our title to the crown and only claim +Our dukedom till God please to send the rest. + +MONTAGUE: +Then fare you well, for I will hence again: +I came to serve a king and not a duke. +Drummer, strike up, and let us march away. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Nay, stay, Sir John, awhile, and we'll debate +By what safe means the crown may be recover'd. + +MONTAGUE: +What talk you of debating? in few words, +If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king, +I'll leave you to your fortune and be gone +To keep them back that come to succor you: +Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title? + +GLOUCESTER: +Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points? + +KING EDWARD IV: +When we grow stronger, then we'll make our claim: +Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. + +HASTINGS: +Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule. + +GLOUCESTER: +And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns. +Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand: +The bruit thereof will bring you many friends. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right, +And Henry but usurps the diadem. + +MONTAGUE: +Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself; +And now will I be Edward's champion. + +HASTINGS: +Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd: +Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. + +Soldier: +Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of +England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c. + +MONTAGUE: +And whosoe'er gainsays King Edward's right, +By this I challenge him to single fight. + +All: +Long live Edward the Fourth! + +KING EDWARD IV: +Thanks, brave Montgomery; and thanks unto you all: +If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness. +Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York; +And when the morning sun shall raise his car +Above the border of this horizon, +We'll forward towards Warwick and his mates; +For well I wot that Henry is no soldier. +Ah, froward Clarence! how evil it beseems thee +To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother! +Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick. +Come on, brave soldiers: doubt not of the day, +And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay. +3 KING HENRY VI + +WARWICK: +What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, +With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders, +Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas, +And with his troops doth march amain to London; +And many giddy people flock to him. + +KING HENRY VI: +Let's levy men, and beat him back again. + +CLARENCE: +A little fire is quickly trodden out; +Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench. + +WARWICK: +In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends, +Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war; +Those will I muster up: and thou, son Clarence, +Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent, +The knights and gentlemen to come with thee: +Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham, +Northampton and in Leicestershire, shalt find +Men well inclined to hear what thou command'st: +And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well beloved, +In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends. +My sovereign, with the loving citizens, +Like to his island girt in with the ocean, +Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs, +Shall rest in London till we come to him. +Fair lords, take leave and stand not to reply. +Farewell, my sovereign. + +KING HENRY VI: +Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope. + +CLARENCE: +In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand. + +KING HENRY VI: +Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate! + +MONTAGUE: +Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave. + +OXFORD: +And thus I seal my truth, and bid adieu. + +KING HENRY VI: +Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague, +And all at once, once more a happy farewell. + +WARWICK: +Farewell, sweet lords: let's meet at Coventry. + +KING HENRY VI: +Here at the palace I will rest awhile. +Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship? +Methinks the power that Edward hath in field +Should not be able to encounter mine. + +EXETER: +The doubt is that he will seduce the rest. + +KING HENRY VI: +That's not my fear; my meed hath got me fame: +I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands, +Nor posted off their suits with slow delays; +My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds, +My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs, +My mercy dried their water-flowing tears; +I have not been desirous of their wealth, +Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies. +Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd: +Then why should they love Edward more than me? +No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace: +And when the lion fawns upon the lamb, +The lamb will never cease to follow him. + +EXETER: +Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these? + +KING EDWARD IV: +Seize on the shame-faced Henry, bear him hence; +And once again proclaim us King of England. +You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow: +Now stops thy spring; my sea sha$l suck them dry, +And swell so much the higher by their ebb. +Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak. +And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course +Where peremptory Warwick now remains: +The sun shines hot; and, if we use delay, +Cold biting winter mars our hoped-for hay. + +GLOUCESTER: +Away betimes, before his forces join, +And take the great-grown traitor unawares: +Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry. +3 KING HENRY VI + +WARWICK: +Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford? +How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow? + +First Messenger: +By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward. + +WARWICK: +How far off is our brother Montague? +Where is the post that came from Montague? + +Second Messenger: +By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop. + +WARWICK: +Say, Somerville, what says my loving son? +And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now? + +SOMERSET: +At Southam I did leave him with his forces, +And do expect him here some two hours hence. + +WARWICK: +Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum. + +SOMERSET: +It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies: +The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick. + +WARWICK: +Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for friends. + +SOMERSET: +They are at hand, and you shall quickly know. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle. + +GLOUCESTER: +See how the surly Warwick mans the wall! + +WARWICK: +O unbid spite! is sportful Edward come? +Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced, +That we could hear no news of his repair? + +KING EDWARD IV: +Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates, +Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee, +Call Edward king and at his hands beg mercy? +And he shall pardon thee these outrages. + +WARWICK: +Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, +Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee own, +Call Warwick patron and be penitent? +And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York. + +GLOUCESTER: +I thought, at least, he would have said the king; +Or did he make the jest against his will? + +WARWICK: +Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift? + +GLOUCESTER: +Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give: +I'll do thee service for so good a gift. + +WARWICK: +'Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Why then 'tis mine, if but by Warwick's gift. + +WARWICK: +Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight: +And weakling, Warwick takes his gift again; +And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject. + +KING EDWARD IV: +But Warwick's king is Edward's prisoner: +And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this: +What is the body when the head is off? + +GLOUCESTER: +Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast, +But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten, +The king was slily finger'd from the deck! +You left poor Henry at the Bishop's palace, +And, ten to one, you'll meet him in the Tower. + +EDWARD: +'Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still. + +GLOUCESTER: +Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel down: +Nay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools. + +WARWICK: +I had rather chop this hand off at a blow, +And with the other fling it at thy face, +Than bear so low a sail, to strike to thee. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend, +This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair +Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off, +Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood, +'Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.' + +WARWICK: +O cheerful colours! see where Oxford comes! + +OXFORD: +Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster! + +GLOUCESTER: +The gates are open, let us enter too. + +KING EDWARD IV: +So other foes may set upon our backs. +Stand we in good array; for they no doubt +Will issue out again and bid us battle: +If not, the city being but of small defence, +We'll quickly rouse the traitors in the same. + +WARWICK: +O, welcome, Oxford! for we want thy help. + +MONTAGUE: +Montague, Montague, for Lancaster! + +GLOUCESTER: +Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason +Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear. + +KING EDWARD IV: +The harder match'd, the greater victory: +My mind presageth happy gain and conquest. + +SOMERSET: +Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster! + +GLOUCESTER: +Two of thy name, both Dukes of Somerset, +Have sold their lives unto the house of York; +And thou shalt be the third if this sword hold. + +WARWICK: +And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along, +Of force enough to bid his brother battle; +With whom an upright zeal to right prevails +More than the nature of a brother's love! +Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick call. + +CLARENCE: +Father of Warwick, know you what this means? +Look here, I throw my infamy at thee +I will not ruinate my father's house, +Who gave his blood to lime the stones together, +And set up Lancaster. Why, trow'st thou, Warwick, +That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural, +To bend the fatal instruments of war +Against his brother and his lawful king? +Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath: +To keep that oath were more impiety +Than Jephthah's, when he sacrificed his daughter. +I am so sorry for my trespass made +That, to deserve well at my brother's hands, +I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe, +With resolution, wheresoe'er I meet thee-- +As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad-- +To plague thee for thy foul misleading me. +And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee, +And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks. +Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends: +And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults, +For I will henceforth be no more unconstant. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Now welcome more, and ten times more beloved, +Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate. + +GLOUCESTER: +Welcome, good Clarence; this is brotherlike. + +WARWICK: +O passing traitor, perjured and unjust! + +KING EDWARD IV: +What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town and fight? +Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears? + +WARWICK: +Alas, I am not coop'd here for defence! +I will away towards Barnet presently, +And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou darest. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads the way. +Lords, to the field; Saint George and victory! +3 KING HENRY VI + +KING EDWARD IV: +So, lie thou there: die thou, and die our fear; +For Warwick was a bug that fear'd us all. +Now, Montague, sit fast; I seek for thee, +That Warwick's bones may keep thine company. + +WARWICK: +Ah, who is nigh? come to me, friend or foe, +And tell me who is victor, York or Warwick? +Why ask I that? my mangled body shows, +My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart shows. +That I must yield my body to the earth +And, by my fall, the conquest to my foe. +Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge, +Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle, +Under whose shade the ramping lion slept, +Whose top-branch overpeer'd Jove's spreading tree +And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind. +These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's black veil, +Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun, +To search the secret treasons of the world: +The wrinkles in my brows, now filled with blood, +Were liken'd oft to kingly sepulchres; +For who lived king, but I could dig his grave? +And who durst mine when Warwick bent his brow? +Lo, now my glory smear'd in dust and blood! +My parks, my walks, my manors that I had. +Even now forsake me, and of all my lands +Is nothing left me but my body's length. +Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust? +And, live we how we can, yet die we must. + +SOMERSET: +Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are. +We might recover all our loss again; +The queen from France hath brought a puissant power: +Even now we heard the news: ah, could'st thou fly! + +WARWICK: +Why, then I would not fly. Ah, Montague, +If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand. +And with thy lips keep in my soul awhile! +Thou lovest me not; for, brother, if thou didst, +Thy tears would wash this cold congealed blood +That glues my lips and will not let me speak. +Come quickly, Montague, or I am dead. + +SOMERSET: +Ah, Warwick! Montague hath breathed his last; +And to the latest gasp cried out for Warwick, +And said 'Commend me to my valiant brother.' +And more he would have said, and more he spoke, +Which sounded like a clamour in a vault, +That mought not be distinguished; but at last +I well might hear, delivered with a groan, +'O, farewell, Warwick!' + +WARWICK: +Sweet rest his soul! Fly, lords, and save yourselves; +For Warwick bids you all farewell to meet in heaven. + +OXFORD: +Away, away, to meet the queen's great power! +3 KING HENRY VI + +KING EDWARD IV: +Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course, +And we are graced with wreaths of victory. +But, in the midst of this bright-shining day, +I spy a black, suspicious, threatening cloud, +That will encounter with our glorious sun, +Ere he attain his easeful western bed: +I mean, my lords, those powers that the queen +Hath raised in Gallia have arrived our coast +And, as we hear, march on to fight with us. + +CLARENCE: +A little gale will soon disperse that cloud +And blow it to the source from whence it came: +The very beams will dry those vapours up, +For every cloud engenders not a storm. + +GLOUCESTER: +The queen is valued thirty thousand strong, +And Somerset, with Oxford fled to her: +If she have time to breathe be well assured +Her faction will be full as strong as ours. + +KING EDWARD IV: +We are advertised by our loving friends +That they do hold their course toward Tewksbury: +We, having now the best at Barnet field, +Will thither straight, for willingness rids way; +And, as we march, our strength will be augmented +In every county as we go along. +Strike up the drum; cry 'Courage!' and away. +3 KING HENRY VI + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, +But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. +What though the mast be now blown overboard, +The cable broke, the holding-anchor lost, +And half our sailors swallow'd in the flood? +Yet lives our pilot still. Is't meet that he +Should leave the helm and like a fearful lad +With tearful eyes add water to the sea +And give more strength to that which hath too much, +Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock, +Which industry and courage might have saved? +Ah, what a shame! ah, what a fault were this! +Say Warwick was our anchor; what of that? +And Montague our topmost; what of him? +Our slaughter'd friends the tackles; what of these? +Why, is not Oxford here another anchor? +And Somerset another goodly mast? +The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings? +And, though unskilful, why not Ned and I +For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge? +We will not from the helm to sit and weep, +But keep our course, though the rough wind say no, +From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck. +As good to chide the waves as speak them fair. +And what is Edward but ruthless sea? +What Clarence but a quicksand of deceit? +And Richard but a ragged fatal rock? +All these the enemies to our poor bark. +Say you can swim; alas, 'tis but a while! +Tread on the sand; why, there you quickly sink: +Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off, +Or else you famish; that's a threefold death. +This speak I, lords, to let you understand, +If case some one of you would fly from us, +That there's no hoped-for mercy with the brothers +More than with ruthless waves, with sands and rocks. +Why, courage then! what cannot be avoided +'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Methinks a woman of this valiant spirit +Should, if a coward heard her speak these words, +Infuse his breast with magnanimity +And make him, naked, foil a man at arms. +I speak not this as doubting any here +For did I but suspect a fearful man +He should have leave to go away betimes, +Lest in our need he might infect another +And make him of like spirit to himself. +If any such be here--as God forbid!-- +Let him depart before we need his help. + +OXFORD: +Women and children of so high a courage, +And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame. +O brave young prince! thy famous grandfather +Doth live again in thee: long mayst thou live +To bear his image and renew his glories! + +SOMERSET: +And he that will not fight for such a hope. +Go home to bed, and like the owl by day, +If he arise, be mock'd and wonder'd at. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Thanks, gentle Somerset; sweet Oxford, thanks. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +And take his thanks that yet hath nothing else. + +Messenger: +Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand. +Ready to fight; therefore be resolute. + +OXFORD: +I thought no less: it is his policy +To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided. + +SOMERSET: +But he's deceived; we are in readiness. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness. + +OXFORD: +Here pitch our battle; hence we will not budge. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood, +Which, by the heavens' assistance and your strength, +Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night. +I need not add more fuel to your fire, +For well I wot ye blaze to burn them out +Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords! + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say +My tears gainsay; for every word I speak, +Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes. +Therefore, no more but this: Henry, your sovereign, +Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd, +His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain, +His statutes cancell'd and his treasure spent; +And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil. +You fight in justice: then, in God's name, lords, +Be valiant and give signal to the fight. +3 KING HENRY VI + +KING EDWARD IV: +Now here a period of tumultuous broils. +Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight: +For Somerset, off with his guilty head. +Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak. + +OXFORD: +For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words. + +SOMERSET: +Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +So part we sadly in this troublous world, +To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Is proclamation made, that who finds Edward +Shall have a high reward, and he his life? + +GLOUCESTER: +It is: and lo, where youthful Edward comes! + +KING EDWARD IV: +Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak. +What! can so young a thorn begin to prick? +Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make +For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects, +And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to? + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York! +Suppose that I am now my father's mouth; +Resign thy chair, and where I stand kneel thou, +Whilst I propose the selfsame words to thee, +Which traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Ah, that thy father had been so resolved! + +GLOUCESTER: +That you might still have worn the petticoat, +And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Let AEsop fable in a winter's night; +His currish riddles sort not with this place. + +GLOUCESTER: +By heaven, brat, I'll plague ye for that word. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men. + +GLOUCESTER: +For God's sake, take away this captive scold. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +Nay, take away this scolding crookback rather. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue. + +CLARENCE: +Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert. + +PRINCE EDWARD: +I know my duty; you are all undutiful: +Lascivious Edward, and thou perjured George, +And thou mis-shapen Dick, I tell ye all +I am your better, traitors as ye are: +And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Take that, thou likeness of this railer here. + +GLOUCESTER: +Sprawl'st thou? take that, to end thy agony. + +CLARENCE: +And there's for twitting me with perjury. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +O, kill me too! + +GLOUCESTER: +Marry, and shall. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Hold, Richard, hold; for we have done too much. + +GLOUCESTER: +Why should she live, to fill the world with words? + +KING EDWARD IV: +What, doth she swoon? use means for her recovery. + +GLOUCESTER: +Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother; +I'll hence to London on a serious matter: +Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news. + +CLARENCE: +What? what? + +GLOUCESTER: +The Tower, the Tower. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +O Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy! +Canst thou not speak? O traitors! murderers! +They that stabb'd Caesar shed no blood at all, +Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, +If this foul deed were by to equal it: +He was a man; this, in respect, a child: +And men ne'er spend their fury on a child. +What's worse than murderer, that I may name it? +No, no, my heart will burst, and if I speak: +And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. +Butchers and villains! bloody cannibals! +How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd! +You have no children, butchers! if you had, +The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse: +But if you ever chance to have a child, +Look in his youth to have him so cut off +As, deathmen, you have rid this sweet young prince! + +KING EDWARD IV: +Away with her; go, bear her hence perforce. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Nay, never bear me hence, dispatch me here, +Here sheathe thy sword, I'll pardon thee my death: +What, wilt thou not? then, Clarence, do it thou. + +CLARENCE: +By heaven, I will not do thee so much ease. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, do thou do it. + +CLARENCE: +Didst thou not hear me swear I would not do it? + +QUEEN MARGARET: +Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself: +'Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity. +What, wilt thou not? Where is that devil's butcher, +Hard-favour'd Richard? Richard, where art thou? +Thou art not here: murder is thy alms-deed; +Petitioners for blood thou ne'er put'st back. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Away, I say; I charge ye, bear her hence. + +QUEEN MARGARET: +So come to you and yours, as to this Prince! + +KING EDWARD IV: +Where's Richard gone? + +CLARENCE: +To London, all in post; and, as I guess, +To make a bloody supper in the Tower. + +KING EDWARD IV: +He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head. +Now march we hence: discharge the common sort +With pay and thanks, and let's away to London +And see our gentle queen how well she fares: +By this, I hope, she hath a son for me. +3 KING HENRY VI + +GLOUCESTER: +Good day, my lord. What, at your book so hard? + +KING HENRY VI: +Ay, my good lord:--my lord, I should say rather; +'Tis sin to flatter; 'good' was little better: +'Good Gloucester' and 'good devil' were alike, +And both preposterous; therefore, not 'good lord.' + +GLOUCESTER: +Sirrah, leave us to ourselves: we must confer. + +KING HENRY VI: +So flies the reckless shepherd from the wolf; +So first the harmless sheep doth yield his fleece +And next his throat unto the butcher's knife. +What scene of death hath Roscius now to act? + +GLOUCESTER: +Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; +The thief doth fear each bush an officer. + +KING HENRY VI: +The bird that hath been limed in a bush, +With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush; +And I, the hapless male to one sweet bird, +Have now the fatal object in my eye +Where my poor young was limed, was caught and kill'd. + +GLOUCESTER: +Why, what a peevish fool was that of Crete, +That taught his son the office of a fowl! +An yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd. + +KING HENRY VI: +I, Daedalus; my poor boy, Icarus; +Thy father, Minos, that denied our course; +The sun that sear'd the wings of my sweet boy +Thy brother Edward, and thyself the sea +Whose envious gulf did swallow up his life. +Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words! +My breast can better brook thy dagger's point +Than can my ears that tragic history. +But wherefore dost thou come? is't for my life? + +GLOUCESTER: +Think'st thou I am an executioner? + +KING HENRY VI: +A persecutor, I am sure, thou art: +If murdering innocents be executing, +Why, then thou art an executioner. + +GLOUCESTER: +Thy son I kill'd for his presumption. + +KING HENRY VI: +Hadst thou been kill'd when first thou didst presume, +Thou hadst not lived to kill a son of mine. +And thus I prophesy, that many a thousand, +Which now mistrust no parcel of my fear, +And many an old man's sigh and many a widow's, +And many an orphan's water-standing eye-- +Men for their sons, wives for their husbands, +And orphans for their parents timeless death-- +Shall rue the hour that ever thou wast born. +The owl shriek'd at thy birth,--an evil sign; +The night-crow cried, aboding luckless time; +Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempest shook down trees; +The raven rook'd her on the chimney's top, +And chattering pies in dismal discords sung. +Thy mother felt more than a mother's pain, +And, yet brought forth less than a mother's hope, +To wit, an indigested and deformed lump, +Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree. +Teeth hadst thou in thy head when thou wast born, +To signify thou camest to bite the world: +And, if the rest be true which I have heard, +Thou camest-- + +GLOUCESTER: +I'll hear no more: die, prophet in thy speech: +For this amongst the rest, was I ordain'd. + +KING HENRY VI: +Ay, and for much more slaughter after this. +God forgive my sins, and pardon thee! + +GLOUCESTER: +What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster +Sink in the ground? I thought it would have mounted. +See how my sword weeps for the poor king's death! +O, may such purple tears be alway shed +From those that wish the downfall of our house! +If any spark of life be yet remaining, +Down, down to hell; and say I sent thee thither: +I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear. +Indeed, 'tis true that Henry told me of; +For I have often heard my mother say +I came into the world with my legs forward: +Had I not reason, think ye, to make haste, +And seek their ruin that usurp'd our right? +The midwife wonder'd and the women cried +'O, Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth!' +And so I was; which plainly signified +That I should snarl and bite and play the dog. +Then, since the heavens have shaped my body so, +Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it. +I have no brother, I am like no brother; +And this word 'love,' which graybeards call divine, +Be resident in men like one another +And not in me: I am myself alone. +Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the light: +But I will sort a pitchy day for thee; +For I will buz abroad such prophecies +That Edward shall be fearful of his life, +And then, to purge his fear, I'll be thy death. +King Henry and the prince his son are gone: +Clarence, thy turn is next, and then the rest, +Counting myself but bad till I be best. +I'll throw thy body in another room +And triumph, Henry, in thy day of doom. +3 KING HENRY VI + +KING EDWARD IV: +Once more we sit in England's royal throne, +Re-purchased with the blood of enemies. +What valiant foemen, like to autumn's corn, +Have we mow'd down, in tops of all their pride! +Three Dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd +For hardy and undoubted champions; +Two Cliffords, as the father and the son, +And two Northumberlands; two braver men +Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound; +With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and Montague, +That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion +And made the forest tremble when they roar'd. +Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat +And made our footstool of security. +Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy. +Young Ned, for thee, thine uncles and myself +Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night, +Went all afoot in summer's scalding heat, +That thou mightst repossess the crown in peace; +And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain. + +GLOUCESTER: + +KING EDWARD IV: +Clarence and Gloucester, love my lovely queen; +And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both. + +CLARENCE: +The duty that I owe unto your majesty +I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe. + +QUEEN ELIZABETH: +Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks. + +GLOUCESTER: +And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st, +Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Now am I seated as my soul delights, +Having my country's peace and brothers' loves. + +CLARENCE: +What will your grace have done with Margaret? +Reignier, her father, to the king of France +Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem, +And hither have they sent it for her ransom. + +KING EDWARD IV: +Away with her, and waft her hence to France. +And now what rests but that we spend the time +With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows, +Such as befits the pleasure of the court? +Sound drums and trumpets! farewell sour annoy! +For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy. + +ARCHIDAMUS: +If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on +the like occasion whereon my services are now on +foot, you shall see, as I have said, great +difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia. + +CAMILLO: +I think, this coming summer, the King of Sicilia +means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him. + +ARCHIDAMUS: +Wherein our entertainment shall shame us we will be +justified in our loves; for indeed-- + +CAMILLO: +Beseech you,-- + +ARCHIDAMUS: +Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: +we cannot with such magnificence--in so rare--I know +not what to say. We will give you sleepy drinks, +that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, +may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse +us. + +CAMILLO: +You pay a great deal too dear for what's given freely. + +ARCHIDAMUS: +Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me +and as mine honesty puts it to utterance. + +CAMILLO: +Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. +They were trained together in their childhoods; and +there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, +which cannot choose but branch now. Since their +more mature dignities and royal necessities made +separation of their society, their encounters, +though not personal, have been royally attorneyed +with interchange of gifts, letters, loving +embassies; that they have seemed to be together, +though absent, shook hands, as over a vast, and +embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed +winds. The heavens continue their loves! + +ARCHIDAMUS: +I think there is not in the world either malice or +matter to alter it. You have an unspeakable +comfort of your young prince Mamillius: it is a +gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came +into my note. + +CAMILLO: +I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it +is a gallant child; one that indeed physics the +subject, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on +crutches ere he was born desire yet their life to +see him a man. + +ARCHIDAMUS: +Would they else be content to die? + +CAMILLO: +Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should +desire to live. + +ARCHIDAMUS: +If the king had no son, they would desire to live +on crutches till he had one. + +POLIXENES: +Nine changes of the watery star hath been +The shepherd's note since we have left our throne +Without a burthen: time as long again +Would be find up, my brother, with our thanks; +And yet we should, for perpetuity, +Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher, +Yet standing in rich place, I multiply +With one 'We thank you' many thousands moe +That go before it. + +LEONTES: +Stay your thanks a while; +And pay them when you part. + +POLIXENES: +Sir, that's to-morrow. +I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance +Or breed upon our absence; that may blow +No sneaping winds at home, to make us say +'This is put forth too truly:' besides, I have stay'd +To tire your royalty. + +LEONTES: +We are tougher, brother, +Than you can put us to't. + +POLIXENES: +No longer stay. + +LEONTES: +One seven-night longer. + +POLIXENES: +Very sooth, to-morrow. + +LEONTES: +We'll part the time between's then; and in that +I'll no gainsaying. + +POLIXENES: +Press me not, beseech you, so. +There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world, +So soon as yours could win me: so it should now, +Were there necessity in your request, although +'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs +Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder +Were in your love a whip to me; my stay +To you a charge and trouble: to save both, +Farewell, our brother. + +LEONTES: +Tongue-tied, our queen? +speak you. + +HERMIONE: +I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until +You have drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir, +Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure +All in Bohemia's well; this satisfaction +The by-gone day proclaim'd: say this to him, +He's beat from his best ward. + +LEONTES: +Well said, Hermione. + +HERMIONE: +To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong: +But let him say so then, and let him go; +But let him swear so, and he shall not stay, +We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. +Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure +The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia +You take my lord, I'll give him my commission +To let him there a month behind the gest +Prefix'd for's parting: yet, good deed, Leontes, +I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind +What lady-she her lord. You'll stay? + +POLIXENES: +No, madam. + +HERMIONE: +Nay, but you will? + +POLIXENES: +I may not, verily. + +HERMIONE: +Verily! +You put me off with limber vows; but I, +Though you would seek to unsphere the +stars with oaths, +Should yet say 'Sir, no going.' Verily, +You shall not go: a lady's 'Verily' 's +As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? +Force me to keep you as a prisoner, +Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees +When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you? +My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread 'Verily,' +One of them you shall be. + +POLIXENES: +Your guest, then, madam: +To be your prisoner should import offending; +Which is for me less easy to commit +Than you to punish. + +HERMIONE: +Not your gaoler, then, +But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you +Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys: +You were pretty lordings then? + +POLIXENES: +We were, fair queen, +Two lads that thought there was no more behind +But such a day to-morrow as to-day, +And to be boy eternal. + +HERMIONE: +Was not my lord +The verier wag o' the two? + +POLIXENES: +We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun, +And bleat the one at the other: what we changed +Was innocence for innocence; we knew not +The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd +That any did. Had we pursued that life, +And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd +With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven +Boldly 'not guilty;' the imposition clear'd +Hereditary ours. + +HERMIONE: +By this we gather +You have tripp'd since. + +POLIXENES: +O my most sacred lady! +Temptations have since then been born to's; for +In those unfledged days was my wife a girl; +Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes +Of my young play-fellow. + +HERMIONE: +Grace to boot! +Of this make no conclusion, lest you say +Your queen and I are devils: yet go on; +The offences we have made you do we'll answer, +If you first sinn'd with us and that with us +You did continue fault and that you slipp'd not +With any but with us. + +LEONTES: +Is he won yet? + +HERMIONE: +He'll stay my lord. + +LEONTES: +At my request he would not. +Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest +To better purpose. + +HERMIONE: +Never? + +LEONTES: +Never, but once. + +HERMIONE: +What! have I twice said well? when was't before? +I prithee tell me; cram's with praise, and make's +As fat as tame things: one good deed dying tongueless +Slaughters a thousand waiting upon that. +Our praises are our wages: you may ride's +With one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ere +With spur we beat an acre. But to the goal: +My last good deed was to entreat his stay: +What was my first? it has an elder sister, +Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace! +But once before I spoke to the purpose: when? +Nay, let me have't; I long. + +LEONTES: +Why, that was when +Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death, +Ere I could make thee open thy white hand +And clap thyself my love: then didst thou utter +'I am yours for ever.' + +HERMIONE: +'Tis grace indeed. +Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice: +The one for ever earn'd a royal husband; +The other for some while a friend. + +LEONTES: + +MAMILLIUS: +Ay, my good lord. + +LEONTES: +I' fecks! +Why, that's my bawcock. What, hast +smutch'd thy nose? +They say it is a copy out of mine. Come, captain, +We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain: +And yet the steer, the heifer and the calf +Are all call'd neat.--Still virginalling +Upon his palm!--How now, you wanton calf! +Art thou my calf? + +MAMILLIUS: +Yes, if you will, my lord. + +LEONTES: +Thou want'st a rough pash and the shoots that I have, +To be full like me: yet they say we are +Almost as like as eggs; women say so, +That will say anything but were they false +As o'er-dyed blacks, as wind, as waters, false +As dice are to be wish'd by one that fixes +No bourn 'twixt his and mine, yet were it true +To say this boy were like me. Come, sir page, +Look on me with your welkin eye: sweet villain! +Most dear'st! my collop! Can thy dam?--may't be?-- +Affection! thy intention stabs the centre: +Thou dost make possible things not so held, +Communicatest with dreams;--how can this be?-- +With what's unreal thou coactive art, +And fellow'st nothing: then 'tis very credent +Thou mayst co-join with something; and thou dost, +And that beyond commission, and I find it, +And that to the infection of my brains +And hardening of my brows. + +POLIXENES: +What means Sicilia? + +HERMIONE: +He something seems unsettled. + +POLIXENES: +How, my lord! +What cheer? how is't with you, best brother? + +HERMIONE: +You look as if you held a brow of much distraction +Are you moved, my lord? + +LEONTES: +No, in good earnest. +How sometimes nature will betray its folly, +Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime +To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines +Of my boy's face, methoughts I did recoil +Twenty-three years, and saw myself unbreech'd, +In my green velvet coat, my dagger muzzled, +Lest it should bite its master, and so prove, +As ornaments oft do, too dangerous: +How like, methought, I then was to this kernel, +This squash, this gentleman. Mine honest friend, +Will you take eggs for money? + +MAMILLIUS: +No, my lord, I'll fight. + +LEONTES: +You will! why, happy man be's dole! My brother, +Are you so fond of your young prince as we +Do seem to be of ours? + +POLIXENES: +If at home, sir, +He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter, +Now my sworn friend and then mine enemy, +My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all: +He makes a July's day short as December, +And with his varying childness cures in me +Thoughts that would thick my blood. + +LEONTES: +So stands this squire +Officed with me: we two will walk, my lord, +And leave you to your graver steps. Hermione, +How thou lovest us, show in our brother's welcome; +Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap: +Next to thyself and my young rover, he's +Apparent to my heart. + +HERMIONE: +If you would seek us, +We are yours i' the garden: shall's attend you there? + +LEONTES: +To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found, +Be you beneath the sky. +I am angling now, +Though you perceive me not how I give line. +Go to, go to! +How she holds up the neb, the bill to him! +And arms her with the boldness of a wife +To her allowing husband! +Gone already! +Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and +ears a fork'd one! +Go, play, boy, play: thy mother plays, and I +Play too, but so disgraced a part, whose issue +Will hiss me to my grave: contempt and clamour +Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play. +There have been, +Or I am much deceived, cuckolds ere now; +And many a man there is, even at this present, +Now while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm, +That little thinks she has been sluiced in's absence +And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by +Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort in't +Whiles other men have gates and those gates open'd, +As mine, against their will. Should all despair +That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind +Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is none; +It is a bawdy planet, that will strike +Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it, +From east, west, north and south: be it concluded, +No barricado for a belly; know't; +It will let in and out the enemy +With bag and baggage: many thousand on's +Have the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy! + +MAMILLIUS: +I am like you, they say. + +LEONTES: +Why that's some comfort. What, Camillo there? + +CAMILLO: +Ay, my good lord. + +LEONTES: +Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest man. +Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer. + +CAMILLO: +You had much ado to make his anchor hold: +When you cast out, it still came home. + +LEONTES: +Didst note it? + +CAMILLO: +He would not stay at your petitions: made +His business more material. + +LEONTES: +Didst perceive it? +They're here with me already, whispering, rounding +'Sicilia is a so-forth:' 'tis far gone, +When I shall gust it last. How came't, Camillo, +That he did stay? + +CAMILLO: +At the good queen's entreaty. + +LEONTES: +At the queen's be't: 'good' should be pertinent +But, so it is, it is not. Was this taken +By any understanding pate but thine? +For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in +More than the common blocks: not noted, is't, +But of the finer natures? by some severals +Of head-piece extraordinary? lower messes +Perchance are to this business purblind? say. + +CAMILLO: +Business, my lord! I think most understand +Bohemia stays here longer. + +LEONTES: +Ha! + +CAMILLO: +Stays here longer. + +LEONTES: +Ay, but why? + +CAMILLO: +To satisfy your highness and the entreaties +Of our most gracious mistress. + +LEONTES: +Satisfy! +The entreaties of your mistress! satisfy! +Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo, +With all the nearest things to my heart, as well +My chamber-councils, wherein, priest-like, thou +Hast cleansed my bosom, I from thee departed +Thy penitent reform'd: but we have been +Deceived in thy integrity, deceived +In that which seems so. + +CAMILLO: +Be it forbid, my lord! + +LEONTES: +To bide upon't, thou art not honest, or, +If thou inclinest that way, thou art a coward, +Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining +From course required; or else thou must be counted +A servant grafted in my serious trust +And therein negligent; or else a fool +That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn, +And takest it all for jest. + +CAMILLO: +My gracious lord, +I may be negligent, foolish and fearful; +In every one of these no man is free, +But that his negligence, his folly, fear, +Among the infinite doings of the world, +Sometime puts forth. In your affairs, my lord, +If ever I were wilful-negligent, +It was my folly; if industriously +I play'd the fool, it was my negligence, +Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful +To do a thing, where I the issue doubted, +Where of the execution did cry out +Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear +Which oft infects the wisest: these, my lord, +Are such allow'd infirmities that honesty +Is never free of. But, beseech your grace, +Be plainer with me; let me know my trespass +By its own visage: if I then deny it, +'Tis none of mine. + +LEONTES: +Ha' not you seen, Camillo,-- +But that's past doubt, you have, or your eye-glass +Is thicker than a cuckold's horn,--or heard,-- +For to a vision so apparent rumour +Cannot be mute,--or thought,--for cogitation +Resides not in that man that does not think,-- +My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess, +Or else be impudently negative, +To have nor eyes nor ears nor thought, then say +My wife's a hobby-horse, deserves a name +As rank as any flax-wench that puts to +Before her troth-plight: say't and justify't. + +CAMILLO: +I would not be a stander-by to hear +My sovereign mistress clouded so, without +My present vengeance taken: 'shrew my heart, +You never spoke what did become you less +Than this; which to reiterate were sin +As deep as that, though true. + +LEONTES: +Is whispering nothing? +Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses? +Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career +Of laughing with a sigh?--a note infallible +Of breaking honesty--horsing foot on foot? +Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift? +Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes +Blind with the pin and web but theirs, theirs only, +That would unseen be wicked? is this nothing? +Why, then the world and all that's in't is nothing; +The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing; +My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings, +If this be nothing. + +CAMILLO: +Good my lord, be cured +Of this diseased opinion, and betimes; +For 'tis most dangerous. + +LEONTES: +Say it be, 'tis true. + +CAMILLO: +No, no, my lord. + +LEONTES: +It is; you lie, you lie: +I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee, +Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave, +Or else a hovering temporizer, that +Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil, +Inclining to them both: were my wife's liver +Infected as her life, she would not live +The running of one glass. + +CAMILLO: +Who does infect her? + +LEONTES: +Why, he that wears her like a medal, hanging +About his neck, Bohemia: who, if I +Had servants true about me, that bare eyes +To see alike mine honour as their profits, +Their own particular thrifts, they would do that +Which should undo more doing: ay, and thou, +His cupbearer,--whom I from meaner form +Have benched and reared to worship, who mayst see +Plainly as heaven sees earth and earth sees heaven, +How I am galled,--mightst bespice a cup, +To give mine enemy a lasting wink; +Which draught to me were cordial. + +CAMILLO: +Sir, my lord, +I could do this, and that with no rash potion, +But with a lingering dram that should not work +Maliciously like poison: but I cannot +Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress, +So sovereignly being honourable. +I have loved thee,-- + +LEONTES: +Make that thy question, and go rot! +Dost think I am so muddy, so unsettled, +To appoint myself in this vexation, sully +The purity and whiteness of my sheets, +Which to preserve is sleep, which being spotted +Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps, +Give scandal to the blood o' the prince my son, +Who I do think is mine and love as mine, +Without ripe moving to't? Would I do this? +Could man so blench? + +CAMILLO: +I must believe you, sir: +I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't; +Provided that, when he's removed, your highness +Will take again your queen as yours at first, +Even for your son's sake; and thereby for sealing +The injury of tongues in courts and kingdoms +Known and allied to yours. + +LEONTES: +Thou dost advise me +Even so as I mine own course have set down: +I'll give no blemish to her honour, none. + +CAMILLO: +My lord, +Go then; and with a countenance as clear +As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia +And with your queen. I am his cupbearer: +If from me he have wholesome beverage, +Account me not your servant. + +LEONTES: +This is all: +Do't and thou hast the one half of my heart; +Do't not, thou split'st thine own. + +CAMILLO: +I'll do't, my lord. + +LEONTES: +I will seem friendly, as thou hast advised me. + +CAMILLO: +O miserable lady! But, for me, +What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner +Of good Polixenes; and my ground to do't +Is the obedience to a master, one +Who in rebellion with himself will have +All that are his so too. To do this deed, +Promotion follows. If I could find example +Of thousands that had struck anointed kings +And flourish'd after, I'ld not do't; but since +Nor brass nor stone nor parchment bears not one, +Let villany itself forswear't. I must +Forsake the court: to do't, or no, is certain +To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now! +Here comes Bohemia. + +POLIXENES: +This is strange: methinks +My favour here begins to warp. Not speak? +Good day, Camillo. + +CAMILLO: +Hail, most royal sir! + +POLIXENES: +What is the news i' the court? + +CAMILLO: +None rare, my lord. + +POLIXENES: +The king hath on him such a countenance +As he had lost some province and a region +Loved as he loves himself: even now I met him +With customary compliment; when he, +Wafting his eyes to the contrary and falling +A lip of much contempt, speeds from me and +So leaves me to consider what is breeding +That changeth thus his manners. + +CAMILLO: +I dare not know, my lord. + +POLIXENES: +How! dare not! do not. Do you know, and dare not? +Be intelligent to me: 'tis thereabouts; +For, to yourself, what you do know, you must. +And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo, +Your changed complexions are to me a mirror +Which shows me mine changed too; for I must be +A party in this alteration, finding +Myself thus alter'd with 't. + +CAMILLO: +There is a sickness +Which puts some of us in distemper, but +I cannot name the disease; and it is caught +Of you that yet are well. + +POLIXENES: +How! caught of me! +Make me not sighted like the basilisk: +I have look'd on thousands, who have sped the better +By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,-- +As you are certainly a gentleman, thereto +Clerk-like experienced, which no less adorns +Our gentry than our parents' noble names, +In whose success we are gentle,--I beseech you, +If you know aught which does behove my knowledge +Thereof to be inform'd, imprison't not +In ignorant concealment. + +CAMILLO: +I may not answer. + +POLIXENES: +A sickness caught of me, and yet I well! +I must be answer'd. Dost thou hear, Camillo, +I conjure thee, by all the parts of man +Which honour does acknowledge, whereof the least +Is not this suit of mine, that thou declare +What incidency thou dost guess of harm +Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near; +Which way to be prevented, if to be; +If not, how best to bear it. + +CAMILLO: +Sir, I will tell you; +Since I am charged in honour and by him +That I think honourable: therefore mark my counsel, +Which must be even as swiftly follow'd as +I mean to utter it, or both yourself and me +Cry lost, and so good night! + +POLIXENES: +On, good Camillo. + +CAMILLO: +I am appointed him to murder you. + +POLIXENES: +By whom, Camillo? + +CAMILLO: +By the king. + +POLIXENES: +For what? + +CAMILLO: +He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, +As he had seen't or been an instrument +To vice you to't, that you have touch'd his queen +Forbiddenly. + +POLIXENES: +O, then my best blood turn +To an infected jelly and my name +Be yoked with his that did betray the Best! +Turn then my freshest reputation to +A savour that may strike the dullest nostril +Where I arrive, and my approach be shunn'd, +Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection +That e'er was heard or read! + +CAMILLO: +Swear his thought over +By each particular star in heaven and +By all their influences, you may as well +Forbid the sea for to obey the moon +As or by oath remove or counsel shake +The fabric of his folly, whose foundation +Is piled upon his faith and will continue +The standing of his body. + +POLIXENES: +How should this grow? + +CAMILLO: +I know not: but I am sure 'tis safer to +Avoid what's grown than question how 'tis born. +If therefore you dare trust my honesty, +That lies enclosed in this trunk which you +Shall bear along impawn'd, away to-night! +Your followers I will whisper to the business, +And will by twos and threes at several posterns +Clear them o' the city. For myself, I'll put +My fortunes to your service, which are here +By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain; +For, by the honour of my parents, I +Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove, +I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer +Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth, thereon +His execution sworn. + +POLIXENES: +I do believe thee: +I saw his heart in 's face. Give me thy hand: +Be pilot to me and thy places shall +Still neighbour mine. My ships are ready and +My people did expect my hence departure +Two days ago. This jealousy +Is for a precious creature: as she's rare, +Must it be great, and as his person's mighty, +Must it be violent, and as he does conceive +He is dishonour'd by a man which ever +Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must +In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me: +Good expedition be my friend, and comfort +The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing +Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo; +I will respect thee as a father if +Thou bear'st my life off hence: let us avoid. + +CAMILLO: +It is in mine authority to command +The keys of all the posterns: please your highness +To take the urgent hour. Come, sir, away. + +HERMIONE: +Take the boy to you: he so troubles me, +'Tis past enduring. + +First Lady: +Come, my gracious lord, +Shall I be your playfellow? + +MAMILLIUS: +No, I'll none of you. + +First Lady: +Why, my sweet lord? + +MAMILLIUS: +You'll kiss me hard and speak to me as if +I were a baby still. I love you better. + +Second Lady: +And why so, my lord? + +MAMILLIUS: +Not for because +Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say, +Become some women best, so that there be not +Too much hair there, but in a semicircle +Or a half-moon made with a pen. + +Second Lady: +Who taught you this? + +MAMILLIUS: +I learnt it out of women's faces. Pray now +What colour are your eyebrows? + +First Lady: +Blue, my lord. + +MAMILLIUS: +Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose +That has been blue, but not her eyebrows. + +First Lady: +Hark ye; +The queen your mother rounds apace: we shall +Present our services to a fine new prince +One of these days; and then you'ld wanton with us, +If we would have you. + +Second Lady: +She is spread of late +Into a goodly bulk: good time encounter her! + +HERMIONE: +What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now +I am for you again: pray you, sit by us, +And tell 's a tale. + +MAMILLIUS: +Merry or sad shall't be? + +HERMIONE: +As merry as you will. + +MAMILLIUS: +A sad tale's best for winter: I have one +Of sprites and goblins. + +HERMIONE: +Let's have that, good sir. +Come on, sit down: come on, and do your best +To fright me with your sprites; you're powerful at it. + +MAMILLIUS: +There was a man-- + +HERMIONE: +Nay, come, sit down; then on. + +MAMILLIUS: +Dwelt by a churchyard: I will tell it softly; +Yond crickets shall not hear it. + +HERMIONE: +Come on, then, +And give't me in mine ear. + +LEONTES: +Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him? + +First Lord: +Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never +Saw I men scour so on their way: I eyed them +Even to their ships. + +LEONTES: +How blest am I +In my just censure, in my true opinion! +Alack, for lesser knowledge! how accursed +In being so blest! There may be in the cup +A spider steep'd, and one may drink, depart, +And yet partake no venom, for his knowledge +Is not infected: but if one present +The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known +How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides, +With violent hefts. I have drunk, +and seen the spider. +Camillo was his help in this, his pander: +There is a plot against my life, my crown; +All's true that is mistrusted: that false villain +Whom I employ'd was pre-employ'd by him: +He has discover'd my design, and I +Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick +For them to play at will. How came the posterns +So easily open? + +First Lord: +By his great authority; +Which often hath no less prevail'd than so +On your command. + +LEONTES: +I know't too well. +Give me the boy: I am glad you did not nurse him: +Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you +Have too much blood in him. + +HERMIONE: +What is this? sport? + +LEONTES: +Bear the boy hence; he shall not come about her; +Away with him! and let her sport herself +With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes +Has made thee swell thus. + +HERMIONE: +But I'ld say he had not, +And I'll be sworn you would believe my saying, +Howe'er you lean to the nayward. + +LEONTES: +You, my lords, +Look on her, mark her well; be but about +To say 'she is a goodly lady,' and +The justice of your bearts will thereto add +'Tis pity she's not honest, honourable:' +Praise her but for this her without-door form, +Which on my faith deserves high speech, and straight +The shrug, the hum or ha, these petty brands +That calumny doth use--O, I am out-- +That mercy does, for calumny will sear +Virtue itself: these shrugs, these hums and ha's, +When you have said 'she's goodly,' come between +Ere you can say 'she's honest:' but be 't known, +From him that has most cause to grieve it should be, +She's an adulteress. + +HERMIONE: +Should a villain say so, +The most replenish'd villain in the world, +He were as much more villain: you, my lord, +Do but mistake. + +LEONTES: +You have mistook, my lady, +Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing! +Which I'll not call a creature of thy place, +Lest barbarism, making me the precedent, +Should a like language use to all degrees +And mannerly distinguishment leave out +Betwixt the prince and beggar: I have said +She's an adulteress; I have said with whom: +More, she's a traitor and Camillo is +A federary with her, and one that knows +What she should shame to know herself +But with her most vile principal, that she's +A bed-swerver, even as bad as those +That vulgars give bold'st titles, ay, and privy +To this their late escape. + +HERMIONE: +No, by my life. +Privy to none of this. How will this grieve you, +When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that +You thus have publish'd me! Gentle my lord, +You scarce can right me throughly then to say +You did mistake. + +LEONTES: +No; if I mistake +In those foundations which I build upon, +The centre is not big enough to bear +A school-boy's top. Away with her! to prison! +He who shall speak for her is afar off guilty +But that he speaks. + +HERMIONE: +There's some ill planet reigns: +I must be patient till the heavens look +With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords, +I am not prone to weeping, as our sex +Commonly are; the want of which vain dew +Perchance shall dry your pities: but I have +That honourable grief lodged here which burns +Worse than tears drown: beseech you all, my lords, +With thoughts so qualified as your charities +Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so +The king's will be perform'd! + +LEONTES: +Shall I be heard? + +HERMIONE: +Who is't that goes with me? Beseech your highness, +My women may be with me; for you see +My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools; +There is no cause: when you shall know your mistress +Has deserved prison, then abound in tears +As I come out: this action I now go on +Is for my better grace. Adieu, my lord: +I never wish'd to see you sorry; now +I trust I shall. My women, come; you have leave. + +LEONTES: +Go, do our bidding; hence! + +First Lord: +Beseech your highness, call the queen again. + +ANTIGONUS: +Be certain what you do, sir, lest your justice +Prove violence; in the which three great ones suffer, +Yourself, your queen, your son. + +First Lord: +For her, my lord, +I dare my life lay down and will do't, sir, +Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless +I' the eyes of heaven and to you; I mean, +In this which you accuse her. + +ANTIGONUS: +If it prove +She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables where +I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her; +Than when I feel and see her no farther trust her; +For every inch of woman in the world, +Ay, every dram of woman's flesh is false, If she be. + +LEONTES: +Hold your peaces. + +First Lord: +Good my lord,-- + +ANTIGONUS: +It is for you we speak, not for ourselves: +You are abused and by some putter-on +That will be damn'd for't; would I knew the villain, +I would land-damn him. Be she honour-flaw'd, +I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven +The second and the third, nine, and some five; +If this prove true, they'll pay for't: +by mine honour, +I'll geld 'em all; fourteen they shall not see, +To bring false generations: they are co-heirs; +And I had rather glib myself than they +Should not produce fair issue. + +LEONTES: +Cease; no more. +You smell this business with a sense as cold +As is a dead man's nose: but I do see't and feel't +As you feel doing thus; and see withal +The instruments that feel. + +ANTIGONUS: +If it be so, +We need no grave to bury honesty: +There's not a grain of it the face to sweeten +Of the whole dungy earth. + +LEONTES: +What! lack I credit? + +First Lord: +I had rather you did lack than I, my lord, +Upon this ground; and more it would content me +To have her honour true than your suspicion, +Be blamed for't how you might. + +LEONTES: +Why, what need we +Commune with you of this, but rather follow +Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative +Calls not your counsels, but our natural goodness +Imparts this; which if you, or stupefied +Or seeming so in skill, cannot or will not +Relish a truth like us, inform yourselves +We need no more of your advice: the matter, +The loss, the gain, the ordering on't, is all +Properly ours. + +ANTIGONUS: +And I wish, my liege, +You had only in your silent judgment tried it, +Without more overture. + +LEONTES: +How could that be? +Either thou art most ignorant by age, +Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight, +Added to their familiarity, +Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture, +That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation +But only seeing, all other circumstances +Made up to the deed, doth push on this proceeding: +Yet, for a greater confirmation, +For in an act of this importance 'twere +Most piteous to be wild, I have dispatch'd in post +To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple, +Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know +Of stuff'd sufficiency: now from the oracle +They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had, +Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well? + +First Lord: +Well done, my lord. + +LEONTES: +Though I am satisfied and need no more +Than what I know, yet shall the oracle +Give rest to the minds of others, such as he +Whose ignorant credulity will not +Come up to the truth. So have we thought it good +From our free person she should be confined, +Lest that the treachery of the two fled hence +Be left her to perform. Come, follow us; +We are to speak in public; for this business +Will raise us all. + +ANTIGONUS: + +PAULINA: +The keeper of the prison, call to him; +let him have knowledge who I am. +Good lady, +No court in Europe is too good for thee; +What dost thou then in prison? +Now, good sir, +You know me, do you not? + +Gaoler: +For a worthy lady +And one whom much I honour. + +PAULINA: +Pray you then, +Conduct me to the queen. + +Gaoler: +I may not, madam: +To the contrary I have express commandment. + +PAULINA: +Here's ado, +To lock up honesty and honour from +The access of gentle visitors! +Is't lawful, pray you, +To see her women? any of them? Emilia? + +Gaoler: +So please you, madam, +To put apart these your attendants, I +Shall bring Emilia forth. + +PAULINA: +I pray now, call her. +Withdraw yourselves. + +Gaoler: +And, madam, +I must be present at your conference. + +PAULINA: +Well, be't so, prithee. +Here's such ado to make no stain a stain +As passes colouring. +Dear gentlewoman, +How fares our gracious lady? + +EMILIA: +As well as one so great and so forlorn +May hold together: on her frights and griefs, +Which never tender lady hath born greater, +She is something before her time deliver'd. + +PAULINA: +A boy? + +EMILIA: +A daughter, and a goodly babe, +Lusty and like to live: the queen receives +Much comfort in't; says 'My poor prisoner, +I am innocent as you.' + +PAULINA: +I dare be sworn +These dangerous unsafe lunes i' the king, +beshrew them! +He must be told on't, and he shall: the office +Becomes a woman best; I'll take't upon me: +If I prove honey-mouth'd let my tongue blister +And never to my red-look'd anger be +The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia, +Commend my best obedience to the queen: +If she dares trust me with her little babe, +I'll show't the king and undertake to be +Her advocate to the loud'st. We do not know +How he may soften at the sight o' the child: +The silence often of pure innocence +Persuades when speaking fails. + +EMILIA: +Most worthy madam, +Your honour and your goodness is so evident +That your free undertaking cannot miss +A thriving issue: there is no lady living +So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship +To visit the next room, I'll presently +Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer; +Who but to-day hammer'd of this design, +But durst not tempt a minister of honour, +Lest she should be denied. + +PAULINA: +Tell her, Emilia. +I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from't +As boldness from my bosom, let 't not be doubted +I shall do good. + +EMILIA: +Now be you blest for it! +I'll to the queen: please you, +come something nearer. + +Gaoler: +Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe, +I know not what I shall incur to pass it, +Having no warrant. + +PAULINA: +You need not fear it, sir: +This child was prisoner to the womb and is +By law and process of great nature thence +Freed and enfranchised, not a party to +The anger of the king nor guilty of, +If any be, the trespass of the queen. + +Gaoler: +I do believe it. + +PAULINA: +Do not you fear: upon mine honour, +I will stand betwixt you and danger. + +LEONTES: +Nor night nor day no rest: it is but weakness +To bear the matter thus; mere weakness. If +The cause were not in being,--part o' the cause, +She the adulteress; for the harlot king +Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank +And level of my brain, plot-proof; but she +I can hook to me: say that she were gone, +Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest +Might come to me again. Who's there? + +First Servant: +My lord? + +LEONTES: +How does the boy? + +First Servant: +He took good rest to-night; +'Tis hoped his sickness is discharged. + +LEONTES: +To see his nobleness! +Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, +He straight declined, droop'd, took it deeply, +Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself, +Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep, +And downright languish'd. Leave me solely: go, +See how he fares. +Fie, fie! no thought of him: +The thought of my revenges that way +Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty, +And in his parties, his alliance; let him be +Until a time may serve: for present vengeance, +Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes +Laugh at me, make their pastime at my sorrow: +They should not laugh if I could reach them, nor +Shall she within my power. + +First Lord: +You must not enter. + +PAULINA: +Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me: +Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas, +Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul, +More free than he is jealous. + +ANTIGONUS: +That's enough. + +Second Servant: +Madam, he hath not slept tonight; commanded +None should come at him. + +PAULINA: +Not so hot, good sir: +I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you, +That creep like shadows by him and do sigh +At each his needless heavings, such as you +Nourish the cause of his awaking: I +Do come with words as medicinal as true, +Honest as either, to purge him of that humour +That presses him from sleep. + +LEONTES: +What noise there, ho? + +PAULINA: +No noise, my lord; but needful conference +About some gossips for your highness. + +LEONTES: +How! +Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus, +I charged thee that she should not come about me: +I knew she would. + +ANTIGONUS: +I told her so, my lord, +On your displeasure's peril and on mine, +She should not visit you. + +LEONTES: +What, canst not rule her? + +PAULINA: +From all dishonesty he can: in this, +Unless he take the course that you have done, +Commit me for committing honour, trust it, +He shall not rule me. + +ANTIGONUS: +La you now, you hear: +When she will take the rein I let her run; +But she'll not stumble. + +PAULINA: +Good my liege, I come; +And, I beseech you, hear me, who profess +Myself your loyal servant, your physician, +Your most obedient counsellor, yet that dare +Less appear so in comforting your evils, +Than such as most seem yours: I say, I come +From your good queen. + +LEONTES: +Good queen! + +PAULINA: +Good queen, my lord, +Good queen; I say good queen; +And would by combat make her good, so were I +A man, the worst about you. + +LEONTES: +Force her hence. + +PAULINA: +Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes +First hand me: on mine own accord I'll off; +But first I'll do my errand. The good queen, +For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter; +Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing. + +LEONTES: +Out! +A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o' door: +A most intelligencing bawd! + +PAULINA: +Not so: +I am as ignorant in that as you +In so entitling me, and no less honest +Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant, +As this world goes, to pass for honest. + +LEONTES: +Traitors! +Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard. +Thou dotard! thou art woman-tired, unroosted +By thy dame Partlet here. Take up the bastard; +Take't up, I say; give't to thy crone. + +PAULINA: +For ever +Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou +Takest up the princess by that forced baseness +Which he has put upon't! + +LEONTES: +He dreads his wife. + +PAULINA: +So I would you did; then 'twere past all doubt +You'ld call your children yours. + +LEONTES: +A nest of traitors! + +ANTIGONUS: +I am none, by this good light. + +PAULINA: +Nor I, nor any +But one that's here, and that's himself, for he +The sacred honour of himself, his queen's, +His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, +Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; +and will not-- +For, as the case now stands, it is a curse +He cannot be compell'd to't--once remove +The root of his opinion, which is rotten +As ever oak or stone was sound. + +LEONTES: +A callat +Of boundless tongue, who late hath beat her husband +And now baits me! This brat is none of mine; +It is the issue of Polixenes: +Hence with it, and together with the dam +Commit them to the fire! + +PAULINA: +It is yours; +And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge, +So like you, 'tis the worse. Behold, my lords, +Although the print be little, the whole matter +And copy of the father, eye, nose, lip, +The trick of's frown, his forehead, nay, the valley, +The pretty dimples of his chin and cheek, +His smiles, +The very mould and frame of hand, nail, finger: +And thou, good goddess Nature, which hast made it +So like to him that got it, if thou hast +The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours +No yellow in't, lest she suspect, as he does, +Her children not her husband's! + +LEONTES: +A gross hag +And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, +That wilt not stay her tongue. + +ANTIGONUS: +Hang all the husbands +That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself +Hardly one subject. + +LEONTES: +Once more, take her hence. + +PAULINA: +A most unworthy and unnatural lord +Can do no more. + +LEONTES: +I'll ha' thee burnt. + +PAULINA: +I care not: +It is an heretic that makes the fire, +Not she which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant; +But this most cruel usage of your queen, +Not able to produce more accusation +Than your own weak-hinged fancy, something savours +Of tyranny and will ignoble make you, +Yea, scandalous to the world. + +LEONTES: +On your allegiance, +Out of the chamber with her! Were I a tyrant, +Where were her life? she durst not call me so, +If she did know me one. Away with her! + +PAULINA: +I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone. +Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours: +Jove send her +A better guiding spirit! What needs these hands? +You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, +Will never do him good, not one of you. +So, so: farewell; we are gone. + +LEONTES: +Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this. +My child? away with't! Even thou, that hast +A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence +And see it instantly consumed with fire; +Even thou and none but thou. Take it up straight: +Within this hour bring me word 'tis done, +And by good testimony, or I'll seize thy life, +With what thou else call'st thine. If thou refuse +And wilt encounter with my wrath, say so; +The bastard brains with these my proper hands +Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire; +For thou set'st on thy wife. + +ANTIGONUS: +I did not, sir: +These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, +Can clear me in't. + +Lords: +We can: my royal liege, +He is not guilty of her coming hither. + +LEONTES: +You're liars all. + +First Lord: +Beseech your highness, give us better credit: +We have always truly served you, and beseech you +So to esteem of us, and on our knees we beg, +As recompense of our dear services +Past and to come, that you do change this purpose, +Which being so horrible, so bloody, must +Lead on to some foul issue: we all kneel. + +LEONTES: +I am a feather for each wind that blows: +Shall I live on to see this bastard kneel +And call me father? better burn it now +Than curse it then. But be it; let it live. +It shall not neither. You, sir, come you hither; +You that have been so tenderly officious +With Lady Margery, your midwife there, +To save this bastard's life,--for 'tis a bastard, +So sure as this beard's grey, +--what will you adventure +To save this brat's life? + +ANTIGONUS: +Any thing, my lord, +That my ability may undergo +And nobleness impose: at least thus much: +I'll pawn the little blood which I have left +To save the innocent: any thing possible. + +LEONTES: +It shall be possible. Swear by this sword +Thou wilt perform my bidding. + +ANTIGONUS: +I will, my lord. + +LEONTES: +Mark and perform it, see'st thou! for the fail +Of any point in't shall not only be +Death to thyself but to thy lewd-tongued wife, +Whom for this time we pardon. We enjoin thee, +As thou art liege-man to us, that thou carry +This female bastard hence and that thou bear it +To some remote and desert place quite out +Of our dominions, and that there thou leave it, +Without more mercy, to its own protection +And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune +It came to us, I do in justice charge thee, +On thy soul's peril and thy body's torture, +That thou commend it strangely to some place +Where chance may nurse or end it. Take it up. + +ANTIGONUS: +I swear to do this, though a present death +Had been more merciful. Come on, poor babe: +Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens +To be thy nurses! Wolves and bears, they say +Casting their savageness aside have done +Like offices of pity. Sir, be prosperous +In more than this deed does require! And blessing +Against this cruelty fight on thy side, +Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! + +LEONTES: +No, I'll not rear +Another's issue. + +Servant: +Please your highness, posts +From those you sent to the oracle are come +An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion, +Being well arrived from Delphos, are both landed, +Hasting to the court. + +First Lord: +So please you, sir, their speed +Hath been beyond account. + +LEONTES: +Twenty-three days +They have been absent: 'tis good speed; foretells +The great Apollo suddenly will have +The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; +Summon a session, that we may arraign +Our most disloyal lady, for, as she hath +Been publicly accused, so shall she have +A just and open trial. While she lives +My heart will be a burthen to me. Leave me, +And think upon my bidding. + +CLEOMENES: +The climate's delicate, the air most sweet, +Fertile the isle, the temple much surpassing +The common praise it bears. + +DION: +I shall report, +For most it caught me, the celestial habits, +Methinks I so should term them, and the reverence +Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! +How ceremonious, solemn and unearthly +It was i' the offering! + +CLEOMENES: +But of all, the burst +And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle, +Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my sense. +That I was nothing. + +DION: +If the event o' the journey +Prove as successful to the queen,--O be't so!-- +As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy, +The time is worth the use on't. + +CLEOMENES: +Great Apollo +Turn all to the best! These proclamations, +So forcing faults upon Hermione, +I little like. + +DION: +The violent carriage of it +Will clear or end the business: when the oracle, +Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up, +Shall the contents discover, something rare +Even then will rush to knowledge. Go: fresh horses! +And gracious be the issue! + +LEONTES: +This sessions, to our great grief we pronounce, +Even pushes 'gainst our heart: the party tried +The daughter of a king, our wife, and one +Of us too much beloved. Let us be clear'd +Of being tyrannous, since we so openly +Proceed in justice, which shall have due course, +Even to the guilt or the purgation. +Produce the prisoner. + +Officer: +It is his highness' pleasure that the queen +Appear in person here in court. Silence! + +LEONTES: +Read the indictment. + +Officer: + +HERMIONE: +Since what I am to say must be but that +Which contradicts my accusation and +The testimony on my part no other +But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me +To say 'not guilty:' mine integrity +Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, +Be so received. But thus: if powers divine +Behold our human actions, as they do, +I doubt not then but innocence shall make +False accusation blush and tyranny +Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know, +Who least will seem to do so, my past life +Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, +As I am now unhappy; which is more +Than history can pattern, though devised +And play'd to take spectators. For behold me +A fellow of the royal bed, which owe +A moiety of the throne a great king's daughter, +The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing +To prate and talk for life and honour 'fore +Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it +As I weigh grief, which I would spare: for honour, +'Tis a derivative from me to mine, +And only that I stand for. I appeal +To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes +Came to your court, how I was in your grace, +How merited to be so; since he came, +With what encounter so uncurrent I +Have strain'd to appear thus: if one jot beyond +The bound of honour, or in act or will +That way inclining, harden'd be the hearts +Of all that hear me, and my near'st of kin +Cry fie upon my grave! + +LEONTES: +I ne'er heard yet +That any of these bolder vices wanted +Less impudence to gainsay what they did +Than to perform it first. + +HERMIONE: +That's true enough; +Through 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. + +LEONTES: +You will not own it. + +HERMIONE: +More than mistress of +Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not +At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, +With whom I am accused, I do confess +I loved him as in honour he required, +With such a kind of love as might become +A lady like me, with a love even such, +So and no other, as yourself commanded: +Which not to have done I think had been in me +Both disobedience and ingratitude +To you and toward your friend, whose love had spoke, +Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely +That it was yours. Now, for conspiracy, +I know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd +For me to try how: all I know of it +Is that Camillo was an honest man; +And why he left your court, the gods themselves, +Wotting no more than I, are ignorant. + +LEONTES: +You knew of his departure, as you know +What you have underta'en to do in's absence. + +HERMIONE: +Sir, +You speak a language that I understand not: +My life stands in the level of your dreams, +Which I'll lay down. + +LEONTES: +Your actions are my dreams; +You had a bastard by Polixenes, +And I but dream'd it. As you were past all shame,-- +Those of your fact are so--so past all truth: +Which to deny concerns more than avails; for as +Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, +No father owning it,--which is, indeed, +More criminal in thee than it,--so thou +Shalt feel our justice, in whose easiest passage +Look for no less than death. + +HERMIONE: +Sir, spare your threats: +The bug which you would fright me with I seek. +To me can life be no commodity: +The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, +I do give lost; for I do feel it gone, +But know not how it went. My second joy +And first-fruits of my body, from his presence +I am barr'd, like one infectious. My third comfort +Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast, +The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth, +Haled out to murder: myself on every post +Proclaimed a strumpet: with immodest hatred +The child-bed privilege denied, which 'longs +To women of all fashion; lastly, hurried +Here to this place, i' the open air, before +I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege, +Tell me what blessings I have here alive, +That I should fear to die? Therefore proceed. +But yet hear this: mistake me not; no life, +I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour, +Which I would free, if I shall be condemn'd +Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else +But what your jealousies awake, I tell you +'Tis rigor and not law. Your honours all, +I do refer me to the oracle: +Apollo be my judge! + +First Lord: +This your request +Is altogether just: therefore bring forth, +And in Apollos name, his oracle. + +HERMIONE: +The Emperor of Russia was my father: +O that he were alive, and here beholding +His daughter's trial! that he did but see +The flatness of my misery, yet with eyes +Of pity, not revenge! + +Officer: +You here shall swear upon this sword of justice, +That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have +Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought +The seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd +Of great Apollo's priest; and that, since then, +You have not dared to break the holy seal +Nor read the secrets in't. + +CLEOMENES: +All this we swear. + +LEONTES: +Break up the seals and read. + +Officer: + +Lords: +Now blessed be the great Apollo! + +HERMIONE: +Praised! + +LEONTES: +Hast thou read truth? + +Officer: +Ay, my lord; even so +As it is here set down. + +LEONTES: +There is no truth at all i' the oracle: +The sessions shall proceed: this is mere falsehood. + +Servant: +My lord the king, the king! + +LEONTES: +What is the business? + +Servant: +O sir, I shall be hated to report it! +The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear +Of the queen's speed, is gone. + +LEONTES: +How! gone! + +Servant: +Is dead. + +LEONTES: +Apollo's angry; and the heavens themselves +Do strike at my injustice. +How now there! + +PAULINA: +This news is mortal to the queen: look down +And see what death is doing. + +LEONTES: +Take her hence: +Her heart is but o'ercharged; she will recover: +I have too much believed mine own suspicion: +Beseech you, tenderly apply to her +Some remedies for life. +Apollo, pardon +My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle! +I'll reconcile me to Polixenes, +New woo my queen, recall the good Camillo, +Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy; +For, being transported by my jealousies +To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose +Camillo for the minister to poison +My friend Polixenes: which had been done, +But that the good mind of Camillo tardied +My swift command, though I with death and with +Reward did threaten and encourage him, +Not doing 't and being done: he, most humane +And fill'd with honour, to my kingly guest +Unclasp'd my practise, quit his fortunes here, +Which you knew great, and to the hazard +Of all encertainties himself commended, +No richer than his honour: how he glisters +Thorough my rust! and how his pity +Does my deeds make the blacker! + +PAULINA: +Woe the while! +O, cut my lace, lest my heart, cracking it, +Break too. + +First Lord: +What fit is this, good lady? + +PAULINA: +What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me? +What wheels? racks? fires? what flaying? boiling? +In leads or oils? what old or newer torture +Must I receive, whose every word deserves +To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny +Together working with thy jealousies, +Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle +For girls of nine, O, think what they have done +And then run mad indeed, stark mad! for all +Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it. +That thou betray'dst Polixenes,'twas nothing; +That did but show thee, of a fool, inconstant +And damnable ingrateful: nor was't much, +Thou wouldst have poison'd good Camillo's honour, +To have him kill a king: poor trespasses, +More monstrous standing by: whereof I reckon +The casting forth to crows thy baby-daughter +To be or none or little; though a devil +Would have shed water out of fire ere done't: +Nor is't directly laid to thee, the death +Of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts, +Thoughts high for one so tender, cleft the heart +That could conceive a gross and foolish sire +Blemish'd his gracious dam: this is not, no, +Laid to thy answer: but the last,--O lords, +When I have said, cry 'woe!' the queen, the queen, +The sweet'st, dear'st creature's dead, +and vengeance for't +Not dropp'd down yet. + +First Lord: +The higher powers forbid! + +PAULINA: +I say she's dead; I'll swear't. If word nor oath +Prevail not, go and see: if you can bring +Tincture or lustre in her lip, her eye, +Heat outwardly or breath within, I'll serve you +As I would do the gods. But, O thou tyrant! +Do not repent these things, for they are heavier +Than all thy woes can stir; therefore betake thee +To nothing but despair. A thousand knees +Ten thousand years together, naked, fasting, +Upon a barren mountain and still winter +In storm perpetual, could not move the gods +To look that way thou wert. + +LEONTES: +Go on, go on +Thou canst not speak too much; I have deserved +All tongues to talk their bitterest. + +First Lord: +Say no more: +Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault +I' the boldness of your speech. + +PAULINA: +I am sorry for't: +All faults I make, when I shall come to know them, +I do repent. Alas! I have show'd too much +The rashness of a woman: he is touch'd +To the noble heart. What's gone and what's past help +Should be past grief: do not receive affliction +At my petition; I beseech you, rather +Let me be punish'd, that have minded you +Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege +Sir, royal sir, forgive a foolish woman: +The love I bore your queen--lo, fool again!-- +I'll speak of her no more, nor of your children; +I'll not remember you of my own lord, +Who is lost too: take your patience to you, +And I'll say nothing. + +LEONTES: +Thou didst speak but well +When most the truth; which I receive much better +Than to be pitied of thee. Prithee, bring me +To the dead bodies of my queen and son: +One grave shall be for both: upon them shall +The causes of their death appear, unto +Our shame perpetual. Once a day I'll visit +The chapel where they lie, and tears shed there +Shall be my recreation: so long as nature +Will bear up with this exercise, so long +I daily vow to use it. Come and lead me +Unto these sorrows. + +ANTIGONUS: +Thou art perfect then, our ship hath touch'd upon +The deserts of Bohemia? + +Mariner: +Ay, my lord: and fear +We have landed in ill time: the skies look grimly +And threaten present blusters. In my conscience, +The heavens with that we have in hand are angry +And frown upon 's. + +ANTIGONUS: +Their sacred wills be done! Go, get aboard; +Look to thy bark: I'll not be long before +I call upon thee. + +Mariner: +Make your best haste, and go not +Too far i' the land: 'tis like to be loud weather; +Besides, this place is famous for the creatures +Of prey that keep upon't. + +ANTIGONUS: +Go thou away: +I'll follow instantly. + +Mariner: +I am glad at heart +To be so rid o' the business. + +ANTIGONUS: +Come, poor babe: +I have heard, but not believed, +the spirits o' the dead +May walk again: if such thing be, thy mother +Appear'd to me last night, for ne'er was dream +So like a waking. To me comes a creature, +Sometimes her head on one side, some another; +I never saw a vessel of like sorrow, +So fill'd and so becoming: in pure white robes, +Like very sanctity, she did approach +My cabin where I lay; thrice bow'd before me, +And gasping to begin some speech, her eyes +Became two spouts: the fury spent, anon +Did this break-from her: 'Good Antigonus, +Since fate, against thy better disposition, +Hath made thy person for the thrower-out +Of my poor babe, according to thine oath, +Places remote enough are in Bohemia, +There weep and leave it crying; and, for the babe +Is counted lost for ever, Perdita, +I prithee, call't. For this ungentle business +Put on thee by my lord, thou ne'er shalt see +Thy wife Paulina more.' And so, with shrieks +She melted into air. Affrighted much, +I did in time collect myself and thought +This was so and no slumber. Dreams are toys: +Yet for this once, yea, superstitiously, +I will be squared by this. I do believe +Hermione hath suffer'd death, and that +Apollo would, this being indeed the issue +Of King Polixenes, it should here be laid, +Either for life or death, upon the earth +Of its right father. Blossom, speed thee well! +There lie, and there thy character: there these; +Which may, if fortune please, both breed thee, pretty, +And still rest thine. The storm begins; poor wretch, +That for thy mother's fault art thus exposed +To loss and what may follow! Weep I cannot, +But my heart bleeds; and most accursed am I +To be by oath enjoin'd to this. Farewell! +The day frowns more and more: thou'rt like to have +A lullaby too rough: I never saw +The heavens so dim by day. A savage clamour! +Well may I get aboard! This is the chase: +I am gone for ever. + +Shepherd: +I would there were no age between sixteen and +three-and-twenty, or that youth would sleep out the +rest; for there is nothing in the between but +getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, +stealing, fighting--Hark you now! Would any but +these boiled brains of nineteen and two-and-twenty +hunt this weather? They have scared away two of my +best sheep, which I fear the wolf will sooner find +than the master: if any where I have them, 'tis by +the seaside, browsing of ivy. Good luck, an't be thy +will what have we here! Mercy on 's, a barne a very +pretty barne! A boy or a child, I wonder? A +pretty one; a very pretty one: sure, some 'scape: +though I am not bookish, yet I can read +waiting-gentlewoman in the 'scape. This has been +some stair-work, some trunk-work, some +behind-door-work: they were warmer that got this +than the poor thing is here. I'll take it up for +pity: yet I'll tarry till my son come; he hallooed +but even now. Whoa, ho, hoa! + +Clown: +Hilloa, loa! + +Shepherd: +What, art so near? If thou'lt see a thing to talk +on when thou art dead and rotten, come hither. What +ailest thou, man? + +Clown: +I have seen two such sights, by sea and by land! +but I am not to say it is a sea, for it is now the +sky: betwixt the firmament and it you cannot thrust +a bodkin's point. + +Shepherd: +Why, boy, how is it? + +Clown: +I would you did but see how it chafes, how it rages, +how it takes up the shore! but that's not the +point. O, the most piteous cry of the poor souls! +sometimes to see 'em, and not to see 'em; now the +ship boring the moon with her main-mast, and anon +swallowed with yest and froth, as you'ld thrust a +cork into a hogshead. And then for the +land-service, to see how the bear tore out his +shoulder-bone; how he cried to me for help and said +his name was Antigonus, a nobleman. But to make an +end of the ship, to see how the sea flap-dragoned +it: but, first, how the poor souls roared, and the +sea mocked them; and how the poor gentleman roared +and the bear mocked him, both roaring louder than +the sea or weather. + +Shepherd: +Name of mercy, when was this, boy? + +Clown: +Now, now: I have not winked since I saw these +sights: the men are not yet cold under water, nor +the bear half dined on the gentleman: he's at it +now. + +Shepherd: +Would I had been by, to have helped the old man! + +Clown: +I would you had been by the ship side, to have +helped her: there your charity would have lacked footing. + +Shepherd: +Heavy matters! heavy matters! but look thee here, +boy. Now bless thyself: thou mettest with things +dying, I with things newborn. Here's a sight for +thee; look thee, a bearing-cloth for a squire's +child! look thee here; take up, take up, boy; +open't. So, let's see: it was told me I should be +rich by the fairies. This is some changeling: +open't. What's within, boy? + +Clown: +You're a made old man: if the sins of your youth +are forgiven you, you're well to live. Gold! all gold! + +Shepherd: +This is fairy gold, boy, and 'twill prove so: up +with't, keep it close: home, home, the next way. +We are lucky, boy; and to be so still requires +nothing but secrecy. Let my sheep go: come, good +boy, the next way home. + +Clown: +Go you the next way with your findings. I'll go see +if the bear be gone from the gentleman and how much +he hath eaten: they are never curst but when they +are hungry: if there be any of him left, I'll bury +it. + +Shepherd: +That's a good deed. If thou mayest discern by that +which is left of him what he is, fetch me to the +sight of him. + +Clown: +Marry, will I; and you shall help to put him i' the ground. + +Shepherd: +'Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do good deeds on't. + +Time: +I, that please some, try all, both joy and terror +Of good and bad, that makes and unfolds error, +Now take upon me, in the name of Time, +To use my wings. Impute it not a crime +To me or my swift passage, that I slide +O'er sixteen years and leave the growth untried +Of that wide gap, since it is in my power +To o'erthrow law and in one self-born hour +To plant and o'erwhelm custom. Let me pass +The same I am, ere ancient'st order was +Or what is now received: I witness to +The times that brought them in; so shall I do +To the freshest things now reigning and make stale +The glistering of this present, as my tale +Now seems to it. Your patience this allowing, +I turn my glass and give my scene such growing +As you had slept between: Leontes leaving, +The effects of his fond jealousies so grieving +That he shuts up himself, imagine me, +Gentle spectators, that I now may be +In fair Bohemia, and remember well, +I mentioned a son o' the king's, which Florizel +I now name to you; and with speed so pace +To speak of Perdita, now grown in grace +Equal with wondering: what of her ensues +I list not prophecy; but let Time's news +Be known when 'tis brought forth. +A shepherd's daughter, +And what to her adheres, which follows after, +Is the argument of Time. Of this allow, +If ever you have spent time worse ere now; +If never, yet that Time himself doth say +He wishes earnestly you never may. + +POLIXENES: +I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate: +'tis a sickness denying thee any thing; a death to +grant this. + +CAMILLO: +It is fifteen years since I saw my country: though +I have for the most part been aired abroad, I +desire to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent +king, my master, hath sent for me; to whose feeling +sorrows I might be some allay, or I o'erween to +think so, which is another spur to my departure. + +POLIXENES: +As thou lovest me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest of +thy services by leaving me now: the need I have of +thee thine own goodness hath made; better not to +have had thee than thus to want thee: thou, having +made me businesses which none without thee can +sufficiently manage, must either stay to execute +them thyself or take away with thee the very +services thou hast done; which if I have not enough +considered, as too much I cannot, to be more +thankful to thee shall be my study, and my profit +therein the heaping friendships. Of that fatal +country, Sicilia, prithee speak no more; whose very +naming punishes me with the remembrance of that +penitent, as thou callest him, and reconciled king, +my brother; whose loss of his most precious queen +and children are even now to be afresh lamented. +Say to me, when sawest thou the Prince Florizel, my +son? Kings are no less unhappy, their issue not +being gracious, than they are in losing them when +they have approved their virtues. + +CAMILLO: +Sir, it is three days since I saw the prince. What +his happier affairs may be, are to me unknown: but I +have missingly noted, he is of late much retired +from court and is less frequent to his princely +exercises than formerly he hath appeared. + +POLIXENES: +I have considered so much, Camillo, and with some +care; so far that I have eyes under my service which +look upon his removedness; from whom I have this +intelligence, that he is seldom from the house of a +most homely shepherd; a man, they say, that from +very nothing, and beyond the imagination of his +neighbours, is grown into an unspeakable estate. + +CAMILLO: +I have heard, sir, of such a man, who hath a +daughter of most rare note: the report of her is +extended more than can be thought to begin from such a cottage. + +POLIXENES: +That's likewise part of my intelligence; but, I +fear, the angle that plucks our son thither. Thou +shalt accompany us to the place; where we will, not +appearing what we are, have some question with the +shepherd; from whose simplicity I think it not +uneasy to get the cause of my son's resort thither. +Prithee, be my present partner in this business, and +lay aside the thoughts of Sicilia. + +CAMILLO: +I willingly obey your command. + +POLIXENES: +My best Camillo! We must disguise ourselves. + +AUTOLYCUS: +When daffodils begin to peer, +With heigh! the doxy over the dale, +Why, then comes in the sweet o' the year; +For the red blood reigns in the winter's pale. +The white sheet bleaching on the hedge, +With heigh! the sweet birds, O, how they sing! +Doth set my pugging tooth on edge; +For a quart of ale is a dish for a king. +The lark, that tirra-lyra chants, +With heigh! with heigh! the thrush and the jay, +Are summer songs for me and my aunts, +While we lie tumbling in the hay. +I have served Prince Florizel and in my time +wore three-pile; but now I am out of service: +But shall I go mourn for that, my dear? +The pale moon shines by night: +And when I wander here and there, +I then do most go right. +If tinkers may have leave to live, +And bear the sow-skin budget, +Then my account I well may, give, +And in the stocks avouch it. +My traffic is sheets; when the kite builds, look to +lesser linen. My father named me Autolycus; who +being, as I am, littered under Mercury, was likewise +a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles. With die and +drab I purchased this caparison, and my revenue is +the silly cheat. Gallows and knock are too powerful +on the highway: beating and hanging are terrors to +me: for the life to come, I sleep out the thought +of it. A prize! a prize! + +Clown: +Let me see: every 'leven wether tods; every tod +yields pound and odd shilling; fifteen hundred +shorn. what comes the wool to? + +AUTOLYCUS: + +Clown: +I cannot do't without counters. Let me see; what am +I to buy for our sheep-shearing feast? Three pound +of sugar, five pound of currants, rice,--what will +this sister of mine do with rice? But my father +hath made her mistress of the feast, and she lays it +on. She hath made me four and twenty nose-gays for +the shearers, three-man-song-men all, and very good +ones; but they are most of them means and bases; but +one puritan amongst them, and he sings psalms to +horn-pipes. I must have saffron to colour the warden +pies; mace; dates?--none, that's out of my note; +nutmegs, seven; a race or two of ginger, but that I +may beg; four pound of prunes, and as many of +raisins o' the sun. + +AUTOLYCUS: +O that ever I was born! + +Clown: +I' the name of me-- + +AUTOLYCUS: +O, help me, help me! pluck but off these rags; and +then, death, death! + +Clown: +Alack, poor soul! thou hast need of more rags to lay +on thee, rather than have these off. + +AUTOLYCUS: +O sir, the loathsomeness of them offends me more +than the stripes I have received, which are mighty +ones and millions. + +Clown: +Alas, poor man! a million of beating may come to a +great matter. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I am robbed, sir, and beaten; my money and apparel +ta'en from me, and these detestable things put upon +me. + +Clown: +What, by a horseman, or a footman? + +AUTOLYCUS: +A footman, sweet sir, a footman. + +Clown: +Indeed, he should be a footman by the garments he +has left with thee: if this be a horseman's coat, +it hath seen very hot service. Lend me thy hand, +I'll help thee: come, lend me thy hand. + +AUTOLYCUS: +O, good sir, tenderly, O! + +Clown: +Alas, poor soul! + +AUTOLYCUS: +O, good sir, softly, good sir! I fear, sir, my +shoulder-blade is out. + +Clown: +How now! canst stand? + +AUTOLYCUS: + +Clown: +Dost lack any money? I have a little money for thee. + +AUTOLYCUS: +No, good sweet sir; no, I beseech you, sir: I have +a kinsman not past three quarters of a mile hence, +unto whom I was going; I shall there have money, or +any thing I want: offer me no money, I pray you; +that kills my heart. + +Clown: +What manner of fellow was he that robbed you? + +AUTOLYCUS: +A fellow, sir, that I have known to go about with +troll-my-dames; I knew him once a servant of the +prince: I cannot tell, good sir, for which of his +virtues it was, but he was certainly whipped out of the court. + +Clown: +His vices, you would say; there's no virtue whipped +out of the court: they cherish it to make it stay +there; and yet it will no more but abide. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Vices, I would say, sir. I know this man well: he +hath been since an ape-bearer; then a +process-server, a bailiff; then he compassed a +motion of the Prodigal Son, and married a tinker's +wife within a mile where my land and living lies; +and, having flown over many knavish professions, he +settled only in rogue: some call him Autolycus. + +Clown: +Out upon him! prig, for my life, prig: he haunts +wakes, fairs and bear-baitings. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Very true, sir; he, sir, he; that's the rogue that +put me into this apparel. + +Clown: +Not a more cowardly rogue in all Bohemia: if you had +but looked big and spit at him, he'ld have run. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I must confess to you, sir, I am no fighter: I am +false of heart that way; and that he knew, I warrant +him. + +Clown: +How do you now? + +AUTOLYCUS: +Sweet sir, much better than I was; I can stand and +walk: I will even take my leave of you, and pace +softly towards my kinsman's. + +Clown: +Shall I bring thee on the way? + +AUTOLYCUS: +No, good-faced sir; no, sweet sir. + +Clown: +Then fare thee well: I must go buy spices for our +sheep-shearing. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Prosper you, sweet sir! +Your purse is not hot enough to purchase your spice. +I'll be with you at your sheep-shearing too: if I +make not this cheat bring out another and the +shearers prove sheep, let me be unrolled and my name +put in the book of virtue! +Jog on, jog on, the foot-path way, +And merrily hent the stile-a: +A merry heart goes all the day, +Your sad tires in a mile-a. + +FLORIZEL: +These your unusual weeds to each part of you +Do give a life: no shepherdess, but Flora +Peering in April's front. This your sheep-shearing +Is as a meeting of the petty gods, +And you the queen on't. + +PERDITA: +Sir, my gracious lord, +To chide at your extremes it not becomes me: +O, pardon, that I name them! Your high self, +The gracious mark o' the land, you have obscured +With a swain's wearing, and me, poor lowly maid, +Most goddess-like prank'd up: but that our feasts +In every mess have folly and the feeders +Digest it with a custom, I should blush +To see you so attired, sworn, I think, +To show myself a glass. + +FLORIZEL: +I bless the time +When my good falcon made her flight across +Thy father's ground. + +PERDITA: +Now Jove afford you cause! +To me the difference forges dread; your greatness +Hath not been used to fear. Even now I tremble +To think your father, by some accident, +Should pass this way as you did: O, the Fates! +How would he look, to see his work so noble +Vilely bound up? What would he say? Or how +Should I, in these my borrow'd flaunts, behold +The sternness of his presence? + +FLORIZEL: +Apprehend +Nothing but jollity. The gods themselves, +Humbling their deities to love, have taken +The shapes of beasts upon them: Jupiter +Became a bull, and bellow'd; the green Neptune +A ram, and bleated; and the fire-robed god, +Golden Apollo, a poor humble swain, +As I seem now. Their transformations +Were never for a piece of beauty rarer, +Nor in a way so chaste, since my desires +Run not before mine honour, nor my lusts +Burn hotter than my faith. + +PERDITA: +O, but, sir, +Your resolution cannot hold, when 'tis +Opposed, as it must be, by the power of the king: +One of these two must be necessities, +Which then will speak, that you must +change this purpose, +Or I my life. + +FLORIZEL: +Thou dearest Perdita, +With these forced thoughts, I prithee, darken not +The mirth o' the feast. Or I'll be thine, my fair, +Or not my father's. For I cannot be +Mine own, nor any thing to any, if +I be not thine. To this I am most constant, +Though destiny say no. Be merry, gentle; +Strangle such thoughts as these with any thing +That you behold the while. Your guests are coming: +Lift up your countenance, as it were the day +Of celebration of that nuptial which +We two have sworn shall come. + +PERDITA: +O lady Fortune, +Stand you auspicious! + +FLORIZEL: +See, your guests approach: +Address yourself to entertain them sprightly, +And let's be red with mirth. + +Shepherd: +Fie, daughter! when my old wife lived, upon +This day she was both pantler, butler, cook, +Both dame and servant; welcomed all, served all; +Would sing her song and dance her turn; now here, +At upper end o' the table, now i' the middle; +On his shoulder, and his; her face o' fire +With labour and the thing she took to quench it, +She would to each one sip. You are retired, +As if you were a feasted one and not +The hostess of the meeting: pray you, bid +These unknown friends to's welcome; for it is +A way to make us better friends, more known. +Come, quench your blushes and present yourself +That which you are, mistress o' the feast: come on, +And bid us welcome to your sheep-shearing, +As your good flock shall prosper. + +PERDITA: + +POLIXENES: +Shepherdess, +A fair one are you--well you fit our ages +With flowers of winter. + +PERDITA: +Sir, the year growing ancient, +Not yet on summer's death, nor on the birth +Of trembling winter, the fairest +flowers o' the season +Are our carnations and streak'd gillyvors, +Which some call nature's bastards: of that kind +Our rustic garden's barren; and I care not +To get slips of them. + +POLIXENES: +Wherefore, gentle maiden, +Do you neglect them? + +PERDITA: +For I have heard it said +There is an art which in their piedness shares +With great creating nature. + +POLIXENES: +Say there be; +Yet nature is made better by no mean +But nature makes that mean: so, over that art +Which you say adds to nature, is an art +That nature makes. You see, sweet maid, we marry +A gentler scion to the wildest stock, +And make conceive a bark of baser kind +By bud of nobler race: this is an art +Which does mend nature, change it rather, but +The art itself is nature. + +PERDITA: +So it is. + +POLIXENES: +Then make your garden rich in gillyvors, +And do not call them bastards. + +PERDITA: +I'll not put +The dibble in earth to set one slip of them; +No more than were I painted I would wish +This youth should say 'twere well and only therefore +Desire to breed by me. Here's flowers for you; +Hot lavender, mints, savoury, marjoram; +The marigold, that goes to bed wi' the sun +And with him rises weeping: these are flowers +Of middle summer, and I think they are given +To men of middle age. You're very welcome. + +CAMILLO: +I should leave grazing, were I of your flock, +And only live by gazing. + +PERDITA: +Out, alas! +You'd be so lean, that blasts of January +Would blow you through and through. +Now, my fair'st friend, +I would I had some flowers o' the spring that might +Become your time of day; and yours, and yours, +That wear upon your virgin branches yet +Your maidenheads growing: O Proserpina, +For the flowers now, that frighted thou let'st fall +From Dis's waggon! daffodils, +That come before the swallow dares, and take +The winds of March with beauty; violets dim, +But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes +Or Cytherea's breath; pale primroses +That die unmarried, ere they can behold +Bight Phoebus in his strength--a malady +Most incident to maids; bold oxlips and +The crown imperial; lilies of all kinds, +The flower-de-luce being one! O, these I lack, +To make you garlands of, and my sweet friend, +To strew him o'er and o'er! + +FLORIZEL: +What, like a corse? + +PERDITA: +No, like a bank for love to lie and play on; +Not like a corse; or if, not to be buried, +But quick and in mine arms. Come, take your flowers: +Methinks I play as I have seen them do +In Whitsun pastorals: sure this robe of mine +Does change my disposition. + +FLORIZEL: +What you do +Still betters what is done. When you speak, sweet. +I'ld have you do it ever: when you sing, +I'ld have you buy and sell so, so give alms, +Pray so; and, for the ordering your affairs, +To sing them too: when you do dance, I wish you +A wave o' the sea, that you might ever do +Nothing but that; move still, still so, +And own no other function: each your doing, +So singular in each particular, +Crowns what you are doing in the present deed, +That all your acts are queens. + +PERDITA: +O Doricles, +Your praises are too large: but that your youth, +And the true blood which peepeth fairly through't, +Do plainly give you out an unstain'd shepherd, +With wisdom I might fear, my Doricles, +You woo'd me the false way. + +FLORIZEL: +I think you have +As little skill to fear as I have purpose +To put you to't. But come; our dance, I pray: +Your hand, my Perdita: so turtles pair, +That never mean to part. + +PERDITA: +I'll swear for 'em. + +POLIXENES: +This is the prettiest low-born lass that ever +Ran on the green-sward: nothing she does or seems +But smacks of something greater than herself, +Too noble for this place. + +CAMILLO: +He tells her something +That makes her blood look out: good sooth, she is +The queen of curds and cream. + +Clown: +Come on, strike up! + +DORCAS: +Mopsa must be your mistress: marry, garlic, +To mend her kissing with! + +MOPSA: +Now, in good time! + +Clown: +Not a word, a word; we stand upon our manners. +Come, strike up! + +POLIXENES: +Pray, good shepherd, what fair swain is this +Which dances with your daughter? + +Shepherd: +They call him Doricles; and boasts himself +To have a worthy feeding: but I have it +Upon his own report and I believe it; +He looks like sooth. He says he loves my daughter: +I think so too; for never gazed the moon +Upon the water as he'll stand and read +As 'twere my daughter's eyes: and, to be plain. +I think there is not half a kiss to choose +Who loves another best. + +POLIXENES: +She dances featly. + +Shepherd: +So she does any thing; though I report it, +That should be silent: if young Doricles +Do light upon her, she shall bring him that +Which he not dreams of. + +Servant: +O master, if you did but hear the pedlar at the +door, you would never dance again after a tabour and +pipe; no, the bagpipe could not move you: he sings +several tunes faster than you'll tell money; he +utters them as he had eaten ballads and all men's +ears grew to his tunes. + +Clown: +He could never come better; he shall come in. I +love a ballad but even too well, if it be doleful +matter merrily set down, or a very pleasant thing +indeed and sung lamentably. + +Servant: +He hath songs for man or woman, of all sizes; no +milliner can so fit his customers with gloves: he +has the prettiest love-songs for maids; so without +bawdry, which is strange; with such delicate +burthens of dildos and fadings, 'jump her and thump +her;' and where some stretch-mouthed rascal would, +as it were, mean mischief and break a foul gap into +the matter, he makes the maid to answer 'Whoop, do me +no harm, good man;' puts him off, slights him, with +'Whoop, do me no harm, good man.' + +POLIXENES: +This is a brave fellow. + +Clown: +Believe me, thou talkest of an admirable conceited +fellow. Has he any unbraided wares? + +Servant: +He hath ribbons of an the colours i' the rainbow; +points more than all the lawyers in Bohemia can +learnedly handle, though they come to him by the +gross: inkles, caddisses, cambrics, lawns: why, he +sings 'em over as they were gods or goddesses; you +would think a smock were a she-angel, he so chants +to the sleeve-hand and the work about the square on't. + +Clown: +Prithee bring him in; and let him approach singing. + +PERDITA: +Forewarn him that he use no scurrilous words in 's tunes. + +Clown: +You have of these pedlars, that have more in them +than you'ld think, sister. + +PERDITA: +Ay, good brother, or go about to think. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Lawn as white as driven snow; +Cyprus black as e'er was crow; +Gloves as sweet as damask roses; +Masks for faces and for noses; +Bugle bracelet, necklace amber, +Perfume for a lady's chamber; +Golden quoifs and stomachers, +For my lads to give their dears: +Pins and poking-sticks of steel, +What maids lack from head to heel: +Come buy of me, come; come buy, come buy; +Buy lads, or else your lasses cry: Come buy. + +Clown: +If I were not in love with Mopsa, thou shouldst take +no money of me; but being enthralled as I am, it +will also be the bondage of certain ribbons and gloves. + +MOPSA: +I was promised them against the feast; but they come +not too late now. + +DORCAS: +He hath promised you more than that, or there be liars. + +MOPSA: +He hath paid you all he promised you; may be, he has +paid you more, which will shame you to give him again. + +Clown: +Is there no manners left among maids? will they +wear their plackets where they should bear their +faces? Is there not milking-time, when you are +going to bed, or kiln-hole, to whistle off these +secrets, but you must be tittle-tattling before all +our guests? 'tis well they are whispering: clamour +your tongues, and not a word more. + +MOPSA: +I have done. Come, you promised me a tawdry-lace +and a pair of sweet gloves. + +Clown: +Have I not told thee how I was cozened by the way +and lost all my money? + +AUTOLYCUS: +And indeed, sir, there are cozeners abroad; +therefore it behoves men to be wary. + +Clown: +Fear not thou, man, thou shalt lose nothing here. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I hope so, sir; for I have about me many parcels of charge. + +Clown: +What hast here? ballads? + +MOPSA: +Pray now, buy some: I love a ballad in print o' +life, for then we are sure they are true. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Here's one to a very doleful tune, how a usurer's +wife was brought to bed of twenty money-bags at a +burthen and how she longed to eat adders' heads and +toads carbonadoed. + +MOPSA: +Is it true, think you? + +AUTOLYCUS: +Very true, and but a month old. + +DORCAS: +Bless me from marrying a usurer! + +AUTOLYCUS: +Here's the midwife's name to't, one Mistress +Tale-porter, and five or six honest wives that were +present. Why should I carry lies abroad? + +MOPSA: +Pray you now, buy it. + +Clown: +Come on, lay it by: and let's first see moe +ballads; we'll buy the other things anon. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Here's another ballad of a fish, that appeared upon +the coast on Wednesday the four-score of April, +forty thousand fathom above water, and sung this +ballad against the hard hearts of maids: it was +thought she was a woman and was turned into a cold +fish for she would not exchange flesh with one that +loved her: the ballad is very pitiful and as true. + +DORCAS: +Is it true too, think you? + +AUTOLYCUS: +Five justices' hands at it, and witnesses more than +my pack will hold. + +Clown: +Lay it by too: another. + +AUTOLYCUS: +This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one. + +MOPSA: +Let's have some merry ones. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Why, this is a passing merry one and goes to +the tune of 'Two maids wooing a man:' there's +scarce a maid westward but she sings it; 'tis in +request, I can tell you. + +MOPSA: +We can both sing it: if thou'lt bear a part, thou +shalt hear; 'tis in three parts. + +DORCAS: +We had the tune on't a month ago. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I can bear my part; you must know 'tis my +occupation; have at it with you. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Get you hence, for I must go +Where it fits not you to know. + +DORCAS: +Whither? + +MOPSA: +O, whither? + +DORCAS: +Whither? + +MOPSA: +It becomes thy oath full well, +Thou to me thy secrets tell. + +DORCAS: +Me too, let me go thither. + +MOPSA: +Or thou goest to the orange or mill. + +DORCAS: +If to either, thou dost ill. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Neither. + +DORCAS: +What, neither? + +AUTOLYCUS: +Neither. + +DORCAS: +Thou hast sworn my love to be. + +MOPSA: +Thou hast sworn it more to me: +Then whither goest? say, whither? + +Clown: +We'll have this song out anon by ourselves: my +father and the gentlemen are in sad talk, and we'll +not trouble them. Come, bring away thy pack after +me. Wenches, I'll buy for you both. Pedlar, let's +have the first choice. Follow me, girls. + +AUTOLYCUS: +And you shall pay well for 'em. +Will you buy any tape, +Or lace for your cape, +My dainty duck, my dear-a? +Any silk, any thread, +Any toys for your head, +Of the new'st and finest, finest wear-a? +Come to the pedlar; +Money's a medler. +That doth utter all men's ware-a. + +Servant: +Master, there is three carters, three shepherds, +three neat-herds, three swine-herds, that have made +themselves all men of hair, they call themselves +Saltiers, and they have a dance which the wenches +say is a gallimaufry of gambols, because they are +not in't; but they themselves are o' the mind, if it +be not too rough for some that know little but +bowling, it will please plentifully. + +Shepherd: +Away! we'll none on 't: here has been too much +homely foolery already. I know, sir, we weary you. + +POLIXENES: +You weary those that refresh us: pray, let's see +these four threes of herdsmen. + +Servant: +One three of them, by their own report, sir, hath +danced before the king; and not the worst of the +three but jumps twelve foot and a half by the squier. + +Shepherd: +Leave your prating: since these good men are +pleased, let them come in; but quickly now. + +Servant: +Why, they stay at door, sir. + +POLIXENES: +O, father, you'll know more of that hereafter. +Is it not too far gone? 'Tis time to part them. +He's simple and tells much. +How now, fair shepherd! +Your heart is full of something that does take +Your mind from feasting. Sooth, when I was young +And handed love as you do, I was wont +To load my she with knacks: I would have ransack'd +The pedlar's silken treasury and have pour'd it +To her acceptance; you have let him go +And nothing marted with him. If your lass +Interpretation should abuse and call this +Your lack of love or bounty, you were straited +For a reply, at least if you make a care +Of happy holding her. + +FLORIZEL: +Old sir, I know +She prizes not such trifles as these are: +The gifts she looks from me are pack'd and lock'd +Up in my heart; which I have given already, +But not deliver'd. O, hear me breathe my life +Before this ancient sir, who, it should seem, +Hath sometime loved! I take thy hand, this hand, +As soft as dove's down and as white as it, +Or Ethiopian's tooth, or the fann'd +snow that's bolted +By the northern blasts twice o'er. + +POLIXENES: +What follows this? +How prettily the young swain seems to wash +The hand was fair before! I have put you out: +But to your protestation; let me hear +What you profess. + +FLORIZEL: +Do, and be witness to 't. + +POLIXENES: +And this my neighbour too? + +FLORIZEL: +And he, and more +Than he, and men, the earth, the heavens, and all: +That, were I crown'd the most imperial monarch, +Thereof most worthy, were I the fairest youth +That ever made eye swerve, had force and knowledge +More than was ever man's, I would not prize them +Without her love; for her employ them all; +Commend them and condemn them to her service +Or to their own perdition. + +POLIXENES: +Fairly offer'd. + +CAMILLO: +This shows a sound affection. + +Shepherd: +But, my daughter, +Say you the like to him? + +PERDITA: +I cannot speak +So well, nothing so well; no, nor mean better: +By the pattern of mine own thoughts I cut out +The purity of his. + +Shepherd: +Take hands, a bargain! +And, friends unknown, you shall bear witness to 't: +I give my daughter to him, and will make +Her portion equal his. + +FLORIZEL: +O, that must be +I' the virtue of your daughter: one being dead, +I shall have more than you can dream of yet; +Enough then for your wonder. But, come on, +Contract us 'fore these witnesses. + +Shepherd: +Come, your hand; +And, daughter, yours. + +POLIXENES: +Soft, swain, awhile, beseech you; +Have you a father? + +FLORIZEL: +I have: but what of him? + +POLIXENES: +Knows he of this? + +FLORIZEL: +He neither does nor shall. + +POLIXENES: +Methinks a father +Is at the nuptial of his son a guest +That best becomes the table. Pray you once more, +Is not your father grown incapable +Of reasonable affairs? is he not stupid +With age and altering rheums? can he speak? hear? +Know man from man? dispute his own estate? +Lies he not bed-rid? and again does nothing +But what he did being childish? + +FLORIZEL: +No, good sir; +He has his health and ampler strength indeed +Than most have of his age. + +POLIXENES: +By my white beard, +You offer him, if this be so, a wrong +Something unfilial: reason my son +Should choose himself a wife, but as good reason +The father, all whose joy is nothing else +But fair posterity, should hold some counsel +In such a business. + +FLORIZEL: +I yield all this; +But for some other reasons, my grave sir, +Which 'tis not fit you know, I not acquaint +My father of this business. + +POLIXENES: +Let him know't. + +FLORIZEL: +He shall not. + +POLIXENES: +Prithee, let him. + +FLORIZEL: +No, he must not. + +Shepherd: +Let him, my son: he shall not need to grieve +At knowing of thy choice. + +FLORIZEL: +Come, come, he must not. +Mark our contract. + +POLIXENES: +Mark your divorce, young sir, +Whom son I dare not call; thou art too base +To be acknowledged: thou a sceptre's heir, +That thus affect'st a sheep-hook! Thou old traitor, +I am sorry that by hanging thee I can +But shorten thy life one week. And thou, fresh piece +Of excellent witchcraft, who of force must know +The royal fool thou copest with,-- + +Shepherd: +O, my heart! + +POLIXENES: +I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briers, and made +More homely than thy state. For thee, fond boy, +If I may ever know thou dost but sigh +That thou no more shalt see this knack, as never +I mean thou shalt, we'll bar thee from succession; +Not hold thee of our blood, no, not our kin, +Far than Deucalion off: mark thou my words: +Follow us to the court. Thou churl, for this time, +Though full of our displeasure, yet we free thee +From the dead blow of it. And you, enchantment.-- +Worthy enough a herdsman: yea, him too, +That makes himself, but for our honour therein, +Unworthy thee,--if ever henceforth thou +These rural latches to his entrance open, +Or hoop his body more with thy embraces, +I will devise a death as cruel for thee +As thou art tender to't. + +PERDITA: +Even here undone! +I was not much afeard; for once or twice +I was about to speak and tell him plainly, +The selfsame sun that shines upon his court +Hides not his visage from our cottage but +Looks on alike. Will't please you, sir, be gone? +I told you what would come of this: beseech you, +Of your own state take care: this dream of mine,-- +Being now awake, I'll queen it no inch farther, +But milk my ewes and weep. + +CAMILLO: +Why, how now, father! +Speak ere thou diest. + +Shepherd: +I cannot speak, nor think +Nor dare to know that which I know. O sir! +You have undone a man of fourscore three, +That thought to fill his grave in quiet, yea, +To die upon the bed my father died, +To lie close by his honest bones: but now +Some hangman must put on my shroud and lay me +Where no priest shovels in dust. O cursed wretch, +That knew'st this was the prince, +and wouldst adventure +To mingle faith with him! Undone! undone! +If I might die within this hour, I have lived +To die when I desire. + +FLORIZEL: +Why look you so upon me? +I am but sorry, not afeard; delay'd, +But nothing alter'd: what I was, I am; +More straining on for plucking back, not following +My leash unwillingly. + +CAMILLO: +Gracious my lord, +You know your father's temper: at this time +He will allow no speech, which I do guess +You do not purpose to him; and as hardly +Will he endure your sight as yet, I fear: +Then, till the fury of his highness settle, +Come not before him. + +FLORIZEL: +I not purpose it. +I think, Camillo? + +CAMILLO: +Even he, my lord. + +PERDITA: +How often have I told you 'twould be thus! +How often said, my dignity would last +But till 'twere known! + +FLORIZEL: +It cannot fail but by +The violation of my faith; and then +Let nature crush the sides o' the earth together +And mar the seeds within! Lift up thy looks: +From my succession wipe me, father; I +Am heir to my affection. + +CAMILLO: +Be advised. + +FLORIZEL: +I am, and by my fancy: if my reason +Will thereto be obedient, I have reason; +If not, my senses, better pleased with madness, +Do bid it welcome. + +CAMILLO: +This is desperate, sir. + +FLORIZEL: +So call it: but it does fulfil my vow; +I needs must think it honesty. Camillo, +Not for Bohemia, nor the pomp that may +Be thereat glean'd, for all the sun sees or +The close earth wombs or the profound sea hides +In unknown fathoms, will I break my oath +To this my fair beloved: therefore, I pray you, +As you have ever been my father's honour'd friend, +When he shall miss me,--as, in faith, I mean not +To see him any more,--cast your good counsels +Upon his passion; let myself and fortune +Tug for the time to come. This you may know +And so deliver, I am put to sea +With her whom here I cannot hold on shore; +And most opportune to our need I have +A vessel rides fast by, but not prepared +For this design. What course I mean to hold +Shall nothing benefit your knowledge, nor +Concern me the reporting. + +CAMILLO: +O my lord! +I would your spirit were easier for advice, +Or stronger for your need. + +FLORIZEL: +Hark, Perdita +I'll hear you by and by. + +CAMILLO: +He's irremoveable, +Resolved for flight. Now were I happy, if +His going I could frame to serve my turn, +Save him from danger, do him love and honour, +Purchase the sight again of dear Sicilia +And that unhappy king, my master, whom +I so much thirst to see. + +FLORIZEL: +Now, good Camillo; +I am so fraught with curious business that +I leave out ceremony. + +CAMILLO: +Sir, I think +You have heard of my poor services, i' the love +That I have borne your father? + +FLORIZEL: +Very nobly +Have you deserved: it is my father's music +To speak your deeds, not little of his care +To have them recompensed as thought on. + +CAMILLO: +Well, my lord, +If you may please to think I love the king +And through him what is nearest to him, which is +Your gracious self, embrace but my direction: +If your more ponderous and settled project +May suffer alteration, on mine honour, +I'll point you where you shall have such receiving +As shall become your highness; where you may +Enjoy your mistress, from the whom, I see, +There's no disjunction to be made, but by-- +As heavens forefend!--your ruin; marry her, +And, with my best endeavours in your absence, +Your discontenting father strive to qualify +And bring him up to liking. + +FLORIZEL: +How, Camillo, +May this, almost a miracle, be done? +That I may call thee something more than man +And after that trust to thee. + +CAMILLO: +Have you thought on +A place whereto you'll go? + +FLORIZEL: +Not any yet: +But as the unthought-on accident is guilty +To what we wildly do, so we profess +Ourselves to be the slaves of chance and flies +Of every wind that blows. + +CAMILLO: +Then list to me: +This follows, if you will not change your purpose +But undergo this flight, make for Sicilia, +And there present yourself and your fair princess, +For so I see she must be, 'fore Leontes: +She shall be habited as it becomes +The partner of your bed. Methinks I see +Leontes opening his free arms and weeping +His welcomes forth; asks thee the son forgiveness, +As 'twere i' the father's person; kisses the hands +Of your fresh princess; o'er and o'er divides him +'Twixt his unkindness and his kindness; the one +He chides to hell and bids the other grow +Faster than thought or time. + +FLORIZEL: +Worthy Camillo, +What colour for my visitation shall I +Hold up before him? + +CAMILLO: +Sent by the king your father +To greet him and to give him comforts. Sir, +The manner of your bearing towards him, with +What you as from your father shall deliver, +Things known betwixt us three, I'll write you down: +The which shall point you forth at every sitting +What you must say; that he shall not perceive +But that you have your father's bosom there +And speak his very heart. + +FLORIZEL: +I am bound to you: +There is some sap in this. + +CAMILLO: +A cause more promising +Than a wild dedication of yourselves +To unpath'd waters, undream'd shores, most certain +To miseries enough; no hope to help you, +But as you shake off one to take another; +Nothing so certain as your anchors, who +Do their best office, if they can but stay you +Where you'll be loath to be: besides you know +Prosperity's the very bond of love, +Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together +Affliction alters. + +PERDITA: +One of these is true: +I think affliction may subdue the cheek, +But not take in the mind. + +CAMILLO: +Yea, say you so? +There shall not at your father's house these +seven years +Be born another such. + +FLORIZEL: +My good Camillo, +She is as forward of her breeding as +She is i' the rear our birth. + +CAMILLO: +I cannot say 'tis pity +She lacks instructions, for she seems a mistress +To most that teach. + +PERDITA: +Your pardon, sir; for this +I'll blush you thanks. + +FLORIZEL: +My prettiest Perdita! +But O, the thorns we stand upon! Camillo, +Preserver of my father, now of me, +The medicine of our house, how shall we do? +We are not furnish'd like Bohemia's son, +Nor shall appear in Sicilia. + +CAMILLO: +My lord, +Fear none of this: I think you know my fortunes +Do all lie there: it shall be so my care +To have you royally appointed as if +The scene you play were mine. For instance, sir, +That you may know you shall not want, one word. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Ha, ha! what a fool Honesty is! and Trust, his +sworn brother, a very simple gentleman! I have sold +all my trumpery; not a counterfeit stone, not a +ribbon, glass, pomander, brooch, table-book, ballad, +knife, tape, glove, shoe-tie, bracelet, horn-ring, +to keep my pack from fasting: they throng who +should buy first, as if my trinkets had been +hallowed and brought a benediction to the buyer: +by which means I saw whose purse was best in +picture; and what I saw, to my good use I +remembered. My clown, who wants but something to +be a reasonable man, grew so in love with the +wenches' song, that he would not stir his pettitoes +till he had both tune and words; which so drew the +rest of the herd to me that all their other senses +stuck in ears: you might have pinched a placket, it +was senseless; 'twas nothing to geld a codpiece of a +purse; I could have filed keys off that hung in +chains: no hearing, no feeling, but my sir's song, +and admiring the nothing of it. So that in this +time of lethargy I picked and cut most of their +festival purses; and had not the old man come in +with a whoo-bub against his daughter and the king's +son and scared my choughs from the chaff, I had not +left a purse alive in the whole army. + +CAMILLO: +Nay, but my letters, by this means being there +So soon as you arrive, shall clear that doubt. + +FLORIZEL: +And those that you'll procure from King Leontes-- + +CAMILLO: +Shall satisfy your father. + +PERDITA: +Happy be you! +All that you speak shows fair. + +CAMILLO: +Who have we here? +We'll make an instrument of this, omit +Nothing may give us aid. + +AUTOLYCUS: +If they have overheard me now, why, hanging. + +CAMILLO: +How now, good fellow! why shakest thou so? Fear +not, man; here's no harm intended to thee. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I am a poor fellow, sir. + +CAMILLO: +Why, be so still; here's nobody will steal that from +thee: yet for the outside of thy poverty we must +make an exchange; therefore discase thee instantly, +--thou must think there's a necessity in't,--and +change garments with this gentleman: though the +pennyworth on his side be the worst, yet hold thee, +there's some boot. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I am a poor fellow, sir. +I know ye well enough. + +CAMILLO: +Nay, prithee, dispatch: the gentleman is half +flayed already. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Are you in earnest, sir? +I smell the trick on't. + +FLORIZEL: +Dispatch, I prithee. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Indeed, I have had earnest: but I cannot with +conscience take it. + +CAMILLO: +Unbuckle, unbuckle. +Fortunate mistress,--let my prophecy +Come home to ye!--you must retire yourself +Into some covert: take your sweetheart's hat +And pluck it o'er your brows, muffle your face, +Dismantle you, and, as you can, disliken +The truth of your own seeming; that you may-- +For I do fear eyes over--to shipboard +Get undescried. + +PERDITA: +I see the play so lies +That I must bear a part. + +CAMILLO: +No remedy. +Have you done there? + +FLORIZEL: +Should I now meet my father, +He would not call me son. + +CAMILLO: +Nay, you shall have no hat. +Come, lady, come. Farewell, my friend. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Adieu, sir. + +FLORIZEL: +O Perdita, what have we twain forgot! +Pray you, a word. + +CAMILLO: + +FLORIZEL: +Fortune speed us! +Thus we set on, Camillo, to the sea-side. + +CAMILLO: +The swifter speed the better. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I understand the business, I hear it: to have an +open ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is +necessary for a cut-purse; a good nose is requisite +also, to smell out work for the other senses. I see +this is the time that the unjust man doth thrive. +What an exchange had this been without boot! What +a boot is here with this exchange! Sure the gods do +this year connive at us, and we may do any thing +extempore. The prince himself is about a piece of +iniquity, stealing away from his father with his +clog at his heels: if I thought it were a piece of +honesty to acquaint the king withal, I would not +do't: I hold it the more knavery to conceal it; +and therein am I constant to my profession. +Aside, aside; here is more matter for a hot brain: +every lane's end, every shop, church, session, +hanging, yields a careful man work. + +Clown: +See, see; what a man you are now! +There is no other way but to tell the king +she's a changeling and none of your flesh and blood. + +Shepherd: +Nay, but hear me. + +Clown: +Nay, but hear me. + +Shepherd: +Go to, then. + +Clown: +She being none of your flesh and blood, your flesh +and blood has not offended the king; and so your +flesh and blood is not to be punished by him. Show +those things you found about her, those secret +things, all but what she has with her: this being +done, let the law go whistle: I warrant you. + +Shepherd: +I will tell the king all, every word, yea, and his +son's pranks too; who, I may say, is no honest man, +neither to his father nor to me, to go about to make +me the king's brother-in-law. + +Clown: +Indeed, brother-in-law was the farthest off you +could have been to him and then your blood had been +the dearer by I know how much an ounce. + +AUTOLYCUS: + +Shepherd: +Well, let us to the king: there is that in this +fardel will make him scratch his beard. + +AUTOLYCUS: + +Clown: +Pray heartily he be at palace. + +AUTOLYCUS: + +Shepherd: +To the palace, an it like your worship. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Your affairs there, what, with whom, the condition +of that fardel, the place of your dwelling, your +names, your ages, of what having, breeding, and any +thing that is fitting to be known, discover. + +Clown: +We are but plain fellows, sir. + +AUTOLYCUS: +A lie; you are rough and hairy. Let me have no +lying: it becomes none but tradesmen, and they +often give us soldiers the lie: but we pay them for +it with stamped coin, not stabbing steel; therefore +they do not give us the lie. + +Clown: +Your worship had like to have given us one, if you +had not taken yourself with the manner. + +Shepherd: +Are you a courtier, an't like you, sir? + +AUTOLYCUS: +Whether it like me or no, I am a courtier. Seest +thou not the air of the court in these enfoldings? +hath not my gait in it the measure of the court? +receives not thy nose court-odor from me? reflect I +not on thy baseness court-contempt? Thinkest thou, +for that I insinuate, or toaze from thee thy +business, I am therefore no courtier? I am courtier +cap-a-pe; and one that will either push on or pluck +back thy business there: whereupon I command thee to +open thy affair. + +Shepherd: +My business, sir, is to the king. + +AUTOLYCUS: +What advocate hast thou to him? + +Shepherd: +I know not, an't like you. + +Clown: +Advocate's the court-word for a pheasant: say you +have none. + +Shepherd: +None, sir; I have no pheasant, cock nor hen. + +AUTOLYCUS: +How blessed are we that are not simple men! +Yet nature might have made me as these are, +Therefore I will not disdain. + +Clown: +This cannot be but a great courtier. + +Shepherd: +His garments are rich, but he wears +them not handsomely. + +Clown: +He seems to be the more noble in being fantastical: +a great man, I'll warrant; I know by the picking +on's teeth. + +AUTOLYCUS: +The fardel there? what's i' the fardel? +Wherefore that box? + +Shepherd: +Sir, there lies such secrets in this fardel and box, +which none must know but the king; and which he +shall know within this hour, if I may come to the +speech of him. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Age, thou hast lost thy labour. + +Shepherd: +Why, sir? + +AUTOLYCUS: +The king is not at the palace; he is gone aboard a +new ship to purge melancholy and air himself: for, +if thou beest capable of things serious, thou must +know the king is full of grief. + +Shepard: +So 'tis said, sir; about his son, that should have +married a shepherd's daughter. + +AUTOLYCUS: +If that shepherd be not in hand-fast, let him fly: +the curses he shall have, the tortures he shall +feel, will break the back of man, the heart of monster. + +Clown: +Think you so, sir? + +AUTOLYCUS: +Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy +and vengeance bitter; but those that are germane to +him, though removed fifty times, shall all come +under the hangman: which though it be great pity, +yet it is necessary. An old sheep-whistling rogue a +ram-tender, to offer to have his daughter come into +grace! Some say he shall be stoned; but that death +is too soft for him, say I draw our throne into a +sheep-cote! all deaths are too few, the sharpest too easy. + +Clown: +Has the old man e'er a son, sir, do you hear. an't +like you, sir? + +AUTOLYCUS: +He has a son, who shall be flayed alive; then +'nointed over with honey, set on the head of a +wasp's nest; then stand till he be three quarters +and a dram dead; then recovered again with +aqua-vitae or some other hot infusion; then, raw as +he is, and in the hottest day prognostication +proclaims, shall be be set against a brick-wall, the +sun looking with a southward eye upon him, where he +is to behold him with flies blown to death. But what +talk we of these traitorly rascals, whose miseries +are to be smiled at, their offences being so +capital? Tell me, for you seem to be honest plain +men, what you have to the king: being something +gently considered, I'll bring you where he is +aboard, tender your persons to his presence, +whisper him in your behalfs; and if it be in man +besides the king to effect your suits, here is man +shall do it. + +Clown: +He seems to be of great authority: close with him, +give him gold; and though authority be a stubborn +bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold: show +the inside of your purse to the outside of his hand, +and no more ado. Remember 'stoned,' and 'flayed alive.' + +Shepherd: +An't please you, sir, to undertake the business for +us, here is that gold I have: I'll make it as much +more and leave this young man in pawn till I bring it you. + +AUTOLYCUS: +After I have done what I promised? + +Shepherd: +Ay, sir. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Well, give me the moiety. Are you a party in this business? + +Clown: +In some sort, sir: but though my case be a pitiful +one, I hope I shall not be flayed out of it. + +AUTOLYCUS: +O, that's the case of the shepherd's son: hang him, +he'll be made an example. + +Clown: +Comfort, good comfort! We must to the king and show +our strange sights: he must know 'tis none of your +daughter nor my sister; we are gone else. Sir, I +will give you as much as this old man does when the +business is performed, and remain, as he says, your +pawn till it be brought you. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I will trust you. Walk before toward the sea-side; +go on the right hand: I will but look upon the +hedge and follow you. + +Clown: +We are blest in this man, as I may say, even blest. + +Shepherd: +Let's before as he bids us: he was provided to do us good. + +AUTOLYCUS: +If I had a mind to be honest, I see Fortune would +not suffer me: she drops booties in my mouth. I am +courted now with a double occasion, gold and a means +to do the prince my master good; which who knows how +that may turn back to my advancement? I will bring +these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him: if he +think it fit to shore them again and that the +complaint they have to the king concerns him +nothing, let him call me rogue for being so far +officious; for I am proof against that title and +what shame else belongs to't. To him will I present +them: there may be matter in it. + +CLEOMENES: +Sir, you have done enough, and have perform'd +A saint-like sorrow: no fault could you make, +Which you have not redeem'd; indeed, paid down +More penitence than done trespass: at the last, +Do as the heavens have done, forget your evil; +With them forgive yourself. + +LEONTES: +Whilst I remember +Her and her virtues, I cannot forget +My blemishes in them, and so still think of +The wrong I did myself; which was so much, +That heirless it hath made my kingdom and +Destroy'd the sweet'st companion that e'er man +Bred his hopes out of. + +PAULINA: +True, too true, my lord: +If, one by one, you wedded all the world, +Or from the all that are took something good, +To make a perfect woman, she you kill'd +Would be unparallel'd. + +LEONTES: +I think so. Kill'd! +She I kill'd! I did so: but thou strikest me +Sorely, to say I did; it is as bitter +Upon thy tongue as in my thought: now, good now, +Say so but seldom. + +CLEOMENES: +Not at all, good lady: +You might have spoken a thousand things that would +Have done the time more benefit and graced +Your kindness better. + +PAULINA: +You are one of those +Would have him wed again. + +DION: +If you would not so, +You pity not the state, nor the remembrance +Of his most sovereign name; consider little +What dangers, by his highness' fail of issue, +May drop upon his kingdom and devour +Incertain lookers on. What were more holy +Than to rejoice the former queen is well? +What holier than, for royalty's repair, +For present comfort and for future good, +To bless the bed of majesty again +With a sweet fellow to't? + +PAULINA: +There is none worthy, +Respecting her that's gone. Besides, the gods +Will have fulfill'd their secret purposes; +For has not the divine Apollo said, +Is't not the tenor of his oracle, +That King Leontes shall not have an heir +Till his lost child be found? which that it shall, +Is all as monstrous to our human reason +As my Antigonus to break his grave +And come again to me; who, on my life, +Did perish with the infant. 'Tis your counsel +My lord should to the heavens be contrary, +Oppose against their wills. +Care not for issue; +The crown will find an heir: great Alexander +Left his to the worthiest; so his successor +Was like to be the best. + +LEONTES: +Good Paulina, +Who hast the memory of Hermione, +I know, in honour, O, that ever I +Had squared me to thy counsel! then, even now, +I might have look'd upon my queen's full eyes, +Have taken treasure from her lips-- + +PAULINA: +And left them +More rich for what they yielded. + +LEONTES: +Thou speak'st truth. +No more such wives; therefore, no wife: one worse, +And better used, would make her sainted spirit +Again possess her corpse, and on this stage, +Where we're offenders now, appear soul-vex'd, +And begin, 'Why to me?' + +PAULINA: +Had she such power, +She had just cause. + +LEONTES: +She had; and would incense me +To murder her I married. + +PAULINA: +I should so. +Were I the ghost that walk'd, I'ld bid you mark +Her eye, and tell me for what dull part in't +You chose her; then I'ld shriek, that even your ears +Should rift to hear me; and the words that follow'd +Should be 'Remember mine.' + +LEONTES: +Stars, stars, +And all eyes else dead coals! Fear thou no wife; +I'll have no wife, Paulina. + +PAULINA: +Will you swear +Never to marry but by my free leave? + +LEONTES: +Never, Paulina; so be blest my spirit! + +PAULINA: +Then, good my lords, bear witness to his oath. + +CLEOMENES: +You tempt him over-much. + +PAULINA: +Unless another, +As like Hermione as is her picture, +Affront his eye. + +CLEOMENES: +Good madam,-- + +PAULINA: +I have done. +Yet, if my lord will marry,--if you will, sir, +No remedy, but you will,--give me the office +To choose you a queen: she shall not be so young +As was your former; but she shall be such +As, walk'd your first queen's ghost, +it should take joy +To see her in your arms. + +LEONTES: +My true Paulina, +We shall not marry till thou bid'st us. + +PAULINA: +That +Shall be when your first queen's again in breath; +Never till then. + +Gentleman: +One that gives out himself Prince Florizel, +Son of Polixenes, with his princess, she +The fairest I have yet beheld, desires access +To your high presence. + +LEONTES: +What with him? he comes not +Like to his father's greatness: his approach, +So out of circumstance and sudden, tells us +'Tis not a visitation framed, but forced +By need and accident. What train? + +Gentleman: +But few, +And those but mean. + +LEONTES: +His princess, say you, with him? + +Gentleman: +Ay, the most peerless piece of earth, I think, +That e'er the sun shone bright on. + +PAULINA: +O Hermione, +As every present time doth boast itself +Above a better gone, so must thy grave +Give way to what's seen now! Sir, you yourself +Have said and writ so, but your writing now +Is colder than that theme, 'She had not been, +Nor was not to be equall'd;'--thus your verse +Flow'd with her beauty once: 'tis shrewdly ebb'd, +To say you have seen a better. + +Gentleman: +Pardon, madam: +The one I have almost forgot,--your pardon,-- +The other, when she has obtain'd your eye, +Will have your tongue too. This is a creature, +Would she begin a sect, might quench the zeal +Of all professors else, make proselytes +Of who she but bid follow. + +PAULINA: +How! not women? + +Gentleman: +Women will love her, that she is a woman +More worth than any man; men, that she is +The rarest of all women. + +LEONTES: +Go, Cleomenes; +Yourself, assisted with your honour'd friends, +Bring them to our embracement. Still, 'tis strange +He thus should steal upon us. + +PAULINA: +Had our prince, +Jewel of children, seen this hour, he had pair'd +Well with this lord: there was not full a month +Between their births. + +LEONTES: +Prithee, no more; cease; thou know'st +He dies to me again when talk'd of: sure, +When I shall see this gentleman, thy speeches +Will bring me to consider that which may +Unfurnish me of reason. They are come. +Your mother was most true to wedlock, prince; +For she did print your royal father off, +Conceiving you: were I but twenty-one, +Your father's image is so hit in you, +His very air, that I should call you brother, +As I did him, and speak of something wildly +By us perform'd before. Most dearly welcome! +And your fair princess,--goddess!--O, alas! +I lost a couple, that 'twixt heaven and earth +Might thus have stood begetting wonder as +You, gracious couple, do: and then I lost-- +All mine own folly--the society, +Amity too, of your brave father, whom, +Though bearing misery, I desire my life +Once more to look on him. + +FLORIZEL: +By his command +Have I here touch'd Sicilia and from him +Give you all greetings that a king, at friend, +Can send his brother: and, but infirmity +Which waits upon worn times hath something seized +His wish'd ability, he had himself +The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and his +Measured to look upon you; whom he loves-- +He bade me say so--more than all the sceptres +And those that bear them living. + +LEONTES: +O my brother, +Good gentleman! the wrongs I have done thee stir +Afresh within me, and these thy offices, +So rarely kind, are as interpreters +Of my behind-hand slackness. Welcome hither, +As is the spring to the earth. And hath he too +Exposed this paragon to the fearful usage, +At least ungentle, of the dreadful Neptune, +To greet a man not worth her pains, much less +The adventure of her person? + +FLORIZEL: +Good my lord, +She came from Libya. + +LEONTES: +Where the warlike Smalus, +That noble honour'd lord, is fear'd and loved? + +FLORIZEL: +Most royal sir, from thence; from him, whose daughter +His tears proclaim'd his, parting with her: thence, +A prosperous south-wind friendly, we have cross'd, +To execute the charge my father gave me +For visiting your highness: my best train +I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd; +Who for Bohemia bend, to signify +Not only my success in Libya, sir, +But my arrival and my wife's in safety +Here where we are. + +LEONTES: +The blessed gods +Purge all infection from our air whilst you +Do climate here! You have a holy father, +A graceful gentleman; against whose person, +So sacred as it is, I have done sin: +For which the heavens, taking angry note, +Have left me issueless; and your father's blest, +As he from heaven merits it, with you +Worthy his goodness. What might I have been, +Might I a son and daughter now have look'd on, +Such goodly things as you! + +Lord: +Most noble sir, +That which I shall report will bear no credit, +Were not the proof so nigh. Please you, great sir, +Bohemia greets you from himself by me; +Desires you to attach his son, who has-- +His dignity and duty both cast off-- +Fled from his father, from his hopes, and with +A shepherd's daughter. + +LEONTES: +Where's Bohemia? speak. + +Lord: +Here in your city; I now came from him: +I speak amazedly; and it becomes +My marvel and my message. To your court +Whiles he was hastening, in the chase, it seems, +Of this fair couple, meets he on the way +The father of this seeming lady and +Her brother, having both their country quitted +With this young prince. + +FLORIZEL: +Camillo has betray'd me; +Whose honour and whose honesty till now +Endured all weathers. + +Lord: +Lay't so to his charge: +He's with the king your father. + +LEONTES: +Who? Camillo? + +Lord: +Camillo, sir; I spake with him; who now +Has these poor men in question. Never saw I +Wretches so quake: they kneel, they kiss the earth; +Forswear themselves as often as they speak: +Bohemia stops his ears, and threatens them +With divers deaths in death. + +PERDITA: +O my poor father! +The heaven sets spies upon us, will not have +Our contract celebrated. + +LEONTES: +You are married? + +FLORIZEL: +We are not, sir, nor are we like to be; +The stars, I see, will kiss the valleys first: +The odds for high and low's alike. + +LEONTES: +My lord, +Is this the daughter of a king? + +FLORIZEL: +She is, +When once she is my wife. + +LEONTES: +That 'once' I see by your good father's speed +Will come on very slowly. I am sorry, +Most sorry, you have broken from his liking +Where you were tied in duty, and as sorry +Your choice is not so rich in worth as beauty, +That you might well enjoy her. + +FLORIZEL: +Dear, look up: +Though Fortune, visible an enemy, +Should chase us with my father, power no jot +Hath she to change our loves. Beseech you, sir, +Remember since you owed no more to time +Than I do now: with thought of such affections, +Step forth mine advocate; at your request +My father will grant precious things as trifles. + +LEONTES: +Would he do so, I'ld beg your precious mistress, +Which he counts but a trifle. + +PAULINA: +Sir, my liege, +Your eye hath too much youth in't: not a month +'Fore your queen died, she was more worth such gazes +Than what you look on now. + +LEONTES: +I thought of her, +Even in these looks I made. +But your petition +Is yet unanswer'd. I will to your father: +Your honour not o'erthrown by your desires, +I am friend to them and you: upon which errand +I now go toward him; therefore follow me +And mark what way I make: come, good my lord. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Beseech you, sir, were you present at this relation? + +First Gentleman: +I was by at the opening of the fardel, heard the old +shepherd deliver the manner how he found it: +whereupon, after a little amazedness, we were all +commanded out of the chamber; only this methought I +heard the shepherd say, he found the child. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I would most gladly know the issue of it. + +First Gentleman: +I make a broken delivery of the business; but the +changes I perceived in the king and Camillo were +very notes of admiration: they seemed almost, with +staring on one another, to tear the cases of their +eyes; there was speech in their dumbness, language +in their very gesture; they looked as they had heard +of a world ransomed, or one destroyed: a notable +passion of wonder appeared in them; but the wisest +beholder, that knew no more but seeing, could not +say if the importance were joy or sorrow; but in the +extremity of the one, it must needs be. +Here comes a gentleman that haply knows more. +The news, Rogero? + +Second Gentleman: +Nothing but bonfires: the oracle is fulfilled; the +king's daughter is found: such a deal of wonder is +broken out within this hour that ballad-makers +cannot be able to express it. +Here comes the Lady Paulina's steward: he can +deliver you more. How goes it now, sir? this news +which is called true is so like an old tale, that +the verity of it is in strong suspicion: has the king +found his heir? + +Third Gentleman: +Most true, if ever truth were pregnant by +circumstance: that which you hear you'll swear you +see, there is such unity in the proofs. The mantle +of Queen Hermione's, her jewel about the neck of it, +the letters of Antigonus found with it which they +know to be his character, the majesty of the +creature in resemblance of the mother, the affection +of nobleness which nature shows above her breeding, +and many other evidences proclaim her with all +certainty to be the king's daughter. Did you see +the meeting of the two kings? + +Second Gentleman: +No. + +Third Gentleman: +Then have you lost a sight, which was to be seen, +cannot be spoken of. There might you have beheld one +joy crown another, so and in such manner that it +seemed sorrow wept to take leave of them, for their +joy waded in tears. There was casting up of eyes, +holding up of hands, with countenances of such +distraction that they were to be known by garment, +not by favour. Our king, being ready to leap out of +himself for joy of his found daughter, as if that +joy were now become a loss, cries 'O, thy mother, +thy mother!' then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then +embraces his son-in-law; then again worries he his +daughter with clipping her; now he thanks the old +shepherd, which stands by like a weather-bitten +conduit of many kings' reigns. I never heard of such +another encounter, which lames report to follow it +and undoes description to do it. + +Second Gentleman: +What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that carried +hence the child? + +Third Gentleman: +Like an old tale still, which will have matter to +rehearse, though credit be asleep and not an ear +open. He was torn to pieces with a bear: this +avouches the shepherd's son; who has not only his +innocence, which seems much, to justify him, but a +handkerchief and rings of his that Paulina knows. + +First Gentleman: +What became of his bark and his followers? + +Third Gentleman: +Wrecked the same instant of their master's death and +in the view of the shepherd: so that all the +instruments which aided to expose the child were +even then lost when it was found. But O, the noble +combat that 'twixt joy and sorrow was fought in +Paulina! She had one eye declined for the loss of +her husband, another elevated that the oracle was +fulfilled: she lifted the princess from the earth, +and so locks her in embracing, as if she would pin +her to her heart that she might no more be in danger +of losing. + +First Gentleman: +The dignity of this act was worth the audience of +kings and princes; for by such was it acted. + +Third Gentleman: +One of the prettiest touches of all and that which +angled for mine eyes, caught the water though not +the fish, was when, at the relation of the queen's +death, with the manner how she came to't bravely +confessed and lamented by the king, how +attentiveness wounded his daughter; till, from one +sign of dolour to another, she did, with an 'Alas,' +I would fain say, bleed tears, for I am sure my +heart wept blood. Who was most marble there changed +colour; some swooned, all sorrowed: if all the world +could have seen 't, the woe had been universal. + +First Gentleman: +Are they returned to the court? + +Third Gentleman: +No: the princess hearing of her mother's statue, +which is in the keeping of Paulina,--a piece many +years in doing and now newly performed by that rare +Italian master, Julio Romano, who, had he himself +eternity and could put breath into his work, would +beguile Nature of her custom, so perfectly he is her +ape: he so near to Hermione hath done Hermione that +they say one would speak to her and stand in hope of +answer: thither with all greediness of affection +are they gone, and there they intend to sup. + +Second Gentleman: +I thought she had some great matter there in hand; +for she hath privately twice or thrice a day, ever +since the death of Hermione, visited that removed +house. Shall we thither and with our company piece +the rejoicing? + +First Gentleman: +Who would be thence that has the benefit of access? +every wink of an eye some new grace will be born: +our absence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge. +Let's along. + +AUTOLYCUS: +Now, had I not the dash of my former life in me, +would preferment drop on my head. I brought the old +man and his son aboard the prince: told him I heard +them talk of a fardel and I know not what: but he +at that time, overfond of the shepherd's daughter, +so he then took her to be, who began to be much +sea-sick, and himself little better, extremity of +weather continuing, this mystery remained +undiscovered. But 'tis all one to me; for had I +been the finder out of this secret, it would not +have relished among my other discredits. +Here come those I have done good to against my will, +and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune. + +Shepherd: +Come, boy; I am past moe children, but thy sons and +daughters will be all gentlemen born. + +Clown: +You are well met, sir. You denied to fight with me +this other day, because I was no gentleman born. +See you these clothes? say you see them not and +think me still no gentleman born: you were best say +these robes are not gentlemen born: give me the +lie, do, and try whether I am not now a gentleman born. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I know you are now, sir, a gentleman born. + +Clown: +Ay, and have been so any time these four hours. + +Shepherd: +And so have I, boy. + +Clown: +So you have: but I was a gentleman born before my +father; for the king's son took me by the hand, and +called me brother; and then the two kings called my +father brother; and then the prince my brother and +the princess my sister called my father father; and +so we wept, and there was the first gentleman-like +tears that ever we shed. + +Shepherd: +We may live, son, to shed many more. + +Clown: +Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in so +preposterous estate as we are. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the +faults I have committed to your worship and to give +me your good report to the prince my master. + +Shepherd: +Prithee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are +gentlemen. + +Clown: +Thou wilt amend thy life? + +AUTOLYCUS: +Ay, an it like your good worship. + +Clown: +Give me thy hand: I will swear to the prince thou +art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia. + +Shepherd: +You may say it, but not swear it. + +Clown: +Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let boors and +franklins say it, I'll swear it. + +Shepherd: +How if it be false, son? + +Clown: +If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear +it in the behalf of his friend: and I'll swear to +the prince thou art a tall fellow of thy hands and +that thou wilt not be drunk; but I know thou art no +tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt be +drunk: but I'll swear it, and I would thou wouldst +be a tall fellow of thy hands. + +AUTOLYCUS: +I will prove so, sir, to my power. + +Clown: +Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: if I do not +wonder how thou darest venture to be drunk, not +being a tall fellow, trust me not. Hark! the kings +and the princes, our kindred, are going to see the +queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll be thy +good masters. + +LEONTES: +O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort +That I have had of thee! + +PAULINA: +What, sovereign sir, +I did not well I meant well. All my services +You have paid home: but that you have vouchsafed, +With your crown'd brother and these your contracted +Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit, +It is a surplus of your grace, which never +My life may last to answer. + +LEONTES: +O Paulina, +We honour you with trouble: but we came +To see the statue of our queen: your gallery +Have we pass'd through, not without much content +In many singularities; but we saw not +That which my daughter came to look upon, +The statue of her mother. + +PAULINA: +As she lived peerless, +So her dead likeness, I do well believe, +Excels whatever yet you look'd upon +Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it +Lonely, apart. But here it is: prepare +To see the life as lively mock'd as ever +Still sleep mock'd death: behold, and say 'tis well. +I like your silence, it the more shows off +Your wonder: but yet speak; first, you, my liege, +Comes it not something near? + +LEONTES: +Her natural posture! +Chide me, dear stone, that I may say indeed +Thou art Hermione; or rather, thou art she +In thy not chiding, for she was as tender +As infancy and grace. But yet, Paulina, +Hermione was not so much wrinkled, nothing +So aged as this seems. + +POLIXENES: +O, not by much. + +PAULINA: +So much the more our carver's excellence; +Which lets go by some sixteen years and makes her +As she lived now. + +LEONTES: +As now she might have done, +So much to my good comfort, as it is +Now piercing to my soul. O, thus she stood, +Even with such life of majesty, warm life, +As now it coldly stands, when first I woo'd her! +I am ashamed: does not the stone rebuke me +For being more stone than it? O royal piece, +There's magic in thy majesty, which has +My evils conjured to remembrance and +From thy admiring daughter took the spirits, +Standing like stone with thee. + +PERDITA: +And give me leave, +And do not say 'tis superstition, that +I kneel and then implore her blessing. Lady, +Dear queen, that ended when I but began, +Give me that hand of yours to kiss. + +PAULINA: +O, patience! +The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's Not dry. + +CAMILLO: +My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on, +Which sixteen winters cannot blow away, +So many summers dry; scarce any joy +Did ever so long live; no sorrow +But kill'd itself much sooner. + +POLIXENES: +Dear my brother, +Let him that was the cause of this have power +To take off so much grief from you as he +Will piece up in himself. + +PAULINA: +Indeed, my lord, +If I had thought the sight of my poor image +Would thus have wrought you,--for the stone is mine-- +I'ld not have show'd it. + +LEONTES: +Do not draw the curtain. + +PAULINA: +No longer shall you gaze on't, lest your fancy +May think anon it moves. + +LEONTES: +Let be, let be. +Would I were dead, but that, methinks, already-- +What was he that did make it? See, my lord, +Would you not deem it breathed? and that those veins +Did verily bear blood? + +POLIXENES: +Masterly done: +The very life seems warm upon her lip. + +LEONTES: +The fixture of her eye has motion in't, +As we are mock'd with art. + +PAULINA: +I'll draw the curtain: +My lord's almost so far transported that +He'll think anon it lives. + +LEONTES: +O sweet Paulina, +Make me to think so twenty years together! +No settled senses of the world can match +The pleasure of that madness. Let 't alone. + +PAULINA: +I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr'd you: but +I could afflict you farther. + +LEONTES: +Do, Paulina; +For this affliction has a taste as sweet +As any cordial comfort. Still, methinks, +There is an air comes from her: what fine chisel +Could ever yet cut breath? Let no man mock me, +For I will kiss her. + +PAULINA: +Good my lord, forbear: +The ruddiness upon her lip is wet; +You'll mar it if you kiss it, stain your own +With oily painting. Shall I draw the curtain? + +LEONTES: +No, not these twenty years. + +PERDITA: +So long could I +Stand by, a looker on. + +PAULINA: +Either forbear, +Quit presently the chapel, or resolve you +For more amazement. If you can behold it, +I'll make the statue move indeed, descend +And take you by the hand; but then you'll think-- +Which I protest against--I am assisted +By wicked powers. + +LEONTES: +What you can make her do, +I am content to look on: what to speak, +I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy +To make her speak as move. + +PAULINA: +It is required +You do awake your faith. Then all stand still; +On: those that think it is unlawful business +I am about, let them depart. + +LEONTES: +Proceed: +No foot shall stir. + +PAULINA: +Music, awake her; strike! +'Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach; +Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come, +I'll fill your grave up: stir, nay, come away, +Bequeath to death your numbness, for from him +Dear life redeems you. You perceive she stirs: +Start not; her actions shall be holy as +You hear my spell is lawful: do not shun her +Until you see her die again; for then +You kill her double. Nay, present your hand: +When she was young you woo'd her; now in age +Is she become the suitor? + +LEONTES: +O, she's warm! +If this be magic, let it be an art +Lawful as eating. + +POLIXENES: +She embraces him. + +CAMILLO: +She hangs about his neck: +If she pertain to life let her speak too. + +POLIXENES: +Ay, and make't manifest where she has lived, +Or how stolen from the dead. + +PAULINA: +That she is living, +Were it but told you, should be hooted at +Like an old tale: but it appears she lives, +Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while. +Please you to interpose, fair madam: kneel +And pray your mother's blessing. Turn, good lady; +Our Perdita is found. + +HERMIONE: +You gods, look down +And from your sacred vials pour your graces +Upon my daughter's head! Tell me, mine own. +Where hast thou been preserved? where lived? how found +Thy father's court? for thou shalt hear that I, +Knowing by Paulina that the oracle +Gave hope thou wast in being, have preserved +Myself to see the issue. + +PAULINA: +There's time enough for that; +Lest they desire upon this push to trouble +Your joys with like relation. Go together, +You precious winners all; your exultation +Partake to every one. I, an old turtle, +Will wing me to some wither'd bough and there +My mate, that's never to be found again, +Lament till I am lost. + +LEONTES: +O, peace, Paulina! +Thou shouldst a husband take by my consent, +As I by thine a wife: this is a match, +And made between's by vows. Thou hast found mine; +But how, is to be question'd; for I saw her, +As I thought, dead, and have in vain said many +A prayer upon her grave. I'll not seek far-- +For him, I partly know his mind--to find thee +An honourable husband. Come, Camillo, +And take her by the hand, whose worth and honesty +Is richly noted and here justified +By us, a pair of kings. Let's from this place. +What! look upon my brother: both your pardons, +That e'er I put between your holy looks +My ill suspicion. This is your son-in-law, +And son unto the king, who, heavens directing, +Is troth-plight to your daughter. Good Paulina, +Lead us from hence, where we may leisurely +Each one demand an answer to his part +Perform'd in this wide gap of time since first +We were dissever'd: hastily lead away. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Escalus. + +ESCALUS: +My lord. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Of government the properties to unfold, +Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse; +Since I am put to know that your own science +Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice +My strength can give you: then no more remains, +But that to your sufficiency, as your Worth is able, +And let them work. The nature of our people, +Our city's institutions, and the terms +For common justice, you're as pregnant in +As art and practise hath enriched any +That we remember. There is our commission, +From which we would not have you warp. Call hither, +I say, bid come before us Angelo. +What figure of us think you he will bear? +For you must know, we have with special soul +Elected him our absence to supply, +Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love, +And given his deputation all the organs +Of our own power: what think you of it? + +ESCALUS: +If any in Vienna be of worth +To undergo such ample grace and honour, +It is Lord Angelo. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Look where he comes. + +ANGELO: +Always obedient to your grace's will, +I come to know your pleasure. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Angelo, +There is a kind of character in thy life, +That to the observer doth thy history +Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings +Are not thine own so proper as to waste +Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee. +Heaven doth with us as we with torches do, +Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues +Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike +As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd +But to fine issues, nor Nature never lends +The smallest scruple of her excellence +But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines +Herself the glory of a creditor, +Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech +To one that can my part in him advertise; +Hold therefore, Angelo:-- +In our remove be thou at full ourself; +Mortality and mercy in Vienna +Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus, +Though first in question, is thy secondary. +Take thy commission. + +ANGELO: +Now, good my lord, +Let there be some more test made of my metal, +Before so noble and so great a figure +Be stamp'd upon it. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +No more evasion: +We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice +Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours. +Our haste from hence is of so quick condition +That it prefers itself and leaves unquestion'd +Matters of needful value. We shall write to you, +As time and our concernings shall importune, +How it goes with us, and do look to know +What doth befall you here. So, fare you well; +To the hopeful execution do I leave you +Of your commissions. + +ANGELO: +Yet give leave, my lord, +That we may bring you something on the way. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +My haste may not admit it; +Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do +With any scruple; your scope is as mine own +So to enforce or qualify the laws +As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand: +I'll privily away. I love the people, +But do not like to stage me to their eyes: +Through it do well, I do not relish well +Their loud applause and Aves vehement; +Nor do I think the man of safe discretion +That does affect it. Once more, fare you well. + +ANGELO: +The heavens give safety to your purposes! + +ESCALUS: +Lead forth and bring you back in happiness! + +DUKE: +I thank you. Fare you well. + +ESCALUS: +I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave +To have free speech with you; and it concerns me +To look into the bottom of my place: +A power I have, but of what strength and nature +I am not yet instructed. + +ANGELO: +'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together, +And we may soon our satisfaction have +Touching that point. + +ESCALUS: +I'll wait upon your honour. + +LUCIO: +If the duke with the other dukes come not to +composition with the King of Hungary, why then all +the dukes fall upon the king. + +First Gentleman: +Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of +Hungary's! + +Second Gentleman: +Amen. + +LUCIO: +Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that +went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped +one out of the table. + +Second Gentleman: +'Thou shalt not steal'? + +LUCIO: +Ay, that he razed. + +First Gentleman: +Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and +all the rest from their functions: they put forth +to steal. There's not a soldier of us all, that, in +the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition +well that prays for peace. + +Second Gentleman: +I never heard any soldier dislike it. + +LUCIO: +I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where +grace was said. + +Second Gentleman: +No? a dozen times at least. + +First Gentleman: +What, in metre? + +LUCIO: +In any proportion or in any language. + +First Gentleman: +I think, or in any religion. + +LUCIO: +Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all +controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a +wicked villain, despite of all grace. + +First Gentleman: +Well, there went but a pair of shears between us. + +LUCIO: +I grant; as there may between the lists and the +velvet. Thou art the list. + +First Gentleman: +And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou'rt +a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief +be a list of an English kersey as be piled, as thou +art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak +feelingly now? + +LUCIO: +I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful +feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own +confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I +live, forget to drink after thee. + +First Gentleman: +I think I have done myself wrong, have I not? + +Second Gentleman: +Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free. + +LUCIO: +Behold, behold. where Madam Mitigation comes! I +have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to-- + +Second Gentleman: +To what, I pray? + +LUCIO: +Judge. + +Second Gentleman: +To three thousand dolours a year. + +First Gentleman: +Ay, and more. + +LUCIO: +A French crown more. + +First Gentleman: +Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou +art full of error; I am sound. + +LUCIO: +Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as +things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; +impiety has made a feast of thee. + +First Gentleman: +How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica? + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried +to prison was worth five thousand of you all. + +Second Gentleman: +Who's that, I pray thee? + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio. + +First Gentleman: +Claudio to prison? 'tis not so. + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested, saw +him carried away; and, which is more, within these +three days his head to be chopped off. + +LUCIO: +But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. +Art thou sure of this? + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam +Julietta with child. + +LUCIO: +Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two +hours since, and he was ever precise in +promise-keeping. + +Second Gentleman: +Besides, you know, it draws something near to the +speech we had to such a purpose. + +First Gentleman: +But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation. + +LUCIO: +Away! let's go learn the truth of it. + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what +with the gallows and what with poverty, I am +custom-shrunk. +How now! what's the news with you? + +POMPEY: +Yonder man is carried to prison. + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +Well; what has he done? + +POMPEY: +A woman. + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +But what's his offence? + +POMPEY: +Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +What, is there a maid with child by him? + +POMPEY: +No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You have +not heard of the proclamation, have you? + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +What proclamation, man? + +POMPEY: +All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down. + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +And what shall become of those in the city? + +POMPEY: +They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, +but that a wise burgher put in for them. + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be +pulled down? + +POMPEY: +To the ground, mistress. + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth! +What shall become of me? + +POMPEY: +Come; fear you not: good counsellors lack no +clients: though you change your place, you need not +change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. +Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that +have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you +will be considered. + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw. + +POMPEY: +Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to +prison; and there's Madam Juliet. + +CLAUDIO: +Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? +Bear me to prison, where I am committed. + +Provost: +I do it not in evil disposition, +But from Lord Angelo by special charge. + +CLAUDIO: +Thus can the demigod Authority +Make us pay down for our offence by weight +The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will; +On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just. + +LUCIO: +Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint? + +CLAUDIO: +From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: +As surfeit is the father of much fast, +So every scope by the immoderate use +Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue, +Like rats that ravin down their proper bane, +A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die. + +LUCIO: +If could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would +send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say +the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom +as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy +offence, Claudio? + +CLAUDIO: +What but to speak of would offend again. + +LUCIO: +What, is't murder? + +CLAUDIO: +No. + +LUCIO: +Lechery? + +CLAUDIO: +Call it so. + +Provost: +Away, sir! you must go. + +CLAUDIO: +One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you. + +LUCIO: +A hundred, if they'll do you any good. +Is lechery so look'd after? + +CLAUDIO: +Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract +I got possession of Julietta's bed: +You know the lady; she is fast my wife, +Save that we do the denunciation lack +Of outward order: this we came not to, +Only for propagation of a dower +Remaining in the coffer of her friends, +From whom we thought it meet to hide our love +Till time had made them for us. But it chances +The stealth of our most mutual entertainment +With character too gross is writ on Juliet. + +LUCIO: +With child, perhaps? + +CLAUDIO: +Unhappily, even so. +And the new deputy now for the duke-- +Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness, +Or whether that the body public be +A horse whereon the governor doth ride, +Who, newly in the seat, that it may know +He can command, lets it straight feel the spur; +Whether the tyranny be in his place, +Or in his emmence that fills it up, +I stagger in:--but this new governor +Awakes me all the enrolled penalties +Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall +So long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round +And none of them been worn; and, for a name, +Now puts the drowsy and neglected act +Freshly on me: 'tis surely for a name. + +LUCIO: +I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on +thy shoulders that a milkmaid, if she be in love, +may sigh it off. Send after the duke and appeal to +him. + +CLAUDIO: +I have done so, but he's not to be found. +I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service: +This day my sister should the cloister enter +And there receive her approbation: +Acquaint her with the danger of my state: +Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends +To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him: +I have great hope in that; for in her youth +There is a prone and speechless dialect, +Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art +When she will play with reason and discourse, +And well she can persuade. + +LUCIO: +I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the +like, which else would stand under grievous +imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I +would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a +game of tick-tack. I'll to her. + +CLAUDIO: +I thank you, good friend Lucio. + +LUCIO: +Within two hours. + +CLAUDIO: +Come, officer, away! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +No, holy father; throw away that thought; +Believe not that the dribbling dart of love +Can pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire thee +To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose +More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends +Of burning youth. + +FRIAR THOMAS: +May your grace speak of it? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +My holy sir, none better knows than you +How I have ever loved the life removed +And held in idle price to haunt assemblies +Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. +I have deliver'd to Lord Angelo, +A man of stricture and firm abstinence, +My absolute power and place here in Vienna, +And he supposes me travell'd to Poland; +For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, +And so it is received. Now, pious sir, +You will demand of me why I do this? + +FRIAR THOMAS: +Gladly, my lord. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +We have strict statutes and most biting laws. +The needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds, +Which for this nineteen years we have let slip; +Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave, +That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers, +Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch, +Only to stick it in their children's sight +For terror, not to use, in time the rod +Becomes more mock'd than fear'd; so our decrees, +Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; +And liberty plucks justice by the nose; +The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart +Goes all decorum. + +FRIAR THOMAS: +It rested in your grace +To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleased: +And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd +Than in Lord Angelo. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I do fear, too dreadful: +Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, +'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them +For what I bid them do: for we bid this be done, +When evil deeds have their permissive pass +And not the punishment. Therefore indeed, my father, +I have on Angelo imposed the office; +Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, +And yet my nature never in the fight +To do in slander. And to behold his sway, +I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, +Visit both prince and people: therefore, I prithee, +Supply me with the habit and instruct me +How I may formally in person bear me +Like a true friar. More reasons for this action +At our more leisure shall I render you; +Only, this one: Lord Angelo is precise; +Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses +That his blood flows, or that his appetite +Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see, +If power change purpose, what our seemers be. + +ISABELLA: +And have you nuns no farther privileges? + +FRANCISCA: +Are not these large enough? + +ISABELLA: +Yes, truly; I speak not as desiring more; +But rather wishing a more strict restraint +Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare. + +LUCIO: + +ISABELLA: +Who's that which calls? + +FRANCISCA: +It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella, +Turn you the key, and know his business of him; +You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn. +When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men +But in the presence of the prioress: +Then, if you speak, you must not show your face, +Or, if you show your face, you must not speak. +He calls again; I pray you, answer him. + +ISABELLA: +Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls + +LUCIO: +Hail, virgin, if you be, as those cheek-roses +Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me +As bring me to the sight of Isabella, +A novice of this place and the fair sister +To her unhappy brother Claudio? + +ISABELLA: +Why 'her unhappy brother'? let me ask, +The rather for I now must make you know +I am that Isabella and his sister. + +LUCIO: +Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: +Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. + +ISABELLA: +Woe me! for what? + +LUCIO: +For that which, if myself might be his judge, +He should receive his punishment in thanks: +He hath got his friend with child. + +ISABELLA: +Sir, make me not your story. + +LUCIO: +It is true. +I would not--though 'tis my familiar sin +With maids to seem the lapwing and to jest, +Tongue far from heart--play with all virgins so: +I hold you as a thing ensky'd and sainted. +By your renouncement an immortal spirit, +And to be talk'd with in sincerity, +As with a saint. + +ISABELLA: +You do blaspheme the good in mocking me. + +LUCIO: +Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus: +Your brother and his lover have embraced: +As those that feed grow full, as blossoming time +That from the seedness the bare fallow brings +To teeming foison, even so her plenteous womb +Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry. + +ISABELLA: +Some one with child by him? My cousin Juliet? + +LUCIO: +Is she your cousin? + +ISABELLA: +Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names +By vain though apt affection. + +LUCIO: +She it is. + +ISABELLA: +O, let him marry her. + +LUCIO: +This is the point. +The duke is very strangely gone from hence; +Bore many gentlemen, myself being one, +In hand and hope of action: but we do learn +By those that know the very nerves of state, +His givings-out were of an infinite distance +From his true-meant design. Upon his place, +And with full line of his authority, +Governs Lord Angelo; a man whose blood +Is very snow-broth; one who never feels +The wanton stings and motions of the sense, +But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge +With profits of the mind, study and fast. +He--to give fear to use and liberty, +Which have for long run by the hideous law, +As mice by lions--hath pick'd out an act, +Under whose heavy sense your brother's life +Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it; +And follows close the rigour of the statute, +To make him an example. All hope is gone, +Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer +To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of business +'Twixt you and your poor brother. + +ISABELLA: +Doth he so seek his life? + +LUCIO: +Has censured him +Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath +A warrant for his execution. + +ISABELLA: +Alas! what poor ability's in me +To do him good? + +LUCIO: +Assay the power you have. + +ISABELLA: +My power? Alas, I doubt-- + +LUCIO: +Our doubts are traitors +And make us lose the good we oft might win +By fearing to attempt. Go to Lord Angelo, +And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, +Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel, +All their petitions are as freely theirs +As they themselves would owe them. + +ISABELLA: +I'll see what I can do. + +LUCIO: +But speedily. + +ISABELLA: +I will about it straight; +No longer staying but to give the mother +Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you: +Commend me to my brother: soon at night +I'll send him certain word of my success. + +LUCIO: +I take my leave of you. + +ISABELLA: +Good sir, adieu. + +ANGELO: +We must not make a scarecrow of the law, +Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, +And let it keep one shape, till custom make it +Their perch and not their terror. + +ESCALUS: +Ay, but yet +Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, +Than fall, and bruise to death. Alas, this gentleman +Whom I would save, had a most noble father! +Let but your honour know, +Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue, +That, in the working of your own affections, +Had time cohered with place or place with wishing, +Or that the resolute acting of your blood +Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose, +Whether you had not sometime in your life +Err'd in this point which now you censure him, +And pull'd the law upon you. + +ANGELO: +'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, +Another thing to fall. I not deny, +The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, +May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two +Guiltier than him they try. What's open made to justice, +That justice seizes: what know the laws +That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant, +The jewel that we find, we stoop and take't +Because we see it; but what we do not see +We tread upon, and never think of it. +You may not so extenuate his offence +For I have had such faults; but rather tell me, +When I, that censure him, do so offend, +Let mine own judgment pattern out my death, +And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die. + +ESCALUS: +Be it as your wisdom will. + +ANGELO: +Where is the provost? + +Provost: +Here, if it like your honour. + +ANGELO: +See that Claudio +Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: +Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared; +For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage. + +ESCALUS: + +ELBOW: +Come, bring them away: if these be good people in +a commonweal that do nothing but use their abuses in +common houses, I know no law: bring them away. + +ANGELO: +How now, sir! What's your name? and what's the matter? + +ELBOW: +If it Please your honour, I am the poor duke's +constable, and my name is Elbow: I do lean upon +justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good +honour two notorious benefactors. + +ANGELO: +Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are +they not malefactors? + +ELBOW: +If it? please your honour, I know not well what they +are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure +of; and void of all profanation in the world that +good Christians ought to have. + +ESCALUS: +This comes off well; here's a wise officer. + +ANGELO: +Go to: what quality are they of? Elbow is your +name? why dost thou not speak, Elbow? + +POMPEY: +He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow. + +ANGELO: +What are you, sir? + +ELBOW: +He, sir! a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; one that +serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they +say, plucked down in the suburbs; and now she +professes a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too. + +ESCALUS: +How know you that? + +ELBOW: +My wife, sir, whom I detest before heaven and your honour,-- + +ESCALUS: +How? thy wife? + +ELBOW: +Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman,-- + +ESCALUS: +Dost thou detest her therefore? + +ELBOW: +I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as +she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, +it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house. + +ESCALUS: +How dost thou know that, constable? + +ELBOW: +Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman +cardinally given, might have been accused in +fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there. + +ESCALUS: +By the woman's means? + +ELBOW: +Ay, sir, by Mistress Overdone's means: but as she +spit in his face, so she defied him. + +POMPEY: +Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so. + +ELBOW: +Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable +man; prove it. + +ESCALUS: +Do you hear how he misplaces? + +POMPEY: +Sir, she came in great with child; and longing, +saving your honour's reverence, for stewed prunes; +sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very +distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a +dish of some three-pence; your honours have seen +such dishes; they are not China dishes, but very +good dishes,-- + +ESCALUS: +Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, sir. + +POMPEY: +No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in +the right: but to the point. As I say, this +Mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and +being great-bellied, and longing, as I said, for +prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, +Master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the +rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very +honestly; for, as you know, Master Froth, I could +not give you three-pence again. + +FROTH: +No, indeed. + +POMPEY: +Very well: you being then, if you be remembered, +cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes,-- + +FROTH: +Ay, so I did indeed. + +POMPEY: +Why, very well; I telling you then, if you be +remembered, that such a one and such a one were past +cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very +good diet, as I told you,-- + +FROTH: +All this is true. + +POMPEY: +Why, very well, then,-- + +ESCALUS: +Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose. What +was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to +complain of? Come me to what was done to her. + +POMPEY: +Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. + +ESCALUS: +No, sir, nor I mean it not. + +POMPEY: +Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's +leave. And, I beseech you, look into Master Froth +here, sir; a man of four-score pound a year; whose +father died at Hallowmas: was't not at Hallowmas, +Master Froth? + +FROTH: +All-hallond eve. + +POMPEY: +Why, very well; I hope here be truths. He, sir, +sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir; 'twas in +the Bunch of Grapes, where indeed you have a delight +to sit, have you not? + +FROTH: +I have so; because it is an open room and good for winter. + +POMPEY: +Why, very well, then; I hope here be truths. + +ANGELO: +This will last out a night in Russia, +When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave. +And leave you to the hearing of the cause; +Hoping you'll find good cause to whip them all. + +ESCALUS: +I think no less. Good morrow to your lordship. +Now, sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, once more? + +POMPEY: +Once, sir? there was nothing done to her once. + +ELBOW: +I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife. + +POMPEY: +I beseech your honour, ask me. + +ESCALUS: +Well, sir; what did this gentleman to her? + +POMPEY: +I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face. +Good Master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a +good purpose. Doth your honour mark his face? + +ESCALUS: +Ay, sir, very well. + +POMPEY: +Nay; I beseech you, mark it well. + +ESCALUS: +Well, I do so. + +POMPEY: +Doth your honour see any harm in his face? + +ESCALUS: +Why, no. + +POMPEY: +I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst +thing about him. Good, then; if his face be the +worst thing about him, how could Master Froth do the +constable's wife any harm? I would know that of +your honour. + +ESCALUS: +He's in the right. Constable, what say you to it? + +ELBOW: +First, an it like you, the house is a respected +house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his +mistress is a respected woman. + +POMPEY: +By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected +person than any of us all. + +ELBOW: +Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet! the +time has yet to come that she was ever respected +with man, woman, or child. + +POMPEY: +Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her. + +ESCALUS: +Which is the wiser here? Justice or Iniquity? Is +this true? + +ELBOW: +O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked +Hannibal! I respected with her before I was married +to her! If ever I was respected with her, or she +with me, let not your worship think me the poor +duke's officer. Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or +I'll have mine action of battery on thee. + +ESCALUS: +If he took you a box o' the ear, you might have your +action of slander too. + +ELBOW: +Marry, I thank your good worship for it. What is't +your worship's pleasure I shall do with this wicked caitiff? + +ESCALUS: +Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him +that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him +continue in his courses till thou knowest what they +are. + +ELBOW: +Marry, I thank your worship for it. Thou seest, thou +wicked varlet, now, what's come upon thee: thou art +to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue. + +ESCALUS: +Where were you born, friend? + +FROTH: +Here in Vienna, sir. + +ESCALUS: +Are you of fourscore pounds a year? + +FROTH: +Yes, an't please you, sir. + +ESCALUS: +So. What trade are you of, sir? + +POMPHEY: +Tapster; a poor widow's tapster. + +ESCALUS: +Your mistress' name? + +POMPHEY: +Mistress Overdone. + +ESCALUS: +Hath she had any more than one husband? + +POMPEY: +Nine, sir; Overdone by the last. + +ESCALUS: +Nine! Come hither to me, Master Froth. Master +Froth, I would not have you acquainted with +tapsters: they will draw you, Master Froth, and you +will hang them. Get you gone, and let me hear no +more of you. + +FROTH: +I thank your worship. For mine own part, I never +come into any room in a tap-house, but I am drawn +in. + +ESCALUS: +Well, no more of it, Master Froth: farewell. +Come you hither to me, Master tapster. What's your +name, Master tapster? + +POMPEY: +Pompey. + +ESCALUS: +What else? + +POMPEY: +Bum, sir. + +ESCALUS: +Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; +so that in the beastliest sense you are Pompey the +Great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, +howsoever you colour it in being a tapster, are you +not? come, tell me true: it shall be the better for you. + +POMPEY: +Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow that would live. + +ESCALUS: +How would you live, Pompey? by being a bawd? What +do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade? + +POMPEY: +If the law would allow it, sir. + +ESCALUS: +But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall +not be allowed in Vienna. + +POMPEY: +Does your worship mean to geld and splay all the +youth of the city? + +ESCALUS: +No, Pompey. + +POMPEY: +Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then. +If your worship will take order for the drabs and +the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. + +ESCALUS: +There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: +it is but heading and hanging. + +POMPEY: +If you head and hang all that offend that way but +for ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a +commission for more heads: if this law hold in +Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it +after three-pence a bay: if you live to see this +come to pass, say Pompey told you so. + +ESCALUS: +Thank you, good Pompey; and, in requital of your +prophecy, hark you: I advise you, let me not find +you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever; +no, not for dwelling where you do: if I do, Pompey, +I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd +Caesar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall +have you whipt: so, for this time, Pompey, fare you well. + +POMPEY: +I thank your worship for your good counsel: +but I shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall +better determine. +Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade: +The valiant heart is not whipt out of his trade. + +ESCALUS: +Come hither to me, Master Elbow; come hither, Master +constable. How long have you been in this place of constable? + +ELBOW: +Seven year and a half, sir. + +ESCALUS: +I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had +continued in it some time. You say, seven years together? + +ELBOW: +And a half, sir. + +ESCALUS: +Alas, it hath been great pains to you. They do you +wrong to put you so oft upon 't: are there not men +in your ward sufficient to serve it? + +ELBOW: +Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters: as they +are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I +do it for some piece of money, and go through with +all. + +ESCALUS: +Look you bring me in the names of some six or seven, +the most sufficient of your parish. + +ELBOW: +To your worship's house, sir? + +ESCALUS: +To my house. Fare you well. +What's o'clock, think you? + +Justice: +Eleven, sir. + +ESCALUS: +I pray you home to dinner with me. + +Justice: +I humbly thank you. + +ESCALUS: +It grieves me for the death of Claudio; +But there's no remedy. + +Justice: +Lord Angelo is severe. + +ESCALUS: +It is but needful: +Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so; +Pardon is still the nurse of second woe: +But yet,--poor Claudio! There is no remedy. +Come, sir. + +Servant: +He's hearing of a cause; he will come straight +I'll tell him of you. + +Provost: +Pray you, do. +I'll know +His pleasure; may be he will relent. Alas, +He hath but as offended in a dream! +All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he +To die for't! + +ANGELO: +Now, what's the matter. Provost? + +Provost: +Is it your will Claudio shall die tomorrow? + +ANGELO: +Did not I tell thee yea? hadst thou not order? +Why dost thou ask again? + +Provost: +Lest I might be too rash: +Under your good correction, I have seen, +When, after execution, judgment hath +Repented o'er his doom. + +ANGELO: +Go to; let that be mine: +Do you your office, or give up your place, +And you shall well be spared. + +Provost: +I crave your honour's pardon. +What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet? +She's very near her hour. + +ANGELO: +Dispose of her +To some more fitter place, and that with speed. + +Servant: +Here is the sister of the man condemn'd +Desires access to you. + +ANGELO: +Hath he a sister? + +Provost: +Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, +And to be shortly of a sisterhood, +If not already. + +ANGELO: +Well, let her be admitted. +See you the fornicatress be removed: +Let have needful, but not lavish, means; +There shall be order for't. + +Provost: +God save your honour! + +ANGELO: +Stay a little while. +You're welcome: what's your will? + +ISABELLA: +I am a woeful suitor to your honour, +Please but your honour hear me. + +ANGELO: +Well; what's your suit? + +ISABELLA: +There is a vice that most I do abhor, +And most desire should meet the blow of justice; +For which I would not plead, but that I must; +For which I must not plead, but that I am +At war 'twixt will and will not. + +ANGELO: +Well; the matter? + +ISABELLA: +I have a brother is condemn'd to die: +I do beseech you, let it be his fault, +And not my brother. + +Provost: + +ANGELO: +Condemn the fault and not the actor of it? +Why, every fault's condemn'd ere it be done: +Mine were the very cipher of a function, +To fine the faults whose fine stands in record, +And let go by the actor. + +ISABELLA: +O just but severe law! +I had a brother, then. Heaven keep your honour! + +LUCIO: + +ISABELLA: +Must he needs die? + +ANGELO: +Maiden, no remedy. + +ISABELLA: +Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, +And neither heaven nor man grieve at the mercy. + +ANGELO: +I will not do't. + +ISABELLA: +But can you, if you would? + +ANGELO: +Look, what I will not, that I cannot do. + +ISABELLA: +But might you do't, and do the world no wrong, +If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse +As mine is to him? + +ANGELO: +He's sentenced; 'tis too late. + +LUCIO: + +ISABELLA: +Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word. +May call it back again. Well, believe this, +No ceremony that to great ones 'longs, +Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, +The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe, +Become them with one half so good a grace +As mercy does. +If he had been as you and you as he, +You would have slipt like him; but he, like you, +Would not have been so stern. + +ANGELO: +Pray you, be gone. + +ISABELLA: +I would to heaven I had your potency, +And you were Isabel! should it then be thus? +No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge, +And what a prisoner. + +LUCIO: + +ANGELO: +Your brother is a forfeit of the law, +And you but waste your words. + +ISABELLA: +Alas, alas! +Why, all the souls that were were forfeit once; +And He that might the vantage best have took +Found out the remedy. How would you be, +If He, which is the top of judgment, should +But judge you as you are? O, think on that; +And mercy then will breathe within your lips, +Like man new made. + +ANGELO: +Be you content, fair maid; +It is the law, not I condemn your brother: +Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son, +It should be thus with him: he must die tomorrow. + +ISABELLA: +To-morrow! O, that's sudden! Spare him, spare him! +He's not prepared for death. Even for our kitchens +We kill the fowl of season: shall we serve heaven +With less respect than we do minister +To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you; +Who is it that hath died for this offence? +There's many have committed it. + +LUCIO: + +ANGELO: +The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept: +Those many had not dared to do that evil, +If the first that did the edict infringe +Had answer'd for his deed: now 'tis awake +Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet, +Looks in a glass, that shows what future evils, +Either new, or by remissness new-conceived, +And so in progress to be hatch'd and born, +Are now to have no successive degrees, +But, ere they live, to end. + +ISABELLA: +Yet show some pity. + +ANGELO: +I show it most of all when I show justice; +For then I pity those I do not know, +Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall; +And do him right that, answering one foul wrong, +Lives not to act another. Be satisfied; +Your brother dies to-morrow; be content. + +ISABELLA: +So you must be the first that gives this sentence, +And he, that suffer's. O, it is excellent +To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous +To use it like a giant. + +LUCIO: + +ISABELLA: +Could great men thunder +As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet, +For every pelting, petty officer +Would use his heaven for thunder; +Nothing but thunder! Merciful Heaven, +Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt +Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak +Than the soft myrtle: but man, proud man, +Drest in a little brief authority, +Most ignorant of what he's most assured, +His glassy essence, like an angry ape, +Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven +As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens, +Would all themselves laugh mortal. + +LUCIO: + +Provost: + +ISABELLA: +We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: +Great men may jest with saints; 'tis wit in them, +But in the less foul profanation. + +LUCIO: +Thou'rt i' the right, girl; more o, that. + +ISABELLA: +That in the captain's but a choleric word, +Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. + +LUCIO: + +ANGELO: +Why do you put these sayings upon me? + +ISABELLA: +Because authority, though it err like others, +Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, +That skins the vice o' the top. Go to your bosom; +Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know +That's like my brother's fault: if it confess +A natural guiltiness such as is his, +Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue +Against my brother's life. + +ANGELO: + +ISABELLA: +Gentle my lord, turn back. + +ANGELO: +I will bethink me: come again tomorrow. + +ISABELLA: +Hark how I'll bribe you: good my lord, turn back. + +ANGELO: +How! bribe me? + +ISABELLA: +Ay, with such gifts that heaven shall share with you. + +LUCIO: + +ISABELLA: +Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, +Or stones whose rates are either rich or poor +As fancy values them; but with true prayers +That shall be up at heaven and enter there +Ere sun-rise, prayers from preserved souls, +From fasting maids whose minds are dedicate +To nothing temporal. + +ANGELO: +Well; come to me to-morrow. + +LUCIO: + +ISABELLA: +Heaven keep your honour safe! + +ANGELO: + +ISABELLA: +At what hour to-morrow +Shall I attend your lordship? + +ANGELO: +At any time 'fore noon. + +ISABELLA: +'Save your honour! + +ANGELO: +From thee, even from thy virtue! +What's this, what's this? Is this her fault or mine? +The tempter or the tempted, who sins most? +Ha! +Not she: nor doth she tempt: but it is I +That, lying by the violet in the sun, +Do as the carrion does, not as the flower, +Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be +That modesty may more betray our sense +Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough, +Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary +And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie! +What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo? +Dost thou desire her foully for those things +That make her good? O, let her brother live! +Thieves for their robbery have authority +When judges steal themselves. What, do I love her, +That I desire to hear her speak again, +And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on? +O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint, +With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous +Is that temptation that doth goad us on +To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet, +With all her double vigour, art and nature, +Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid +Subdues me quite. Even till now, +When men were fond, I smiled and wonder'd how. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Hail to you, provost! so I think you are. + +Provost: +I am the provost. What's your will, good friar? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Bound by my charity and my blest order, +I come to visit the afflicted spirits +Here in the prison. Do me the common right +To let me see them and to make me know +The nature of their crimes, that I may minister +To them accordingly. + +Provost: +I would do more than that, if more were needful. +Look, here comes one: a gentlewoman of mine, +Who, falling in the flaws of her own youth, +Hath blister'd her report: she is with child; +And he that got it, sentenced; a young man +More fit to do another such offence +Than die for this. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +When must he die? + +Provost: +As I do think, to-morrow. +I have provided for you: stay awhile, +And you shall be conducted. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry? + +JULIET: +I do; and bear the shame most patiently. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I'll teach you how you shall arraign your conscience, +And try your penitence, if it be sound, +Or hollowly put on. + +JULIET: +I'll gladly learn. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Love you the man that wrong'd you? + +JULIET: +Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +So then it seems your most offenceful act +Was mutually committed? + +JULIET: +Mutually. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. + +JULIET: +I do confess it, and repent it, father. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +'Tis meet so, daughter: but lest you do repent, +As that the sin hath brought you to this shame, +Which sorrow is always towards ourselves, not heaven, +Showing we would not spare heaven as we love it, +But as we stand in fear,-- + +JULIET: +I do repent me, as it is an evil, +And take the shame with joy. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +There rest. +Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow, +And I am going with instruction to him. +Grace go with you, Benedicite! + +JULIET: +Must die to-morrow! O injurious love, +That respites me a life, whose very comfort +Is still a dying horror! + +Provost: +'Tis pity of him. + +ANGELO: +When I would pray and think, I think and pray +To several subjects. Heaven hath my empty words; +Whilst my invention, hearing not my tongue, +Anchors on Isabel: Heaven in my mouth, +As if I did but only chew his name; +And in my heart the strong and swelling evil +Of my conception. The state, whereon I studied +Is like a good thing, being often read, +Grown fear'd and tedious; yea, my gravity, +Wherein--let no man hear me--I take pride, +Could I with boot change for an idle plume, +Which the air beats for vain. O place, O form, +How often dost thou with thy case, thy habit, +Wrench awe from fools and tie the wiser souls +To thy false seeming! Blood, thou art blood: +Let's write good angel on the devil's horn: +'Tis not the devil's crest. +How now! who's there? + +Servant: +One Isabel, a sister, desires access to you. + +ANGELO: +Teach her the way. +O heavens! +Why does my blood thus muster to my heart, +Making both it unable for itself, +And dispossessing all my other parts +Of necessary fitness? +So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons; +Come all to help him, and so stop the air +By which he should revive: and even so +The general, subject to a well-wish'd king, +Quit their own part, and in obsequious fondness +Crowd to his presence, where their untaught love +Must needs appear offence. +How now, fair maid? + +ISABELLA: +I am come to know your pleasure. + +ANGELO: +That you might know it, would much better please me +Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot live. + +ISABELLA: +Even so. Heaven keep your honour! + +ANGELO: +Yet may he live awhile; and, it may be, +As long as you or I yet he must die. + +ISABELLA: +Under your sentence? + +ANGELO: +Yea. + +ISABELLA: +When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, +Longer or shorter, he may be so fitted +That his soul sicken not. + +ANGELO: +Ha! fie, these filthy vices! It were as good +To pardon him that hath from nature stolen +A man already made, as to remit +Their saucy sweetness that do coin heaven's image +In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy +Falsely to take away a life true made +As to put metal in restrained means +To make a false one. + +ISABELLA: +'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. + +ANGELO: +Say you so? then I shall pose you quickly. +Which had you rather, that the most just law +Now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him, +Give up your body to such sweet uncleanness +As she that he hath stain'd? + +ISABELLA: +Sir, believe this, +I had rather give my body than my soul. + +ANGELO: +I talk not of your soul: our compell'd sins +Stand more for number than for accompt. + +ISABELLA: +How say you? + +ANGELO: +Nay, I'll not warrant that; for I can speak +Against the thing I say. Answer to this: +I, now the voice of the recorded law, +Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life: +Might there not be a charity in sin +To save this brother's life? + +ISABELLA: +Please you to do't, +I'll take it as a peril to my soul, +It is no sin at all, but charity. + +ANGELO: +Pleased you to do't at peril of your soul, +Were equal poise of sin and charity. + +ISABELLA: +That I do beg his life, if it be sin, +Heaven let me bear it! you granting of my suit, +If that be sin, I'll make it my morn prayer +To have it added to the faults of mine, +And nothing of your answer. + +ANGELO: +Nay, but hear me. +Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignorant, +Or seem so craftily; and that's not good. + +ISABELLA: +Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, +But graciously to know I am no better. + +ANGELO: +Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright +When it doth tax itself; as these black masks +Proclaim an enshield beauty ten times louder +Than beauty could, display'd. But mark me; +To be received plain, I'll speak more gross: +Your brother is to die. + +ISABELLA: +So. + +ANGELO: +And his offence is so, as it appears, +Accountant to the law upon that pain. + +ISABELLA: +True. + +ANGELO: +Admit no other way to save his life,-- +As I subscribe not that, nor any other, +But in the loss of question,--that you, his sister, +Finding yourself desired of such a person, +Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, +Could fetch your brother from the manacles +Of the all-building law; and that there were +No earthly mean to save him, but that either +You must lay down the treasures of your body +To this supposed, or else to let him suffer; +What would you do? + +ISABELLA: +As much for my poor brother as myself: +That is, were I under the terms of death, +The impression of keen whips I'ld wear as rubies, +And strip myself to death, as to a bed +That longing have been sick for, ere I'ld yield +My body up to shame. + +ANGELO: +Then must your brother die. + +ISABELLA: +And 'twere the cheaper way: +Better it were a brother died at once, +Than that a sister, by redeeming him, +Should die for ever. + +ANGELO: +Were not you then as cruel as the sentence +That you have slander'd so? + +ISABELLA: +Ignomy in ransom and free pardon +Are of two houses: lawful mercy +Is nothing kin to foul redemption. + +ANGELO: +You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant; +And rather proved the sliding of your brother +A merriment than a vice. + +ISABELLA: +O, pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out, +To have what we would have, we speak not what we mean: +I something do excuse the thing I hate, +For his advantage that I dearly love. + +ANGELO: +We are all frail. + +ISABELLA: +Else let my brother die, +If not a feodary, but only he +Owe and succeed thy weakness. + +ANGELO: +Nay, women are frail too. + +ISABELLA: +Ay, as the glasses where they view themselves; +Which are as easy broke as they make forms. +Women! Help Heaven! men their creation mar +In profiting by them. Nay, call us ten times frail; +For we are soft as our complexions are, +And credulous to false prints. + +ANGELO: +I think it well: +And from this testimony of your own sex,-- +Since I suppose we are made to be no stronger +Than faults may shake our frames,--let me be bold; +I do arrest your words. Be that you are, +That is, a woman; if you be more, you're none; +If you be one, as you are well express'd +By all external warrants, show it now, +By putting on the destined livery. + +ISABELLA: +I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, +Let me entreat you speak the former language. + +ANGELO: +Plainly conceive, I love you. + +ISABELLA: +My brother did love Juliet, +And you tell me that he shall die for it. + +ANGELO: +He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. + +ISABELLA: +I know your virtue hath a licence in't, +Which seems a little fouler than it is, +To pluck on others. + +ANGELO: +Believe me, on mine honour, +My words express my purpose. + +ISABELLA: +Ha! little honour to be much believed, +And most pernicious purpose! Seeming, seeming! +I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for't: +Sign me a present pardon for my brother, +Or with an outstretch'd throat I'll tell the world aloud +What man thou art. + +ANGELO: +Who will believe thee, Isabel? +My unsoil'd name, the austereness of my life, +My vouch against you, and my place i' the state, +Will so your accusation overweigh, +That you shall stifle in your own report +And smell of calumny. I have begun, +And now I give my sensual race the rein: +Fit thy consent to my sharp appetite; +Lay by all nicety and prolixious blushes, +That banish what they sue for; redeem thy brother +By yielding up thy body to my will; +Or else he must not only die the death, +But thy unkindness shall his death draw out +To lingering sufferance. Answer me to-morrow, +Or, by the affection that now guides me most, +I'll prove a tyrant to him. As for you, +Say what you can, my false o'erweighs your true. + +ISABELLA: +To whom should I complain? Did I tell this, +Who would believe me? O perilous mouths, +That bear in them one and the self-same tongue, +Either of condemnation or approof; +Bidding the law make court'sy to their will: +Hooking both right and wrong to the appetite, +To follow as it draws! I'll to my brother: +Though he hath fallen by prompture of the blood, +Yet hath he in him such a mind of honour. +That, had he twenty heads to tender down +On twenty bloody blocks, he'ld yield them up, +Before his sister should her body stoop +To such abhorr'd pollution. +Then, Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die: +More than our brother is our chastity. +I'll tell him yet of Angelo's request, +And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +So then you hope of pardon from Lord Angelo? + +CLAUDIO: +The miserable have no other medicine +But only hope: +I've hope to live, and am prepared to die. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Be absolute for death; either death or life +Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life: +If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing +That none but fools would keep: a breath thou art, +Servile to all the skyey influences, +That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st, +Hourly afflict: merely, thou art death's fool; +For him thou labour'st by thy flight to shun +And yet runn'st toward him still. Thou art not noble; +For all the accommodations that thou bear'st +Are nursed by baseness. Thou'rt by no means valiant; +For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork +Of a poor worm. Thy best of rest is sleep, +And that thou oft provokest; yet grossly fear'st +Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thyself; +For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains +That issue out of dust. Happy thou art not; +For what thou hast not, still thou strivest to get, +And what thou hast, forget'st. Thou art not certain; +For thy complexion shifts to strange effects, +After the moon. If thou art rich, thou'rt poor; +For, like an ass whose back with ingots bows, +Thou bear's thy heavy riches but a journey, +And death unloads thee. Friend hast thou none; +For thine own bowels, which do call thee sire, +The mere effusion of thy proper loins, +Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum, +For ending thee no sooner. Thou hast nor youth nor age, +But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep, +Dreaming on both; for all thy blessed youth +Becomes as aged, and doth beg the alms +Of palsied eld; and when thou art old and rich, +Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty, +To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this +That bears the name of life? Yet in this life +Lie hid moe thousand deaths: yet death we fear, +That makes these odds all even. + +CLAUDIO: +I humbly thank you. +To sue to live, I find I seek to die; +And, seeking death, find life: let it come on. + +ISABELLA: + +Provost: +Who's there? come in: the wish deserves a welcome. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Dear sir, ere long I'll visit you again. + +CLAUDIO: +Most holy sir, I thank you. + +ISABELLA: +My business is a word or two with Claudio. + +Provost: +And very welcome. Look, signior, here's your sister. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Provost, a word with you. + +Provost: +As many as you please. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Bring me to hear them speak, where I may be concealed. + +CLAUDIO: +Now, sister, what's the comfort? + +ISABELLA: +Why, +As all comforts are; most good, most good indeed. +Lord Angelo, having affairs to heaven, +Intends you for his swift ambassador, +Where you shall be an everlasting leiger: +Therefore your best appointment make with speed; +To-morrow you set on. + +CLAUDIO: +Is there no remedy? + +ISABELLA: +None, but such remedy as, to save a head, +To cleave a heart in twain. + +CLAUDIO: +But is there any? + +ISABELLA: +Yes, brother, you may live: +There is a devilish mercy in the judge, +If you'll implore it, that will free your life, +But fetter you till death. + +CLAUDIO: +Perpetual durance? + +ISABELLA: +Ay, just; perpetual durance, a restraint, +Though all the world's vastidity you had, +To a determined scope. + +CLAUDIO: +But in what nature? + +ISABELLA: +In such a one as, you consenting to't, +Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear, +And leave you naked. + +CLAUDIO: +Let me know the point. + +ISABELLA: +O, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake, +Lest thou a feverous life shouldst entertain, +And six or seven winters more respect +Than a perpetual honour. Darest thou die? +The sense of death is most in apprehension; +And the poor beetle, that we tread upon, +In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great +As when a giant dies. + +CLAUDIO: +Why give you me this shame? +Think you I can a resolution fetch +From flowery tenderness? If I must die, +I will encounter darkness as a bride, +And hug it in mine arms. + +ISABELLA: +There spake my brother; there my father's grave +Did utter forth a voice. Yes, thou must die: +Thou art too noble to conserve a life +In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy, +Whose settled visage and deliberate word +Nips youth i' the head and follies doth emmew +As falcon doth the fowl, is yet a devil +His filth within being cast, he would appear +A pond as deep as hell. + +CLAUDIO: +The prenzie Angelo! + +ISABELLA: +O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell, +The damned'st body to invest and cover +In prenzie guards! Dost thou think, Claudio? +If I would yield him my virginity, +Thou mightst be freed. + +CLAUDIO: +O heavens! it cannot be. + +ISABELLA: +Yes, he would give't thee, from this rank offence, +So to offend him still. This night's the time +That I should do what I abhor to name, +Or else thou diest to-morrow. + +CLAUDIO: +Thou shalt not do't. + +ISABELLA: +O, were it but my life, +I'ld throw it down for your deliverance +As frankly as a pin. + +CLAUDIO: +Thanks, dear Isabel. + +ISABELLA: +Be ready, Claudio, for your death tomorrow. + +CLAUDIO: +Yes. Has he affections in him, +That thus can make him bite the law by the nose, +When he would force it? Sure, it is no sin, +Or of the deadly seven, it is the least. + +ISABELLA: +Which is the least? + +CLAUDIO: +If it were damnable, he being so wise, +Why would he for the momentary trick +Be perdurably fined? O Isabel! + +ISABELLA: +What says my brother? + +CLAUDIO: +Death is a fearful thing. + +ISABELLA: +And shamed life a hateful. + +CLAUDIO: +Ay, but to die, and go we know not where; +To lie in cold obstruction and to rot; +This sensible warm motion to become +A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit +To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside +In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice; +To be imprison'd in the viewless winds, +And blown with restless violence round about +The pendent world; or to be worse than worst +Of those that lawless and incertain thought +Imagine howling: 'tis too horrible! +The weariest and most loathed worldly life +That age, ache, penury and imprisonment +Can lay on nature is a paradise +To what we fear of death. + +ISABELLA: +Alas, alas! + +CLAUDIO: +Sweet sister, let me live: +What sin you do to save a brother's life, +Nature dispenses with the deed so far +That it becomes a virtue. + +ISABELLA: +O you beast! +O faithless coward! O dishonest wretch! +Wilt thou be made a man out of my vice? +Is't not a kind of incest, to take life +From thine own sister's shame? What should I think? +Heaven shield my mother play'd my father fair! +For such a warped slip of wilderness +Ne'er issued from his blood. Take my defiance! +Die, perish! Might but my bending down +Reprieve thee from thy fate, it should proceed: +I'll pray a thousand prayers for thy death, +No word to save thee. + +CLAUDIO: +Nay, hear me, Isabel. + +ISABELLA: +O, fie, fie, fie! +Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade. +Mercy to thee would prove itself a bawd: +'Tis best thou diest quickly. + +CLAUDIO: +O hear me, Isabella! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one word. + +ISABELLA: +What is your will? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by and +by have some speech with you: the satisfaction I +would require is likewise your own benefit. + +ISABELLA: +I have no superfluous leisure; my stay must be +stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you awhile. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Son, I have overheard what hath passed between you +and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to +corrupt her; only he hath made an essay of her +virtue to practise his judgment with the disposition +of natures: she, having the truth of honour in her, +hath made him that gracious denial which he is most +glad to receive. I am confessor to Angelo, and I +know this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to +death: do not satisfy your resolution with hopes +that are fallible: tomorrow you must die; go to +your knees and make ready. + +CLAUDIO: +Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of love +with life that I will sue to be rid of it. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Hold you there: farewell. +Provost, a word with you! + +Provost: +What's your will, father + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +That now you are come, you will be gone. Leave me +awhile with the maid: my mind promises with my +habit no loss shall touch her by my company. + +Provost: +In good time. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +The hand that hath made you fair hath made you good: +the goodness that is cheap in beauty makes beauty +brief in goodness; but grace, being the soul of +your complexion, shall keep the body of it ever +fair. The assault that Angelo hath made to you, +fortune hath conveyed to my understanding; and, but +that frailty hath examples for his falling, I should +wonder at Angelo. How will you do to content this +substitute, and to save your brother? + +ISABELLA: +I am now going to resolve him: I had rather my +brother die by the law than my son should be +unlawfully born. But, O, how much is the good duke +deceived in Angelo! If ever he return and I can +speak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or +discover his government. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +That shall not be much amiss: Yet, as the matter +now stands, he will avoid your accusation; he made +trial of you only. Therefore fasten your ear on my +advisings: to the love I have in doing good a +remedy presents itself. I do make myself believe +that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged +lady a merited benefit; redeem your brother from +the angry law; do no stain to your own gracious +person; and much please the absent duke, if +peradventure he shall ever return to have hearing of +this business. + +ISABELLA: +Let me hear you speak farther. I have spirit to do +anything that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have +you not heard speak of Mariana, the sister of +Frederick the great soldier who miscarried at sea? + +ISABELLA: +I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +She should this Angelo have married; was affianced +to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between +which time of the contract and limit of the +solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, +having in that perished vessel the dowry of his +sister. But mark how heavily this befell to the +poor gentlewoman: there she lost a noble and +renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most +kind and natural; with him, the portion and sinew of +her fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her +combinate husband, this well-seeming Angelo. + +ISABELLA: +Can this be so? did Angelo so leave her? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Left her in her tears, and dried not one of them +with his comfort; swallowed his vows whole, +pretending in her discoveries of dishonour: in few, +bestowed her on her own lamentation, which she yet +wears for his sake; and he, a marble to her tears, +is washed with them, but relents not. + +ISABELLA: +What a merit were it in death to take this poor maid +from the world! What corruption in this life, that +it will let this man live! But how out of this can she avail? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and the +cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps +you from dishonour in doing it. + +ISABELLA: +Show me how, good father. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +This forenamed maid hath yet in her the continuance +of her first affection: his unjust unkindness, that +in all reason should have quenched her love, hath, +like an impediment in the current, made it more +violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; answer his +requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with +his demands to the point; only refer yourself to +this advantage, first, that your stay with him may +not be long; that the time may have all shadow and +silence in it; and the place answer to convenience. +This being granted in course,--and now follows +all,--we shall advise this wronged maid to stead up +your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter +acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to +her recompense: and here, by this, is your brother +saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana +advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled. The maid +will I frame and make fit for his attempt. If you +think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness +of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. +What think you of it? + +ISABELLA: +The image of it gives me content already; and I +trust it will grow to a most prosperous perfection. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +It lies much in your holding up. Haste you speedily +to Angelo: if for this night he entreat you to his +bed, give him promise of satisfaction. I will +presently to Saint Luke's: there, at the moated +grange, resides this dejected Mariana. At that +place call upon me; and dispatch with Angelo, that +it may be quickly. + +ISABELLA: +I thank you for this comfort. Fare you well, good father. + +ELBOW: +Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will +needs buy and sell men and women like beasts, we +shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +O heavens! what stuff is here + +POMPEY: +'Twas never merry world since, of two usuries, the +merriest was put down, and the worser allowed by +order of law a furred gown to keep him warm; and +furred with fox and lamb-skins too, to signify, that +craft, being richer than innocency, stands for the facing. + +ELBOW: +Come your way, sir. 'Bless you, good father friar. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +And you, good brother father. What offence hath +this man made you, sir? + +ELBOW: +Marry, sir, he hath offended the law: and, sir, we +take him to be a thief too, sir; for we have found +upon him, sir, a strange picklock, which we have +sent to the deputy. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Fie, sirrah! a bawd, a wicked bawd! +The evil that thou causest to be done, +That is thy means to live. Do thou but think +What 'tis to cram a maw or clothe a back +From such a filthy vice: say to thyself, +From their abominable and beastly touches +I drink, I eat, array myself, and live. +Canst thou believe thy living is a life, +So stinkingly depending? Go mend, go mend. + +POMPEY: +Indeed, it does stink in some sort, sir; but yet, +sir, I would prove-- + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs for sin, +Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer: +Correction and instruction must both work +Ere this rude beast will profit. + +ELBOW: +He must before the deputy, sir; he has given him +warning: the deputy cannot abide a whoremaster: if +he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were +as good go a mile on his errand. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +That we were all, as some would seem to be, +From our faults, as faults from seeming, free! + +ELBOW: +His neck will come to your waist,--a cord, sir. + +POMPEY: +I spy comfort; I cry bail. Here's a gentleman and a +friend of mine. + +LUCIO: +How now, noble Pompey! What, at the wheels of +Caesar? art thou led in triumph? What, is there +none of Pygmalion's images, newly made woman, to be +had now, for putting the hand in the pocket and +extracting it clutch'd? What reply, ha? What +sayest thou to this tune, matter and method? Is't +not drowned i' the last rain, ha? What sayest +thou, Trot? Is the world as it was, man? Which is +the way? Is it sad, and few words? or how? The +trick of it? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Still thus, and thus; still worse! + +LUCIO: +How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress? Procures she +still, ha? + +POMPEY: +Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she +is herself in the tub. + +LUCIO: +Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must be +so: ever your fresh whore and your powdered bawd: +an unshunned consequence; it must be so. Art going +to prison, Pompey? + +POMPEY: +Yes, faith, sir. + +LUCIO: +Why, 'tis not amiss, Pompey. Farewell: go, say I +sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? or how? + +ELBOW: +For being a bawd, for being a bawd. + +LUCIO: +Well, then, imprison him: if imprisonment be the +due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: bawd is he +doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawd-born. +Farewell, good Pompey. Commend me to the prison, +Pompey: you will turn good husband now, Pompey; you +will keep the house. + +POMPEY: +I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail. + +LUCIO: +No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. +I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: If +you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the +more. Adieu, trusty Pompey. 'Bless you, friar. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +And you. + +LUCIO: +Does Bridget paint still, Pompey, ha? + +ELBOW: +Come your ways, sir; come. + +POMPEY: +You will not bail me, then, sir? + +LUCIO: +Then, Pompey, nor now. What news abroad, friar? +what news? + +ELBOW: +Come your ways, sir; come. + +LUCIO: +Go to kennel, Pompey; go. +What news, friar, of the duke? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I know none. Can you tell me of any? + +LUCIO: +Some say he is with the Emperor of Russia; other +some, he is in Rome: but where is he, think you? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I know not where; but wheresoever, I wish him well. + +LUCIO: +It was a mad fantastical trick of him to steal from +the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born +to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he +puts transgression to 't. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +He does well in 't. + +LUCIO: +A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in +him: something too crabbed that way, friar. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it. + +LUCIO: +Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; +it is well allied: but it is impossible to extirp +it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put +down. They say this Angelo was not made by man and +woman after this downright way of creation: is it +true, think you? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +How should he be made, then? + +LUCIO: +Some report a sea-maid spawned him; some, that he +was begot between two stock-fishes. But it is +certain that when he makes water his urine is +congealed ice; that I know to be true: and he is a +motion generative; that's infallible. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +You are pleasant, sir, and speak apace. + +LUCIO: +Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the +rebellion of a codpiece to take away the life of a +man! Would the duke that is absent have done this? +Ere he would have hanged a man for the getting a +hundred bastards, he would have paid for the nursing +a thousand: he had some feeling of the sport: he +knew the service, and that instructed him to mercy. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I never heard the absent duke much detected for +women; he was not inclined that way. + +LUCIO: +O, sir, you are deceived. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +'Tis not possible. + +LUCIO: +Who, not the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty; and +his use was to put a ducat in her clack-dish: the +duke had crotchets in him. He would be drunk too; +that let me inform you. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +You do him wrong, surely. + +LUCIO: +Sir, I was an inward of his. A shy fellow was the +duke: and I believe I know the cause of his +withdrawing. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +What, I prithee, might be the cause? + +LUCIO: +No, pardon; 'tis a secret must be locked within the +teeth and the lips: but this I can let you +understand, the greater file of the subject held the +duke to be wise. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Wise! why, no question but he was. + +LUCIO: +A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Either this is the envy in you, folly, or mistaking: +the very stream of his life and the business he hath +helmed must upon a warranted need give him a better +proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own +bringings-forth, and he shall appear to the +envious a scholar, a statesman and a soldier. +Therefore you speak unskilfully: or if your +knowledge be more it is much darkened in your malice. + +LUCIO: +Sir, I know him, and I love him. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with +dearer love. + +LUCIO: +Come, sir, I know what I know. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I can hardly believe that, since you know not what +you speak. But, if ever the duke return, as our +prayers are he may, let me desire you to make your +answer before him. If it be honest you have spoke, +you have courage to maintain it: I am bound to call +upon you; and, I pray you, your name? + +LUCIO: +Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the duke. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to +report you. + +LUCIO: +I fear you not. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +O, you hope the duke will return no more; or you +imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But indeed I +can do you little harm; you'll forswear this again. + +LUCIO: +I'll be hanged first: thou art deceived in me, +friar. But no more of this. Canst thou tell if +Claudio die to-morrow or no? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Why should he die, sir? + +LUCIO: +Why? For filling a bottle with a tundish. I would +the duke we talk of were returned again: the +ungenitured agent will unpeople the province with +continency; sparrows must not build in his +house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The duke +yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would +never bring them to light: would he were returned! +Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untrussing. +Farewell, good friar: I prithee, pray for me. The +duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on +Fridays. He's not past it yet, and I say to thee, +he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown +bread and garlic: say that I said so. Farewell. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +No might nor greatness in mortality +Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny +The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong +Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue? +But who comes here? + +ESCALUS: +Go; away with her to prison! + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted +a merciful man; good my lord. + +ESCALUS: +Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in +the same kind! This would make mercy swear and play +the tyrant. + +Provost: +A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please +your honour. + +MISTRESS OVERDONE: +My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me. +Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the +duke's time; he promised her marriage: his child +is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: +I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me! + +ESCALUS: +That fellow is a fellow of much licence: let him be +called before us. Away with her to prison! Go to; +no more words. +Provost, my brother Angelo will not be altered; +Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnished +with divines, and have all charitable preparation. +if my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be +so with him. + +Provost: +So please you, this friar hath been with him, and +advised him for the entertainment of death. + +ESCALUS: +Good even, good father. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Bliss and goodness on you! + +ESCALUS: +Of whence are you? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Not of this country, though my chance is now +To use it for my time: I am a brother +Of gracious order, late come from the See +In special business from his holiness. + +ESCALUS: +What news abroad i' the world? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +None, but that there is so great a fever on +goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: +novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous +to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous +to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce +truth enough alive to make societies secure; but +security enough to make fellowships accurst: much +upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This +news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I +pray you, sir, of what disposition was the duke? + +ESCALUS: +One that, above all other strifes, contended +especially to know himself. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +What pleasure was he given to? + +ESCALUS: +Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at +any thing which professed to make him rejoice: a +gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to +his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous; +and let me desire to know how you find Claudio +prepared. I am made to understand that you have +lent him visitation. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +He professes to have received no sinister measure +from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself +to the determination of justice: yet had he framed +to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many +deceiving promises of life; which I by my good +leisure have discredited to him, and now is he +resolved to die. + +ESCALUS: +You have paid the heavens your function, and the +prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have +laboured for the poor gentleman to the extremest +shore of my modesty: but my brother justice have I +found so severe, that he hath forced me to tell him +he is indeed Justice. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +If his own life answer the straitness of his +proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he +chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself. + +ESCALUS: +I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you well. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Peace be with you! +He who the sword of heaven will bear +Should be as holy as severe; +Pattern in himself to know, +Grace to stand, and virtue go; +More nor less to others paying +Than by self-offences weighing. +Shame to him whose cruel striking +Kills for faults of his own liking! +Twice treble shame on Angelo, +To weed my vice and let his grow! +O, what may man within him hide, +Though angel on the outward side! +How may likeness made in crimes, +Making practise on the times, +To draw with idle spiders' strings +Most ponderous and substantial things! +Craft against vice I must apply: +With Angelo to-night shall lie +His old betrothed but despised; +So disguise shall, by the disguised, +Pay with falsehood false exacting, +And perform an old contracting. + + +MARIANA: +Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away: +Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice +Hath often still'd my brawling discontent. +I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish +You had not found me here so musical: +Let me excuse me, and believe me so, +My mirth it much displeased, but pleased my woe. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +'Tis good; though music oft hath such a charm +To make bad good, and good provoke to harm. +I pray, you, tell me, hath any body inquired +for me here to-day? much upon this time have +I promised here to meet. + +MARIANA: +You have not been inquired after: +I have sat here all day. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I do constantly believe you. The time is come even +now. I shall crave your forbearance a little: may +be I will call upon you anon, for some advantage to yourself. + +MARIANA: +I am always bound to you. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Very well met, and well come. +What is the news from this good deputy? + +ISABELLA: +He hath a garden circummured with brick, +Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd; +And to that vineyard is a planched gate, +That makes his opening with this bigger key: +This other doth command a little door +Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; +There have I made my promise +Upon the heavy middle of the night +To call upon him. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +But shall you on your knowledge find this way? + +ISABELLA: +I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't: +With whispering and most guilty diligence, +In action all of precept, he did show me +The way twice o'er. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Are there no other tokens +Between you 'greed concerning her observance? + +ISABELLA: +No, none, but only a repair i' the dark; +And that I have possess'd him my most stay +Can be but brief; for I have made him know +I have a servant comes with me along, +That stays upon me, whose persuasion is +I come about my brother. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +'Tis well borne up. +I have not yet made known to Mariana +A word of this. What, ho! within! come forth! +I pray you, be acquainted with this maid; +She comes to do you good. + +ISABELLA: +I do desire the like. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Do you persuade yourself that I respect you? + +MARIANA: +Good friar, I know you do, and have found it. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Take, then, this your companion by the hand, +Who hath a story ready for your ear. +I shall attend your leisure: but make haste; +The vaporous night approaches. + +MARIANA: +Will't please you walk aside? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +O place and greatness! millions of false eyes +Are stuck upon thee: volumes of report +Run with these false and most contrarious quests +Upon thy doings: thousand escapes of wit +Make thee the father of their idle dreams +And rack thee in their fancies. +Welcome, how agreed? + +ISABELLA: +She'll take the enterprise upon her, father, +If you advise it. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +It is not my consent, +But my entreaty too. + +ISABELLA: +Little have you to say +When you depart from him, but, soft and low, +'Remember now my brother.' + +MARIANA: +Fear me not. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all. +He is your husband on a pre-contract: +To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin, +Sith that the justice of your title to him +Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go: +Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow. + +Provost: +Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man's head? + +POMPEY: +If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can; but if he be a +married man, he's his wife's head, and I can never +cut off a woman's head. + +Provost: +Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a +direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio +and Barnardine. Here is in our prison a common +executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if +you will take it on you to assist him, it shall +redeem you from your gyves; if not, you shall have +your full time of imprisonment and your deliverance +with an unpitied whipping, for you have been a +notorious bawd. + +POMPEY: +Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd time out of mind; +but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I +would be glad to receive some instruction from my +fellow partner. + +Provost: +What, ho! Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there? + +ABHORSON: +Do you call, sir? + +Provost: +Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in +your execution. If you think it meet, compound with +him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if +not, use him for the present and dismiss him. He +cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd. + +ABHORSON: +A bawd, sir? fie upon him! he will discredit our mystery. + +Provost: +Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn +the scale. + +POMPEY: +Pray, sir, by your good favour,--for surely, sir, a +good favour you have, but that you have a hanging +look,--do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery? + +ABHORSON: +Ay, sir; a mystery + +POMPEY: +Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery; and +your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, +using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: +but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I +should be hanged, I cannot imagine. + +ABHORSON: +Sir, it is a mystery. + +POMPEY: +Proof? + +ABHORSON: +Every true man's apparel fits your thief: if it be +too little for your thief, your true man thinks it +big enough; if it be too big for your thief, your +thief thinks it little enough: so every true man's +apparel fits your thief. + +Provost: +Are you agreed? + +POMPEY: +Sir, I will serve him; for I do find your hangman is +a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth +oftener ask forgiveness. + +Provost: +You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe +to-morrow four o'clock. + +ABHORSON: +Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow. + +POMPEY: +I do desire to learn, sir: and I hope, if you have +occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find +me yare; for truly, sir, for your kindness I owe you +a good turn. + +Provost: +Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: +The one has my pity; not a jot the other, +Being a murderer, though he were my brother. +Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death: +'Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to-morrow +Thou must be made immortal. Where's Barnardine? + +CLAUDIO: +As fast lock'd up in sleep as guiltless labour +When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones: +He will not wake. + +Provost: +Who can do good on him? +Well, go, prepare yourself. +But, hark, what noise? +Heaven give your spirits comfort! +By and by. +I hope it is some pardon or reprieve +For the most gentle Claudio. +Welcome father. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +The best and wholesomest spirts of the night +Envelope you, good Provost! Who call'd here of late? + +Provost: +None, since the curfew rung. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Not Isabel? + +Provost: +No. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +They will, then, ere't be long. + +Provost: +What comfort is for Claudio? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +There's some in hope. + +Provost: +It is a bitter deputy. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Not so, not so; his life is parallel'd +Even with the stroke and line of his great justice: +He doth with holy abstinence subdue +That in himself which he spurs on his power +To qualify in others: were he meal'd with that +Which he corrects, then were he tyrannous; +But this being so, he's just. +Now are they come. +This is a gentle provost: seldom when +The steeled gaoler is the friend of men. +How now! what noise? That spirit's possessed with haste +That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes. + +Provost: +There he must stay until the officer +Arise to let him in: he is call'd up. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, +But he must die to-morrow? + +Provost: +None, sir, none. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +As near the dawning, provost, as it is, +You shall hear more ere morning. + +Provost: +Happily +You something know; yet I believe there comes +No countermand; no such example have we: +Besides, upon the very siege of justice +Lord Angelo hath to the public ear +Profess'd the contrary. +This is his lordship's man. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +And here comes Claudio's pardon. + +Messenger: + +Provost: +I shall obey him. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: + +Provost: +I told you. Lord Angelo, belike thinking me remiss +in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted +putting-on; methinks strangely, for he hath not used it before. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Pray you, let's hear. + +Provost: + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +What is that Barnardine who is to be executed in the +afternoon? + +Provost: +A Bohemian born, but here nursed un and bred; one +that is a prisoner nine years old. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +How came it that the absent duke had not either +delivered him to his liberty or executed him? I +have heard it was ever his manner to do so. + +Provost: +His friends still wrought reprieves for him: and, +indeed, his fact, till now in the government of Lord +Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +It is now apparent? + +Provost: +Most manifest, and not denied by himself. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Hath he born himself penitently in prison? how +seems he to be touched? + +Provost: +A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully but +as a drunken sleep; careless, reckless, and fearless +of what's past, present, or to come; insensible of +mortality, and desperately mortal. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +He wants advice. + +Provost: +He will hear none: he hath evermore had the liberty +of the prison; give him leave to escape hence, he +would not: drunk many times a day, if not many days +entirely drunk. We have very oft awaked him, as if +to carry him to execution, and showed him a seeming +warrant for it: it hath not moved him at all. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +More of him anon. There is written in your brow, +provost, honesty and constancy: if I read it not +truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but, in the +boldness of my cunning, I will lay myself in hazard. +Claudio, whom here you have warrant to execute, is +no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo who hath +sentenced him. To make you understand this in a +manifested effect, I crave but four days' respite; +for the which you are to do me both a present and a +dangerous courtesy. + +Provost: +Pray, sir, in what? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +In the delaying death. + +Provost: +A lack, how may I do it, having the hour limited, +and an express command, under penalty, to deliver +his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my case +as Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +By the vow of mine order I warrant you, if my +instructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine +be this morning executed, and his head born to Angelo. + +Provost: +Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +O, death's a great disguiser; and you may add to it. +Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say it was +the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his +death: you know the course is common. If any thing +fall to you upon this, more than thanks and good +fortune, by the saint whom I profess, I will plead +against it with my life. + +Provost: +Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Were you sworn to the duke, or to the deputy? + +Provost: +To him, and to his substitutes. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +You will think you have made no offence, if the duke +avouch the justice of your dealing? + +Provost: +But what likelihood is in that? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since I see +you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor +persuasion can with ease attempt you, I will go +further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. +Look you, sir, here is the hand and seal of the +duke: you know the character, I doubt not; and the +signet is not strange to you. + +Provost: +I know them both. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +The contents of this is the return of the duke: you +shall anon over-read it at your pleasure; where you +shall find, within these two days he will be here. +This is a thing that Angelo knows not; for he this +very day receives letters of strange tenor; +perchance of the duke's death; perchance entering +into some monastery; but, by chance, nothing of what +is writ. Look, the unfolding star calls up the +shepherd. Put not yourself into amazement how these +things should be: all difficulties are but easy +when they are known. Call your executioner, and off +with Barnardine's head: I will give him a present +shrift and advise him for a better place. Yet you +are amazed; but this shall absolutely resolve you. +Come away; it is almost clear dawn. + +POMPEY: +I am as well acquainted here as I was in our house +of profession: one would think it were Mistress +Overdone's own house, for here be many of her old +customers. First, here's young Master Rash; he's in +for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger, +ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which he made +five marks, ready money: marry, then ginger was not +much in request, for the old women were all dead. +Then is there here one Master Caper, at the suit of +Master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of +peach-coloured satin, which now peaches him a +beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young +Master Deep-vow, and Master Copperspur, and Master +Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger man, and young +Drop-heir that killed lusty Pudding, and Master +Forthlight the tilter, and brave Master Shooty the +great traveller, and wild Half-can that stabbed +Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in +our trade, and are now 'for the Lord's sake.' + +ABHORSON: +Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither. + +POMPEY: +Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hanged. +Master Barnardine! + +ABHORSON: +What, ho, Barnardine! + +BARNARDINE: + +POMPEY: +Your friends, sir; the hangman. You must be so +good, sir, to rise and be put to death. + +BARNARDINE: + +ABHORSON: +Tell him he must awake, and that quickly too. + +POMPEY: +Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till you are +executed, and sleep afterwards. + +ABHORSON: +Go in to him, and fetch him out. + +POMPEY: +He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle. + +ABHORSON: +Is the axe upon the block, sirrah? + +POMPEY: +Very ready, sir. + +BARNARDINE: +How now, Abhorson? what's the news with you? + +ABHORSON: +Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your +prayers; for, look you, the warrant's come. + +BARNARDINE: +You rogue, I have been drinking all night; I am not +fitted for 't. + +POMPEY: +O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night, +and is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleep the +sounder all the next day. + +ABHORSON: +Look you, sir; here comes your ghostly father: do +we jest now, think you? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how hastily +you are to depart, I am come to advise you, comfort +you and pray with you. + +BARNARDINE: +Friar, not I I have been drinking hard all night, +and I will have more time to prepare me, or they +shall beat out my brains with billets: I will not +consent to die this day, that's certain. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +O, sir, you must: and therefore I beseech you +Look forward on the journey you shall go. + +BARNARDINE: +I swear I will not die to-day for any man's +persuasion. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +But hear you. + +BARNARDINE: +Not a word: if you have any thing to say to me, +come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Unfit to live or die: O gravel heart! +After him, fellows; bring him to the block. + +Provost: +Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +A creature unprepared, unmeet for death; +And to transport him in the mind he is +Were damnable. + +Provost: +Here in the prison, father, +There died this morning of a cruel fever +One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate, +A man of Claudio's years; his beard and head +Just of his colour. What if we do omit +This reprobate till he were well inclined; +And satisfy the deputy with the visage +Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides! +Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on +Prefix'd by Angelo: see this be done, +And sent according to command; whiles I +Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die. + +Provost: +This shall be done, good father, presently. +But Barnardine must die this afternoon: +And how shall we continue Claudio, +To save me from the danger that might come +If he were known alive? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Let this be done. +Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio: +Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting +To the under generation, you shall find +Your safety manifested. + +Provost: +I am your free dependant. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Quick, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo. +Now will I write letters to Angelo,-- +The provost, he shall bear them, whose contents +Shall witness to him I am near at home, +And that, by great injunctions, I am bound +To enter publicly: him I'll desire +To meet me at the consecrated fount +A league below the city; and from thence, +By cold gradation and well-balanced form, +We shall proceed with Angelo. + +Provost: +Here is the head; I'll carry it myself. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Convenient is it. Make a swift return; +For I would commune with you of such things +That want no ear but yours. + +Provost: +I'll make all speed. + +ISABELLA: + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +The tongue of Isabel. She's come to know +If yet her brother's pardon be come hither: +But I will keep her ignorant of her good, +To make her heavenly comforts of despair, +When it is least expected. + +ISABELLA: +Ho, by your leave! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter. + +ISABELLA: +The better, given me by so holy a man. +Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +He hath released him, Isabel, from the world: +His head is off and sent to Angelo. + +ISABELLA: +Nay, but it is not so. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +It is no other: show your wisdom, daughter, +In your close patience. + +ISABELLA: +O, I will to him and pluck out his eyes! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +You shall not be admitted to his sight. + +ISABELLA: +Unhappy Claudio! wretched Isabel! +Injurious world! most damned Angelo! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot; +Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven. +Mark what I say, which you shall find +By every syllable a faithful verity: +The duke comes home to-morrow; nay, dry your eyes; +One of our convent, and his confessor, +Gives me this instance: already he hath carried +Notice to Escalus and Angelo, +Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, +There to give up their power. If you can, pace your wisdom +In that good path that I would wish it go, +And you shall have your bosom on this wretch, +Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart, +And general honour. + +ISABELLA: +I am directed by you. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +This letter, then, to Friar Peter give; +'Tis that he sent me of the duke's return: +Say, by this token, I desire his company +At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause and yours +I'll perfect him withal, and he shall bring you +Before the duke, and to the head of Angelo +Accuse him home and home. For my poor self, +I am combined by a sacred vow +And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter: +Command these fretting waters from your eyes +With a light heart; trust not my holy order, +If I pervert your course. Who's here? + +LUCIO: +Good even. Friar, where's the provost? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Not within, sir. + +LUCIO: +O pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart to see +thine eyes so red: thou must be patient. I am fain +to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for +my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set +me to 't. But they say the duke will be here +to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I loved thy brother: +if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been +at home, he had lived. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholding to your +reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. + +LUCIO: +Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: +he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. + +LUCIO: +Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee +I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +You have told me too many of him already, sir, if +they be true; if not true, none were enough. + +LUCIO: +I was once before him for getting a wench with child. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Did you such a thing? + +LUCIO: +Yes, marry, did I but I was fain to forswear it; +they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Sir, your company is fairer than honest. Rest you well. + +LUCIO: +By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: +if bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of +it. Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr; I shall stick. + +ESCALUS: +Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other. + +ANGELO: +In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions +show much like to madness: pray heaven his wisdom be +not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and +redeliver our authorities there + +ESCALUS: +I guess not. + +ANGELO: +And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his +entering, that if any crave redress of injustice, +they should exhibit their petitions in the street? + +ESCALUS: +He shows his reason for that: to have a dispatch of +complaints, and to deliver us from devices +hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand +against us. + +ANGELO: +Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaimed betimes +i' the morn; I'll call you at your house: give +notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet +him. + +ESCALUS: +I shall, sir. Fare you well. + +ANGELO: +Good night. +This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant +And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! +And by an eminent body that enforced +The law against it! But that her tender shame +Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, +How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no; +For my authority bears of a credent bulk, +That no particular scandal once can touch +But it confounds the breather. He should have lived, +Save that riotous youth, with dangerous sense, +Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge, +By so receiving a dishonour'd life +With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had lived! +A lack, when once our grace we have forgot, +Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +These letters at fit time deliver me +The provost knows our purpose and our plot. +The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, +And hold you ever to our special drift; +Though sometimes you do blench from this to that, +As cause doth minister. Go call at Flavius' house, +And tell him where I stay: give the like notice +To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus, +And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate; +But send me Flavius first. + +FRIAR PETER: +It shall be speeded well. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste: +Come, we will walk. There's other of our friends +Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. + +ISABELLA: +To speak so indirectly I am loath: +I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, +That is your part: yet I am advised to do it; +He says, to veil full purpose. + +MARIANA: +Be ruled by him. + +ISABELLA: +Besides, he tells me that, if peradventure +He speak against me on the adverse side, +I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic +That's bitter to sweet end. + +MARIANA: +I would Friar Peter-- + +ISABELLA: +O, peace! the friar is come. + +FRIAR PETER: +Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, +Where you may have such vantage on the duke, +He shall not pass you. Twice have the trumpets sounded; +The generous and gravest citizens +Have hent the gates, and very near upon +The duke is entering: therefore, hence, away! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +My very worthy cousin, fairly met! +Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. + +ANGELO: +Happy return be to your royal grace! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Many and hearty thankings to you both. +We have made inquiry of you; and we hear +Such goodness of your justice, that our soul +Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, +Forerunning more requital. + +ANGELO: +You make my bonds still greater. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it, +To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, +When it deserves, with characters of brass, +A forted residence 'gainst the tooth of time +And razure of oblivion. Give me your hand, +And let the subject see, to make them know +That outward courtesies would fain proclaim +Favours that keep within. Come, Escalus, +You must walk by us on our other hand; +And good supporters are you. + +FRIAR PETER: +Now is your time: speak loud and kneel before him. + +ISABELLA: +Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard +Upon a wrong'd, I would fain have said, a maid! +O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye +By throwing it on any other object +Till you have heard me in my true complaint +And given me justice, justice, justice, justice! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Relate your wrongs; in what? by whom? be brief. +Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice: +Reveal yourself to him. + +ISABELLA: +O worthy duke, +You bid me seek redemption of the devil: +Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak +Must either punish me, not being believed, +Or wring redress from you. Hear me, O hear me, here! + +ANGELO: +My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm: +She hath been a suitor to me for her brother +Cut off by course of justice,-- + +ISABELLA: +By course of justice! + +ANGELO: +And she will speak most bitterly and strange. + +ISABELLA: +Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak: +That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? +That Angelo's a murderer; is 't not strange? +That Angelo is an adulterous thief, +An hypocrite, a virgin-violator; +Is it not strange and strange? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Nay, it is ten times strange. + +ISABELLA: +It is not truer he is Angelo +Than this is all as true as it is strange: +Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth +To the end of reckoning. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Away with her! Poor soul, +She speaks this in the infirmity of sense. + +ISABELLA: +O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believest +There is another comfort than this world, +That thou neglect me not, with that opinion +That I am touch'd with madness! Make not impossible +That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible +But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground, +May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute +As Angelo; even so may Angelo, +In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, +Be an arch-villain; believe it, royal prince: +If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more, +Had I more name for badness. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +By mine honesty, +If she be mad,--as I believe no other,-- +Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense, +Such a dependency of thing on thing, +As e'er I heard in madness. + +ISABELLA: +O gracious duke, +Harp not on that, nor do not banish reason +For inequality; but let your reason serve +To make the truth appear where it seems hid, +And hide the false seems true. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Many that are not mad +Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would you say? + +ISABELLA: +I am the sister of one Claudio, +Condemn'd upon the act of fornication +To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo: +I, in probation of a sisterhood, +Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio +As then the messenger,-- + +LUCIO: +That's I, an't like your grace: +I came to her from Claudio, and desired her +To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo +For her poor brother's pardon. + +ISABELLA: +That's he indeed. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +You were not bid to speak. + +LUCIO: +No, my good lord; +Nor wish'd to hold my peace. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I wish you now, then; +Pray you, take note of it: and when you have +A business for yourself, pray heaven you then +Be perfect. + +LUCIO: +I warrant your honour. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +The warrants for yourself; take heed to't. + +ISABELLA: +This gentleman told somewhat of my tale,-- + +LUCIO: +Right. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +It may be right; but you are i' the wrong +To speak before your time. Proceed. + +ISABELLA: +I went +To this pernicious caitiff deputy,-- + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +That's somewhat madly spoken. + +ISABELLA: +Pardon it; +The phrase is to the matter. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Mended again. The matter; proceed. + +ISABELLA: +In brief, to set the needless process by, +How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd, +How he refell'd me, and how I replied,-- +For this was of much length,--the vile conclusion +I now begin with grief and shame to utter: +He would not, but by gift of my chaste body +To his concupiscible intemperate lust, +Release my brother; and, after much debatement, +My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour, +And I did yield to him: but the next morn betimes, +His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant +For my poor brother's head. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +This is most likely! + +ISABELLA: +O, that it were as like as it is true! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +By heaven, fond wretch, thou knowist not what thou speak'st, +Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour +In hateful practise. First, his integrity +Stands without blemish. Next, it imports no reason +That with such vehemency he should pursue +Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended, +He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself +And not have cut him off. Some one hath set you on: +Confess the truth, and say by whose advice +Thou camest here to complain. + +ISABELLA: +And is this all? +Then, O you blessed ministers above, +Keep me in patience, and with ripen'd time +Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up +In countenance! Heaven shield your grace from woe, +As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I know you'ld fain be gone. An officer! +To prison with her! Shall we thus permit +A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall +On him so near us? This needs must be a practise. +Who knew of Your intent and coming hither? + +ISABELLA: +One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +A ghostly father, belike. Who knows that Lodowick? + +LUCIO: +My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar; +I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord +For certain words he spake against your grace +In your retirement, I had swinged him soundly. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Words against me? this is a good friar, belike! +And to set on this wretched woman here +Against our substitute! Let this friar be found. + +LUCIO: +But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar, +I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, +A very scurvy fellow. + +FRIAR PETER: +Blessed be your royal grace! +I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard +Your royal ear abused. First, hath this woman +Most wrongfully accused your substitute, +Who is as free from touch or soil with her +As she from one ungot. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +We did believe no less. +Know you that Friar Lodowick that she speaks of? + +FRIAR PETER: +I know him for a man divine and holy; +Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler, +As he's reported by this gentleman; +And, on my trust, a man that never yet +Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace. + +LUCIO: +My lord, most villanously; believe it. + +FRIAR PETER: +Well, he in time may come to clear himself; +But at this instant he is sick my lord, +Of a strange fever. Upon his mere request, +Being come to knowledge that there was complaint +Intended 'gainst Lord Angelo, came I hither, +To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know +Is true and false; and what he with his oath +And all probation will make up full clear, +Whensoever he's convented. First, for this woman. +To justify this worthy nobleman, +So vulgarly and personally accused, +Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes, +Till she herself confess it. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Good friar, let's hear it. +Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo? +O heaven, the vanity of wretched fools! +Give us some seats. Come, cousin Angelo; +In this I'll be impartial; be you judge +Of your own cause. Is this the witness, friar? +First, let her show her face, and after speak. + +MARIANA: +Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face +Until my husband bid me. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +What, are you married? + +MARIANA: +No, my lord. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Are you a maid? + +MARIANA: +No, my lord. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +A widow, then? + +MARIANA: +Neither, my lord. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Why, you are nothing then: neither maid, widow, nor wife? + +LUCIO: +My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are +neither maid, widow, nor wife. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Silence that fellow: I would he had some cause +To prattle for himself. + +LUCIO: +Well, my lord. + +MARIANA: +My lord; I do confess I ne'er was married; +And I confess besides I am no maid: +I have known my husband; yet my husband +Knows not that ever he knew me. + +LUCIO: +He was drunk then, my lord: it can be no better. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too! + +LUCIO: +Well, my lord. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +This is no witness for Lord Angelo. + +MARIANA: +Now I come to't my lord +She that accuses him of fornication, +In self-same manner doth accuse my husband, +And charges him my lord, with such a time +When I'll depose I had him in mine arms +With all the effect of love. + +ANGELO: +Charges she more than me? + +MARIANA: +Not that I know. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +No? you say your husband. + +MARIANA: +Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, +Who thinks he knows that he ne'er knew my body, +But knows he thinks that he knows Isabel's. + +ANGELO: +This is a strange abuse. Let's see thy face. + +MARIANA: +My husband bids me; now I will unmask. +This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, +Which once thou sworest was worth the looking on; +This is the hand which, with a vow'd contract, +Was fast belock'd in thine; this is the body +That took away the match from Isabel, +And did supply thee at thy garden-house +In her imagined person. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Know you this woman? + +LUCIO: +Carnally, she says. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Sirrah, no more! + +LUCIO: +Enough, my lord. + +ANGELO: +My lord, I must confess I know this woman: +And five years since there was some speech of marriage +Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, +Partly for that her promised proportions +Came short of composition, but in chief +For that her reputation was disvalued +In levity: since which time of five years +I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, +Upon my faith and honour. + +MARIANA: +Noble prince, +As there comes light from heaven and words from breath, +As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue, +I am affianced this man's wife as strongly +As words could make up vows: and, my good lord, +But Tuesday night last gone in's garden-house +He knew me as a wife. As this is true, +Let me in safety raise me from my knees +Or else for ever be confixed here, +A marble monument! + +ANGELO: +I did but smile till now: +Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice +My patience here is touch'd. I do perceive +These poor informal women are no more +But instruments of some more mightier member +That sets them on: let me have way, my lord, +To find this practise out. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Ay, with my heart +And punish them to your height of pleasure. +Thou foolish friar, and thou pernicious woman, +Compact with her that's gone, think'st thou thy oaths, +Though they would swear down each particular saint, +Were testimonies against his worth and credit +That's seal'd in approbation? You, Lord Escalus, +Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains +To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived. +There is another friar that set them on; +Let him be sent for. + +FRIAR PETER: +Would he were here, my lord! for he indeed +Hath set the women on to this complaint: +Your provost knows the place where he abides +And he may fetch him. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Go do it instantly. +And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, +Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, +Do with your injuries as seems you best, +In any chastisement: I for a while will leave you; +But stir not you till you have well determined +Upon these slanderers. + +ESCALUS: +My lord, we'll do it throughly. +Signior Lucio, did not you say you knew that +Friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person? + +LUCIO: +'Cucullus non facit monachum:' honest in nothing +but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most +villanous speeches of the duke. + +ESCALUS: +We shall entreat you to abide here till he come and +enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a +notable fellow. + +LUCIO: +As any in Vienna, on my word. + +ESCALUS: +Call that same Isabel here once again; I would speak with her. +Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you +shall see how I'll handle her. + +LUCIO: +Not better than he, by her own report. + +ESCALUS: +Say you? + +LUCIO: +Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, +she would sooner confess: perchance, publicly, +she'll be ashamed. + +ESCALUS: +I will go darkly to work with her. + +LUCIO: +That's the way; for women are light at midnight. + +ESCALUS: +Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all +that you have said. + +LUCIO: +My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with +the provost. + +ESCALUS: +In very good time: speak not you to him till we +call upon you. + +LUCIO: +Mum. + +ESCALUS: +Come, sir: did you set these women on to slander +Lord Angelo? they have confessed you did. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +'Tis false. + +ESCALUS: +How! know you where you are? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Respect to your great place! and let the devil +Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne! +Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. + +ESCALUS: +The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak: +Look you speak justly. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Boldly, at least. But, O, poor souls, +Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? +Good night to your redress! Is the duke gone? +Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust, +Thus to retort your manifest appeal, +And put your trial in the villain's mouth +Which here you come to accuse. + +LUCIO: +This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. + +ESCALUS: +Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar, +Is't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women +To accuse this worthy man, but, in foul mouth +And in the witness of his proper ear, +To call him villain? and then to glance from him +To the duke himself, to tax him with injustice? +Take him hence; to the rack with him! We'll touse you +Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose. +What 'unjust'! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Be not so hot; the duke +Dare no more stretch this finger of mine than he +Dare rack his own: his subject am I not, +Nor here provincial. My business in this state +Made me a looker on here in Vienna, +Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble +Till it o'er-run the stew; laws for all faults, +But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes +Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, +As much in mock as mark. + +ESCALUS: +Slander to the state! Away with him to prison! + +ANGELO: +What can you vouch against him, Signior Lucio? +Is this the man that you did tell us of? + +LUCIO: +'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman baldpate: +do you know me? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I +met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke. + +LUCIO: +O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Most notedly, sir. + +LUCIO: +Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a +fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make +that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and +much more, much worse. + +LUCIO: +O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the +nose for thy speeches? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I protest I love the duke as I love myself. + +ANGELO: +Hark, how the villain would close now, after his +treasonable abuses! + +ESCALUS: +Such a fellow is not to be talked withal. Away with +him to prison! Where is the provost? Away with him +to prison! lay bolts enough upon him: let him +speak no more. Away with those giglots too, and +with the other confederate companion! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: + +ANGELO: +What, resists he? Help him, Lucio. + +LUCIO: +Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir! Why, you +bald-pated, lying rascal, you must be hooded, must +you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! +show your sheep-biting face, and be hanged an hour! +Will't not off? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Thou art the first knave that e'er madest a duke. +First, provost, let me bail these gentle three. +Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and you +Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him. + +LUCIO: +This may prove worse than hanging. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: + +ANGELO: +O my dread lord, +I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, +To think I can be undiscernible, +When I perceive your grace, like power divine, +Hath look'd upon my passes. Then, good prince, +No longer session hold upon my shame, +But let my trial be mine own confession: +Immediate sentence then and sequent death +Is all the grace I beg. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Come hither, Mariana. +Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? + +ANGELO: +I was, my lord. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. +Do you the office, friar; which consummate, +Return him here again. Go with him, provost. + +ESCALUS: +My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour +Than at the strangeness of it. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Come hither, Isabel. +Your friar is now your prince: as I was then +Advertising and holy to your business, +Not changing heart with habit, I am still +Attorney'd at your service. + +ISABELLA: +O, give me pardon, +That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd +Your unknown sovereignty! + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +You are pardon'd, Isabel: +And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. +Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; +And you may marvel why I obscured myself, +Labouring to save his life, and would not rather +Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power +Than let him so be lost. O most kind maid, +It was the swift celerity of his death, +Which I did think with slower foot came on, +That brain'd my purpose. But, peace be with him! +That life is better life, past fearing death, +Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, +So happy is your brother. + +ISABELLA: +I do, my lord. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +For this new-married man approaching here, +Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd +Your well defended honour, you must pardon +For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,-- +Being criminal, in double violation +Of sacred chastity and of promise-breach +Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,-- +The very mercy of the law cries out +Most audible, even from his proper tongue, +'An Angelo for Claudio, death for death!' +Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; +Like doth quit like, and MEASURE still FOR MEASURE. +Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; +Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage. +We do condemn thee to the very block +Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste. +Away with him! + +MARIANA: +O my most gracious lord, +I hope you will not mock me with a husband. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +It is your husband mock'd you with a husband. +Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, +I thought your marriage fit; else imputation, +For that he knew you, might reproach your life +And choke your good to come; for his possessions, +Although by confiscation they are ours, +We do instate and widow you withal, +To buy you a better husband. + +MARIANA: +O my dear lord, +I crave no other, nor no better man. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Never crave him; we are definitive. + +MARIANA: +Gentle my liege,-- + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +You do but lose your labour. +Away with him to death! +Now, sir, to you. + +MARIANA: +O my good lord! Sweet Isabel, take my part; +Lend me your knees, and all my life to come +I'll lend you all my life to do you service. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Against all sense you do importune her: +Should she kneel down in mercy of this fact, +Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, +And take her hence in horror. + +MARIANA: +Isabel, +Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; +Hold up your hands, say nothing; I'll speak all. +They say, best men are moulded out of faults; +And, for the most, become much more the better +For being a little bad: so may my husband. +O Isabel, will you not lend a knee? + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +He dies for Claudio's death. + +ISABELLA: +Most bounteous sir, +Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, +As if my brother lived: I partly think +A due sincerity govern'd his deeds, +Till he did look on me: since it is so, +Let him not die. My brother had but justice, +In that he did the thing for which he died: +For Angelo, +His act did not o'ertake his bad intent, +And must be buried but as an intent +That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects; +Intents but merely thoughts. + +MARIANA: +Merely, my lord. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say. +I have bethought me of another fault. +Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded +At an unusual hour? + +Provost: +It was commanded so. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Had you a special warrant for the deed? + +Provost: +No, my good lord; it was by private message. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +For which I do discharge you of your office: +Give up your keys. + +Provost: +Pardon me, noble lord: +I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; +Yet did repent me, after more advice; +For testimony whereof, one in the prison, +That should by private order else have died, +I have reserved alive. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +What's he? + +Provost: +His name is Barnardine. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. +Go fetch him hither; let me look upon him. + +ESCALUS: +I am sorry, one so learned and so wise +As you, Lord Angelo, have still appear'd, +Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood. +And lack of temper'd judgment afterward. + +ANGELO: +I am sorry that such sorrow I procure: +And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart +That I crave death more willingly than mercy; +'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Which is that Barnardine? + +Provost: +This, my lord. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +There was a friar told me of this man. +Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul. +That apprehends no further than this world, +And squarest thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd: +But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all; +And pray thee take this mercy to provide +For better times to come. Friar, advise him; +I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that? + +Provost: +This is another prisoner that I saved. +Who should have died when Claudio lost his head; +As like almost to Claudio as himself. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: + +LUCIO: +'Faith, my lord. I spoke it but according to the +trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I +had rather it would please you I might be whipt. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Whipt first, sir, and hanged after. +Proclaim it, provost, round about the city. +Is any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow, +As I have heard him swear himself there's one +Whom he begot with child, let her appear, +And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, +Let him be whipt and hang'd. + +LUCIO: +I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore. +Your highness said even now, I made you a duke: +good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. +Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal +Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison; +And see our pleasure herein executed. + +LUCIO: +Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, +whipping, and hanging. + +DUKE VINCENTIO: +Slandering a prince deserves it. +She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore. +Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo: +I have confess'd her and I know her virtue. +Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness: +There's more behind that is more gratulate. +Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy: +We shill employ thee in a worthier place. +Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home +The head of Ragozine for Claudio's: +The offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel, +I have a motion much imports your good; +Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, +What's mine is yours and what is yours is mine. +So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show +What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know. + +SLY: +I'll pheeze you, in faith. + +Hostess: +A pair of stocks, you rogue! + +SLY: +Ye are a baggage: the Slys are no rogues; look in +the chronicles; we came in with Richard Conqueror. +Therefore paucas pallabris; let the world slide: sessa! + +Hostess: +You will not pay for the glasses you have burst? + +SLY: +No, not a denier. Go by, Jeronimy: go to thy cold +bed, and warm thee. + +Hostess: +I know my remedy; I must go fetch the +third--borough. + +SLY: +Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll answer him +by law: I'll not budge an inch, boy: let him come, +and kindly. + +Lord: +Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds: +Brach Merriman, the poor cur is emboss'd; +And couple Clowder with the deep--mouth'd brach. +Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good +At the hedge-corner, in the coldest fault? +I would not lose the dog for twenty pound. + +First Huntsman: +Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord; +He cried upon it at the merest loss +And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent: +Trust me, I take him for the better dog. + +Lord: +Thou art a fool: if Echo were as fleet, +I would esteem him worth a dozen such. +But sup them well and look unto them all: +To-morrow I intend to hunt again. + +First Huntsman: +I will, my lord. + +Lord: +What's here? one dead, or drunk? See, doth he breathe? + +Second Huntsman: +He breathes, my lord. Were he not warm'd with ale, +This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. + +Lord: +O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies! +Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image! +Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man. +What think you, if he were convey'd to bed, +Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers, +A most delicious banquet by his bed, +And brave attendants near him when he wakes, +Would not the beggar then forget himself? + +First Huntsman: +Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose. + +Second Huntsman: +It would seem strange unto him when he waked. + +Lord: +Even as a flattering dream or worthless fancy. +Then take him up and manage well the jest: +Carry him gently to my fairest chamber +And hang it round with all my wanton pictures: +Balm his foul head in warm distilled waters +And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet: +Procure me music ready when he wakes, +To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound; +And if he chance to speak, be ready straight +And with a low submissive reverence +Say 'What is it your honour will command?' +Let one attend him with a silver basin +Full of rose-water and bestrew'd with flowers, +Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper, +And say 'Will't please your lordship cool your hands?' +Some one be ready with a costly suit +And ask him what apparel he will wear; +Another tell him of his hounds and horse, +And that his lady mourns at his disease: +Persuade him that he hath been lunatic; +And when he says he is, say that he dreams, +For he is nothing but a mighty lord. +This do and do it kindly, gentle sirs: +It will be pastime passing excellent, +If it be husbanded with modesty. + +First Huntsman: +My lord, I warrant you we will play our part, +As he shall think by our true diligence +He is no less than what we say he is. + +Lord: +Take him up gently and to bed with him; +And each one to his office when he wakes. +Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds: +Belike, some noble gentleman that means, +Travelling some journey, to repose him here. +How now! who is it? + +Servant: +An't please your honour, players +That offer service to your lordship. + +Lord: +Bid them come near. +Now, fellows, you are welcome. + +Players: +We thank your honour. + +Lord: +Do you intend to stay with me tonight? + +A Player: +So please your lordship to accept our duty. + +Lord: +With all my heart. This fellow I remember, +Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son: +'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman so well: +I have forgot your name; but, sure, that part +Was aptly fitted and naturally perform'd. + +A Player: +I think 'twas Soto that your honour means. + +Lord: +'Tis very true: thou didst it excellent. +Well, you are come to me in a happy time; +The rather for I have some sport in hand +Wherein your cunning can assist me much. +There is a lord will hear you play to-night: +But I am doubtful of your modesties; +Lest over-eyeing of his odd behavior,-- +For yet his honour never heard a play-- +You break into some merry passion +And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs, +If you should smile he grows impatient. + +A Player: +Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves, +Were he the veriest antic in the world. + +Lord: +Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery, +And give them friendly welcome every one: +Let them want nothing that my house affords. +Sirrah, go you to Barthol'mew my page, +And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady: +That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber; +And call him 'madam,' do him obeisance. +Tell him from me, as he will win my love, +He bear himself with honourable action, +Such as he hath observed in noble ladies +Unto their lords, by them accomplished: +Such duty to the drunkard let him do +With soft low tongue and lowly courtesy, +And say 'What is't your honour will command, +Wherein your lady and your humble wife +May show her duty and make known her love?' +And then with kind embracements, tempting kisses, +And with declining head into his bosom, +Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd +To see her noble lord restored to health, +Who for this seven years hath esteem'd him +No better than a poor and loathsome beggar: +And if the boy have not a woman's gift +To rain a shower of commanded tears, +An onion will do well for such a shift, +Which in a napkin being close convey'd +Shall in despite enforce a watery eye. +See this dispatch'd with all the haste thou canst: +Anon I'll give thee more instructions. +I know the boy will well usurp the grace, +Voice, gait and action of a gentlewoman: +I long to hear him call the drunkard husband, +And how my men will stay themselves from laughter +When they do homage to this simple peasant. +I'll in to counsel them; haply my presence +May well abate the over-merry spleen +Which otherwise would grow into extremes. + +SLY: +For God's sake, a pot of small ale. + +First Servant: +Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack? + +Second Servant: +Will't please your honour taste of these conserves? + +Third Servant: +What raiment will your honour wear to-day? + +SLY: +I am Christophero Sly; call not me 'honour' nor +'lordship:' I ne'er drank sack in my life; and if +you give me any conserves, give me conserves of +beef: ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear; for I +have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings +than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, +sometimes more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my +toes look through the over-leather. + +Lord: +Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour! +O, that a mighty man of such descent, +Of such possessions and so high esteem, +Should be infused with so foul a spirit! + +SLY: +What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher +Sly, old Sly's son of Burtonheath, by birth a +pedlar, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation a +bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? +Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, if +she know me not: if she say I am not fourteen pence +on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the +lyingest knave in Christendom. What! I am not +bestraught: here's-- + +Third Servant: +O, this it is that makes your lady mourn! + +Second Servant: +O, this is it that makes your servants droop! + +Lord: +Hence comes it that your kindred shuns your house, +As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. +O noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth, +Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment +And banish hence these abject lowly dreams. +Look how thy servants do attend on thee, +Each in his office ready at thy beck. +Wilt thou have music? hark! Apollo plays, +And twenty caged nightingales do sing: +Or wilt thou sleep? we'll have thee to a couch +Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed +On purpose trimm'd up for Semiramis. +Say thou wilt walk; we will bestrew the ground: +Or wilt thou ride? thy horses shall be trapp'd, +Their harness studded all with gold and pearl. +Dost thou love hawking? thou hast hawks will soar +Above the morning lark or wilt thou hunt? +Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them +And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth. + +First Servant: +Say thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are as swift +As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. + +Second Servant: +Dost thou love pictures? we will fetch thee straight +Adonis painted by a running brook, +And Cytherea all in sedges hid, +Which seem to move and wanton with her breath, +Even as the waving sedges play with wind. + +Lord: +We'll show thee Io as she was a maid, +And how she was beguiled and surprised, +As lively painted as the deed was done. + +Third Servant: +Or Daphne roaming through a thorny wood, +Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds, +And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep, +So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn. + +Lord: +Thou art a lord, and nothing but a lord: +Thou hast a lady far more beautiful +Than any woman in this waning age. + +First Servant: +And till the tears that she hath shed for thee +Like envious floods o'er-run her lovely face, +She was the fairest creature in the world; +And yet she is inferior to none. + +SLY: +Am I a lord? and have I such a lady? +Or do I dream? or have I dream'd till now? +I do not sleep: I see, I hear, I speak; +I smell sweet savours and I feel soft things: +Upon my life, I am a lord indeed +And not a tinker nor Christophero Sly. +Well, bring our lady hither to our sight; +And once again, a pot o' the smallest ale. + +Second Servant: +Will't please your mightiness to wash your hands? +O, how we joy to see your wit restored! +O, that once more you knew but what you are! +These fifteen years you have been in a dream; +Or when you waked, so waked as if you slept. + +SLY: +These fifteen years! by my fay, a goodly nap. +But did I never speak of all that time? + +First Servant: +O, yes, my lord, but very idle words: +For though you lay here in this goodly chamber, +Yet would you say ye were beaten out of door; +And rail upon the hostess of the house; +And say you would present her at the leet, +Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd quarts: +Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket. + +SLY: +Ay, the woman's maid of the house. + +Third Servant: +Why, sir, you know no house nor no such maid, +Nor no such men as you have reckon'd up, +As Stephen Sly and did John Naps of Greece +And Peter Turph and Henry Pimpernell +And twenty more such names and men as these +Which never were nor no man ever saw. + +SLY: +Now Lord be thanked for my good amends! + +ALL: +Amen. + +SLY: +I thank thee: thou shalt not lose by it. + +Page: +How fares my noble lord? + +SLY: +Marry, I fare well for here is cheer enough. +Where is my wife? + +Page: +Here, noble lord: what is thy will with her? + +SLY: +Are you my wife and will not call me husband? +My men should call me 'lord:' I am your goodman. + +Page: +My husband and my lord, my lord and husband; +I am your wife in all obedience. + +SLY: +I know it well. What must I call her? + +Lord: +Madam. + +SLY: +Al'ce madam, or Joan madam? + +Lord: +'Madam,' and nothing else: so lords +call ladies. + +SLY: +Madam wife, they say that I have dream'd +And slept above some fifteen year or more. + +Page: +Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me, +Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. + +SLY: +'Tis much. Servants, leave me and her alone. +Madam, undress you and come now to bed. + +Page: +Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you +To pardon me yet for a night or two, +Or, if not so, until the sun be set: +For your physicians have expressly charged, +In peril to incur your former malady, +That I should yet absent me from your bed: +I hope this reason stands for my excuse. + +SLY: +Ay, it stands so that I may hardly +tarry so long. But I would be loath to fall into +my dreams again: I will therefore tarry in +despite of the flesh and the blood. + +Messenger: +Your honour's players, heating your amendment, +Are come to play a pleasant comedy; +For so your doctors hold it very meet, +Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood, +And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy: +Therefore they thought it good you hear a play +And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, +Which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life. + +SLY: +Marry, I will, let them play it. Is not a +comondy a Christmas gambold or a tumbling-trick? + +Page: +No, my good lord; it is more pleasing stuff. + +SLY: +What, household stuff? + +Page: +It is a kind of history. + +SLY: +Well, well see't. Come, madam wife, sit by my side +and let the world slip: we shall ne'er be younger. + +LUCENTIO: +Tranio, since for the great desire I had +To see fair Padua, nursery of arts, +I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy, +The pleasant garden of great Italy; +And by my father's love and leave am arm'd +With his good will and thy good company, +My trusty servant, well approved in all, +Here let us breathe and haply institute +A course of learning and ingenious studies. +Pisa renown'd for grave citizens +Gave me my being and my father first, +A merchant of great traffic through the world, +Vincetino come of Bentivolii. +Vincetino's son brought up in Florence +It shall become to serve all hopes conceived, +To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds: +And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study, +Virtue and that part of philosophy +Will I apply that treats of happiness +By virtue specially to be achieved. +Tell me thy mind; for I have Pisa left +And am to Padua come, as he that leaves +A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep +And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst. + +TRANIO: +Mi perdonato, gentle master mine, +I am in all affected as yourself; +Glad that you thus continue your resolve +To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy. +Only, good master, while we do admire +This virtue and this moral discipline, +Let's be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray; +Or so devote to Aristotle's cheques +As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured: +Balk logic with acquaintance that you have +And practise rhetoric in your common talk; +Music and poesy use to quicken you; +The mathematics and the metaphysics, +Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you; +No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en: +In brief, sir, study what you most affect. + +LUCENTIO: +Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. +If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, +We could at once put us in readiness, +And take a lodging fit to entertain +Such friends as time in Padua shall beget. +But stay a while: what company is this? + +TRANIO: +Master, some show to welcome us to town. + +BAPTISTA: +Gentlemen, importune me no farther, +For how I firmly am resolved you know; +That is, not bestow my youngest daughter +Before I have a husband for the elder: +If either of you both love Katharina, +Because I know you well and love you well, +Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. + +GREMIO: + +KATHARINA: +I pray you, sir, is it your will +To make a stale of me amongst these mates? + +HORTENSIO: +Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you, +Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. + +KATHARINA: +I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear: +I wis it is not half way to her heart; +But if it were, doubt not her care should be +To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool +And paint your face and use you like a fool. + +HORTENSIA: +From all such devils, good Lord deliver us! + +GREMIO: +And me too, good Lord! + +TRANIO: +Hush, master! here's some good pastime toward: +That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward. + +LUCENTIO: +But in the other's silence do I see +Maid's mild behavior and sobriety. +Peace, Tranio! + +TRANIO: +Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. + +BAPTISTA: +Gentlemen, that I may soon make good +What I have said, Bianca, get you in: +And let it not displease thee, good Bianca, +For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. + +KATHARINA: +A pretty peat! it is best +Put finger in the eye, an she knew why. + +BIANCA: +Sister, content you in my discontent. +Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: +My books and instruments shall be my company, +On them to took and practise by myself. + +LUCENTIO: +Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak. + +HORTENSIO: +Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? +Sorry am I that our good will effects +Bianca's grief. + +GREMIO: +Why will you mew her up, +Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, +And make her bear the penance of her tongue? + +BAPTISTA: +Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolved: +Go in, Bianca: +And for I know she taketh most delight +In music, instruments and poetry, +Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, +Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio, +Or Signior Gremio, you, know any such, +Prefer them hither; for to cunning men +I will be very kind, and liberal +To mine own children in good bringing up: +And so farewell. Katharina, you may stay; +For I have more to commune with Bianca. + +KATHARINA: +Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not? What, +shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike, I +knew not what to take and what to leave, ha? + +GREMIO: +You may go to the devil's dam: your gifts are so +good, here's none will hold you. Their love is not +so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails +together, and fast it fairly out: our cakes dough on +both sides. Farewell: yet for the love I bear my +sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit +man to teach her that wherein she delights, I will +wish him to her father. + +HORTENSIO: +So will I, Signior Gremio: but a word, I pray. +Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked +parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both, +that we may yet again have access to our fair +mistress and be happy rivals in Bianco's love, to +labour and effect one thing specially. + +GREMIO: +What's that, I pray? + +HORTENSIO: +Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. + +GREMIO: +A husband! a devil. + +HORTENSIO: +I say, a husband. + +GREMIO: +I say, a devil. Thinkest thou, Hortensio, though +her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool +to be married to hell? + +HORTENSIO: +Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience and mine +to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good +fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, +would take her with all faults, and money enough. + +GREMIO: +I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with +this condition, to be whipped at the high cross +every morning. + +HORTENSIO: +Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten +apples. But come; since this bar in law makes us +friends, it shall be so far forth friendly +maintained all by helping Baptista's eldest daughter +to a husband we set his youngest free for a husband, +and then have to't a fresh. Sweet Bianca! Happy man +be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. +How say you, Signior Gremio? + +GREMIO: +I am agreed; and would I had given him the best +horse in Padua to begin his wooing that would +thoroughly woo her, wed her and bed her and rid the +house of her! Come on. + +TRANIO: +I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible +That love should of a sudden take such hold? + +LUCENTIO: +O Tranio, till I found it to be true, +I never thought it possible or likely; +But see, while idly I stood looking on, +I found the effect of love in idleness: +And now in plainness do confess to thee, +That art to me as secret and as dear +As Anna to the queen of Carthage was, +Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, +If I achieve not this young modest girl. +Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst; +Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt. + +TRANIO: +Master, it is no time to chide you now; +Affection is not rated from the heart: +If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so, +'Redime te captum quam queas minimo.' + +LUCENTIO: +Gramercies, lad, go forward; this contents: +The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. + +TRANIO: +Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, +Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. + +LUCENTIO: +O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, +Such as the daughter of Agenor had, +That made great Jove to humble him to her hand. +When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand. + +TRANIO: +Saw you no more? mark'd you not how her sister +Began to scold and raise up such a storm +That mortal ears might hardly endure the din? + +LUCENTIO: +Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move +And with her breath she did perfume the air: +Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her. + +TRANIO: +Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. +I pray, awake, sir: if you love the maid, +Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands: +Her eldest sister is so curst and shrewd +That till the father rid his hands of her, +Master, your love must live a maid at home; +And therefore has he closely mew'd her up, +Because she will not be annoy'd with suitors. + +LUCENTIO: +Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! +But art thou not advised, he took some care +To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her? + +TRANIO: +Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted. + +LUCENTIO: +I have it, Tranio. + +TRANIO: +Master, for my hand, +Both our inventions meet and jump in one. + +LUCENTIO: +Tell me thine first. + +TRANIO: +You will be schoolmaster +And undertake the teaching of the maid: +That's your device. + +LUCENTIO: +It is: may it be done? + +TRANIO: +Not possible; for who shall bear your part, +And be in Padua here Vincentio's son, +Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends, +Visit his countrymen and banquet them? + +LUCENTIO: +Basta; content thee, for I have it full. +We have not yet been seen in any house, +Nor can we lie distinguish'd by our faces +For man or master; then it follows thus; +Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead, +Keep house and port and servants as I should: +I will some other be, some Florentine, +Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa. +'Tis hatch'd and shall be so: Tranio, at once +Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak: +When Biondello comes, he waits on thee; +But I will charm him first to keep his tongue. + +TRANIO: +So had you need. +In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is, +And I am tied to be obedient; +For so your father charged me at our parting, +'Be serviceable to my son,' quoth he, +Although I think 'twas in another sense; +I am content to be Lucentio, +Because so well I love Lucentio. + +LUCENTIO: +Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves: +And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid +Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye. +Here comes the rogue. +Sirrah, where have you been? + +BIONDELLO: +Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are you? +Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your clothes? Or +you stolen his? or both? pray, what's the news? + +LUCENTIO: +Sirrah, come hither: 'tis no time to jest, +And therefore frame your manners to the time. +Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life, +Puts my apparel and my countenance on, +And I for my escape have put on his; +For in a quarrel since I came ashore +I kill'd a man and fear I was descried: +Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes, +While I make way from hence to save my life: +You understand me? + +BIONDELLO: +I, sir! ne'er a whit. + +LUCENTIO: +And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth: +Tranio is changed into Lucentio. + +BIONDELLO: +The better for him: would I were so too! + +TRANIO: +So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after, +That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter. +But, sirrah, not for my sake, but your master's, I advise +You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies: +When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; +But in all places else your master Lucentio. + +LUCENTIO: +Tranio, let's go: one thing more rests, that +thyself execute, to make one among these wooers: if +thou ask me why, sufficeth, my reasons are both good +and weighty. + +First Servant: +My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play. + +SLY: +Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely: +comes there any more of it? + +Page: +My lord, 'tis but begun. + +SLY: +'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady: +would 'twere done! + +PETRUCHIO: +Verona, for a while I take my leave, +To see my friends in Padua, but of all +My best beloved and approved friend, +Hortensio; and I trow this is his house. +Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say. + +GRUMIO: +Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is there man has +rebused your worship? + +PETRUCHIO: +Villain, I say, knock me here soundly. + +GRUMIO: +Knock you here, sir! why, sir, what am I, sir, that +I should knock you here, sir? + +PETRUCHIO: +Villain, I say, knock me at this gate +And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate. + +GRUMIO: +My master is grown quarrelsome. I should knock +you first, +And then I know after who comes by the worst. + +PETRUCHIO: +Will it not be? +Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll ring it; +I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it. + +GRUMIO: +Help, masters, help! my master is mad. + +PETRUCHIO: +Now, knock when I bid you, sirrah villain! + +HORTENSIO: +How now! what's the matter? My old friend Grumio! +and my good friend Petruchio! How do you all at Verona? + +PETRUCHIO: +Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? +'Con tutto il cuore, ben trovato,' may I say. + +HORTENSIO: +'Alla nostra casa ben venuto, molto honorato signor +mio Petruchio.' Rise, Grumio, rise: we will compound +this quarrel. + +GRUMIO: +Nay, 'tis no matter, sir, what he 'leges in Latin. +if this be not a lawful case for me to leave his +service, look you, sir, he bid me knock him and rap +him soundly, sir: well, was it fit for a servant to +use his master so, being perhaps, for aught I see, +two and thirty, a pip out? Whom would to God I had +well knock'd at first, Then had not Grumio come by the worst. + +PETRUCHIO: +A senseless villain! Good Hortensio, +I bade the rascal knock upon your gate +And could not get him for my heart to do it. + +GRUMIO: +Knock at the gate! O heavens! Spake you not these +words plain, 'Sirrah, knock me here, rap me here, +knock me well, and knock me soundly'? And come you +now with, 'knocking at the gate'? + +PETRUCHIO: +Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. + +HORTENSIO: +Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge: +Why, this's a heavy chance 'twixt him and you, +Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio. +And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale +Blows you to Padua here from old Verona? + +PETRUCHIO: +Such wind as scatters young men through the world, +To seek their fortunes farther than at home +Where small experience grows. But in a few, +Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me: +Antonio, my father, is deceased; +And I have thrust myself into this maze, +Haply to wive and thrive as best I may: +Crowns in my purse I have and goods at home, +And so am come abroad to see the world. + +HORTENSIO: +Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee +And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? +Thou'ldst thank me but a little for my counsel: +And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich +And very rich: but thou'rt too much my friend, +And I'll not wish thee to her. + +PETRUCHIO: +Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we +Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know +One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife, +As wealth is burden of my wooing dance, +Be she as foul as was Florentius' love, +As old as Sibyl and as curst and shrewd +As Socrates' Xanthippe, or a worse, +She moves me not, or not removes, at least, +Affection's edge in me, were she as rough +As are the swelling Adriatic seas: +I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; +If wealthily, then happily in Padua. + +GRUMIO: +Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his +mind is: Why give him gold enough and marry him to +a puppet or an aglet-baby; or an old trot with ne'er +a tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases +as two and fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, +so money comes withal. + +HORTENSIO: +Petruchio, since we are stepp'd thus far in, +I will continue that I broach'd in jest. +I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife +With wealth enough and young and beauteous, +Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman: +Her only fault, and that is faults enough, +Is that she is intolerable curst +And shrewd and froward, so beyond all measure +That, were my state far worser than it is, +I would not wed her for a mine of gold. + +PETRUCHIO: +Hortensio, peace! thou know'st not gold's effect: +Tell me her father's name and 'tis enough; +For I will board her, though she chide as loud +As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack. + +HORTENSIO: +Her father is Baptista Minola, +An affable and courteous gentleman: +Her name is Katharina Minola, +Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue. + +PETRUCHIO: +I know her father, though I know not her; +And he knew my deceased father well. +I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her; +And therefore let me be thus bold with you +To give you over at this first encounter, +Unless you will accompany me thither. + +GRUMIO: +I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. +O' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she +would think scolding would do little good upon him: +she may perhaps call him half a score knaves or so: +why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in +his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what sir, an she +stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in +her face and so disfigure her with it that she +shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat. +You know him not, sir. + +HORTENSIO: +Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee, +For in Baptista's keep my treasure is: +He hath the jewel of my life in hold, +His youngest daughter, beautiful Binaca, +And her withholds from me and other more, +Suitors to her and rivals in my love, +Supposing it a thing impossible, +For those defects I have before rehearsed, +That ever Katharina will be woo'd; +Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en, +That none shall have access unto Bianca +Till Katharina the curst have got a husband. + +GRUMIO: +Katharina the curst! +A title for a maid of all titles the worst. + +HORTENSIO: +Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace, +And offer me disguised in sober robes +To old Baptista as a schoolmaster +Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca; +That so I may, by this device, at least +Have leave and leisure to make love to her +And unsuspected court her by herself. + +GRUMIO: +Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old folks, +how the young folks lay their heads together! +Master, master, look about you: who goes there, ha? + +HORTENSIO: +Peace, Grumio! it is the rival of my love. +Petruchio, stand by a while. + +GRUMIO: +A proper stripling and an amorous! + +GREMIO: +O, very well; I have perused the note. +Hark you, sir: I'll have them very fairly bound: +All books of love, see that at any hand; +And see you read no other lectures to her: +You understand me: over and beside +Signior Baptista's liberality, +I'll mend it with a largess. Take your paper too, +And let me have them very well perfumed +For she is sweeter than perfume itself +To whom they go to. What will you read to her? + +LUCENTIO: +Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you +As for my patron, stand you so assured, +As firmly as yourself were still in place: +Yea, and perhaps with more successful words +Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir. + +GREMIO: +O this learning, what a thing it is! + +GRUMIO: +O this woodcock, what an ass it is! + +PETRUCHIO: +Peace, sirrah! + +HORTENSIO: +Grumio, mum! God save you, Signior Gremio. + +GREMIO: +And you are well met, Signior Hortensio. +Trow you whither I am going? To Baptista Minola. +I promised to inquire carefully +About a schoolmaster for the fair Bianca: +And by good fortune I have lighted well +On this young man, for learning and behavior +Fit for her turn, well read in poetry +And other books, good ones, I warrant ye. + +HORTENSIO: +'Tis well; and I have met a gentleman +Hath promised me to help me to another, +A fine musician to instruct our mistress; +So shall I no whit be behind in duty +To fair Bianca, so beloved of me. + +GREMIO: +Beloved of me; and that my deeds shall prove. + +GRUMIO: +And that his bags shall prove. + +HORTENSIO: +Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love: +Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, +I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. +Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met, +Upon agreement from us to his liking, +Will undertake to woo curst Katharina, +Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please. + +GREMIO: +So said, so done, is well. +Hortensio, have you told him all her faults? + +PETRUCHIO: +I know she is an irksome brawling scold: +If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. + +GREMIO: +No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman? + +PETRUCHIO: +Born in Verona, old Antonio's son: +My father dead, my fortune lives for me; +And I do hope good days and long to see. + +GREMIO: +O sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange! +But if you have a stomach, to't i' God's name: +You shall have me assisting you in all. +But will you woo this wild-cat? + +PETRUCHIO: +Will I live? + +GRUMIO: +Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. + +PETRUCHIO: +Why came I hither but to that intent? +Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? +Have I not in my time heard lions roar? +Have I not heard the sea puff'd up with winds +Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat? +Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, +And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies? +Have I not in a pitched battle heard +Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? +And do you tell me of a woman's tongue, +That gives not half so great a blow to hear +As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire? +Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs. + +GRUMIO: +For he fears none. + +GREMIO: +Hortensio, hark: +This gentleman is happily arrived, +My mind presumes, for his own good and ours. + +HORTENSIO: +I promised we would be contributors +And bear his charging of wooing, whatsoe'er. + +GREMIO: +And so we will, provided that he win her. + +GRUMIO: +I would I were as sure of a good dinner. + +TRANIO: +Gentlemen, God save you. If I may be bold, +Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way +To the house of Signior Baptista Minola? + +BIONDELLO: +He that has the two fair daughters: is't he you mean? + +TRANIO: +Even he, Biondello. + +GREMIO: +Hark you, sir; you mean not her to-- + +TRANIO: +Perhaps, him and her, sir: what have you to do? + +PETRUCHIO: +Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray. + +TRANIO: +I love no chiders, sir. Biondello, let's away. + +LUCENTIO: +Well begun, Tranio. + +HORTENSIO: +Sir, a word ere you go; +Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no? + +TRANIO: +And if I be, sir, is it any offence? + +GREMIO: +No; if without more words you will get you hence. + +TRANIO: +Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free +For me as for you? + +GREMIO: +But so is not she. + +TRANIO: +For what reason, I beseech you? + +GREMIO: +For this reason, if you'll know, +That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio. + +HORTENSIO: +That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio. + +TRANIO: +Softly, my masters! if you be gentlemen, +Do me this right; hear me with patience. +Baptista is a noble gentleman, +To whom my father is not all unknown; +And were his daughter fairer than she is, +She may more suitors have and me for one. +Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wooers; +Then well one more may fair Bianca have: +And so she shall; Lucentio shall make one, +Though Paris came in hope to speed alone. + +GREMIO: +What! this gentleman will out-talk us all. + +LUCENTIO: +Sir, give him head: I know he'll prove a jade. + +PETRUCHIO: +Hortensio, to what end are all these words? + +HORTENSIO: +Sir, let me be so bold as ask you, +Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? + +TRANIO: +No, sir; but hear I do that he hath two, +The one as famous for a scolding tongue +As is the other for beauteous modesty. + +PETRUCHIO: +Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by. + +GREMIO: +Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules; +And let it be more than Alcides' twelve. + +PETRUCHIO: +Sir, understand you this of me in sooth: +The youngest daughter whom you hearken for +Her father keeps from all access of suitors, +And will not promise her to any man +Until the elder sister first be wed: +The younger then is free and not before. + +TRANIO: +If it be so, sir, that you are the man +Must stead us all and me amongst the rest, +And if you break the ice and do this feat, +Achieve the elder, set the younger free +For our access, whose hap shall be to have her +Will not so graceless be to be ingrate. + +HORTENSIO: +Sir, you say well and well you do conceive; +And since you do profess to be a suitor, +You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman, +To whom we all rest generally beholding. + +TRANIO: +Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof, +Please ye we may contrive this afternoon, +And quaff carouses to our mistress' health, +And do as adversaries do in law, +Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. + +GRUMIO: +O excellent motion! Fellows, let's be gone. + +HORTENSIO: +The motion's good indeed and be it so, +Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. + +BIANCA: +Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, +To make a bondmaid and a slave of me; +That I disdain: but for these other gawds, +Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself, +Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat; +Or what you will command me will I do, +So well I know my duty to my elders. + +KATHARINA: +Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell +Whom thou lovest best: see thou dissemble not. + +BIANCA: +Believe me, sister, of all the men alive +I never yet beheld that special face +Which I could fancy more than any other. + +KATHARINA: +Minion, thou liest. Is't not Hortensio? + +BIANCA: +If you affect him, sister, here I swear +I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have +him. + +KATHARINA: +O then, belike, you fancy riches more: +You will have Gremio to keep you fair. + +BIANCA: +Is it for him you do envy me so? +Nay then you jest, and now I well perceive +You have but jested with me all this while: +I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands. + +KATHARINA: +If that be jest, then all the rest was so. + +BAPTISTA: +Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence? +Bianca, stand aside. Poor girl! she weeps. +Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her. +For shame, thou helding of a devilish spirit, +Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee? +When did she cross thee with a bitter word? + +KATHARINA: +Her silence flouts me, and I'll be revenged. + +BAPTISTA: +What, in my sight? Bianca, get thee in. + +KATHARINA: +What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see +She is your treasure, she must have a husband; +I must dance bare-foot on her wedding day +And for your love to her lead apes in hell. +Talk not to me: I will go sit and weep +Till I can find occasion of revenge. + +BAPTISTA: +Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I? +But who comes here? + +GREMIO: +Good morrow, neighbour Baptista. + +BAPTISTA: +Good morrow, neighbour Gremio. +God save you, gentlemen! + +PETRUCHIO: +And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter +Call'd Katharina, fair and virtuous? + +BAPTISTA: +I have a daughter, sir, called Katharina. + +GREMIO: +You are too blunt: go to it orderly. + +PETRUCHIO: +You wrong me, Signior Gremio: give me leave. +I am a gentleman of Verona, sir, +That, hearing of her beauty and her wit, +Her affability and bashful modesty, +Her wondrous qualities and mild behavior, +Am bold to show myself a forward guest +Within your house, to make mine eye the witness +Of that report which I so oft have heard. +And, for an entrance to my entertainment, +I do present you with a man of mine, +Cunning in music and the mathematics, +To instruct her fully in those sciences, +Whereof I know she is not ignorant: +Accept of him, or else you do me wrong: +His name is Licio, born in Mantua. + +BAPTISTA: +You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake. +But for my daughter Katharina, this I know, +She is not for your turn, the more my grief. + +PETRUCHIO: +I see you do not mean to part with her, +Or else you like not of my company. + +BAPTISTA: +Mistake me not; I speak but as I find. +Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name? + +PETRUCHIO: +Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son, +A man well known throughout all Italy. + +BAPTISTA: +I know him well: you are welcome for his sake. + +GREMIO: +Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, +Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: +Baccare! you are marvellous forward. + +PETRUCHIO: +O, pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing. + +GREMIO: +I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your +wooing. Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am +sure of it. To express the like kindness, myself, +that have been more kindly beholding to you than +any, freely give unto you this young scholar, +that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning +in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other +in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray, +accept his service. + +BAPTISTA: +A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio. +Welcome, good Cambio. +But, gentle sir, methinks you walk like a stranger: +may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming? + +TRANIO: +Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own, +That, being a stranger in this city here, +Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, +Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous. +Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, +In the preferment of the eldest sister. +This liberty is all that I request, +That, upon knowledge of my parentage, +I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo +And free access and favour as the rest: +And, toward the education of your daughters, +I here bestow a simple instrument, +And this small packet of Greek and Latin books: +If you accept them, then their worth is great. + +BAPTISTA: +Lucentio is your name; of whence, I pray? + +TRANIO: +Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio. + +BAPTISTA: +A mighty man of Pisa; by report +I know him well: you are very welcome, sir, +Take you the lute, and you the set of books; +You shall go see your pupils presently. +Holla, within! +Sirrah, lead these gentlemen +To my daughters; and tell them both, +These are their tutors: bid them use them well. +We will go walk a little in the orchard, +And then to dinner. You are passing welcome, +And so I pray you all to think yourselves. + +PETRUCHIO: +Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, +And every day I cannot come to woo. +You knew my father well, and in him me, +Left solely heir to all his lands and goods, +Which I have better'd rather than decreased: +Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love, +What dowry shall I have with her to wife? + +BAPTISTA: +After my death the one half of my lands, +And in possession twenty thousand crowns. + +PETRUCHIO: +And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of +Her widowhood, be it that she survive me, +In all my lands and leases whatsoever: +Let specialties be therefore drawn between us, +That covenants may be kept on either hand. + +BAPTISTA: +Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd, +That is, her love; for that is all in all. + +PETRUCHIO: +Why, that is nothing: for I tell you, father, +I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; +And where two raging fires meet together +They do consume the thing that feeds their fury: +Though little fire grows great with little wind, +Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all: +So I to her and so she yields to me; +For I am rough and woo not like a babe. + +BAPTISTA: +Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed! +But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words. + +PETRUCHIO: +Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds, +That shake not, though they blow perpetually. + +BAPTISTA: +How now, my friend! why dost thou look so pale? + +HORTENSIO: +For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. + +BAPTISTA: +What, will my daughter prove a good musician? + +HORTENSIO: +I think she'll sooner prove a soldier +Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. + +BAPTISTA: +Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? + +HORTENSIO: +Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me. +I did but tell her she mistook her frets, +And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering; +When, with a most impatient devilish spirit, +'Frets, call you these?' quoth she; 'I'll fume +with them:' +And, with that word, she struck me on the head, +And through the instrument my pate made way; +And there I stood amazed for a while, +As on a pillory, looking through the lute; +While she did call me rascal fiddler +And twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms, +As had she studied to misuse me so. + +PETRUCHIO: +Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench; +I love her ten times more than e'er I did: +O, how I long to have some chat with her! + +BAPTISTA: +Well, go with me and be not so discomfited: +Proceed in practise with my younger daughter; +She's apt to learn and thankful for good turns. +Signior Petruchio, will you go with us, +Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you? + +PETRUCHIO: +I pray you do. +I will attend her here, +And woo her with some spirit when she comes. +Say that she rail; why then I'll tell her plain +She sings as sweetly as a nightingale: +Say that she frown, I'll say she looks as clear +As morning roses newly wash'd with dew: +Say she be mute and will not speak a word; +Then I'll commend her volubility, +And say she uttereth piercing eloquence: +If she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks, +As though she bid me stay by her a week: +If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day +When I shall ask the banns and when be married. +But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak. +Good morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear. + +KATHARINA: +Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing: +They call me Katharina that do talk of me. + +PETRUCHIO: +You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate, +And bonny Kate and sometimes Kate the curst; +But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom +Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate, +For dainties are all Kates, and therefore, Kate, +Take this of me, Kate of my consolation; +Hearing thy mildness praised in every town, +Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded, +Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs, +Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife. + +KATHARINA: +Moved! in good time: let him that moved you hither +Remove you hence: I knew you at the first +You were a moveable. + +PETRUCHIO: +Why, what's a moveable? + +KATHARINA: +A join'd-stool. + +PETRUCHIO: +Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me. + +KATHARINA: +Asses are made to bear, and so are you. + +PETRUCHIO: +Women are made to bear, and so are you. + +KATHARINA: +No such jade as you, if me you mean. + +PETRUCHIO: +Alas! good Kate, I will not burden thee; +For, knowing thee to be but young and light-- + +KATHARINA: +Too light for such a swain as you to catch; +And yet as heavy as my weight should be. + +PETRUCHIO: +Should be! should--buzz! + +KATHARINA: +Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. + +PETRUCHIO: +O slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take thee? + +KATHARINA: +Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard. + +PETRUCHIO: +Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too angry. + +KATHARINA: +If I be waspish, best beware my sting. + +PETRUCHIO: +My remedy is then, to pluck it out. + +KATHARINA: +Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies, + +PETRUCHIO: +Who knows not where a wasp does +wear his sting? In his tail. + +KATHARINA: +In his tongue. + +PETRUCHIO: +Whose tongue? + +KATHARINA: +Yours, if you talk of tails: and so farewell. + +PETRUCHIO: +What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again, +Good Kate; I am a gentleman. + +KATHARINA: +That I'll try. + +PETRUCHIO: +I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. + +KATHARINA: +So may you lose your arms: +If you strike me, you are no gentleman; +And if no gentleman, why then no arms. + +PETRUCHIO: +A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books! + +KATHARINA: +What is your crest? a coxcomb? + +PETRUCHIO: +A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen. + +KATHARINA: +No cock of mine; you crow too like a craven. + +PETRUCHIO: +Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour. + +KATHARINA: +It is my fashion, when I see a crab. + +PETRUCHIO: +Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not sour. + +KATHARINA: +There is, there is. + +PETRUCHIO: +Then show it me. + +KATHARINA: +Had I a glass, I would. + +PETRUCHIO: +What, you mean my face? + +KATHARINA: +Well aim'd of such a young one. + +PETRUCHIO: +Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you. + +KATHARINA: +Yet you are wither'd. + +PETRUCHIO: +'Tis with cares. + +KATHARINA: +I care not. + +PETRUCHIO: +Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth you scape not so. + +KATHARINA: +I chafe you, if I tarry: let me go. + +PETRUCHIO: +No, not a whit: I find you passing gentle. +'Twas told me you were rough and coy and sullen, +And now I find report a very liar; +For thou are pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous, +But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers: +Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance, +Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will, +Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk, +But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers, +With gentle conference, soft and affable. +Why does the world report that Kate doth limp? +O slanderous world! Kate like the hazel-twig +Is straight and slender and as brown in hue +As hazel nuts and sweeter than the kernels. +O, let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt. + +KATHARINA: +Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command. + +PETRUCHIO: +Did ever Dian so become a grove +As Kate this chamber with her princely gait? +O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate; +And then let Kate be chaste and Dian sportful! + +KATHARINA: +Where did you study all this goodly speech? + +PETRUCHIO: +It is extempore, from my mother-wit. + +KATHARINA: +A witty mother! witless else her son. + +PETRUCHIO: +Am I not wise? + +KATHARINA: +Yes; keep you warm. + +PETRUCHIO: +Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharina, in thy bed: +And therefore, setting all this chat aside, +Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented +That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed on; +And, Will you, nill you, I will marry you. +Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn; +For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty, +Thy beauty, that doth make me like thee well, +Thou must be married to no man but me; +For I am he am born to tame you Kate, +And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate +Conformable as other household Kates. +Here comes your father: never make denial; +I must and will have Katharina to my wife. + +BAPTISTA: +Now, Signior Petruchio, how speed you with my daughter? + +PETRUCHIO: +How but well, sir? how but well? +It were impossible I should speed amiss. + +BAPTISTA: +Why, how now, daughter Katharina! in your dumps? + +KATHARINA: +Call you me daughter? now, I promise you +You have show'd a tender fatherly regard, +To wish me wed to one half lunatic; +A mad-cup ruffian and a swearing Jack, +That thinks with oaths to face the matter out. + +PETRUCHIO: +Father, 'tis thus: yourself and all the world, +That talk'd of her, have talk'd amiss of her: +If she be curst, it is for policy, +For she's not froward, but modest as the dove; +She is not hot, but temperate as the morn; +For patience she will prove a second Grissel, +And Roman Lucrece for her chastity: +And to conclude, we have 'greed so well together, +That upon Sunday is the wedding-day. + +KATHARINA: +I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first. + +GREMIO: +Hark, Petruchio; she says she'll see thee +hang'd first. + +TRANIO: +Is this your speeding? nay, then, good night our part! + +PETRUCHIO: +Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself: +If she and I be pleased, what's that to you? +'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone, +That she shall still be curst in company. +I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe +How much she loves me: O, the kindest Kate! +She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss +She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath, +That in a twink she won me to her love. +O, you are novices! 'tis a world to see, +How tame, when men and women are alone, +A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew. +Give me thy hand, Kate: I will unto Venice, +To buy apparel 'gainst the wedding-day. +Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests; +I will be sure my Katharina shall be fine. + +BAPTISTA: +I know not what to say: but give me your hands; +God send you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match. + +GREMIO: +Amen, say we: we will be witnesses. + +PETRUCHIO: +Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu; +I will to Venice; Sunday comes apace: +We will have rings and things and fine array; +And kiss me, Kate, we will be married o'Sunday. + +GREMIO: +Was ever match clapp'd up so suddenly? + +BAPTISTA: +Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant's part, +And venture madly on a desperate mart. + +TRANIO: +'Twas a commodity lay fretting by you: +'Twill bring you gain, or perish on the seas. + +BAPTISTA: +The gain I seek is, quiet in the match. + +GREMIO: +No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch. +But now, Baptists, to your younger daughter: +Now is the day we long have looked for: +I am your neighbour, and was suitor first. + +TRANIO: +And I am one that love Bianca more +Than words can witness, or your thoughts can guess. + +GREMIO: +Youngling, thou canst not love so dear as I. + +TRANIO: +Graybeard, thy love doth freeze. + +GREMIO: +But thine doth fry. +Skipper, stand back: 'tis age that nourisheth. + +TRANIO: +But youth in ladies' eyes that flourisheth. + +BAPTISTA: +Content you, gentlemen: I will compound this strife: +'Tis deeds must win the prize; and he of both +That can assure my daughter greatest dower +Shall have my Bianca's love. +Say, Signior Gremio, What can you assure her? + +GREMIO: +First, as you know, my house within the city +Is richly furnished with plate and gold; +Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands; +My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry; +In ivory coffers I have stuff'd my crowns; +In cypress chests my arras counterpoints, +Costly apparel, tents, and canopies, +Fine linen, Turkey cushions boss'd with pearl, +Valance of Venice gold in needlework, +Pewter and brass and all things that belong +To house or housekeeping: then, at my farm +I have a hundred milch-kine to the pail, +Sixscore fat oxen standing in my stalls, +And all things answerable to this portion. +Myself am struck in years, I must confess; +And if I die to-morrow, this is hers, +If whilst I live she will be only mine. + +TRANIO: +That 'only' came well in. Sir, list to me: +I am my father's heir and only son: +If I may have your daughter to my wife, +I'll leave her houses three or four as good, +Within rich Pisa walls, as any one +Old Signior Gremio has in Padua; +Besides two thousand ducats by the year +Of fruitful land, all which shall be her jointure. +What, have I pinch'd you, Signior Gremio? + +GREMIO: +Two thousand ducats by the year of land! +My land amounts not to so much in all: +That she shall have; besides an argosy +That now is lying in Marseilles' road. +What, have I choked you with an argosy? + +TRANIO: +Gremio, 'tis known my father hath no less +Than three great argosies; besides two galliases, +And twelve tight galleys: these I will assure her, +And twice as much, whate'er thou offer'st next. + +GREMIO: +Nay, I have offer'd all, I have no more; +And she can have no more than all I have: +If you like me, she shall have me and mine. + +TRANIO: +Why, then the maid is mine from all the world, +By your firm promise: Gremio is out-vied. + +BAPTISTA: +I must confess your offer is the best; +And, let your father make her the assurance, +She is your own; else, you must pardon me, +if you should die before him, where's her dower? + +TRANIO: +That's but a cavil: he is old, I young. + +GREMIO: +And may not young men die, as well as old? + +BAPTISTA: +Well, gentlemen, +I am thus resolved: on Sunday next you know +My daughter Katharina is to be married: +Now, on the Sunday following, shall Bianca +Be bride to you, if you this assurance; +If not, Signior Gremio: +And so, I take my leave, and thank you both. + +GREMIO: +Adieu, good neighbour. +Now I fear thee not: +Sirrah young gamester, your father were a fool +To give thee all, and in his waning age +Set foot under thy table: tut, a toy! +An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy. + +TRANIO: +A vengeance on your crafty wither'd hide! +Yet I have faced it with a card of ten. +'Tis in my head to do my master good: +I see no reason but supposed Lucentio +Must get a father, call'd 'supposed Vincentio;' +And that's a wonder: fathers commonly +Do get their children; but in this case of wooing, +A child shall get a sire, if I fail not of my cunning. + +LUCENTIO: +Fiddler, forbear; you grow too forward, sir: +Have you so soon forgot the entertainment +Her sister Katharina welcomed you withal? + +HORTENSIO: +But, wrangling pedant, this is +The patroness of heavenly harmony: +Then give me leave to have prerogative; +And when in music we have spent an hour, +Your lecture shall have leisure for as much. + +LUCENTIO: +Preposterous ass, that never read so far +To know the cause why music was ordain'd! +Was it not to refresh the mind of man +After his studies or his usual pain? +Then give me leave to read philosophy, +And while I pause, serve in your harmony. + +HORTENSIO: +Sirrah, I will not bear these braves of thine. + +BIANCA: +Why, gentlemen, you do me double wrong, +To strive for that which resteth in my choice: +I am no breeching scholar in the schools; +I'll not be tied to hours nor 'pointed times, +But learn my lessons as I please myself. +And, to cut off all strife, here sit we down: +Take you your instrument, play you the whiles; +His lecture will be done ere you have tuned. + +HORTENSIO: +You'll leave his lecture when I am in tune? + +LUCENTIO: +That will be never: tune your instrument. + +BIANCA: +Where left we last? + +LUCENTIO: +Here, madam: +'Hic ibat Simois; hic est Sigeia tellus; +Hic steterat Priami regia celsa senis.' + +BIANCA: +Construe them. + +LUCENTIO: +'Hic ibat,' as I told you before, 'Simois,' I am +Lucentio, 'hic est,' son unto Vincentio of Pisa, +'Sigeia tellus,' disguised thus to get your love; +'Hic steterat,' and that Lucentio that comes +a-wooing, 'Priami,' is my man Tranio, 'regia,' +bearing my port, 'celsa senis,' that we might +beguile the old pantaloon. + +HORTENSIO: +Madam, my instrument's in tune. + +BIANCA: +Let's hear. O fie! the treble jars. + +LUCENTIO: +Spit in the hole, man, and tune again. + +BIANCA: +Now let me see if I can construe it: 'Hic ibat +Simois,' I know you not, 'hic est Sigeia tellus,' I +trust you not; 'Hic steterat Priami,' take heed +he hear us not, 'regia,' presume not, 'celsa senis,' +despair not. + +HORTENSIO: +Madam, 'tis now in tune. + +LUCENTIO: +All but the base. + +HORTENSIO: +The base is right; 'tis the base knave that jars. +How fiery and forward our pedant is! +Now, for my life, the knave doth court my love: +Pedascule, I'll watch you better yet. + +BIANCA: +In time I may believe, yet I mistrust. + +LUCENTIO: +Mistrust it not: for, sure, AEacides +Was Ajax, call'd so from his grandfather. + +BIANCA: +I must believe my master; else, I promise you, +I should be arguing still upon that doubt: +But let it rest. Now, Licio, to you: +Good masters, take it not unkindly, pray, +That I have been thus pleasant with you both. + +HORTENSIO: +You may go walk, and give me leave a while: +My lessons make no music in three parts. + +LUCENTIO: +Are you so formal, sir? well, I must wait, +And watch withal; for, but I be deceived, +Our fine musician groweth amorous. + +HORTENSIO: +Madam, before you touch the instrument, +To learn the order of my fingering, +I must begin with rudiments of art; +To teach you gamut in a briefer sort, +More pleasant, pithy and effectual, +Than hath been taught by any of my trade: +And there it is in writing, fairly drawn. + +BIANCA: +Why, I am past my gamut long ago. + +HORTENSIO: +Yet read the gamut of Hortensio. + +BIANCA: + +Servant: +Mistress, your father prays you leave your books +And help to dress your sister's chamber up: +You know to-morrow is the wedding-day. + +BIANCA: +Farewell, sweet masters both; I must be gone. + +LUCENTIO: +Faith, mistress, then I have no cause to stay. + +HORTENSIO: +But I have cause to pry into this pedant: +Methinks he looks as though he were in love: +Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be so humble +To cast thy wandering eyes on every stale, +Seize thee that list: if once I find thee ranging, +Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing. + +BAPTISTA: + +KATHARINA: +No shame but mine: I must, forsooth, be forced +To give my hand opposed against my heart +Unto a mad-brain rudesby full of spleen; +Who woo'd in haste and means to wed at leisure. +I told you, I, he was a frantic fool, +Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior: +And, to be noted for a merry man, +He'll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage, +Make feasts, invite friends, and proclaim the banns; +Yet never means to wed where he hath woo'd. +Now must the world point at poor Katharina, +And say, 'Lo, there is mad Petruchio's wife, +If it would please him come and marry her!' + +TRANIO: +Patience, good Katharina, and Baptista too. +Upon my life, Petruchio means but well, +Whatever fortune stays him from his word: +Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise; +Though he be merry, yet withal he's honest. + +KATHARINA: +Would Katharina had never seen him though! + +BAPTISTA: +Go, girl; I cannot blame thee now to weep; +For such an injury would vex a very saint, +Much more a shrew of thy impatient humour. + +BIONDELLO: +Master, master! news, old news, and such news as +you never heard of! + +BAPTISTA: +Is it new and old too? how may that be? + +BIONDELLO: +Why, is it not news, to hear of Petruchio's coming? + +BAPTISTA: +Is he come? + +BIONDELLO: +Why, no, sir. + +BAPTISTA: +What then? + +BIONDELLO: +He is coming. + +BAPTISTA: +When will he be here? + +BIONDELLO: +When he stands where I am and sees you there. + +TRANIO: +But say, what to thine old news? + +BIONDELLO: +Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and an old +jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned, a pair +of boots that have been candle-cases, one buckled, +another laced, an old rusty sword ta'en out of the +town-armory, with a broken hilt, and chapeless; +with two broken points: his horse hipped with an +old mothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred; +besides, possessed with the glanders and like to mose +in the chine; troubled with the lampass, infected +with the fashions, full of wingdalls, sped with +spavins, rayed with yellows, past cure of the fives, +stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn with the +bots, swayed in the back and shoulder-shotten; +near-legged before and with, a half-chequed bit +and a head-stall of sheeps leather which, being +restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been +often burst and now repaired with knots; one girth +six time pieced and a woman's crupper of velure, +which hath two letters for her name fairly set down +in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread. + +BAPTISTA: +Who comes with him? + +BIONDELLO: +O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned +like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg and a +kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with a red +and blue list; an old hat and 'the humour of forty +fancies' pricked in't for a feather: a monster, a +very monster in apparel, and not like a Christian +footboy or a gentleman's lackey. + +TRANIO: +'Tis some odd humour pricks him to this fashion; +Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-apparell'd. + +BAPTISTA: +I am glad he's come, howsoe'er he comes. + +BIONDELLO: +Why, sir, he comes not. + +BAPTISTA: +Didst thou not say he comes? + +BIONDELLO: +Who? that Petruchio came? + +BAPTISTA: +Ay, that Petruchio came. + +BIONDELLO: +No, sir, I say his horse comes, with him on his back. + +BAPTISTA: +Why, that's all one. + +BIONDELLO: +Nay, by Saint Jamy, +I hold you a penny, +A horse and a man +Is more than one, +And yet not many. + +PETRUCHIO: +Come, where be these gallants? who's at home? + +BAPTISTA: +You are welcome, sir. + +PETRUCHIO: +And yet I come not well. + +BAPTISTA: +And yet you halt not. + +TRANIO: +Not so well apparell'd +As I wish you were. + +PETRUCHIO: +Were it better, I should rush in thus. +But where is Kate? where is my lovely bride? +How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown: +And wherefore gaze this goodly company, +As if they saw some wondrous monument, +Some comet or unusual prodigy? + +BAPTISTA: +Why, sir, you know this is your wedding-day: +First were we sad, fearing you would not come; +Now sadder, that you come so unprovided. +Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate, +An eye-sore to our solemn festival! + +TRANIO: +And tells us, what occasion of import +Hath all so long detain'd you from your wife, +And sent you hither so unlike yourself? + +PETRUCHIO: +Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear: +Sufficeth I am come to keep my word, +Though in some part enforced to digress; +Which, at more leisure, I will so excuse +As you shall well be satisfied withal. +But where is Kate? I stay too long from her: +The morning wears, 'tis time we were at church. + +TRANIO: +See not your bride in these unreverent robes: +Go to my chamber; Put on clothes of mine. + +PETRUCHIO: +Not I, believe me: thus I'll visit her. + +BAPTISTA: +But thus, I trust, you will not marry her. + +PETRUCHIO: +Good sooth, even thus; therefore ha' done with words: +To me she's married, not unto my clothes: +Could I repair what she will wear in me, +As I can change these poor accoutrements, +'Twere well for Kate and better for myself. +But what a fool am I to chat with you, +When I should bid good morrow to my bride, +And seal the title with a lovely kiss! + +TRANIO: +He hath some meaning in his mad attire: +We will persuade him, be it possible, +To put on better ere he go to church. + +BAPTISTA: +I'll after him, and see the event of this. + +TRANIO: +But to her love concerneth us to add +Her father's liking: which to bring to pass, +As I before unparted to your worship, +I am to get a man,--whate'er he be, +It skills not much. we'll fit him to our turn,-- +And he shall be Vincentio of Pisa; +And make assurance here in Padua +Of greater sums than I have promised. +So shall you quietly enjoy your hope, +And marry sweet Bianca with consent. + +LUCENTIO: +Were it not that my fellow-school-master +Doth watch Bianca's steps so narrowly, +'Twere good, methinks, to steal our marriage; +Which once perform'd, let all the world say no, +I'll keep mine own, despite of all the world. + +TRANIO: +That by degrees we mean to look into, +And watch our vantage in this business: +We'll over-reach the greybeard, Gremio, +The narrow-prying father, Minola, +The quaint musician, amorous Licio; +All for my master's sake, Lucentio. +Signior Gremio, came you from the church? + +GREMIO: +As willingly as e'er I came from school. + +TRANIO: +And is the bride and bridegroom coming home? + +GREMIO: +A bridegroom say you? 'tis a groom indeed, +A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find. + +TRANIO: +Curster than she? why, 'tis impossible. + +GREMIO: +Why he's a devil, a devil, a very fiend. + +TRANIO: +Why, she's a devil, a devil, the devil's dam. + +GREMIO: +Tut, she's a lamb, a dove, a fool to him! +I'll tell you, Sir Lucentio: when the priest +Should ask, if Katharina should be his wife, +'Ay, by gogs-wouns,' quoth he; and swore so loud, +That, all-amazed, the priest let fall the book; +And, as he stoop'd again to take it up, +The mad-brain'd bridegroom took him such a cuff +That down fell priest and book and book and priest: +'Now take them up,' quoth he, 'if any list.' + +TRANIO: +What said the wench when he rose again? + +GREMIO: +Trembled and shook; for why, he stamp'd and swore, +As if the vicar meant to cozen him. +But after many ceremonies done, +He calls for wine: 'A health!' quoth he, as if +He had been aboard, carousing to his mates +After a storm; quaff'd off the muscadel +And threw the sops all in the sexton's face; +Having no other reason +But that his beard grew thin and hungerly +And seem'd to ask him sops as he was drinking. +This done, he took the bride about the neck +And kiss'd her lips with such a clamorous smack +That at the parting all the church did echo: +And I seeing this came thence for very shame; +And after me, I know, the rout is coming. +Such a mad marriage never was before: +Hark, hark! I hear the minstrels play. + +PETRUCHIO: +Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains: +I know you think to dine with me to-day, +And have prepared great store of wedding cheer; +But so it is, my haste doth call me hence, +And therefore here I mean to take my leave. + +BAPTISTA: +Is't possible you will away to-night? + +PETRUCHIO: +I must away to-day, before night come: +Make it no wonder; if you knew my business, +You would entreat me rather go than stay. +And, honest company, I thank you all, +That have beheld me give away myself +To this most patient, sweet and virtuous wife: +Dine with my father, drink a health to me; +For I must hence; and farewell to you all. + +TRANIO: +Let us entreat you stay till after dinner. + +PETRUCHIO: +It may not be. + +GREMIO: +Let me entreat you. + +PETRUCHIO: +It cannot be. + +KATHARINA: +Let me entreat you. + +PETRUCHIO: +I am content. + +KATHARINA: +Are you content to stay? + +PETRUCHIO: +I am content you shall entreat me stay; +But yet not stay, entreat me how you can. + +KATHARINA: +Now, if you love me, stay. + +PETRUCHIO: +Grumio, my horse. + +GRUMIO: +Ay, sir, they be ready: the oats have eaten the horses. + +KATHARINA: +Nay, then, +Do what thou canst, I will not go to-day; +No, nor to-morrow, not till I please myself. +The door is open, sir; there lies your way; +You may be jogging whiles your boots are green; +For me, I'll not be gone till I please myself: +'Tis like you'll prove a jolly surly groom, +That take it on you at the first so roundly. + +PETRUCHIO: +O Kate, content thee; prithee, be not angry. + +KATHARINA: +I will be angry: what hast thou to do? +Father, be quiet; he shall stay my leisure. + +GREMIO: +Ay, marry, sir, now it begins to work. + +KATARINA: +Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner: +I see a woman may be made a fool, +If she had not a spirit to resist. + +PETRUCHIO: +They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command. +Obey the bride, you that attend on her; +Go to the feast, revel and domineer, +Carouse full measure to her maidenhead, +Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves: +But for my bonny Kate, she must with me. +Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret; +I will be master of what is mine own: +She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, +My household stuff, my field, my barn, +My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing; +And here she stands, touch her whoever dare; +I'll bring mine action on the proudest he +That stops my way in Padua. Grumio, +Draw forth thy weapon, we are beset with thieves; +Rescue thy mistress, if thou be a man. +Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch +thee, Kate: +I'll buckler thee against a million. + +BAPTISTA: +Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones. + +GREMIO: +Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing. + +TRANIO: +Of all mad matches never was the like. + +LUCENTIO: +Mistress, what's your opinion of your sister? + +BIANCA: +That, being mad herself, she's madly mated. + +GREMIO: +I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated. + +BAPTISTA: +Neighbours and friends, though bride and +bridegroom wants +For to supply the places at the table, +You know there wants no junkets at the feast. +Lucentio, you shall supply the bridegroom's place: +And let Bianca take her sister's room. + +TRANIO: +Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it? + +BAPTISTA: +She shall, Lucentio. Come, gentlemen, let's go. + +GRUMIO: +Fie, fie on all tired jades, on all mad masters, and +all foul ways! Was ever man so beaten? was ever +man so rayed? was ever man so weary? I am sent +before to make a fire, and they are coming after to +warm them. Now, were not I a little pot and soon +hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth, my +tongue to the roof of my mouth, my heart in my +belly, ere I should come by a fire to thaw me: but +I, with blowing the fire, shall warm myself; for, +considering the weather, a taller man than I will +take cold. Holla, ho! Curtis. + +CURTIS: +Who is that calls so coldly? + +GRUMIO: +A piece of ice: if thou doubt it, thou mayst slide +from my shoulder to my heel with no greater a run +but my head and my neck. A fire good Curtis. + +CURTIS: +Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio? + +GRUMIO: +O, ay, Curtis, ay: and therefore fire, fire; cast +on no water. + +CURTIS: +Is she so hot a shrew as she's reported? + +GRUMIO: +She was, good Curtis, before this frost: but, thou +knowest, winter tames man, woman and beast; for it +hath tamed my old master and my new mistress and +myself, fellow Curtis. + +CURTIS: +Away, you three-inch fool! I am no beast. + +GRUMIO: +Am I but three inches? why, thy horn is a foot; and +so long am I at the least. But wilt thou make a +fire, or shall I complain on thee to our mistress, +whose hand, she being now at hand, thou shalt soon +feel, to thy cold comfort, for being slow in thy hot office? + +CURTIS: +I prithee, good Grumio, tell me, how goes the world? + +GRUMIO: +A cold world, Curtis, in every office but thine; and +therefore fire: do thy duty, and have thy duty; for +my master and mistress are almost frozen to death. + +CURTIS: +There's fire ready; and therefore, good Grumio, the news. + +GRUMIO: +Why, 'Jack, boy! ho! boy!' and as much news as +will thaw. + +CURTIS: +Come, you are so full of cony-catching! + +GRUMIO: +Why, therefore fire; for I have caught extreme cold. +Where's the cook? is supper ready, the house +trimmed, rushes strewed, cobwebs swept; the +serving-men in their new fustian, their white +stockings, and every officer his wedding-garment on? +Be the jacks fair within, the jills fair without, +the carpets laid, and every thing in order? + +CURTIS: +All ready; and therefore, I pray thee, news. + +GRUMIO: +First, know, my horse is tired; my master and +mistress fallen out. + +CURTIS: +How? + +GRUMIO: +Out of their saddles into the dirt; and thereby +hangs a tale. + +CURTIS: +Let's ha't, good Grumio. + +GRUMIO: +Lend thine ear. + +CURTIS: +Here. + +GRUMIO: +There. + +CURTIS: +This is to feel a tale, not to hear a tale. + +GRUMIO: +And therefore 'tis called a sensible tale: and this +cuff was but to knock at your ear, and beseech +listening. Now I begin: Imprimis, we came down a +foul hill, my master riding behind my mistress,-- + +CURTIS: +Both of one horse? + +GRUMIO: +What's that to thee? + +CURTIS: +Why, a horse. + +GRUMIO: +Tell thou the tale: but hadst thou not crossed me, +thou shouldst have heard how her horse fell and she +under her horse; thou shouldst have heard in how +miry a place, how she was bemoiled, how he left her +with the horse upon her, how he beat me because +her horse stumbled, how she waded through the dirt +to pluck him off me, how he swore, how she prayed, +that never prayed before, how I cried, how the +horses ran away, how her bridle was burst, how I +lost my crupper, with many things of worthy memory, +which now shall die in oblivion and thou return +unexperienced to thy grave. + +CURTIS: +By this reckoning he is more shrew than she. + +GRUMIO: +Ay; and that thou and the proudest of you all shall +find when he comes home. But what talk I of this? +Call forth Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, +Walter, Sugarsop and the rest: let their heads be +sleekly combed their blue coats brushed and their +garters of an indifferent knit: let them curtsy +with their left legs and not presume to touch a hair +of my master's horse-tail till they kiss their +hands. Are they all ready? + +CURTIS: +They are. + +GRUMIO: +Call them forth. + +CURTIS: +Do you hear, ho? you must meet my master to +countenance my mistress. + +GRUMIO: +Why, she hath a face of her own. + +CURTIS: +Who knows not that? + +GRUMIO: +Thou, it seems, that calls for company to +countenance her. + +CURTIS: +I call them forth to credit her. + +GRUMIO: +Why, she comes to borrow nothing of them. + +NATHANIEL: +Welcome home, Grumio! + +PHILIP: +How now, Grumio! + +JOSEPH: +What, Grumio! + +NICHOLAS: +Fellow Grumio! + +NATHANIEL: +How now, old lad? + +GRUMIO: +Welcome, you;--how now, you;-- what, you;--fellow, +you;--and thus much for greeting. Now, my spruce +companions, is all ready, and all things neat? + +NATHANIEL: +All things is ready. How near is our master? + +GRUMIO: +E'en at hand, alighted by this; and therefore be +not--Cock's passion, silence! I hear my master. + +PETRUCHIO: +Where be these knaves? What, no man at door +To hold my stirrup nor to take my horse! +Where is Nathaniel, Gregory, Philip? + +ALL SERVING-MEN: +Here, here, sir; here, sir. + +PETRUCHIO: +Here, sir! here, sir! here, sir! here, sir! +You logger-headed and unpolish'd grooms! +What, no attendance? no regard? no duty? +Where is the foolish knave I sent before? + +GRUMIO: +Here, sir; as foolish as I was before. + +PETRUCHIO: +You peasant swain! you whoreson malt-horse drudge! +Did I not bid thee meet me in the park, +And bring along these rascal knaves with thee? + +GRUMIO: +Nathaniel's coat, sir, was not fully made, +And Gabriel's pumps were all unpink'd i' the heel; +There was no link to colour Peter's hat, +And Walter's dagger was not come from sheathing: +There were none fine but Adam, Ralph, and Gregory; +The rest were ragged, old, and beggarly; +Yet, as they are, here are they come to meet you. + +PETRUCHIO: +Go, rascals, go, and fetch my supper in. +Where is the life that late I led-- +Where are those--Sit down, Kate, and welcome.-- +Sound, sound, sound, sound! +Why, when, I say? Nay, good sweet Kate, be merry. +Off with my boots, you rogues! you villains, when? +It was the friar of orders grey, +As he forth walked on his way:-- +Out, you rogue! you pluck my foot awry: +Take that, and mend the plucking off the other. +Be merry, Kate. Some water, here; what, ho! +Where's my spaniel Troilus? Sirrah, get you hence, +And bid my cousin Ferdinand come hither: +One, Kate, that you must kiss, and be acquainted with. +Where are my slippers? Shall I have some water? +Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily. +You whoreson villain! will you let it fall? + +KATHARINA: +Patience, I pray you; 'twas a fault unwilling. + +PETRUCHIO: +A whoreson beetle-headed, flap-ear'd knave! +Come, Kate, sit down; I know you have a stomach. +Will you give thanks, sweet Kate; or else shall I? +What's this? mutton? + +First Servant: +Ay. + +PETRUCHIO: +Who brought it? + +PETER: +I. + +PETRUCHIO: +'Tis burnt; and so is all the meat. +What dogs are these! Where is the rascal cook? +How durst you, villains, bring it from the dresser, +And serve it thus to me that love it not? +Theretake it to you, trenchers, cups, and all; +You heedless joltheads and unmanner'd slaves! +What, do you grumble? I'll be with you straight. + +KATHARINA: +I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet: +The meat was well, if you were so contented. + +PETRUCHIO: +I tell thee, Kate, 'twas burnt and dried away; +And I expressly am forbid to touch it, +For it engenders choler, planteth anger; +And better 'twere that both of us did fast, +Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric, +Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh. +Be patient; to-morrow 't shall be mended, +And, for this night, we'll fast for company: +Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber. + +NATHANIEL: +Peter, didst ever see the like? + +PETER: +He kills her in her own humour. + +GRUMIO: +Where is he? + +CURTIS: +In her chamber, making a sermon of continency to her; +And rails, and swears, and rates, that she, poor soul, +Knows not which way to stand, to look, to speak, +And sits as one new-risen from a dream. +Away, away! for he is coming hither. + +PETRUCHIO: +Thus have I politicly begun my reign, +And 'tis my hope to end successfully. +My falcon now is sharp and passing empty; +And till she stoop she must not be full-gorged, +For then she never looks upon her lure. +Another way I have to man my haggard, +To make her come and know her keeper's call, +That is, to watch her, as we watch these kites +That bate and beat and will not be obedient. +She eat no meat to-day, nor none shall eat; +Last night she slept not, nor to-night she shall not; +As with the meat, some undeserved fault +I'll find about the making of the bed; +And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster, +This way the coverlet, another way the sheets: +Ay, and amid this hurly I intend +That all is done in reverend care of her; +And in conclusion she shall watch all night: +And if she chance to nod I'll rail and brawl +And with the clamour keep her still awake. +This is a way to kill a wife with kindness; +And thus I'll curb her mad and headstrong humour. +He that knows better how to tame a shrew, +Now let him speak: 'tis charity to show. + +TRANIO: +Is't possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca +Doth fancy any other but Lucentio? +I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand. + +HORTENSIO: +Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said, +Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching. + +LUCENTIO: +Now, mistress, profit you in what you read? + +BIANCA: +What, master, read you? first resolve me that. + +LUCENTIO: +I read that I profess, the Art to Love. + +BIANCA: +And may you prove, sir, master of your art! + +LUCENTIO: +While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart! + +HORTENSIO: +Quick proceeders, marry! Now, tell me, I pray, +You that durst swear at your mistress Bianca +Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio. + +TRANIO: +O despiteful love! unconstant womankind! +I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful. + +HORTENSIO: +Mistake no more: I am not Licio, +Nor a musician, as I seem to be; +But one that scorn to live in this disguise, +For such a one as leaves a gentleman, +And makes a god of such a cullion: +Know, sir, that I am call'd Hortensio. + +TRANIO: +Signior Hortensio, I have often heard +Of your entire affection to Bianca; +And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness, +I will with you, if you be so contented, +Forswear Bianca and her love for ever. + +HORTENSIO: +See, how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio, +Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow +Never to woo her no more, but do forswear her, +As one unworthy all the former favours +That I have fondly flatter'd her withal. + +TRANIO: +And here I take the unfeigned oath, +Never to marry with her though she would entreat: +Fie on her! see, how beastly she doth court him! + +HORTENSIO: +Would all the world but he had quite forsworn! +For me, that I may surely keep mine oath, +I will be married to a wealthy widow, +Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me +As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard. +And so farewell, Signior Lucentio. +Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, +Shall win my love: and so I take my leave, +In resolution as I swore before. + +TRANIO: +Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace +As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case! +Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love, +And have forsworn you with Hortensio. + +BIANCA: +Tranio, you jest: but have you both forsworn me? + +TRANIO: +Mistress, we have. + +LUCENTIO: +Then we are rid of Licio. + +TRANIO: +I' faith, he'll have a lusty widow now, +That shall be wood and wedded in a day. + +BIANCA: +God give him joy! + +TRANIO: +Ay, and he'll tame her. + +BIANCA: +He says so, Tranio. + +TRANIO: +Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school. + +BIANCA: +The taming-school! what, is there such a place? + +TRANIO: +Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master; +That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long, +To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue. + +BIONDELLO: +O master, master, I have watch'd so long +That I am dog-weary: but at last I spied +An ancient angel coming down the hill, +Will serve the turn. + +TRANIO: +What is he, Biondello? + +BIONDELLO: +Master, a mercatante, or a pedant, +I know not what; but format in apparel, +In gait and countenance surely like a father. + +LUCENTIO: +And what of him, Tranio? + +TRANIO: +If he be credulous and trust my tale, +I'll make him glad to seem Vincentio, +And give assurance to Baptista Minola, +As if he were the right Vincentio +Take in your love, and then let me alone. + +Pedant: +God save you, sir! + +TRANIO: +And you, sir! you are welcome. +Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest? + +Pedant: +Sir, at the farthest for a week or two: +But then up farther, and as for as Rome; +And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life. + +TRANIO: +What countryman, I pray? + +Pedant: +Of Mantua. + +TRANIO: +Of Mantua, sir? marry, God forbid! +And come to Padua, careless of your life? + +Pedant: +My life, sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard. + +TRANIO: +'Tis death for any one in Mantua +To come to Padua. Know you not the cause? +Your ships are stay'd at Venice, and the duke, +For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him, +Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly: +'Tis, marvel, but that you are but newly come, +You might have heard it else proclaim'd about. + +Pedant: +Alas! sir, it is worse for me than so; +For I have bills for money by exchange +From Florence and must here deliver them. + +TRANIO: +Well, sir, to do you courtesy, +This will I do, and this I will advise you: +First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa? + +Pedant: +Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been, +Pisa renowned for grave citizens. + +TRANIO: +Among them know you one Vincentio? + +Pedant: +I know him not, but I have heard of him; +A merchant of incomparable wealth. + +TRANIO: +He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say, +In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. + +BIONDELLO: + +TRANIO: +To save your life in this extremity, +This favour will I do you for his sake; +And think it not the worst of an your fortunes +That you are like to Sir Vincentio. +His name and credit shall you undertake, +And in my house you shall be friendly lodged: +Look that you take upon you as you should; +You understand me, sir: so shall you stay +Till you have done your business in the city: +If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it. + +Pedant: +O sir, I do; and will repute you ever +The patron of my life and liberty. + +TRANIO: +Then go with me to make the matter good. +This, by the way, I let you understand; +my father is here look'd for every day, +To pass assurance of a dower in marriage +'Twixt me and one Baptista's daughter here: +In all these circumstances I'll instruct you: +Go with me to clothe you as becomes you. + +GRUMIO: +No, no, forsooth; I dare not for my life. + +KATHARINA: +The more my wrong, the more his spite appears: +What, did he marry me to famish me? +Beggars, that come unto my father's door, +Upon entreaty have a present aims; +If not, elsewhere they meet with charity: +But I, who never knew how to entreat, +Nor never needed that I should entreat, +Am starved for meat, giddy for lack of sleep, +With oath kept waking and with brawling fed: +And that which spites me more than all these wants, +He does it under name of perfect love; +As who should say, if I should sleep or eat, +'Twere deadly sickness or else present death. +I prithee go and get me some repast; +I care not what, so it be wholesome food. + +GRUMIO: +What say you to a neat's foot? + +KATHARINA: +'Tis passing good: I prithee let me have it. + +GRUMIO: +I fear it is too choleric a meat. +How say you to a fat tripe finely broil'd? + +KATHARINA: +I like it well: good Grumio, fetch it me. + +GRUMIO: +I cannot tell; I fear 'tis choleric. +What say you to a piece of beef and mustard? + +KATHARINA: +A dish that I do love to feed upon. + +GRUMIO: +Ay, but the mustard is too hot a little. + +KATHARINA: +Why then, the beef, and let the mustard rest. + +GRUMIO: +Nay then, I will not: you shall have the mustard, +Or else you get no beef of Grumio. + +KATHARINA: +Then both, or one, or any thing thou wilt. + +GRUMIO: +Why then, the mustard without the beef. + +KATHARINA: +Go, get thee gone, thou false deluding slave, +That feed'st me with the very name of meat: +Sorrow on thee and all the pack of you, +That triumph thus upon my misery! +Go, get thee gone, I say. + +PETRUCHIO: +How fares my Kate? What, sweeting, all amort? + +HORTENSIO: +Mistress, what cheer? + +KATHARINA: +Faith, as cold as can be. + +PETRUCHIO: +Pluck up thy spirits; look cheerfully upon me. +Here love; thou see'st how diligent I am +To dress thy meat myself and bring it thee: +I am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks. +What, not a word? Nay, then thou lovest it not; +And all my pains is sorted to no proof. +Here, take away this dish. + +KATHARINA: +I pray you, let it stand. + +PETRUCHIO: +The poorest service is repaid with thanks; +And so shall mine, before you touch the meat. + +KATHARINA: +I thank you, sir. + +HORTENSIO: +Signior Petruchio, fie! you are to blame. +Come, mistress Kate, I'll bear you company. + +PETRUCHIO: + +Haberdasher: +Here is the cap your worship did bespeak. + +PETRUCHIO: +Why, this was moulded on a porringer; +A velvet dish: fie, fie! 'tis lewd and filthy: +Why, 'tis a cockle or a walnut-shell, +A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap: +Away with it! come, let me have a bigger. + +KATHARINA: +I'll have no bigger: this doth fit the time, +And gentlewomen wear such caps as these + +PETRUCHIO: +When you are gentle, you shall have one too, +And not till then. + +HORTENSIO: + +KATHARINA: +Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak; +And speak I will; I am no child, no babe: +Your betters have endured me say my mind, +And if you cannot, best you stop your ears. +My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, +Or else my heart concealing it will break, +And rather than it shall, I will be free +Even to the uttermost, as I please, in words. + +PETRUCHIO: +Why, thou say'st true; it is a paltry cap, +A custard-coffin, a bauble, a silken pie: +I love thee well, in that thou likest it not. + +KATHARINA: +Love me or love me not, I like the cap; +And it I will have, or I will have none. + +PETRUCHIO: +Thy gown? why, ay: come, tailor, let us see't. +O mercy, God! what masquing stuff is here? +What's this? a sleeve? 'tis like a demi-cannon: +What, up and down, carved like an apple-tart? +Here's snip and nip and cut and slish and slash, +Like to a censer in a barber's shop: +Why, what, i' devil's name, tailor, call'st thou this? + +HORTENSIO: + +Tailor: +You bid me make it orderly and well, +According to the fashion and the time. + +PETRUCHIO: +Marry, and did; but if you be remember'd, +I did not bid you mar it to the time. +Go, hop me over every kennel home, +For you shall hop without my custom, sir: +I'll none of it: hence! make your best of it. + +KATHARINA: +I never saw a better-fashion'd gown, +More quaint, more pleasing, nor more commendable: +Belike you mean to make a puppet of me. + +PETRUCHIO: +Why, true; he means to make a puppet of thee. + +Tailor: +She says your worship means to make +a puppet of her. + +PETRUCHIO: +O monstrous arrogance! Thou liest, thou thread, +thou thimble, +Thou yard, three-quarters, half-yard, quarter, nail! +Thou flea, thou nit, thou winter-cricket thou! +Braved in mine own house with a skein of thread? +Away, thou rag, thou quantity, thou remnant; +Or I shall so be-mete thee with thy yard +As thou shalt think on prating whilst thou livest! +I tell thee, I, that thou hast marr'd her gown. + +Tailor: +Your worship is deceived; the gown is made +Just as my master had direction: +Grumio gave order how it should be done. + +GRUMIO: +I gave him no order; I gave him the stuff. + +Tailor: +But how did you desire it should be made? + +GRUMIO: +Marry, sir, with needle and thread. + +Tailor: +But did you not request to have it cut? + +GRUMIO: +Thou hast faced many things. + +Tailor: +I have. + +GRUMIO: +Face not me: thou hast braved many men; brave not +me; I will neither be faced nor braved. I say unto +thee, I bid thy master cut out the gown; but I did +not bid him cut it to pieces: ergo, thou liest. + +Tailor: +Why, here is the note of the fashion to testify + +PETRUCHIO: +Read it. + +GRUMIO: +The note lies in's throat, if he say I said so. + +Tailor: + +GRUMIO: +Master, if ever I said loose-bodied gown, sew me in +the skirts of it, and beat me to death with a bottom +of brown thread: I said a gown. + +PETRUCHIO: +Proceed. + +Tailor: + +GRUMIO: +I confess the cape. + +Tailor: + +GRUMIO: +I confess two sleeves. + +Tailor: + +PETRUCHIO: +Ay, there's the villany. + +GRUMIO: +Error i' the bill, sir; error i' the bill. +I commanded the sleeves should be cut out and +sewed up again; and that I'll prove upon thee, +though thy little finger be armed in a thimble. + +Tailor: +This is true that I say: an I had thee +in place where, thou shouldst know it. + +GRUMIO: +I am for thee straight: take thou the +bill, give me thy mete-yard, and spare not me. + +HORTENSIO: +God-a-mercy, Grumio! then he shall have no odds. + +PETRUCHIO: +Well, sir, in brief, the gown is not for me. + +GRUMIO: +You are i' the right, sir: 'tis for my mistress. + +PETRUCHIO: +Go, take it up unto thy master's use. + +GRUMIO: +Villain, not for thy life: take up my mistress' +gown for thy master's use! + +PETRUCHIO: +Why, sir, what's your conceit in that? + +GRUMIO: +O, sir, the conceit is deeper than you think for: +Take up my mistress' gown to his master's use! +O, fie, fie, fie! + +PETRUCHIO: + +HORTENSIO: +Tailor, I'll pay thee for thy gown tomorrow: +Take no unkindness of his hasty words: +Away! I say; commend me to thy master. + +PETRUCHIO: +Well, come, my Kate; we will unto your father's +Even in these honest mean habiliments: +Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor; +For 'tis the mind that makes the body rich; +And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, +So honour peereth in the meanest habit. +What is the jay more precious than the lark, +Because his fathers are more beautiful? +Or is the adder better than the eel, +Because his painted skin contents the eye? +O, no, good Kate; neither art thou the worse +For this poor furniture and mean array. +if thou account'st it shame. lay it on me; +And therefore frolic: we will hence forthwith, +To feast and sport us at thy father's house. +Go, call my men, and let us straight to him; +And bring our horses unto Long-lane end; +There will we mount, and thither walk on foot +Let's see; I think 'tis now some seven o'clock, +And well we may come there by dinner-time. + +KATHARINA: +I dare assure you, sir, 'tis almost two; +And 'twill be supper-time ere you come there. + +PETRUCHIO: +It shall be seven ere I go to horse: +Look, what I speak, or do, or think to do, +You are still crossing it. Sirs, let't alone: +I will not go to-day; and ere I do, +It shall be what o'clock I say it is. + +HORTENSIO: + +TRANIO: +Sir, this is the house: please it you that I call? + +Pedant: +Ay, what else? and but I be deceived +Signior Baptista may remember me, +Near twenty years ago, in Genoa, +Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus. + +TRANIO: +'Tis well; and hold your own, in any case, +With such austerity as 'longeth to a father. + +Pedant: +I warrant you. +But, sir, here comes your boy; +'Twere good he were school'd. + +TRANIO: +Fear you not him. Sirrah Biondello, +Now do your duty throughly, I advise you: +Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio. + +BIONDELLO: +Tut, fear not me. + +TRANIO: +But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista? + +BIONDELLO: +I told him that your father was at Venice, +And that you look'd for him this day in Padua. + +TRANIO: +Thou'rt a tall fellow: hold thee that to drink. +Here comes Baptista: set your countenance, sir. +Signior Baptista, you are happily met. +Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of: +I pray you stand good father to me now, +Give me Bianca for my patrimony. + +Pedant: +Soft son! +Sir, by your leave: having come to Padua +To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio +Made me acquainted with a weighty cause +Of love between your daughter and himself: +And, for the good report I hear of you +And for the love he beareth to your daughter +And she to him, to stay him not too long, +I am content, in a good father's care, +To have him match'd; and if you please to like +No worse than I, upon some agreement +Me shall you find ready and willing +With one consent to have her so bestow'd; +For curious I cannot be with you, +Signior Baptista, of whom I hear so well. + +BAPTISTA: +Sir, pardon me in what I have to say: +Your plainness and your shortness please me well. +Right true it is, your son Lucentio here +Doth love my daughter and she loveth him, +Or both dissemble deeply their affections: +And therefore, if you say no more than this, +That like a father you will deal with him +And pass my daughter a sufficient dower, +The match is made, and all is done: +Your son shall have my daughter with consent. + +TRANIO: +I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best +We be affied and such assurance ta'en +As shall with either part's agreement stand? + +BAPTISTA: +Not in my house, Lucentio; for, you know, +Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants: +Besides, old Gremio is hearkening still; +And happily we might be interrupted. + +TRANIO: +Then at my lodging, an it like you: +There doth my father lie; and there, this night, +We'll pass the business privately and well. +Send for your daughter by your servant here: +My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently. +The worst is this, that, at so slender warning, +You are like to have a thin and slender pittance. + +BAPTISTA: +It likes me well. Biondello, hie you home, +And bid Bianca make her ready straight; +And, if you will, tell what hath happened, +Lucentio's father is arrived in Padua, +And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife. + +BIONDELLO: +I pray the gods she may with all my heart! + +TRANIO: +Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone. +Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way? +Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer: +Come, sir; we will better it in Pisa. + +BAPTISTA: +I follow you. + +BIONDELLO: +Cambio! + +LUCENTIO: +What sayest thou, Biondello? + +BIONDELLO: +You saw my master wink and laugh upon you? + +LUCENTIO: +Biondello, what of that? + +BIONDELLO: +Faith, nothing; but has left me here behind, to +expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens. + +LUCENTIO: +I pray thee, moralize them. + +BIONDELLO: +Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the +deceiving father of a deceitful son. + +LUCENTIO: +And what of him? + +BIONDELLO: +His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper. + +LUCENTIO: +And then? + +BIONDELLO: +The old priest of Saint Luke's church is at your +command at all hours. + +LUCENTIO: +And what of all this? + +BIONDELLO: +I cannot tell; expect they are busied about a +counterfeit assurance: take you assurance of her, +'cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum:' to the +church; take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient +honest witnesses: If this be not that you look for, +I have no more to say, But bid Bianca farewell for +ever and a day. + +LUCENTIO: +Hearest thou, Biondello? + +BIONDELLO: +I cannot tarry: I knew a wench married in an +afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley to +stuff a rabbit; and so may you, sir: and so, adieu, +sir. My master hath appointed me to go to Saint +Luke's, to bid the priest be ready to come against +you come with your appendix. + +LUCENTIO: +I may, and will, if she be so contented: +She will be pleased; then wherefore should I doubt? +Hap what hap may, I'll roundly go about her: +It shall go hard if Cambio go without her. + +PETRUCHIO: +Come on, i' God's name; once more toward our father's. +Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon! + +KATHARINA: +The moon! the sun: it is not moonlight now. + +PETRUCHIO: +I say it is the moon that shines so bright. + +KATHARINA: +I know it is the sun that shines so bright. + +PETRUCHIO: +Now, by my mother's son, and that's myself, +It shall be moon, or star, or what I list, +Or ere I journey to your father's house. +Go on, and fetch our horses back again. +Evermore cross'd and cross'd; nothing but cross'd! + +HORTENSIO: +Say as he says, or we shall never go. + +KATHARINA: +Forward, I pray, since we have come so far, +And be it moon, or sun, or what you please: +An if you please to call it a rush-candle, +Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me. + +PETRUCHIO: +I say it is the moon. + +KATHARINA: +I know it is the moon. + +PETRUCHIO: +Nay, then you lie: it is the blessed sun. + +KATHARINA: +Then, God be bless'd, it is the blessed sun: +But sun it is not, when you say it is not; +And the moon changes even as your mind. +What you will have it named, even that it is; +And so it shall be so for Katharina. + +HORTENSIO: +Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won. + +PETRUCHIO: +Well, forward, forward! thus the bowl should run, +And not unluckily against the bias. +But, soft! company is coming here. +Good morrow, gentle mistress: where away? +Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too, +Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman? +Such war of white and red within her cheeks! +What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty, +As those two eyes become that heavenly face? +Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee. +Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake. + +HORTENSIO: +A' will make the man mad, to make a woman of him. + +KATHARINA: +Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet, +Whither away, or where is thy abode? +Happy the parents of so fair a child; +Happier the man, whom favourable stars +Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow! + +PETRUCHIO: +Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad: +This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd, +And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is. + +KATHARINA: +Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes, +That have been so bedazzled with the sun +That everything I look on seemeth green: +Now I perceive thou art a reverend father; +Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking. + +PETRUCHIO: +Do, good old grandsire; and withal make known +Which way thou travellest: if along with us, +We shall be joyful of thy company. + +VINCENTIO: +Fair sir, and you my merry mistress, +That with your strange encounter much amazed me, +My name is call'd Vincentio; my dwelling Pisa; +And bound I am to Padua; there to visit +A son of mine, which long I have not seen. + +PETRUCHIO: +What is his name? + +VINCENTIO: +Lucentio, gentle sir. + +PETRUCHIO: +Happily we met; the happier for thy son. +And now by law, as well as reverend age, +I may entitle thee my loving father: +The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman, +Thy son by this hath married. Wonder not, +Nor be grieved: she is of good esteem, +Her dowery wealthy, and of worthy birth; +Beside, so qualified as may beseem +The spouse of any noble gentleman. +Let me embrace with old Vincentio, +And wander we to see thy honest son, +Who will of thy arrival be full joyous. + +VINCENTIO: +But is it true? or else is it your pleasure, +Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest +Upon the company you overtake? + +HORTENSIO: +I do assure thee, father, so it is. + +PETRUCHIO: +Come, go along, and see the truth hereof; +For our first merriment hath made thee jealous. + +HORTENSIO: +Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart. +Have to my widow! and if she be froward, +Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward. + +BIONDELLO: +Softly and swiftly, sir; for the priest is ready. + +LUCENTIO: +I fly, Biondello: but they may chance to need thee +at home; therefore leave us. + +BIONDELLO: +Nay, faith, I'll see the church o' your back; and +then come back to my master's as soon as I can. + +GREMIO: +I marvel Cambio comes not all this while. + +PETRUCHIO: +Sir, here's the door, this is Lucentio's house: +My father's bears more toward the market-place; +Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir. + +VINCENTIO: +You shall not choose but drink before you go: +I think I shall command your welcome here, +And, by all likelihood, some cheer is toward. + +GREMIO: +They're busy within; you were best knock louder. + +Pedant: +What's he that knocks as he would beat down the gate? + +VINCENTIO: +Is Signior Lucentio within, sir? + +Pedant: +He's within, sir, but not to be spoken withal. + +VINCENTIO: +What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two, to +make merry withal? + +Pedant: +Keep your hundred pounds to yourself: he shall +need none, so long as I live. + +PETRUCHIO: +Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua. +Do you hear, sir? To leave frivolous circumstances, +I pray you, tell Signior Lucentio that his father is +come from Pisa, and is here at the door to speak with him. + +Pedant: +Thou liest: his father is come from Padua and here +looking out at the window. + +VINCENTIO: +Art thou his father? + +Pedant: +Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her. + +PETRUCHIO: + +Pedant: +Lay hands on the villain: I believe a' means to +cozen somebody in this city under my countenance. + +BIONDELLO: +I have seen them in the church together: God send +'em good shipping! But who is here? mine old +master Vincentio! now we are undone and brought to nothing. + +VINCENTIO: + +BIONDELLO: +Hope I may choose, sir. + +VINCENTIO: +Come hither, you rogue. What, have you forgot me? + +BIONDELLO: +Forgot you! no, sir: I could not forget you, for I +never saw you before in all my life. + +VINCENTIO: +What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see +thy master's father, Vincentio? + +BIONDELLO: +What, my old worshipful old master? yes, marry, sir: +see where he looks out of the window. + +VINCENTIO: +Is't so, indeed. + +BIONDELLO: +Help, help, help! here's a madman will murder me. + +Pedant: +Help, son! help, Signior Baptista! + +PETRUCHIO: +Prithee, Kate, let's stand aside and see the end of +this controversy. + +TRANIO: +Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant? + +VINCENTIO: +What am I, sir! nay, what are you, sir? O immortal +gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet! a velvet +hose! a scarlet cloak! and a copatain hat! O, I +am undone! I am undone! while I play the good +husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at +the university. + +TRANIO: +How now! what's the matter? + +BAPTISTA: +What, is the man lunatic? + +TRANIO: +Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your +habit, but your words show you a madman. Why, sir, +what 'cerns it you if I wear pearl and gold? I +thank my good father, I am able to maintain it. + +VINCENTIO: +Thy father! O villain! he is a sailmaker in Bergamo. + +BAPTISTA: +You mistake, sir, you mistake, sir. Pray, what do +you think is his name? + +VINCENTIO: +His name! as if I knew not his name: I have brought +him up ever since he was three years old, and his +name is Tranio. + +Pedant: +Away, away, mad ass! his name is Lucentio and he is +mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, Signior Vincentio. + +VINCENTIO: +Lucentio! O, he hath murdered his master! Lay hold +on him, I charge you, in the duke's name. O, my +son, my son! Tell me, thou villain, where is my son Lucentio? + +TRANIO: +Call forth an officer. +Carry this mad knave to the gaol. Father Baptista, +I charge you see that he be forthcoming. + +VINCENTIO: +Carry me to the gaol! + +GREMIO: +Stay, officer: he shall not go to prison. + +BAPTISTA: +Talk not, Signior Gremio: I say he shall go to prison. + +GREMIO: +Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be +cony-catched in this business: I dare swear this +is the right Vincentio. + +Pedant: +Swear, if thou darest. + +GREMIO: +Nay, I dare not swear it. + +TRANIO: +Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio. + +GREMIO: +Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio. + +BAPTISTA: +Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him! + +VINCENTIO: +Thus strangers may be hailed and abused: O +monstrous villain! + +BIONDELLO: +O! we are spoiled and--yonder he is: deny him, +forswear him, or else we are all undone. + +LUCENTIO: + +VINCENTIO: +Lives my sweet son? + +BIANCA: +Pardon, dear father. + +BAPTISTA: +How hast thou offended? +Where is Lucentio? + +LUCENTIO: +Here's Lucentio, +Right son to the right Vincentio; +That have by marriage made thy daughter mine, +While counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne. + +GREMIO: +Here's packing, with a witness to deceive us all! + +VINCENTIO: +Where is that damned villain Tranio, +That faced and braved me in this matter so? + +BAPTISTA: +Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio? + +BIANCA: +Cambio is changed into Lucentio. + +LUCENTIO: +Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's love +Made me exchange my state with Tranio, +While he did bear my countenance in the town; +And happily I have arrived at the last +Unto the wished haven of my bliss. +What Tranio did, myself enforced him to; +Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake. + +VINCENTIO: +I'll slit the villain's nose, that would have sent +me to the gaol. + +BAPTISTA: +But do you hear, sir? have you married my daughter +without asking my good will? + +VINCENTIO: +Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but +I will in, to be revenged for this villany. + +BAPTISTA: +And I, to sound the depth of this knavery. + +LUCENTIO: +Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not frown. + +GREMIO: +My cake is dough; but I'll in among the rest, +Out of hope of all, but my share of the feast. + +KATHARINA: +Husband, let's follow, to see the end of this ado. + +PETRUCHIO: +First kiss me, Kate, and we will. + +KATHARINA: +What, in the midst of the street? + +PETRUCHIO: +What, art thou ashamed of me? + +KATHARINA: +No, sir, God forbid; but ashamed to kiss. + +PETRUCHIO: +Why, then let's home again. Come, sirrah, let's away. + +KATHARINA: +Nay, I will give thee a kiss: now pray thee, love, stay. + +PETRUCHIO: +Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate: +Better once than never, for never too late. + +LUCENTIO: +At last, though long, our jarring notes agree: +And time it is, when raging war is done, +To smile at scapes and perils overblown. +My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome, +While I with self-same kindness welcome thine. +Brother Petruchio, sister Katharina, +And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow, +Feast with the best, and welcome to my house: +My banquet is to close our stomachs up, +After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down; +For now we sit to chat as well as eat. + +PETRUCHIO: +Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat! + +BAPTISTA: +Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio. + +PETRUCHIO: +Padua affords nothing but what is kind. + +HORTENSIO: +For both our sakes, I would that word were true. + +PETRUCHIO: +Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow. + +Widow: +Then never trust me, if I be afeard. + +PETRUCHIO: +You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense: +I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you. + +Widow: +He that is giddy thinks the world turns round. + +PETRUCHIO: +Roundly replied. + +KATHARINA: +Mistress, how mean you that? + +Widow: +Thus I conceive by him. + +PETRUCHIO: +Conceives by me! How likes Hortensio that? + +HORTENSIO: +My widow says, thus she conceives her tale. + +PETRUCHIO: +Very well mended. Kiss him for that, good widow. + +KATHARINA: +'He that is giddy thinks the world turns round:' +I pray you, tell me what you meant by that. + +Widow: +Your husband, being troubled with a shrew, +Measures my husband's sorrow by his woe: +And now you know my meaning, + +KATHARINA: +A very mean meaning. + +Widow: +Right, I mean you. + +KATHARINA: +And I am mean indeed, respecting you. + +PETRUCHIO: +To her, Kate! + +HORTENSIO: +To her, widow! + +PETRUCHIO: +A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down. + +HORTENSIO: +That's my office. + +PETRUCHIO: +Spoke like an officer; ha' to thee, lad! + +BAPTISTA: +How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks? + +GREMIO: +Believe me, sir, they butt together well. + +BIANCA: +Head, and butt! an hasty-witted body +Would say your head and butt were head and horn. + +VINCENTIO: +Ay, mistress bride, hath that awaken'd you? + +BIANCA: +Ay, but not frighted me; therefore I'll sleep again. + +PETRUCHIO: +Nay, that you shall not: since you have begun, +Have at you for a bitter jest or two! + +BIANCA: +Am I your bird? I mean to shift my bush; +And then pursue me as you draw your bow. +You are welcome all. + +PETRUCHIO: +She hath prevented me. Here, Signior Tranio. +This bird you aim'd at, though you hit her not; +Therefore a health to all that shot and miss'd. + +TRANIO: +O, sir, Lucentio slipp'd me like his greyhound, +Which runs himself and catches for his master. + +PETRUCHIO: +A good swift simile, but something currish. + +TRANIO: +'Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself: +'Tis thought your deer does hold you at a bay. + +BAPTISTA: +O ho, Petruchio! Tranio hits you now. + +LUCENTIO: +I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio. + +HORTENSIO: +Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here? + +PETRUCHIO: +A' has a little gall'd me, I confess; +And, as the jest did glance away from me, +'Tis ten to one it maim'd you two outright. + +BAPTISTA: +Now, in good sadness, son Petruchio, +I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all. + +PETRUCHIO: +Well, I say no: and therefore for assurance +Let's each one send unto his wife; +And he whose wife is most obedient +To come at first when he doth send for her, +Shall win the wager which we will propose. + +HORTENSIO: +Content. What is the wager? + +LUCENTIO: +Twenty crowns. + +PETRUCHIO: +Twenty crowns! +I'll venture so much of my hawk or hound, +But twenty times so much upon my wife. + +LUCENTIO: +A hundred then. + +HORTENSIO: +Content. + +PETRUCHIO: +A match! 'tis done. + +HORTENSIO: +Who shall begin? + +LUCENTIO: +That will I. +Go, Biondello, bid your mistress come to me. + +BIONDELLO: +I go. + +BAPTISTA: +Son, I'll be your half, Bianca comes. + +LUCENTIO: +I'll have no halves; I'll bear it all myself. +How now! what news? + +BIONDELLO: +Sir, my mistress sends you word +That she is busy and she cannot come. + +PETRUCHIO: +How! she is busy and she cannot come! +Is that an answer? + +GREMIO: +Ay, and a kind one too: +Pray God, sir, your wife send you not a worse. + +PETRUCHIO: +I hope better. + +HORTENSIO: +Sirrah Biondello, go and entreat my wife +To come to me forthwith. + +PETRUCHIO: +O, ho! entreat her! +Nay, then she must needs come. + +HORTENSIO: +I am afraid, sir, +Do what you can, yours will not be entreated. +Now, where's my wife? + +BIONDELLO: +She says you have some goodly jest in hand: +She will not come: she bids you come to her. + +PETRUCHIO: +Worse and worse; she will not come! O vile, +Intolerable, not to be endured! +Sirrah Grumio, go to your mistress; +Say, I command her to come to me. + +HORTENSIO: +I know her answer. + +PETRUCHIO: +What? + +HORTENSIO: +She will not. + +PETRUCHIO: +The fouler fortune mine, and there an end. + +BAPTISTA: +Now, by my holidame, here comes Katharina! + +KATHARINA: +What is your will, sir, that you send for me? + +PETRUCHIO: +Where is your sister, and Hortensio's wife? + +KATHARINA: +They sit conferring by the parlor fire. + +PETRUCHIO: +Go fetch them hither: if they deny to come. +Swinge me them soundly forth unto their husbands: +Away, I say, and bring them hither straight. + +LUCENTIO: +Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wonder. + +HORTENSIO: +And so it is: I wonder what it bodes. + +PETRUCHIO: +Marry, peace it bodes, and love and quiet life, +And awful rule and right supremacy; +And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy? + +BAPTISTA: +Now, fair befal thee, good Petruchio! +The wager thou hast won; and I will add +Unto their losses twenty thousand crowns; +Another dowry to another daughter, +For she is changed, as she had never been. + +PETRUCHIO: +Nay, I will win my wager better yet +And show more sign of her obedience, +Her new-built virtue and obedience. +See where she comes and brings your froward wives +As prisoners to her womanly persuasion. +Katharina, that cap of yours becomes you not: +Off with that bauble, throw it under-foot. + +Widow: +Lord, let me never have a cause to sigh, +Till I be brought to such a silly pass! + +BIANCA: +Fie! what a foolish duty call you this? + +LUCENTIO: +I would your duty were as foolish too: +The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca, +Hath cost me an hundred crowns since supper-time. + +BIANCA: +The more fool you, for laying on my duty. + +PETRUCHIO: +Katharina, I charge thee, tell these headstrong women +What duty they do owe their lords and husbands. + +Widow: +Come, come, you're mocking: we will have no telling. + +PETRUCHIO: +Come on, I say; and first begin with her. + +Widow: +She shall not. + +PETRUCHIO: +I say she shall: and first begin with her. + +KATHARINA: +Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow, +And dart not scornful glances from those eyes, +To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor: +It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads, +Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds, +And in no sense is meet or amiable. +A woman moved is like a fountain troubled, +Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty; +And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty +Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it. +Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, +Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee, +And for thy maintenance commits his body +To painful labour both by sea and land, +To watch the night in storms, the day in cold, +Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe; +And craves no other tribute at thy hands +But love, fair looks and true obedience; +Too little payment for so great a debt. +Such duty as the subject owes the prince +Even such a woman oweth to her husband; +And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour, +And not obedient to his honest will, +What is she but a foul contending rebel +And graceless traitor to her loving lord? +I am ashamed that women are so simple +To offer war where they should kneel for peace; +Or seek for rule, supremacy and sway, +When they are bound to serve, love and obey. +Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth, +Unapt to toil and trouble in the world, +But that our soft conditions and our hearts +Should well agree with our external parts? +Come, come, you froward and unable worms! +My mind hath been as big as one of yours, +My heart as great, my reason haply more, +To bandy word for word and frown for frown; +But now I see our lances are but straws, +Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare, +That seeming to be most which we indeed least are. +Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot, +And place your hands below your husband's foot: +In token of which duty, if he please, +My hand is ready; may it do him ease. + +PETRUCHIO: +Why, there's a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate. + +LUCENTIO: +Well, go thy ways, old lad; for thou shalt ha't. + +VINCENTIO: +'Tis a good hearing when children are toward. + +LUCENTIO: +But a harsh hearing when women are froward. + +PETRUCHIO: +Come, Kate, we'll to bed. +We three are married, but you two are sped. +'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white; +And, being a winner, God give you good night! + +HORTENSIO: +Now, go thy ways; thou hast tamed a curst shrew. + +LUCENTIO: +'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tamed so. + +Master: +Boatswain! + +Boatswain: +Here, master: what cheer? + +Master: +Good, speak to the mariners: fall to't, yarely, +or we run ourselves aground: bestir, bestir. + +Boatswain: +Heigh, my hearts! cheerly, cheerly, my hearts! +yare, yare! Take in the topsail. Tend to the +master's whistle. Blow, till thou burst thy wind, +if room enough! + +ALONSO: +Good boatswain, have care. Where's the master? +Play the men. + +Boatswain: +I pray now, keep below. + +ANTONIO: +Where is the master, boatswain? + +Boatswain: +Do you not hear him? You mar our labour: keep your +cabins: you do assist the storm. + +GONZALO: +Nay, good, be patient. + +Boatswain: +When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers +for the name of king? To cabin: silence! trouble us not. + +GONZALO: +Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard. + +Boatswain: +None that I more love than myself. You are a +counsellor; if you can command these elements to +silence, and work the peace of the present, we will +not hand a rope more; use your authority: if you +cannot, give thanks you have lived so long, and make +yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of +the hour, if it so hap. Cheerly, good hearts! Out +of our way, I say. + +GONZALO: +I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he +hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is +perfect gallows. Stand fast, good Fate, to his +hanging: make the rope of his destiny our cable, +for our own doth little advantage. If he be not +born to be hanged, our case is miserable. + +Boatswain: +Down with the topmast! yare! lower, lower! Bring +her to try with main-course. +A plague upon this howling! they are louder than +the weather or our office. +Yet again! what do you here? Shall we give o'er +and drown? Have you a mind to sink? + +SEBASTIAN: +A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, +incharitable dog! + +Boatswain: +Work you then. + +ANTONIO: +Hang, cur! hang, you whoreson, insolent noisemaker! +We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art. + +GONZALO: +I'll warrant him for drowning; though the ship were +no stronger than a nutshell and as leaky as an +unstanched wench. + +Boatswain: +Lay her a-hold, a-hold! set her two courses off to +sea again; lay her off. + +Mariners: +All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost! + +Boatswain: +What, must our mouths be cold? + +GONZALO: +The king and prince at prayers! let's assist them, +For our case is as theirs. + +SEBASTIAN: +I'm out of patience. + +ANTONIO: +We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards: +This wide-chapp'd rascal--would thou mightst lie drowning +The washing of ten tides! + +GONZALO: +He'll be hang'd yet, +Though every drop of water swear against it +And gape at widest to glut him. + +ANTONIO: +Let's all sink with the king. + +SEBASTIAN: +Let's take leave of him. + +GONZALO: +Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an +acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any +thing. The wills above be done! but I would fain +die a dry death. + +MIRANDA: +If by your art, my dearest father, you have +Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them. +The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch, +But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek, +Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffered +With those that I saw suffer: a brave vessel, +Who had, no doubt, some noble creature in her, +Dash'd all to pieces. O, the cry did knock +Against my very heart. Poor souls, they perish'd. +Had I been any god of power, I would +Have sunk the sea within the earth or ere +It should the good ship so have swallow'd and +The fraughting souls within her. + +PROSPERO: +Be collected: +No more amazement: tell your piteous heart +There's no harm done. + +MIRANDA: +O, woe the day! + +PROSPERO: +No harm. +I have done nothing but in care of thee, +Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter, who +Art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing +Of whence I am, nor that I am more better +Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell, +And thy no greater father. + +MIRANDA: +More to know +Did never meddle with my thoughts. + +PROSPERO: +'Tis time +I should inform thee farther. Lend thy hand, +And pluck my magic garment from me. So: +Lie there, my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort. +The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd +The very virtue of compassion in thee, +I have with such provision in mine art +So safely ordered that there is no soul-- +No, not so much perdition as an hair +Betid to any creature in the vessel +Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink. Sit down; +For thou must now know farther. + +MIRANDA: +You have often +Begun to tell me what I am, but stopp'd +And left me to a bootless inquisition, +Concluding 'Stay: not yet.' + +PROSPERO: +The hour's now come; +The very minute bids thee ope thine ear; +Obey and be attentive. Canst thou remember +A time before we came unto this cell? +I do not think thou canst, for then thou wast not +Out three years old. + +MIRANDA: +Certainly, sir, I can. + +PROSPERO: +By what? by any other house or person? +Of any thing the image tell me that +Hath kept with thy remembrance. + +MIRANDA: +'Tis far off +And rather like a dream than an assurance +That my remembrance warrants. Had I not +Four or five women once that tended me? + +PROSPERO: +Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. But how is it +That this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else +In the dark backward and abysm of time? +If thou remember'st aught ere thou camest here, +How thou camest here thou mayst. + +MIRANDA: +But that I do not. + +PROSPERO: +Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since, +Thy father was the Duke of Milan and +A prince of power. + +MIRANDA: +Sir, are not you my father? + +PROSPERO: +Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and +She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father +Was Duke of Milan; and thou his only heir +And princess no worse issued. + +MIRANDA: +O the heavens! +What foul play had we, that we came from thence? +Or blessed was't we did? + +PROSPERO: +Both, both, my girl: +By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heaved thence, +But blessedly holp hither. + +MIRANDA: +O, my heart bleeds +To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to, +Which is from my remembrance! Please you, farther. + +PROSPERO: +My brother and thy uncle, call'd Antonio-- +I pray thee, mark me--that a brother should +Be so perfidious!--he whom next thyself +Of all the world I loved and to him put +The manage of my state; as at that time +Through all the signories it was the first +And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed +In dignity, and for the liberal arts +Without a parallel; those being all my study, +The government I cast upon my brother +And to my state grew stranger, being transported +And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle-- +Dost thou attend me? + +MIRANDA: +Sir, most heedfully. + +PROSPERO: +Being once perfected how to grant suits, +How to deny them, who to advance and who +To trash for over-topping, new created +The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed 'em, +Or else new form'd 'em; having both the key +Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state +To what tune pleased his ear; that now he was +The ivy which had hid my princely trunk, +And suck'd my verdure out on't. Thou attend'st not. + +MIRANDA: +O, good sir, I do. + +PROSPERO: +I pray thee, mark me. +I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated +To closeness and the bettering of my mind +With that which, but by being so retired, +O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother +Awaked an evil nature; and my trust, +Like a good parent, did beget of him +A falsehood in its contrary as great +As my trust was; which had indeed no limit, +A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded, +Not only with what my revenue yielded, +But what my power might else exact, like one +Who having into truth, by telling of it, +Made such a sinner of his memory, +To credit his own lie, he did believe +He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution +And executing the outward face of royalty, +With all prerogative: hence his ambition growing-- +Dost thou hear? + +MIRANDA: +Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. + +PROSPERO: +To have no screen between this part he play'd +And him he play'd it for, he needs will be +Absolute Milan. Me, poor man, my library +Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties +He thinks me now incapable; confederates-- +So dry he was for sway--wi' the King of Naples +To give him annual tribute, do him homage, +Subject his coronet to his crown and bend +The dukedom yet unbow'd--alas, poor Milan!-- +To most ignoble stooping. + +MIRANDA: +O the heavens! + +PROSPERO: +Mark his condition and the event; then tell me +If this might be a brother. + +MIRANDA: +I should sin +To think but nobly of my grandmother: +Good wombs have borne bad sons. + +PROSPERO: +Now the condition. +The King of Naples, being an enemy +To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit; +Which was, that he, in lieu o' the premises +Of homage and I know not how much tribute, +Should presently extirpate me and mine +Out of the dukedom and confer fair Milan +With all the honours on my brother: whereon, +A treacherous army levied, one midnight +Fated to the purpose did Antonio open +The gates of Milan, and, i' the dead of darkness, +The ministers for the purpose hurried thence +Me and thy crying self. + +MIRANDA: +Alack, for pity! +I, not remembering how I cried out then, +Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint +That wrings mine eyes to't. + +PROSPERO: +Hear a little further +And then I'll bring thee to the present business +Which now's upon's; without the which this story +Were most impertinent. + +MIRANDA: +Wherefore did they not +That hour destroy us? + +PROSPERO: +Well demanded, wench: +My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not, +So dear the love my people bore me, nor set +A mark so bloody on the business, but +With colours fairer painted their foul ends. +In few, they hurried us aboard a bark, +Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepared +A rotten carcass of a boat, not rigg'd, +Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats +Instinctively had quit it: there they hoist us, +To cry to the sea that roar'd to us, to sigh +To the winds whose pity, sighing back again, +Did us but loving wrong. + +MIRANDA: +Alack, what trouble +Was I then to you! + +PROSPERO: +O, a cherubim +Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile. +Infused with a fortitude from heaven, +When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt, +Under my burthen groan'd; which raised in me +An undergoing stomach, to bear up +Against what should ensue. + +MIRANDA: +How came we ashore? + +PROSPERO: +By Providence divine. +Some food we had and some fresh water that +A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, +Out of his charity, being then appointed +Master of this design, did give us, with +Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries, +Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness, +Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me +From mine own library with volumes that +I prize above my dukedom. + +MIRANDA: +Would I might +But ever see that man! + +PROSPERO: +Now I arise: +Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. +Here in this island we arrived; and here +Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit +Than other princesses can that have more time +For vainer hours and tutors not so careful. + +MIRANDA: +Heavens thank you for't! And now, I pray you, sir, +For still 'tis beating in my mind, your reason +For raising this sea-storm? + +PROSPERO: +Know thus far forth. +By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune, +Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies +Brought to this shore; and by my prescience +I find my zenith doth depend upon +A most auspicious star, whose influence +If now I court not but omit, my fortunes +Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions: +Thou art inclined to sleep; 'tis a good dulness, +And give it way: I know thou canst not choose. +Come away, servant, come. I am ready now. +Approach, my Ariel, come. + +ARIEL: +All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come +To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly, +To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride +On the curl'd clouds, to thy strong bidding task +Ariel and all his quality. + +PROSPERO: +Hast thou, spirit, +Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee? + +ARIEL: +To every article. +I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, +Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin, +I flamed amazement: sometime I'ld divide, +And burn in many places; on the topmast, +The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly, +Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors +O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary +And sight-outrunning were not; the fire and cracks +Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune +Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble, +Yea, his dread trident shake. + +PROSPERO: +My brave spirit! +Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil +Would not infect his reason? + +ARIEL: +Not a soul +But felt a fever of the mad and play'd +Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners +Plunged in the foaming brine and quit the vessel, +Then all afire with me: the king's son, Ferdinand, +With hair up-staring,--then like reeds, not hair,-- +Was the first man that leap'd; cried, 'Hell is empty +And all the devils are here.' + +PROSPERO: +Why that's my spirit! +But was not this nigh shore? + +ARIEL: +Close by, my master. + +PROSPERO: +But are they, Ariel, safe? + +ARIEL: +Not a hair perish'd; +On their sustaining garments not a blemish, +But fresher than before: and, as thou badest me, +In troops I have dispersed them 'bout the isle. +The king's son have I landed by himself; +Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs +In an odd angle of the isle and sitting, +His arms in this sad knot. + +PROSPERO: +Of the king's ship +The mariners say how thou hast disposed +And all the rest o' the fleet. + +ARIEL: +Safely in harbour +Is the king's ship; in the deep nook, where once +Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch dew +From the still-vex'd Bermoothes, there she's hid: +The mariners all under hatches stow'd; +Who, with a charm join'd to their suffer'd labour, +I have left asleep; and for the rest o' the fleet +Which I dispersed, they all have met again +And are upon the Mediterranean flote, +Bound sadly home for Naples, +Supposing that they saw the king's ship wreck'd +And his great person perish. + +PROSPERO: +Ariel, thy charge +Exactly is perform'd: but there's more work. +What is the time o' the day? + +ARIEL: +Past the mid season. + +PROSPERO: +At least two glasses. The time 'twixt six and now +Must by us both be spent most preciously. + +ARIEL: +Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, +Let me remember thee what thou hast promised, +Which is not yet perform'd me. + +PROSPERO: +How now? moody? +What is't thou canst demand? + +ARIEL: +My liberty. + +PROSPERO: +Before the time be out? no more! + +ARIEL: +I prithee, +Remember I have done thee worthy service; +Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served +Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise +To bate me a full year. + +PROSPERO: +Dost thou forget +From what a torment I did free thee? + +ARIEL: +No. + +PROSPERO: +Thou dost, and think'st it much to tread the ooze +Of the salt deep, +To run upon the sharp wind of the north, +To do me business in the veins o' the earth +When it is baked with frost. + +ARIEL: +I do not, sir. + +PROSPERO: +Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot +The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy +Was grown into a hoop? hast thou forgot her? + +ARIEL: +No, sir. + +PROSPERO: +Thou hast. Where was she born? speak; tell me. + +ARIEL: +Sir, in Argier. + +PROSPERO: +O, was she so? I must +Once in a month recount what thou hast been, +Which thou forget'st. This damn'd witch Sycorax, +For mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible +To enter human hearing, from Argier, +Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one thing she did +They would not take her life. Is not this true? + +ARIEL: +Ay, sir. + +PROSPERO: +This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child +And here was left by the sailors. Thou, my slave, +As thou report'st thyself, wast then her servant; +And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate +To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands, +Refusing her grand hests, she did confine thee, +By help of her more potent ministers +And in her most unmitigable rage, +Into a cloven pine; within which rift +Imprison'd thou didst painfully remain +A dozen years; within which space she died +And left thee there; where thou didst vent thy groans +As fast as mill-wheels strike. Then was this island-- +Save for the son that she did litter here, +A freckled whelp hag-born--not honour'd with +A human shape. + +ARIEL: +Yes, Caliban her son. + +PROSPERO: +Dull thing, I say so; he, that Caliban +Whom now I keep in service. Thou best know'st +What torment I did find thee in; thy groans +Did make wolves howl and penetrate the breasts +Of ever angry bears: it was a torment +To lay upon the damn'd, which Sycorax +Could not again undo: it was mine art, +When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape +The pine and let thee out. + +ARIEL: +I thank thee, master. + +PROSPERO: +If thou more murmur'st, I will rend an oak +And peg thee in his knotty entrails till +Thou hast howl'd away twelve winters. + +ARIEL: +Pardon, master; +I will be correspondent to command +And do my spiriting gently. + +PROSPERO: +Do so, and after two days +I will discharge thee. + +ARIEL: +That's my noble master! +What shall I do? say what; what shall I do? + +PROSPERO: +Go make thyself like a nymph o' the sea: be subject +To no sight but thine and mine, invisible +To every eyeball else. Go take this shape +And hither come in't: go, hence with diligence! +Awake, dear heart, awake! thou hast slept well; Awake! + +MIRANDA: +The strangeness of your story put +Heaviness in me. + +PROSPERO: +Shake it off. Come on; +We'll visit Caliban my slave, who never +Yields us kind answer. + +MIRANDA: +'Tis a villain, sir, +I do not love to look on. + +PROSPERO: +But, as 'tis, +We cannot miss him: he does make our fire, +Fetch in our wood and serves in offices +That profit us. What, ho! slave! Caliban! +Thou earth, thou! speak. + +CALIBAN: + +PROSPERO: +Come forth, I say! there's other business for thee: +Come, thou tortoise! when? +Fine apparition! My quaint Ariel, +Hark in thine ear. + +ARIEL: +My lord it shall be done. + +PROSPERO: +Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself +Upon thy wicked dam, come forth! + +CALIBAN: +As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd +With raven's feather from unwholesome fen +Drop on you both! a south-west blow on ye +And blister you all o'er! + +PROSPERO: +For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps, +Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins +Shall, for that vast of night that they may work, +All exercise on thee; thou shalt be pinch'd +As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging +Than bees that made 'em. + +CALIBAN: +I must eat my dinner. +This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, +Which thou takest from me. When thou camest first, +Thou strokedst me and madest much of me, wouldst give me +Water with berries in't, and teach me how +To name the bigger light, and how the less, +That burn by day and night: and then I loved thee +And show'd thee all the qualities o' the isle, +The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile: +Cursed be I that did so! All the charms +Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you! +For I am all the subjects that you have, +Which first was mine own king: and here you sty me +In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me +The rest o' the island. + +PROSPERO: +Thou most lying slave, +Whom stripes may move, not kindness! I have used thee, +Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee +In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate +The honour of my child. + +CALIBAN: +O ho, O ho! would't had been done! +Thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else +This isle with Calibans. + +PROSPERO: +Abhorred slave, +Which any print of goodness wilt not take, +Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee, +Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour +One thing or other: when thou didst not, savage, +Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like +A thing most brutish, I endow'd thy purposes +With words that made them known. But thy vile race, +Though thou didst learn, had that in't which +good natures +Could not abide to be with; therefore wast thou +Deservedly confined into this rock, +Who hadst deserved more than a prison. + +CALIBAN: +You taught me language; and my profit on't +Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you +For learning me your language! + +PROSPERO: +Hag-seed, hence! +Fetch us in fuel; and be quick, thou'rt best, +To answer other business. Shrug'st thou, malice? +If thou neglect'st or dost unwillingly +What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps, +Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar +That beasts shall tremble at thy din. + +CALIBAN: +No, pray thee. +I must obey: his art is of such power, +It would control my dam's god, Setebos, +and make a vassal of him. + +PROSPERO: +So, slave; hence! +Come unto these yellow sands, +And then take hands: +Courtsied when you have and kiss'd +The wild waves whist, +Foot it featly here and there; +And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear. +Hark, hark! + +FERDINAND: +Where should this music be? i' the air or the earth? +It sounds no more: and sure, it waits upon +Some god o' the island. Sitting on a bank, +Weeping again the king my father's wreck, +This music crept by me upon the waters, +Allaying both their fury and my passion +With its sweet air: thence I have follow'd it, +Or it hath drawn me rather. But 'tis gone. +No, it begins again. +Full fathom five thy father lies; +Of his bones are coral made; +Those are pearls that were his eyes: +Nothing of him that doth fade +But doth suffer a sea-change +Into something rich and strange. +Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell +Hark! now I hear them,--Ding-dong, bell. + +FERDINAND: +The ditty does remember my drown'd father. +This is no mortal business, nor no sound +That the earth owes. I hear it now above me. + +PROSPERO: +The fringed curtains of thine eye advance +And say what thou seest yond. + +MIRANDA: +What is't? a spirit? +Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir, +It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit. + +PROSPERO: +No, wench; it eats and sleeps and hath such senses +As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest +Was in the wreck; and, but he's something stain'd +With grief that's beauty's canker, thou mightst call him +A goodly person: he hath lost his fellows +And strays about to find 'em. + +MIRANDA: +I might call him +A thing divine, for nothing natural +I ever saw so noble. + +PROSPERO: + +FERDINAND: +Most sure, the goddess +On whom these airs attend! Vouchsafe my prayer +May know if you remain upon this island; +And that you will some good instruction give +How I may bear me here: my prime request, +Which I do last pronounce, is, O you wonder! +If you be maid or no? + +MIRANDA: +No wonder, sir; +But certainly a maid. + +FERDINAND: +My language! heavens! +I am the best of them that speak this speech, +Were I but where 'tis spoken. + +PROSPERO: +How? the best? +What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee? + +FERDINAND: +A single thing, as I am now, that wonders +To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me; +And that he does I weep: myself am Naples, +Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb, beheld +The king my father wreck'd. + +MIRANDA: +Alack, for mercy! + +FERDINAND: +Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan +And his brave son being twain. + +PROSPERO: + +MIRANDA: +Why speaks my father so ungently? This +Is the third man that e'er I saw, the first +That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move my father +To be inclined my way! + +FERDINAND: +O, if a virgin, +And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you +The queen of Naples. + +PROSPERO: +Soft, sir! one word more. +They are both in either's powers; but this swift business +I must uneasy make, lest too light winning +Make the prize light. +One word more; I charge thee +That thou attend me: thou dost here usurp +The name thou owest not; and hast put thyself +Upon this island as a spy, to win it +From me, the lord on't. + +FERDINAND: +No, as I am a man. + +MIRANDA: +There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple: +If the ill spirit have so fair a house, +Good things will strive to dwell with't. + +PROSPERO: +Follow me. +Speak not you for him; he's a traitor. Come; +I'll manacle thy neck and feet together: +Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be +The fresh-brook muscles, wither'd roots and husks +Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow. + +FERDINAND: +No; +I will resist such entertainment till +Mine enemy has more power. + +MIRANDA: +O dear father, +Make not too rash a trial of him, for +He's gentle and not fearful. + +PROSPERO: +What? I say, +My foot my tutor? Put thy sword up, traitor; +Who makest a show but darest not strike, thy conscience +Is so possess'd with guilt: come from thy ward, +For I can here disarm thee with this stick +And make thy weapon drop. + +MIRANDA: +Beseech you, father. + +PROSPERO: +Hence! hang not on my garments. + +MIRANDA: +Sir, have pity; +I'll be his surety. + +PROSPERO: +Silence! one word more +Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What! +An advocate for an imposter! hush! +Thou think'st there is no more such shapes as he, +Having seen but him and Caliban: foolish wench! +To the most of men this is a Caliban +And they to him are angels. + +MIRANDA: +My affections +Are then most humble; I have no ambition +To see a goodlier man. + +PROSPERO: +Come on; obey: +Thy nerves are in their infancy again +And have no vigour in them. + +FERDINAND: +So they are; +My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up. +My father's loss, the weakness which I feel, +The wreck of all my friends, nor this man's threats, +To whom I am subdued, are but light to me, +Might I but through my prison once a day +Behold this maid: all corners else o' the earth +Let liberty make use of; space enough +Have I in such a prison. + +PROSPERO: + +MIRANDA: +Be of comfort; +My father's of a better nature, sir, +Than he appears by speech: this is unwonted +Which now came from him. + +PROSPERO: +Thou shalt be free +As mountain winds: but then exactly do +All points of my command. + +ARIEL: +To the syllable. + +PROSPERO: +Come, follow. Speak not for him. + +GONZALO: +Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause, +So have we all, of joy; for our escape +Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe +Is common; every day some sailor's wife, +The masters of some merchant and the merchant +Have just our theme of woe; but for the miracle, +I mean our preservation, few in millions +Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh +Our sorrow with our comfort. + +ALONSO: +Prithee, peace. + +SEBASTIAN: +He receives comfort like cold porridge. + +ANTONIO: +The visitor will not give him o'er so. + +SEBASTIAN: +Look he's winding up the watch of his wit; +by and by it will strike. + +GONZALO: +Sir,-- + +SEBASTIAN: +One: tell. + +GONZALO: +When every grief is entertain'd that's offer'd, +Comes to the entertainer-- + +SEBASTIAN: +A dollar. + +GONZALO: +Dolour comes to him, indeed: you +have spoken truer than you purposed. + +SEBASTIAN: +You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should. + +GONZALO: +Therefore, my lord,-- + +ANTONIO: +Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his tongue! + +ALONSO: +I prithee, spare. + +GONZALO: +Well, I have done: but yet,-- + +SEBASTIAN: +He will be talking. + +ANTONIO: +Which, of he or Adrian, for a good +wager, first begins to crow? + +SEBASTIAN: +The old cock. + +ANTONIO: +The cockerel. + +SEBASTIAN: +Done. The wager? + +ANTONIO: +A laughter. + +SEBASTIAN: +A match! + +ADRIAN: +Though this island seem to be desert,-- + +SEBASTIAN: +Ha, ha, ha! So, you're paid. + +ADRIAN: +Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible,-- + +SEBASTIAN: +Yet,-- + +ADRIAN: +Yet,-- + +ANTONIO: +He could not miss't. + +ADRIAN: +It must needs be of subtle, tender and delicate +temperance. + +ANTONIO: +Temperance was a delicate wench. + +SEBASTIAN: +Ay, and a subtle; as he most learnedly delivered. + +ADRIAN: +The air breathes upon us here most sweetly. + +SEBASTIAN: +As if it had lungs and rotten ones. + +ANTONIO: +Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen. + +GONZALO: +Here is everything advantageous to life. + +ANTONIO: +True; save means to live. + +SEBASTIAN: +Of that there's none, or little. + +GONZALO: +How lush and lusty the grass looks! how green! + +ANTONIO: +The ground indeed is tawny. + +SEBASTIAN: +With an eye of green in't. + +ANTONIO: +He misses not much. + +SEBASTIAN: +No; he doth but mistake the truth totally. + +GONZALO: +But the rarity of it is,--which is indeed almost +beyond credit,-- + +SEBASTIAN: +As many vouched rarities are. + +GONZALO: +That our garments, being, as they were, drenched in +the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and +glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with +salt water. + +ANTONIO: +If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not +say he lies? + +SEBASTIAN: +Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report + +GONZALO: +Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we +put them on first in Afric, at the marriage of +the king's fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis. + +SEBASTIAN: +'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return. + +ADRIAN: +Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to +their queen. + +GONZALO: +Not since widow Dido's time. + +ANTONIO: +Widow! a pox o' that! How came that widow in? +widow Dido! + +SEBASTIAN: +What if he had said 'widower AEneas' too? Good Lord, +how you take it! + +ADRIAN: +'Widow Dido' said you? you make me study of that: +she was of Carthage, not of Tunis. + +GONZALO: +This Tunis, sir, was Carthage. + +ADRIAN: +Carthage? + +GONZALO: +I assure you, Carthage. + +SEBASTIAN: +His word is more than the miraculous harp; he hath +raised the wall and houses too. + +ANTONIO: +What impossible matter will he make easy next? + +SEBASTIAN: +I think he will carry this island home in his pocket +and give it his son for an apple. + +ANTONIO: +And, sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring +forth more islands. + +GONZALO: +Ay. + +ANTONIO: +Why, in good time. + +GONZALO: +Sir, we were talking that our garments seem now +as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage +of your daughter, who is now queen. + +ANTONIO: +And the rarest that e'er came there. + +SEBASTIAN: +Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido. + +ANTONIO: +O, widow Dido! ay, widow Dido. + +GONZALO: +Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I +wore it? I mean, in a sort. + +ANTONIO: +That sort was well fished for. + +GONZALO: +When I wore it at your daughter's marriage? + +ALONSO: +You cram these words into mine ears against +The stomach of my sense. Would I had never +Married my daughter there! for, coming thence, +My son is lost and, in my rate, she too, +Who is so far from Italy removed +I ne'er again shall see her. O thou mine heir +Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish +Hath made his meal on thee? + +FRANCISCO: +Sir, he may live: +I saw him beat the surges under him, +And ride upon their backs; he trod the water, +Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted +The surge most swoln that met him; his bold head +'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar'd +Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke +To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd, +As stooping to relieve him: I not doubt +He came alive to land. + +ALONSO: +No, no, he's gone. + +SEBASTIAN: +Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss, +That would not bless our Europe with your daughter, +But rather lose her to an African; +Where she at least is banish'd from your eye, +Who hath cause to wet the grief on't. + +ALONSO: +Prithee, peace. + +SEBASTIAN: +You were kneel'd to and importuned otherwise +By all of us, and the fair soul herself +Weigh'd between loathness and obedience, at +Which end o' the beam should bow. We have lost your +son, +I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have +More widows in them of this business' making +Than we bring men to comfort them: +The fault's your own. + +ALONSO: +So is the dear'st o' the loss. + +GONZALO: +My lord Sebastian, +The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness +And time to speak it in: you rub the sore, +When you should bring the plaster. + +SEBASTIAN: +Very well. + +ANTONIO: +And most chirurgeonly. + +GONZALO: +It is foul weather in us all, good sir, +When you are cloudy. + +SEBASTIAN: +Foul weather? + +ANTONIO: +Very foul. + +GONZALO: +Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,-- + +ANTONIO: +He'ld sow't with nettle-seed. + +SEBASTIAN: +Or docks, or mallows. + +GONZALO: +And were the king on't, what would I do? + +SEBASTIAN: +'Scape being drunk for want of wine. + +GONZALO: +I' the commonwealth I would by contraries +Execute all things; for no kind of traffic +Would I admit; no name of magistrate; +Letters should not be known; riches, poverty, +And use of service, none; contract, succession, +Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none; +No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil; +No occupation; all men idle, all; +And women too, but innocent and pure; +No sovereignty;-- + +SEBASTIAN: +Yet he would be king on't. + +ANTONIO: +The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the +beginning. + +GONZALO: +All things in common nature should produce +Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony, +Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine, +Would I not have; but nature should bring forth, +Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance, +To feed my innocent people. + +SEBASTIAN: +No marrying 'mong his subjects? + +ANTONIO: +None, man; all idle: whores and knaves. + +GONZALO: +I would with such perfection govern, sir, +To excel the golden age. + +SEBASTIAN: +God save his majesty! + +ANTONIO: +Long live Gonzalo! + +GONZALO: +And,--do you mark me, sir? + +ALONSO: +Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me. + +GONZALO: +I do well believe your highness; and +did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen, +who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that +they always use to laugh at nothing. + +ANTONIO: +'Twas you we laughed at. + +GONZALO: +Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing +to you: so you may continue and laugh at +nothing still. + +ANTONIO: +What a blow was there given! + +SEBASTIAN: +An it had not fallen flat-long. + +GONZALO: +You are gentlemen of brave metal; you would lift +the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue +in it five weeks without changing. + +SEBASTIAN: +We would so, and then go a bat-fowling. + +ANTONIO: +Nay, good my lord, be not angry. + +GONZALO: +No, I warrant you; I will not adventure +my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh +me asleep, for I am very heavy? + +ANTONIO: +Go sleep, and hear us. + +ALONSO: +What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes +Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find +They are inclined to do so. + +SEBASTIAN: +Please you, sir, +Do not omit the heavy offer of it: +It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth, +It is a comforter. + +ANTONIO: +We two, my lord, +Will guard your person while you take your rest, +And watch your safety. + +ALONSO: +Thank you. Wondrous heavy. + +SEBASTIAN: +What a strange drowsiness possesses them! + +ANTONIO: +It is the quality o' the climate. + +SEBASTIAN: +Why +Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not +Myself disposed to sleep. + +ANTONIO: +Nor I; my spirits are nimble. +They fell together all, as by consent; +They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might, +Worthy Sebastian? O, what might?--No more:-- +And yet me thinks I see it in thy face, +What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and +My strong imagination sees a crown +Dropping upon thy head. + +SEBASTIAN: +What, art thou waking? + +ANTONIO: +Do you not hear me speak? + +SEBASTIAN: +I do; and surely +It is a sleepy language and thou speak'st +Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say? +This is a strange repose, to be asleep +With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving, +And yet so fast asleep. + +ANTONIO: +Noble Sebastian, +Thou let'st thy fortune sleep--die, rather; wink'st +Whiles thou art waking. diff --git a/data/tiny_shakespeare_tokens.txt b/data/tiny_shakespeare_tokens.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a1e4d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/data/tiny_shakespeare_tokens.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ + + !$&',-.3:;?ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/license.md b/license.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a72f42 --- /dev/null +++ b/license.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +# Released under MIT License + +Copyright (c) 2024 Jai Bhagat + +Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: + +The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. + +THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/nanogpt.py b/nanogpt.py new file mode 100644 index 0000000..006889e --- /dev/null +++ b/nanogpt.py @@ -0,0 +1,455 @@ +"""Code to build, train, and run NanoGPT.""" + +import argparse +import json +from pathlib import Path +from warnings import warn + +import numpy as np +import torch +from torch import nn, optim +from torch.nn import functional as F +from torch.utils.data import DataLoader, TensorDataset, random_split +from tqdm import tqdm + +# [batch_sz, ctx_len, head_sz] + v = self.value(x) + k_q_sim = q @ k.transpose(2, 1) / np.sqrt(self.head_sz) # scaled attention to preserve k, q var + tril = torch.tril(torch.ones(ctx_len, ctx_len)).to(device) # mask to prevent access to future info + k_q_sim = k_q_sim.masked_fill(tril == 0, float("-inf")) + attn_weights = F.softmax(k_q_sim, dim=2) + attn_out = attn_weights @ v # weighted sum of values + # Note, if *not* using this in a MultiHead setting, we should project back to emb_dim + #proj = nn.Linear(head_sz, emb_dim) + #attn_out = proj(attn_out) + return attn_out + + +class MultiHead(nn.Module): + """Multi-head self-attention.""" + + def __init__(self, n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim): + """Initialize heads.""" + super().__init__() + self.n_heads, self.head_sz, self.emb_dim = n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim + self.heads = nn.ModuleList([Head(head_sz, emb_dim) for _ in range(n_heads)]) + self.proj = nn.Linear(self.n_heads * self.head_sz, self.emb_dim) # project back to `emb_dim` + + def forward(self, x): + """Compute multi-head self-attention output.""" + attn_outs = [head(x) for head in self.heads] + attn_out = torch.cat(attn_outs, dim=2) # concatenate across head dimension + attn_out = self.proj(attn_out) + return attn_out + + +class Feedforward(nn.Module): + """Feedforward layer.""" + + def __init__(self, emb_dim, ff_dim): + """Initialize weights.""" + super().__init__() + # Linear layer ReLU sandwich: dim fans out by factor of `ff_dim` and then back to `emb_dim`. + # ("Position-wise Feed-Forward Networks" in "Attention is All You Need") + self.layers = nn.Sequential( + nn.Linear(emb_dim, emb_dim * ff_dim), nn.ReLU(), nn.Linear(emb_dim * ff_dim, emb_dim) + ) + + def forward(self, x): + """Forward pass.""" + return self.layers(x) + + +class Block(nn.Module): + """Transformer block: communication followed by computation.""" + + # Parts: + # - Multi-head self-attention + # - Position-wise feedforward network + # - Residual connections + # - Layer normalization (pre-norm formulation) + # - ~ Weight normalization ~ (not for now) + # - Dropout + + def __init__(self, n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim, ff_dim, dropout): + """Self-attention followed by position-wise feedforward, each sandwiched by layer norm & dropout.""" + super().__init__() + self.n_heads, self.head_sz, self.emb_dim, self.ff_dim = n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim, ff_dim + self.self_attn_ln = nn.LayerNorm(emb_dim) # layer norm pre self-attention + self.self_attn = MultiHead(n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim) # multi-head self-attention + self.self_attn_dropout = nn.Dropout(dropout) # dropout after self-attention + self.ff_ln = nn.LayerNorm(emb_dim) # layer norm pre feedforward + self.ff = Feedforward(emb_dim, ff_dim) # position-wise feedforward + self.ff_dropout = nn.Dropout(dropout) # dropout after feedforward + + def forward(self, x): + """Self-attention -> feedforward.""" + # layer-norm -> self-attention -> dropout + residual + x = x + self.self_attn_dropout(self.self_attn(self.self_attn_ln(x))) + # layer-norm -> feedforward -> dropout + residual + x = x + self.ff_dropout(self.ff(self.ff_ln(x))) + return x + + +"""Create NanoGPT: Decoder-only Transformer.""" + +# In addition to our Transformer blocks, we need token embedding and positional embedding layers, to compute +# the positional encodings that get passed to the attention units in the transformer blocks. + +# We'll also apply weight init. + +# We want our output to be [batch_sz, ctx_len, n_tokens], because we want to predict the next token for each +# token in the context. + + +class NanoGPT(nn.Module): + """NanoGPT: Decoder-only Transformer.""" + + def __init__( + self, + n_tokens, + ctx_len=512, + n_blocks=8, + n_heads=10, + head_sz=64, + emb_dim=512, + ff_dim=4, + dropout=0.1, + ): + """Initialize token and positional embeddings, transformer blocks, and final norm and out layers.""" + super().__init__() + ( + self.n_tokens, + self.ctx_len, + self.n_blocks, + self.n_heads, + self.head_sz, + self.emb_dim, + self.ff_dim, + ) = (n_tokens, ctx_len, n_blocks, n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim, ff_dim) + if (emb_dim / n_heads / head_sz) != 1: + warn( + f"Ratio of n_heads and head_sz to emb_dim ({emb_dim / n_heads / head_sz}) is not 1", + stacklevel=1 + ) + self.tok_emb = nn.Embedding(n_tokens, emb_dim) # to learn token embeddings + self.pos_emb = nn.Embedding(ctx_len, emb_dim) # to learn positional embeddings + self.blocks = nn.Sequential( # Transformer blocks + *[Block(n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim, ff_dim, dropout) for _ in range(n_blocks)] + ) + self.f_ln = nn.LayerNorm(emb_dim) # final layer norm + self.f_dropout = nn.Dropout(dropout) # final dropout + self.out = nn.Linear(emb_dim, n_tokens) + self.apply(self.xavier_init) + + @staticmethod + def xavier_init(module, gain=1): + """Applies Xavier initialization to all linear and embedding layer weights.""" + if isinstance(module, nn.Embedding | nn.Linear): + nn.init.xavier_normal_(module.weight, gain=gain) + + def forward(self, x): + """Feed positional encodings through transformer blocks and final norm and out layers.""" + _batch_sz, ctx_len = x.shape + # Compute positional encodings + tok_emb = self.tok_emb(x) # -> [batch_sz, ctx_len, emb_dim] + pos_emb = self.pos_emb.weight[0:ctx_len] # -> [ctx_len, emb_dim] + pos_enc = tok_emb + pos_emb # -> [batch_sz, ctx_len, emb_dim] + # Go through transformer blocks and final linear layer + logits = self.out(self.f_dropout(self.f_ln(self.blocks(pos_enc)))) + return logits + +# /s> + +# tuple[torch.Tensor, np.ndarray, np.ndarray]: # -> loss, train_losses, val_losses + """Trains a model, returns loss.""" + device = torch.device("cuda" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu") + # = (val_iter - 1): + break + val_losses_avg.append(np.mean(val_losses[-val_iter:])) + train_losses_avg.append(np.mean(train_losses[-val_chk_interval:])) + model.train() + # /s> + + # + + # [batch_sz, ctx_len, n_tokens], but... + # must reshape to compare against batch_sz vector of targets for cross-entropy loss. + loss = loss_fn(logits.view(-1, n_tokens), y_train.to(device).view(-1)) + loss.backward() + apply_gradient_centralization(optimizer) + optimizer.step() + train_losses.append(loss.item()) + # /ss> + # = patience_thresh: + print("Early stopping.") + print_losses(epoch, batch_i, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg) + return loss, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg + # Max batch check. + if (batch_i + 1) * (epoch + 1) >= max_batches: + print("Finished training:") + print_losses(epoch, batch_i, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg) + return loss, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg + # Save checkpoint check. + if (Path(save_chkpt_dir).exists()) and (init_loss - loss.item() > save_chkpt_thresh): + torch.save( + model.state_dict(), Path(save_chkpt_dir) / f"model_chkpt_loss{loss.item():.3f}.pth" + ) + init_loss = loss.item() + # /ss> /s> + + print("Finished training:") + print_losses(epoch, batch_i, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg) + return loss, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg + + +def print_model_summary(model): + """Print model summary.""" + print(model) + n_params_tot = 0 + for name, parameter in model.named_parameters(): + if not parameter.requires_grad: + continue + n_params = parameter.numel() + print(f"{name=}: {n_params=}") + n_params_tot += n_params + print(f"\n{n_params_tot / 1e6} M total parameters") + + +def generate(model, tokens, in_txt=None, n_tokens=100, temp=1.0, top_k=None, seed=42, print_gen=True): + """Generate text from a nanoGPT model.""" + device = torch.device("cuda" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu") + # Set a random seed for generation + torch.manual_seed(seed) + if torch.cuda.is_available(): + torch.cuda.manual_seed_all(seed) + + # Create token_to_int, int_to_token dicts. + token_to_int = {t: i for i, t in enumerate(tokens)} + int_to_token = {i: t for t, i in token_to_int.items()} + + # Process input_text if provided, else start with "\n". + if in_txt is not None: + # Convert input text to tokens and encode. + encode = lambda tokens: [token_to_int[t] for t in tokens] + in_tkns = encode(in_txt) + input_len = len(in_tkns) + # Initialize output starting with input text. + x = torch.zeros((input_len + n_tokens,), dtype=torch.long).to(device) + x[:input_len] = torch.tensor(in_tkns, dtype=torch.long).to(device) + else: + # Initialize output starting with "\n". + x = torch.zeros((1 + n_tokens,), dtype=torch.long).to(device) + x[0] = token_to_int["\n"] + input_len = 1 + + # Run inference (generation) in eval mode + model.eval() + with torch.no_grad(): + first_gen_idx, last_gen_idx = input_len - 1, input_len + n_tokens - 1 + for i in range(first_gen_idx, last_gen_idx): # start gen after `input_len` + model_first_ctx = 0 if i < model.ctx_len else i - model.ctx_len + 1 + logits = model(x[model_first_ctx:(i + 1)].unsqueeze(0)) # feed in `x` with a batch_sz of 1 + # Get logits for just `len(tokens)` (squeeze out ctx_len), and scale by temp + logits = logits[:, -1, :] / temp + if top_k is not None: # limit to top_k most likely tokens + top_vals, top_idxs = logits.topk(top_k, dim=1) + probs = F.softmax(top_vals, dim=1) # compute top_k probs + next_tkn_int = top_idxs.gather(1, torch.multinomial(probs, 1)) # sample top_k probs + else: + probs = F.softmax(logits, dim=1) # compute probs for all tokens + next_tkn_int = torch.multinomial(probs, 1) # sample from probs + x[i + 1] = next_tkn_int + if print_gen: + print(int_to_token[next_tkn_int.item()], end="") + + # Decode `x` and return it. + decode = lambda ints: "".join([int_to_token[i] for i in ints]) + return decode(x.tolist()) +# /s> + + +# Run gen on specified model if called as module +if __name__ == "__main__": + # .pth, .json, and .txt files + # - `in_txt`` for `generate` + # - `n_tokens` for `generate` + # - `temp` for `generate` + # - `top_k` for `generate` + # - `seed` for generate + parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Generate text with NanoGPT.") + parser.add_argument( + "--model-dir", type=str, required=True, help="Path to model, model config, and tokens files." + ) + parser.add_argument("--in-txt", type=str, default=None, help="Input text for generation.") + parser.add_argument("--n-tokens", type=int, required=True, help="Number of tokens to generate.") + parser.add_argument("--temp", type=float, default=1.0, help="Temperature for generation.") + parser.add_argument( + "--top-k", type=int, default=None, help="Top k tokens to sample from for generation." + ) + parser.add_argument("--seed", type=int, default=42, help="Random seed for generation.") + args = parser.parse_args() + # /s> + + # + + # diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f5d8098 --- /dev/null +++ b/pyproject.toml @@ -0,0 +1,128 @@ +[build-system] +requires = ["setuptools", "wheel"] +build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta" + +[project] +# See https://setuptools.pypa.io/en/latest/userguide/quickstart.html for more project configuration options. +name = "nanogpt" +version = "0.1.0" +readme = "readme.md" +classifiers = [ + "Intended Audience :: Science/Research", + "Development Status :: 3 - Alpha", + "License :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software License", + "Programming Language :: Python :: 3", + "Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Artificial Intelligence", +] +authors = [ + {name = "Jai Bhagat", email = "jkbhagatio@gmail.com"} +] +requires-python = ">=3.10" +dependencies = [ + "black[jupyter]", + "ipdb", + "ipykernel", + "isort", + "jupyter", + "jupyterlab", + "matplotlib", + "numpy", + "optuna", + "pyright", + "pytest", + "pytest-cov", + "pytest-sphinx", + "ruff", + "scikit-learn", + "scipy", + "setuptools", + "tiktoken", + "torch", + "tqdm", + "twine", + "wandb", + "wheel", +] +license = {file = "license.md"} + +[project.urls] +Homepage = "https://github.com/jkbhagatio/nanogpt" +Repository = "https://github.com/jkbhagatio/nanogpt" + +[project.optional-dependencies] +dev = [ +] + +[tool.setuptools.dynamic] +version = {attr = "nanogpt.version.VERSION"} + +[tool.black] +line-length = 100 +color = false +exclude = ''' +/( + \.git + | \.mypy_cache + | \.tox + | \.venv + | _build + | build + | dist + | env + | venv +)/ +''' + +[tool.isort] +profile = "black" +multi_line_output = 2 + +[tool.ruff] +select = ["E", "W", "F", "I", "D", "UP", "S", "B", "A", "C4", "ICN", "PIE", "PT", "SIM", "PL"] +line-length = 100 +ignore = [ + "E201", "E202", "E203", "E231", "E731", "E702", + "S101", + "PT013", + "PLR0912", "PLR0913", "PLR0915" +] +extend-exclude = [".git", ".github", ".idea", ".vscode"] + +[tool.ruff.per-file-ignores] +"__init__.py" = ["F401"] + +[tool.ruff.pydocstyle] +convention = "google" + +[tool.pyright] +reportMissingImports = "none" +reportImportCycles = "error" +reportUnusedImport = "error" +reportUnusedClass = "error" +reportUnusedfunction = "error" +reportUnusedVariable = "error" +reportDuplicateImport = "error" +reportWildcardImportFromLibrary = "error" +reportPrivateUsage = "error" +reportCallInDefaultInitializer = "error" +reportUnnecessaryIsInstance = "error" +reportUnnecesaryCast = "error" +reportUnnecesarryComparison = "error" +reportUnnecessaryContains = "error" +reportAssertAlwaysTrue = "error" +reportSelfClsParameterName = "error" +reportUnusedExpression = "error" +reportMatchNotExhaustive = "error" +reportShadowedImports = "error" +# *Note*: we may want to set all 'ReportOptional*' rules to "none", but leaving 'em default for now +venvPath = "." +venv = ".venv" + +[tool.pytest.ini_options] +testpaths = "tests" +python_classes = [ + "Test*", + "*Test" +] +log_format = "%(asctime)s - %(levelname)s - %(name)s - %(message)s" +log_level = "DEBUG" diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f2c42a --- /dev/null +++ b/readme.md @@ -0,0 +1,101 @@ +# nanoGPT + +[![build_and_tests](https://github.com/jkbhagatio/nanoGPT/actions/workflows/build_env_run_tests.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/jkbhagatio/nanoGPT/actions/workflows/build_env_run_tests.yml) + +A minimal (nanomal?) repository containing code for building, training, and running nanoGPT: a nano-version of OpenAI's GPT-3 Decoder-only Transformer, following this tutorial from Andrej Karpathy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCc8FmEb1nY + +A trained nanoGPT using this codebase acts only as a character-level text-completer (i.e. the end of the "pretraining stage" in typical Large Language Model development, here with tokens as only single characters). + +Multi-head self-attention is implemented "from scratch", at the level of pytorch tensors. These "self-attention units" are combined in "transformer blocks", which are then used in the nanoGPT model class. + +While the overall architecture is similar, this nanoGPT makes departures from Karpathy's nanoGPT in: naming conventions, data loading and training configuration, projecting embedding dimensions to attention heads, the format of operations in self-attention units and transformer blocks, output model generation (by adding parameters such as `temp` and `top_k`), and more. + +## Examples + +### nanoGPT-Shakespeare + +Trained on the complete works of William Shakespeare. + +Output generated from models trained after approximately 320000 (top), 640000 (middle), and 960000 (bottom) examples. + +![nanoGPT-Shakespeare-GIF](./data/gifs/shakespeare_combo.gif) + +### nanoGPT-Austen + +Trained on the complete works of Jane Austen. + +Output generated from models trained after approximately 320000 (top), 640000 (middle), and 960000 (bottom) examples. + + +![nanoGPT-Austen-GIF](./data/gifs/austen_combo.gif) + +## Repository Contents + +- `nanoGPT.py` contains code that for building, training, and running nanoGPT. + +- `tutorial.ipynb` is a notebook that serves as a tutorial for the step-by-step building of nanoGPT. + +- `data/` contains the works of Shakespeare and Austen in .txt format, which can be used to train nanoGPT. + +- `tests/` contains tests that can be run via pytest for verifying components of nanoGPT work as expected. + +- `.github/workflows/` contains a github actions workflow for building the python environment, running tests, and uploading the results to codecov. + +## Usage + +### Python environment creation + +0. Create and activate a >= Python3.10 environment, clone this repository, then within this repository's directory run `pip install -e .` to install the necessary Python package dependencies from pyproject.toml. + +### Run a pretrained nanoGPT model + +1. Download a pretrained nanoGPT pytorch model (.pth), its config file (.json), and its tokens file (.json) from [here](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1M99XHrX31O8opWYHzTnvVBwEkYadH5ct?usp=sharing)
+(e.g. `nanogpt_shakespeare.pth`, `nanogpt_shakespeare_config.json`, `tiny_shakespeare_tokens.txt`) +
+and _**save them in a new directory with no other files**_. +2. Then, in the terminal within this directory with the python environment activated, +```bash +python -m nanogpt --model-dir "" --in-txt "Wherefore art thou, Romeo? We are such stuff as dreams are made on. The course of true love never did run smooth." --n-tokens 200 +``` +(run `python -m nanogpt --help` for additional command-line arguments.) + +### Train a nanoGPT model + +E.g. on the selected works of Jane Austen. Activate the python environment, and within this directory launch a Python interpreter, and... + +```python +# Imports +from pathlib import Path +import sys +import torch + +# Set torch device +device = torch.device("cuda" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu") + +# Import nanogpt +nanogpt_dir = Path.cwd() +sys.path.append(nanogpt_dir) +import nanogpt + +# Load in text file to train on and build dataloaders +works_file = nanogpt_dir / "data/tiny_austen.txt" +ctx_len=256 +X, Y = nanogpt.build_dataset(works_file, ctx_len) +train_loader, val_loader, test_loader = nanogpt.build_dataloaders(X, Y) + +# Instantiate a nanoGPT model object +tokens_file = nanogpt_dir / "data/tiny_austen_tokens.txt" +with open(tokens_file) as f: + tokens = f.read() +model = nanogpt.NanoGPT(n_tokens=len(tokens), ctx_len=ctx_len) + +# Train nanoGPT +optimizer = torch.optim.AdamW(nanogpt.parameters(), lr=1e-3) +loss_fn = nn.CrossEntropyLoss() +nanogpt.train(model, train_loader, val_loader, optimizer, loss_fn, max_epochs=1) # see nanoGPT.py for additional params for `train()` + +# Wait =p ... and then generate output +n_gen_tokens = 500 # number of tokens to generate +nanogpt.generate(model, tokens, n_tokens=n_gen_tokens) + +``` diff --git a/tests/__pycache__/test_nanogpt.cpython-311-pytest-7.4.3.pyc b/tests/__pycache__/test_nanogpt.cpython-311-pytest-7.4.3.pyc new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1f8285f Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/__pycache__/test_nanogpt.cpython-311-pytest-7.4.3.pyc differ diff --git a/tests/__pycache__/test_nanogpt.cpython-311.pyc b/tests/__pycache__/test_nanogpt.cpython-311.pyc new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5778077 Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/__pycache__/test_nanogpt.cpython-311.pyc differ diff --git a/tests/__pycache__/tests.cpython-311-pytest-7.4.3.pyc b/tests/__pycache__/tests.cpython-311-pytest-7.4.3.pyc new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8246a7 Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/__pycache__/tests.cpython-311-pytest-7.4.3.pyc differ diff --git a/tests/test_nanogpt.py b/tests/test_nanogpt.py new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5cc88bf --- /dev/null +++ b/tests/test_nanogpt.py @@ -0,0 +1,72 @@ +"""Tests transformer components of NanoGPT.""" + + +import sys +from pathlib import Path +filepath = Path(__file__) +sys.path.append(str(filepath.parent.parent.resolve())) + +import torch + +from nanogpt import Block, Feedforward, Head, MultiHead, NanoGPT, generate + +# Setup. +tokens_file = filepath.parent.parent / "data/tiny_shakespeare_tokens.txt" +with open(tokens_file) as f: + tokens = list(f.read()) +device = torch.device("cuda" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu") +nanogpt = NanoGPT( + n_tokens=len(tokens), + ctx_len=256, + n_blocks=6, + n_heads=8, + head_sz=48, + emb_dim=384, + ff_dim=4, + dropout=0.1, +).to(device) +batch_sz = 32 + + +def test_Head(nanogpt=nanogpt, batch_sz=batch_sz): + """Tests Head forward pass.""" + head = Head(nanogpt.head_sz, nanogpt.emb_dim).to(device) + x = torch.rand(batch_sz, nanogpt.ctx_len, nanogpt.emb_dim).to(device) + assert head(x).shape == (batch_sz, nanogpt.ctx_len, nanogpt.head_sz) + + +def test_MultiHead(nanogpt=nanogpt, batch_sz=batch_sz): + """Tests MultiHead forward pass.""" + multi_head = MultiHead(nanogpt.n_heads, nanogpt.head_sz, nanogpt.emb_dim).to(device) + x = torch.rand(batch_sz, nanogpt.ctx_len, nanogpt.emb_dim).to(device) + assert multi_head(x).shape == (batch_sz, nanogpt.ctx_len, nanogpt.n_heads * nanogpt.head_sz) + + +def test_Feedforward(nanogpt=nanogpt, batch_sz=batch_sz): + """Tests Feedforward forward pass.""" + feedforward = Feedforward(nanogpt.emb_dim, nanogpt.ff_dim).to(device) + x = torch.rand(batch_sz, nanogpt.n_heads * nanogpt.head_sz, nanogpt.emb_dim).to(device) + assert feedforward(x).shape == (batch_sz, nanogpt.emb_dim, nanogpt.emb_dim) + + +def test_Block(nanogpt=nanogpt, batch_sz=batch_sz): + """Tests Block forward pass.""" + block = Block( + nanogpt.n_heads, nanogpt.head_sz, nanogpt.emb_dim, nanogpt.ff_dim, dropout=0.1 + ).to(device) + x = torch.rand(batch_sz, nanogpt.ctx_len, nanogpt.emb_dim).to(device) + assert block(x).shape == (batch_sz, nanogpt.ctx_len, nanogpt.emb_dim) + + +def test_NanoGPT(nanogpt=nanogpt, batch_sz=batch_sz): + """Tests NanoGPT forward pass.""" + x = torch.randint(0, nanogpt.n_tokens, (batch_sz, nanogpt.ctx_len)).to(device) + assert nanogpt(x).shape == (batch_sz, nanogpt.ctx_len, nanogpt.n_tokens) + + +def test_generate(nanogpt=nanogpt, tokens=tokens): + """Tests `generate`.""" + in_txt = "test" + generated_text = generate(nanogpt, tokens, in_txt=in_txt, n_tokens=100, temp=0.5, top_k=50, seed=42) + assert isinstance(generated_text, str) + assert len(generated_text) > len(in_txt) diff --git a/tutorial.ipynb b/tutorial.ipynb new file mode 100644 index 0000000..07a5505 --- /dev/null +++ b/tutorial.ipynb @@ -0,0 +1,1581 @@ +{ + "cells": [ + { + "cell_type": "markdown", + "metadata": {}, + "source": [ + "## Introduction & Overview\n", + "\n", + "This notebook builds nanoGPT piece-by-piece, trains on the entire works of Shakespeare, and generates some\n", + "text-completion output." + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 1, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Set notebook settings and imports.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "%load_ext autoreload\n", + "%autoreload 2\n", + "\n", + "import json\n", + "import time\n", + "from pathlib import Path\n", + "from warnings import warn\n", + "\n", + "import numpy as np\n", + "import torch\n", + "from torch import nn, optim\n", + "from torch.nn import functional as F\n", + "from torch.nn.utils.parametrizations import weight_norm\n", + "from torch.utils.data import TensorDataset, DataLoader, random_split\n", + "from tqdm import tqdm" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": null, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\" Set environment variables for CUDA debugging.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "# Only uncomment to force synchronous CUDA operations for debugging\n", + "# %env CUDA_LAUNCH_BLOCKING=1" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 2, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [ + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "device=device(type='cuda')\n", + "\n", + "Current GPU device: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090\n", + "\n", + "All GPU devices:\n", + "Device 0: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090\n", + "Device 1: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060\n" + ] + } + ], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Set torch device.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "device = torch.device(\"cuda\" if torch.cuda.is_available() else \"cpu\")\n", + "print(f\"{device=}\\n\")\n", + "if torch.cuda.is_available():\n", + " print(f\"Current GPU device: {torch.cuda.get_device_name(device)}\\n\")\n", + " n_devices = torch.cuda.device_count()\n", + " print(\"All GPU devices:\")\n", + " for i in range(n_devices):\n", + " print(f\"Device {i}: {torch.cuda.get_device_name(i)}\")" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 3, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Read in data.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "filepath = Path.cwd() / \"data/tiny_shakespeare.txt\"\n", + "with open(filepath) as f:\n", + " text = f.read()" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 4, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [ + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "n_chars=1115394\n", + "\n", + "vocab_sz=65\n", + "\n", + "Tokens: \n", + " !$&',-.3:;?ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz\n", + "\n", + "First 100 chars of text:\n", + "---\n", + "\n", + "First Citizen:\n", + "Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.\n", + "\n", + "All:\n", + "Speak, speak.\n", + "\n", + "First Citizen:\n", + "You\n", + "\n", + "---\n" + ] + } + ], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"View some info about text.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "n_chars = len(text)\n", + "tokens = sorted(set(text))\n", + "vocab_sz = len(tokens)\n", + "\n", + "print(f\"{n_chars=}\")\n", + "print(f\"\\n{vocab_sz=}\")\n", + "print(f\"\\nTokens: {''.join(tokens)}\")\n", + "print(f\"\\nFirst 100 chars of text:\\n---\\n\\n{text[:100]}\\n\\n---\")" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 5, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [ + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "[20, 43, 50, 50, 53, 6, 1, 61, 53, 56, 50, 42, 2]\n", + "Hello, world!\n" + ] + } + ], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Tokenize and save tokens to a file.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "token_to_int = {t: i for i, t in enumerate(tokens)}\n", + "int_to_token = {i: t for t, i in token_to_int.items()}\n", + "encode = lambda tokens: [token_to_int[t] for t in tokens]\n", + "decode = lambda ints: \"\".join([int_to_token[i] for i in ints])\n", + "\n", + "# Example\n", + "print(encode(\"Hello, world!\"))\n", + "print(decode(encode(\"Hello, world!\")))\n", + "\n", + "# Encode entire text dataset\n", + "data = torch.tensor(encode(text), dtype=torch.long)\n", + "\n", + "# Save tokens to file\n", + "filepath = Path.cwd() / \"data/tiny_shakespeare_tokens.txt\"\n", + "with open(filepath, \"w\") as f:\n", + " for tok in tokens:\n", + " f.write(\"%s\" % tok)" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 6, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [ + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "w=tensor([[0., -inf, -inf, -inf],\n", + " [0., 0., -inf, -inf],\n", + " [0., 0., 0., -inf],\n", + " [0., 0., 0., 0.]])\n", + "w=tensor([[1.0000, 0.0000, 0.0000, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.5000, 0.5000, 0.0000, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.3333, 0.3333, 0.3333, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.2500, 0.2500, 0.2500, 0.2500]])\n", + "x=tensor([[ 0.1234, 0.0689, -1.8504, -0.5551],\n", + " [ 1.0161, 0.4646, 0.3244, -0.2380],\n", + " [-0.0536, 1.3074, 0.8214, -1.3427],\n", + " [ 0.9463, 1.3927, 0.7936, -0.6684]])\n", + "attn_out=tensor([[ 0.1234, 0.0689, -1.8504, -0.5551],\n", + " [ 0.5698, 0.2668, -0.7630, -0.3965],\n", + " [ 0.3620, 0.6137, -0.2349, -0.7119],\n", + " [ 0.5081, 0.8084, 0.0222, -0.7010]])\n" + ] + } + ], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Motivating self-attention.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "# We can get weighted aggregations of past elements by matmul of `x` by a lower triangular matrix (weights)\n", + "\n", + "ctx_len = 4 # context length\n", + "\n", + "x = torch.randn(ctx_len, ctx_len) # input sequence\n", + "w = torch.zeros(ctx_len, ctx_len) # attention weights\n", + "tril = torch.tril(torch.ones(ctx_len, ctx_len)) # triangular mask for our weights\n", + "w = w.masked_fill(tril == 0, float(\"-inf\")) # mask out upper triangle (we can't access future info)\n", + "print(f\"{w=}\")\n", + "w = F.softmax(w, dim=1) # convert weight values to probs\n", + "print(f\"{w=}\")\n", + "print(f\"{x=}\")\n", + "attn_out = w @ x # weighted aggregation (sum) of past elements (can think of this as self-attn output)\n", + "print(f\"{attn_out=}\")" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 7, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [ + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "k_q_sim.shape=torch.Size([4, 4, 4])\n", + "k_q_sim=tensor([[[ 0.3487, -0.1135, -0.0213, 0.0302],\n", + " [ 0.0026, -0.0246, 0.1513, 0.0830],\n", + " [ 0.0861, -0.1113, 0.5255, 0.2975],\n", + " [-0.3584, 0.1128, 0.0470, -0.0173]],\n", + "\n", + " [[ 0.4830, 0.3114, 0.3637, -0.4686],\n", + " [ 0.0928, 0.0720, 0.0882, -0.1159],\n", + " [ 0.0366, 0.1030, 0.1473, -0.2049],\n", + " [-0.0879, -0.1774, -0.2481, 0.3428]],\n", + "\n", + " [[-0.1646, 0.0421, 0.0096, 0.0463],\n", + " [-0.3919, 0.4353, 0.1338, 0.7327],\n", + " [-0.1373, -0.4617, -0.1563, -0.8837],\n", + " [-0.8719, 1.2711, 0.3978, 2.1920]],\n", + "\n", + " [[ 0.1248, 0.3058, -0.1433, 0.3543],\n", + " [ 0.0079, -0.0271, 0.0883, 0.0300],\n", + " [ 0.1354, 0.3058, -0.1007, 0.3888],\n", + " [-0.2005, -0.4268, 0.0951, -0.5797]]], grad_fn=)\n", + "attn_weights.shape=torch.Size([4, 4, 4])\n", + "attn_weights=tensor([[[1.0000, 0.0000, 0.0000, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.5068, 0.4932, 0.0000, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.2965, 0.2434, 0.4601, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.1815, 0.2908, 0.2723, 0.2553]],\n", + "\n", + " [[1.0000, 0.0000, 0.0000, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.5052, 0.4948, 0.0000, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.3139, 0.3355, 0.3506, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.2323, 0.2124, 0.1979, 0.3574]],\n", + "\n", + " [[1.0000, 0.0000, 0.0000, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.3042, 0.6958, 0.0000, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.3698, 0.2674, 0.3628, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.0290, 0.2471, 0.1032, 0.6207]],\n", + "\n", + " [[1.0000, 0.0000, 0.0000, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.5088, 0.4912, 0.0000, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.3361, 0.3985, 0.2654, 0.0000],\n", + " [0.2614, 0.2084, 0.3513, 0.1789]]], grad_fn=)\n", + "attn_out.shape=torch.Size([4, 4, 2])\n", + "attn_out=tensor([[[-1.0552, -1.1140],\n", + " [-0.6415, -0.7954],\n", + " [-0.5013, -0.3108],\n", + " [-0.2122, -0.2490]],\n", + "\n", + " [[-0.5576, -0.4369],\n", + " [-0.2023, -0.4284],\n", + " [-0.1361, -0.3964],\n", + " [-0.2542, -0.0174]],\n", + "\n", + " [[ 0.0501, -0.4860],\n", + " [ 0.1701, 0.3058],\n", + " [-0.0449, 0.0724],\n", + " [ 0.6225, 0.0047]],\n", + "\n", + " [[-1.0106, 0.0956],\n", + " [-0.4313, -0.1058],\n", + " [-0.2925, -0.1532],\n", + " [-0.3044, -0.2114]]], grad_fn=)\n" + ] + } + ], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Self-attention for a Decoder.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "# (Note: here we use a mask to prevent the Decoder from looking ahead (into future) in the sequence.\n", + "# This is not necessary for an Encoder.)\n", + "\n", + "# \n", + "\n", + "# [batch_sz, ctx_len, head_sz]\n", + "k = key(x) \n", + "v = value(x)\n", + "# /s>\n", + "\n", + "# \n", + "attn_out = attn_weights @ v # weighted sum of values\n", + "print(f\"{attn_out.shape=}\")\n", + "print(f\"{attn_out=}\")" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 8, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Create a class for a head of a self-attention unit for a Decoder.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "class Head(nn.Module):\n", + " \"\"\"Self-attention head.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + " def __init__(self, head_sz, emb_dim):\n", + " \"\"\"Initialize key, query, value.\"\"\"\n", + " super().__init__()\n", + " self.head_sz, self.emb_dim = head_sz, emb_dim\n", + " self.key = nn.Linear(emb_dim, head_sz, bias=False)\n", + " self.query = nn.Linear(emb_dim, head_sz, bias=False)\n", + " self.value = nn.Linear(emb_dim, head_sz, bias=False)\n", + "\n", + " def forward(self, x):\n", + " \"\"\"Compute self-attention output.\"\"\"\n", + " _batch_sz, ctx_len, _emb_dim = x.shape\n", + " q = self.query(x)\n", + " k = self.key(x) # -> [batch_sz, ctx_len, head_sz]\n", + " v = self.value(x)\n", + " k_q_sim = q @ k.transpose(2, 1) / np.sqrt(self.head_sz) # scaled attention to preserve k, q variance\n", + " tril = torch.tril(torch.ones(ctx_len, ctx_len)).to(device) # mask out upper triangle (we can't access future info)\n", + " k_q_sim = k_q_sim.masked_fill(tril == 0, float(\"-inf\"))\n", + " attn_weights = F.softmax(k_q_sim, dim=2)\n", + " attn_out = attn_weights @ v # weighted sum of values\n", + " # Note, if *not* using this in a MultiHead setting, we should project back to emb_dim\n", + " #proj = nn.Linear(head_sz, emb_dim)\n", + " #attn_out = proj(attn_out)\n", + " return attn_out" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 9, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [ + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "multi_attn_out.shape=torch.Size([4, 4, 8])\n" + ] + } + ], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Multi-head self-attention for a Decoder.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "# Multi-head attention is applying multiple self-attention heads in parallel, then concatenating their\n", + "# outputs, and projecting them back to `emb_dim`. This allows the model to attend to information from\n", + "# different subspaces (representations) of the input simultaneously.\n", + "\n", + "n_heads = 2\n", + "heads = nn.ModuleList([Head(head_sz, emb_dim) for _ in range(n_heads)]).to(device)\n", + "attn_outs = [head(x.to(device)) for head in heads] # -> n_heads x [batch_sz, ctx_len, head_sz]\n", + "attn_out = torch.cat(attn_outs, dim=2) # -> [batch_sz, ctx_len, n_heads * head_sz]\n", + "proj = nn.Linear(n_heads * head_sz, emb_dim).to(device) # project back to emb_dim\n", + "multi_attn_out = proj(attn_out)\n", + "print(f\"{multi_attn_out.shape=}\")" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 10, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Create a class for multi-head self-attention for a Decoder.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "class MultiHead(nn.Module):\n", + " \"\"\"Multi-head self-attention.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + " def __init__(self, n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim):\n", + " \"\"\"Initialize heads.\"\"\"\n", + " super().__init__()\n", + " self.n_heads, self.head_sz, self.emb_dim = n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim\n", + " self.heads = nn.ModuleList([Head(head_sz, emb_dim) for _ in range(n_heads)])\n", + " self.proj = nn.Linear(self.n_heads * self.head_sz, self.emb_dim) # project back to `emb_dim`\n", + "\n", + " def forward(self, x):\n", + " attn_outs = [head(x) for head in self.heads]\n", + " attn_out = torch.cat(attn_outs, dim=2) # concatenate across head dimension\n", + " attn_out = self.proj(attn_out)\n", + " return attn_out" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 11, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Create a class for a Feedforward network that operates on attention outputs.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "# Self-attention operates on the entire input sequence at once, but feedforward layer(s) can be applied\n", + "# independently to each token's representation from the self-attention layer to allow the model to\n", + "# process and adjust features of each token individually, that might otherwise get diluted from the global\n", + "# attention mechanism.\n", + "\n", + "class Feedforward(nn.Module):\n", + " \"\"\"Feedforward layer.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + " def __init__(self, emb_dim, ff_dim):\n", + " \"\"\"Initialize weights.\"\"\"\n", + " super().__init__()\n", + " # Linear layer ReLU sandwich: dim fans out by factor of `ff_dim` and then back to `emb_dim`.\n", + " # (\"Position-wise Feed-Forward Networks\" in \"Attention is All You Need\")\n", + " self.layers = nn.Sequential(\n", + " nn.Linear(emb_dim, emb_dim * ff_dim), nn.ReLU(), nn.Linear(emb_dim * ff_dim, emb_dim)\n", + " )\n", + "\n", + " def forward(self, x):\n", + " return self.layers(x)" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 12, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Create a Transformer block: communication -> computation (self-attention + feedforward + res + norm).\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "# Parts:\n", + "# - Multi-head self-attention\n", + "# - Position-wise feedforward network\n", + "# - Residual connections\n", + "# - Layer normalization (pre-norm formulation)\n", + "# - ~ Weight normalization ~ (not for now)\n", + "# - Dropout\n", + "\n", + "class Block(nn.Module):\n", + " \"\"\"Transformer block: communication followed by computation.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + " def __init__(self, n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim, ff_dim, dropout):\n", + " super().__init__()\n", + " self.n_heads, self.head_sz, self.emb_dim, self.ff_dim = n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim, ff_dim\n", + " self.self_attn_ln = nn.LayerNorm(emb_dim) # layer norm pre self-attention\n", + " self.self_attn = MultiHead(n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim) # multi-head self-attention\n", + " self.self_attn_dropout = nn.Dropout(dropout) # dropout after self-attention\n", + " self.ff_ln = nn.LayerNorm(emb_dim) # layer norm pre feedforward\n", + " self.ff = Feedforward(emb_dim, ff_dim) # position-wise feedforward\n", + " self.ff_dropout = nn.Dropout(dropout) # dropout after feedforward\n", + "\n", + " def forward(self, x):\n", + " # layer-norm -> self-attention -> dropout + residual\n", + " x = x + self.self_attn_dropout(self.self_attn(self.self_attn_ln(x)))\n", + " # layer-norm -> feedforward -> dropout + residual\n", + " x = x + self.ff_dropout(self.ff(self.ff_ln(x)))\n", + " return x" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 13, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Create NanoGPT: Decoder-only Transformer.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "# In addition to our Transformer blocks, we need token embedding and positional embedding layers, to compute\n", + "# the positional encodings that get passed to the attention units in the transformer blocks.\n", + "\n", + "# We'll also apply weight init.\n", + "\n", + "# We want our output to be [batch_sz, ctx_len, n_tokens], because we want to predict the next token for each \n", + "# token in the context.\n", + "\n", + "\n", + "class NanoGPT(nn.Module):\n", + " \"\"\"NanoGPT: Decoder-only Transformer.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + " def __init__(\n", + " self,\n", + " n_tokens=vocab_sz,\n", + " ctx_len=512,\n", + " n_blocks=8,\n", + " n_heads=10,\n", + " head_sz=64,\n", + " emb_dim=512,\n", + " ff_dim=4,\n", + " dropout=0.1,\n", + " ):\n", + " super().__init__()\n", + " (\n", + " self.n_tokens,\n", + " self.ctx_len,\n", + " self.n_blocks,\n", + " self.n_heads,\n", + " self.head_sz,\n", + " self.emb_dim,\n", + " self.ff_dim,\n", + " ) = (n_tokens, ctx_len, n_blocks, n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim, ff_dim)\n", + " if (emb_dim / n_heads / head_sz) != 1:\n", + " warn(f\"Ratio of n_heads and head_sz to emb_dim ({emb_dim / n_heads / head_sz}) is not 1\")\n", + " self.tok_emb = nn.Embedding(n_tokens, emb_dim) # to learn token embeddings\n", + " self.pos_emb = nn.Embedding(ctx_len, emb_dim) # to learn positional embeddings\n", + " self.blocks = nn.Sequential( # Transformer blocks\n", + " *[Block(n_heads, head_sz, emb_dim, ff_dim, dropout) for _ in range(n_blocks)]\n", + " )\n", + " self.f_ln = nn.LayerNorm(emb_dim) # final layer norm\n", + " self.f_dropout = nn.Dropout(dropout) # final dropout\n", + " self.out = nn.Linear(emb_dim, n_tokens)\n", + " self.apply(self.xavier_init)\n", + "\n", + " @staticmethod\n", + " def xavier_init(module, gain=1):\n", + " \"\"\"Applies Xavier initialization to all linear and embedding layer weights.\"\"\"\n", + " if isinstance(module, nn.Linear) or isinstance(module, nn.Embedding):\n", + " nn.init.xavier_normal_(module.weight, gain=gain)\n", + "\n", + " def forward(self, x):\n", + " batch_sz, ctx_len = x.shape\n", + " # Compute positional encodings\n", + " tok_emb = self.tok_emb(x) # -> [batch_sz, ctx_len, emb_dim]\n", + " pos_emb = self.pos_emb.weight[0:ctx_len] # -> [ctx_len, emb_dim]\n", + " pos_enc = tok_emb + pos_emb # -> [batch_sz, ctx_len, emb_dim]\n", + " # Go through transformer blocks and final linear layer\n", + " logits = self.out(self.f_dropout(self.f_ln(self.blocks(pos_enc))))\n", + " return logits" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 14, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Create a function for generating output from the model.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "def generate(model, tokens, in_txt=None, n_tokens=100, temp=1.0, top_k=None, seed=42, print_gen=True):\n", + " \"\"\"Generate text from a nanoGPT model.\"\"\"\n", + " # Set a random seed for generation\n", + " torch.manual_seed(seed)\n", + " if torch.cuda.is_available():\n", + " torch.cuda.manual_seed_all(seed)\n", + "\n", + " # Create token_to_int, int_to_token dicts.\n", + " token_to_int = {t: i for i, t in enumerate(tokens)}\n", + " int_to_token = {i: t for t, i in token_to_int.items()}\n", + "\n", + " # Process input_text if provided, else start with \"\\n\".\n", + " if in_txt is not None:\n", + " # Convert input text to tokens and encode.\n", + " encode = lambda tokens: [token_to_int[t] for t in tokens]\n", + " in_tkns = encode(in_txt)\n", + " input_len = len(in_tkns)\n", + " # Initialize output starting with input text.\n", + " x = torch.zeros((input_len + n_tokens,), dtype=torch.long).to(device)\n", + " x[:input_len] = torch.tensor(in_tkns, dtype=torch.long).to(device)\n", + " else:\n", + " # Initialize output starting with \"\\n\".\n", + " x = torch.zeros((1 + n_tokens,), dtype=torch.long).to(device)\n", + " x[0] = token_to_int[\"\\n\"]\n", + " input_len = 1\n", + " assert len(x) <= model.ctx_len, (\n", + " f\"Generated length {len(x) + n_tokens} would exceed model context length {model.ctx_len}.\"\n", + " )\n", + "\n", + " # Run inference (generation) in eval mode\n", + " model.eval()\n", + " with torch.no_grad():\n", + " first_gen_idx, last_gen_idx = input_len - 1, input_len + n_tokens - 1\n", + " for i in range(first_gen_idx, last_gen_idx): # start gen after `input_len`\n", + " model_first_ctx = 0 if i < model.ctx_len else i - model.ctx_len + 1\n", + " logits = model(x[model_first_ctx:(i + 1)].unsqueeze(0)) # feed in `x` with a batch_sz of 1\n", + " # Get logits for just `len(tokens)` (squeeze out ctx_len), and scale by temp\n", + " logits = logits[:, -1, :] / temp\n", + " if top_k is not None: # limit to top_k most likely tokens\n", + " top_vals, top_idxs = logits.topk(top_k, dim=1)\n", + " probs = F.softmax(top_vals, dim=1) # compute top_k probs\n", + " next_tkn_int = top_idxs.gather(1, torch.multinomial(probs, 1)) # sample top_k probs\n", + " else:\n", + " probs = F.softmax(logits, dim=1) # compute probs for all tokens\n", + " next_tkn_int = torch.multinomial(probs, 1) # sample from probs\n", + " x[i + 1] = next_tkn_int\n", + " if print_gen:\n", + " print(int_to_token[next_tkn_int.item()], end=\"\")\n", + "\n", + " # Decode `x` and return it.\n", + " decode = lambda ints: \"\".join([int_to_token[i] for i in ints])\n", + " return decode(x.tolist())" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 15, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [ + { + "name": "stderr", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "C:\\Users\\jai\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\ipykernel_41960\\2513295627.py:37: UserWarning: Ratio of n_heads and head_sz to emb_dim 0.8 is not 1\n", + " warn(f\"Ratio of n_heads and head_sz to emb_dim {emb_dim / n_heads / head_sz} is not 1\")\n" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "NanoGPT(\n", + " (tok_emb): Embedding(65, 512)\n", + " (pos_emb): Embedding(512, 512)\n", + " (blocks): Sequential(\n", + " (0): Block(\n", + " (self_attn_ln): LayerNorm((512,), eps=1e-05, elementwise_affine=True)\n", + " (self_attn): MultiHead(\n", + " (heads): ModuleList(\n", + " (0-9): 10 x Head(\n", + " (key): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " (query): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " (value): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " )\n", + " )\n", + " (proj): Linear(in_features=640, out_features=512, bias=True)\n", + " )\n", + " (self_attn_dropout): Dropout(p=0.1, inplace=False)\n", + " (ff_ln): LayerNorm((512,), eps=1e-05, elementwise_affine=True)\n", + " (ff): Feedforward(\n", + " (layers): Sequential(\n", + " (0): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=2048, bias=True)\n", + " (1): ReLU()\n", + " (2): Linear(in_features=2048, out_features=512, bias=True)\n", + " )\n", + " )\n", + " (ff_dropout): Dropout(p=0.1, inplace=False)\n", + " )\n", + " (1): Block(\n", + " (self_attn_ln): LayerNorm((512,), eps=1e-05, elementwise_affine=True)\n", + " (self_attn): MultiHead(\n", + " (heads): ModuleList(\n", + " (0-9): 10 x Head(\n", + " (key): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " (query): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " (value): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " )\n", + " )\n", + " (proj): Linear(in_features=640, out_features=512, bias=True)\n", + " )\n", + " (self_attn_dropout): Dropout(p=0.1, inplace=False)\n", + " (ff_ln): LayerNorm((512,), eps=1e-05, elementwise_affine=True)\n", + " (ff): Feedforward(\n", + " (layers): Sequential(\n", + " (0): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=2048, bias=True)\n", + " (1): ReLU()\n", + " (2): Linear(in_features=2048, out_features=512, bias=True)\n", + " )\n", + " )\n", + " (ff_dropout): Dropout(p=0.1, inplace=False)\n", + " )\n", + " (2): Block(\n", + " (self_attn_ln): LayerNorm((512,), eps=1e-05, elementwise_affine=True)\n", + " (self_attn): MultiHead(\n", + " (heads): ModuleList(\n", + " (0-9): 10 x Head(\n", + " (key): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " (query): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " (value): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " )\n", + " )\n", + " (proj): Linear(in_features=640, out_features=512, bias=True)\n", + " )\n", + " (self_attn_dropout): Dropout(p=0.1, inplace=False)\n", + " (ff_ln): LayerNorm((512,), eps=1e-05, elementwise_affine=True)\n", + " (ff): Feedforward(\n", + " (layers): Sequential(\n", + " (0): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=2048, 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out_features=512, bias=True)\n", + " )\n", + " )\n", + " (ff_dropout): Dropout(p=0.1, inplace=False)\n", + " )\n", + " (4): Block(\n", + " (self_attn_ln): LayerNorm((512,), eps=1e-05, elementwise_affine=True)\n", + " (self_attn): MultiHead(\n", + " (heads): ModuleList(\n", + " (0-9): 10 x Head(\n", + " (key): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " (query): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " (value): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " )\n", + " )\n", + " (proj): Linear(in_features=640, out_features=512, bias=True)\n", + " )\n", + " (self_attn_dropout): Dropout(p=0.1, inplace=False)\n", + " (ff_ln): LayerNorm((512,), eps=1e-05, elementwise_affine=True)\n", + " (ff): Feedforward(\n", + " (layers): Sequential(\n", + " (0): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=2048, bias=True)\n", + " (1): ReLU()\n", + " (2): Linear(in_features=2048, out_features=512, bias=True)\n", + " )\n", + " )\n", + " (ff_dropout): Dropout(p=0.1, inplace=False)\n", + " )\n", + " (5): Block(\n", + " (self_attn_ln): LayerNorm((512,), eps=1e-05, elementwise_affine=True)\n", + " (self_attn): MultiHead(\n", + " (heads): ModuleList(\n", + " (0-9): 10 x Head(\n", + " (key): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " (query): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " (value): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=64, bias=False)\n", + " )\n", + " )\n", + " (proj): Linear(in_features=640, out_features=512, bias=True)\n", + " )\n", + " (self_attn_dropout): Dropout(p=0.1, inplace=False)\n", + " (ff_ln): LayerNorm((512,), eps=1e-05, elementwise_affine=True)\n", + " (ff): Feedforward(\n", + " (layers): Sequential(\n", + " (0): Linear(in_features=512, out_features=2048, bias=True)\n", + " (1): ReLU()\n", + " (2): Linear(in_features=2048, out_features=512, bias=True)\n", + " )\n", + " )\n", + " (ff_dropout): Dropout(p=0.1, inplace=False)\n", + " )\n", + " (6): Block(\n", + " (self_attn_ln): 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"name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.4.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.4.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.5.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.5.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.5.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.6.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.6.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.6.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.7.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.7.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.7.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.8.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.8.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.8.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.9.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.9.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.heads.9.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.proj.weight': n_params=327680\n", + "name='blocks.4.self_attn.proj.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.4.ff_ln.weight': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.4.ff_ln.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.4.ff.layers.0.weight': n_params=1048576\n", + "name='blocks.4.ff.layers.0.bias': n_params=2048\n", + "name='blocks.4.ff.layers.2.weight': n_params=1048576\n", + "name='blocks.4.ff.layers.2.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn_ln.weight': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn_ln.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.0.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.0.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.0.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.1.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.1.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.1.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.2.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.2.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.2.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.3.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.3.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.3.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.4.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.4.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.4.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.5.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.5.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.5.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.6.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.6.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.6.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.7.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.7.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.7.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.8.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.8.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.8.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.9.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.9.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.heads.9.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.proj.weight': n_params=327680\n", + "name='blocks.5.self_attn.proj.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.5.ff_ln.weight': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.5.ff_ln.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.5.ff.layers.0.weight': n_params=1048576\n", + "name='blocks.5.ff.layers.0.bias': n_params=2048\n", + "name='blocks.5.ff.layers.2.weight': n_params=1048576\n", + "name='blocks.5.ff.layers.2.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn_ln.weight': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn_ln.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.0.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.0.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.0.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.1.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.1.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.1.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.2.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.2.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.2.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.3.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.3.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.3.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.4.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.4.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.4.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.5.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.5.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.5.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.6.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.6.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.6.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.7.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.7.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.7.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.8.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.8.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.8.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.9.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.9.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.heads.9.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.proj.weight': n_params=327680\n", + "name='blocks.6.self_attn.proj.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.6.ff_ln.weight': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.6.ff_ln.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.6.ff.layers.0.weight': n_params=1048576\n", + "name='blocks.6.ff.layers.0.bias': n_params=2048\n", + "name='blocks.6.ff.layers.2.weight': n_params=1048576\n", + "name='blocks.6.ff.layers.2.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn_ln.weight': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn_ln.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.0.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.0.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.0.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.1.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.1.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.1.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.2.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.2.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.2.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.3.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.3.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.3.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.4.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.4.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.4.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.5.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.5.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.5.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.6.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.6.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.6.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.7.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.7.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.7.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.8.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.8.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.8.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.9.key.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.9.query.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.heads.9.value.weight': n_params=32768\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.proj.weight': n_params=327680\n", + "name='blocks.7.self_attn.proj.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.7.ff_ln.weight': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.7.ff_ln.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='blocks.7.ff.layers.0.weight': n_params=1048576\n", + "name='blocks.7.ff.layers.0.bias': n_params=2048\n", + "name='blocks.7.ff.layers.2.weight': n_params=1048576\n", + "name='blocks.7.ff.layers.2.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='f_ln.weight': n_params=512\n", + "name='f_ln.bias': n_params=512\n", + "name='out.weight': n_params=33280\n", + "name='out.bias': n_params=65\n", + "\n", + "27.633729 M parameters total\n", + "\n", + "Generating sample...\n", + "\n", + "d\n", + "OgggC;fgzbz;C'C&Tgg.\n", + "B.z&\n", + "ddzFa&.q&C\n", + "S&O:xTOgg\n", + "!HgVVKOgggO&YSOxK&RpOw&&CgM\n", + "KIT!$YoCgV\n", + "&\n", + "&&j.Vu.W&zcgi\n", + "&iVK&TM\n", + "zR&$P&&VH\n", + "&&zECFigj&Tz\n", + "V&h\n", + "h&&gU.HSH.g\n", + "\n", + "VZjTVKgpgHSxMYOgTK;V-HV.SVj.&\n", + "xiVT&-OTVwu&.Ehzc." + ] + } + ], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Build model, view its layers and parameters, and sample generation.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "nanogpt = NanoGPT().to(device)\n", + "\n", + "print(nanogpt)\n", + "n_params_tot = 0\n", + "for name, parameter in nanogpt.named_parameters():\n", + " if not parameter.requires_grad:\n", + " continue\n", + " n_params = parameter.numel()\n", + " print(f\"{name=}: {n_params=}\")\n", + " n_params_tot += n_params\n", + "print(f\"\\n{n_params_tot / 1e6} M parameters total\\n\")\n", + "\n", + "print(\"Generating sample...\\n\")\n", + "in_txt = (\n", + " \"Wherefore art thou, Romeo? \"\n", + " \"We are such stuff as dreams are made on. \" \n", + " \"The course of true love never did run smooth.\"\n", + ")\n", + "gen = generate(nanogpt, tokens, in_txt=in_txt, n_tokens=200)" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 17, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Create a DataLoader.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "def build_dataset(txtfile, ctx_len):\n", + " \"\"\"Build dataset from text file.\"\"\"\n", + " with open(txtfile) as f:\n", + " text = f.read()\n", + " tokens = sorted(list(set(text)))\n", + " token_to_int = {t: i for i, t in enumerate(tokens)}\n", + " encode = lambda tokens: [token_to_int[t] for t in tokens]\n", + " data = torch.tensor(encode(text), dtype=torch.long)\n", + " n_chars = len(text)\n", + " n_examples = n_chars - ctx_len\n", + " idxs = torch.arange(ctx_len + 1).unsqueeze(0) + torch.arange(n_examples).unsqueeze(1)\n", + " X, Y = data[idxs[:, :-1]], data[idxs[:, 1:]]\n", + " return X, Y\n", + "\n", + "\n", + "X, Y = build_dataset(Path.cwd() / \"data/tiny_shakespeare.txt\", nanogpt.ctx_len)\n", + "dataset = TensorDataset(X, Y)\n", + "train_data, test_data, val_data = random_split(dataset, [0.9, 0.05, 0.05])\n", + "batch_sz = 32\n", + "train_loader = DataLoader(train_data, batch_size=batch_sz, shuffle=True)\n", + "val_loader = DataLoader(val_data, batch_size=batch_sz, shuffle=True)\n", + "test_loader = DataLoader(test_data, batch_size=batch_sz, shuffle=True)" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 18, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Create a train function.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "def apply_gradient_centralization(optimizer):\n", + " \"\"\"Applies gradient centralization to the optimizer.\n", + "\n", + " This function should be called before optimizer.step() in the training loop.\n", + " \"\"\"\n", + " for group in optimizer.param_groups:\n", + " for param in group[\"params\"]:\n", + " if param.grad is not None:\n", + " # Compute the mean of the gradient\n", + " grad_mean = param.grad.data.mean(dim=tuple(range(1, len(param.grad.shape))), keepdim=True)\n", + " # Centralize the gradient\n", + " param.grad.data -= grad_mean\n", + "\n", + "\n", + "def train(\n", + " model: nn.Module, # model\n", + " train_loader: DataLoader, # batched dataset for training\n", + " val_loader: DataLoader, # batched dataset for validation\n", + " optimizer: optim, # optimizer\n", + " loss_fn: nn.modules.loss, # loss function\n", + " max_epochs: int = 2, # max n training epochs\n", + " max_batches: int = 1e9, # max n batches to train\n", + " val_chk_interval: int = 200, # check val loss every `val_chk_interval` batches and print losses\n", + " val_iter: int = 5, # number of batches on val_loader to run and avg when computing val loss\n", + " patience_thresh: int = 1e9, # consecutive batches without val loss decrease for early stopping\n", + " save_chkpt_dir: str = \"\", # dir to save model checkpoint\n", + " save_chkpt_thresh: float = 0.5, # save model checkpoint every `save_chkpt_interval` loss decrease\n", + ") -> tuple[torch.Tensor, np.ndarray, np.ndarray]: # -> loss, train_losses, val_losses\n", + " \"\"\"Trains a model, returns loss.\"\"\"\n", + " # = (val_iter - 1):\n", + " break\n", + " val_losses_avg.append(np.mean(val_losses[-val_iter:]))\n", + " train_losses_avg.append(np.mean(train_losses[-val_chk_interval:]))\n", + " model.train()\n", + " # /s>\n", + "\n", + " # \n", + "\n", + " # [batch_sz, ctx_len, n_tokens], but...\n", + " # must reshape to compare against batch_sz vector of targets for cross-entropy loss.\n", + " loss = loss_fn(logits.view(-1, n_tokens), y_train.to(device).view(-1))\n", + " loss.backward()\n", + " apply_gradient_centralization(optimizer)\n", + " optimizer.step()\n", + " train_losses.append(loss.item())\n", + " # /ss>\n", + " # = patience_thresh:\n", + " print(\"Early stopping.\")\n", + " print_losses(epoch, batch_i, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg)\n", + " return loss, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg\n", + " # Max batch check.\n", + " if (batch_i + 1) * (epoch + 1) >= max_batches:\n", + " print(\"Finished training:\")\n", + " print_losses(epoch, batch_i, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg)\n", + " return loss, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg\n", + " # Save checkpoint check.\n", + " if (Path(save_chkpt_dir).exists()) and (init_loss - loss.item() > save_chkpt_thresh):\n", + " torch.save(model.state_dict(), Path(save_chkpt_dir) / f\"model_chkpt_loss{loss.item():.3f}.pth\")\n", + " init_loss = loss.item()\n", + " # /ss> /s>\n", + "\n", + " print(\"Finished training:\")\n", + " print_losses(epoch, batch_i, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg)\n", + " return loss, train_losses_avg, val_losses_avg" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 19, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [ + { + "name": "stderr", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Batch progression: 0%| | 1/1000 [00:01<29:12, 1.75s/it, Total Batch 1 / 1000]" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Epoch 1: Batch 1: Loss = 5.083, Val Loss = 5.909\n" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stderr", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Batch progression: 20%|██ | 201/1000 [01:30<09:18, 1.43it/s, Total Batch 201 / 1000]" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Epoch 1: Batch 201: Loss = 2.982, Val Loss = 2.504\n" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stderr", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Batch progression: 40%|████ | 401/1000 [02:59<06:46, 1.47it/s, Total Batch 401 / 1000]" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Epoch 1: Batch 401: Loss = 2.500, Val Loss = 2.436\n" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stderr", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Batch progression: 60%|██████ | 601/1000 [04:27<04:35, 1.45it/s, Total Batch 601 / 1000]" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Epoch 1: Batch 601: Loss = 2.413, Val Loss = 2.318\n" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stderr", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Batch progression: 80%|████████ | 801/1000 [05:56<02:19, 1.43it/s, Total Batch 801 / 1000]" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Epoch 1: Batch 801: Loss = 2.236, Val Loss = 2.036\n" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stderr", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Batch progression: 100%|█████████▉| 999/1000 [07:22<00:00, 2.26it/s, Total Batch 801 / 1000]" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "Finished training:\n", + "Epoch 1: Batch 1000: Loss = 2.236, Val Loss = 2.036\n" + ] + }, + { + "name": "stderr", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "\n" + ] + } + ], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Train and eval for just a few batches.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "save_chkpt_dir = Path.cwd() / \"models/shakespeare_chkpts\"\n", + "adam = torch.optim.AdamW(nanogpt.parameters(), lr=1e-3)\n", + "loss_fn = nn.CrossEntropyLoss()\n", + "loss, train_losses, val_losses = train(\n", + " nanogpt, train_loader, val_loader, adam, loss_fn, max_batches=1000, save_chkpt_dir=save_chkpt_dir\n", + ")" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 20, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [ + { + "name": "stdout", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "\n", + "\n", + "KING RICHARD IIIII:\n", + "Why, hould come to him word the worldow,\n", + "The man so for the crion of your buther.\n", + "\n", + "KING HENRY VI:\n", + "Not a more so the will the dough all the see.\n", + "\n", + "GLOUCESTER:\n", + "Nor what more the con" + ] + } + ], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Post-training generation.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "in_txt = (\n", + " \"Wherefore art thou, Romeo? \"\n", + " \"We are such stuff as dreams are made on. \"\n", + " \"The course of true love never did run smooth.\"\n", + ")\n", + "\n", + "gen = generate(nanogpt, tokens, in_txt=in_txt, n_tokens=200, top_k=50, temp=0.5, seed=42)" + ] + }, + { + "cell_type": "code", + "execution_count": 21, + "metadata": {}, + "outputs": [ + { + "name": "stderr", + "output_type": "stream", + "text": [ + "C:\\Users\\jai\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\ipykernel_41960\\2513295627.py:37: UserWarning: Ratio of n_heads and head_sz to emb_dim 0.8 is not 1\n", + " warn(f\"Ratio of n_heads and head_sz to emb_dim {emb_dim / n_heads / head_sz} is not 1\")\n" + ] + }, + { + "data": { + "text/plain": [ + "" + ] + }, + "execution_count": 21, + "metadata": {}, + "output_type": "execute_result" + } + ], + "source": [ + "\"\"\"Save / load model.\"\"\"\n", + "\n", + "# Save\n", + "torch.save(nanogpt.state_dict(), Path.cwd() / \"models/nanogpt_shakespeare.pth\")\n", + "with open(Path.cwd() / \"models/nanogpt_shakespeare_config.json\", \"w\") as f:\n", + " json.dump(model_config, f)\n", + "\n", + "# Wait a sec, then try and load\n", + "time.sleep(1)\n", + "with open(Path.cwd() / \"models/nanogpt_shakespeare_config.json\", \"w\") as f:\n", + " model_config = json.load(f)\n", + "nanogpt = NanoGPT(\n", + " n_tokens=model_config[\"n_tokens\"],\n", + " ctx_len=model_config[\"ctx_len\"],\n", + " n_blocks=model_config[\"n_blocks\"],\n", + " n_heads=model_config[\"n_heads\"],\n", + " head_sz=model_config[\"head_sz\"],\n", + " emb_dim=model_config[\"emb_dim\"],\n", + " ff_dim=model_config[\"ff_dim\"],\n", + " dropout=model_config[\"dropout\"],\n", + ").to(device)\n", + "nanogpt.load_state_dict(torch.load((Path.cwd() / \"models/nanogpt_shakespeare.pth\")))" + ] + } + ], + "metadata": { + "kernelspec": { + "display_name": "intro2dl", + "language": "python", + "name": "python3" + }, + "language_info": { + "codemirror_mode": { + "name": "ipython", + "version": 3 + }, + "file_extension": ".py", + "mimetype": "text/x-python", + "name": "python", + "nbconvert_exporter": "python", + "pygments_lexer": "ipython3", + "version": "3.11.5" + } + }, + "nbformat": 4, + "nbformat_minor": 2 +}